visioneros.com

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has left his material body. His influence has left a prominent ark on our daily lives with many of his inventions helping in our domestic and professional tasks. One of his dreams, was to make cutting edge technology easy to use for everyone.

The Apple Mac computer revolutionized the graphic arts industry, my own career as a graphic artist took off when the Mac computer made it possible for me to learn how to use the operating system and art programs in a very short time. The music industry was also changed back when you could buy a Mac as a MIDI sequencer connected to an Emulator Sampler creating a digital audio workstation for around $15,000 Dlls., instead of having to buy a very expensive Fairlight CMI (Computer Musical Instrument) or a New England Digital Synclavier Digital Audio System for $100,000 Dlls. More recently, in the midst of the Napster era, which badly affected the music industry, Steve invited recording companies to join his iTunes Store project to legally distribute music downloads and save musician’s royalties. The list goes on… video editing, writers, publishers, designers, regular pedestrians with iPods. In short, the man had a talent for design and realizing his vision. His influence will be felt for many years to come. Our deepest condolences to his family and associates at Apple. let us celebrate his spirit and contributions… Hare Krishna.
http://www.apple.com/

The race is still on for best interface method. I just hope it’s something that doesn’t leave me with Carpal tunnel syndrome.
Chris Harrison is investing how to use our skin as an input device or Skinput. Measuring acoustic differences on the skin surface which can be identified and mapped by a computer, using an arm band and a projector, the system can detect hits or taps on the surface of the arm or fingers and uses these taps as commands to control a computer.

My eldest daughter sent me this choreographed robots video to post on my blog, she said it frightened her. As a concerned parent I started watching it, and at first, these robots made me laugh, I mean, technologically speaking it is impressive, but then, reading some of the comments on the YouTube page it hits you, like user “madkinesis” commenting “Now just imagine them full sized and synchronized while hunting you down.” Just imagine the war mongers drooling at the possibilities… taking notes for next year’s purchasing request. I just hope mankind has sense enough to know better.

Here’s a quick look at the “SixthSense” prototype, the wearable gesture interface designed by Pranav Mistry. This device uses a webcam, microphone, mini-projector and smart phone and will eventually be the size of a silver dollar and will radically change the way we interface with technology.

Pranav Mistry is a Research Assistant and PhD candidate at MIT Media Lab. His vision stems from the practical everyday needs of the masses. He has been experimenting with existing devices and finding unique uses for them. His “Sixth Sense” wearable gesture interface is the result of years tinkering with devices, like taking apart a computer mouse he developed an inexpensive controller. He used a webcam (camera) he removed the microphone and using a mini projector he can use a piece of paper as a computer monitor. His gesture recognizing software makes the whole thing work like magic. Pranav is recognized as one of the most important inventors of our time and has offered details of some of this inventions as open source, so that people all over the world can start developing new ways of using technology. Website: www.pranavmistry.com

I felt this computer category needed the now historical intro to the multitouch interface concept by Perceptive Pixel founder Jeff Han during the Adobe sponsored TED2006 in Monterrey, CA.

Apple was awarded their Multi-Touch Technology Patent number 7479949 on Jan. 20, 2009. After the success of the iPhone and iTouch multi-touch screens, they’ve added a new glass Multi-Touch Trackpad on their new Apple MacBook computers, this one button design uses your fingers to control your computer in ways not previously possible.