It's been really enlightening reading everyone's response before writing my own- I showed the video to my friends as well and I am surprised at how varied everyone's reactions were! So many interesting aspects have been brought up. Those constructivists were onto something after all... ;P
I especially found the points made about kids using this technology (which frankly scared me, and i've yet to put together a response to that), the public speaking skills of pattie maes (commendable! I totally agreed, I was at the edge of my seat too!), and the impracticality of a tool like this when mobile phones can nearly perform all the same functions already (check out reverse google image search!)
When I first watched this (before reading anyone's blog) I was absolutely blown away- I think I lost count over how many WOWs and WOAHs! came out of my mouth :P I shared it on facebook right away. However, no one commented. I found that odd seeing how cool it was, not to mention I thought I did a pretty good job selling it in the description i attached :P
When my friends came over later, I firstly harassed them for not being more interested on facebook, and then made them watch it with me again-- Chris' initial reaction was to question everything- and said something like- it's probably not nearly as cool as its made out to be, if we tried to use it there would probably be heaps of glitches (the watch not showing up directly on your wrist etc), whereas Kylie had the same reaction as me.
I couldnt believe Chris was not that impressed! But as he ALWAYS plays devils advocate, we shortly ended that discussion out of frustration. However, when i saw similar points brought up by our classmates blog posting, i was challenged to reconsider the arguments.
I don't think this technology, despite it's serious genius, would have much sway on consumers in its CURRENT form (which was actually alluded to by pattie a few times).
The camera, (although the gesture thing was impressive!) is not practical. Im not sure what audience would like taking pictures in this format, or find resizing them in this fashion useful. It surely would not stand to replace a handheld camera, as there are cameras built in most standard phones these days, yet no one i know uses their phone for general picture taking. And as far as using it to recognize products etc...a phone can do this now too (see the link above)
She presented it as being better than using a phone because it hangs around your neck, however, would the position of the camera work as well if you were sitting down? and while walking around, would it get turned around? Would it always project to the right area/surface? (as in when they used it as a watch or checked the boarding time of a flight)
Obviously this design is in its beginning stages- but im not sure if it stays as an exterior element to your phone if it would ever take off (yes the cost is relatively low, but you need a mobile phone to go along with it, and a smart phone at that, which is not cheap)- maybe if they could incorporate the projector inside a phone that you could wear?? But then, that wouldn't eliminate the things you have to wear on your fingers either...
Technology should make things easier right? I do think they are onto something with the concept of a 6th sense, in theory it would make things easier, but after some consideration, I'm not convinced that the '6th sense' in this form would do the job.
I think you make a really important point that this kind of tool is still in a development phase - possibly it is in a socially developmental phase as well. Do you remember when skype came out? Many folks said, 'why would I need to video chat?' We never take up a technology unless it has a specific use or fills a need. Yes, our phones can do this now, but what will the 'mobile' phone be in 10 years? Will it still be a phone or more integrated into our person? Wondering.
ReplyDeletecertainly! it blows my mind when i think about how far we come over decades (haha not that ive been alive with a mind of my own for many, but enough to notice and to learn from history ;)
ReplyDeletenot just in technology too, but across the board- music, fashion, art- its so hard to predict what we will classify as important in 10 years+
i think, well for me anyway- what becomes mainstream has a lot to do with our peers too. i remember denying facebook for SO long because i was addicted to the creative freedom you had on myspace, but eventually had to give in cause i wasnt able to talk to any of my friends anymore :P
i guess same goes for skype- it wasnt the best when it first came out, so i was using a thing called magic jack to call home (MN) for awhile.
Now that ALL my friends are on skype tho, i again have been converted, and relishing in the video chats like you mentioned- it helps that theyve fixed a lot of bugs tho too :)