Intelligent Artifice

Microsoft Surface, a multi-touch interface device May 30, 2007

Filed under: Technology, User Interface Design — Jurie @ 9:27

Popular Mechanics has a video of Microsoft Surface, a table-sized multi-touch interface device. It is based on the work of Jeff Han, whose work I have blogged about before. Although it seems remarkably similar, I am not sure if this is the same technology that is used in Apple’s iPhone. However, I somehow doubt there will be a real patent dispute here.

What is interesting about Microsoft Surface is that it combines a huge touch screen with cameras that allow the system to detect objects such as cameras and phones. It looks cool in the video, but I wonder if the system could discriminate between two wireless devices (both using Wifi, say).

(If you’re interested in this: See previous blog posts on the work of Edward Tse, which is somewhat similar, as well as on Sony’s DataTiles. And I thought I linked to a video showing an interaction between a large horizontal screen and physical objects in order to make music, but I can’t find it.)
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Data visualization April 6, 2007

Filed under: User Interface Design — Jurie @ 15:09

Today, one new link about data visualization, and one older one which I hadn’t blogged about yet.

The new one first: Here is a video of home prices in the US from 1890 to the present, visualized as a roller coaster ride. It’s a cute idea. I would have loved to see more data and more context (especially of the era the coaster car is in). But it was made using Atari’s Rollercoaster Tycoon 3, so it’s really a testament to using cheap, unconventional methods to show something.

For a much more mind-blowing look into what can be done with data visualization, have a look at Hans Rosling’s talk at TED 2006. During his talk, he uses very cool data visualization techniques to draw counter-intuitive conclusions from data on human development. It is very convincing, and a powerful talk.

I find this topic interesting for several reasons.
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