MP: First animation concept GPTL Table

MT: New Research Keyquestion

We are trying to define our new keyquestion for our 'Calm Technology research':

• In which way does Calm Technology take effect on our GPTL Table?
• How can we -with the gathered knowledge we personally have of calm technology- apply Calm Technology into our GPTL Table?
  
  

MT: Calm Technology

Calm technology describes itself as: Technology in the Periphery.
Which means it's not given the center of attention.
What is in the periphery at one moment may in the next moment come to be at the center of our attention and so be crucial.
It's playing in the back, without us giving it any attention. Untill it changes, then we're aware of it.

As an example:

"Ordinarily when driving our attention is centered on the road, the radio, our passenger, but not the noise of the engine. But an unusual noise is noticed immediately, showing that we were attuned to the noise in the periphery, and could come quickly to attend to it"

The information would be present in the background until needed, move to center stage when needed, then fade to the background again — something like having the television on with the sound turned down until a "news alert" is broadcast.

Good tools should be 'invisible'. It has to become your second nature.
This describes an essential part of Calm technology.
Mark Weiser says at the end of his article 'The World Is Not A Desktop':

"I propose childhood: playful, a building of foundations, constant learning, a bit mysterious and quickly forgotten by adults. Our computers should be like our childhood: an invisible foundation that is quickly forgotten but always with us, and effortlessly used throughout our lives."

What we find interesting was another part of this article:

"Voice command is so well-known in science fiction exactly because it is prominent and attention grabbing -- fiction is supposed to hold our attention. A good tool is not."

Projectweek: Chin. Ind. Res(e)t. :: Hong Kong Concept

The assignment of the project Chin. Ind. Res(e)t was to rebrand/restyle the typical Dutch Chinese restaurant. Choose to restyle the interior, exterior, clothing, branding etc

Peter and I chose to restyle the interior. We wanted to combine our discipline (interactive media) with interior. We chose for the Chinese restaurant Hong Kong (Westersingel, Rotterdam) and came up with ideas such as: Lightning floors when people sit down at the table, or a 360degrees projection on an old traditional Chinese vase. Another idea for this 'Chinese restaurant of tomorrow' was that there will be a chip under your plate, which the table will recognize and keep your plates pleasant warm at that certain spot you placed your plate.

Check out the 3D renders we made for this Hong Kong Concept:

MP: Database structure

MP: How will the database be structured?

Discussion data will be stored in MySQL Database.

Input:

• Keywords
  
• Date
• Time
  
• Chairman
  
• Members
  
• Main Subject
  
• Subtopics
• Main Subject Description
• Subtopics Description
• Member Entries
• Side-sketches
• Sketches
• Conclusions
  

Output (OR):

• Application for Mindz
• Application for Ning
  
• Application for GPTL website
  

MT: 2Do

Mark Weiser: Selected Publications
http://www.ubiq.com/hypertext/weiser/WeiserPapers.html

Mark Weiser: Calm Technology
http://www.ubiq.com/hypertext/weiser/calmtech/calmtech.htm

Mark Weiser: The World is not a Desktop
http://www.ubiq.com/hypertext/weiser/ACMInteractions2.html

• Hoe ziet calm-tech er in 2008 uit?
• Hoe past I.T. daarin?
• Welke andere projecten zijn er op dat gebied?

Google: Gestural Interfaces
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MT: Answers 1st assignment

Our research is about using RFID technology for a social network, like GPTL. We are looking for new technologies. We're trying to convert the offline discussions to online data.

Our research question is:
How can we integrate RFID into a social network (such as GPTL),
to connect the on- and offline communication of the network?

RFID technology is used in many ways, such as:

• Mobile Payment (Baja Beach Club)
  
• Track&Trace
• Photobooth van Touch
• Boeken in bibliotheek
• Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI)

We need to figure out which of these ways is most capable to be implemented in a social network. An example of how this technology is used, the new system for libraries, they call it "LibBest - Library RFID Management System".
A visual example of how it works:

Great Place to Live Comic

This comic was made by one of the GPTL-members, which we've found on the internet.

This is somewhat similar to what we mean about ideaprocessing at the GPTL-unconferences.
"Is this really what they end up with? Nothing..."

MP: Filter first concept

Ok, now that we got our first concept of the Interactive Table, we need to filter out what GTPL could use.
So picking out the essential parts of our first concept.

Next thing what we have to do is, think of less impossible way of constructing the table.
Things to think about, such as:

• Multiple touchscreens?
  
• Wacom Tablets?
• Projection?
• iPen?

An important thing is, that handwriting can simply be digitalized.

MP: First visual concept

First visual concept of our interactive table for GPTL.

MP: Practical examples

Here are a few examples of techniques we can use for GPTL.
Every example will be added with a small text:

1. Interactive table
LUST: Generation Random



This table, designed by agency LUST from The Hague is an interactive table. Boxes can be placed on the table, which then will show certain information. As soon as you place a box, information will appear on the screen and you're able to drag, resize, scroll and modify the content.
For GPTL: It would be nice to add a draw/write-to-text function into this table. Members are able to group around the table, so everybody can give their input and slide certain info to the other side, rotate content. Brainstorm sessions can be simply drawn on the table, which will be stored and tagged at the database.

Pro's:

• No paper needed
• Groups are around the table
• Everything automatically stored and tagged
• Finger-simple
• Works with either text & images
• Simply add a beamer to the table, for dynamic presentations
  

Con's:

• Not mobile, has to stay at one place
• Expensive solution

2. Digital Whiteboard:
Hitachi StarBoard FX DUO


This Whiteboard from Hitachi is like an old-school chalkboard.
The one difference is that it's a digital whiteboard, you're able to write on it with your fingers.
It's very much alike the Generation Random-table, though it doesn't have the fancy layout.

Pro's:

• Ideal for presentations/brainstorming
• It's designed to really write/draw on it
• It's the same brainstorm methode GPTL uses allready, only then digital.
  

Con's:

• Only one person can work with in at the time
  
• Expensive solution

3. Digital Pen:
Integral iPen

iPen Mouse is a pen-shaped mouse that enables us to control PC and input handwriting.
In particular, it allows natural handwriting just like using a real pen by sensing
its contact pressure with the surface.
Utilizing the recent optical navigation and mouse-hover technology,
i-pen Mouse is lightweight, durable, and able to use on most of surface except glass and shine white paper.
It is designed to work in mouse mode for fast point-and-click action and also in pen mode for writing and drawing actions.
Especially, because i-pen Mouse requires very small surface to write on, it is very ideal for notebook users and perfect for limited workspace.

Pro's:

• Super mobile, pocket size
  
• Everybody can use it (multiple pens?)
  
• Cheap
  

Con's:

• We need an external computer
• Software needed
  
• Not automatically stored and tagged