collaboaration in a creative meeting

When looking for a solution this was one of the results (not the one looking for but very interesting to remember). When creating a meetingroom this is a great application for creative collaboration. It works with a lot of mice and keyboards to enter input but you van also use a multi touch screen so you can collaborate standing around the screen or sit in your desk (more anonymus) and use mouse keyboard.

BrainStormPlus

BrainstormPlus software is designed for consultants, project managers, creatives, professional trainers and teachers who want to collaborate with their groups.

BrainStormPlus:

• Captures all ideas in the room on digital sticky notes.

• Works on one projector screen with all participants to increases participation, commitment and efficiency.
• Gives you digital features like Grouping, Voting, Subsessions, Snapshots

• Creates on-the-fly digital reports in .jpg and html format, so no more rolled up flip-overs and lost sticky notes.

Collaboration is the heart of any business or creative process. Up till now, you needed to give everyone his own computers to do a digital brainstorm. BrainstormPlus runs on ONE personal computer with multiple mice and keyboards and therefore stimulates the creative interaction and increases participation and commitment of the participants.

All users input their ideas concurrently, share insights, arrange notes, vote and work more deeply into the different results! For the moderator a number of specific functions are available to keep the group focused and creative. The results are immediately available in the form of reports and screen shots, resulting in great reporting efficiency.

Sessions are easy to manage and reports are instantly available.

BrainStormPlus Overview

1. Create ‘sticky’ notes while in Create mode by typing the content in the box.
2. Most settings can be adjusted by the moderator on the fly by right-clicking a cluster, sticky note or tab.

3. Each step in the process has a set of tools the moderator can choose from:

   - Create ideas by typing them in and press Enter
   - Group ideas by clusters in Group Mode.
   - Vote for stickies and clusters in Vote Mode
   - Hide the cursors when discussing the results to focus the attention.

4. Save your session in a folder you choose.
   Save progress on the fly by creating a Screenshot pressing CTRL-S.
   Generate a screenshot by pressing F5, the screenshots are saved together with the sessionfile. BrainStormPlus can also take timed screenshots.

Twice as fast as traditional brainstorm and scenario building methods and very flexible. Use it for:

• Creative sessions
• Scenario building
• Mind mapping
• SWOT analysis
• Voting

visual information

After surfing the web a bit I came across the visual complexity website and there I found a nice tool to visualize my facebook network. Now looking for a similar tool that does the trick for all my network sites and the relations between these but for now I still see the huge potential of this.
For example imagine all employees of company x wit their relations (direct but also the org chart) and their skills. This makes it much easier to find the right person in a visual way (and you can modify the graph as well by mous pointer or and that would be ideal touch interface) I imagine all peers having their mysite set up in a proper way and this gets agregated in a tool like this. That would make it easy for me to find the right person by diving deeper and deeper step by step based upon a visual network.

Visual info at least tome is much easier to digest than words so if we can visualize info and the relations this would be great for me and basically it can be used for any information that has links between them. Social networks, employee skills, a network with computers

Now hopefully the next step is a version I can use on a smartphone. Still with all persons from all my networks, their relations and the common denominators but also phone numbers for quick dialing and a connection with google maps so I can (if they did approve) see where they are and how close to me they are. This bridges the gap from virtual networks into physical meetings face to face (anyone willing to built this?)

talking augmented reality - next level of webshops:)

Zugara Launches Online Shopping App Utilizing Augmented Reality And Motion Capture

Just check this. A brand new way of shopping online. You can use your webcam to see how the clothings fit on you. The next screens will be portrait and bigger to help people shop online I guess:) And since shopping in the real world is also a pretty social thing you can now make pictures and share these instantly on facebook so all your friends can see how this fits you

http://weareorganizedchaos.com/index.php/2009/06/23/zugara-launches-online-shopping-app-utilizing-augmented-reality-and-motion-capture/

To give some impression just check this video:

Oprichting Vernieuwing in Werk community een feit!

“Multidisciplinaire kennis op het gebied van Het nieuwe werken nu op één centrale plek beschikbaar”

Utrecht, 24 juni 2009 - Geen last van files, overal werken waar en wanneer je maar wilt, zelfsturende medewerkers, inspelen op de behoefte van de nieuwe generatie: Vernieuwing in Werk klinkt vele organisaties en medewerkers als muziek in de oren. Hoe kan een organisatie er voor zorgen dat een nieuwe manier van werken succesvol wordt ingevoerd? Veel informatie over het Nieuwe Werken is beschikbaar via individuele blogs, commerciële websites en evenementen. Veelal benadert men hier Het nieuwe werken vanuit de eigen expertise. De belofte van de community is dat door middel van fysiek en virtueel contact tussen experts kennis kan worden uitgewisseld.

Begin april 2009 is een grote groep professionals bij elkaar gekomen met een gedeelde interesse voor ‘Het nieuwe werken’. De community, die inmiddels al uit meer dan 60 personen bestaat, vertegenwoordigt verschillende expertises op gebied van het nieuwe werken zoals ICT, HRM, Facilitair en Strategisch Management. Deze multidisciplinaire groep zorgt voor een brede discussie op het vlak van het nieuwe werken.

De doelstellingen van de Vernieuwing in Werk community:

• Experts op het gebied van Het nieuwe werken samenbrengen
• Een centrale plek voor geïnteresseerden in Het nieuwe werken
• Trend watch & trend make
• Multidisciplinair samenwerken
• Kennis uitwisselen en ontwikkelen
• Beeldvorming van Het nieuwe werken bepalen

Fysiek komt de Community maandelijks bij elkaar om inspiratie op te doen, discussies te voeren over vernieuwing in werk en ingebrachte klantcases te bespreken. Iedereen is welkom om hierbij aanwezig te zijn.

Virtueel biedt de community een website waar geïnteresseerden informatie kunnen vinden en discussies kunnen voeren over verschillende onderwerpen. De website is te vinden via http://vernieuwinginwerk.nl.

Alle geïnteresseerde experts, leveranciers, klanten, eindgebruikers en studenten kunnen deelnemen door zich aan te melden op http://vernieuwinginwerk.nl.

Future of Internet Search: Mobile version

If you search on designer Mac Funamizu you'll find some pretty cool stuff. Hope some of his concepts will become reality soon. Not just in functionality but also in look:). At http://www.likecool.com if found this one

Gear | Concept

This portable future of internet concept search, built in camera, scanner, WiFi, google map (hopefully google earth), google search, image search... all in one device. You can choose a building and touch a floor and it tells you more details of the building. You can use it when you want to know a car model, an insect name, what kind of food is served at a restaurant and how much, who built a bridge... It packed a scanner that you can search the words from the newspaper, book, magazine and more. Even you can search from the wikipedia, thesaurus and anything else available search on the web... Cool!

The future of TV. Interactive and 3D without glasses

Interactive 3DTV - taking viewing to the next level?

10 June, 2009 - 06:55

A revolutionary interactive 3DTV system is being created by De Montfort University Leicester (DMU), England, researchers. The €4.2 million (approx £3.7 million) project aims to develop a television that can recognise where somebody is sitting in a room and what they wish to view and interact with on their television.

Researchers believe it is a step towards truly interactive 3D video games where gamers use their bodies to control the action without the need for a controller.

The project, called HELIUM3D (high efficiency, laser-based, multi-user, multi-modal 3D display) is also exploring ways of allowing viewers who are watching the same television to each view a different channel at the same time and could even let them choose different viewing positions within the image.

For example, groups of people watching a football match in the same room could each pick the part of the stadium from which they would like to experience the action.

The 3D effect will be seen without special glasses and will use head-tracking technology developed during previous 3DTV research projects led by DMU to deliver the perfect image to every viewer.

The system will not only display standard 3DTV, it will also allow viewers to experience an effect known as motion parallax or the ‘look-around effect'. This is where the image has a ‘holographic' quality, giving it a greater sense of depth and movement than standard 3D.

Researchers at DMU's Imaging and Displays Research Group (IDRG) are leading the work, with partners from: Fraunhofer Heinrich-Hertz-Institut; Philips Consumer Lifestyle; Eindhoven University of Technology; Nanjing University in China; Barco, a display hardware manufacturer in Belgium; University College London; and Koç University in Turkey.

The project is supported by £2.8 million funding from the European Commission's Framework 7 programme.

Researchers working on HELIUM3D will also be exploring the display's potential in professional applications, including medical imaging, video conferencing, engineering design and oil and gas exploration.

DMU's Dr Ian Sexton, head of the imaging and displays research group, said: "The inherent flexibility of the HELIUM display takes it beyond mere 3D and will open up a whole new world of exciting interactive possibilities. The display will give gamers a new freedom to enjoy interactive 3D television and games - for example viewers or gamers will be able to see 3D on the HELIUM TV and also interact with the game through the viewer sensing built into the system wherever they are in the room and without 3D glasses. This will make 3D games more natural, exciting and ‘real'. The system will also be used for more serious uses such as medical imaging; doctors and surgeons will be able to intuitively ‘fly' through a 3D scan of a person to make a diagnosis or to prepare for an operation, making a 3D display that will be useful to a wide audience."

Previous 3D systems have used flat panel displays in their design but HELIUM3D will use a new type of front screen.

The Gabor superlens screen used by DMU researchers replaces the usual LCD screen found on commercial television sets and is much more efficient than other technologies.

This will allow brighter whites and darker blacks, meaning the resulting image will be much more vivid than in previous 3D projects due to the use of a novel red, green and blue laser illumination source.

The HELIUM3D funding from the European Commission is the latest in a string of projects which the IDRG has worked on over the past seven years, worth nearly £14 million in total.

HELIUM3D runs until 2010 and researchers hope the system will lead to commercial production of interactive 3DTV sets within the next decade.

VIEWSONIC EXTENDS PROJECTOR OFFERINGS WITH THREE NEW 120Hz / 3D-ENABLED DLP PRODUCTS

According to the ViewSonic press release (below) they offer some affordable 3D projectors. Ok, resolution is not great but at least it is compatible with the nvidea 3D-vision. Still need some of those silly glasses but when using this as a projector for your interactive smartboard it can double as 3D projector (for example on educational purposes or entertainment).

Company delivers short throw and network managed eco-friendly projector products

Orlando – June 15, 2009 – ViewSonic® Corp., a leading global provider of visual display products, today at InfoComm 2009 announced the availability of the all new PJD6211, PJD6221 and PJD6381 flexible, eco-friendly projectors with enhanced 3D display capabilities. These projectors are ideal for classroom, corporate and gaming audiences as they come equipped with advanced network management capabilities, multiple inputs and 120Hz refresh compatibility for a truly immersive 3D experience.

PJD6381 – 3D ultra short-throw DLP projector
The PJD6381 has one of the shortest throw ratios available for a DLP projector on the market, with a ratio of .68, which helps reduce shadowing effects and is compatible with the wide range of interactive whiteboard options being used in school districts nationwide. The product has a 1024 x 768 XGA resolution, 2,500 ANSI lumens and a 2,500:1 contrast ratio to display detailed, brilliant images. Media can also be viewed in 3D with a 120Hz refresh rate as the projector is compatible with the two leading stereoscopic 3D technologies from Texas Instruments (DLP Link) and NVIDIA (3D-Vision™), allowing gamers and educators to see the most realistic graphics. The PJD6381 also has RJ45 network management software allowing users to manage all of their networked projectors, schedule on / off times and send email alerts to administrators notifying them of required maintenance, such as scheduled lamp replacements.

The PJD6381 will be available in August 2009 with an MSRP of $1,249.


PJD6211 and PJD6221 – 120Hz / 3D Ready DLP projectors
ViewSonic’s new DLP projectors are equipped with a 1024 x 768 XGA resolution, up to 2,700 lumens and a 2,800:1 contrast ratio to display bright, crisp images onto various surfaces. The PJD6221 includes RJ45 network management scheduling software that allows for control configuration and control remotely when connected to a centralized network. This network management tool is also compatible with existing ViewSonic DLP projectors, like the PJD6240 with a XGA 1024x768 resolution, 3,200 lumens and a 2,000:1 contrast ratio, perfect for use in meeting rooms or classrooms. The products are equipped with composite, S-Video and VGA inputs for increased connectivity with multiple devices. They also include a VGA output port for connecting an external display or secondary projector for multiple screen viewing.

The projectors are compatible with the two leading stereoscopic 3D technologies from Texas Instruments (DLP Link) and NVIDIA (3D-Vision) allowing educators and gamers to interact with amazing 3D content. Gamers in 2D mode can also take advantage of the blazing fast 120Hz refresh rate to eliminate shadowing and distortion of screen images.

The PJD6211 and PJD6221 will be available in July 2009 with MSRPs of $849 and $999, respectively. Additional short throw projector specs and video introduction can be found here.

“With these three new additions to our already extensive line of education projectors we are able to give administrators, businesses and gamers even more options through visual display technology,” said Jeff Volpe, vice president and general manager of ViewSonic North America. “ViewSonic’s new offerings allow alternative, energy efficient ways for users to view and enjoy various forms of media.”

All of ViewSonic’s DLP projectors are Energy Star® certified and feature ECO Mode™ configuration options. This can save up to 40% in energy consumption and extend the lamp life of the product up to 6,000 hours, decreasing the total cost of ownership.

Additional short throw projector purchase details, specs and a video introduction can be found here.

ViewSonic also offers its Finch Club resellers an opportunity to benefit from specialized product training and discounts through the company’s GovEd public sector program. To sign up, please visit www.finchclub.com. For additional information on ViewSonic products, please visit www.viewsonic.com or become a ViewSonic fan on their Facebook page.

About ViewSonic
ViewSonic® Corporation is a leading global provider of visual display products. ViewSonic develops, markets and supports a broad range of innovative products, including computers, LCD monitors, LCD TVs, projectors, digital photo frames and digital signage displays. For further information, please contact ViewSonic Corporation at 800.888.8583 or 909.444.8888; or visit http://www.viewsonic.com/.

augmented reality helps you getting all the hotspots via a mobile phone

This has the potential to be a great platform and hopefuly they can set a standard for augmented reality on the phone.

Phones are becoming smarter with better cameras, screens and a gps on board. This means a whole new set of smart applications is looking at us and this i a great one (next step, combine this with turn by turn navigation).

Press release: The first mobile Augmented Reality browser premiers in the Netherlands

Five Dutch content providers to participate in the worlds first AR browser

AMSTERDAM, Tuesday June 16th, 2009. Mobile innovation company SPRXmobile launches Layar, worlds first mobile Augmented Reality browser, which displays real time digital information on top of reality (of) in the camera screen of the mobile phone. While looking through the phone’s camera lens, a user can see houses for sale, popular bars and shops, jobs, healthcare providers and ATMs. The first country to launch Layar is The Netherlands. Launching partners are local market leaders ING (bank), funda (realty website), Hyves (social network), Tempo-team (temp agency) and Zekur.nl (healthcare provider).

How it works
Layar is derived from location based services and works on mobile phones that include a camera, GPS and a compass. Layar is first avaliable for handsets with the Android operating system (the G1 and HTC Magic). It works as follows: Starting up the Layar application automatically activates the camera. The embedded GPS automatically knows the location of the phone and the compass determines in which direction the phone is facing. Each partner provides a set of location coordinates with relevant information which forms a digital layer. By tapping the side of the screen the user easily switches between layers. This makes Layar a new type of browser which combines digital and reality, which offers an augmented view of the world.

Dutch launch
The premier launch is for the Dutch market. Launching content partners are ING (ATM’s), Funda (houses for sale), Hyves (social network hot spots) Tempo-team (jobs) and Zekur.nl (healthcare providers). Layar will be launched per country with local content partners in order to guarantee relevent results for the end user. SPRXmobile is planning further roll-outs, together with local partners, in Germany, the UK and the United States this year. SPRXmobile wil continue with regular releases of new layers after each local launch. The Layar application will be available via the Android Market. Other handsets and operating systems are in development with a prime focus on the iPhone 3G S.

SPRXmobile

Layar is developed by SPRXmobile, a mobile innovation company.

“Eventually, the physical and the virtual worlds will become one. Many visions on Augmented Reality have already been developed, but we are proud to be able to bring this one step closer to reality”, says Raimo van der Klein, co-founder of SPRXmobile.

More information:

http://layar.eu en http://www.sprxmobile.com.

Tennis according to IBM......augmented reality

IBM launches real-time virtual Wimbledon app

Use your phone at the tennis to access an augmented reality

Soon he'll be tweeting right after the serve

IBM is set to launch applications for Android, Twitter and iPhone that use real-time updates to provide a more technologically advanced Wimbledon experience than ever before.

The most exciting is the Seer Android Beta, which uses augmented reality to give users of a T-Mobile G1 the inside scoop on what's happening in the tournament.

Using a video feed from the handset's camera, combined with the digital compass and accurate GPS, users can hold up the phone to different objects and information will display on the screen.

By adding in information such as scores and updates on a heads up display, the user can simply point the phone at a tennis court, find out the court number and also who's playing and more crucially, who's winning.

The information comes from 'net data and IBM scouts wandering around the grounds providing updates.

Twitter and the iPhone

The Seer Aggregator for Twitter will perform a similar function in diluted form, where users can subscribe to hashtags to be given information on scores, seat availability and queue length among other things.

The IBM scouts, players and commentators will also be Tweeting throughout, to provide users with a rich and in-depth experience.

The Wimbledon 2009 App for the iPhone will work in a much more traditional app manner, with users being given information on scores, draws, play schedules and also news and video highlights direct to the phone.

Can "Games" play a role in customer interaction/support

Microsoft just announced Project Natal and the youtube clip embedded shows some of the capabilities. This clearly shows a different kind of interaction and you feel more attached as a gamer.




When taking this one step further. Would it be possible to create a "Game" that will take care of the client interactions when in need for support. The game should be developed from a different viewpoint but the interaction in a "human" manner will be there and there should always be a possibility to switch over to a life person for the questions that are not being answered in a game.

When creating a smart scenario this could be a big saver for companies that have a huge amount of helpdesk/call center employees. I admit the scenarios are different per job but the structure can be the same (and preferably would be). This means you just have to create new levels for a platform when there is a need to offer different support options

Bus stop of the future and what we can learn from this

I admit this is just a bus stop but when reading the press announcement there is some great technology that can be used in other windows as well. It clearly is a cool way of thinking about interaction at a bus stop finding all info you normally can not find in your busstop (where am I on the map. Which bus to take and where to switch busses)




MIT researchers unveil the EyeStop "Bus stop of the future" can sense its surroundings. Imagine if your local bus stop allowed you to check your e-mail, share community information on a digital message board or monitor the local air quality? And perhaps best of all, what if it could tell you the exact location of that bus that you're waiting for? MIT architects and engineers just unveiled a design for such a bus stop this past Saturday, at the Genio Fiorentino festival in Florence, Italy.




(A more formal prototype will be unveiled this October.) Called EyeStop and developed by the MIT SENSEable City Lab, it takes the tedium out of waiting for the bus and showcases the potential of next-generation urban transportation design. The EyeStop is partially covered with touch-sensitive e-INK and screens, and features state-of-the art sensing technologies and a variety of interactive services. Riders can plan a bus trip on an interactive map, surf the Web, monitor their real-time exposure to pollutants and use their mobile devices as an interface with the bus shelter.


They can also post ads and community announcements to an electronic bulletin board at the bus stop, enhancing the EyeStop's functionality as a community gathering space. "The EyeStop could change the whole experience of urban travel," said Carlo Ratti, Head of the SENSEable City Lab
at MIT. "At the touch of a finger, passengers can get the shortest bus route to their destination
or the position of all the buses in the city. The EyeStop will also glow at different levels of intensity to signal the distance of an approaching bus."


In addition to displaying information, the bus stop also acts as an active environmental sensing node, powering itself through sunlight and collecting real-time information about the surrounding environment. "EyeStop is like an 'info-tape' that snakes through the city," said project leader Giovanni de Niederhausern. "It senses information about the environment and distributes it in a form accessible to all citizens."


Unlike the typical mass-produced bus stop, EyeStop is designed to fit the physical characteristics of its surroundings. A computer program generates a unique design for each bus stop, providing both optimal sheltering for users and maximum sunlight exposure for power generation. Simple materials like steel, glass and gray local stone ("pietra serena," as it is called locally), together with its minimalist design, will help the EyeStop blend into the historic urban fabric of Florence, or wherever else it might be deployed.


"Since the Renaissance, there has been an interplay between the physical form of the city (urb) and its citizenship (civitas)," added Carlo Ratti. "Today's technologies are adding new possibilities to that age-long relationship, thanks to the addition of digital information to physical space. It is as if a new materiality were emerging in architecture, with the seamless blending of bits and atoms."


EyeStop was developed at the SENSEable City Laboratory by Giovanni de Niederhausern, Shaocong Zhou, Assaf Biderman and Carlo Ratti, in collaboration with the Province of Florence and the local public transportation authority ATAF.

Picture frame +++++++

Depending on the price and amount of available applications this could potentially be a great device. I already find myself in a situation that I don't do things (like look up some info because the laptop is on my desk on the 1st floor while I'm on the ground floor). So if this has some nice applications (besides all that come with the device) like:

• Recipes for in the kitchen
• server application so you can use the webcams as security devices
• Remote screen/desktop so I can manage my mediacenter form this (and not having to turn on the big screen to find some music)

But judge for yourself

If having an English-language site means that the Korean manufacturer Mintpass will be selling some of its products to the U.S., Enlgand, Canada, Australia, etc. then by all means we must expect the U.S., Europe launch of the Mintpad soon. The Mintpass Mintpad is a would-be revolutionary 3-inch touchscreen PMP that serves as a note-taking and multimedia device. Though the 400MHz processor/ 128MB of RAM is good enough for the old iPhone, the 4GB storage may be a little lacking. Suggested price in Korean is just under $160 but it should be cheaper once it gets to foreign shores. Click the links below to know more.

[mintpass via dapreview]

Shoppers' cars will soon be able to power supermarkets

This is a nice way to save some energy. No clue about the ROI but if this is not too bad I can imagine a lot of places where this might work. It's probably not good enough (yet) for the highway but parking areas would do. Link to the original article with all comments as well

By Sean Poulter
Last updated at 2:38 AM on 15th June 2009

Shoppers' cars will be used to power supermarket tills in a revolutionary new scheme.

The weight of vehicles driving over road plates into a new eco store will power a generator that creates enough electricity to keep checkouts ringing.

The system uses the same type of technology Formula 1 cars use to convert kinetic energy created during braking into speed.

Car power: The future of shopping

At the Sainsbury's store in Gloucester, kinetic plates, which were embedded in the road yesterday, are pushed down every time a vehicle passes over them.

A pumping action is then initiated through a series of hydraulic pipes that drive a generator.

The plates are able to produce 30kw of green energy an hour - more than enough to power the store's checkouts.

The scheme at the Gloucester Quays store demonstrates the potential of kinetic energy to generate enormous amounts of electricity.

A similar system on the roadway into theme parks could provide enough power to keep rollercoasters running.

And road plates could be used on motorway slip roads to light the national road system.

Happy shoppers: Cars will play more than just a transport role in future

Sainsbury's environment manager Alison Austin said: 'Not only are we the first to use such technology with our shoppers, but customers can now help to make their local shop greener. We want to make the weekly shop

sustainable. Using technology like this helps us reduce our use of carbon.'

Sainsbury's first used the kinetic road plates at a depot in Northampton. Following that success, it is rolling out the technology to its supermarkets.

The plates are one of many energy- saving measures at the store. Over two years, it will harvest enough rainwater - for flushing toilets - to fill an Olympic-sized pool, while solar panels heat water during the summer.

Floor-to-ceiling windows and 140 sun pipes in the roof reduce the need for artificial light, while automatic dimmer lights ensure less electricity is used on brighter days.

Cold air is also retrieved from the fridges to cool the checkout area.

David Sheehan, Sainsbury's director of store development, said: 'We use cutting-edge technology to improve our services and the store environment. At the same time we are ultimately reducing our carbon footprint.'

Couch computing according to Crunchpad

According to the folks of Crunchpad and with kuddos for http://www.techcrunch.com:

We’ve been working hard behind the scenes on the CrunchPad since our last update in April, and have just about nailed down the final design for the device. We’re showing the conceptual drawings here today. In another few weeks we’ll have the first working prototypes in our office.

This launch prototype is another significant step forward from the last prototype. The screen is now flush with the case and we’ve decreased the overall thickness to about 18 mm. The case will be aluminum, which is more expensive than plastic but is sturdier and lets us shave a little more off the overall thickness of the device.

I believe the device now actually looks better than the original concept design we published last summer. Compare the images below to the first prototype and you can see how far we’ve come. If you’re interested, here’s Prototype B. Pictures of Prototype C, which is the device we’re actually demo’ing to people now, are here.

A lot has happened behind the scenes, too. Our partner Fusion Garage continues to drive the software forward, and we are in deep discussions with key partners to bring the device to market. If you’d like to see the previous CrunchPad in action, we have a previously-private video available on YouTube that shows our vision for the user interface and the last version of the software stack. This is a Linux based operating system and a Webkit based browser. The device boots directly into the browser.

The next time we talk about the CrunchPad publicly will be at a special press and user event in July in Silicon Valley. If you’d like to be emailed when new news comes out, send an email to crunchpad@techcrunch.com and we’ll put you on the list.

Here is the near-final industrial design for the CrunchPad:

GUTEN TOUCH from Multitouch Barcelona on Vimeo.

GUTEN TOUCH from Multitouch Barcelona on Vimeo.

And another very promising multi touch table

Earlier I discussed the multitouch solutions from Structable and MS (the surface) and besides these (and all (multi)touch all in one pc's) there is also the The Ideum mt2 Table. This seems to be a pretty idiot proof design created for a museum but pretty useable for other purposes as well. It still might be a bit too expensive to double as a dining table but in an enterprise environment there are some nice applications I can think of (and probably even create since they deliver these tools as well with the table). According to their website:

Ready to Go

The mt2 Table supports multi-touch and multi-user interactions. It has a bright 50" (diagonal) surface with a high-resolution display, which is higher than Microsoft's Surface multi-touch table. The large display also makes it easier to for multiple simultaneous visitors to interact with computer programs and one another. The multi-touch support allows the use of intuitive hand gestures to manipulate images and media items and to interact with computer-based applications.

Made for the Museum

As museums are moving toward developing exhibits that foster more visitor communication and interaction: the mt2 Table is a great platform for these types of computer-based exhibits. The playful nature of multi-touch interaction and the large surface and low table height all contribute to the visitor experience. The mt2 Table does what traditional computer kiosks can't do: it fosters social interaction and allows visitors to interact physically with museum collections and educational programs.

One Tough Table

The mt² Table is designed for active museum environments. Both the outside frame and the interior railing system is made of rugged, aircraft-grade aluminum framing material. While the table top is made of thick tempered glass. The interior components have been selected for their quality and durability. The mt2 Table has been field tested at a hands-on science museum.

The 50" (diagonal) glass top is coated underneath with projection material for a bright display. The display size is 16:9 ratio at 1280 x 720 pixels. The bright 2100 ANSI projector has a 2000-to-1 contrast ratio and the image displays on the table with zero keystoning. The high-resolution DLP projector has 3,000 hour bulb life.

NUI Suite 1.5 Snowflake

The mt2 Table ships with NUI's innovative Snowflake Software. NUI Suite 1.5 Snowflake is a fast and reliable gesture recognition multi-touch software package. This software suite includes NUI Touch Core, which can be used with any programming language that supports the TUIO protocol. Software developers can create their own applications with Flash (ActionScript3), C/C++/C#, Java, Python, and other programming languages.

The NUI Snowflake package comes with a set of basic applications: Viewer (media viewer with support for image and video media types), Draw (basic drawing application), 3D model viewer (.3ds and .obj file format support) along with other applications. The mt2 Table package even includes NUI's TouchEarth (Google Earth with a multitouch interface).

Collection Viewer

Each mt2 table comes with Ideum’s Collection Viewer, a multitouch enabled image and video viewer. The Collection Viewer uses Adobe’s XMP metadata providing important information about the media items displayed. In addition, the Collection Viewer supports the Timed Text standard, allowing for captioning of videos.

Ideum’s Collection Viewer, a multitouch enabled image and video viewer.

HDMI over Powerline by Averlogic...all computers back to basement

Now this makes sense. Can’t you see the future when all you need to do is plug your new flat-screen into a wall outlet and the video will magically appear on the screen?

Averlogic has a system that’s not that advance, but can still send 1080p24 video with 5.1 audio over standard power lines. Both ends of the transmission of course have a box, but hopefully someone, somewhere is working on the future that eliminates those and packs the needed components into HDTVs and AV equipment

This system by Averlogic can send the goods out to three receivers, which then output the signal either by HDMI, component, or composite. The transmitter has three HDMI inputs and one set of component and composite each. There isn’t any word on pricing just yet, but we’ll betting that some A/V installers and homeowners will be willing to fork over good money instead of running long and expensive HDMI cables.

by Matt Burns on June 5, 2009

Great for a wall again, specially combined with my previous post

And another nice press release. Not sure if you read my previous post but video enabled E-paper combined with 3D..........that would make wall paper that can (at least visually) make your house much bigger. Just select how you like it today and then show it in 3D

Samsung Prototypes Video-enabled E-paper Display

Jun 9, 2009 20:03
Tetsuo Nozawa, Nikkei Electronics

The LCD Business Unit of Samsung Electronics Co Ltd of Korea exhibited a 10.2-inch panel at SID Display Week 2009.

The panel combines electronic paper and video display technologies and allows users to switch between both modes.

It is an active matrix panel and was realized by utilizing "a kind of cholesteric liquid crystal" for the image display technology, Samsung Electronics said. The main feature of the prototype is that its display mode can be switched between the "memory mode" to operate the panel as e-paper and the "dynamic mode" to display moving pictures, according to the company.

"We are not interested in ordinary e-paper displays like the ones being developed by everyone else," Samsung Electronics said. "So, this time, we planned to do something that no one else would do."

The panel has 320 x RGB x 240 pixels and is capable of displaying 64 colors. It features a reflectance of 10% or higher and a response time of 25ms or less. The exhibited prototype gave the impression that, both as e-paper and as a video display, it needs major improvements in terms of not only specifications but also other capabilities.

Nevertheless, the idea of switching functions of a display depending on the usage or allowable power consumption may draw attention from other manufacturers.

What will it be (multi)touch or 3D....or a combination?

OK, It''s a plain copy/paste but a very nice one from digitimes.com. Just came across:



Acer to launch 3D notebook at the end of October, new netbook for 3Q10
Yen-Shyang Hwang, Taipei; Joseph Tsai, DIGITIMES [Monday 8 June 2009]

Acer plans to launch a 15.6-inch 3D notebook, which the company jointly developed with Wistron, at the end of October 2009, according to Campbell Kan, vice president of Acer's mobile computing business unit.

The notebook features built-in software which can convert regular 2D movies to 3D, and will also directly support 3D movies.

Currently, users still need to wear stereoscopic glasses for the 3D to be effective, however, Acer is developing a model without the need for glasses, although it still has quiet a few technological obstacles to overcome, Kan noted.

The notebook will come equipped with Windows 7 and therefore Acer will not make an official announcement until Microsoft launches the OS, Kan added.

In addition to Windows and Android models, Acer is also working on its third-generation netbook, which will feature a similar concept as MIDs or smartbooks with strong network connectivity and convenience, and it targeting a launch in the second of third quarter of 2010, Kan noted.

Acer 3D notebook
Photo: Yen-Shyang Hwang, Digitimes, June 2009

with the blink of an eye........

Eyes control data glasses

03 June 2009

Scientists in Germany have developed a head-mounted display (HMD) that can be controlled by eye-movement, paving the way for the creation of an interactive display mounted within a pair of glasses. The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems (IPMS) in Dresden has created a CMOS chip with an eye tracker in the microdisplay that can be connected to a PDA, display information and respond to commands.

Whilst head-mounted displays aren’t anything new the Institute says at present these devices can only display information. “We want to make the eyeglasses bidirectional and interactive so that new areas of application can be opened up,” said Dr. Michael Scholles, business unit manager at IPMS in Dresden.

A group of scientists at IPMS is working on a device which incorporates eye tracking – users can influence the content presented by moving their eyes or fixing on certain points in the image. Without having to use any other devices to enter instructions, the wearer can display new content, scroll through the menu or shift picture elements. Scholles believes that the bidirectional data eyeglasses will yield advantages wherever people need to consult additional information but do not have their hands free to operate a keyboard or mouse. The Dresden-based researchers have integrated their system’s eye tracker and image reproduction on a CMOS chip. This makes the HMDs small, light, easy to manufacture and inexpensive.

The chip measuring 19.3 by 17mm is fitted on the prototype eyeglasses behind the hinge on the temple. From the temple the image on the microdisplay is projected onto the retina of the user so that it appears to be viewed from a distance of about one metre. The image has to outshine the ambient light to ensure that it can be seen clearly against changing and highly contrasting backgrounds. For this reason the research scientists use OLEDs, organic light-emitting diodes, to produce microdisplays of particularly high luminance.

In industry and in the medical field, the interactive data eyeglasses could enable numerous tasks to be performed more simply, efficiently and precisely. Many scenarios are possible, including patients’ vital functions, MRT and x-ray images for the operating surgeon, construction drawings for erection engineers and installation instructions for service technicians.

43 inch curved screen....information workers wake up, this is a dream monitor

If you happen to have 7999 USD in your wallet ready for a Geeky emergency, why not pre-ordering the stunning Nec CRV-43, a 43” curved monitor with a 2880x900 resolution with LED backlight, and offer both DVI-D and HDMI 1.3…
CHICAGO - June 4, 2009 - NEC Display Solutions of America, a leading provider of commercial LCD displays and projectors, today announced the 43" NEC CRV43 ultra-widescreen specialty desktop display, designed for use in applications such as professional graphics, higher education, government, financial, command & control and home office.

The NEC CRV43 curved display can be seen at InfoComm 09 on June 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. The unique NEC CRV43 curved display provides a much wider field of view and greater dynamic range with its double WGXA resolution (32:10 aspect ratio). The user's taskbar is extended natively and setup is made easy to configure with one input.

These features make it an ideal solution for simulation, digital imaging and command & control. "The NEC CRV43 curved display provides an excitingly immersive viewing experience for any type of user," said Keith Yanke, Director of Product Marketing for NEC Display Solutions. "Its lightning-fast response time coupled with its seamless curved screen provides enhanced comfort, decreased frustration and increased productivity.

The monitor eliminates the bezel and screen gap issues that have complicated users' work environment for years." The NEC CRV43 curved display includes the following features: * Seamless curved screen, which eliminates bezel and screen gap issues for increased productivity and decreased frustration (according to Center for Human-Computer Interaction - Shupp et al, presented at Graphics Interface 2006)
* 2880 x 900 double WXGA native resolution
* 200 cd/m² brightness
* 0.02ms Rapid Response
* 10,000:1 contrast ratio
* Wide color gamut with 100% coverage of sRGB and 99.3% coverage of Adobe RGB
* Single link DVI-D and HDMI 1.3 input connectors
* USB 2.0 connectivity for easy use of peripherals
* Front panel controls
* On Screen Display (OSD®) and software-based GUI, which enables advanced display control options

The NEC CRV43 curved display is backed by a 3-year parts and labor warranty including the backlight and will be available for July 2009 shipment with estimated street price of $7,999.

Goodbye monitor....Light Blue Optics Demonstrates Touch-enabled Pico Projectors

06/02/2009

So goodbye monitor. This needs a bit more lumen and then you have your touch screen with you all the time. A pico projector, touch enabled.

Light Blue Optics is demonstrating their touch-enabled projection system at SID. LBO are working on Holographic Laser-based projectors modules, which should be released for OEM's towards the end of 2009.

LBO are saying that a product configuration can allow the user to touch the projected image to control the projector or computer - basically they are demonstrating a touch-projector-interface.

Their modules support WVGA-QVGA images at 10 lumens. LBO’s proprietary technology has an ultra-wide throw angle and the ability to correct for optical aberrations using software. These features enable LBO’s miniature projection systems to switch between conventional front projection onto a wall and a novel table-down projection mode where the device is placed on a table and the content is projected down onto the surface in front of it.

finally a picture frame that does a bit more and in a flexible way

SilverPac has announced a new digital frame at COMPUTEX Taipei that has a plethora of features and is built on Microsoft Windows Embedded 6.0. The SilverFrame features all of Microsoft’s software features like Windows SideShow for helpful gadgets and Windows Live FrameIt for online content consumption. From the hardware side, the digital frame features a 10.1″ touchscreen with 802.11n wireless capability.

The Windows SideShow gadgets are actually pretty interesting, no other digital picture frame has delivered on frame-based gadgets. This feature alone has the potential to give the frame much more functionality than simple slideshow playback. For instance, users will be able to connect the frame to their wireless network and use the Windows Media Player gadget to browse and play their music and video files. The email gadget allows for not only a snapshot of your inbox, but offers the ability to send mail from the digital picture frame. The SilverFrame also syncs with the calendar on your PC so appointment data is always nearby.

While the digital picture frame may not be the preferred mechanism to manage email, the promise of features like this in what’s normally a fairly static device is exciting. The gadget functionality in conjunction with the FrameIt content services, easily make this unit one of the most advanced frames soon to be on the market.

And there’s the letdown. While the SilverPac SilverFrame is on display at the Microsoft booth at COMPUTEX, it’s not yet avilable for sale. They’re trying to sell the design to a known brand, who would then market the product to consumers. So when and at what price we’ll see this frame is a bit unknown. At least though, we see the potential and hardware innovation that make advanced frame designs possible.