The SixthSense

find the original video a
http://www.ted.com/talks/pattie_maes_demos_the_sixth_sense.html

Video description: 

This video details the SixthSense, a wearable device that allows for easy access to available metadata. The device is made of a simple webcam and a lightweight mirror based projector all linked to a cell phone that provides the internet connection. The beauty of the system is that it is dead cheap.

“Think Thank” Study areas:

Image recognition a.k.a computer vision

Gesture driven computing

Driving forces:

Potential or should I say technological:

In my opinion, this technology has a lot of potential is a low cost solution for mobile computing. For starters as stated in the video, this device will be made with readily available low cost materials amounting to about $350. In todays world having such a low cost computer would not only bring low cost computing to the masses but it will also lead in my opinion to a drop in the prices for many already on the market mobile devices. Additionally given the low production cost one can only imagine the uses of this system especially in less developed and developing countries where mobile computing is one of those things that is showing a lot of potential for low income people.

Ecological:

I am also very much impressed by the amount of material that is used in the making of this device. Not only does not use low cost readily available materials, but also the fact that it uses very few components as opposed to the conventional computer (desktop and laptop) means that it will leave a very small ecological footprint. In today’s world, when computers are no longer needed, a problem arises in what to do with them. Putting them in land fills or shipping them to other countries does not really solve the problem as the end result is that they always end up in the ground which not only pollutes our water ways but also the ground.  

Additionally, and I know most would not agree with me on this is the fact that this system as shown in the video gives us the opportunity to make ecologically sound choices when it comes to shopping. Imagine being at the store and you can get up to the minute information about what you are about to buy. Not only will we be able to buy products that are friendly to the environment but at the same time we should be able to reduce our dependence on desktop and laptop computing thus reducing the need for this forms of computing and in so doing reducing the need for disposing of these devices when they are not needed

Impeding forces:

Financial

            Though this system is a low cost option to mobile computing, it will in my opinion be impeded by its dependence on the mobile communication networks that are need to get the data. We are all very aware of the fact that many if not all telecom providers charge an arm, a leg and then some for data usage. If this should become a viable mobile computing option, there is need for a reduction in the cost of data usage. This is made even more apparent when one considers data usage in third world and developing countries. For one thing, most of these places either do not have the necessary infrastructural hardware needed to provide consistent data and for that matter voice connectivity and even when this is present the prices only prevent or impede use.

Social or should I say societal:

            Much as this system provides us with up to the minute information on a variety of subjects, it raises the question of privacy. Just as one will be able to find information about ecologically friendly toilet paper (and please do not ask why I chose toilet paper) one could just as easily just find information on any one just by looking them. It is thus not hard to see what malicious uses could be drummed up by those bent on stirring up trouble.  It could be argued that any information that could be gotten by using this system could just as easily be gotten by the use of the use of a laptop or desktop computer. Much as this is true, I am sure that some people will safe knowing that whatever information one may have about them could not be used in their presence …false sense of security but hey that is the world we live in.

 

Mobile computing for some...not so much for others

Mobile phones are a dime a dozen these days. It seems like everyone has one, actually everyone has one including children (this assumption is true if you live in the developed world). For those of us born in the 70’s and before, one cannot help but marvel at how far we have come from the days of the brick sized handhelds to today’s smartphones, tablets, iPads and what have you. For the younger generation, smartphones, tablets, iPads, iPhones, and the list goes on are the norm. It would seem that everywhere one looks these days there is someone using one of those “things” so much so that it seems that having a laptop which used to seem classy is now relegated to being normal. If you want to stand out, you need a smartphone or a tablet.

One cannot help but marvel at the potential that these devices have when it comes to content delivery nor can one even begin to imagine the areas that remain uncharted as far as mobile communication is concerned. In todays world, or at least in the developed well, it is not uncommon to see people logging more than one mobile device in addition to a laptop. I guess the reason behind all of this is portability and ease of use. Additionally there is no preset manual as to how mobile devices need to be used. Each person just uses it as they see fit. With the advent of social networking and the need to constantly check what our peers are doing, having an easy to use, always on Internet connection is necessary or should we say mandatory.

Mobile computing is good but it is useless in my opinion if all it affords its users is the ability to connect, send email and work from where ever they may be. This is in no way means that we are trying to negate the value of these uses of mobile computing, rather it means that while acknowledging these values, we intend to show that we can gain more from it by integrating it with learning or education. Yes, great strides have been made as far as mobile computing is concerned in the developed world and yes there is still a long way to go but my focus is geared towards the third world and developing countries which have their own set of challenges which need to be dealt with to make mobile computing a reality that is worth the effort.

Much as it is true that mobile communication has or is putting the third world onto the communication super highway, it goes without saying that it is this same technology that is making the gap between the haves and the haves not more apparent(the digital divide) but that is another topic. Third world countries particularly those in the Africa south of the Sahara are plagued by several factors that make the use mobile technology not only impractical but at times down right impossible. What this leads to is the idea that developers should have these regions in mind when developing hardware, software and content for mobile consumption.

It is not hard to imagine that social and infrastructural limitations are the reason behind the slow adoptions of mobile communication within these countries. Yes people use mobile phones for voice calls but there are few who use it for anything else and for those that do, it is usually the reach and the affluent. In other cases the lack of basic amenities such as electricity create roadblocks for effective use and in the case where there is electricity it either over priced or unreliable such that users are either turn between feeding themselves or trying to get connected. Finally, content that is particularly to these regions is lacking as content developers tend to focus on areas in which they are likely to make money either by direct sales or by the sale of advertising.

If there is one thing that we have to agree on, it is the fact that mobile computing is going places, but then again it is doing that more so for some areas more than for others. I am able to write this blog with the aid of a mobile device and a free Wi-Fi connection courtesy of Starbucks but then again I am saddened by the fact that some of my brethren in the motherland are not able to that. Just earlier today I was talking to my sister who told me she has not been able to check her email for over two weeks either due to the absence of electricity, a faulty network connection or a combination of both.  So much as we in the developed world are making use of mobile technology in work as well as in play, we need to realize that for some this is or may still only be a dream…

the effect

I am sure that anyone who comes to this page would want to know why I gave this blog the name the effect? Simple....have any of you ever met a woman who made you speechless...well I have but the truth of the matter is that it was not me that was left speechless...it was many a person that came across this same woman. I have since been dating this woman and many a time I came close to what I define as the effect. The effect is that unexplainable thing that attracts men to women or women to men ...that unexplained thing which makes you buy a shirt over anothe..what the french call 'un certain Je ne sais quoi"...My girlfriend says shouldnt call her the effect because I have the effect too on women....how true that is I dont know but I do know out there somebody got it..