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The weekly technology column from those good people at Plymouth’s Orange Crate
Everyone has been involved in brainstorming at some point. From tactical, corporate meetings aimed at knocking out new advertising ideas, to late night discussions about how to take over the world, the brainstorming session is a worldwide phenomenon that leaves nobody out. But isn’t it always true that the vast majority of great ideas born in these discussions usually never make it past the concept stage, and that most are forgotten before they ever get the chance to evolve?
Not any more! Researchers from Keio University in Japan have teamed up with Kayac Company to develop what can readily be described as a ‘concept intensifying system’. ‘Kage Roi’ as it has been named, signifies the next generation in cerebral group discussion. Based on a computer capable of speech recognition, it takes the form of a discussion table with separate stations for each of the individuals taking part. Cunningly positioned microphones record what is being discussed, identify key words and phrases, and instructs the computer to trawl through the web and find relevant information to help develop the conversation. Ceiling mounted projectors then cast the information onto human-shaped shadows on the table which act as screens.
The concept behind the Kage Roi is that it will enable brainstorming sessions to flow more smoothly and ideas not to dry up or come to a dead-end as often. And just to add to the overall theme, it also features a multi-setting lighting system to generate atmospheric effects to the meeting. For instance, one setting imitates a dawn to dusk period over a two hour period, allegedly to stimulate useful phases and mood shifts during the meeting.
Although an original concept in itself, experts and visionaries have been working to discover a method of streamlining discussion groups for a long time. For instance, Danish development company MindLabs have created the concept of the egg-shaped brainstorming vessel. Basically a big egg which everyone sits inside for discussions, it is supposed to promote a stable and balanced environment where each of the participants feels equal and comfortable to share their ideas. Sounds a bit far fetched to me, but it has been received successfully by a number of Danish policy makers and business types.
Another original example is industrial designer Jason Chang’s S.P.I.C.E interactive table. This interactive table features games that require team work and encourage joint efforts that should inspire collective contribution and problem solving. S.P.I.C.E stands for ’stimulating play inspires creative expression’, and endeavours to be the first stage of strategic project development – a starting point for creative discussions and collaborations.
All these ideas, although original and well conceptualised, seem a little open to misuse to me. After all how tempting would it be, as everyone is sat around the Kage Roi trying to keep the discussion going, to pause from the issues in hand and shout ‘latest football scores’? Hopefully one day I’ll find out…
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The weekly technology column from those good people at Plymouth’s Orange Crate
Being accustomed to our compact desktop computers and even smaller laptops (and even smaller pdas), it’s easy to forget how it all began. Forget Charles Babbage and his complex 19th century tinkerings for a second – as important as they were, we’re going to bypass them and move forward a few years to something (a little) more recognizable…
In March 1951 the United States Census Bureau received a 13 ton consignment from Messrs Eckert and Mauchly, and the modern age of computing was officially born. The brilliantly old-school-sci-fi sounding Univac 1 is widely considered to be the first ever digital computer, and the beginning of an industry that was to become one of the biggest in the world.
For over five years it was the best large-scale data processing computer, capable of storing and manipulating both programs and data in the same memory space – a system on which all following computers have founded their basic architecture. The entire structure took over 35.5 square metres of floor space, and initially cost $159,000. A total of 46 of these beasts were eventually delivered to various US institutions and businesses, and due to increasing popularity the price eventually rose to around $1,500,000. Not only were these the pinnacle in technology at the time, private ownership of one would have amply shown off any enterprise’s power and wealth.
Fast forward 25 years to another defining moment in IT history… Steve Wozniak, an employee of Hewlett-Packard, desperately wanted to build his own personal computer but was restricted by budgetary constraints. Eventually he and his associate Steve Jobs built a custom computer and decided to sell it under the name ‘Apple-1′ through their new company, Apple. We all know that they went on to become pioneers in computer technology (and still are today), but the ground-breaking attributes of the Apple-1 were that not only did it make use of a keyboard, it was also one of the first personal computers to be sold fully assembled and not as a kit.
The Apple-1 sold for $666.66 at the time, a one-third markup on the $500 Apple sold it to retailers for (and because Wozniak liked repeating digits, so the history books say).
Fast forward another 20 years and it becomes obvious how fast the IT world had changed. By 1995 companies such as Intel and Microsoft had enveloped large portions of the various industry quarters, making it extremely difficult for original, rival ideas to be successfully. One such example comes from the relative failure of Be Inc. A new company founded by the ex-manager of Apple’s French subsidiary, they developed a fairly advanced machine that didn’t run on one of the mainstream Windows or Mac OS systems. Aimed mainly at software developers, it was designed to be a primary alternative to the big boys of the time.
Sadly, due mainly to it’s lack of compatibility with anything else of the time, it was largely rejected and fewer than 2000 machines were manufactured over a brief two-year period. By 2001 Be Inc. had sold their intellectual rights and gone out of business. Long gone seemed the days where Bill Gates started an empire from his garage, or Wozniak and Jobs hand built their computers one by one and ended up as billionaires.
This is only an extremely small clipping from the history of computers, an area which is really a lot more interesting than you may think. With grand ideas, meteoric rises, and huge failures, there’s a hundred stories and sub-stories to be told. Perhaps the greatest thing is that the majority of these pioneers are still alive and well and plying their trade.
For more information, check out the Old Computers site. Even if you’re really not interested, the antiquated pictures might supply some cheap laughs!
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The weekly technology column from those good people at Plymouth’s Orange Crate
I wasn’t planning to do another story on robots this week, but I came across this and was forced to change my mind. Meet the teddy bear who will finally put an end to those age-old arguments between driver and navigator. The days when romantic weekend breaks in the countryside could be ruined by wrong turns and upside down maps (all before you even arrive at the hotel) may well be a thing of the past thanks to this fluffy little fellah.
The monotonous and often infuriating vocal orders from your satnav will be nothing but a painful memory of the past – let’s give a warm welcome to the disturbingly friendly navigator of tomorrow…
Developed by the iXs Research Corporation in (you guessed it) Japan, the 12-inch tall bear is designed with six movable joints in its arm and neck, enabling it to verbally direct a driver while making motioning gestures at the same time. In addition, stroke its head and it will give you information about local landmarks.
But it doesn’t stop there. Oh no. Picture this: Friday afternoon after work. You stop for half a pint with a couple of the guys from the office. After finishing said half you make your way into the car park to your car, complete with bearNav (it doesn’t have an official name yet, but BearNav works for me). After switching bearNav on (one can only wonder where the ‘on switch’ is…) a second of silence is followed by a friendly voice saying: “You haven’t been drinking, have you?” That’s right folks, he’s fitted with an alcohol detection sensor.
Embedded in its neck, the sensor is supposed to be a deterrent against drink driving. Also included is a sensor that detects reckless driving - harsh stops and wild cornering will result in the bear crying: “Watch out!” Sounds to me as if many of these bears are going to end up with a lot more than sensors embedded in their necks…
iXs Research have also talked of developing various shapes and sizes of these systems, not just sticking to the bear design but creating other characters too. With a release planned for as early as 2009, the bearNav is already in quite a developed state and could be seen in the UK by the end of next year. So how long until we see mutilated teddy bears strewn at the roadside whilst still pointing out directions? Not long, I would guess.
So stick to driving your taxi Rupert, it’s better for everyone that way.
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The weekly technology column from those good people at Plymouth’s Orange Crate
In October 1992 a group of Japanese researchers organized a workshop in Tokyo to discuss challenges in the area of artificial technology. This gathering promptly gave birth to a serious discussion about using the medium of football to promote science and technology, and within nine months rules had been drafted, feasibility studies run, and prototype models designed.
And with great interest from scientific communities around the world, the Robot Soccer World Cup, or ‘RoboCup’ was born. The grand aim is to create, by the mid-21st century, a team of fully autonomous humanoid robot soccer players who, by complying with the official rules of FIFA, will beat the winning team of the most recent FIFA World Cup.Sounds crazy doesn’t it? The idea of current robots outplaying the likes of recent Italian World Cup winners Alessandro Del Piero and Fabio Cannavaro is nothing short of laughable. But the folks at RoboCup have an interesting defence of their scheme. As they point out, it only took 50 years to get from the Wright brothers first aircraft to Apollo missions to send man to the moon. Likewise it took just 50 years from the invention of the digital computer to the creation of IBM’s Deep Blue, which beat reigning chess champion Garry Kasparov. And as the organizers rightfully assert, it’s important to set ambitious long term goals to be pursued and grappled with.
The RoboCup consists of a range of competitions based on size, technical ability and development, but arguably the pinnacle of the various classes is Humanoid League, where teams are formed by either two ‘kid-sized’ or ‘teen-sized’ robots. The winners of the 2 on 2 league in the 2007 meeting in Atlanta was Team NimBro from the University of Freiburg in Germany, who beat Team Osaka from Osaka University by a close margin of eight goals to six – sounds like both teams need to work on their defence, Alan Hanson would be livid…
Thirty seven countries were represented in 2007 and this looks set to grow for this years competition in China. Regardless of the conceivability of RoboCup’s founding goal, the resulting benefits of the events are undeniable. As Tucker Balch, last years general chair summarised, “One of RoboCup’s great strengths is it’s international flavour. We are able to get people together from many countries and backgrounds to share our research and ideas for making robots more effective.”
So, what are the odds are on the result of the 2051 inter-humanoid world cup being ‘Robo All Stars 3-0 Brazil’…?
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The weekly technology column from those good people at Plymouth’s Orange Crate
Although Orange Crate still haven’t received any donations towards hiring a ASIMO robot to make our tea, I’m not going to be discouraged - here is the second instalment of our look at famous advances in robotics.
Most of you have probably heard of Deep Blue. He wasn’t much of a looker, and it could be argued that he wasn’t technically a robot, but he certainly had the edge in the brain department over most of his contemporaries. Developed by IBM throughout the 1990s as part of a parallel computing project, the final version was released in 1997 and became famous for beating reigning chess champion Garry Kasparov 3 ½ – 2 ½ in a six game match. Kasparov subsequently accused IBM of cheating and demanded a rematch – his request was denied.
As of June 1997 Deep Blue was the world’s 259th most powerful supercomputer, and although this doesn’t sound that impressive it meant it could search to a depth of up to 40 potential moves (or plies) in the future. Having a purpose built chess-playing programme this powerful built into it must have given still given Deep Blue a strong position. So did IBM really need to cheat, even against the reigning champion? Sounds like sour grapes from Kasparov to me…
On the other end of the scale, take a look at Actroid-DER2 pictured above. Designed by Korkoro Company Ltd ( the animatronics division of ‘Hello Kitty’ makers Sanrio), she is the culmination of three years of robotic development. Her purpose is to be employed to greet and direct customers in a variety of situations, such as at conventions, office complexes, or museums. Although the most current model still must be fixed to the floor, the range and lifelike nature of her movements are almost disconcertingly realistic. And there have also been rumours about further developments which will allow Actroid to interview patients, possibly even in a medical environment.
What’s more, as of last month, you can hire Actroid for a five day period for ¥400,000 Japanese (around £1,500) plus variable choreography fees. That’s much more of a bargain than ASIMO, maybe we should look at investing in one of these instead…
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The weekly technology column from those good people at Plymouth’s Orange Crate
Surely everybody loves the idea of robots don’t they? Whether you’re a hardcore sci fi fanatic who dreams of having an intelligent, automaton sidekick, or you could just do with a machine that can help with the ironing, there may one day be a robot for you.
Over the next couple of weeks I’m going to look back fondly over a relatively small number of the more famous, ground breaking robots of the last few decades. And I’m not talking about R2D2, Johnny-5 and The Terminator, but the real deal.
So, this week’s likely lad (or technically, series of likely lad models) is Honda’s favourite son ASIMO. An acronym for Advanced Step in Innovative MObility, the first ASIMO model (E0) was developed in 1986 at Honda’s research and development centre in Japan. The most ground breaking feature of this early model was that it could walk unassisted, although it took about five seconds to complete each step (and the robot itself was only a pair of legs without a body). It was to be the start of a successful and popular long-term project.
Between 1987 and 1992 Honda unveiled a range of improving models which resembled robotic legs attached to a top computational unit. Although still a way from being humanoid in appearance (they resembled big toasters on legs), ASIMO E5’s talents had grown immensely by 1992. Not only could he now walk fast on slopes, steps, and uneven surfaces, he could plan his movements in advance.
And the advances certainly didn’t stop there. The most recent ASIMO stands at 1.2m tall, weighs 43kg, and resembles a diminutive astronaut. Not only can he successfully walk at varying speeds, he boasts advanced arm movements enabling him to perform more complex tasks. And he’s intelligent. He can understand human gestures, respond to them, and even remember and greet people by name, performing multiple tasks at the same time!
Knowing this, and to look at him, it almost doesn’t feel strange to refer to him as ‘he’ rather than ‘it’. 46 ASIMO units exist today, and you can hire one for a year for a measly $166,000. Orange Crate have already put in an order, all donations will be gratefully received…
The weekly technology column from those good people at Plymouth’s Orange Crate
How great would it be if, like any other household appliance, you could switch on your pc and use it straight away? Although the times are gone where you could turn on your computer, go and make a cup of tea then come back to see it still booting up, an element of that seemingly endless wait still remains. But for how long…
Late last year software developer DeviceVM and hardware manufacturer Asus teamed up to release Splashtop – a Linux based operating system stored directly on a computer motherboard. For those of you with a slightly lower Geek Factor, let me explain what this combination implies.
Linux is a computer operating system (OS), similar to Microsoft Windows. However unlike Windows it is free and ‘open source’, meaning that programmers are allowed to take the underlying code and modify it to create new operating systems. A motherboard, on the other hand, is the core component in a pc or laptop to which all the other components, such as the processor, memory, and hard disks, are attached. Current operating systems are stored on the computers hard drive, and to boot up and access it takes time and system resources. But if the OS was embedded directly into the motherboard it would eliminate the need for this sequence, enabling you to use your pc almost instantly.
For around six months this option has been available on the higher end Asus motherboards, but the cost involved has made it unavailable to most users. Despite this the feedback has been very positive, resulting in Asus’ aim to incorporate Splashtop on 1,000,000 of their more accessible motherboards per month in the near future.
So is this the beginning of the end for Windows and computing as we know it? Well, possibly not quite yet. Although Splashtop incorporates some useful features such as web browsing, Skype, photo and file viewing, and chat programmes, it doesn’t quite cut the mustard. Think of it as an secondary option that you use for a quick fix of email viewing or web browsing, rather than a full blown alternative to the current system. But as the screen shots show, the idea has come a long way in a relatively short space of time so who knows where it might lead? In a couple of years time you may be able to switch on your pc and check your emails while you’re waiting for the kettle to boil to make your tea…
The weekly technology column from those good people at Plymouth’s Orange Crate
On May 3 1978 an employee of DEC, a since defunct computer manufacturer, was responsible for the first recognized spam mail. Sent to 400 recipients via the Arpanet (the internet’s forerunner), its purpose was to advertise the company’s new range of products by inviting the recipients to attend two presentations. Response was swift and an uproar followed – it may have been a harmless marketing ploy but people were obviously feeling uncomfortable about this potential intrusion into their private worlds.
Despite this early foray, it took many years for spam mail to become the mainstream thorn in the side of the internet that it is today. In the early ’90s a number of companies started taking the initiative by gathering lists of emails and sending thousands of advertising and promotional messages at a time. The online world began to realise that this could easily turn into a downward spiral, and they were right in more ways than one.
In the most obvious sense, the sheer amount of spam mail is constantly on the rise – an estimated 100 billion spam messages are currently sent every day, and trawling through junk mail every morning has become an unwanted international pass-time. Although the majority of spam today is still concerned with selling you a product – whether it be a Viagra substitute or debt consolidation – a worrying 9 per cent is estimated to be directly linked to internet scamming.
These scammers actively engage in fraudulent activity to achieve a number of nefarious goals. From gaining personal details such as log-in particulars and credit card details, to downloading various spyware, malware, trojans, and viruses onto unsuspecting PCs, their activities can result in anything up to a serious amount of damage. So how do you spot these potential time bombs amongst your regular email?
Well, thankfully, much of the spam mail itself isn’t always that intelligent. Having often been created by a computer program itself, there are a number of tell-tale signs that the human eye will pick up on with a bit of training. For instance, I received a message addressed to ‘Account Holder’ from the ‘CEO’ of ‘Llyods Bank’ (no seriously, that’s not a typo…) telling me that I had to lick on the link below and change my on line banking details due to security changes. Now, even if I did have an account at the bank they were trying to rip off, I hope I would’ve seen through this particular scam.
But seriously, watch out for bad spelling, unrealistic signatures (how often to get an email from a CEO?), and lack of personalisation – all clear signs before you even read the content. In addition to this, a lot of spam is sent through hijacked servers and sites, so check who your mail comes from and whether the associated website is even vaguely linked to what the message is offering. And if the email address is something along the lines of quwiortetrrewyyr@yahoo.com, then it’s fake.
We’ve all had experience of spam email in the past, and to a certain degree are aware of its varying forms. But the best rule to follow is most certainly ‘If in doubt, don’t open it, don’t read it, and most definitely don’t click on the link….’. Let’s face it, if you weren’t expecting the email, or it’s not from someone you recognise, then it’s probably not something you’re interested in. Trust me – you can’t win the Portuguese lottery if you didn’t even enter.
The weekly technology column from those good people at Plymouth’s Orange Crate
Although it’ll probably be a while before they are accepted as friends of Greenpeace, it seems that a number of technology companies are gingerly moving towards producing greener alternatives and solutions for every day gadgets. With many individuals and companies starting to base their technology acquisitions at least partially on eco-friendliness, it is about time some big steps were taken.
Anyone familiar with the IT world will know that amongst others, the major processor manufacturers have been battling it out for years to produce ‘greener’ technologies. However, the fruits of their labours are often not advertised or at all obvious to the end user. So maybe now is the time to show everyone that IT doesn’t have to be as planet destroying as we may have thought…
Last week, at the Fortune Green Conference in California, the CEO of computer manufacturer Dell announced the imminent release of a bamboo encased pc dubbed the ‘ecoputer’ – 81% smaller than a regular desktop computer, it claims to use 70% less power and be filled with recycled materials such as detergent cases, milk jugs, and bottles. With an expected price tag of £250 – £350, it’s even affordable. But will it be any good? No specifications have been released yet, although it is due to be released later this year. If it has a decent sized hard drive, DVD writer, and a few other quality features, we can see it becoming a home media centre option. If not, it could be a well meaning flop.
Asus, another big name in the IT sector, has announced the release of the planet-friendly EcoBook. Again utilising bamboo in it’s design, it looks to us like a laptop with a varnished wooden finish. Featuring a couple of attractive features such as a performance adjusting button that glows different colours depending on how much power the laptop is using, and a tracker pad that you can actually write on, it could be a hit. But at £900 and with no solid specifications released, we’re going to wait before splashing out on this one.
You might be thinking by now that this all sounds like a cheap gimmick to raise the profiles of the manufacturers and paint them as ‘in touch’ with their customers. But it appears to be more than just bamboo and old bottles. A number of sustainable woods are being used for the casings of monitors, keyboards, and mice, degradable and recyclable plastics are becoming more prevalent, and actual designs are being modified to limit the need for power-hungry ventilation fans.
So how long will it be before we get to actively choose a planet friendly pc? Well the signs are good, and with a little luck it could be a lot sooner than you think.
The weekly technology column from those good people at Plymouth’s Orange Crate
With the main network providers offering at least some PDA option with the majority of their pre-pay contracts, the opportunity to get your hands on one with minimum outlay has never been so realistic. But which one? A few years ago the market was heavily skewed towards the business and enterprise sector, but recent marketing campaigns have ensured the foray of the PDA phone into the world of the home consumer.
This week I’m going to take a closer look at three options available on regular phone provider contracts – The LG Viewty, HTC Touch, and the Apple iPhone. Although these represent a mere drop in the ocean in terms of models available, the likelihood is you’ve heard of at least two of them so it’s as good a place as any to start.
Available for free on contracts from all the major players, the LG Viewty fortunately has more to offer than a silly name. In its favour it is certainly easy to use as a phone, and has all the features you’d expect from a PDA – radio, calender, media player. Possibly the Viewty’s best feature is its 5 megapixel camera – impressive by any standards. However, there are some unfortunate drawbacks. Lack of speed is definitely an issue, as is the relatively poor quality of the operating system and included software. Potentially a great idea, but don’t expect to leave your laptop at home by any means – this is a very attractive phone with some nice features, little more.
HTC are relatively unknown as a phone manufacturer, but as one of the biggest platforms for the Windows Mobile operating system in the UK, they have built a series of improving phones over the last few years. Although aesthetically pleasing, the Touch also offers a host of well designed applications and features through Windows Mobile 6.0. For anyone familiar with previous Windows phones, you will know this combination is a rarity! Much more of a pocket pc, although its phone functions are pretty good, the HTC Touch’s major downfall is its reliance on the stylus pen. If you don’t like using it, give it a wide berth – finger pushing isn’t a realistic option here.
The Apple iPhone is currently recognized as the user-friendly pinnacle of high street PDA phones. Developed with the private consumer in mind, it combines a touchscreen phone, an iPod, and a PDA. And it does it well. Attractive and sleek, it successfully markets itself as today’s must-have ‘accessory’. However, it’s expensive. Very expensive. And it’s closed-platform operating system ensures that it really is just a designer gadget rather than a full blown technical aide.
In truth, I’ve only scratched the surface of these phones’ abilities. All have their own fortes, and I haven’t even mentioned some of the other powerful contenders such as Palm Treo, Blackberry, i-mate, or even Nokia. Next time you’re renewing your contract, skip over the pretty pink Sony and have a closer look at the PDA options. Because it’s cool to play games, check your email and talk on the phone at the same time – surely everybody knows that.
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Welcome to the People's Republic of South Devon. Your subscription will begin with the next newsletter. Keep up to date by visiting the blog regularly and make sure your voice is heard. Many thanks, The People's Republic of South Devon.
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![splashtop screenshot\](http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f239/peoplesrepublic/splashtop_04.jpg "splashtop screenshot\")
