One of my interests is pervasive computing, which casts a very wide "web". That's why I like the Web of Things blog. Below is an excerpt from the "About" section of the blog:
"Why do you want to change the Internet? What’s wrong with it? Not much really. It’s just a little boring. It only contains data published by other humans, but it’s not enough linked with our physical reality, not real time / real world enough for our taste!
Why should I read this blog? Well depends how much you care about technology. It’s both for geeks/hackers who need a playground to develop and try ideas. But it’s also for the security expert who wants to take part to make the Web a safer place to hang out. It’s also for people who want to find new ideas."
More about the Web of Things: "The Web of Things is a community of developers, researchers, and designers that explore the future of the physical Web. We explore how to leverage Web standards to interconnect all types of embedded devices (sensors, mobile phones, etc.) in order to make them easier to use and to integrate in classic Web applications. We aim to build a future Web of devices that is truly open, flexible, and scalable, and we believe Web standards are the best way to do it."
Gile Thomas is co-creating a browser-based Python environment, PythonAnywhere, which might support WebGL in the (near?) future.
SOMEWHAT RELATED I'd also like to share some exciting news. A group of Stevens Institute of Technology students are working on a year-long Senior Capstone project, a web-based conversation wheel/social skills game application. The application will be accessed via interactive whiteboards (and other interfaces) for use with students at Wolfe School. They will be using WebGL.
The application targets students with more significant disabilities, including those who have moderate to severe autism, and will help the students learn skills that will be useful on-the-job as they transition to adulthood.
Take a look at theSpace and Culture journal/weblog. Below are links to a few posts: WiFi Measuring Rods, Oslo School of Architecture Making WiFi Visible - Network City Robert Shields, 10/6/11 Note: The above post provides a link to Making 'Immaterials: Light painting WiFi', a post written by Einar Sneve Martinussen the YOUrban blog. YOUrban is a research project at the Institute of Design within the Oslo School of Architecture and Design.
Sound, Space, and the City: Civic Performance in Downtown Los Angeles "In Sound, Space, and the City, Marina Peterson explores the processes-from urban renewal to the performance of ethnicity and the experiences of audiences--through which civic space is created at music performances in downtown Los Angeles."
If you can't make it to San Jose, the conference can be attended "virtually". You can register for the conference via the EventBright website.
Here is the list of speakers and presentations for the conference:
Tamara Schwarz, Senior Manager of Experience Design, Chabot Space & Science Center "RFID-enabled Interactive Exhibits, or... What's a warehouse inventory management technology doing in an interactive science center?" Christopher Stapleton, Creative Venture Catalyst, Simiosys "The Phydgital InterSpace -The Next Generation of Museum User Experience and Workshop: Experiential Makeover for Learning" Jim Spadaccini, Director, Ideum; Principal Investigator, Open Exhibits "Open Exhibits - Community Software for Multi-touch and Motion Recognition" Rick Ernst, Lead Designer, Ogmento "How to get People off the Couch and Interact with the World with Augmented Reality Games" Bob Ketner, Curator, The Tech Test Zone "The Tech Virtual and The Tech Test Zone Open Platforms" John MacDuffie Woodburn, Co-Developer, Pixel, and Graduate Student, University of the Arts, PA, & Matt Miller, Co-Developer, Pixel "Pixel - Using Eye Tracking to Engage and Educate Your Audience" Ross Smith, Ph.D, Deputy Director, Wearable Computer Laboratory, University of South Australia "Bringing Fingertip Sculpting Techniques to the Digital Artist"
Below is an excerpt from the conference website: "Join us on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 for a gathering of the most innovative developers of new interactive technologies at The Tech Museum's Test Zone 2011...Connect with entrepreneurs, developers, and researchers working on cutting-edge interfaces such as: Augmented Reality Context Aware Deformable Surfaces Eye Tracking Feedback Gestural Interfaces Gigapixel Images Motion Sensing Multi-touch Natural User Interfaces RFID Smart Museum Systems Tablet Computers Ubiquitous Media
Find out how museums and other public-space designers can use these technologies to enhance visitor learning and experience. Experience the interactives firsthand at the opening of The Tech Test Zone Gallery, a new gallery dedicated to temporary exhibitions of prototypes from corporate, academic, and nonprofit partners."
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About the Tech Museum:
"The Tech Museum is a hands-on technology and science museum for people of all ages and backgrounds. The museum-located in the Capital of Silicon Valley -is a non-profit learning resource established to engage people in exploring and experiencing technologies affecting their lives. Through programs such as The Tech Challenge presented by Cisco, our annual team design competition for youth, and internationally renowned programs such as The Tech Awards presented by Applied Materials, Inc., The Tech Museum celebrates the present and encourages the development of innovative ideas for a more promising future." -Tech Museum YouTube Channel
I'll have to admit, I no longer consider myself an early adopter. I put off exploring the Google Chrome Web Store until.... today. Most of my recent explorations have centered on discovering great apps for my iDevices, but since I'm a cross-platform, cross-device, transmedia type of person, I could not neglect the world of interactive web apps!
Here is a screen shot of the educational web apps from the Google Chrome Web Store:
After you select a few web apps, you can access them from your Chrome browser by selecting a new tab or new window. The screen shot below shows the apps I've currently chosen to explore:
I have an HP TouchSmart, and I found that many of the web app worked out OK with touch interaction, even 3D "rotate and pan". My hunch is that many of the web apps will work fine on an interactive whiteboard.
I took a quick look at the MeeGenius! Children's Books interactive web app and was pleasantly surprised. This web app is a talking book that highlights each word as it is spoken. A human voice is used for the narration.
I'm looking forward to getting into work early on Monday to see what web apps work well on the SMARTboard!
