Here are some links to great resources for DIY and general coolness:
Instructables
Eyebeam
Eyebeam projects
Checkout the VGMap project for Flash overlays of Google maps: NY Subway
Oh and this is great: Graffiti Research Lab
www.bumptop.com looks like it will be amazing, when completed. I attended the session at Flash in the Can, and was totally blown away. When completed, the only thing it will lack is some kind of tactile feedback.
I look forward to seeing more devices like the Chumby. Open architecture, linux-based fuzzy blob of internet client for $150.
The JEEP waterfall display. I imagine making it interactive would present a few safety issues.
There is an article about Jeff Han in Fast Company, along with a new video of his multi-touch screen.
While on the subject, here is his TED conference video
So I was just thinking that both the first practical wetware and the first true ESP will converge. It won’t matter whether a technology vendor discovers a frequency that man can inherently perceive (or perhaps perceive with minor modifications) or man receives some post-hypnotic suggestion and lifts himself from the mud pile of his senses, makes sense of one more thing before throwing in the towel. It won’t matter. I have my biases, but I think it is likely to be the technology vendor who catalyses the great leap forward. Here’s what I see:
We gain the ability to see WiFi networks by whatever means. We see them coming at a distance. We can see them like a pollution in the air. We reach toward them and perhaps they reach towards us as well eventually, drawn to certain electrolytes. There is time to sort out the details.
At first, this is just handy and the service goes open-source and we are all along for the ride, helping our computers connect to one another, serving as a sort of wireless internet hub. What becomes really freaky is when we start seeing each other in this new way. When we begin to color the ether with ourselves, till we can jet along perceptual gateways and unite our minds briefly, in a sort of placeless abandon.
Then we will laugh at the iPhone. But at the moment, I, who want nothing to do with the cell phone phenomenon, covet the thing. It’s pretty freakin’ cool.
So I was hunting around for WII API’s after seeing this video of a guy whose hacked a WII remote to power his Roomba. Here’s what I’ve found:
Wii Remote Communication API (C++, he includes a Visual Studio 2005 project Von)
The HID Page has info for USB device development
There is a Linux port for the WII called WiiLi. They’re Wiki has alot of good tech info about the Wiimote including this page on Motion analysis.
WinRemote, app for using Wiimote on a PC. Their video makes it plain how counter-intuitive such a controller is on the desktop.
DarwinRemote is the mac equivelent
There are others. Here is a page that should track them
Oh and John, check out this mashup. It’ll show you where the closest Wiis are for purchase. You should post your crime stat mashup on this site. Check out the mashup matrix
Here are some links on FTIR, the technique behind many of the touch screen prototypes we’ve been seeing. Han demonstrated this at the Ted conference, and he has a page with some info and videos here and here. Wikipedia talks about the effect that is being exploited. PDF article.
David Wallin seems to have made some progress on DIY applications, particularly for music. His blog is here.
It seems like alot of theis Microsoft Research stuff is coming out of here and there are more videos demonstrating various other prototypes including a keyboard tracking device.
It interesting to me that this gesture of pulling things apart and pushing them together as a scaling function is already establishing itself in these applications.
Microsoft gaming interface demonstrated on YouTube. This is an interesting example of a projected interface, which apparently has different UI elements mapped to the objects or shapes it finds on the surface on which it is being projected.