Monday, October 24, 2005
A Couple of Things
An idea I had the other day about a new way of blogging: SRM (Syndicated Reality Markup)
Note: My literary skilz failed me as I tried to type this up late last night. Forgive me if clarity is scarce or spelling uh-troe-shus. :)
The basic idea is to combine an RSS feed with GPS/compass/gyroscope or artificial horizon (inclinometer ?) driven personal media devices. Essentially people will add objects to the feed that consist of a location (in latitude/longitude), orientation, dimension, shape, color, text, and possibly image/audio/video - even data files. You subscribe to the feed, then your display will show the objects overlayed on top of the real world (the display by default would be transparent rather than an opaque black) in the appropriate location, rotating and scaling the image (adjusting audio volume, etc.) according to the distance, angle, etc. the user is from the virtual bookmark. This would allow people to bookmark routes while driving that they can directly and visually follow, mark hikes, set up ambient audio zones (location-specific internet radio stations), post virtual fliers/posters, or create an entire ubiquitous digital environment for work, entertainment, gaming, education, communication, harmless grafitti - the possibilities are endless. Since feeds can be created by anyone, the feed administrator can set up communities that have access to reading/writing the feed, or they can make the feed open to the general public. Websites could host individual feeds, and there could be a central directory for public SRM feeds sorted by topic. We might even see SRM-based wikis that are edited by the SRM user-community.
An interesting way to do a feed might be a location interactive feed, where the user subscribes to a file on the internet that, instead of a simple RSS file, is a server-side program which generates the SRM objects (even animating them) dynamically based on where the user is at and where they're looking. That way people would actually have to visit certain spots before they would be able to tell what was fully available on that particular feed. This could, of course, be spoofed by bots that crawl latitude and longitude and log SRM objects generated by the program. But whatever.
You might also have a feed that is a local "place of the day" feed where a person will subscribe to their local feed and then be able to travel a reasonable distance to the SRM object and see/learn something. The only thing holding us back right now is reasonably prices devices that would support this technology and a really good interface.
You could have the SRM XML files be absolutely positioned or relatively - allowing the user to dock a predefined feed to a point in the users locale. This would allow the user to see their path to their destination while driving, but have auxiliary text floating next to the path a set distance in front of the user, whereas the path is fixed to the route itself.
Anyway... just a thought. (Actually, it's a take-off on something I saw on a PBS special [Scientific American Frontiers, I think] about cyborgs - people that were into ubiquitous computing. They had barcodes that would be read and their viewscreen/eyepiece would render text messages over the barcode. But I though, why limit it to physical barcodes - why not use XML to describe what should be rendered, where, how, etc.) The possibilities are practically limitless - LARP (dock a predefined area to any football field, get your buddies, and go hunting virtual baddies - real life TRON - use in military might include generating SRM objects based on infrared scans of an area so that instead of guessing where the enemy is, the soldiers see a big red arrow pointing downwards with a flashing message "throw grenade here" - public service announcements - virtual tour guides that walk next to you, answering questions about your hotel and local dining - everybody remember GigaPets?; why not a real one that follows you everywhere - (ma to pa) "So, you're telling me that our son's imaginary friend isn't actually imaginary?" - that wonderful phenomenon that we all experienced the first time we saw someone using a hands-free headset with their cell phone will be greatly amplified: imagine the first time you see a kid LARP-ing around a vacant park :) - spoof SRM feeds that are aberations on feeds put up by respectable people (you thought the next Presidential candidate's campaign SRM feed was boring? just alter his slogans or mod the images and republish it) - architects no longer attempt creativity while hunched over a computer terminal, but instead go to the vacant lot and use a TrueSpace-like interface to design the building on the spot... then invite the client to view it and make suggestions before the foundation is ever poured - the possibilities are just endless.
***
The other thing is a conversation I had. I was talking to my eclesiastical leader, Bishop Wood, yesterday and he made an interesting comment. He said that the only people that are willing to admit that they are self-made are the successful people. The unsuccessful are also self-made, but they're not willing to admit it. This all reminded me of Covey's talk of proactivity. The idea is "if it's to be, it's up to me." And it really is. Realizing this is what Covey referred to as 'empowerment'. What the Bishop said, though, struck a chord with me because it made me think about how any problems in my life I face I can either live with them or try to change them. And whatever happens in life, what I make of myself is entirely my choice. I think another reason this spoke to me was that recently I decided that I was going to pursue being the best at whatever I decided to do for a living. For the time being, that is 'web developer'. So I have been going after trying to learn CSS and Photoshop, and will move on to Flash and Actionscript next. From there I'll probably go for Flex 2, other Adobe products, and get a better handle on XML and database driven web apps and server-side scripting. Aside from this particular example of my professional life, the principle of self-determination applies to everything in life, especially the important things. Interestingly enough, the important things are what life is really made up of. There's just all this other junk that tends to get in the way. Hence the need for frequent reflection and getting one's bearings again.
Time for sleep.
Note: My literary skilz failed me as I tried to type this up late last night. Forgive me if clarity is scarce or spelling uh-troe-shus. :)
The basic idea is to combine an RSS feed with GPS/compass/gyroscope or artificial horizon (inclinometer ?) driven personal media devices. Essentially people will add objects to the feed that consist of a location (in latitude/longitude), orientation, dimension, shape, color, text, and possibly image/audio/video - even data files. You subscribe to the feed, then your display will show the objects overlayed on top of the real world (the display by default would be transparent rather than an opaque black) in the appropriate location, rotating and scaling the image (adjusting audio volume, etc.) according to the distance, angle, etc. the user is from the virtual bookmark. This would allow people to bookmark routes while driving that they can directly and visually follow, mark hikes, set up ambient audio zones (location-specific internet radio stations), post virtual fliers/posters, or create an entire ubiquitous digital environment for work, entertainment, gaming, education, communication, harmless grafitti - the possibilities are endless. Since feeds can be created by anyone, the feed administrator can set up communities that have access to reading/writing the feed, or they can make the feed open to the general public. Websites could host individual feeds, and there could be a central directory for public SRM feeds sorted by topic. We might even see SRM-based wikis that are edited by the SRM user-community.
An interesting way to do a feed might be a location interactive feed, where the user subscribes to a file on the internet that, instead of a simple RSS file, is a server-side program which generates the SRM objects (even animating them) dynamically based on where the user is at and where they're looking. That way people would actually have to visit certain spots before they would be able to tell what was fully available on that particular feed. This could, of course, be spoofed by bots that crawl latitude and longitude and log SRM objects generated by the program. But whatever.
You might also have a feed that is a local "place of the day" feed where a person will subscribe to their local feed and then be able to travel a reasonable distance to the SRM object and see/learn something. The only thing holding us back right now is reasonably prices devices that would support this technology and a really good interface.
You could have the SRM XML files be absolutely positioned or relatively - allowing the user to dock a predefined feed to a point in the users locale. This would allow the user to see their path to their destination while driving, but have auxiliary text floating next to the path a set distance in front of the user, whereas the path is fixed to the route itself.
Anyway... just a thought. (Actually, it's a take-off on something I saw on a PBS special [Scientific American Frontiers, I think] about cyborgs - people that were into ubiquitous computing. They had barcodes that would be read and their viewscreen/eyepiece would render text messages over the barcode. But I though, why limit it to physical barcodes - why not use XML to describe what should be rendered, where, how, etc.) The possibilities are practically limitless - LARP (dock a predefined area to any football field, get your buddies, and go hunting virtual baddies - real life TRON - use in military might include generating SRM objects based on infrared scans of an area so that instead of guessing where the enemy is, the soldiers see a big red arrow pointing downwards with a flashing message "throw grenade here" - public service announcements - virtual tour guides that walk next to you, answering questions about your hotel and local dining - everybody remember GigaPets?; why not a real one that follows you everywhere - (ma to pa) "So, you're telling me that our son's imaginary friend isn't actually imaginary?" - that wonderful phenomenon that we all experienced the first time we saw someone using a hands-free headset with their cell phone will be greatly amplified: imagine the first time you see a kid LARP-ing around a vacant park :) - spoof SRM feeds that are aberations on feeds put up by respectable people (you thought the next Presidential candidate's campaign SRM feed was boring? just alter his slogans or mod the images and republish it) - architects no longer attempt creativity while hunched over a computer terminal, but instead go to the vacant lot and use a TrueSpace-like interface to design the building on the spot... then invite the client to view it and make suggestions before the foundation is ever poured - the possibilities are just endless.
***
The other thing is a conversation I had. I was talking to my eclesiastical leader, Bishop Wood, yesterday and he made an interesting comment. He said that the only people that are willing to admit that they are self-made are the successful people. The unsuccessful are also self-made, but they're not willing to admit it. This all reminded me of Covey's talk of proactivity. The idea is "if it's to be, it's up to me." And it really is. Realizing this is what Covey referred to as 'empowerment'. What the Bishop said, though, struck a chord with me because it made me think about how any problems in my life I face I can either live with them or try to change them. And whatever happens in life, what I make of myself is entirely my choice. I think another reason this spoke to me was that recently I decided that I was going to pursue being the best at whatever I decided to do for a living. For the time being, that is 'web developer'. So I have been going after trying to learn CSS and Photoshop, and will move on to Flash and Actionscript next. From there I'll probably go for Flex 2, other Adobe products, and get a better handle on XML and database driven web apps and server-side scripting. Aside from this particular example of my professional life, the principle of self-determination applies to everything in life, especially the important things. Interestingly enough, the important things are what life is really made up of. There's just all this other junk that tends to get in the way. Hence the need for frequent reflection and getting one's bearings again.
Time for sleep.
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Fanfare
The past few days have been interesting. I've been busy trying to learn CSS lately. On Thursday at 7:00 AM the drumline formerly known as Thenami started their 24-hour drum-a-thon to raise money for new equipment. Aside from time spent in class and at work I joined them. What a long night. Billy and I wrote the closer that night (at least for snare and tenor - I still have to go back and write the bass part). Then, after an hour nap in the office I went with Corey and Jen to hike Mt. Ogden. We only went about 3/4 of the way up, but it was still a great hike. I'm now going to pop a vitamin C every time I go hiking. I'm not even hardly sore at all today, which is very surprising since on the way down the mountain yesterday my legs were like Jell-o.
Then, after the hike and going back to the office for a few hours, I went to Sara and Derrek's reception. What a cute couple. Much congratulations are in order. It's always good to see a friend arrive at the station (the one from which the train leaves - not the end of the line).
Quote of the day: When I am abroad, I always make it a rule never to criticize or attack the government of my own country. I make up for lost time when I come home.
- Sir Winston Churchill
Song of the day: I Am Not A Superhero by RS&RB
Word of the day: umbrage - offense, resentment
That explains why Umbridge is named that way. Fun stuff.
Then, after the hike and going back to the office for a few hours, I went to Sara and Derrek's reception. What a cute couple. Much congratulations are in order. It's always good to see a friend arrive at the station (the one from which the train leaves - not the end of the line).
Quote of the day: When I am abroad, I always make it a rule never to criticize or attack the government of my own country. I make up for lost time when I come home.
- Sir Winston Churchill
Song of the day: I Am Not A Superhero by RS&RB
Word of the day: umbrage - offense, resentment
That explains why Umbridge is named that way. Fun stuff.
