tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284124982024-03-07T15:54:23.519-08:00// ken silver / the digital life //// my continuing change to digital everything //Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28412498.post-16528971185493472212009-05-12T00:47:00.000-07:002009-05-12T01:03:17.385-07:00The Perfect Videoconferencing Set UpFor the past year I've been looking for ways to improve my videoconferencing experience. I bought a 24" iMac solely for this purpose. The camera is the highest quality output I've experienced so far - even better than the HD (high definition) from my Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000... and the iMac's graphic processing makes the picture better than anything else I've tried.<div><br /></div><div>So it's a very good experience. I videoconference my mother in Britain, and a couple of years back bought her a 20" iMac. We can now both videoconference from the opposite ends of the earth using Skype for Mac, with very little audio/visual lag, and no headset or external microphone. The picture is stunning 90% of the time, and very good for the rest.</div><div><br /></div><div>This lack of hardware means that either of us can wander off around the room while still talking and it gets picked up perfectly.</div><div><br /></div><div>It struck me that the perfect videoconferencing setup would be a extension of what we are doing now. It would be a large lifesize screen on the wall of the room, left permanently on, and would act as a window so that as each party came into the area and found the other there, they could strike up a natural conversation without appointment or set up bother.</div><div><br /></div><div>Doing videoconferencing this way would go a long way to making the event less of a TV appearance - with all its formality and structure - and more of an interconnector of events. It would appear as if the two parties were actually in the same room on a conversational level.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28412498.post-46451360993906430662008-08-21T18:39:00.001-07:002008-09-27T00:12:36.568-07:00How I Found A Checklist To Run My Online Business<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Qze0er4ZeE1ZEPxEaq9XdttqZxQAofjh5Jm3l90Lpjy3RM3cWquYzGxEN-XLZZLZ8FTk1Fur8xid8ekGYLCzG-uRLQ56G1IeGkzEwucgkf-laG3yClwFgle9n01mdEm3yMgq/s1600-h/gtdAgenda-screenshot.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Qze0er4ZeE1ZEPxEaq9XdttqZxQAofjh5Jm3l90Lpjy3RM3cWquYzGxEN-XLZZLZ8FTk1Fur8xid8ekGYLCzG-uRLQ56G1IeGkzEwucgkf-laG3yClwFgle9n01mdEm3yMgq/s320/gtdAgenda-screenshot.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237153717895557266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p>My online business has a series of sequential, recurring and mostly daily to-do steps that it needs to accomplish, or die. Items like:<br /><br />- process all manual orders<br />- write article for newsletter and publish<br />- put article on blog<br />- write weekly article for directories<br />- answer client support issues<br />- back up databases<br />- check auto backups<br />- check order links for sales page working<br /><br />And so on, right to the end task: "Clear desk completely."<br /><br />There's a lot of stuff to do, even though some steps might only take a minute or two. I have about 35 daily checklist items that must be done for my business to survive and thrive. And these steps have to be done religiously every day. When there's a lot going on you have to be on top of the stuff that matters, whether it's organizational or marketing. Most small businesses have the same requirement.<br /><br />But a lot of business owners don't do enough. While I'm an enthusiast of Tim Ferriss's <span style="font-weight: bold;">4 Hour WorkWeek</span>, the reality is that a substantial or growing business needs more than an hour a day to be continually successful. So the list of essential to-do's is a large part of the success operation.<br /><br />I've had many headaches over the years trying to design and run a perfect checklist system. Seems so simple to do, but it's not. One of the problems was finding a way to separate the daily tasks from the weekly ones. I kept a paper diary for a while and wrote the tasks on Post-It notes, shifting them all to the next page as required. Very messy.<br /><br />Then I used the checklist in an Outlook email message that I kept in a folder titled "-DAILY". The hyphen ensured that it stayed at the top of my folder list. As each day went past I would prefix the completed task with an 'x' if completed, or a '-' if not. At the end of the week I would wipe out all the x's and -'s and start again. But that was unwieldy and time consuming, and it was often hard to see where I was at any time of the week.<br /><br />The commercial programs available weren't much better either. They were often clunky and unattractive in a DOS format kind of way, and didn't present the checklist as I thought it should be set out, or buried it in other less effective areas. None really had a common enough structure.<br /><br />That's until I came across <span style="font-weight: bold;">gtdagenda</span>, a web based task management system.<br /><br />It has a number of goal setting and task devices built around David Allen's cult of efficiency, "Getting Things Done" (the gtd part of the program), but that wasn't what attracted me. It was the checklist system, which has proven to be an exact match for my needs.<br /><br />After years of trying other things, this program has finally fitted around what I need, almost intuitively. The layout and methodology is very good. If you're task-oriented as I am, this has got to be the best way to cover your dailies. And as you 'do the business' each day, you have the confidence of knowing that your butt is covered and nothing falls through the cracks. And being web based, you know it's not going to leave you high and dry when your PC crashes.<br /><br />Best way is to take a look - it's self explanatory. There's a free option too, with a limited number of items (free) through to unlimited, starting from under $4/mth.<br /><br />Since I started using <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gtdagenda</span> this last week, I've actually become more efficient and motivated. Using just a checklist system - I know, sounds crazy - but it works beautifully.</p><p><a href="http://www.gtdagenda.com/P/ZZAEFN"><img title="Use Gtdagenda to manage your Projects and get things done" src="http://www.gtdagenda.com/images/banner125.gif" /><br /></a><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28412498.post-82057171386507174292008-04-03T21:43:00.000-07:002008-04-03T21:44:58.748-07:00Yes, I know...I'm on a post holiday right now! Nothing much happening at the moment.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28412498.post-63687236981287863152008-01-08T15:17:00.000-08:002008-01-08T18:51:01.608-08:00screens-R-UsI love the convenience of my screens! My office is on the bottom of our 4 level home, and it's a 20 second climb to get to the lounge or front door. So I'm extending my reach through cameras and screens.<br /><br />At the moment I have a screen open (using the first of <span style="font-weight: bold;">4 outdoor security cameras</span> to come), showing the road outside my office. I have motion sensor fields so that when a car drives down the road it is recorded to my hard drive, and I can play it back anytime.<br /><br />I used it yesterday to see whether a courier had come up the road to drop off an expected delivery at my front door. They had (at 13.19.05!) - so I went up to collect it - the <span style="font-weight: bold;">SeeEye-2-Eye</span> eye level viewing device I talked about a few posts back. More about that in a later post. The delivery I was hoping for was a dome camera for the front door which I will connect to my security screen. That came later in the afternoon and I'm testing it now.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBuV09GdyNrbr3eOW3J3QZ_t4ZGPjfAaC0ehMiBERR53uit3PmaRU7ZWeuG_9VcwZVplRlQkrtM1Rj6AD03YdgogRDdaCIVSLFB2M5Gz2M8sZUrqaE9lV5_mD9TxUAcQtnVJ-/s1600-h/screen2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBuV09GdyNrbr3eOW3J3QZ_t4ZGPjfAaC0ehMiBERR53uit3PmaRU7ZWeuG_9VcwZVplRlQkrtM1Rj6AD03YdgogRDdaCIVSLFB2M5Gz2M8sZUrqaE9lV5_mD9TxUAcQtnVJ-/s320/screen2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153253978950050258" border="0" /></a><br />On another dedicated 15" tv screen I'm watching one of my Roombas vacuuming our lounge 3 levels up. I have the sound on so I can hear when the job is done. The wireless camera - one of four around the house - shows the room with incredible detail. In this photo it's easy to see how I've turned over a corner of the rug for the Roomba to do underneath, but on other occasions I can also see if our cat lying under the coffee table has her eyes open or not.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqr9opCmqVVs9fkGqKKaa1AWdimD409-i2s8xQOes4HLoAbzZyLbK64IB6RhJMmY6uPMgR5cxvlD_2weQN5W1ym1Q8ey1TcUApxS2EKR7j9EBi_Jq2E3mdC9UEGG09vhX8caY/s1600-h/screen1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqr9opCmqVVs9fkGqKKaa1AWdimD409-i2s8xQOes4HLoAbzZyLbK64IB6RhJMmY6uPMgR5cxvlD_2weQN5W1ym1Q8ey1TcUApxS2EKR7j9EBi_Jq2E3mdC9UEGG09vhX8caY/s320/screen1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153252668985024946" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So far I have 8 working screens in my office connected round the house, gradually building up a complete surveillance. It's a great life, this video life!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28412498.post-83393062443353145342008-01-07T15:07:00.000-08:002008-01-07T15:24:44.393-08:00portable videoconferencing deviceIf you have a spare US$700, <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://au.creative.com/welcome.asp">Creative</a> will sell you a portable, wireless videoconferencing unit (<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/06/creative-definitely-launching-the-inperson-at-ces/">picture from here</a>):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKUHlhNSxzW7MESVOqrE49dDRtGWBNbAPVp6QEtOOXcWNH3QjdVteoLZfsD1dlBA0fHyz8NccCIUhZFnjS8Zu674eZYft2jYEBXwjDX6k0eTQ07Rj-Aj4zYUHKYl6z9dHA9iu/s1600-h/inPerson_enGadgetpic.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKUHlhNSxzW7MESVOqrE49dDRtGWBNbAPVp6QEtOOXcWNH3QjdVteoLZfsD1dlBA0fHyz8NccCIUhZFnjS8Zu674eZYft2jYEBXwjDX6k0eTQ07Rj-Aj4zYUHKYl6z9dHA9iu/s400/inPerson_enGadgetpic.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152878405534851490" border="0" /></a><br />This was first announced in December 2007 on the <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/19/creatives-inperson-wifi-video-phone-outed-by-fcc/">enGadget blog</a>, and officially at <a href="http://www.cesweb.org/default.asp">CES 2008</a> last Saturday.<br /><br />According to the <a href="http://www.engadget.com/page/3/">enGadget website</a>: <span style="font-style: italic;">"the portable video conferencing device promises that "you can join a board meeting in Geneva, a one-on-one in Africa, and your child's birthday party in California while you're stuck in the airport in Australia."<br /><br /></span>No launch date yet for the Creative inPerson Video Conferencing device.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28412498.post-44235666955383087162008-01-06T13:12:00.000-08:002008-01-06T14:14:52.516-08:00where is videoconferencing heading in the future?The convenience of videoconferencing is not that hard to promote. The advantages - like those shown in this simple but cute ad, and many more like it - are pretty ho-hum by now:<br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Er9AnkMvqqo&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Er9AnkMvqqo&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />Of course we know that videoconferencing replaces traveling and all its inconveniences. Yet we still do it. Yes, it's great to talk to someone from halfway round the world in an instant. But phone was the same 50 years ago.<br /><br />So if it's all a little commonplace and predictable, what's the future of videoconferencing in 2008 and 5 years beyond?<br /><br />I don’t think much will improve until a 'next big thing' like full color holography emerges. And hopefully not like this 1980's Star Wars version:<br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/P436vcnzTWc&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/P436vcnzTWc&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />In the meantime I'm predicting we'll be making smaller increments of change:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">- Video call quality will improve. </span>That's a given. With all the emphasis presently put on videoconferencing as a foreign medium (not as easy to use as the phone, and 50% of the population so far not wanting it), there's not many places to go except stepping up the quality. Even so, improving quality will attract people like me, but the masses won't notice.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">- The desktop will reign because it's convenient and cheap. </span>Think how hard it is for the average person to set up a dedicated videoconferencing room with proper lighting and sound. Even though I'm a stickler for quality, I'm still very satisfied with my setup... natural window light, my Polycom Communicator for the best sound outside a head mic, and the Skype High Quality video. It will take a big quality jump to get an improvement on that.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">- High definition will get better, but won't help much.</span> Last year I went to a LifeSize demo in my city because I was curious to find out the advantages, if any, of true high definition. I wasn't that impressed. It turned out exactly as I expected. The 42" flat screen on the wall still contained a "tv announcer," and the conversation was a little disembodied as a result of a lack of high quality audio. That's the problem... HiDef videoconferencing today still looks like we're interacting with a better quality tv. The personal interaction is lost - a step removed from reality - which is the holy grail of videoconferencing.<br /><br />Here's another LifeSize ad which tries to bridge this reality gap, and I think does it quite well:<br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BwykVdsgo_Y&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BwykVdsgo_Y&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">- Interfaces will improve. </span>I hope so. The Skype window, similar in design to SightSee, is very unattractive. Like Google and Amazon, it is in that state because it's simple. But simple is not always best because these interfaces are not intuitive and it's still hard to use. I hope they improve it somehow.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">- Multitasking will get better.</span> Split screens for video and data will become more important. Imagine talking with a relative and showing a photo of your family trip to them in another window. Or bringing up a website on the data window while you're talking about a product. It's done now, but not easily. This futuristic Apple ad on videoconferencing shows how well that integration (around 6:40) could be:<br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QcYrPkFe2J0&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QcYrPkFe2J0&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28412498.post-1253866009575179612008-01-03T19:03:00.000-08:002008-01-03T19:21:45.294-08:00simplification isn't easy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.gigasize.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESquIvMg18OjeMJIHhShOLK6A77obtOlvLsos3KUhH7lYfLLlo1OUNZnYwjpKnzSVHeMNoVjURx_EYLoVi0JXWZ13-CgXiXdWuz5fku0Pjss5tXeD4VhiNt9IsSS2c4YZm285/s400/uploaddownload.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151455942431187346" border="0" /></a><br />Why is everything about computing so complicated? Why can't the engineer geeks stay inside the box and out of the GUI designer's way?<br /><br />Geeks talk in a strange language that takes years to acquire. I daren't mention words like <span style="font-weight: bold;">download</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">upload</span> to anyone new to computers - because those expressions just don't make sense to them.<br /><br />Why don't we call it the more logical <span style="font-weight: bold;">IN</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">OUT</span> instead?<br /><br />Or <span style="font-weight: bold;">RECEIVE </span>and <span style="font-weight: bold;">SEND</span>.<br /><br />(And if you didn't know what the confusing acronym 'GUI' stands for, <a href="http://www.google.com/">google it</a>).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28412498.post-55236721070554012612008-01-01T22:14:00.000-08:002008-01-03T19:23:16.914-08:00skype video auto-answer<span style="font-weight: bold;">Skype'</span>s auto-answer is an ideal way to make the reply process easy for the receiving party. All they need to do is sit at their computer when it rings and wait for the video window to open.<br /><br />To set Skype to <span style="font-weight: bold;">auto-answer in video</span>, use the Skype program menu:<br />TOOLS > OPTIONS > CALLS > CALL SETTINGS<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0AoLNgfLH8MsW2BPfozGrlAxTuYv5W8f4mogL5xOzfkOuzMnpDwzpQLyes3Pt0OZo12H7BnrFuThYCgcmrpqnpQpjPn_8de5HF3fTjc2UUrfUJYvXDBfrMlkg5J1fnJ-QTzE/s1600-h/answerautocalls.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0AoLNgfLH8MsW2BPfozGrlAxTuYv5W8f4mogL5xOzfkOuzMnpDwzpQLyes3Pt0OZo12H7BnrFuThYCgcmrpqnpQpjPn_8de5HF3fTjc2UUrfUJYvXDBfrMlkg5J1fnJ-QTzE/s400/answerautocalls.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150775142870131058" border="0" /></a><br />Tick the box "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Automatically answer incoming calls</span>" and click "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Save</span>."<br /><br />Your receiving party will still have to mouse-click the icon in the video picture to enlarge the live video if they want a bigger view.<br /><br />I will be experimenting later with <a href="http://www.macros.com/">Macro Express </a> to see if it will open a large window automatically.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28412498.post-23119156397100712372008-01-01T16:18:00.000-08:002008-01-01T23:23:41.450-08:00nicholas negroponte's video visionIn his 1995 book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Being-Digital-Nicholas-Negroponte/dp/0679762906/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199232973&sr=8-2">Being Digital</a>," the then director of MIT's Media Lab, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Negroponte">Nicholas Negroponte</a>, talked about a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telepresence">telepresence</a> project he was involved in (p121).<br /><br />His idea was to project an exactly registered video of the subject onto the back of a translucent, life-size mask of their face. When the video ran, the impression of reality was impressive.<br /><br />Could this be the future - or at least until holography catches up with videoconferencing?<br /><br />Here's a quick graphic I whipped up to show how it works, with thanks to <a href="http://www.cs.rutgers.edu/%7Edecarlo/anthface.html">Rutgers</a> for the animation faces:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUp9KdIYvPOxgXNCWOug8ipXNISwaKnp6faIlIcc-b8aoHPXq8xhcRm_kHMFxJgQQEHx7pw_FRRRl6Q7r-1z9-VaPp_yizn5mGi_l-EV-uwUW5xwuuqqlICsFUHbfY9mMm5e1/s1600-h/FaceVideo.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUp9KdIYvPOxgXNCWOug8ipXNISwaKnp6faIlIcc-b8aoHPXq8xhcRm_kHMFxJgQQEHx7pw_FRRRl6Q7r-1z9-VaPp_yizn5mGi_l-EV-uwUW5xwuuqqlICsFUHbfY9mMm5e1/s400/FaceVideo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150727301229420898" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2vLZU-ZTEk9z7niV11hrlrQav3nRMguMyWqQQ3p9xan2ixFAsGS7COwEqc0y03AhO0fHu1gYEWKD_icCp2QVAy-8grMav0LIkP3n_5vEIuiYU2AX7AM1DhBj4rySjRDgaVTZm/s1600-h/VideoFace.JPG"><br /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28412498.post-17610214953614191842007-12-31T02:40:00.000-08:002008-01-01T16:45:06.033-08:00new video conferencing technologyHere's a selection of videoconferencing ideas. I especially like the idea of the virtual dinner:<br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sxajy6V4fGg&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sxajy6V4fGg&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Links to this story:</span><br />Apple iChat:<br /><a href="http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/ichat.html">http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/ichat.html</a><br />Accenture's Virtual Dining:<br /><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/tech/family-dinners.html">http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/tech/family-dinners.html</a><br />TEEVE:<br /><a href="http://cairo.cs.uiuc.edu/teleimmersion/">http://cairo.cs.uiuc.edu/teleimmersion/</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28412498.post-3920501987147010372007-12-30T12:41:00.000-08:002008-01-01T02:50:29.971-08:00new Skype keyboard ideaHere's an idea to simplify using <a href="http://www.skype.com">Skype</a> video, which, let's face it - is not that simple for someone new to a PC.<br /><br />From my observations, there is a lot of confusion when people use Skype for the first time. The layout is unduly complex, and the sequence of events is not clear - apart from the obvious ones of starting and finishing a call.<br /><br />Older people especially who have not used a computer don't know which keys to use, and they have poor co-ordination using the mouse for the first week or more. The learning curve is steep.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Hts6airUKIGeGAqkfyL21LHNcJGSJvM_uCXDezpffBLQNftRsd3dou3_ajMwex0AIFi4m7hSYppcXcsZ6138PcQQc92vmoi0bqa-TQE117K2xsi4Bbu5vamAzgA4GSR5tX9h/s1600-h/SkypeKeyboard.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Hts6airUKIGeGAqkfyL21LHNcJGSJvM_uCXDezpffBLQNftRsd3dou3_ajMwex0AIFi4m7hSYppcXcsZ6138PcQQc92vmoi0bqa-TQE117K2xsi4Bbu5vamAzgA4GSR5tX9h/s400/SkypeKeyboard.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149869514656031010" border="0" /></a>My solution is a dedicated keyboard showing a minimum of simple buttons designed to be used in sequence from left to right.<br /><br /><ol><li>You press the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Skype button</span> to open the program or make the window live.</li><li>You select your <span style="font-weight: bold;">contact</span> name with the up and down arrow buttons.</li><li>You initiate the call with the <span style="font-weight: bold;">green button</span>.</li><li>You stop the call with the <span style="font-weight: bold;">red button</span>.</li></ol><br />A dedicated keyboard which eliminates pesky mouse movement and looks something like my layout would be the answer. The new keyboard could also be a part of a standard computer keyboard too.<br /><br />Hope someone takes it further and runs with it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28412498.post-76167485283443175202007-12-29T22:33:00.000-08:002008-01-01T11:43:45.457-08:00how to do a GoToMyPC photo transfer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWV22u56GkW7Zl_-N6-ocSLYqd8AMRRSVKGQZfgMW5LhVK8OzZW9vocETWXMvNayqeFWlEPVC-rgfEEKlozmmDCUnTBXLSMrKU85eXzMNVojLdwJ424V22DPh0Wc0Up4a3Z1J1/s1600-h/GoToMyPC.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWV22u56GkW7Zl_-N6-ocSLYqd8AMRRSVKGQZfgMW5LhVK8OzZW9vocETWXMvNayqeFWlEPVC-rgfEEKlozmmDCUnTBXLSMrKU85eXzMNVojLdwJ424V22DPh0Wc0Up4a3Z1J1/s400/GoToMyPC.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149650638827659474" border="0" /></a><br />I love <a href="http://www.gotomypc.com/">GoToMyPC</a>. It's a program you can install on your computer which allows you to <span style="font-weight: bold;">remotely access</span> your computer from any other internet-connected computer in the world. You use any browser for access, and pay a small monthly fee:<br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iLUNNYpO9wo&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iLUNNYpO9wo&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><blockquote>When I've been overseas I've been able to log in to my computer and answer email almost as if I was there in person. My own computer screen appears as a full-size window in the browser on the computer I am using. Move the mouse, and my own mouse thousands of miles away moves at the same time.</blockquote><br />Which brings me to another handy application. My aged mother-in-law - who you've read about in previous posts - is not computer literate. I knew there would be a long learning curve, so I installed <a href="http://www.gotomypc.com/">GoToMyPC</a> on her computer. It has been very useful in correcting daily problems that would have required a 30 minute drive across to her place each time.<br /><br />But it has also been very useful in another way.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPhutls68ll9Q_yxVNDB8D15N8dh0IWrF3khZwXl6vY0nSXZxqh6wqJ6fxjw1S-NTfVCNQruUnGvLTdrrHPvARsRNJu4MxPWVqfif0_AehagorZ7vKMmnUBUEc6ZRrtFadpn2/s1600-h/PhotoAlbumFolder.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPhutls68ll9Q_yxVNDB8D15N8dh0IWrF3khZwXl6vY0nSXZxqh6wqJ6fxjw1S-NTfVCNQruUnGvLTdrrHPvARsRNJu4MxPWVqfif0_AehagorZ7vKMmnUBUEc6ZRrtFadpn2/s400/PhotoAlbumFolder.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149656574472462578" border="0" /></a>I started a <span style="font-weight: bold;">Photo Album folder</span> on her machine and transferred family photos to it through <a href="http://www.skype.com/">Skype</a>. She has been viewing them almost daily.<br /><br />But today I found a better way to make the transfer. It's a simple drag and drop.<br /><br />It works like this: I have <a href="http://www.gotomypc.com/">GoToMyPC</a> open on her PC displaying her <span style="font-weight: bold;">photo album folder</span> on one of my screens.<br /><br />On another screen I have a folder with the photos (JPEGs) I want to transfer to her machine. I simply <span style="font-weight: bold;">select all</span> and drag them across to the <span style="font-style: italic;">GoToMyPC screen</span>, and they transfer without any problem.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0As9Iy049Q_PSNgXHPoSngkr-7iABT5Kg8Cvwfte765LP178rz9NvEZf0qPfVL3To7tCJI19PvRYiI1ABVtQihNEViR09ihOQhKJ8W5UcC6f5MZhvuJtl04VQveTPmgU0NH3/s1600-h/FileXfer.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0As9Iy049Q_PSNgXHPoSngkr-7iABT5Kg8Cvwfte765LP178rz9NvEZf0qPfVL3To7tCJI19PvRYiI1ABVtQihNEViR09ihOQhKJ8W5UcC6f5MZhvuJtl04VQveTPmgU0NH3/s400/FileXfer.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149650844986089698" border="0" /></a><br />In the photo above you can see the <a href="http://www.gotomypc.com/">GoToMyPC</a> window for my mother-in-law's computer is open on my left hand screen. The files are transferring from my picture folder on the right hand screen.<br /><br />This afternoon I transferred 16 JPEGs of about 500 KB (half a MB) each, and it took just a few minutes. I captioned each one beforehand so they are ready for her to view straight away.<br /><br />You don't have to have separate screens of course... you can also do it by minimizing the<span style="font-weight: bold;"> two windows</span> - the <a href="http://www.gotomypc.com/">GoToMyPC</a> window and your own folder - on one screen.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28412498.post-85096706396350794312007-12-28T15:11:00.000-08:002008-01-01T11:43:15.338-08:00video calls on the move<span style="font-weight: bold;">Videoconferencing</span> becomes more attractive when it replicates a real setting, or expands our boundaries of view.<br /><br /><blockquote><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7ri56PGXS5CXm1drwf_7U-kpOgcxN73OLBlxxxdeM8G_Ph03kozZfX-DTUtvdMBtpnoGdsqft0hMrvM1oE2Rld0YjhZF1q43QV6lm0c5xdw71IRQV8OH2C36A2IcBU124rjr/s1600-h/macbook.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7ri56PGXS5CXm1drwf_7U-kpOgcxN73OLBlxxxdeM8G_Ph03kozZfX-DTUtvdMBtpnoGdsqft0hMrvM1oE2Rld0YjhZF1q43QV6lm0c5xdw71IRQV8OH2C36A2IcBU124rjr/s400/macbook.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149692939960557842" border="0" /></a>For example, our daughter is visiting another country at the moment and used a wirelessly connected <a href="http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/ichat.html">MacBook laptop</a> to Skype us.<br /><br />During the video chat she moved the laptop around the back of the house she was staying at so that we could see her surroundings. We saw the back yard, a friendly dog and the back lawn.<br /></blockquote><br />It is a huge improvement on a "<strong>talking head</strong>" scenario. Like most people I crave variety, so a background setting with a plain wall and a pot plant does nothing for me. I want to be involved, immersed.<br /><br />In my office I sometimes use a 30 foot USB extension lead on my <a href="http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/38/3056&cl=us,en">Logitech Quickcam Pro 9000</a> which allows me to take the viewer with me as I walk down the hallway. Of course wireless is better than a cord for mobility, and maybe that will come later in my experiments.<br /><br />There's no denying the <em>moving eyecam experience</em> has impressed everyone as they virtually explore my environment along with me.<br /><br />Here's a review of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000</span>:<br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RRxBKw9cITs&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RRxBKw9cITs&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28412498.post-19485042279522819582007-12-27T13:59:00.000-08:002008-01-01T11:44:28.944-08:00the paperless office revisited<p>Yes, I'm declaring <strong>war on paper</strong>... again. </p><p>A year or two back I tried to morph completely to a <em><a href="http://kensilver.blogspot.com/2006/08/my-paperless-office.html">paperless office</a></em>. </p><p>But the idea was flawed from the start because I wasn't solving the problem - paper itself. I was finding ways to digitally store it (using the <a href="http://scansnap.fujitsu.com/ss_products.html">Fujitsu Scansnap Scanner</a> with a lot of success), but doing nothing to stem the flow.<br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149534034760540354" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lvgKDrzHN5ajgU0g9ecT_djI6fdvxFrExdSoPEbQmZR_gIzIl5tE-9NK_4PPqNyGwp2L0c2bdGSvV9zfSzCiFo4TQqDL79uYp6XczyS6-QWROyLwVJ9koO8BCAE2MgVcnyZ1/s400/paperpile.JPG" border="0" /> <p>This picture shows the mail and paperwork I have on my desk from a week's worth of mail neglect. They include: </p><ul><li>Money and checks from customers. In my websites I state that I don't accept payment in any other form except for credit cards, yet they still keep sending me money.<br /></li><li>A refund check from a company returning my credit card deposit for goods that weren't available. They were unable to deposit the amount directly back to my credit card.<br /></li><li>An account from my Mercedes shop, because they hadn't prepared it before I picked my car up. I always like to pay immediately.<br /></li><li>Numerous bank account statements and payment advice. </li></ul><p>All this paperwork could have been avoided if the companies and people involved were a lot more organized and businesslike.<br /><br />So my task for 2008 is to eliminate as much paperwork from these sources as I possibly can. I guess that I can quit at least 90%. There will always be the exception, like the bill from my plumber that I'll need to pay manually. But already I have eliminated a lot of paper activity by <strong>automating my payments</strong> through internet banking. Of course these institutions are obliged to send the bill and receipt as well!<br /><br />However, there will come a time when everything on paper is <strong>electronically</strong> satisfied. And I'm looking forward to that day.</p><p>Here's a look at the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fujitsu ScanSnap S510</span>:<br /></p><p><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6tTn8v6zmwM&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6tTn8v6zmwM&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28412498.post-63309961120431052942007-12-26T20:22:00.001-08:002007-12-30T11:58:18.139-08:00change of video view<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7F7vMEEvYm1Ea1V9WdyEjGb7-mJwbIepNwXkC4VHN1AXjPE-wmHRx3mouzse-llUD_QomxUxS1oZp8GODrWioM43QIo2jttkIJqn4p_j0vnsn6nzvDV-h0sle9w-P6dpghaKQ/s1600-h/NewPosition.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7F7vMEEvYm1Ea1V9WdyEjGb7-mJwbIepNwXkC4VHN1AXjPE-wmHRx3mouzse-llUD_QomxUxS1oZp8GODrWioM43QIo2jttkIJqn4p_j0vnsn6nzvDV-h0sle9w-P6dpghaKQ/s400/NewPosition.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148503517487407282" border="0" /></a><br />While it's great to video chat to a person face-to-face, a bit of variety adds some interest. So I've taken to changing my backgrounds so my callers see a different view each day.<br /><br />Each day I put the <a href="http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/38/3056&cl=us,en">Logitech Quickcam Pro 9000</a> video camera on a different one of my four monitors. Because they are arranged in a curve on my desk, it means the webcam points at a different part of my office. So far the reaction has been good. Variety is the spice of life!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28412498.post-24026429910748939702007-12-24T00:51:00.001-08:002007-12-24T01:03:03.033-08:00See Eye 2 Eye<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9OtqIDl50sMcJKnSyb8RYX-nr6RfHy7nSHqSAZsj7BPmxnvtdyzM86GC0jdLzSEwHVi3ub0ln16raBUbAUpnGcQUemIDY_JSeZkNKQ0SYkTtlb4AVSyqhfiguN59DyCR-INFm/s1600-h/SE2E.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9OtqIDl50sMcJKnSyb8RYX-nr6RfHy7nSHqSAZsj7BPmxnvtdyzM86GC0jdLzSEwHVi3ub0ln16raBUbAUpnGcQUemIDY_JSeZkNKQ0SYkTtlb4AVSyqhfiguN59DyCR-INFm/s400/SE2E.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147459857614348402" border="0" /></a>For the past year I've used a home-built videoconferencing unit I developed that enabled me to make accurate eye contact with my video caller. I'll give more details in a later post, but I was intrigued to come across a similar system in principle shown here, at <a href="http://www.bodelin.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bodelin</span></a>.<br /><br />It is designed to give <span style="font-weight: bold;">true eye contact</span> with your caller. The unit fits over the top of your screen, and with a couple of 45 degree mirrors reflects the image so that you are looking directly into the subject's eyes. I've ordered one just now, and will do a review when I get it.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.bodelin.com/se2e/howitworks.php"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bodelin website</span></a> explains: <span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">"See Eye 2 Eye works like a periscope. When you place this patented device over your webcam, a set of mirrors beams the picture of the person you're talking to onto our optical grade beam-splitting glass, which sits in front of your webcam lens. You can see the reflected image while the other party isn't even aware you're looking at anything but your webcam."</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLp11MoKK15t-4StLxje4IYAO2yyx-QPnBqh1LzcH7TI_EjVl-iNSbNOEX_iOWaXvhu5tMBdIr4HUgUM7RoUmHFpvYKMF5ZkR0Mw1F0rrnOMSASdIa36UACNG9sY-omPfsy7z/s1600-h/SeeEyeExample.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLp11MoKK15t-4StLxje4IYAO2yyx-QPnBqh1LzcH7TI_EjVl-iNSbNOEX_iOWaXvhu5tMBdIr4HUgUM7RoUmHFpvYKMF5ZkR0Mw1F0rrnOMSASdIa36UACNG9sY-omPfsy7z/s400/SeeEyeExample.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147459973578465410" border="0" /></a>One of my questions about its usefulness is the small image size. It looks like you need to reduce the caller's image to <span style="font-weight: bold;">320 x 240 </span>on your screen to get the picture to fit the unit.<br /><br />That's too small for me - I like to increase a video to full screen (19") for full immersion. A small picture is no better than a videophone like the <a href="http://www.ojophone.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ojo</span></a> with all its size and quality restrictions.<br /><br />Some people will prefer small talking heads, but I believe the true immersive experience involves a varied background and extended views. For example, when I pick my <a href="http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/38/3056&cl=us,en"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Logitech Quickcam 9000</span></a> off the top of the screen and turn it round my home office, the viewer is always excited to see the larger view. This is the ultimate experience for improved realism and interactivity.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28412498.post-41615517558799378632007-12-23T21:46:00.000-08:002007-12-29T15:34:29.407-08:00why does business need to videoconference?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMu4bfetWIYWEeXFYpKPqYUBDs9iZQFYWnbn_iYZX5yxpkEjcaKOallh776zi9iJwBVNGe4HoFzwe-pJCW0FzUJ7TdvhgXB4fnf74BJTkkwn4Hr1RRw3zEf5DxVqCQUBwTKRxw/s1600-h/jetsons.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147448892562841698" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMu4bfetWIYWEeXFYpKPqYUBDs9iZQFYWnbn_iYZX5yxpkEjcaKOallh776zi9iJwBVNGe4HoFzwe-pJCW0FzUJ7TdvhgXB4fnf74BJTkkwn4Hr1RRw3zEf5DxVqCQUBwTKRxw/s400/jetsons.JPG" border="0" /></a>I can see the usefulness of videoconferencing for family and friends. But I'm not really sure it's needed in business.<br /><br />How important is it to see the expression on someone's face when you're talking to them in a business or selling situation? Would it make or break the sale? As a boss, would you be more inclined to promote someone if you could see their demeanor (and acne) rather than all the ticks in the right boxes on their CV? I think that <strong>business video calling is hugely overrated</strong>, and its general uselessness could be part of the problem for videoconferencing not taking off as quickly as predicted.<br /><br /><strong>Recruitment and executive placement</strong> will possibly promote the business need, but it is only a very small part of the business landscape.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjR9LFjCtktJ47h6JQQBrWLxvE8eCveHwwED4yVVs2hODyeY83Th-sBHMZx7E-PrfobWjCa2Lgblqq849xgt-IcQ_3j5G-x_nWkW8Z14U-wXscn30c3ZxA0TfbqiDv9R392EJ/s1600-h/AmigoLive.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148024602864099490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjR9LFjCtktJ47h6JQQBrWLxvE8eCveHwwED4yVVs2hODyeY83Th-sBHMZx7E-PrfobWjCa2Lgblqq849xgt-IcQ_3j5G-x_nWkW8Z14U-wXscn30c3ZxA0TfbqiDv9R392EJ/s400/AmigoLive.JPG" border="0" /></a>But connecting visually with family and friends is really where the <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">future of videoconferencing</span> is, whether from the desktop, or a commercial service like <a style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold" href="http://www.amigolatino.com/videoconferencing.html">Amigo Live</a> (pictured above). There's a huge advantage in seeing familiar people on a regular basis, especially when they're overseas or a great distance away.<br /><br /><blockquote>Everyone knows the advantage of seeing family they haven't talked to for a while. This morning my mother-in-law - the same 93-year-old I've talked about in an earlier post - Skyped my mother in Britain, half the world away. By all accounts it was a tremendous bonding experience, since my mother-in-law hadn't seen her since visiting the year before. That's the <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">real value of videoconferencing</span>, and it's where the most gain will be made.</blockquote><br /><br />I can see that in another decade all the dedicated high definition and expensive business videoconferencing rooms will be <strong>lying unused</strong>, while video calls will carry on from desktop to desktop. Email and telephoning will rule, as usual.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28412498.post-5767578053129837292007-12-23T00:46:00.000-08:002007-12-23T00:54:52.525-08:00Skype High Quality video calling<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7xWoat72cpBHBjxp4x5rTy6B5Sfg0s-rGDcShpLT5W4u5Go94FLZVaX9_geIM6RzT56amdh6yV2-RSOCZibQ47pYvMb_fBOj7rg6X5dIcUE5EEmN5YRyXpd4Yn9AVkXrU0Wkq/s1600-h/SkypeHQ.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7xWoat72cpBHBjxp4x5rTy6B5Sfg0s-rGDcShpLT5W4u5Go94FLZVaX9_geIM6RzT56amdh6yV2-RSOCZibQ47pYvMb_fBOj7rg6X5dIcUE5EEmN5YRyXpd4Yn9AVkXrU0Wkq/s400/SkypeHQ.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147087690108215314" border="0" /></a><br />I've been using a <a href="http://www.skype.com/intl/en/allfeatures/videocall/#high-quality-video">Skype High Quality video</a> calling setup for the last week, and the results are spectactular.<br /><br />Here's an <a href="http://skypejournal.com/blog/2007/11/high_quality_video_definitely.html">excellent and detailed review</a> on the process by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Skype Journal </span>blogger Jim Courtney. I'll give my personal experiences and more detail in later posts.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28412498.post-56423232766813872952007-12-23T00:15:00.000-08:002008-01-01T11:46:01.270-08:00a glimpse of the videocall futureWhat will <span style="font-weight: bold;">videoconferencing</span> look like in a few years? Here's one scenario I've thought about...<br /><br />I'd like to predict that in the near future we'll all have a remotely controlled robot in all our homes that we can use as our own <span style="font-weight: bold;">persona</span>, or body double. When it's placed in a remote location - a friend's house for example - we'll log into it remotely through the net and our own video face will show on the remote robot.<br /><br />We will be linked to it. It will act as "us" on our command, moving about as we would in the remote surroundings. It will send images and sound back to us in a 3D process that would enable us to be there virtually.<br /><br />We could move though the host room and sit by the grandchildren, perhaps reading a story to them (providing they are used to the concept and won't get freaked out!) Or we could sit on the sofa, or across the dinner table and join in the family conversation.<br /><br />We could even hire one located at seminars, museums or trade shows and wander the floor looking around and interacting with the staff. This concept would make <span style="font-weight: bold;">videoconferencing</span> useful. It's being done already at a simpler level.<br /><br />iRobot are doing this with their <a href="http://www.irobot.com/sp.cfm?pageid=338">ConnectR</a>, a virtual visiting robot due out 2008:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvrUTv7f5gpTVrMvXjNjhOUqoeHgGbS64w9qMVrLywec5R1hHg-b0LSLc_QvqdK5ji3OUpdwXXpWGXesKlTxv-9IUrKUeEAs8aYrDuDZl2mWAxQ_ik2KLSIsjaKQM3k47QGlX/s1600-h/connectR.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvrUTv7f5gpTVrMvXjNjhOUqoeHgGbS64w9qMVrLywec5R1hHg-b0LSLc_QvqdK5ji3OUpdwXXpWGXesKlTxv-9IUrKUeEAs8aYrDuDZl2mWAxQ_ik2KLSIsjaKQM3k47QGlX/s200/connectR.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147080612002111426" border="0" /></a><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6elOYa9vIxc&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6elOYa9vIxc&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">HeadThere.com has the <a href="http://www.headthere.com/">Giraffe</a>:<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8zjfjWTLAiW-SUQ0QagpND5VR1IIaaJ38L9nWl7pOmRDVrmKum8PhBGciburo1AI1F_ryEa9iAfEVCnSWcRSu0Lg0WBzFGb462O0cZmuZ5tbViob0bfLuIV62r95L2w06Vnp/s1600-h/HeadThere.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8zjfjWTLAiW-SUQ0QagpND5VR1IIaaJ38L9nWl7pOmRDVrmKum8PhBGciburo1AI1F_ryEa9iAfEVCnSWcRSu0Lg0WBzFGb462O0cZmuZ5tbViob0bfLuIV62r95L2w06Vnp/s200/HeadThere.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147080904059887570" border="0" /></a>A primitive-looking robot called <a href="http://news.therecord.com/Business/article/236315">IvanAnywhere</a> is a working solution:</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjza8Q-78H_3XSPYGARGSD-n6h0bcj8KMQw41Nc1TKSwoEeRXFm7u5HGStF9U87cIZF4rOJi6yzKSZ_xur54pMM3K9A86Vp5LnowVb31RXjzObiwmpdJ3v0kICQWZnwctYHP4U/s1600-h/IvanAnywhere.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjza8Q-78H_3XSPYGARGSD-n6h0bcj8KMQw41Nc1TKSwoEeRXFm7u5HGStF9U87cIZF4rOJi6yzKSZ_xur54pMM3K9A86Vp5LnowVb31RXjzObiwmpdJ3v0kICQWZnwctYHP4U/s200/IvanAnywhere.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147081290606944226" border="0" /></a>UCLA Medical Center has had a <a href="http://www.today.ucla.edu/2005/050322campus_meetroni.html">robotic doctor</a> since 2005:</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mJ9vyuwCjCodTZb-0BB0xr7EbXExaddOsaeW-HgKDIa3kCjg_Nr-ZV5qJcseMbwuvJKXXYRVy4lxouhhpPmBKwWURFSdPBUZcgbUXHE1-67a_ewxaByaBnqa7JN76pHX_K_F/s1600-h/RONI.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mJ9vyuwCjCodTZb-0BB0xr7EbXExaddOsaeW-HgKDIa3kCjg_Nr-ZV5qJcseMbwuvJKXXYRVy4lxouhhpPmBKwWURFSdPBUZcgbUXHE1-67a_ewxaByaBnqa7JN76pHX_K_F/s400/RONI.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147083193277456370" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Honda have their <a href="http://world.honda.com/ASIMO/">ASIMO</a> robots jogging along at 6 km/hr and serving tea. You can imagine how effective this could be as a 2-way interface:<br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6M5CfGkwYiQ&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6M5CfGkwYiQ&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />It's only a matter of years before this concept accelerates to a sophisticated level. <blockquote></blockquote><blockquote>"By the end of 2010, we'd like to see these robots working at every street corner of the city," said Tomohiko Kawanabe of Honda's Fundamental Technology Research Center.</blockquote><br />At the moment these processes are very primitive. The experience of <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">being there</span> would have to be developed further for it to work, but I'm sure that current research will have that done within the next five to ten years.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28412498.post-86087360597655273202007-12-22T17:05:00.000-08:002007-12-23T20:47:07.222-08:00why we still don't like videoconferencingVideoconferencing is not new. Global business has been using videoconferencing for the last 15 years. And in the last couple of years programs like <a href="http://www.skype.com/">Skype</a> have made huge strides in increasing quality and ease of use for personal users with their High Quality benchmark introduced this month.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_nnNCtpRU9CVfqOM0-v7mr3zT2V-OI66I5t6AXyuLW7XilpyqCzAxtmI5d90jxekv-kfAWkGrpeMjW9wlQ3avwxUXzk9JRiDe2oR2bxO-9P2_PNkIeMRzNtmeZuQ0yPB-NXe/s1600-h/Skype.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_nnNCtpRU9CVfqOM0-v7mr3zT2V-OI66I5t6AXyuLW7XilpyqCzAxtmI5d90jxekv-kfAWkGrpeMjW9wlQ3avwxUXzk9JRiDe2oR2bxO-9P2_PNkIeMRzNtmeZuQ0yPB-NXe/s400/Skype.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147084009321242626" border="0" /></a>Videoconferencing is mainstream. Today at 3.15pm I saw <a href="http://www.skype.com/">Skype</a> has 5,153,338 people online at one time. It's been as high as 10 million, which shows how a large number of people are accepting and using this type of technology.<br /><br />But only about 50% of my friends and family enjoy videoconferencing, and this percentage seems to be typical. The main barriers seem to be reasons they won't readily admit to:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">- They can't multitask while having a video call.</span> Most telephone users will do something else while they are talking, like typing or paperwork. I've sometimes done that myself. One member of our family readily admits that she enjoys looking out of the window during a phone conversation. She can't do that with a video call however, and feels obliged to remain looking interested during the talk. While that's not difficult if you like the person (or they are related!) but it's hard work to keep up the pretense if you have to be there.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">- They don't want to look like a slob, either personally or their home.</span> Most people want to get spruced up for a video chat. Why? I don’t know, since many will invite people into their messy house and greet them in old clothes. But the 50% will give this reason as an excuse for not wanting to use video. It's a bit like the early days of the automobile, where everybody dressed in their Sunday best to go out motoring. Now we just drive around in a T-shirt and jeans. Dress is a barrier that has to be overcome.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">- Videoconferencing is just not real enough. </span>That's because a generation of one-way television viewers find it difficult to accept, subliminally, that the screen will interact and talk back to them. It's a mental expectation that the screen is uni-directional, as if we're not talking to a person but just to a familiar image on TV that is not quite real. A real-world example... our grandchildren can sometimes be slightly rude when they <span style="font-style: italic;">Skype</span> us... even though they wouldn't dream of doing it to our face. There is a removal of reality because subliminally they believe <span style="font-style: italic;">they are talking to a representation</span> rather than a real person.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">- There's no eye contact.</span> We're all familiar with the standard webcam view... the person on screen studying our chin - and only occasionally looking up if they are aware of good webcam etiquette. We soon get used to the downward view of their profile. But the difference true eye contact makes is remarkable. Most people can discern an eye contact variance of less than 5° at around 20 feet. That means they will be able to tell when a person is standing 20 feet away and looking past your shoulder. The small deflection is immediately obvious. Wow. The human brain is massively sophisticated in discerning these slight differences. So why do we put up with it?<br /><br />What's the answer? How can we get people to enjoy videoconferencing? I've got some ideas which I've used, and which I'll expand on later.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28412498.post-18895740941434833432007-12-20T13:48:00.000-08:002007-12-23T21:00:22.040-08:00recap on the digital lifeI'm older than many net users. Next year I will celebrate my 60th birthday. But despite those six decades, I still feel 21 inside with all the excitement and promise of flying cars, wall-to-wall videoconferencing and a no-work society still welling up inside me from time to time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCB8lqIQ-5WtazZBZ2yKfIPUIDjB1QwQ1hA4EsXtygX74fZZOdJRWxxFe3uT9qAj3wbJyCKk_pniLavtZJehjX8iP2ZojSom7JmBi3eARFFHKP47z61Yvl0Z8Y78e6vLCuD2h3/s1600-h/4screen.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCB8lqIQ-5WtazZBZ2yKfIPUIDjB1QwQ1hA4EsXtygX74fZZOdJRWxxFe3uT9qAj3wbJyCKk_pniLavtZJehjX8iP2ZojSom7JmBi3eARFFHKP47z61Yvl0Z8Y78e6vLCuD2h3/s400/4screen.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147399225561030722" border="0" /></a>In a way I've already accomplished those many childhood dreams. I work alone, digitally - almost on autopilot - with the world as my market, without leaving my desk. I'm dictating this post through <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://http//www.nuance.com/naturallyspeaking/">Dragon Naturally Speaking</a> </span><span>and sharing my work on four 19" screens (pic).</span><br /><br />With the click of a button I can access most of my family in far-flung parts of the world, and talk to them face to face.<br /><br />Another click or two and I can buy products from any part of the world, and have them sent anywhere. It's an incredible existence, far surpassing anything I had ever dreamed of.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwI3FIQo3n08qU8Z9-r_u-w9jrAHuGb3SDGUGacaS7y6Q5ugMnIbmL2pmioJogEQsszMTGWJWEqwMHbjQ0UcFYwAqOATjMR2jzUMFYYHWmRowajf43CspujxPTEV8EvZu8kViW/s1600-h/quickcam9000.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwI3FIQo3n08qU8Z9-r_u-w9jrAHuGb3SDGUGacaS7y6Q5ugMnIbmL2pmioJogEQsszMTGWJWEqwMHbjQ0UcFYwAqOATjMR2jzUMFYYHWmRowajf43CspujxPTEV8EvZu8kViW/s200/quickcam9000.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147077648474677170" border="0" /></a>As an example, a week ago I bought a new webcam for my brother who lives in Britain - a <a href="http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/38/3056&cl=us,en"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Logitech Quickcam 9000</span></a> for high quality video through <span><a href="http://www.skype.com/"><span>Skype</span></a></span>. I already had one.<br /><br />Although it was a Christmas present for him, it was really <span style="font-style: italic;">for me</span>... because I benefited most from the better quality video. But the exciting part of this giftgiving was that I was able to purchase it from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Amazon.com</span></a> in UK, and have it delivered to his doorstep in a matter of two or three days.<br /><br />Today, this is commonplace. Kids take the net for granted. A few days ago my grandson, aged 11, added another contact to his <a href="http://www.skype.com/"><span>Skype</span></a> list with the help of my brief instructions. Computers weren't even invented when I was 11, for goodness sake, yet here he was deftly managing this overly complex business we call the internet and computer.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu84wKOU3OOQFXWyybASA_t22M8BnVbpP40a8nmxGguGj-v0AE6WkcQDg84XkgxmA1cRwjh3j5WdJ6nEd0wtqnrzSIcpGB3S-JtIFV3nsfIXIR1SoMs1F5F_zfveNXY2h-HS9L/s1600-h/Nellsetup.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu84wKOU3OOQFXWyybASA_t22M8BnVbpP40a8nmxGguGj-v0AE6WkcQDg84XkgxmA1cRwjh3j5WdJ6nEd0wtqnrzSIcpGB3S-JtIFV3nsfIXIR1SoMs1F5F_zfveNXY2h-HS9L/s400/Nellsetup.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147399736662138962" border="0" /></a>But there's a lot wrong still with our digital world. Design and function are primitive. Last week I gave an old computer to my mother in-law, who's 93, so we can video chat. That's her setup on the right.<br /><br />She has done remarkably well in working it out with my brief instruction - considering she had never used a computer in her life. But there were a lot of physical problems to overcome like controlling the mouse and understanding what a <span style="font-weight: bold;">window </span>is. Still, we've gone far enough to make and receive <a href="http://www.skype.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Skype</span></a> calls, and no doubt she will start building her list of contacts in time as I did.<br /><br />So the internet and computing at any level is still fiendishly complex. And until you tutor someone who has never worked on a computer do you realize how much underlying knowledge you have built up over the years.<br /><br />My ambition is to make our digital life as simple as possible. At the moment I'm doing this awkwardly with complex workarounds like hotkeys and <a href="http://www.macros.com/">automatic mouse & keyboard sequences</a> because there isn't a better way.<br /><br />But it shouldn't be like this. More on this later.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28412498.post-56801035189611523972007-06-12T23:00:00.000-07:002007-12-23T00:56:15.710-08:00Picasa is working again<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie676K_Wgwm63rTo0sgSpEUUtEWwYtemBpZYpTzE0v89Yw9nT8PIixJyA6kLY6XOr0DhzY1kKN454E6TCjGZONu4Han7421QbF3ROrcPQXrEhdFSGHxT2ula3ZzXmYd5-Cme1i/s1600-h/Picasa+screenshot.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie676K_Wgwm63rTo0sgSpEUUtEWwYtemBpZYpTzE0v89Yw9nT8PIixJyA6kLY6XOr0DhzY1kKN454E6TCjGZONu4Han7421QbF3ROrcPQXrEhdFSGHxT2ula3ZzXmYd5-Cme1i/s200/Picasa+screenshot.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146934961071169442" border="0" /></a>I don't know why it should work again, but a full install of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Picasa</span> yesterday resulted in all my photos returning... captions and tags - all back. The result is I've decided not to go with <span style="font-weight: bold;">Flickr</span>, but now that <span style="font-weight: bold;">Picasa</span> has web-based storage, I'll move everything across to Google.<br /><br />Not sure that I like all my digital life being in one googlebasket though. I may use <span style="font-weight: bold;">Flickr </span>as backup. (23 December 2007 : Still not used <span style="font-weight: bold;">Flickr</span>. It's hard moving away from familiar territory! And I've gone off using Google for everything for security reasons. More about that later).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28412498.post-36273541206235594242007-06-06T20:59:00.000-07:002007-12-23T00:28:59.915-08:00the vanishing keyboard - still sticking around<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDn9UFE36KXu7ZsctkLnI2zGVp3SH3w0SpCTRFU6acfwHoZwLChMpaJTVc7BrPVrUsJnyYYQVn_Bth7I7GYWe8m5l0LktX1Rqf_SvMBhyphenhyphenvYempTU-ofbWSNBAifaPqkWUdbuy4/s1600-h/shortkeys-list.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDn9UFE36KXu7ZsctkLnI2zGVp3SH3w0SpCTRFU6acfwHoZwLChMpaJTVc7BrPVrUsJnyYYQVn_Bth7I7GYWe8m5l0LktX1Rqf_SvMBhyphenhyphenvYempTU-ofbWSNBAifaPqkWUdbuy4/s400/shortkeys-list.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073171459704993714" border="0" /></a>At the end of this <a href="http://kensilver.blogspot.com/2007/05/im-getting-serious-about-going-digital.html" target="_blank">recent post</a> I talked about hoping to eventually quit my keyboard.<br /><br />Since all my work is dictated, I thought a keyboard would be of little or no use. Well, after trying to do without it over a couple of hours, the result showed that I was way out in my thinking. Actually, it's very unlikely that I'll be able to quit the keyboard just yet. And here's the main reason... a program I find essential...<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.shortkeys.com/" target="_blank">ShortKeys</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span> It's an absolutely essential utility containing a large number of text shortcuts, and I use it constantly.<br /><br />There's 660 of these shortcuts I have built up over the years. You can see about 50 of them in the graphic here.<br /><br />If you didn't know the advantages of ShortKeys, let me tell you that there are hundreds of URLs that I use frequently, but have never typed but once. That's because with a shortcut for each of them, ShortKeys does the rest.<br /><br />Those shortcuts also apply to long paragraphs, signatures, passwords, HTML code, and dozens of other exceptionally useful pieces of text. It's fair to say that ShortKeys is one of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">most valuable software</span> programs I own. Everything else on my desktop can be duplicated in some way - except the myriad of shortcuts I use to automate and hugely speed up my digital life.<br /><br />So eliminating the keyboard would need mean that I would have to dictate each of the shortcut keys. That's actually harder than it sounds. I've never been able to get my dictation program, <a href="http://www.nuance.com/naturallyspeaking/" target="_blank">Dragon NaturallySpeaking</a>, to any sort of accuracy dictating a single symbol, even though it's 99% accurate with everything else. In fact, I don't even know how to dictate single letters... I'll have to go to the ShortKeys' support page to find out, when I get some time.<br /><br />Looks like the keyboard is here to stay for a while!<br /><br />Another advantage of ShortKeys is increasing security. I use a large number of detailed, complex alphanumeric passwords that are identified only by a small number of ShortKeys letters. But since these initial letters are in code, and are known only to me - it's impossible for anyone to identify the program they come from.<br /><br />There is no way that a <span style="font-weight: bold;">keylogger or trojan</span> program - should they get past the large number of virus protection programs I have - would ever be able to identify them.<br /><br />In short, ShortKeys is an essential part of automating my digital life. And I see now they have an associated macro program called <a href="http://www.macros.com/">Macro Express</a>. If it's as good as ShortKeys, it'll certainly be invaluable.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28412498.post-82666684256849462462007-06-05T16:53:00.000-07:002007-06-05T18:35:25.866-07:00Will Microsoft's new display catch on?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1ZTT6OYxcfxy8nnfn9AZXVe8JdvID_hTbfFraTvDoLARuwtdMt3FAmWAY3cEvqwaWfQGMlvB7SxiY4Y50w_2b1wor1Ckn-LtdR2c7HEEZdeE7I9liJF2M0mFnSUdlrXySv0f/s1600-h/microsoft_surface.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1ZTT6OYxcfxy8nnfn9AZXVe8JdvID_hTbfFraTvDoLARuwtdMt3FAmWAY3cEvqwaWfQGMlvB7SxiY4Y50w_2b1wor1Ckn-LtdR2c7HEEZdeE7I9liJF2M0mFnSUdlrXySv0f/s400/microsoft_surface.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5072733020853483394" border="0" /></a><br />The <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/surface/" target="_blank">Microsoft Surface</a> tabletop PC is straight out of the film "Minority Report." It looks really interesting.<br /><br />But there's a catch... it requires large arm movements to manipulate the objects.<br /><br />My mouse pad - in contrast - measures about 5" in diameter, and I don't even use 50% of that space. Micro-movements allow me to get the mouse pointer to any of my three 19" triple screens.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC90yKj_2tHapHj_fw8mINYxdxz12OeHVlx3WzW-i323GqVwhzB49Ll1YrwJKrAseW57_-mdx_cFe8wfGVfDQi5j2c6XNh4ZR3gzqhh2olfpzyn-peBvgege1YvFI1CaaG2RtK/s1600-h/geek.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC90yKj_2tHapHj_fw8mINYxdxz12OeHVlx3WzW-i323GqVwhzB49Ll1YrwJKrAseW57_-mdx_cFe8wfGVfDQi5j2c6XNh4ZR3gzqhh2olfpzyn-peBvgege1YvFI1CaaG2RtK/s400/geek.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5072758614563600290" border="0" /></a>Will we get tired using the huge surface that Microsoft has developed, or will it just become an interesting way to exercise? Will the next generation of kids start looking like gorillas with overdeveloped arm and chest muscles?<br /><br />I think not. But the Surface concept is exciting and innovative, and I'm looking forward to using it in the future.<br /><br />Though I'm more interested in brainpower as a way to interact with a computer. Less effort - more promise. Surface is a step in the right direction.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28412498.post-1974228923348479922007-06-05T15:47:00.000-07:002007-12-22T15:01:13.444-08:00babysitting the Roomba<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-jRk6c-_PNOmiAPEQrn5hYcmuZb4HjLGEZOqhtQARXXXjrcDaf99QIvkCBTzkbzapVHiO_lOyvz-DlgntpJ9VVICRjX_pU5eDRFpXyDH_L_ILZLuO2IDpDo-JGrzeVg7NwFw/s1600-h/roomba_securicam.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-jRk6c-_PNOmiAPEQrn5hYcmuZb4HjLGEZOqhtQARXXXjrcDaf99QIvkCBTzkbzapVHiO_lOyvz-DlgntpJ9VVICRjX_pU5eDRFpXyDH_L_ILZLuO2IDpDo-JGrzeVg7NwFw/s400/roomba_securicam.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5072720281980483426" border="0" /></a><br />My <a href="http://www.irobot.com/" target="_blank">Roomba</a> hasn't been working very well lately. It would vacuum for about a couple of minutes, then stop with some of the indicator lights blinking. When I pressed the "clean" button on the remote, it would work again.<br /><br />So I've taken to check on it using my lounge security camera. I have a <span style="font-weight: bold;">wireless cam</span> set up high in our lounge, and it overlooks most of the area.<br /><br />The screen sits next to my 4 screen setup in my downstairs home office, and it's easy for me to check whether the Roomba is still going - or whether I have to go up and reset it again. Fortunately it seems to be working for up to 10 to 15 minutes at the time now, but just in case it doesn't, I'm able to keep a beady eye on it. (OK, since I wrote this it has been a trooper - carrying out the full 40 min clean without stopping).<br /><br />You can see it arrowed in the photo above. When it disappears behind the sofa and I don't see it for a while, I turn the webcam sound on and listen for it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4JbQS0_pIO6Fd5eAKGobhX-7wpaxzbO-H9CAYRNXQ71fI-f0AAJ8bP1RHHI3pVzK1FJYZuhujXtKSKx2IEsN-zptghrvQK-4er1lkJzRl5ETy_FEszsal6BR__TJc-jqdssw/s1600-h/roomba.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4JbQS0_pIO6Fd5eAKGobhX-7wpaxzbO-H9CAYRNXQ71fI-f0AAJ8bP1RHHI3pVzK1FJYZuhujXtKSKx2IEsN-zptghrvQK-4er1lkJzRl5ETy_FEszsal6BR__TJc-jqdssw/s400/roomba.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5072723163903539058" border="0" /></a>One day I'll send it in for servicing, but the main problem is that my second backup Roomba isn't working either. In their favor, I have to say that of the 5 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Roombas</span> I have owned, they all seem to work quite well for up to a year, and I use them each day. It's certainly worth the $599 a year (the cost of a Roomba in our country), to replace a cleaning service or the time we spend vacuuming our house ourselves.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0