This is definitely the next level of human-computer interaction.
Augmented Reality refers to a set of new technologies that allow us to interact with our computers/mobile phones etc in a totally new way that includes touch sensitivity, 3d movement and possibly also sound based interaction. Examples include Microsoft Surface, the PerceptivePixel touch screen (used in CNN’s american elections coverage) and even the iPhone’s touchscreen.Beyond those, there’s also ‘self aware’ alphabet blocks called ‘siftables’, the Nintendo Wii and some other basic gaming interfaces.
But there’s another level even further out on the ‘coolness’ radar – basically being able to interact with the computer generated scenario (a game for e.g.), using just your webcam.
GE Energy released a new advert for their windmills that demonstrates this ultimate tech – check out this video of how it works first. And if you’d like to try it, this is the original GE link.
The software basically first recognizes the pattern on the printout, develops an internal 3d mode, then overlays the windmill animations, and then as you move around your printout, follows you in realtime. And that’s not all – if you blow into your microphone, the windmill goes faster!!
I think this is basically Flash + Webcam + motion detection sw + pattern matching sw + 3d modelling sw. Also sound patten recognition to some extent.
Just plain awesomeness.
A friend hosts a website that he hadn’t paid attention to many days. Recently he noticed the homepage was throwing up a code error. After some checking he found an unknown php code inserted randomly, that contained a link to http://internetcountercheck.com.
The malicious code didn’t actually execute anything – in fact it tried to spout a hyperlink, but only resulted in a runtime error resulting in the whole site being down. If it happens on an active site, it’d be detected in a minute and fixed.
Several years back I had once observed what looked like a star moving quickly in a straight line across the zenith, on a clear night in Dehradun. That was an artificial satellite, which are frequently visible (with the naked eye too in clear environs) during dusk or dawn.
Satellite spotting is a regular hobby with many skygazers. And there are websites (surprise!) that generate satellite paths on sky charts for tracking. The first google link turned out to be at hobbyspace.com – a great list of such websites. And particularly useful is a German site called Heavens-above (this link takes you directly to the satellite predictions for New Delhi – may not work in Firefox 3.0).
Using their excellent charts, I was easily able to spot Cosmos 1674 and Cosmos 2263 (that passed just below Saturn today), using an ordinary 10x binocular. The satellites appear as a small dot racing past your field of view.
If you plan to spot any of these, I suggest being prepared at least 5 minutes before – make sure you locate the estimated position and the neighbouring (well, not literally) stars/planets, and scan the area around the path at the given time.
What would be ultracool? A webcam setup with a small scope that tracks these satellites automatically and uploads the video feed on the internet.
This comet is now in Leo, near Saturn, and visible for most of the night. It’s supposed to be fairly easy to spot, given the 180 degree angular distance from the sun, and its long tails. I couldn’t find it with a 10x binocular, and a 20x refractor scope. I did look around where its supposed to be, but probably a magnification of 50x or so is required at least, to make out the hazy tail and ascertain it’s not a star. Also Delhi’s ambient city light spreads out to about 50 degrees up from the horizon, making it impossible to spot stars below 4 or 5 magnitude.
Here is a pdf showing the comet’s trajectory over the next few days: click
(Its easy to spot Leo and Saturn after about 9 PM – look east where the sun rises, then crane your neck up about 40 degrees. There should be 3 bright stars – the lowest red one is Saturn (well planet not star), and the top two which appear in a line parallel to the horizon are from the Leo constellation, the right one being Regulus. That’s where the comet is around (see pdf).
Here are regular followups by various astronomers : click
