Microsoft Surface Multi-touch Application for Pediatric Neuropsychological Assessment and Rehab, by Vectorform
Above is a link to my TechPsych post about the Cook Children's Health Care System's use of multi-touch technology for children and teens who have suffered traumatic brain injuries or have other significant neurological disorders.
Aug 28, 2009
Aug 25, 2009
MT-50 Multi-touch Table: Ideum + NUITech = Interactive Delight
Here are a couple of kids on Ideum's MT-50 multi-touch, multi-user table. You can see the delight!
The picture was taken from the videoclip below:
According to information from the video, the MT-50 screen provides a higher resolution than Microsoft's Surface. It comes with bundled with GestureWorks, a software development kit that works with Adobe's CS4, and NUITech's multi-software product, Snowflake Suite.
The MT 50 is designed for use in interactive museum exhibits, but in my opinion, holds great potential for use in public libraries and K-12 media centers (libraries), and even in classroom settings.
RELATED
Ideum's Press Release (pdf)
Ideum's MT-50 Table Specs (pdf)
Multi-touch Snowflake Suite trial, downloadable from the NUITech website
Aug 24, 2009
Eric Havir's Microsoft Surface in Education Links
I cut and pasted the following information about Microsoft Surface in Education from Eric Havir's Microsoft Surface blog. I've posted about some of these applications, but in light of the plea for Microsoft to listen to educators concerning the development of multi-touch applications, I thought it would be a good idea to share these links.
I hope that Eric won't mind mind this "re-blog"!
I hope that Eric won't mind mind this "re-blog"!
"Here are some applications by Microsoft, our Microsoft Surface partners and others."
Churchend Primary School shows how teachers and students react to Surface in the classroom. There's also a great behind the scenes for developers.
- I had a few visits with Dr. Neil (1 2 3) talking about his firms edu apps for primary and secondary school kids.
- A paint application called Paint Touch that shows how even pre-schoolers can be engaged with Microsoft Surface.
- Wales Education Suite is a set of applications for primary schools
- Play together, learn together mixes fun with education
- Surface Math shows primary school kids engaged with Surface
- Magnification Ring has applications in education and museums
- The Local Impact Map used by Microsoft to educate representatives of governments and NGOs on corporate social responsibility
- History at your Fingertips is an adult focused application used at the national conventions last fall during the US presidential race
- The Pits is used at trade shows for sales, but has great educational applicability.
- Calculation Game by Ohio State's Computer Science & Engineering students and Geography faculty
- This clip from Microsoft Research UK show's how magical Microsoft Surface is for primary school students. It's fun to see the kids reactions.
- This video by Max is a music creation application, but imagine the possibilities with the objects to create educational applications linked with the physical world.
- Neuro-rehab is focused on healthcare, but can easily be applied to education as well.
We've had a number of higher education institutions buying Microsoft Surface as well, so if you're at college you may see curricula including Surface in markets where it's available. Education developers - don't forget that MSDN-AA has the Microsoft Surface SDK Workstation Edition for subscribers to get you started. Let me know if I've missed anything in my list above. I'll make future posts on healthcare, financial services, etc.
Cheers.
Eric
Thanks, Eric, for sharing information about these Surface applications.
Multi-touch on Firefox: Felipe Gome's Work
Felipe Gomes is a 4th-year computer engineering student at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. He's been working on a multi-touch project that enables the FireFox web browser to respond to multi-touch interaction and gestures. Below is a demonstration of this work:
Code snippets for the demo can be found on the Mozilla Wiki
Multitouch on Firefox from Felipe on Vimeo.
Code snippets for the demo can be found on the Mozilla Wiki
MICROSOFT: ARE YOU LISTENING? Cool Cat Teacher (Vicki Davis) Tests Out Microsoft's Multi-touch Surface Table
When Microsoft unveiled the Surface in 2007, I was disappointed that there were no immediate plans to market it for use in education. At the time, there were no immediate plans to release the Surface for research and development by university students. I had just completed a course in human-computer interaction, and with my background as a school psychologist, I KNEW this sort of technology would work well in education.
My head was brimming with ideas for this innovative technology for use with the students I work with every day.
The following video shows a demonstration of Microsoft's multi-touch, multi-user Surface table at the 2009 NECC conference, and also provides insightful comments from Vicki Davis, author of the very popular Cool Cat Teacher blog. Vicki discusses the value of surface/tabletop computing in education and shares her views about the need for user involvement in the educational software development process. She also gives great advice about how Microsoft or other developers of tabletop computing systems should proceed.
I agree with Vicky's comments, 100%, as my regular blog readers know!
MICROSOFT, ARE YOU LISTENING?
In the above video, it is apparent that the musical instrument applications do not provide a good touch response on the Surface. Vicki suggests that touch responsiveness is key, and that all Surface applications should be held to the high standard of Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch. Vicky goes on to say that Microsoft should support easy development of applications, and ensure that applications are very user-friendly and easy for school folks to install. If you work in a K-12 setting, you know what I am talking about ; )
Vicky is preaching to the choir when she stresses that Microsoft R&D (and others) should involve users in ongoing development, in a meaningful way, by using REAL people, REAL teachers, people who work with students. If you have ever battled with a "lame" educational application, you know why this is so very important!
Vicky's enthusiasm for the use of tabletop/surface computing in education can not be ignored. She absolutely knows what she is talking about, and she is the instructional technology voice for a multitude of educators around the world.
Here is Vicky's plea:
"I wish Microsoft would listen to these 3 things from a teacher in a classroom (me). I know Microsoft has bigger things to do than watch this video, but, I can dream, can't I?"
(I've paraphrased the following quotes.)
1. Understand the amazing potential for Surface devices in education. Look at three to five years out. You are looking at the future.
(This technology can engage students who have ADHD, etc.)
2. Harness the power of your users! Pull in your users. There are so many people in education would give their thoughts for free!
3. Create virtual and online ways for Microsoft to interact with teachers.
"If Microsoft decides to invest in this, and I do hope that somebody watching this video will understand the importance of integrating the world around us into the learning experiences and the learning environment, as part as how we remake and re-do education."
Smart Technologies has come out with the SMARTTable, but it was designed for younger students. At this point, there are very few options, especially affordable options, for educators of students in the upper grades to use this technology.
Some members of the NUI-group are involved in creating educational applications for table-top systems, but they are few in number.
A few companies are using this technology for education, but the applications are mostly limited to interactive museum exhibitions.
From my research on this topic, there are very few developers that have the interest or the inclination to create educational applications for table-top computing.
My hope is that this will change soon! Join me in this conversation.
My head was brimming with ideas for this innovative technology for use with the students I work with every day.
The following video shows a demonstration of Microsoft's multi-touch, multi-user Surface table at the 2009 NECC conference, and also provides insightful comments from Vicki Davis, author of the very popular Cool Cat Teacher blog. Vicki discusses the value of surface/tabletop computing in education and shares her views about the need for user involvement in the educational software development process. She also gives great advice about how Microsoft or other developers of tabletop computing systems should proceed.
I agree with Vicky's comments, 100%, as my regular blog readers know!
MICROSOFT, ARE YOU LISTENING?
In the above video, it is apparent that the musical instrument applications do not provide a good touch response on the Surface. Vicki suggests that touch responsiveness is key, and that all Surface applications should be held to the high standard of Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch. Vicky goes on to say that Microsoft should support easy development of applications, and ensure that applications are very user-friendly and easy for school folks to install. If you work in a K-12 setting, you know what I am talking about ; )
Vicky is preaching to the choir when she stresses that Microsoft R&D (and others) should involve users in ongoing development, in a meaningful way, by using REAL people, REAL teachers, people who work with students. If you have ever battled with a "lame" educational application, you know why this is so very important!
Vicky's enthusiasm for the use of tabletop/surface computing in education can not be ignored. She absolutely knows what she is talking about, and she is the instructional technology voice for a multitude of educators around the world.
Here is Vicky's plea:
"I wish Microsoft would listen to these 3 things from a teacher in a classroom (me). I know Microsoft has bigger things to do than watch this video, but, I can dream, can't I?"
(I've paraphrased the following quotes.)
1. Understand the amazing potential for Surface devices in education. Look at three to five years out. You are looking at the future.
(This technology can engage students who have ADHD, etc.)
2. Harness the power of your users! Pull in your users. There are so many people in education would give their thoughts for free!
3. Create virtual and online ways for Microsoft to interact with teachers.
"If Microsoft decides to invest in this, and I do hope that somebody watching this video will understand the importance of integrating the world around us into the learning experiences and the learning environment, as part as how we remake and re-do education."
My sentiments exactly!
A few thoughts:
So where are we now?Smart Technologies has come out with the SMARTTable, but it was designed for younger students. At this point, there are very few options, especially affordable options, for educators of students in the upper grades to use this technology.
Some members of the NUI-group are involved in creating educational applications for table-top systems, but they are few in number.
A few companies are using this technology for education, but the applications are mostly limited to interactive museum exhibitions.
From my research on this topic, there are very few developers that have the interest or the inclination to create educational applications for table-top computing.
My hope is that this will change soon! Join me in this conversation.
Aug 23, 2009
Bump Top 3D Desktop on a Touch Screen: Toss Your Photos to your Facebook Icon!
BumpTop is a 3D computer desktop organizer that provides much more flexibility- and perhaps efficiency, than the current folder-icon based desktop we interact with every day.
Touch Screen Version - Supports the use of 1 or 2 fingers - Multi-touch version for Windows 7 coming soon:
Original Version
If you want to see how different people use BumpTop, there are quite a few BumpTop videos on YouTube for your viewing pleasure.
The next release will support multi-touch, running on Windows 7. According to the BumpTop blog, the application will be bundled with 3D graphics cards. The full version is just under $30.00.
RELATED
BumpBlog
Patrick Dubroy's Personal Blog
FYI: Patrick works for BumpTop. He has a master's degree in human-computer interaction, and focuses on HCI, programming, and interaction on his blog.
Touch Screen Version - Supports the use of 1 or 2 fingers - Multi-touch version for Windows 7 coming soon:
Original Version
If you want to see how different people use BumpTop, there are quite a few BumpTop videos on YouTube for your viewing pleasure.
The next release will support multi-touch, running on Windows 7. According to the BumpTop blog, the application will be bundled with 3D graphics cards. The full version is just under $30.00.
RELATED
BumpBlog
Patrick Dubroy's Personal Blog
FYI: Patrick works for BumpTop. He has a master's degree in human-computer interaction, and focuses on HCI, programming, and interaction on his blog.
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