Archive for June, 2006
Can Facial Expressions Designate Presence Info?
There are some customer support phone systems these days that claim they can recognize if someone is angry or raising their voice (or simply cursing at the hold music) — but that’s only the tip of the iceberg for having more advanced systems recognize your state. For many years, people have talked about how “presence” was going to change everything. If you could somehow let your computer know if you were busy or tired or free or whatever, perhaps it could help better prioritize everything that might interrupt you. While things like instant messenger do have some amount of presence information built in — it’s still mostly reliant on the user setting things (or noticing that you haven’t done anything for a while and setting you to “idle”). However, there’s been a lot of research done over the years about having computers and phones better recognize when you can and can’t answer a call. Of course, it’s quite a difficult problem — and some new researchers are tackling a related issue by trying to teach a computer system to recognize what your facial expression means. Rather than using this system to keep you from being bothered when you’re in a pissed off mood, though, it sounds like they’re looking to pitch you depression medication when you’re feeling down. Forget behavioral advertising, it’s time for emotionally targeted advertising. However, they are looking at some additional applications, such as having a camera that monitors your face while you drive and tries to keep you alert if your face starts to appear bored. Of course, last time we heard about a similar plan from IBM — about five years ago — the system was supposed to tell you jokes and squirt water on your face (yes, you would have an automated Bozo the Clown riding shotgun). It’s not clear that much has really changed over the years — as these projects always seem to be continually in the future.
Originally
from Techdirt
by
reBlogged
by michael
on Jun 27, 2006, 5:59AM
Bring Your Mess With You Wherever You Go
We spent all day yesterday on a shoot that had to do with user interfaces and getting your users…
Originally
from mediabistro.com: UnBeige
reBlogged
by michael
on Jun 27, 2006, 4:39PM
Build a startup in one week for under $500
Is it possible to build a profitable startup in one week’s time for under $500? The guys at WeblogWire seem to think so:
“The main distinguishing feature of our little company is that we are building up a viable product in a week using only $500 as our budget. We are using open source where we can, existing assets where we can (thats only fair, can’t expect us to buy new computers if we are already in the industry), and lowering our labor and other costs however we can. Hopefully by leveraging these advantages and getting real, we can pull off quite a feat.”
With only five days to build something that actually works, they’ll certainly have their work cut out for them. Have any of our Lifehacker readers attempted something similar to this? Send your thoughts to tips @ lifehacker.com, or leave a comment.
Originally
from Lifehacker
reBlogged
by michael
on Jun 27, 2006, 2:30PM
invisible sphere
a 5.5 foot diameter sphere covered with video monitors & surveillance cameras. each monitor displays a live video feed from a camera placed on the opposite side of the sphere. the sphere, created by Jonathan Schipper, can be rolled around in its environment. it is a surveillance device that reveals what is just beyond it. its scale & mobility defy secrecy.
see also science on a sphere.
[pierogi2000.com & coolhunting.com(interview movie)|via rhizome.org]
Originally
from information aesthetics
reBlogged
by michael
on Jun 27, 2006, 2:48AM
relative size of our world
an infographical display of the relative size of planets & stars, varying from the tiny Pluto, over Earth to a ‘huge’ star called Antares.
see also world processor & science on a sphere.
[rense.com|thnkx Martin]
Originally
from information aesthetics
reBlogged
by michael
on Jun 27, 2006, 6:53AM
TEDTalks
Now you can get streaming or downloadable audio or video presentations from TED (Technology Entertainment Design) the super-intense annual event in Monterey.
[via TrueTalk]
…
Originally
from core77.com's design blog
reBlogged
by michael
on Jun 27, 2006, 3:48PM
How to Plan Manpower on a Web Team
Just how many people does it take to properly manage a website? It depends on the website. Shane Diffily explains how to figure it out.
Originally
from A List Apart
by
reBlogged
by michael
on Jun 15, 2006, 4:01PM
basic algebra visualization
a set of visuospatial illustrations demonstrating some interesting properties of numbers, such as that (n+1)×(n-1)=n2-1, that the perfect squares (0,1,4,9,…) go up by successive odd numbers (1,3,5,…), & that the area of a triangular number (1+2+…+n) has a closed form. these properties are easy to show using algebra, but make more sense when visualized.
see also number spirals & regular expression visualizer.
[osteele.com]
Originally
from information aesthetics
reBlogged
by michael
on Jun 19, 2006, 4:34AM
flickr user model infographic
a sophisticated infographic illustrating the current user model of the flickr online image sharing service, visually connecting the concepts of groups, feeds, blogs, contacts & so on.
see also taglines & retrievr.
[flickr.com & soldierant.net]
Originally
from information aesthetics
reBlogged
by michael
on Jun 20, 2006, 12:25AM
Aspen Design Summit: Day 1
After the morning rush-hour traffic jam (seriously), Aspen opened up to all its glory as the Aspen Design Summit welcomed attendees, leaders and volunteers to the valley. A couple vanloads took the trek up to Maroon Bells, a beyond-spectacular setting where we hiked strolled and listened to Niles Eldredge riff on Darwin. A box lunch by the waterfall and some friendly chat with two park rangers later, it was back to the Aspen Meadows Resort for registration and orientation.
After opening remarks by David Gibson, Dorothy Dunn and Ric Grefe (“We believe in demonstrating value by doing valuable things”–awesome), it was on to moderator John Thackara to get this moving. The presenters were inspiring, but too many of them went typically over time (what part of 10 minutes didn’t you understand)–and one totaled up a whopping 35 minutes! No matter. Once Thackara took to the stage with his quick whit, healthy cynicism and frankly intoxicating voice, we knew we were in capable hands for the week.
The hard content and Action Studios begin tomorrow. Fingers crossed that we can all get past agreeing that education is good.
[Day 2 here]
More pics after the jump.
…
Originally
from core77.com's design blog
reBlogged
by michael
on Jun 21, 2006, 3:56PM
