Slightly off-topic: The UX of Laundry Washing Update, with Videos of Gain Detergent Fans

The post can be found by following the link below:

THE UX OF LAUNDRY WASHING:  RESPONSE TO COMMENTS & VIDEOS OF GAIN DETERGENT FANS.

SMART Technologies Multitouch Application Contest Announced!

The SMART Multitouch Application Contest was recently announced. The SMART Table is a multitouch, multiuser interactive learning center designed for early education which supports hands-on collaborative play and learning activities.  I think that this would be a great project for an after-school technology club at a high school.

If you haven't seen a SMART Table, the following videos will give you an idea of what they are all about:

The SMART Table in a multi-age Montessori classroom at an elementary school:


Video from 2008 about the SMART Table:


Below is information about the contest prizes from the SMART Technologies website:

• Grand prize – One SMART Table, valued at US$6,499. Plus, the winning application will be promoted on the SMART website for one year, providing you with the opportunity to establish a revenue stream if users purchase your application.
• First runner-up – The second-place application will be promoted on the SMART website for one year.
• Second runner-up – The third-place application will be promoted on the SMART website for six months

RELATED

SMART Multitouch Application Contest Website

Here you can review the contest guidelines, terms and conditions, review the FAQ's and find out how to enter the contest.  There are two categories.  The Commercial category is for professional and amateur developers, and the Academic is for students and educators affiliated with an educational institution.

MediaTeam's Interactive Wall and Table

Interactive Touchscreens

Interactive Table

Mediateam Interactive Multitouch Table from mediateam on Vimeo.

Wall Screen

Mediateam Interactive Multitouch Screen from mediateam on Vimeo.
Video is from Mediateam

-via NUITEQ

I don't have much information about Mediateam. I think it might be MediaTeam Oulu, but I'm not sure. MediaTeam Oulu has quite a bit of research that focuses on ubiquitous computing.

Facebook Settings and Privacy: Jeff Elder's post. "Walk through Facebook Privacy Settings". A must-read & do!

I use Facebook at least once a day to keep up with relatives, friends, colleagues, colleagues of colleagues, and interest groups.   In many situations, I find that Facebook is much more efficient than relying on e-mail, Twitter, and RSS feeds.  Sad to say, the frequent use of Facebook without regularly inspecting and modifying privacy settings (and other settings) will result in exposing parts of your life to the world, seeming without your informed consent.

One person I rely on for good advice regarding privacy issues and social networking sites is Jeff Elder.  His recent blog post,  "Walk through Facebook privacy settings"  is something I recommend members of Facebook read read and follow.  It might take up to 30 minutes of your time, but the time you spend will be important.

Through blogging, so much of "me" is out there, and this is the case for many others.  Even so, it is important for me to have control over what Jeff Elder calls "the giant peephole".  What people can see through the peephole of Facebook changes, often in the periphery of our awareness, and as a result, we might be sharing more information to others, including marketers, than we would like.

(Jeff Elder is a longtime Charlotte Observer columnist who studied social media on a Knight fellowship at Stanford University, blogs about social media and networking for folks in the Charlotte, NC region.)

Special Effect's on-line Accessible Gamebase network, supporting accessible games for young people with disabilities.

"SpecialEffect is a charity dedicated to helping ALL young people with disabilities to enjoy computer games. For these children, the majority of computer games are simply too quick or too difficult to play, and we can help them and their parents to find out which games they CAN play, and how to adapt those games that they can't."


Here is a video that tells a story of how SpecialEffects created a game for a young woman, Helen, with a motor disability.  Helen operates the computer with her eyes to play against her brother, who uses the touch-screen interface:

If you are interested in supporting accessible games, consider joining Accessible Gamebase, a new on-line community maintained by Special Effect.  Below is the message I recently received from SpecialEffect regarding this opportunity to connect others regarding accessible games:


"Have you been wondering just what it is you could do to get involved with SpecialEffect? Well, that question is answered today with the launch of SpecialEffect's 'accessible Gamebase.

• It deals with all access devices for all physical and learning disabilities - from switch users to eye controllers. 
• It's not just a place for gamers but a place where everyone - carers, gamers, developers and, of course, end-users themselves - can both share information and try out the latest games whether they are seasoned gamers or absolute beginners. 
• It has the potential to be a great training tool, too, and we've already put up some example videos to illustrate how the games are played. 
• As it's based on a social networking model, anyone can easily join up and share information. 
• It tells you not only how to adapt mainstream games for use by everyone but also provides information on which special games are available - and for whom.

All in all, then, it's very much designed to be a place that encourages anyone with an interest in this area to meet to share information and ideas. The proof of the pudding will be in the extent to which people use it, of course, and it will need significant promotion (yes, this will be where we will need your help!) to reach that point of critical mass when, with SpecialEffect's expert input and moderation, it will thrive.

Go to http://www.gamebase.info to sign up and Be a Part of It!"

For a smile: Gain Detergent Container Looks Like Don Norman's User Unfriendly Teapot

The designers who created the Gain detergent container below obviously didn't read "The Design of Everyday Things."

No matter which way you try to pour the darn thing, it still makes a BIG mess. The "spout" is really air vent, I've been told.  More info on The World Is My Interface blog.