Suddenly, on the wall beside them, projected images appear. Video clips. Sounds. Information directly relevant to their discussion. And all made automatically available, where and when they need it most.

This is the vision for the University of Kentucky’s Ambient Virtual Assistant, a real-time grid application framework for managing grids that combine multiple sensors and output devices.

“You could think of AVA as a large-scale surveillance system, but it’s much more than that,” explains Hank Dietz of the University of Kentucky’s Center for Visualization and Virtual Environments.

“The concept is to have the ambient environment constantly monitoring what’s going on, not just recording, but intelligently reacting to what it sees and hears.”

Microsoft Surface is actually a Windows PC inside a black table base with a 30-inch touchscreen in a clear acrylic frame and is powered by Windows new Operating System Vista. Five cameras that can sense nearby objects are mounted beneath the screen and users can interact with the machine by touching or dragging their fingertips and objects such as paintbrushes across the screen, or by setting real-world items tagged with special bar-code labels on top of it. Surface also has Bluetooth 2.0, wired Ethernet 10/100 and wireless 802.11 b/g for connectivity.

The technology behind Surface is called Multi-touch. It has at least a 25-year history, beginning in 1982, with pioneering work being done at the University of Toronto (multi-touch tablets) and Bell Labs (multi-touch screens). The product idea for Surface was initially conceptualized in 2001 by Steven Bathiche of Microsoft Hardware and Andy Wilson of Microsoft Research. In October 2001, a virtual team was formed with Bathiche and Wilson as key members, to bring the idea to the next stage of development.

A version of the device was used in the 2005 Science Fiction movie The Island, which was used by Sean Bean’s character “Merrick”. Surface was unveiled by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer on May 29, 2007 at The Wall Street Journal’s D: All Things Digital conference in Carlsbad, California. Surface Computing is part of Microsoft’s Productivity and Extended Consumer Experiences Group, which is within the Entertainment & Devices division.

Prices will reportedly be $5,000 to $10,000 per unit. However Microsoft said it expects prices to drop enough to make consumer versions feasible in 3 to 5 years.

Here’s a link to a demo video of Surface on Youtube:-
http://youtube.com/watch?v=6VfpVYYQzHs

Source: Wikipedia,

While surfing, I just stumbled across this. It is quite interesting to say the least.

Researchers at Akishima Laboratories (Mitsui Zosen), working in conjunction with professor Shigeru Naito of Osaka University, have developed a device that uses waves to draw text and pictures on the surface of water.

The device, called AMOEBA (Advanced Multiple Organized Experimental Basin), consists of 50 water wave generators encircling a cylindrical tank 1.6 meters in diameter and 30 cm deep (about the size of a backyard kiddie pool). The wave generators move up and down in controlled motions to simultaneously produce a number of cylindrical waves that act as pixels. The pixels, which measure 10 cm in diameter and 4 cm in height, are combined to form lines and shapes. AMOEBA is capable of spelling out the entire roman alphabet, as well as some simple kanji characters. Each letter or picture remains on the water surface only for a moment, but they can be produced in succession on the surface every 3 seconds.

Researchers at Akishima Laboratories have developed similar devices in the past that used waves to draw pictures on the surface of water, but those devices had trouble producing letters with straight lines (such as the letter K). Additionally, it took the previous devices up to 15 minutes of data input time to produce each letter.

The newly developed technology uses improved calculation methods for controlling the wave generators, relying on formulas known as Bessel functions. In addition to being able to draw letters consisting of straight lines, the input time has been drastically reduced to between 15 and 30 seconds for each letter.

Akishima Laboratories expects the technology to be incorporated into amusement devices that combine acoustics, lighting and fountain technology, which they hope to see installed at theme parks and hotels.

Source: http://www.pinktentacle.com/2006/07/device-uses-waves-to-print-on-water-surface/

Microsoft has sent out an email to the press regarding Halo 3 Exclusive preview. Its surely gonna be another great sequel to the popular series and is being released only on Microsoft’s Xbox 360 gaming console. Here’s the poster:-

For those who know little about Halo, it is a really great game which sold the Xbox when it was launched.

For everyone who’ has been trying to differentiate a kentsfield from a yorkfield or from a barcelona (by the way for those who dont know, they are codenames of quadcores), another milestone has arrived and that is, 8 cores. And surprisingly, it comes from a company who generally is not affected by the performance rat race, simply because it has got its share of loyal supporters.

In short, Apple has released a new Mac Pro armed with 3.0GHz, 8-core Intel Xeon processors.

The 8-core Mac Pro offers the power of two Quad-Core Intel Xeon 5300 series processors with 3.0GHz, and runs up to 2x faster than the Power Mac G5 Quad.
The 8-core Mac Pro configuration includes: two 3.0GHz quad-core Intel Xeon 5300 series processors, 8MB of L2 cache per processor (16MB), 667MHz DDR2 ECC fully buffered DIMM (FB-DIMM) memory, eight FB-DIMM slots on two memory riser cards (four slots per card) supporting up to 16GB of RAM, 256-bit-wide memory architecture, and 1.33GHz, 64-bit dual independent frontside buses.

In addition, the 8-core Mac Pros include 16-lane PCI Express graphics slot with the option to install an Nvidia GeForce 7300 GT with 256MB of GDDR2 SDRAM, one single-link DVI port, and one dual-link DVI port; an ATI Radeon X1900 XT with 512MB of GDDR3 SDRAM and two dual-link DVI ports; or an Nvidia Quadro FX 4500 with 512MB of GDDR3 SDRAM, two dual-link DVI ports, and one stereo 3D port.

Mac Pro accommodates up to four drives and 3TB of storage, and provides up to two SuperDrives. It also gives four PCI Express slots, lots of I/O options for ultimate flexibility, and direct-attach hard drive bays. The new Mac Pros also feature AirPort Extreme wireless ready and optional Bluetooth 2.0 support.

Moreover, the machines support up to eight displays, digital resolutions of up to 1920 by 1200 pixels; dual-link DVI ports with support up to 2560 by 1600 pixels; and analog resolution support up to 2048 by 1536 pixels.

The new Pros are available with build to order option. An 8-core machine from the Apple Store with high-end processor spectrum will cost about $3,997 (Rs 172,382). However, the price conscious can go in for the same Mac Pro with two 2-GHz processors for $2,200 (Rs 94,875).

All this jargon basically means that apple is using two Intel Xeon Quad cores each in a diffrent socket on the motherboard. All this is basically aimed at the the software developers and the 3d graphics industry, for development of futuristic applications and faster rendering of videos and textures. After all this, in my opinion, the new pros lack severely in the graphics department and the graphic card bundled with the machine does not do justice to this behemoth of a system.

All this translates into tremendous amount of computing power and also a big hole in the pocket.

Source:Mac Pros with 8 Cores Unleashed

Another one of Google’s April Fools:-

New! Introducing Gmail Paper

Everyone loves Gmail. But not everyone loves email, or the digital era. What ever happened to stamps, filing cabinets, and the mailman? Well, you asked for it, and it’s here. We’re bringing it back.

A New Button
Now in Gmail, you can request a physical copy of any message with the click of a button, and we’ll send it to you in the mail.

Simplicity Squared
Google will print all messages instantly and prepare them for delivery. Allow 2-4 business days for a parcel to arrive via post.

Total Control
A stack of Gmail Paper arrives in a box at your doorstep, and it’s yours to keep forever. You can read it, sort it, search it, touch it. Or even move it to the trash—the real trash. (Recycling is encouraged.)

Keep it Secret, Keep it Safe
Google takes privacy very seriously. But once your email is physically in your hands, it’s as secure as you want to make it.

http://mail.google.com/mail/help/paper/more.html

🙂

Get high speed broadband via the Toilet.

“Sick of paying for broadband that you have to, well, pay for?

“Google TiSP (BETA) is a fully functional, end-to-end system that provides in-home wireless access by connecting your commode-based TiSP wireless router to one of thousands of TiSP Access Nodes via fiber-optic cable strung through your local municipal sewage lines.”

Choose between the monthly packages:

1. Trickle
2. The #2
3. Royal Flush

What are the system requirements?

• Windows XP/Vista (Mac and Linux support coming soon)
• Internet Explorer 6.0+ or Firefox 1.5+ with the Google Toolbar
• Round-front or elongated toilet providing at least 1.0 gallons per flush
• Use of automatic toilet bowl cleaners is not recommended

For more on Google’s latest April fools joke head Here

We all sometimes come across or hear about some very weird gadgets. Here are some of them.

1. AXbo Alarm Clock


aXbo’s Sleep Phase Alarm Clock is an alarm clock at its functional best , what its meant to do and that is it, waking you up in time. It monitors your sleep pattern and wakes you at the best moment possible. Read more about it at: www.i4u.com/article4976.html




2. Multifunctional Credit Card


Welcome to the future where gone are the days when you had to carry a mobile phone, a music player, your credit and discount cards, your apartment and your car keys with you whenever you left your house. This credit card sized device packs all that you could imagine. Read more about it at: www.yankodesign.com/product_info.php?products_id=700




3. USB Flower pot speaker


How does it feel to have a flower pot as your speaker. You may be wondering how that can be possible. So here is a flowerpot that can play songs and what not just like your regular speakers and at the same time have a flower as well. Read more about it at: i4u.com/article2509.html




4. Powerglove Mouse

Ever seen a mouse that you could possibly wear, a mouse that will move along with the movement of your hand. Well here it is. Or a mouse that you could wear on your head even when travelling on a bike. Read about it more at: www.zerosign.net/index.php/powerglove-mouse/





5. iLounge Toilet Paper Dispenser

So you are missing your dear pod when you are stuck up inside your toilet. Don’t worry; you can dock your pod right away, even in the toilet. And no need of earphones as well because this even has a speaker underneath it. Read more about it at: shinyshiny.tv/2006/01/atech_ilounge_t.html




6. Astalavista baby

Well that’s what you will be saying after owning such a unique piece of gadgetry including a gun inside a regular mobile phone. Just twist the phone and you will be ready to blast. Read more about it at: cellular.co.za/phones/gunphone/gun-phone.htm




7. The WMD

So do you like your PC to look like a nuclear bomb, ready to blast off another Hiroshima. So here it is, the WMD or weapons of mass destruction. Read more about it at:
www.bit-tech.net/modding/2005/10/19/wmd_g-gnome/1.html




8. The Tidy Tippist

Generally after usage of our keyboard for a certain period of time, it gets dirty. Well how do we clean it? Well wash it, that’s how. Still don’t get, it’s a waterproof fabric keyboard. The keyboard is hidden inside a decorative, washable tablecloth. Read more about it at: toniawelter.de/snw_en_5_tidytippist.htm




9. RC Golf Incred-a-ball

Want to try your hand and beating Tiger Woods at the PGA tournament, then what you need is this. Read more about it at: www.geekologie.com/2006/06/rc_golf_incredaball.php




10. Mental typewriter

This brain-to-computer device converts your thoughts into cursor movements on screen. 128 electrodes are placed on your scalp and software than decodes EEG-like signals into usable information. Read more about it at: http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/mental-typewriter-really-159142.php

Srajan Mani

Internet Explorer 7 still has problems with .png files…woe is MS

Firefox 2.0 (yay!)

Internet Explorer 7 (boo!)

Although, to its credit, Microsoft has fixed various problems and miscellaneous complaints with Internet Explorer (at least it has attempted to). The problem is, its been 4 years since IE received a major update and this comes just a tad too late.

The issues fixed include CSS interpretation and an alpha channel for png files (but the color still isn’t right). I’m trying my best to promote Firefox, although Opera is also a good alternative.

And then you get to look at this…