The Virtual Window - Concept 2

The Virtual Window - Concept 2

In this example, you can see a normal everyday wall turning into a window and not only showing you a nice view, but the actual view on the other side of the wall. With a small camera on the external wall of the building, the window feeds the actual, real time view outside.

Pollution Awareness

Pollution Awareness

One reason people are not truly concerned about pollution in there local areas is because it is generally hard to see.

The pollution awareness panels are placed in public places for the community to monitor how much pollution is in their environment, leading them to change their attitudes and also to improve there communities for the better.

It does this by giving a visual feedback to how much pollution is currently in the air, making people more conscious of there environment and encouraging them to think about pollution and make a change, even to push local councils to make changes in areas that are overly polluted.

WATCH VIDEO

The panel shows how much CO2 is currently in the air by getting smoggy and coughing.

The image on the panel is a projection form a camera placed within the community.

It will show the level of CO2 emissions and have informational touch points, that explain more about pollution, the effects it has on people and how to limit pollution.

You can check you carbon footprint and be CO2 Aware.

Interactive Multitouch Display

Interactive Multitouch Display

Between the Apple iPhone and Microsoft's interactive table, multi-touch displays are all the rage. This instructable will show you how to turn your lcd projector into an interactive multi-touch display table using a few cheap components readily available from the hardware store.

The tutorial on this page maybe very useful for us.......

Make your own touch-screen barcode scanner

Make your own touch-screen barcode scanner

by Evan Blass, posted Aug 13th 2006 at 12:30PM

For all you obsessive-compulsive types out there who need to keep track of every single box of paper clips and old Popular Mechanics magazines crammed into your overstuffed desk drawers, Max's App Note Blog has posted an easy way to categorize your useless swag with a do-it-yourself touch-screen barcode scanner. Little more than a standard commercial touch-screen attached to a Metrologic Voyager scanner with a RS232 null-modem cable (instructions for building your own are included), this project has all sorts of practical applications, from making sure the nano you just bought isn't some cheap knockoff to giving your kids a head start on the technology they'll need to master in order to become successful grocery store cashiers. And if for some reason you fall upon hard times and are forced to sell off most of your possessions, the touch-screen barcode scanner will make your fire sale look that much more professional to the folks snatching up your treasured gear at insultingly low prices.

Reflective light sensors

Reflective light sensors (RLSs):

are frequently employed to sense an object's presence because they are easy to use.
An RLS differs from other light sensors in that the target does not simply break a light beam but reflects light to a detector.

Through the years, RLSs have been refined so that they are less sensitive to ambient light and can detect minute or transparent objects. Some devices can even determine the distance between sensor and object, thereby offering an alternative to ultrasonic systems.

While in general, RLSs are becoming smaller, two divergent trends are emerging as well. One group of sensors is becoming simpler, basically containing only a light source and detector. Sensor output is a simple on/off signal, and users provide the power supply and signal processing circuitry.

The other group is becoming full featured. These devices contain a power supply and logic. Users program the device by setting switches or with a PC.

Motion Capture Sensors

Motion capture, motion tracking, or mocap is a technique of digitally recording movements.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXG6PI_yXZY
Publish Post

Magnetic Motion Capture Systems:

Magnetic motion capture systems utilize sensors placed on the body to measure the low-frequency magnetic field generated by a transmitter source. The sensors and source are cabled to an electronic control unit that correlates their reported locations within the field. The electronic control units are networked with a host computer that uses a software driver to represent these positions and rotations in 3D space.

Magnetic systems use 6 to 11 or more sensors per person to record body joint motion. The sensors report position and rotational information. Inverse kinematics (IK) is used to solve the angles for the various body joints, and compensate for the fact that the sensors are offset from the actual joint's center of rotation.

I think that we wont be using this kind of sensor.

Infra Red Sensors

What applications are infra red detectors used for?
Infrared detectors are used in a wide range of applications but include:-

• Non Contact temperature sensing
• Infra red gas analysis
• Flame detection
• Temperature control systems
• Detection of human presence
• Infra red spectroscopy

(The wii remote has in IR sensor)

This sensor maybe what we need to detect where a person is located.

A Passive InfraRed sensor (PIR sensor) is an electronic device which measures infrared light radiating from objects in its field of view. PIRs are often used in the construction of PIR-based motion detectors (see below). Apparent motion is detected when an infrared source with one temperature, such as a human, passes in front of an infrared source with another temperature, such as a wall.

All objects emit what is known as black body radiation. This energy is invisible to the human eye but can be detected by electronic devices designed for such a purpose. The term 'passive' in this instance means the PIR does not emit energy of any type but merely accepts incoming infrared radiation.

Detection of human presence:-
Most of us are aware of infra red detectors being used in intruder alarms in our homes and offices. Also the police use infra red imaging to detect and track people in the dark and the fire brigade use infra red cameras to detect the presence of humans in major catastrophes such as collapsed buildings etc.

More Info

Interactive digital wall for London tube

The wall would be a permanent installation on the platform of the London's (or any other) tube station. The aim of the wall is to inform, play, destruct, relax people traveling by tube.
Preferred station would be busy, unpleasant place, probably Northern line.
The content, interaction would be changed in regular basis, could involved work of artists who are already collaborating with tfl, we would include interactivity into it.
Possibility of switch modes - panel on the platform where people could choose the interaction/information.
Possible to include mobile device interactions etc.
Main idea is to use motion capture sensors.

Multi-device + touch-surface

Some examples of the possible use of the device in connection with the touch surface. There is many more, for example:
- in the bank managing bank account
- paying bills
- restaurant
- top-ups: oyster, copy card, mobile...
- eye checks and glasses/contact lenses info
- buying at machines
- paying at desks
- shopping online
- secure log ins
- airport tickets
- bus ticket
- police station
- travels abroad: passport
- gps for location / directions / outdoor games
- etc.

General use everywhere.

The Virtual Window - Concept 1

Concept 1 - The Virtual Garden

As you can see from the picture above (click it to see it bigger), the Virtual Garden shows the user creating the scene of their choice, adding trees and really making their own experience. 

Users can also set settings on their plants, watering them regularly and regulating sunshine if they want to.

aec electronica futurelab

could be good source of developments

Some interactive tables videos

LED table
TableTalk

Team roles

Not final, just to have an idea:

Sasha
- Project management
- Usability & testing (help)
- Concept designer

Taz
- System and information architect (back-end)
- Usability & testing
- Copywritting

Funmi
- Interface designer (front-end)

Jophie
- Product designer
- Video & Audio specialist

All
- Research

Possible needed help
- Coding

Major Project Team Fishbone

(Static)

Purpose
By interactivity to solve some problem innovative and practical way.

Vision
The world of simple digital solutions.

Values, Culture and Expression
Practicality, Innovation, Convergence, Problem solving, User centered, Ecologic.


(Flexible)

Mission
To bring a variety of separate media together, to create a product that is ground breaking and used on regular basis.

Strategies
To get as many people and companies - government including - as possible to use and implement it using convention of business to be manufactured and marketed.

Objectives
Study technology, research of recent developments, usability testing, do great design, work hard & smart.

Plans
Each person his own research, role...

Day-to-day planning
Meetings, managing time, effective work, helping each other, keep stress on low level.

We have to have a meeting at 11 am on Tuesday!!!

Click on the link of the title, you'll find out why! :-) We need to get that!!!!

Summary of interests

Summary of all our interests and dissertation topics. I still don't have dissertation topic from Jophie and Taz, so I'll update it later.

From the most important down:

Necessary - point of our studies:
(100) interactivity
(100) innovation

Dissertations:
(2) narrative
(2) futurecasting
(1) public space
(1) gaming

Interests:
(3) practical
(2) animation
(2) public space / info
(2) product
(2) interesting, crazy, playful
(1) gaming
(1) video / motion
(1) virtual reality
(1) ubiquitous computing
(1) considerated design
(1) sensors
(1) timespace
(1) moving from gallery to people
(1) eco
(1) convergence of digital media

Many of those are connected or are possible to use in one project as they support each other. We should do brainstorming too, to visualize the space for ideas we have better.

Sasha's dissertation

Dissertation question (current):
How digital media experience of interaction in public spaces (narrative architecture) differs from the period of 'old' media and it's possible directions in the future.

How cool stuff works - book

I bought this book about a month ago, it's pretty cool and could help us a bit with our project. It's generally for kids but anyway... hehe... ;-) I'll show you on our next meeting.

The future of mobile social networks: 4 promising services

I thought it could be good to know too, it's good to have an idea what's going on... :-)

Funmi's Proposed Dissertation Question

How and why have narrative structures changed in computer gaming, and what will the future hold for narratives within the gaming industry?

My Interests - Funmi

Animation: mostly 2d animation and stop motion.

Gaming: games that have narratives and stories (reason for playing to achieve the final goal) not open ended like the sims or spore.

Motion: this is video (i guess also animation and games).

Informative Public Spaces: eg interactive maps for the public etc.... not just lights.

Practical Interactive Products: that aid people and help them in everyday life or educate them.

The Virtual Window Idea

The Virtual Window

The Concept: A virtual window for people who are lacking a window to the outside world. i.e. underground offices, prisons etc.

The Technology: An LCD touchscreen that will show realistic sceneries that the user wants to view.

The Interactivity: Viewers can toggle and change between different sceneries to alter the experience. They can even interact with certain scenes.

Scenery ideas and Advantages:

Default: Hooking a tiny camera on the outside wall vantage point you wish to view, the Virtual Window can literally show you what is happening outside (i.e. showing you the entrance of the LCC building).

Garden: Choosing from a range of gardens, users can water plants, regulate sunshine and even design and/or choose the design, flowers and foliage they want.

Time: The Virtual Window will have a built-in clock, so the scenery will change according to the time of day, i.e. day, night, sunset, dawn and so on.

Weather/Seasons: Users can choose from sun to rain or to snow for that seasonal Christmas feeling. Raindrops will even fall down the Virtual Window realistically.

Sound: Users can have a mute or sound-on action. The sound will alter according to the scenery (the sound of water for a Japanese water fountain, the sound of traffic for a busy cityscape)

Light: The Virtual Window can provide light to darkened areas and environment to bland office buildings that need a touch of the outdoors

The Website: For further sceneries and downloads, users can go to the website and subscribe. Some features will be pay-only but users can download new sceneries, plants, designs and more.

Wii Research

Looking through Johnny's videos... wow, it's such exciting stuff!

I'm going to link a few of my favourite videos and tell you why these technologies are so awesome for us!

Foldable display - Displays you can carry around in your pocket and open up wherever you are, these include displays on fans and umbrellas - just watch the vid - it is amazing how he makes it sensitive to how we hold it and if we flip it over.

Projector Billiards - Virtual Billiards - Jophie, think of your piano!

Movable Projectors - Projectors that are contained to one place using infrared, you can move them where you want, genius stuff!

Finger tracking - think minority report ;)

I'll update more!

My Interests

Thanks Sasha, for making the blog! My interests include:

Practical, helpful Design - design that isn't just technology for technology's sake, but something that is useful, helpful and can be used for everyday use.

Innovative Design - this includes design that isn't necessarily brand new, but something that changes our perceptions and adds new factors to the equation. By doing this, we can hopefully create something absolutely groundbreaking that changes the way people work for the better.

Virtual Reality - because I would like to include the concept of virtual reality in my dissertation (moving away from the computer, is technology taking us away from reality?), I would like some aspect of this portrayed in our project. It doesn't necessarily have to be virtual but I'd like us to consider how we're moving away from the computer.

Animation and 3D Graphics - because these two are the two things I am best at, I would be happy to offer my services to make them. Also, because it's the field I'm really interested in, I'd be happy for them to be included in the project somewhere.

Invisible Technology - technology that is so good, that it isn't seen. People use it without being hindered by a screen.

my interests so far...

i want to share with you my interests:

• practical and user-centered is the most important thing
• interesting and crazy ideas will surprise people at the beginning and make them happy or sweet to use (the product itself may contain a sweet story itself, storytelling)
• considerated design, just like the example i showed you yesterday, the lights in the jewelry window, although it's a simple idea, but considerated for people
• future innovation: for ex. the laser piano, computer... and my ex. of the microsoft surface table, the digital tattoo...
• everyday product surrounded us: even we didn't notice, but if we put interaction on something, it will be very interesting and helpful. for ex. the philip products
• sensors , infrared or wireless sensor application: before, i was thinking the title "a sensitive life" because i want to make life easy and innovative

Interests - Sasha

- timespace (4D)
- playful
- architecture/public spaces for public (people not educated in digital/new media)
- moving installations from galleries to public (for example less of stress)
- ecology
- senses
- future/innovation
- convergence of digital media (remediation + futurecasting)

Dissertations

Space to include our dissertation topics, questions, area of research etc.

Interests

Everyone should post their interests in digital media so we could see our direction for major project.

Futurecasting - Sasha

Space for abstract from Futurecasting Digital media book. Sasha's job.

Cheap Sensors - Johny Lee - Taz

Space for Taz's research.