The picture below was posted on the Shakeout blog, and shows children gathered around Microsoft's Surface at the recent BETT 2009 educational technology conference in the UK. Read "Interesting tidbits from BETT 2009" for more information.
Jan 20, 2009
Baby Multi-Touch Interaction on a Win7 HP TouchSmartPC running BabySmash.
I'm preparing myself to explore the multi-touch potential of my HP TouchSmart PC with the beta version of Win7, Microsoft's newest operating system. While I was searching for information, I came across this cute video of a baby interacting with the touch-screen. The dad in the video is software developer Kurt Brockett.
The application is BabySmash, a free application created by Scott Hanselman for his little ones. If you are interested in learning more about how BabySmash was created, see Scott's 6-part tutorial, "Learning WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation) with BabySmash". It includes information about incorporating speech synthesis into the application. The BabySmash! source code can be found on the CodePlex site. Ideas for improving the application can be found on the BabySmash! feedback forum.
I have lots of ideas for touch screen interaction applications for kids of all ages. Please leave a comment if you have a TouchSmart and working with Win7, or plan to do so in the future.
The application is BabySmash, a free application created by Scott Hanselman for his little ones. If you are interested in learning more about how BabySmash was created, see Scott's 6-part tutorial, "Learning WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation) with BabySmash". It includes information about incorporating speech synthesis into the application. The BabySmash! source code can be found on the CodePlex site. Ideas for improving the application can be found on the BabySmash! feedback forum.
I have lots of ideas for touch screen interaction applications for kids of all ages. Please leave a comment if you have a TouchSmart and working with Win7, or plan to do so in the future.
More Multi-touch Multimedia: Video demonstration of applications created with Snowflake and Flash
This video showcases the work of Natural User Interface-AB, using NUI Suite 1.0 Snowflake and Flash.
Here is the plug from the company's website:
"Natural User Interface (NUI) is a Swedish innovative emerging technology company specializing in commercially available advanced multi-touch software, hardware and service solutions. NUI's solutions can convert an ordinary surface into an interactive, appealing and intelligent display that creates a stunning user experience."
For more information and links:
For Techies and the Tech Curious: Multi-touch/Gesture from the NUI-Group
Search this blog!
Jan 19, 2009
Touch Screen Interaction in Public Spaces: Room for Improvement, if "Every Surface is to be a Computer"
Via Technology Supported Human-World Interaction
With Win7's "multi-touch" capabilities, Bill Gate's statement that every surface will be a computer might come true, but from what I can see, we have a long way to go before we get it right!
One of the concerns I have about "touch" screen interaction in public spaces is that not much thought is given to the environmental factors surrounding the system. The system that is tested for the first time after installation might work just fine, but not when it is put to use under a variety of conditions or situations.
EXAMPLES (I've recycled a few of these from previous posts.)
With Win7's "multi-touch" capabilities, Bill Gate's statement that every surface will be a computer might come true, but from what I can see, we have a long way to go before we get it right!
One of the concerns I have about "touch" screen interaction in public spaces is that not much thought is given to the environmental factors surrounding the system. The system that is tested for the first time after installation might work just fine, but not when it is put to use under a variety of conditions or situations.
EXAMPLES (I've recycled a few of these from previous posts.)
Touch Screen Kiosk/Display in Upscale Shopping Area, St. Thomas(?)
I came across this system when I was walking around in St. Thomas with my husband. I wasn't sure what to make of it. There wasn't anything on the large display, and I couldn't tell from a short distance if the two smaller displays were active. I noticed that the display had an awning of sorts, so the fact that the display would be used in a sunny location had been considered. Unfortunately, the awning didn't solve this problem, as you can see from the pictures below:
The following clip demonstrates how environmental concerns, such as wind and "sideways" rain, can make an interactive display at a shopping center difficult to use. During this clip, you can hear me muttering about the difficulties I had interacting with the information on the touch-screen display. It is possible that the system wasn't working well because of the exposure to the elements.
CLOSER UP
As we approached the display, it was almost impossible to see what was on the screen. In fact, we weren't sure what the display was all about. It looked like something you'd see at an airport check-in, not in a lush tropical setting.
Below is a shot of my husband, trying to see what is on the screen. This photo shows exactly what the screen looked like at the time:
The next picture tells it all. You can see that there is some sort of alphabet on the right side of the screen, but the reflection of my husband is easier to see. We couldn't figure this one out.
Below is a shot of my husband, trying to see what is on the screen. This photo shows exactly what the screen looked like at the time:
The next picture tells it all. You can see that there is some sort of alphabet on the right side of the screen, but the reflection of my husband is easier to see. We couldn't figure this one out.
The following clip demonstrates how environmental concerns, such as wind and "sideways" rain, can make an interactive display at a shopping center difficult to use. During this clip, you can hear me muttering about the difficulties I had interacting with the information on the touch-screen display. It is possible that the system wasn't working well because of the exposure to the elements.
WIND AND SIDEWAYS RAIN
You can see that the navigation system was confusing. At the end, the entire screen turned red, and I gave up.
The next video-clip is of a touch-screen map at the Cleveland Clinic hospital. I was with my elderly aunt and my sister, and we were trying to figure out how to get to a restaurant. We never found it.
Although the screen was easy to see, the application was... crazy!
In my opinion, an interactive wayfinding application should run on a larger display and support two or more people, since many hospital visitors often run in pairs or small groups.
In my opinion, an interactive wayfinding application should run on a larger display and support two or more people, since many hospital visitors often run in pairs or small groups.
Jan 18, 2009
BETT 09: UK's Annual ICT (Ed Tech) conference - Tabletop Computing and More
BETT is the annual ICT & educational technology conference held in the UK. The UK has the highest number of classrooms in the world with interactive whiteboards, which has been an interesting transformation to follow over the past few years.
I've posted several video clips from BETT '09, which was held this month (January), along with some other resources. Tabletop computing applications for education were demonstrated by Microsoft Surface and Smart Technologies. Take a look!
BETT 2009 Video Overview
Microsoft Surface at BETT 2009
More Surface for Education: User Interface and Paint
Physics and Social Studies
Orientation and Images
Science: Medical and Health Care
SMARTTable at BETT 09
(Note: The two clips below look as if they were taken with a cell phone video camera. I'll post higher-quality videos if I find them.)
SMART Technologies PR video
I think there is a need for more application development in this area!
RELATED
The following two clips are from the visitor's point of view, overwhelmed by it all...
SMARTTechnologies SMARTTable
Microsoft Surface
BETT 2008 Video Magazine
BETT 2008 Teachers TV Report
I've posted several video clips from BETT '09, which was held this month (January), along with some other resources. Tabletop computing applications for education were demonstrated by Microsoft Surface and Smart Technologies. Take a look!
BETT 2009 Video Overview
Microsoft Surface at BETT 2009
More Surface for Education: User Interface and Paint
Physics and Social Studies
Orientation and Images
Science: Medical and Health Care
SMARTTable at BETT 09
(Note: The two clips below look as if they were taken with a cell phone video camera. I'll post higher-quality videos if I find them.)
SMART Technologies PR video
I think there is a need for more application development in this area!
RELATED
The following two clips are from the visitor's point of view, overwhelmed by it all...
SMARTTechnologies SMARTTable
Microsoft Surface
BETT 2008 Video Magazine
BETT 2008 Teachers TV Report
Jan 16, 2009
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)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)