augmented reality

I've been studying up on something called Augmented Reality. I'm sure most of you know about it. I never learn anything first. If not, you'd do yourself a favor to do a search on it.

In a nutshell, a designated personal device you use has software/hardware to overlay data in any desired preference in physical reality. You view a resturant in AR, and you get as much info as that resturant provides. Want to overlay graphics? That's where it really gets mindblowing.

Sounds like SF, doesn't it? I think this will be commonplace in about five years. Seriously. And I'm usually conservative about predictions.

What has me thinking is the way a person would choose to interact with AR. Most of the images and videos I've seen wrap physical reality in augmented reality. But then I found one image where things like a "clock", "rolodex", and "phone" sat on your "desk" and wall. Without AR, the room was blank. If you go with that extreme, you place yourself into Virtual reality. My opinion is if you do that, you might as well sidestep AR and go for total VR immersion. Because physical reality scares you.

As for me, I'm seeing where VR finally escapes it's boundaries and your experience is so seamless, you slip in and out via AR without even realizing it. you're in that resturant mentioned earlier, and your friend halfway around the world joins you for a cuppa joe via a full sized avatar, even though they are at another resturant. they see your avatar in their resturant via AR.

How is it done? Webcams, RFID, Bluetooth, GPS, and whatever passes for WiFi by that time. Maybe WiMax. your AR device connected to the web, finds the camera in those resturants, and id's you via RFID or Bluetooth. And even if there is no webcam or even a security cam, all the device really needs minimally is the AR software on a portable device and the web. But then there will be lag.

Ever interact with an avatar in physical reality? Five years, tops.

RFID vending machines

http://www.rfid-weblog.com/50226711/rfid_ice_cream_vending_machine_enjoy_your...

A while back I posted a bit about robotic vending machines. The link above comes close to what I was blogging about. In this link, the RFID tags are dedicated to the hotel you stay at, but I'm sure in the future generic tags will speed up the process of a machine on every corner.

personal robotics

Wow, it's been a while since I've posted. Anyway, my subject is personal robotics. Lately I've been reading posts on www.deviantart.com about how people would like a bot that fits in your hand. Seeing that the trend is having affordable robots connect to the web via the local network for processing power, it is entirely possible. Larger bots would be limited to industrial, commercial, and household tasks. The little critters will be about the size of a cell phone, and have a USB connection for a power hookup.

The trick will be not losing them like phones and PDAs during the course of the day!

BTW, scroll thru my posts to read about a cell phone robot.

Thoughts on the movie "I, Robot".

The image is courtsey of http://www.propstore.com/products.htm?movieIdForm=698&productsKeywordSearchfo....

I just finished watching "I, Robot" for the third time. No, not in a row. First time was in the theater when it was released, second time was on DVD at a friends house a couple of years back. I've been thinking about how tech in movies is catching up with physical reality.

The prop above is from that movie. A detective's ID. The way it works is you simply show it to whatever scanner you're in front of. The robots know who he is from that ID. So today, you now have RFID and Bluetooth. Most of the current ID tech relies on the same concept. All we need is auto-pilot cars with spherical wheels. The robots are here. Just not in people's homes. Yet.

Anyway, RFID and Bluetooth are those types of tech that are scary good. The good news is anyone can find you. The bad news is anyone can find you.

Please, people, be VERY sure of what info you have on the internet. How public do you really want to be? If you value any kind of privacy, keep your cards at home, and your phone with Bluetooth disabled.

Of course, going with the trends, RFID is eventually going to be embedded in driver's licences and state ID cards. Consider keeping those in the glove compartment. Because your car is going to want to know who you are for auto locking mechanisms, you might want to consider installing old-style key locks. And nothing with a card. A good old fashioned metal key.

And this advice is coming from someone who advocates RFID/Bluetooth/WiFi soda machines. I feel like such a whore.....

China Shows First Image From Lunar Probe

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/071126-ap-china-lunar.html

I'm not commenting on this because of the fact that they took pictures. Yes, it's great that they took pictures. But for one line in this story:

"Beijing wanted to use its program to work with other countries and hoped to join in building the International Space Station."

First of all, I'm not a China sympathiser. China has a hell of a lot wrong with it. But so does every other country around the world. The US isn't exactly a role model anymore. But I'm not getting into politics here. My blog today is about space development.

Why isn't China part of the Freedom Station?

They want in SO bad! So why is the US dragging it's feet? Is our military so paranoid that it insists on keeping China out? China can add much science to the global presence in space.

To the Pentagon, I say, stop dragging your feet. You know what they're up to. Let science do it's thing. Let China in!

Cellular phone robot

http://robotgossip.blogspot.com/2007/01/cellular-phone-robot-cpr.html

The link is to a little item in development in Korea called a cellular phone robot. It looks impressive to me so far. The thing has several features that most simple robots have now. The video explains it all. When it goes to market, I'll be looking to buy one!

Third-World Wind Power: First Look

Third-World Wind Power: First Look

This is a pretty amazing concept. It will never happen in first world countries, simply because of the good ol' boys network of power companies and fuel providers. At least not until all hell breaks loose and destroys the infrastructure.