by Amanda Marinaccio
www.ecomediaplayer.com/eco/home/hom.asp
The Eco-Media Player is a portable devise similar to an mp3 player, but with much more. It allows for and has the capability to play mp3s, videos, FM radio access, and a photo-viewer. It also features a recorder (with a built-in microphone) so personal or professional memos can be recorded instantly. It can also hold typed memos and contains data storage. This allows for the devise to hold work in a personal devise that is able to go everywhere with you, providing for work on the go while enjoying the other features. Other things included are a flashlight and cell phone charging capabilities. The best part of the Eco-Media Player is that it is able to be powered by winding, so it will never die of battery failure or loss of power. It is able to be charged for longer amounts of time through a computer, but can be wound up on the go when an energy source is not found readily available. It is compatible with most major cell pones as well so all a person has to do it plug in their phone and wind up the Eco-Media Player.
These are many of the advantages, but there are also many apparent disadvantages. This devise is not wireless and therefore does not allow for internet or mobile phone capabilities. This is a major disadvantage in today’s day and age for many corporations that need contact in and out of the office. The devise is also expensive for the capabilities included, presumably because it is energy efficient. However, I feel that in place of ipods and other mp3 players for personal enjoyment, this is a way to combine work with pleasure for many people.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Window's Movie Maker
By Dean Smith
Windows Movie Maker 2.0
Windows Movie Maker is a video creating and editing software that runs off Microsoft Windows. It contains features such as effects, transitions, titles/credits, audio track, timeline narration, and Auto Movie.
The advantage with this technology can allow for anyone within an organization or a business to make a very easy and simple visual tool during meetings or interviews. It also allows creaters to advertise their products easily.
The disadvantages of using this is definatly the patience required because as easy as it is to make a video it is time consuming.
Overall i'd give this a 3 on the usefullness scale due to the minor flaws within the technology.
Windows Movie Maker 2.0
Windows Movie Maker is a video creating and editing software that runs off Microsoft Windows. It contains features such as effects, transitions, titles/credits, audio track, timeline narration, and Auto Movie.
The advantage with this technology can allow for anyone within an organization or a business to make a very easy and simple visual tool during meetings or interviews. It also allows creaters to advertise their products easily.
The disadvantages of using this is definatly the patience required because as easy as it is to make a video it is time consuming.
Overall i'd give this a 3 on the usefullness scale due to the minor flaws within the technology.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Audeo wireless “Think N’ Spell” neckband
Audeo wireless “Think N’ Spell” neckband
http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/13/audeo-think-n-spell-neckband-allows-voiceless-phone-calls/
This neckband is a new way to communicate by not even having to speak to make phone calls. This is a wireless phone that is simply able to read the signals sent from your brain to your vocal cords and send the message through a phone call. This is technology is in the early development phase and is not completed to the full expectations that it should have in the near future. The advantages of this technology at this point in time are to give back speech to those who have lost the ability to communicate and also to give more privacy to a speaker when having a conversation in a public area. The disadvantages are that this system can only recognize about 150 words and it has a considerable delay time that when shown in the press conference to be an awkward and slow conversation. Still this should be enough to give a chance for people who have been limited in their ability to speak such as those suffering from Lou Gehrig's Disease. It will be a great improvement on the current situations. In the future this product claims it will be able to express all words and eventually be able to hook up to the internet and allow you to answer questions merely by thinking about the question and the neckband will do the searching for you to try and answer it. For rating this new invention I give it a 4 because even though it is at the initial phase of its creation I believe it will advance into something that can have limitless possibilities.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/13/audeo-think-n-spell-neckband-allows-voiceless-phone-calls/
This neckband is a new way to communicate by not even having to speak to make phone calls. This is a wireless phone that is simply able to read the signals sent from your brain to your vocal cords and send the message through a phone call. This is technology is in the early development phase and is not completed to the full expectations that it should have in the near future. The advantages of this technology at this point in time are to give back speech to those who have lost the ability to communicate and also to give more privacy to a speaker when having a conversation in a public area. The disadvantages are that this system can only recognize about 150 words and it has a considerable delay time that when shown in the press conference to be an awkward and slow conversation. Still this should be enough to give a chance for people who have been limited in their ability to speak such as those suffering from Lou Gehrig's Disease. It will be a great improvement on the current situations. In the future this product claims it will be able to express all words and eventually be able to hook up to the internet and allow you to answer questions merely by thinking about the question and the neckband will do the searching for you to try and answer it. For rating this new invention I give it a 4 because even though it is at the initial phase of its creation I believe it will advance into something that can have limitless possibilities.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Kartoo
http://www.kartoo.com/
Kartoo is a new type of meta search engine that we have never had before. This site searches using the most of search engines, such as Alta Vista and Teoma, except Google. The biggest characteristic of this site is showing the search results as beautiful map using Flash. In this map, we can show many kinds of image sizes of each result and it tells us the size of actual site. And the distance between each site tells us how close the each site is. We can know these things visually, not seeing lists as other typical search engines.
Kartoo is a new type of meta search engine that we have never had before. This site searches using the most of search engines, such as Alta Vista and Teoma, except Google. The biggest characteristic of this site is showing the search results as beautiful map using Flash. In this map, we can show many kinds of image sizes of each result and it tells us the size of actual site. And the distance between each site tells us how close the each site is. We can know these things visually, not seeing lists as other typical search engines.
This site is meta search engine, using other engines, so we can search something in almost all search engines through this engine. And we can look at the search results visually. It is very clear to understand which one is biggest (or famous) and how each site is related each other. We can know them visually, it is very useful when you need search something in specific area because you can know the relationship in between each result. But if you want search general or broad thing, it might be not so appropriate. In that case we would better to use other normal engines such as, Google, Yahoo! And Alta Vista. This site can be really useful or nothing at all. It really depends on what you would like to search, so I would give it 3.8 out of 5.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Flat Wire
Some of you might have already heard or seen the the Flatwire infomercial. What this product is is an innovative approach to electrical wiring. Created by Southwire company, this is an innovative way for homeowners to wire easier. Everyone experiences the tangles of wires whether it be from your computer desk or your entertainment system. Flatwire is a new type of wiring that is virtually paper-thin, it allows for televisions to be connected to stereos to power outlets without the mess of conventional wires.
Affordances
Official video.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=SuTd0MqBmCk
Affordances
- Paper thin wiring.
- Bends at any angle.
- Virtually disappears if you paint over it.
- Adhesive so it can be applied right onto walls.
- Only supports conventional wiring.
- High-cost.
- Has not broken into the computer technology world.
Official video.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=SuTd0MqBmCk
Monday, March 17, 2008
Future of Multi-touch interfaces
The future of computer technology will undoubtedly involve the addition of multi-touch interface. Keyboards and mice are things of the past as Jefferson Y. Han of New York University created the first multi-touch screen. Already this concept has been applied to new technologies such as cellphones and iPods, with Apple's iPhone being the most prominent of the cellphone world.
Before the the introduction of this interface, the concept of touch screens was limited to only one cursor point, the iPhone features an exact two point cursor, allowing for the maximizing and minimizing of pictures and web pages. Other than that the two point cursor allows for users to type faster without the lag of the old one touch interface.
The genius behind this new technology is definitely Jefferson Han as he leads the technology in this innovation. He demos the affordances of his new eight-foot touch screen interface that looks like it came right out of a science fiction movie. As he demonstrates the abilities of his interface, his actions are incredibly fast, so much more than it would be on a conventional interface that involves a keyboard and a mouse.
Affordances
Official Video of Perceptive Pixel by Jefferson Han
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zGDNFpOMcA
Video on Photoshop with multi-touch technology
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmHNr9EH1iU
Jeff Han in TED expo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUAnwbooNOs
Before the the introduction of this interface, the concept of touch screens was limited to only one cursor point, the iPhone features an exact two point cursor, allowing for the maximizing and minimizing of pictures and web pages. Other than that the two point cursor allows for users to type faster without the lag of the old one touch interface.
The genius behind this new technology is definitely Jefferson Han as he leads the technology in this innovation. He demos the affordances of his new eight-foot touch screen interface that looks like it came right out of a science fiction movie. As he demonstrates the abilities of his interface, his actions are incredibly fast, so much more than it would be on a conventional interface that involves a keyboard and a mouse.
Affordances
- Multi-User friendly.
- Ability to manipulate applications.
- Ability to size virtual keyboard for user-preference.
- Unlimited canvas size, ability to zoom and zoom-out unprecedentedly.
Official Video of Perceptive Pixel by Jefferson Han
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zGDNFpOMcA
Video on Photoshop with multi-touch technology
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmHNr9EH1iU
Jeff Han in TED expo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUAnwbooNOs
Sunday, March 16, 2008
FON (FON Wireless Limited)
http://www.fon.com/en/
Introduced in the United Kingdom in 2006 FON Wireless Limited was launched into the world of communication technology. It is a company created by Martin Varsavsky that systematically runs shared universal wireless networks. Due to the rapidly increasing implementation of wireless internet access it is easy to see why this program is so widely needed. “WiFi for everyone” reads the slogan. One of its principal goals is to make the Internet affordable. FON’s members, or rather “Foneros” agree to share their WiFi with others. The incentive for doing this is that they can in return freely access all of the FON wireless access areas. For non-members, the company sells access at a very low cost. Hence why it is “for everyone”. In addition to being able to access the WiFi technology, Foneros are able to advertise their own websites, personalize their FON Spots and easily communicate with other Foneros as well as non-members who are connected through that Fon Spot. Not only does this make it easy for organizations to communicate with people internally, it enables and encourages communication world- wide. This interaction is secured with two different signals (one private and one for non members). This new communication technology is gaining popularity and acclaim with an array of big businesses and individuals. Ranking this communication tool on a scale from one to ten, I would give it a perfect ten. Now more than ever, we find need for wireless access. FON is making that need easier to find. Who knew that roaming the world could be done free?
Introduced in the United Kingdom in 2006 FON Wireless Limited was launched into the world of communication technology. It is a company created by Martin Varsavsky that systematically runs shared universal wireless networks. Due to the rapidly increasing implementation of wireless internet access it is easy to see why this program is so widely needed. “WiFi for everyone” reads the slogan. One of its principal goals is to make the Internet affordable. FON’s members, or rather “Foneros” agree to share their WiFi with others. The incentive for doing this is that they can in return freely access all of the FON wireless access areas. For non-members, the company sells access at a very low cost. Hence why it is “for everyone”. In addition to being able to access the WiFi technology, Foneros are able to advertise their own websites, personalize their FON Spots and easily communicate with other Foneros as well as non-members who are connected through that Fon Spot. Not only does this make it easy for organizations to communicate with people internally, it enables and encourages communication world- wide. This interaction is secured with two different signals (one private and one for non members). This new communication technology is gaining popularity and acclaim with an array of big businesses and individuals. Ranking this communication tool on a scale from one to ten, I would give it a perfect ten. Now more than ever, we find need for wireless access. FON is making that need easier to find. Who knew that roaming the world could be done free?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
