From DSC:
Some serious cross-disciplinary work/fun/experimentation going on here!
.
Microsoft unveils Windows 8, Surface tablet — from finance.yahoo.com/Reuters
Excerpt:
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Microsoft Corp launched its new Windows 8 operating system and Surface tablet on Thursday in a bid to revive interest in its flagship product and regain ground lost to Apple Inc and Google Inc in mobile computing. “We’ve reimagined Windows and we’ve reimagined the whole PC industry,” Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer told Reuters Television. Windows 8 devices and the company’s new Surface tablet, which challenges Apple’s popular iPad head on, go on sale at midnight on Thursday.
Microsoft’s Windows 8 Test: Courting Consumers — from WSJ.com by Shira Ovide
Excerpt:
The software giant on Thursday formally introduced the touch-oriented overhaul of the operating system that powers nine out of every 10 computers in the world and goes on sale Friday. Microsoft’s new Windows 8 is widely viewed as a test of whether the PC-era kingpin can become a factor in new-wave mobile devices—not just tablets but convertible devices that can operate in clamshell or slate-style modes.
Just look at the markets for their products:
Also see:
Sharp video of the Leap Motion Controller — as taken from AI, Robotics and Sensors everywhere timeline — nextbigfuture.com
Also see:
Also see:
From DSC:
Apple has been putting together a solid ecosystem of hardware and software that allows for the creation and distribution of content. “Easy is hard” I like to say and Apple’s done a great job of creating easy-to-use devices and apps. They have a long way to go before iTunes U has all the built-in functionality needed to replace a Blackboard Learn or a Moodle type of CMS/LMS. But given their solid history of creating highly-usable hardware and software, they could deal a smashing blow to what’s happening in the CMS/LMS world today.
Plus, with Apple TV, Airplay mirroring, the growth of second screen-based apps, and machine-to-machine communications, Apple is poised to get into this game…big time. If my thoughts re: “Learning from the Living [Class] Room” come to fruition, Apple would be positioned for some serious worldwide impact on lifelong learning; especially when combined with the developments such as the use of MOOCs, AI and HCI-related innovations, learning agents, web-based learner profiles, and potential/upcoming changes to accreditation.
Too far fetched do you think? Hmmm….well considering that online learning has already been proven to be at least as affective as f2f learning — and in some studies has produced even greater learning outcomes/results — I wonder how things will look in mid-2015…? (That is, where is the innovation occurring?)
Addendum:
Microsoft buys CNN’s Magic Wall maker — from CNN.com by Erin Kim
Excerpt:
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Microsoft is adding a magic touch. Microsoft said Monday that it has agreed to buy Perceptive Pixel Inc., which makes large, multi-touch displays, including CNN’s “Magic Wall.”
CNN’s John King used the Magic Wall for his coverage of the Michigan and Arizona primaries this year.
.
Why Did Microsoft Buy Giant-Touchscreen-Maker Perceptive Pixel?— from readwriteweb.com by Brian Proffitt
From DSC:
I could easily see a “video wall” in the Smart Classrooms of the near future, integrating this technology and more. Intel’s incorporated/captured such a vision as well in this piece here.
I would like to see such a mechanism be able to obtain files from students, check them for any viruses/malware, and then distribute the files to other students (if they choose to receive the files).
Talking to machines and being heard : Getting started with speech recognition — from uxmag.com by Dave Rich
Excerpt:
Speech recognition presents an exciting and dynamic set of challenges and opportunities for UX designers. With the mass-market reception of consumer technologies such as Apple’s Siri and the near-omnipresence of speech in telephone applications, speech recognition is a computer–human interface many people interact with daily. Speech applications range from self-service telephone systems such as banking applications, to mobile applications that allow users to speak commands and compose messages with their voice. In the future, we can expect to see many different applications integrate speech recognition in some form. The time is near when speech will be the most universal user interface.
Addendum on 7/12/12:
Videos from Qualcomm Uplinq 2012 show the future of Smart TV
— from hexus.net by Mark Tyson
Excerpt:
Here are the feature highlights of these “redefined” Smart TVs:
From DSC:
…and add to that list the power of customized learning and analytics!
Contents
Behind this report