The Touchtable was designed to be for teaching children geography, but is now being used by the military, airline industry, police departments and has potential for medical uses and a lot of other things.
I’m going to try to embed the video here so it’ll be convenient for you to see. If it doesn’t show up, go to http://www.pbs.org/kcet/wiredscience/video/231-touchtable.html to see it. (I’m not always successful embedding video.)
What do you think of this?
That's fascinating! I want one! Hard to believe it started out as a teaching tool for kids.
ReplyDeleteMy kids both have touch screens in their classrooms--not exactly like this one, but similar. You can go right up and your finger is the mouse. It's unbelievable. But the devices are extremely expensive---we're always donating money or having fundraisers. Amazing technology. And to think I had chalk boards in my rooms!
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ReplyDeleteThis is what Microsoft are doing with their "Surface" technology.
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Surface
Interestingly Microsoft seems to be aiming their tech at the leisure industry, targetting hotels and casinos.
That's very interesting technology. And you did a fine job of embedding the video (wink).
ReplyDeleteThe Old Silly
I've seen something like it in our adventure science museum. It's pretty cool. I didn't realize they were incorporating it into "grown up" sorts of things!
ReplyDeleteI thought, wow!, when I saw the video. I also didn't much like the idea of anyone having access to flight data and being able to zoom in on things like electric plants or dams, etc. I want science technology to advance, yet I'm slightly paranoid.
ReplyDeleteBeyond the Wow Factor, you make a good point about being able to incorporate this idea into a novel. Nice connection. Be fun to have in my study, but, as Elizabeth points out...kinda pricey, I'll bet. Did they mention the cost, or did I miss it.
ReplyDeleteOh, I loved the guy’s name, Rocky Rockenova. How cool is that?
Best Regards, Galen
Imagineering Fiction Blog
I've seen another video someplace similar to this one, but this one is more detailed than the one I saw. Being a touch paranoid about things myself, I know what you mean. But Google Earth is there for anyone. Kinda scary. The stuff novels are made of :)
ReplyDeleteI wonder how one of those would look in my living room? We do love gadgets and toys. LOL
ReplyDeleteHe does mention the price in the video, Galen. I'd have to go back and listen again to be sure, but I think he may have said something like $59,000.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Carol. Take something that's available now and project it into the future or being used in a way not intended and you've got a plot device for a thriller.
Ah, Patricia, you're thinking like me. Way cool to have one of these.
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ReplyDeleteThis is amazing. There is so much new technology it blows my mind. I don't even know how to embed video. :-)
ReplyDeleteHi, Helen.
ReplyDeleteThat was awesome! Just imagine all the things that could be done with that kind of technology. I bet he didn't even scratch the surface of what it could do--I suspect
he wasn't ALLOWED to.
Wouldn't you love to own one of those tables yourself? It would be an amazing research tool, wouldn't it?
Thanks for sharing that video--it was so incredible.
By the way...I have given The Blood-Red Pencil an award.
I left a message on their blog several days ago for one of you to come to my blog and see where I have announced what the award is, but I think that it must have been overlooked. Since the award is for you as well, would you like to visit my blog here and see what the award is? I would sure appreciate it if you could do that.
And thank you once again for embedding that fabulous video for our viewing pleasure--it was great!
Sincerely,
Cynde
Cynde's Got The Write Stuff
Cynde, I'll link over.
ReplyDeleteMaryann, except when I mess it up, embedding a video is fairly easy. Almost any video will have a box nearby that has the code for the video. Just copy it and, wherever you want it to be in your post, paste the code into the "code" side of your blog.