Like Neil Steinberg once said, "Dude, Where's My Video Phone?"

When I was a little girl, I was into science fiction, and one of the things I always wanted was my very own video phone. Long after I grew up, along came broadband Internet. I was disappointed. Skype was not exactly what I hoped for, and the newest "innovations", apparently designed to counter the decline in land-line phones, do not match my sci-fi dreams.

The following article provides a history about the video phone, and some insight about why this concept was never adopted by the masses:

"Dude, Where's My Video Phone" Neil Steinberg, 10/15/07, Forbes

Below are a few examples of the current state of affairs regarding the world of video phones:

i2eye, from D-Link, is a videophone that looks like it would be easy to use for a grandparent who doesn't have a computer.

The thing is, most grandparents of young babies are probably in their 50's, or maybe in their early 60's. According to study by Scarborough Research, conducted in 2006-07, about 74% of adults 55 years and older own a computer. All a grandparent needs to do is download something like Skype, plug in a $40.00 webcam, and things are good to go.



The ASUS Eee Videophone uses Skype. (For the uninitiated, Skype is available for free and is adequate for my video phone needs.) The following demonstration video provides information about the ways it can be used and how users interact with the interface. Please excuse the rather boring music looping in the background of the demo.



The ACN Videophone was recently featured on Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice. Below is a videoclip of the phone in action, along with it's advanced features that allow you to project audio and video to a larger screen.



I found the promo video for the ACN video phone, featuring Donald Trump, a bit amusing. Apparently the ACN video phone is distributed through multi-level marketing.



If you are a Verizon subscriber, you probably have heard of the "Hub". Verizon came out with the VerizonHub a couple of months ago, and I was hoping to get my hands on one before writing a review. When I learned that it had a touch-screen interface, but did not provide direct access to the web, I was not in a hurry. My dream version of the "hub" would have this feature.

For more information, you can "interact" with a simulation of the phone online: "Get a Feel for the Verizon Hub"

Detailed information about the Verizon Hub can be found on the product's home page: Welcome to the Home Phone Reinvented

Here is something I found that was a bit puzzling:

The above pictures are of the Amstrad videophone, which I think debuted in 2004. The touchscreen offers a variety of options. This phone looks like it was designed by a committee that decided to incorporate ALL the ideas that were brainstormed by the team. There is the traditional phone button interface, a set of qwerty buttons that mimic what you would find on a text-messaging teen's cell phone, and a slide-out qwerty keyboard for the elders and others who have pudgier fingers. Of course, you can always use the touch screen interface!

ElderGadget Blog

Via Technology-Supported Human World Interaction

Today I came across the ElderGadget Blog when I was searching for technology that might be helpful to my father, who recently spent the last few weeks in an intensive care unit.

Here are a few things I found on the blog, including what I found when I followed a link to the bindependent website:

Smart Table: A Broadband Communication System for the Elderly


ID Studiolab, Delft University of Technology, NL
"The smart system is aimed to prevent possible social isolation between elderly people and their social contacts. It consists of the Smart Table and the Smart Messenger, which provide easy and intuitive way for elderly people to benefit from the advantage of communication technology and improve the satisfaction of their social activities."

"During the design research, a working prototype is made and evaluated by a user test. The Smart Table offers people a way to use broadband communication without the need for a computer. The television will be used for video communication (web-cam) and the table as user-interface. On the table contact persons can be selected and images and video can be shared. The elderly person can capture images that will be shared instantly. The contact person can select images from his or her computer, which will be projected on the table of the elderly person". (TU Delft - Faculty Industrial Design Engineering - Master Design for Interaction - Project Interactive Technology Design - Vincent Steurs & Juin-Yi Huang)


Demy Kitchen Safe Touchscreen Reader



Photo Watch


Clarity-C900: Amplified Big Button Cell Phone

911 Guardian: "Tiny wearable speakerphone"


Extra Large TV Remote Control

SmartShopper: Electronic grocery-list maker



Bierley's ColorMouse Video Magnifier

Voice Pod: Digital recording and playback system

RELATED

Live from CES - Dakim's Brain Fitness Keeps Seniors Sharp

Dakim Brain Games

Previous post: Ubiquitous Computing - Grandpa and grandkids use a webcam and Skype across the miles

YouTube Vlogger: Geriatric1927

Geriatric Gripes and Grumbles

YDreams: Interactive Experiences, Real Time Interaction with Augmented Reality Characters

YDreams is doing some interesting things. Watch the delight on this little girl's face as she plays with an avatar in mixed reality, viewed on a large display:


YDreams on Vimeo.

More from YDreams:
"...Flapi, YDreams' in-house mascot, and other virtual characters interact in real-time with a little girl and other physical obstacles in a new seamless augmented playground environment."


Photo from YDreams Lab
"YLabs’ main focus is on Reality Computing, which uses new technologies such as mobile computing, augmented reality and ubiquitous interactivity to bridge the distance between the user, information and the machine, in a physical, post-browser environment, where the real and the digital come together."


This is a photo of YDream's Architek's yMagic Books. Architek is used to create interactive digital content, including children's storybooks that are manipulated on a touch-screen.


This is a demonstration of Architek's yWalk, an immersive virtual playground that can be vertically projected onto soft mats and floors.

The Architek software provides information about user interaction. yWalk looks like it might be useful for occupational or physical therapists in their work with young children.

Interesting work!

More Interactive Physics: Crayon Physics Deluxe - Trailer from Kloonigames

Kloonigame's Crayon Physics Deluxe is a fun, interactive physics game that works well on a touch screen. It is not as complex as Algodoo, as it doesn't require the player to interact with lots of settings.

The above video is of the commercial version of the game. It is a labor of love by Petri Purho, of Helsinki, Finland. You can find Petri's games on the Kloonigame's website, including the free version. Crayon Physics won an award at the 2008 Independent Games Festival.

Website: Kloonigames
Article: Indulge your inner child with 'Crayon Physics': Wonderful game looks like it was plucked from a 5-year-old's coloring book (Winda Benedetti, MSNBC 1/13/09)

Touch TV Networks Demo using Windows 7 a NextWindow display

Here is a short video demonstration of a Touch TV Networks demo on a display using a NextWindow touch screen. It looks like it was built using Windows 7. I understand that it was created by people with former Microsoft connections.

<a href="http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?vid=74b3a821-3e82-4b50-bc64-04ae4b75bdaf" target="_new" title="Touch TV Networks Demo at Microsoft REC">Video: Touch TV Networks Demo at Microsoft REC</a>

For more information, take a look at the Touch TV Networks website.

Update from Multi-Touch Barcelona and Guten Touch: Multi-Touch Space Invaders

Multitouch Space Invaders Basic Demo from multitouch-barcelona on Vimeo..

For more sights and sounds from this group, visit the Red Bull Music Academy Barcelona 2008 website.

For more about multi-touch technology, including DYI instructions for creating multi-touch tables and displays, open-source code,and tutorials, visit the NUI Group website.

Video of touch interaction on a HP TouchSmart, with NextWindow's Gesture Server Technology

Here is a short video clip of some TouchSmart interaction:



The video shows the new NextWindow Gesture Server Application.

Info from the NextWindow website:

"NextWindow Gesture Server Application in conjunction with a NextWindow touch screen enables two-touch gestures to be used on the Microsoft Windows Vista desktop and certain applications.

You perform a gesture by double-tapping or dragging two fingers on the touch surface. The Gesture Server interprets these actions as commands to the operating system. For example a two-touch vertical drag on the Vista desktop can adjust the computer's audio volume control up or down as required."

Also from the website:

Vertical scroll: drag two fingers up or down the touch screen.

Horizontal scroll: drag two fingers left or right on the touch screen.

Zoom: move two fingers apart or together.

Double Tap: double-tap two fingers on screen.

"You can enable or disable the two-touch functionality and adjust the sensitivity of each of the four two-touch gestures. You can also select the command that is executed with the double-tap gesture."

Data and Information Visualization Resources for Economics, Finance, and the Current Crisis

I posted a variety of links to data and information visualization resources that might be helpful to those of you who are interested in exploring our current economic crisis:

Economic Sights and Sounds: Links to Data and Information Visualization resources for Economics, Finance, and the Current Crisis

I'm using the Economic Sights and Sounds blog as a repository of information and links for use in a collaborative interactive multimedia time-line of events surrounding the current situation.

Microsoft Surface and the Nintendo Wii?! Interesting mashup from Stimulant

Stimulant: Microsoft Surface + Nintendo Wii Mashup from Stimulant on Vimeo.


Stimulant, a company that has partnered with Microsoft to develop applications for the Surface multi-touch table:

"What do you get when you mash-up Microsoft Surface with a Wii Balance Board? Pressure-sensitive surface computing! Yes, the Surface is sitting directly on the Balance Board (it supports 600 pounds, we checked). Here, Josh demonstrates a simple application that lets users create bubbles of various sizes and roll them around the table using pressure on the edges of the Surface. You also get a sneak peek at the WPF/Silverlight physics engine we've been working on as well. Pressure sensitivity adds an extra dimension to the Surface experience and opens new doors on an already highly advanced platform."

I'd like to learn more about Stimulant's other Surface experiments!

Nintendo Wii

SynergyNet Project: Multi-touch tables and displays designed for education...

Rich White at Greenbush Labs is a strong supporter of interactive whiteboards and displays through his work with EduSim, an interactive 3-D virtual collaborative environment. Here is a link to one of his most recent posts about SynergyNet, a multi-touch table that is designed for use in education:

In the Classroom of the Future: Every Desk is an Interactive Surface



"SynergyNet will integrate ICT into the fabric of the classroom. The new desk with a ‘multi-touch’ surface will be the central component; the desks will be networked and linked to a main smartboard offering new opportunities for teaching and collaboration."

"Several students will be able to work together at a desk as the desks allow simultaneous screen contact by multiple users using fingers or pens. Durham researchers want to create a ‘natural way’ for students to use computers in class. The system encourages collaboration between students and teachers, and a move away from teacher-centric learning."

More about the SynergyNet project:

Smart desks make sci-fi a reality in the classroom

Research is underway at Durham University, located in the UK, to see how the interactive tables can support learning IT concepts. According to the SynergyNet project website, the goals of the research are as follows:

• Aim 1: To create a radically new technology-rich learning environment that integrates with traditional classroom layouts and collective activities.
• Aim 2: To design and implement a new form of user interface for educational multi-touch systems.
• Aim 3: To formulate a new pedagogy that eases transition and movement between teacher-centric and pupil-centric interaction.
• Aim 4: To analyse pupils’ learning strategies to inform fundamental research by capturing data as pupils use the SynergyNet environment.

"The system will also boost equal access in school. In IT, we have found that males have been the dominant actors - interactive classrooms will encourage more females to take part in lessons. It will also enable more disabled students to participate in lessons and allow more personalized learning." - Dr. Elizabeth Burd, Principle Investigator, Director of Active Learning in Computing

Related:
jME Physics - the open-source java-based physics engine used in the SynergyNet system

jMonkeyEngine - the open-source java-based game engine use in the SynergyNet system (the video below contains some clips from the SynergyNet project)

Pupils test multi-touch screens
(BBC Article)

Microsoft Surface's Hotel Concierge Application: Let's see an affordable Surface, deployed in classrooms and libraries!

Microsoft Surface at the Sheraton Hotel:



Think how this could play out in classrooms, libraries, information centers, and other public spaces.

Need I say more?

(Cross posted on TechPsych and Technology-Supported Human-World Interaction blogs)

More Multi-touch: Dell's Latitude XT tablet now comes with a multi-touch upgrade!

This is exciting news for multi-touch enthusiasts. Dell's Latitude XT tablet now offers a free multi-touch upgrade, according to a recent Engadget post, written by Paul Miller. Here is some information from Dell's website:

Dell Propels Laptop Innovation with First Multi-touch Convertable Tablet, Larger Solid State Drive

A word of caution about the following video demonstrating the mutli-touch capabilities of Dell's Lattitude XT. The guys presenting aren't related to Jeff Hans. You won't see the "Wow" factor that creative multi-touch applications can provide.




Photo from NotebookReview.com:


"The new capabilities include:

Scroll – by placing two fingers on the screen and moving them horizontally or vertically customers can easily navigate in web browsers and productivity applications. Zoom – by touching the screen with two fingers and moving them together customers can zoom various content in and out, such as pictures or Web pages. Programmable double-tap – customers can program a command, such as launching a Web browser or turning the screen off to save power, that will respond to two taps with two fingers." From an earlier post on the Dell website: "The Latitude XT is designed with the future in mind with the capability to support multi-touch. As the technology matures, the system can serve as a premiere development platform for applications that can take advantage of multi-touch." “By integrating our DuoSense technology into the Latitude XT, Dell creates the ultimate machine destined to lead the tablet PC market,” said Amihai Ben-David, CEO of N-trig. “Customers using the new Latitude XT will find that the zero pressure touch combined with the accurate stylus changes the usability of tablet PCs. Once they try it, they won’t want to go back.” The multi-touch gesture upgrade should be available by Tuesday, July 15th, 2008, at http://support.dell.com. No need to wait until Microsoft unleashes Windows 7, right? I think we'll need developers to create cool interactive websites that are fully optimized for multi-touch interaction, don't you? I have a few ideas for online games and more. Multi-touch technology certainly has a place in education. I would love to use this with some of the students with autism that I work with. (A donation towards my multi-touch technology fund would be greatly appreciated.)

Off-topic: Now I know why some people think I'm a Microsoft shill!

A while ago, I posted a response on another blog, and someone mistakenly thought that I was a Microsoft shill. Me?!

Now I know why.



When I was looking at my blog stats, I noticed that one of my visitors found a recent post via a Google search on microsoft new interactive technology. Curiously, the post was at the very top of the list:

New Interactive Technology: Tag Galaxy, Windows 7, PaperVision 3D, Microsoft Surface, Touch Screens, and Blog Posts Revisited

Results 1 - 10 of about 29,600,000 for microsoft new interactive technology. (0.12 seconds)

How did my post beat out over 29 million pages on the web?!

I've had an Apple computer, in one form or another, since 1985. When I decided to take a programming class a few years ago, I soon realized I had to adapt to the Windows world. I like C#, Silverlight, WPF, and XNA Game Studio. This does not make me a Microsoft shill.

I just happen to be overly passionate about interactive displays of all sizes, and fascinated with the possibilities of mult-touch. iPhones, touch-tables, touch-walls, devices that interact with displays (think Johnny Chung Lee), gesture + touch, urban screens, interactive exhibits, interactive way-finding... and the multimedia applications that support this sort of interaction.

I've written several posts about Apple's new technologies, like the iPod Touch and the new 3G iPhone. I'll be writing more about Apple as they research and develop flat panel displays:

"Apple is looking for a Senior Panel Process Engineer to lead the engineering activities to develop the new process and design for the multi-touch panel used in Apple products. This individual will serve as a focal point in the designing and the process development of advanced multi-touch panels from the concept to the product ramp."

I'd say I'm more of a cheerleader for all of those out there who are working so hard to create useful+cool technology for the future.

Update:
The Next Generation HP TouchSmart PC
The new TouchSmart PC's, which can display high definition content, aren't out on the market yet. HP is taking pre-orders.

NextWindow, a company that produces large interactive touch-screen displays, including those with multi-touch capabilities, was responsible for the touch-screen embedded in the TouchSmart PC.

Related:

HP Redefines Home Computing, Putting the Digital Lifestyle at People's Fingertips with New TouchSmart PC's

HP Introduces World's First Affordable Color-critical Display

Touch Screen Interaction and Usability in Public Spaces: Link

If you are interested in what is happening with interactive displays in public spaces, you can find a description of the technology used at the Ballantyne Village center in Charlotte, N.C., along with video clips and my critique, on the Technology Supported Human-World Interaction blog.

Its a great concept, but as you can see from the unedited video clips of my frustrating interactions with large touch screen displays, there is much more work to be done in this arena.

Cross Post from technology-supported human-world interaction blog: Interactive large-screen visitor information/concierge

This video is a news clip about interactive visitor kiosks in Kern County, California, designed to promote tourism in the region. Using a large touch-screen display, people have access to a wide range of information, displayed in a multi-media format. One of the featured displays is NextWindow's 2800 "Rugged Integrated Touch Panel", developed to withstand environmental wear and tear, with software developed by JupiterBay.




How it works:


Related Link:

Outdoor Interactive Displays Highlight Technology Collaboration

Top 15 interactive display technologies -Gizmo Watch

My HCI project prototype would be something fun to interact with on one of these kiosks!



I'd love to see interactive displays in parks, museums, libraries, malls, schools, hospitals, waiting rooms, hotel lobbies, cruise ships... Wouldn't it be great if these displays could interact with cell phones and PDA's?

3D Collaborative Applications for Interactive Displays and Whiteboards: Croquet, EduSim

EduSim is an application for use on interactive whiteboards and displays, created using Croquet.

According to Julian Lombardi, Duke University's Assistant Vice President of Academic Services and Technology Support and Senior Research Scholar with the Information Science + Information Studies, "Croquet is a powerful new open source software development environment for creating and deploying deeply collaborative multi-user online applications on multiple operating systems and devices. Derived from Squeak, it features a peer-based network architecture that supports communication, collaboration, resource sharing, and synchronous computation between multiple users on multiple devices. Using Croquet, software developers can create and link powerful and highly collaborative cross-platform multi-user 2D and 3D applications and simulations - making possible the distributed deployment of very large scale, richly featured and interlinked virtual environments."

EduSim "How To" Videoclips

EduSim Videos
Croquet Screenshots

Related Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Multimedia Learning, edited by Richard E. Mayer, provides a good framework to support the importance of learning and interacting with multimedia.

According to information from the book, "Multimedia learning is defined as learning from words (e.g., spoken or printed text) and pictures (e.g., illustrations, photos, maps, graphs, animation, or video)... Multimedia environments included on-line instructional presentations, interactive lessons, e-courses, simulation games, virtual reality, and computer-supported in-class presentations...The Cambridge Handbook of Multimedia Learning seeks to establish what works (i.e., to determine which features of a multimedia lesson affect learning), to explain how it works (i.e., to ground research in cognitive theory), and to consider when and where it works (i.e., to explore the implications of research for practice)".

Detailed post about NextWindow on the Future-Making Serious Games Blog

Elaine Alhadeff's has an extensive post about the various uses for NextWindow touch-screen displays on her Future-Making Serious Games blog. Take a look!

About Displays: Double Sided Touch Screens -LucidTouch

I recently discovered the Display Daily website, a news services about the electronic display industry from Insight Media.

If you are interested in learning more about displays and related hardware that supports interactive multimedia applications, take a look at their recent article about double-sided touch screens.

LucidTouch is a double-sided touch screen prototype that allows people to touch items from behind the screen. The prototype was developed by Microsoft, Mitsubishi, and the University of Toronto. It will be interesting to see how this technology unfolds.

Savant's "Rosie" Interactive Table

Savant, an A/V home entertainment and control systems company, has announced "Rosie", a coffee table similar to Microsoft's new "Surface".

Introduction to Rosie
(after the intro, click on "coffee table")

According to information from the Savant website, the Rosie table has interactive multimedia features that "include integration and interaction with iTunes multimedia content, digital cameras, IP network cameras, business card readers, and many more digital devices on the horizon."

If anyone has information about the availability and pricing of the Rosie table, please leave a comment. I'd like to see if any of my touch-screen projects-in-process look on this display. I'm impressed by the features and sensitivity of the NextWindow Human Touch displays - I wonder if the Rosie will match the same level of quality.

At the moment, I'm working on some applications for use on touch-enabled displays/surfaces for education/literacy, cooperative learning activities, and adapted instruction and assessments for students who have special needs.

iPod Touch Possibilities....I want one!

I'd like an iPod Touch...here is the guided tour:



The iPod Touch is WiFi enabled, which opens up a range of creative possibilities for creative multimedia communication. I'd like to create some web-based applications optimized for the iPod Touch for use in education, health, mental health, and prevention - mobile learning and self-help.

UPDATE: 6/08

The new 3G iPhone: Expanding the Possibilities of Interactive Multimedia Communication