The Future Computer 6

[ajetrumpet]

Anyone want to comment on the computer environment that we saw in "Minority Report"? The stock market wizards seem to think that this is the next big step for interface. Anyone think we'll get there soon? An interface based on the user's hand motions?? I see voice recognition as the next "kick", that still has a long way to go, like the "Demolition Man" movie!

-J

 

[Sympology]

So if you had a picture of somebody it would search the internets pictures and return pictures with that person in them

Ah Google, the stalkers best friend

Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[kmcferrin]

Ah Google, the stalkers best friend

Unless you ask the stalker, in which case they'll tell you that the stalkee is their best friend. Yeah, that's it. She's my best friend.

Anyway...the future computer, at least for the next 5 years or so isn't likely to change too much from what we have now. But what we will finally get is heavy penetration of mobile/handheld devices. I really think that Google's Android platform is going to change the way that people think about mobility. Until now you've had phone companies selling "smartphones" that had all of the usual phone functionality with some PC functionality built in. But the phone companies (as they tend to do) are more worried about protecting their traditional revenue streams (per-minute charges and overpriced ringtones) than in any sort of paradigm shifting technology.

Google, on the other hand, is a technology company. I believe that they're going to go at it from building a small computer that has phone functionality, and then offer a service that is geared towards using it in that fashion. It may seem like a small difference, but it has the capability to drastically change the way that people use mobile devices.

 

[Opieo]

As the phones become more computer like, they will need to actually give the phones good security features.
Phone like a computer, get hacked like a computer.
url=http://techdirt.com/articles/20071119/105424.shtml


~
Give a man some fire, he will be warm for a day, Set a man on fire, he will be warm for the rest of his life.

 

[Welshbird]

Microsoft Surface?

(at the risk of starting a turf war - isn't this like a really big non-mobile less able iPhone the size of a table?)

Fee

The question should be [red]Is it worth trying to do?[/red] not [blue] Can it be done?[/blue]

 

[philhege]

Nah; the iPhone doesn't do

 

[lionelhill]

Given the converging nature of phones and PCs, how long before home PCs adopt a phone-like economic model? Perhaps when you buy your PC you will be able to choose whether you'd like a monthly contract on the operating system, or whether you'd prefer to pay by the minute...

 

[Welshbird]

Skype? Free telephony from your 'pooter?

Fee

The question should be [red]Is it worth trying to do?[/red] not [blue] Can it be done?[/blue]

 

[strongm]

>the iPhone doesn't do

No, it does
[tt][small]
Process: MobileMail [67]
Path: /Applications/MobileMail.app/MobileMail
Version: N/A (N/A)
Code Type: 0000000C (Native)
Effective UID: 0
Parent Process: SpringBoard [15]

Date/Time: 2007-06-29 20:42:06.479 -0400
OS Version: OS X 1.0 (1A543a)
Report Version: 6

Exception Type: 00000020
Exception Codes: 0x8badf00d
Crashed Thread: Unknown

Thread 0:
0 libSystem.B.dylib 0x30017600 0x30000000 + 95744
1 libSystem.B.dylib 0x300175ef 0x30000000 + 95727
2 libSystem.B.dylib 0x30001a0b 0x30000000 + 6667
3 LayerKit 0x30afbaf8 0x30ac7000 + 215800
4 UIKit 0x323c3910 0x323ab000 + 100624
5 UIKit 0x323c3b54 0x323ab000 + 101204
6 UIKit 0x3245d448 0x323ab000 + 730184
7 UIKit 0x323d9a6c 0x323ab000 + 191084
8 UIKit 0x323e841c 0x323ab000 + 250908
9 AddressBookUI 0x3259d800 0x32595000 + 34816
10 AddressBookUI 0x3259d8cc 0x32595000 + 35020
11 Foundation 0x308c5f13 0x3085e000 + 425747
12 CoreFoundation 0x303fd8a1 0x303e7000 + 92321
13 CoreFoundation 0x303fd5fb 0x303e7000 + 91643
14 GraphicsServices 0x3098bb64 0x30988000 + 15204
15 UIKit 0x323b9928 0x323ab000 + 59688
16 UIKit 0x323b1f54 0x323ab000 + 28500
17 UIKit 0x323b75dc 0x323ab000 + 50652
18 MobileMail 0x000202e4 0x1000 + 127716
19 MobileMail 0x00005a24 0x1000 + 18980

Thread 1:
0 libSystem.B.dylib 0x300053f4 0x30000000 + 21492
1 libSystem.B.dylib 0x30005373 0x30000000 + 21363
2 GraphicsServices 0x3098e258 0x30988000 + 25176
3 libSystem.B.dylib 0x300173db 0x30000000 + 95195

Thread 2:
0 libSystem.B.dylib 0x300053f4 0x30000000 + 21492
1 libSystem.B.dylib 0x30005373 0x30000000 + 21363
2 CoreFoundation 0x303fdaa7 0x303e7000 + 92839
3 CoreFoundation 0x303fd5fb 0x303e7000 + 91643
4 WebCore 0x315b198c 0x31351000 + 2492812
5 libSystem.B.dylib 0x300173db 0x30000000 + 95195

Thread 3:
0 libSystem.B.dylib 0x30018fd8 0x30000000 + 102360
1 libSystem.B.dylib 0x3009aa64 0x30000000 + 633444
2 libSystem.B.dylib 0x300173db 0x30000000 + 95195

Thread 4:
0 libSystem.B.dylib 0x3008b224 0x30000000 + 569892
1 libSystem.B.dylib 0x30046b78 0x30000000 + 289656
2 CoreFoundation 0x3040b0e1 0x303e7000 + 147681
3 libSystem.B.dylib 0x300173db 0x30000000 + 95195

Thread 5:
0 libSystem.B.dylib 0x300053f4 0x30000000 + 21492
1 libSystem.B.dylib 0x30005373 0x30000000 + 21363
2 CoreFoundation 0x303fdaa7 0x303e7000 + 92839
3 CoreFoundation 0x303fd5fb 0x303e7000 + 91643
4 Foundation 0x308e9d3f 0x3085e000 + 572735
5 Foundation 0x308c5cd1 0x3085e000 + 425169
6 Foundation 0x308c5bd7 0x3085e000 + 424919
7 libSystem.B.dylib 0x300173db 0x30000000 + 95195

Thread 6:
0 libSystem.B.dylib 0x300053f4 0x30000000 + 21492
1 libSystem.B.dylib 0x30005373 0x30000000 + 21363
2 CoreFoundation 0x303fdaa7 0x303e7000 + 92839
3 CoreFoundation 0x303fd5fb 0x303e7000 + 91643
4 Message 0x30b960f7 0x30b43000 + 340215
5 Message 0x30b95a83 0x30b43000 + 338563
6 Message 0x30b7afa5 0x30b43000 + 229285
7 Message 0x30b83557 0x30b43000 + 263511
8 Message 0x30b77ec9 0x30b43000 + 216777
9 Message 0x30b8b129 0x30b43000 + 295209
10 MessageUI 0x3260dc00 0x325f6000 + 97280
11 Foundation 0x308bb78d 0x3085e000 + 382861
12 Message 0x30b969eb 0x30b43000 + 342507
13 Message 0x30b96d71 0x30b43000 + 343409
14 Message 0x30b9547b 0x30b43000 + 337019
15 Foundation 0x308c5cd1 0x3085e000 + 425169
16 Foundation 0x308c5bd7 0x3085e000 + 424919
17 libSystem.B.dylib 0x300173db 0x30000000 + 95195

Unknown thread crashed with unknown flavor: 4, state_count: 1

Binary Images:
0x1000 - 0x4cfff +MobileMail UUID (8859A31CE4874DF1AE2A9A92B1B717A5) /Applications/MobileMail.app/MobileMail
0x2fe00000 - 0x2fe39fff dyld UUID (64B27A87A815459D953C3260809F811A) /usr/lib/dyld
0x30000000 - 0x300fdfff libSystem.B.dylib UUID (DBF276FD7536468A8EC31DC5889AAEC7) /usr/lib/libSystem.B.dylib
0x3015d000 - 0x3019efff libstdc++.6.dylib UUID (CD0A5DCC6A164C86B91C79E15C552E9E) /usr/lib/libstdc++.6.dylib
0x301c7000 - 0x301d4fff AddressBook UUID (7D1B2DA0EC1D4A1382D5FE0B91851ACA) /System/Library/Frameworks/AddressBook.framework/AddressBook
0x301de000 - 0x301e7fff AppSupport UUID (4D84C1C39C7C4DB9981FEBF8E48FF450) /System/Library/Frameworks/AppSupport.framework/AppSupport
0x301ef000 - 0x30236fff CFNetwork UUID (9C95278D4B12440EB624E498C039538B) /System/Library/Frameworks/CFNetwork.framework/CFNetwork
0x3026d000 - 0x3032cfff Celestial UUID (15045615F83249D49720253EBDF9132A) /System/Library/Frameworks/Celestial.framework/Celestial
0x3036b000 - 0x303bcfff CoreAudio UUID (D2155600AF2A4EA2A22CB018E094AF48) /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreAudio.framework/CoreAudio
0x303e7000 - 0x30460fff CoreFoundation UUID (DE3331E0CE4D43DFAFAD084E689DE12F) /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreFoundation.framework/CoreFoundation
0x30513000 - 0x307aafff CoreGraphics UUID (FDAFC52F5C724EB6BADC1176558E5304) /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/CoreGraphics
0x3081a000 - 0x30835fff CoreTelephony UUID (7B909435DABA409098995CC24EE26587) /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreTelephony.framework/CoreTelephony
0x3084b000 - 0x30855fff CoreVideo UUID (0CC5832A160D4508B4B678703F3FFD6C) /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreVideo.framework/CoreVideo
0x3085e000 - 0x30909fff Foundation UUID (8360F6E9E0044FDBB24A233E6A43EB14) /System/Library/Frameworks/Foundation.framework/Foundation
0x30988000 - 0x30990fff GraphicsServices UUID (1C4876C189F34562ACF6B7D44770FF97) /System/Library/Frameworks/GraphicsServices.framework/GraphicsServices
0x30998000 - 0x30a20fff IOKit UUID (03E5752F94E3424589F1C596ED08815D) /System/Library/Frameworks/IOKit.framework/Versions/A/IOKit
0x30a3c000 - 0x30a9bfff JavaScriptCore UUID (4479A3420C764FA395933A371D148D6D) /System/Library/Frameworks/JavaScriptCore.framework/JavaScriptCore
0x30ac7000 - 0x30b17fff LayerKit UUID (B9468BD4F4F041C3ADA50B830305E7A2) /System/Library/Frameworks/LayerKit.framework/LayerKit
0x30b37000 - 0x30b3ffff MBX2D UUID (1583F2C2C78B4058BD8C1DF338738C05) /System/Library/Frameworks/MBX2D.framework/MBX2D
0x30b43000 - 0x30be9fff Message UUID (27857D95241E4AFCB70B016C3AA5C8C6) /System/Library/Frameworks/Message.framework/Message
0x30ca8000 - 0x30d5efff libcrypto.0.9.7.dylib UUID (632A0B6896CD450582B63F63BC561999) /usr/lib/libcrypto.0.9.7.dylib
0x30d97000 - 0x30e7ffff libiconv.2.dylib UUID (BFF8FECDB7AF4996AA7E47BA4E9D7A97) /usr/lib/libiconv.2.dylib
0x30e8a000 - 0x30e99fff libobjc.A.dylib UUID (1DF02759041D49AF9938563D172FC491) /usr/lib/libobjc.A.dylib
0x30ea3000 - 0x30f76fff libicucore.A.dylib UUID (C7BEFA4022D2414DBD2EF88A0285AC8E) /usr/lib/libicucore.A.dylib
0x3101c000 - 0x31047fff libsqlite3.0.dylib UUID (2F122880FFAC48318A753E1D788E7409) /usr/lib/libsqlite3.0.dylib
0x31065000 - 0x3108bfff libssl.0.9.7.dylib UUID (57F8FB4B1D104F8083173EBE067B613E) /usr/lib/libssl.0.9.7.dylib
0x31097000 - 0x31127fff libxml2.2.dylib UUID (EB77B5D5553B41659DA3EABDFF5E990E) /usr/lib/libxml2.2.dylib
0x31206000 - 0x312d2fff MeCCA UUID (5031D4A8F03B4605A6233D351EF790E0) /System/Library/Frameworks/MeCCA.framework/MeCCA
0x3131a000 - 0x31341fff Security UUID (7596924807BF47BA9F50D5748042107A) /System/Library/Frameworks/Security.framework/Security
0x31351000 - 0x31641fff WebCore UUID (F352EB10A6EB4A53963DC586589CDEFD) /System/Library/Frameworks/WebCore.framework/WebCore
0x31782000 - 0x317d6fff WebKit UUID (1AF51C0F747D47709E1ABBB0A117FC91) /System/Library/Frameworks/WebKit.framework/WebKit
0x31813000 - 0x3183cfff SystemConfiguration UUID (7FCD389840814C6EB34074C7787862D1) /System/Library/Frameworks/SystemConfiguration.framework/SystemConfiguration
0x318d1000 - 0x318dffff libz.1.dylib UUID (019DB9B198DA46E98600C1417D98E6E9) /usr/lib/libz.1.dylib
0x3190e000 - 0x31910fff CoreSurface UUID (7280076DC074497CB145741A15FCE472) /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreSurface.framework/CoreSurface
0x3196a000 - 0x31973fff libIOAudio2User.dylib UUID (BB1533CF70F645FBAF6BB767A6A531A7) /usr/lib/libIOAudio2User.dylib
0x3197a000 - 0x31ab7fff AudioToolbox UUID (3049B1E982804982B3AE837C9367769D) /System/Library/Frameworks/AudioToolbox.framework/AudioToolbox
0x31baf000 - 0x31bb1fff MBXConnect UUID (B5E73A95A84E4706A922D56674D4809D) /System/Library/Frameworks/MBXConnect.framework/MBXConnect
0x31bb4000 - 0x31be5fff OpenGLES UUID (3405A88B732E4DF3A127E182483D9E69) /System/Library/Frameworks/OpenGLES.framework/OpenGLES
0x31bf8000 - 0x31bf9fff IOMobileFramebuffer UUID (AE80733EB6514BB88A6287971C7E09C9) /System/Library/Frameworks/IOMobileFramebuffer.framework/IOMobileFramebuffer
0x31c38000 - 0x31c3ffff libgcc_s_v6.1.dylib UUID (C3CE0B41C9CA490EAEADA6D7EB997082) /usr/lib/libgcc_s_v6.1.dylib
0x31db9000 - 0x31dbcfff liblockdown.dylib UUID (30A0EB0C05724FA487617B860E360B88) /usr/lib/liblockdown.dylib
0x3225d000 - 0x32269fff MobileBluetooth UUID (5F13101DF17B442D8DE5CD0BDB50D7AB) /System/Library/Frameworks/MobileBluetooth.framework/MobileBluetooth
0x3226f000 - 0x32273fff BluetoothManager UUID (E00ECB53D4B5426A818DA8D77CD1B09C) /System/Library/Frameworks/BluetoothManager.framework/BluetoothManager
0x32363000 - 0x32366fff ITSync UUID (B02A31E7730A46BCA6B336F097D542C4) /System/Library/Frameworks/ITSync.framework/ITSync
0x3236b000 - 0x3236dfff URLify UUID (54B6437BCD3A452F9CC7493CB9E010FF) /System/Library/Frameworks/URLify.framework/URLify
0x323ab000 - 0x324f3fff UIKit UUID (8A129F9979114365B637E144A3C67868) /System/Library/Frameworks/UIKit.framework/UIKit
0x32595000 - 0x325d4fff AddressBookUI UUID (0E6FBEAA0D9C411FB1F0794F35D2CFBA) /System/Library/Frameworks/AddressBookUI.framework/AddressBookUI
0x325f6000 - 0x3261dfff MessageUI UUID (ED6F6EA00B1346BEB98F00733C936922) /System/Library/Frameworks/MessageUI.framework/MessageUI
0x326d8000 - 0x32702fff Preferences UUID (26FA104E4D88438285B988DDADDE39D6) /System/Library/Frameworks/Preferences.framework/Preferences
[/small][/tt]

 

[kmcferrin]

Given the converging nature of phones and PCs, how long before home PCs adopt a phone-like economic model? Perhaps when you buy your PC you will be able to choose whether you'd like a monthly contract on the operating system, or whether you'd prefer to pay by the minute...

I doubt it. If anything I would bet money on the reverse being true, i.e., mobile phones adopting a flat-rate charging model. Right now the telcos like being able to nickel and dime you for everything, but eventually we'll be back to having a competitive market (Google again, anyone?) and lower prices/flat rate plans.

 

[stepladder]

Speaking of IVR I heard an advertizement last night on the TV for Lincoln/Mercury for there new "interface" and thought i would pass on there link for SYNC/BY MICROSOFT

http://www.lincoln.com/extras/news_article_10.asp?intcmp=B_SYNC_HomeNews_LNews_20071015

Seems to control e-mails, text messaging, etc. by voice as well as i-pods or other music.

 

[kmcferrin]

It doesn't seem to actually support the iPod. I was wondering about that after seeing the commercials, and knowing that the file formats that Apple is pushing with the iPod is not compatible with Microsoft Zunes or Windows Media-based music players. From the web site:

Most popular media players and file formats are SYNC-compatible
SYNC supports a variety of devices including the Microsoft Zune™, "PlaysForSure" players and most USB drives. Supported audio formats include MP3, AAC, WMA, WAV and PCM.

Note there's no mention of iPods or Apple's media format.

 

[rolm9751]

Whoa - there's got to be a demarc. I did see something like the brain link on Discovery or something. IMHO, any type of direct I/O link to the brain would certainly cause information overload. Our minds can only concentrate on one thing at a time. Or maybe TMI? It would be chaos trying to make sure I didn't think about this or that because it might work it's way into my email or Word doc. LOL
Seriously though, there are a finite number of ways for a human to interface with anything, be it a computer or another human. Voice commands used in place of a CLI seems promising. Simple syntax in a verb/noun/modifier environment such as: Open Document [filename] 75 percent view. or Save spreadsheet [filename][new filename]. But when you are actually working on the document or spreadsheet - you will probably still have to point, click, and type. Even if you are using a different type of device to point and click with. IVR technology still has a way to go before it would be smooth enough to use effectively without having to take the time to correct gramatical or dialect errors.
I have seen some promising work with quadra/para palegics where they move there eyes to control the pointer and simply blink to click.

 

[pinkgecko]

they move there eyes to control the pointer and simply blink to click

What a nightmare for us contact wearers!
Dry contact = Clickity-clickity-clickity-clickity-clickity-click

[blue]When birds fly in the correct formation, they need only exert half the effort. Even in nature, teamwork results in collective laziness.[/blue]

 

[monkeylizard]

I think the "blink" that the app recognizes as a click is much slower that the normal blink. More like a "Close your eyes for 1/2 a second" than a true blink2click.

Monkeylizard
Sometimes just a few hours of trial and error debugging can save minutes of reading manuals.

 

[Sympology]

Just don't type tired

Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[razalas]

Yes, but when you're tired, you blink a lot slower...

Code what you mean,
and mean what you code!
But by all means post your code!

Razalas

 

[Alexwhatever]

I strongly believe there's a valid use and purpose for non-perfect voice recognition. People seem to make the assumption that voice recognition must achieve at least 6 nines of accuracy before it's useful - I think they're looking at the wrong application.

I'm with the majority that don't want to put their keyboards down when they're writing something - even if my computer was 100% accurate I'd prefer to compose text myself, on screen, where I can see it.

However, I believe the strength lies in pervasive, context-aware utility applications with LIMITED functionality.

An example is the 'intelligent home'. You home's computer can only do a limited number of things, so the developer would include the syntax and arguments of all possible requests you could make. For example - your house has a computer that can do two things - play music and tell you the time. From the voice recognition point of view this narrows down the field of what you could be asking it massively. If you say 'play me some Bob Dylan' it isn't going to confuse that with a completely random sentence and ask you what you're on about.

Another area is mobile phones - obviously the processing isn't going to be done on the device itself, but that's the way things are going anyway. Instead of poking through menus on a tiny screen you could just say 'add an appointment to my calendar. lunch with fred at 2pm tomorrow'.

 

[kmcferrin]

So basically you think that it makes sense in an application like Microsoft's Sync that is used in the new Ford/Lincoln/Mercury vehicles? I'd agree with that.

On a related note, that computer interface from Minority Report apparently wasn't just special effects:

http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/01/16/minority-report-floating-ui

 

[DevilsCry]

Well i've heard that US defence department has a technology that can replicate anyones exact voice and acent. It is mentioned in the television documentry called "LOOSE CHANGE". It was mentioned that if they have a speech sample of 10 mins voice reording of any person, his voice and acent can be copied exactly.If sush technology exists then it can be colaborated with the voice recognetion systems. Soon we might have a system that will prompt the user to make a ten minutes speech at the first use and then it will convinently take voice comands from the user.

It is my first post. Let me know if it was worth reaing.

 

[Johnthephoneguy]

When they put Microsoft in cars I can just see everyone having to pull over at different parts of the day to reboot their car!!!! Hopefully they will have designated reboot stations lol

JohnThePhoneGuy

"If I can't fix it, it's not broke!