Technology Information: March 2011

CALL FOR PAPERS: Touch the Web 2011 2nd International Workshop on Web-Enabled Objects

CALL FOR PAPERS: Touch the Web 2011 2nd International Workshop on Web-Enabled Objects
Links - Web of Things: Touch the Web 2011; Web Patterns and the EPC Cloud, Windows 8 Rumors, Human Centered Service Design
Virtual History of Rome for the iPad, Created with Unity

CALL FOR PAPERS: Touch the Web 2011 2nd International Workshop on Web-Enabled Objects

Posted: 31 Mar 2011 02:28 AM PDT

CALL FOR PAPERS: Touch the Web 2011

2nd International Workshop on Web-Enabled Objects

The workshop will be held on June 20-24, 2011 in Paphos, Cyprus, in conjunction with the:

International Conference on Web Engineering (ICWE)(Information about this CFP was taken from the workshop's website: http://www.pros.upv.es/touchtheweb/ )

The vision of the Internet of Things builds upon the use of embedded systems to control devices, tools and appliances. With the addition of novel communications capabilities and identification means such as RFID, systems can now gather information from other sensors, devices and computers on the network, or enable user-oriented customization and operations through short-range communication. When the information gathered by different sensors is shared by means of open Web standards, new services can be defined on top of physical elements. In addition, the new generation of mobile phones enables a true mobile Internet experience. These phones are today's ubiquitous information access tool, and the physical token of our "Digital Me". These meshes of things and "Digital Me" will become the basis upon which future smart living, working and production places will be created, delivering services directly where they are needed.

The fundamental questions in this workshop are:

How do we apply the lessons learned in Web Engineering to the Internet of Things?

What kind of Web-based interaction patterns for embedded devices (streaming, eventing, etc.) can we identify?

Applications, deployments, prototypes and evaluations of Web of things systems.

Human-things interaction models and paradigms (mobile interfaces, etc.)

User-oriented, context-aware discovery and dynamic search for the real world.

Compositions of Things and Meshes of Things.

What kind of interfaces, business models and scenarios these smart things will create, address and modify?

How can the services in the surroundings be composed and orchestrated?

The research areas involved are many, including Web Engineering, Ubiquitous Computing, Product Engineering, Distributed Systems, Human Computer Interaction, Economics, Artificial Intelligence, and many more. We look forward in this workshop to bring together different areas of expertise to help us shape a vision of creating living and working surrounded by meshes of web-enabled things.

Workshop format

Expected number of participants is no more than 20, for a full-day workshop. A tentative program (to be adjusted following the number of participants) is organized as follows:

A short (15 min) opening session by the workshop organizers

Two full paper presentation sessions (each session with 3 papers, 20 min presentation each)

Lunch break

One short paper presentation session (up to 6 papers, 5 min presentation each)

Discussion session. A specific agenda to discuss and provide feedback upon will be proposed and the organizers will moderate the discussion.

The last session will be devoted to consolidate and present the results of the discussions. The workshop organizers will write a workshop summary and publish it as part of the workshop proceedings.

Links - Web of Things: Touch the Web 2011; Web Patterns and the EPC Cloud, Windows 8 Rumors, Human Centered Service Design

Posted: 31 Mar 2011 02:13 AM PDT

WEB OF THINGS
Touch the Web 2011
Dominique Guinard|Web of Things|3/21/11

EPC Cloud: Reducing Software Complexity Thanks to Web Patterns
Dominique Guinard|Web of Things|3/8/11

View more presentations from Dominique Guinard.

WINDOWS 8 RUMORS

Windows 8 Beta Collectors Waiting with Bated Breath for a Leak

Mary Jo Foley |All About Microsoft|ZDNET|3/30/11

HUMAN CENTERED SERVICE DESIGN

Service Design Toolkit: A toolkit for the design of public service

Service Design Toolkit Downloadables

(Via Putting People First)

FYI: My dog woke me up very early this morning - so I decided to post a few interesting links. I'll share more in-depth posts in the future when I have a bit more time : )

Virtual History of Rome for the iPad, Created with Unity

Posted: 30 Mar 2011 02:11 PM PDT

RELATED
Unity iOS Publishing
Unity Game Development Website

Virtual Rome Featured by Steve Jobs

Program- CHI 2011 Child Computer Interaction: 2nd Workshop on UI Technologies and Educational Pedagogy

Posted: 29 Mar 2011 05:10 PM PDT

CHILD COMPUTER INTERACTION: 2ND WORKSHOP ON UI TECHNOLOGIES AND THEIR IMPACT ON EDUCATIONAL PEDAGOGY

May 7, 2011

In conjunction with CHI 2011, Vancouver, Canada

PROGRAM (Draft)

9:00am – 09:05am Introduction

9:05am - 10:05am Paper Session I (8min presentation, 4min Discussion)

Evaluating Pervasive Classrooms

• Son Do-Lenh et al.: Classroom-experience evaluation: An ecological approach to evaluating pervasive technologies in classroom
• Kathryn Rounding et al.: Evaluating Interfaces with Children
• Dan Morris et al.: Using Machine Learning to Scaffold Artistic Creativity in Education
• Tamara Polajnar et al.: Enabling Picture-based Querying and Learning with the JuSe Interface
• Hamed Alavi et al.: Lantern 2.0: A Pervasive Scripting Tool

10:05am - 11:00am Coffee Break and Preparation time for short talks

11:00am - 12:10pmPaper Session II (8min presentation, 4min Discussion)

Collaboration in Math: Fears, Myths, and Insights

• Nicola Yull et al.: Pass the iPad: Comparing collaboration on paper and screen
• Veronika Irvine et al.: Math Education: A Creative Approach

• Group talk: Math and Embodied Agents
a. Kristina Richter et al.: Bridging Diagnosis and Learning for Mathematics Education in Classroom Setting
b. Lisa Anthony et al.: Handwriting Interaction for Math Tutors: Lessons for HCI in Education
c. Andrew Jensen et al.: Using Embodied Pedagogical Agents and Direct Instruction to Augment Learning for Young Children with Special Needs

• Group talk: Dispelling Myths About the Next Generation Classroom
a. Alex Thayer et al.: The Myth of the Paperless School: Replacing Printed Texts with E-readers
b. Sharon Oviatt: Designing Digital Tools for Thinking, Adaptive Learning and Cognitive Evolution
c. Alexandra Dunn et al.: Designing Classroom Technology to Meet the Needs of All

• Group talk: Games, Wearables and Fun Learning.
a. Christiane Moser et al.: Child-Centered Game Development
b. Lizbeth Escobedo et al.: Blue's Clues: An Augmented Reality Positioning System
c. Si Jung Kim et al.: Wearable Story: A Story Telling Jacket for Young Children to Improve Their Independent Physical and Learning Activities

12:10pm - 1:30pm Lunch

1:30pm - 2:30pm Paper Session (10 min presentation, 5min Discussion)

Tangibles and Tabletops
• Izdihar Jamil et al.: Communication Patterns in Collaborative Peer Learning around Interactive Table
• Aura Pon et al.: Graspable Music and Vuzik: Music Learning and Creativity using an Interactive Surface
• Ahmed Kharrufa et al.: Learning at interactive surfaces and designing for reflection
• Cristina Sylla et al.: TOK – a Tangible Interface for Storytelling

• Group talk: Tables and Tangibles
• a.Robert Sheehan: Constructionism, Programming and Touch Interfaces
• b. Orit Shaer et al.: Making the Invisible Tangible: Learning Biological Engineering in Kindergarten
• c. Sebastien Kubicki: Evaluation of an interactive table with tangible objects: Application with children in a classroom
• d. Cristina Emilia Costa et al.: I-Theatre: developing narratives skills in kindergarten children
• e. Wooi Boon Goh et al.: Potential Challenges in Collaborative Game Design for Inclusive Settings

2:30pm - 3:00pm Coffee Break

3:00pm - 4:00pm Breakout Discussion (What are future challenges? Next years workshop?)

4:00pm - 4:45pm Closing Keynote TBA

4:45pm - 5:00pm Closing Remarks

7:00pm Optional Workshop Dinner

RELATED
Workshop Website
ACM-CHI 2011 Conference Website

SIFTEO, the next-gen Siftables! (Tangible User Interfaces for All)

Posted: 29 Mar 2011 04:45 AM PDT

Despite my enthusiasm for TUI's , I somehow missed the news about the transformation of Siftables to a commercial version, Sifteo:

Sifteo Inc. Debuts Sifteo™ Cubes - A New Way To Play (PDF)

"Sifteo cubes are 1.5 inch computers with full-color displays that sense their motion, sense each other, and wirelessly connect to your computer. You, your friends, and your family can play an ever-growing array of interactive games that get your brain and body engaged.

Sifteo's initial collection of titles includes challenging games for adults, fun learning puzzles for kids, and games people can play together." -Sifteo website

For more information, see the Sifteo website, blog, and YouTube channel. If you can't wait to get your own set, take a look at Josh Blake's Sifteo Cube Unboxing Video!

RELATED

About two years ago, I was interviewed about my thoughts about the interactive, hands-on, programmable cubes, then called Siftables, for an article published in IEEE's Computing Now magazine: Siftables Offer New Interaction Mode (James Figeuroa, Computing Now, 3/2009).

For those of you who'd like more information about tangible user interfaces (TUIs) and the development of Siftables, I've copied my 2009 post, Tangible User Interfaces, Part I: Siftables, below:

TANGIBLE USER INTERFACES, PART I: SIFTABLES (2009)

In 1997, the vision of tangible user interfaces, also known as TUI's, was outlined by Hiroshi Ishii and Brygg Ullmer of the Tangible Media Group at MIT, in their paper, "Tangible Bits: Towards Seamless Interfaces between People, Bits, and Atoms" (pdf). According to this vision, "the goal of Tangible Bits is to bridge the gaps between both cyberspace and the physical environment, as well as the foreground and background of human activities." This article is is a must-read for anyone interested in "new" interactive technologies.

The pictures in the article of the metaDesk, transBoard, activeLENS, and ambientRoom, along with the references, are worth a look, for those interested in this seminal work.

Another must-read is Hiroshi Ishii's 2008 article, Tangible Bits: Beyond Pixels (pdf). In this article, Ishii provides a good overview of TUI concepts as well as the contributions of his lab to the field since the first paper was written.

Related to Tangible User Interface research is the work of the Fluid Interfaces Group at MIT. The Fluid Interfaces Group was formerly known as the Ambient Intelligence Group, and many of the group's projects incorporate concepts related to TUI and ambient intelligence.

According to the Fluid Interfaces website, the goal of this research group is to "radically rethink the human-machine interactive experience. By designing interfaces that are more immersive, more intelligent, and more interactive we are changing the human-machine relationship and creating systems that are more responsive to people's needs and actions, and that become true "accessories" for expanding our minds."

The Siftables project is an example of how TUI and fluid interface (FI) interaction can be combined. Siftables is the work of David Merrill and Pattie Maes, in collaboration with Jeevan Kalanithi, and was brought to popular attention through David Merrill's recent TED talk:

David Merrill's TED Talk: Siftables - Making the digital physical -Grasp Information Physically

"Siftables aims to enable people to interact with information and media in physical, natural ways that approach interactions with physical objects in our everyday lives. As an interaction platform, Siftables applies technology and methodology from wireless sensor networks to tangible user interfaces. Siftables are independent, compact devices with sensing, graphical display, and wireless communication capabilities. They can be physically manipulated as a group to interact with digital information and media. Siftables can be used to implement any number of gestural interaction languages and HCI applications....Siftables can sense their neighbors, allowing applications to utilize topological arrangement..No special sensing surface or cameras are needed."

Siftables Music Sequencer from Jeevan Kalanithi on Vimeo.

http://web.media.mit.edu/~dmerrill/images/music-against-wood-320x213.jpg

More about Siftables:
Rethinking display technology (Scott Kirsner, Boston Globe, 7/27/08)
TED: Siftable Computing Makes Data Physical
Siftables: Toward Sensor Network User Interfaces (pdf)

It seems that people really like the Siftable concept, or they don't see the point. I found the following humerous critique of Siftables on YouTube:

"Imagine if all the little programs you had on your iphone were little separate chicklets in your pocket.
You'd lose em.
Your cat would eat em.
You'd vacuum them up.
They'd fall down in the sofa.
They'd be all over the car floor.
You'd throw them away by mistake..."

In my opinion, it is exciting to learn that perhaps some of this technology has the potential of becoming main-stream.

Raymond.CC Blog - Beware of Fake UPS, DHL, Post Express Email Notification

Beware of Fake UPS, DHL, Post Express Email Notification

Posted: 29 Mar 2011 12:40 AM PDT

Recently one of my email address has been constantly receiving emails from DHL system, Post Express notification, Post Express Information, United Parcel Service and Post Express Parcel. I started receiving those emails on 9th March and still getting it today. Before we go on any further, please be noted that all those emails are FAKE [...]

The New Media Consortium Needs Examples of K-12 Tech. Innovations for the 2011 NMC Horizon Report

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 05:26 PM PDT

The following information was taken from the New Media Consortium website. The deadline is April 1st - sorry for the late notice - it came across my path just today:

"We are pleased to announce that the Advisory Board for the 2010 NMC Horizon Report: K12 Edition has selected the six topics for this year's report:

Time-to-Adoption Horizon: One Year or Less * Cloud Computing * Mobiles

Time-to-Adoption Horizon: Two to Three Years * Game-Based Learning * Open Content

Time-to-Adoption Horizon: Four to Five Years * Learning Analytics * Personal Learning Environments

Call for Examples
We are interested in learning about any kind of research, pilot programs, innovative projects, or faculty work happening at your school in any of the six areas listed above. (See the attached 2011 NMC Horizon Report: K12 Edition Preview of the topics for more details.) Our goal is to help readers understand the potential impact of these technologies and their applications on teaching, learning, or creative inquiry.

How to Participate
If you know of examples we could include, please use the brief web form at go.nmc.org/horizon-example-project to tell us about them. We ask for a title, a URL, and a one- or two-sentence description; you also will need to select which of the six topics your example falls under. The process takes about two minutes. We hope to have your examples by Friday, April 1, but no matter what, we'd love to hear about what you are doing. The url above is always open to pointers to great projects."

For more information:
2011 Horizon Report: K-12 Edition - Preview of Topics (pdf)

Thanks to Liz Dorland for the link!

A few link to start the week: AR for libraries, Accessible Musical Slideshows (Spectronics), Health Care Design, Big Data (GigaOM)

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 12:55 AM PDT

AR FOR THE LIBRARY (Supports productivity for librarians)
The article below discusses an Android-based app developed by Miami Unversity's Augmented Reality Research Group:
Awesome Augmented Reality App Could Save Librarians Hours Audrey Watters, ReadWriteWeb, 3/27/11
In the related video, Dr. Bo Brinkman (Miami University-Ohio) demonstrates the prototype AR app using a Samsung Galaxy Tab:

Although there are probably more creative ways to use AR in libraries, this application is a start!

INTERACTIVE PRESENTATION APP
Make musical slideshows in minutes - switch accessible too! Barbara Landsberb, Spectronics Blog, 12/17/10
An image of the Slideshow Maker

Slideshow Maker was designed to work on a range of displays, including touch screens. It it easy to use.
Slideshow Maker Manual This is an external link

(1.8 MB) Note: SlideshowMaker was not yet available in the US at the time of the above post. If I find a video about Slideshow Maker, I will post it here.

HEALTH CARE
The article below is a must-read for anyone thinking about developing applications for health care professionals, clinics, hospitals, patients, etc. In my opinion, it is very important to look at the "Big Picture", especially for techies who are finding themselves taking on responsibilities related to information architecture in this field.
For the Future of Health Care Design, Look Beyond the Hospital Fast Company Design, 3/25/11 "Here, Jean Mah and Robin Guenther, two health-care design experts at architecture firm Perkins + Will, look at what the future holds for our health care systems." -Ed. (Fast Company)

BIG DATA
In the article below, the topic of "Big Data" is addressed. Handling all of the numbers and information visualization tasks needed for humans to understand and efficiently and effectively make use of the "Big Data" will require low power computing solutions.

The World of Big Data Needs Low Power Computing

Katie Fehrenbacher, GigaOM, 3/24/11

gigaombigdata on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free

Blog posts from the GigaOM Structure Big Data Conference

Multitouch and Gesture News (Part I) : NUITEQ Updates

Posted: 27 Mar 2011 03:20 PM PDT

In this post, I'd like to share some news from NUITEQ, a privately held multi-touch software technology that is based in Sweden. NUITEQ is known for Snowflake Suite, a multi-touch application that is used in a variety of situations.

"NUITEQ is as happy as a kid in a candy shop to announce that it has released version upgrade 1.9.4 of its award-winning, industry leading multi-touch software product Snowflake Suite" - Harry van der Veen, NUITEQ

The screen shot below gives a nice view of the range of applications that included in Snowflake Suite:

-Photo from NUITEQ

DEMONSTRATION OF SNOWFLAKE SUITE

RELATED
NUITEQ's CTO Mikael Bauer nominated for the Mer-IT award in the category IT-person of the year
NUITEQ Awarded CONNECT Norr Company of the Year 2011
NUITEQ's Partners
From the NUITEQ Gallery, via Harry van der Veen

Thinking about creating/developing for the "web outside"? Take a look at Bill Gerba's words of wisdom on the Digital Signage Insider blog

Posted: 26 Mar 2011 09:35 AM PDT

In this article, Bill Gerba, of WireSpring, discusses his approach to testing digital signage content. The article is one in an on-going series of articles:

Testing Digital Signage Content: The Need for a New Approach
Bill Gerba, Digital Signage Insider, 3/24/11

From what I've seen regarding the digital signage and displays when I'm out and about, there is a need for folks in this industry to heed Bill Gerba's advice!

FYI: I've embedded a slide show at the end of the post that includes over 200 shots of digital signage and related "DOOH".

RELATED
Digital Signage Screen Placement: Targeting the Attention Zone
Bill Gerba, Digital Signage Insider, 12/17/09

Making great digital signage content: Composing shots and scenes
Bill Gerba, Digital Signage Insider, 5/15/08

Lots of "DOOH"

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CALL FOR PAPERS: Touch the Web 2011 2nd International Workshop on Web-Enabled Objects

CALL FOR PAPERS: Touch the Web 2011 2nd International Workshop on Web-Enabled Objects

Program- CHI 2011 Child Computer Interaction: 2nd Workshop on UI Technologies and Educational Pedagogy

Program- CHI 2011 Child Computer Interaction: 2nd Workshop on UI Technologies and Educational Pedagogy

Raymond.CC Blog - Beware of Fake UPS, DHL, Post Express Email Notification

Raymond.CC Blog - Beware of Fake UPS, DHL, Post Express Email Notification

The New Media Consortium Needs Examples of K-12 Tech. Innovations for the 2011 NMC Horizon Report

The New Media Consortium Needs Examples of K-12 Tech. Innovations for the 2011 NMC Horizon Report

A few link to start the week: AR for libraries, Accessible Musical Slideshows (Spectronics), Health Care Design, Big Data (GigaOM)

A few link to start the week: AR for libraries, Accessible Musical Slideshows (Spectronics), Health Care Design, Big Data (GigaOM)

Thinking about creating/developing for the "web outside"? Take a look at Bill Gerba's words of wisdom on the Digital Signage Insider blog

Thinking about creating/developing for the "web outside"? Take a look at Bill Gerba's words of wisdom on the Digital Signage Insider blog

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