"Computer-based interactive exhibits are undergoing a major transformation. The lone, single-user kiosk is now being replaced by multitouch tables and walls, motion-capture spaces, networked installations, and RFID-based exhibits. Advances in augmented reality, voice recognition, eye tracking, and other technologies promise even more radical change for exhibits in the near future."
I've been following Jim's journey with Ideum, a multimedia design firm that collaborates with museums and related non-profits, for many years, and I am impressed with the work of this company. In addition to his work at Ideum, Jim serves as the Principal Investigator of a National-Science Foundation sponsored open-source exhibit software project, Open Exhibits, which provides a free software development kit that supports the creation of multi-touch and multi-user software applications for museums and educational settings.
I'm happy to put in a plug for Ideum's latest product, the MT55 Platform Multi-Touch Table. It incorporates a range of features that I'm sure will meet the needs of museum visitors. In my opinion, this table would be a fantastic resource for all types of libraries, including those in K-12 settings.
The MT55 Platform Multi-touch Table, from Ideum
The MT55 Platform Multitouch Table from Ideum on Vimeo. (Note: This video features music by Moby, the track "Sevastopol" on his current album, Destroyed. The music was used with the artists' permission. Learn more at: moby.com") - Ideum
"The thinnest, largest, most powerful multitouch table available.The MT55 Platform multitouch table houses a powerful computer and a 55-inch interactive LCD display that responds to 32 touch-points, inside a rugged aluminum body."
"The bright 55″ 1920×1080 HD display has a 5,000,000:1 contrast ratio. A wide 178-degree viewing angle accommodates multiple users around the table. The optical multitouch system supports 32 simultaneous touch points for collaborative interaction. The system is multitouch-enabled from start-up, and runs Windows 7 64-bit professional edition."
"The integrated computer is packed with power. It contains an Intel® Hyper-Threaded DualCore i5® which runs at 2.66 GHz, 8GB of RAM, and a 128 GB solid-state drive (upgradeable to an i7®)."
"The table comes complete with WIFI, Bluetooth, and Ethernet connectivity. It also has multiple HDMI outputs that allow you to easily mirror the table's display, extend the desktop, or connect to and display from another computer or HDMI device."
"Convenient, but secure ports: CAT5, HDMI, and USB 2.0 are available on both the side on bottom the table."
"The MT55 Platform includes blue LED under-lights to illuminate the area beneath the interactive surface (custom LED colors are available). Every MT table includes a sophisticated internal cooling cell to maintain operating conditions that exceed the optimum environmental specifications for the internal components."
"The interactive surface of the MT55 Platform protected by a sheet of hardened, crystal clear, low-iron 5mm tempered glass surface...As an option, we offer Sevasa HapticGlas®, produced exclusively for Ideum. Micro-etched HapticGlas® provides tactile feedback, reduces fingerprints, increases scratch resistance, and directs user focus." -Ideum RELATED High-res photos of the MT55 Platform GestureWorks Software Open Exhibits Ideum Open Exhibits Tuio Kinect
We no longer are prisoners of the world of printed words and paper. In the digital world, technological innovations are rapidly transforming the way we learn, read, interact with information, and share knowledge. How does this bode for the future of libraries?
What sort thinking, discussion, and collaborations will be necessary to ensure that everyone has free access to information/knowledge/wisdom?
If you are a regular reader of this blog, or if you are a first time visitor, you might be interested in some of the topics planned for the upcoming Worldwide Library 2.011 conference, which will be held online on November 2-3, 2011.
STRAND 1: "Libraries" - The Roles of Libraries in Today’s World
STRAND 2: "Librarians and Information Professionals" - Evolving Professional Roles in Today’s World
STRAND 3: "Information Organization"
STRAND 4: "Access and Delivery"
STRAND 5: "Learning" - Digital Age Learning Cultures
STRAND 6: "Content and Creation" - Changes in Accessing and Organizing Information
More information regarding the strands can be found below.
I encourage readers to think seriously about participating in this conference- the CFP below provides links for people to volunteer in a variety of ways:
Worldwide Library 2.011 Conference - Call for Presentations
This is our official call for presentations for the Library 2.011 conference, November 2 - 3, 2011. The conference will be held online, in multiple time zones over the course of two days, and will be free to attend. We encourage all to participate, and ask that you share this information where appropriate. Presentation submission instructions are at http://www.library20.com/pages/call-for-proposals.
The Library 2.011 conference will be a unique chance to participate in a global conversation on the current and future state of libraries. The conference strands are at the bottom of this email. Session proposals will be posted on the conference website, and we encourage making comments to and connecting with others based on their session proposals, as well as "voting" for session using the "like" button on the submissions. Session proposals are due September 15, and session acceptances will be communicated by September 30.
You may submit more than one session, but priority will be given to providing as many presenters as possible the chance to present before accepting additional sessions from a particular presenter. Sessions should be planned to be at least 20 minutes or more in length, and all sessions must be completed (including Q&A) within one hour. All sessions will be held in Blackboard Collaborate (previously Elluminate/Wimba). Presenters will be responsible for being familiar enough with the program to present. There is very good recorded training we will send you, as well as providing a number of live training sessions where you can ask questions. To practice you can also sign up for the free 3-person Collaborate room at http://www.LearnCentral.org. Please note that all sessions will be recorded and quickly made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License (for more information, see http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/). By submitting to present you are agreeing to these terms.
Session proposals are to be non-commercial. Interest in commercial sponsorship or presentations should be directed to Steve Hargadon at steve@hargadon.com.
Additionally, there are other ways to also participate in the conference! If you want to be a conference volunteer, be sure to join the volunteer group athttp://www.library20.com/group/library2011conferencemoderatorvolunteers. Volunteers will help us to advertise/promote the conference as broadly as possible, and will also be needed to help moderate actual conference sessions. You can either be familiar with Blackboard Collaborate (formerly Elluminate, and the event platform), or we will have training sessions to help you become familiar if this is something you would like to do.
If you'd like to apply to be on our international advisory board, please sign up athttp://www.library20.com/page/international-advisory-board. The advisory board members are asked to promote both participation and attendance at the conference, to help us find partner organizations in their regions, to help train and support presenters in their geographical region and local languages, and if possible to help moderate sessions during the actual conference.
Your organization can also apply to be a conference partner! We actively encourage non-commercial organizations that are primarily or substantively focused on libraries, librarians, librarianship, or library programs to become conference partners at http://www.library20.com/page/conference-partners.
Organizations will be listed with a link, logo, and a short description and will be provided with a "spotlight" speaker session in the conference. There are no financial obligations for being a partner organization. Our goal for the conference is to have it be a milestone event, bringing together organizations and individuals from all over the world--so in return for recognizing organizations as partners, we ask that they actively promote the conference to their membership, and encourage participation as well as presentations submissions. Please let your organizations know about this opportunity.
We are very excited about this conference, and look forward to your participation!
STRAND 1: "Libraries" - The Roles of Libraries in Today’s World Example Topics: Libraries as community centers Libraries as learning commons Serving distributed and distance users The library as a space versus the library as a service Library privatization issues
STRAND 2: "Librarians and Information Professionals" - Evolving Professional Roles in Today’s World Example Topics: Librarians as Leaders Library and Information Professional Careers in a Networked and Changing World Embedded librarians Applying library and information science skills in a variety of venues Advocacy and building influence (professionally and institutionally)
STRAND 3: "Information Organization" Example Topics: Social organization of information Subject gateways, online catalogs, and portals Metadata: creation, storage, management, dissemination, harvesting and aggregating RDA Library automation / management software / integrated library systems
STRAND 4: "Access and Delivery" Example Topics: Digital media and the e-book revolution Social networking use (social networking media for outreach and service promotion, location-based mobile social networks, etc.) Emerging technology use (augmented reality, QR codes, mobile apps and delivery, etc.) The changing roles of publishers Working with vendors in the digital age Conflicts between privacy and freedom of speech in a hyperlinked world Measuring and assessing: determining the effectiveness of access and service delivery Outsourcing
STRAND 5: "Learning" - Digital Age Learning Cultures Example Topics: New learning models and the role of the librarian and information professional The growth of individualized and self-paced learning Multiliteracies : digital literacy, visual literacy, media literacy, information literacy
STRAND 6: "Content and Creation" - Changes in Accessing and Organizing Information Example Topics: From Information Consumption to Co-creation and Production Digital copyright and licensing Open educational resources Open Source Software Multimedia creation and gaming spaces
AR FOR THE LIBRARY (Supports productivity for librarians) The article below discusses an Android-based app developed by Miami Unversity's Augmented Reality Research Group: Awesome Augmented Reality App Could Save Librarians HoursAudrey Watters, ReadWriteWeb, 3/27/11 In the related video, Dr. Bo Brinkman (Miami University-Ohio) demonstrates the prototype AR app using a Samsung Galaxy Tab:
Although there are probably more creative ways to use AR in libraries, this application is a start!
INTERACTIVE PRESENTATION APP Make musical slideshows in minutes - switch accessible too!Barbara Landsberb, Spectronics Blog, 12/17/10 Slideshow Maker was designed to work on a range of displays, including touch screens. It it easy to use. Slideshow Maker Manual (1.8 MB) Note: SlideshowMaker was not yet available in the US at the time of the above post. If I find a video about Slideshow Maker, I will post it here.
HEALTH CARE The article below is a must-read for anyone thinking about developing applications for health care professionals, clinics, hospitals, patients, etc. In my opinion, it is very important to look at the "Big Picture", especially for techies who are responsible for information architecture in this field. For the Future of Health Care Design, Look Beyond the HospitalFast Company Design, 3/25/11 "Here, Jean Mah and Robin Guenther, two health-care design experts at architecture firm Perkins + Will, look at what the future holds for our health care systems." -Ed. (Fast Company)
BIG DATA In the article below, the topic of "Big Data" is addressed. Low power computing solutions are needed in order to handle the number-crunching and information visualization tasks necessary for humans to understand and effectively make use of "Big Data".
The TellTable is a collaborative digital storytelling application designed for Microsoft's Surface interactive multi-user multi-touch table. It was used by children in a school library in the UK, and was quite successful. The video below provides an overview about the way the TellTable worked. I think every school library/media center should have something like this!
"TellTable, a system developed in the Soci-Digital Systems group, uses Microsoft Surface technology to provide an interactive storytelling experience, similar to how children would tell stories using physical toys. Children can create various digital characters and sceneries on Surface, made out of photos taken of real world objects and environments as well as finger paintings. By manipulating these characters using multi-touch gestures, children can narrate, act and record imaginative stories together, before sharing them with friends later on.
TellTable was deployed in a primary school, and received overwhelmingly positive feedback. It has seen crowds of kids create stories featuring characters as diverse as Ninja chickens and rampaging teddy bears. Teachers were also enthusiastic about the potential of TellTable as an education tool, to help children develop communication skills and to create interactive tutorials when teaching foreign languages." -- Microsoft Research UK
The Public Library of Charlotte Mecklenburg is has developed a gaming program and has recently established a space at SecondLife for Teens. (For more information, see my post on the TechPsychblog.) The PLCMC offers teen gaming events at various libraries throughout the county, and a Gaming Zone for all ages at the main library's Virtual Village. The library has a set of new AlienWare laptop computers, used for LAN parties:
I'd like to see the library purchase Dimenxian, a 3D game that teaches Algebra. It has multiplayer capabilities, so it would be great on the new AlienWare LAN system. For more information, see the Tabula Digita site.
ImaginOn, the children and teen's main library, offers many opportunities that involve technology, including a video production studio, Studio i. The library offers workshops such as " Take Photos for Your Webpage" , "Make MySpace Photos Come to Life", and events such as a Dance Dance Revolution tournament, Family Gaming Night, and video game club meetings.
If you don't know what is going on at the library these days, I urge you to find out! Share this information with parents, colleagues, and the young people in your life.
