Locative Media & The City

I'm not exactly sure how I want to craft this blog post, other than to dive right in and tell you about some new technology I find quite fascinating.

Whether it's desktop technologies or developments for mobile citizens with an active lifestyle, technological advances are all highly interconnected. That which is created for one specific purpose often moves on to another or inspires other creations.

I was quite fascinated by this video: Jeff Han, multi-touch interface. It is a video about multi-touch computer sensors, from the TED (Technology Entertainment Design) event. More than 1000 people gather on a yearly basis to hear the latest ideas in technology as well as many other areas.

Why did this video intrigue me? Because computers and technology that we saw in Minority Report seemed totally far off and unrealistic. Some of what was shown still might be unrealistic in certain ways, but it is definitely not that far off. Some of it is already here.

I'm not sure how practical this sensor panel would be for, say, an average user (on a daily basis). The developers propose that computer users are currently at a disadvantage because they are forced to adapt to technology; whereas, they believe, technology needs to start adapting more to its users. What a novel idea. Where has this thought process been? Or has it been around just waiting for someone to seriously start developing it?

Cutting to the chase, the multi-touch sensor screen in the video is awesome. More interesting is the idea of future technology adapting more to our needs. Especially in a world where workplace injuries aren't just for those inside a factory, more intuitive interfaces and design might save some of the workforce chained to their desks the pain of typing and mousing gone awry.

Think, and ye shall type. ;)