Human Computer Interaction and the Future

Is technology becoming integrated with us so much that it will eventually cause major issues in how we live everyday life? For instance, take a look at this cartoon below:

http://www.personal.psu.edu/hzd106/blogs/logme/2008/09/01/Pics/hci.JPG

This cartoon may seem funny, but is this really what life is coming to? Computers and humans are becoming closer to each other as the relationship between users and computers become stronger. The goal of Human Computer Interaction is to improve this interaction by making computers more usable and receptive to the user's needs. Just think about what we have seen in the past twenty years. Computers needed a mouse, a keyboard, speakers, etc. Now, everything is combined into one. We are starting to see the popularity of touch screens in the cell phone market, and pretty soon computers are all going to be touch screens as well so that we can interact with them more easily. But how far will this go? As we witnessed in class on Tuesday (March 9th), there is technology out there that relies on motion rather than touching a screen. We have already seen this with the Nintendo Wii (although this requires use of a controller). But Project Natal for Xbox is taking motion sensing for video games to another level without the use of controllers. Here is a video of what that might be like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oACt9R9z37U

So what does this mean for our personal computers, and how is this going to effect the future of technology? Remember, the goal is to make the interaction between humans and computers easier, so will we soon live in a world that will require nothing more than motion sensing and tracking devices? We saw a video in class of a person that looked like he was shop-lifting, but actually, everything was paid for automatically when he walked out the door. This is going to make everything easier, and a world like this would be amazing to live in. However, what is going to happen if the technology fails, if systems crash, or if we lose power? Is a technologically based world going to come to a standstill every time this happens?

www.deepamehta.de/docs/hci.html

As you can see in the picture above, there are a lot of components that make up the Human Computer Interaction to make our lives easier. As we develop a deeper understanding in each of these areas, technology is only going to get stronger and become more integrated with each area. Just think about technology and how it relates to one area, such as engineering. How might technology improve everyday life in this area? How about linguistics? Will technology allow us to communicate with people who speak other languages across the world quickly and efficiently? We have already seen what technology is doing in areas such as neuroscience and artificial intelligence, as well as plans for future technology in these areas (during class discussions and videos). Imagine what our world will be like once all of these areas are improved and enhanced through advances in technology.

Touch Screens and the Death of Buttons

You see it everywhere. You see it in everything. You are probably using one as I am typing this blog. Touch screens are slowly, but surely killing the old ways of button operation. From Ipods to thermostats, the touch screen is the preferred input system for more and more devices emerging in the market. What I would like to accomplish with this post is to go over the benefits of touch screen technology as well as acknowledge some problems.

There are many obvious benefits to having a device with a touch screen (besides feeling like you are using a really cool alien device.) Navigating menus, zooming in and out of web pages using multi-touch, tapping icons to open applications, and just opening so many more doors for simple and effective UI's are definitely benefits to using touch screens. This allows companies to come up with many simple, creative ways for you to operate your device since the whole entire screen can be touched to perform tasks. This makes gaming on devices interesting, it makes swapping through programs fast and effective.

Although there are many benefits to implementing touch screen technology, there are also some problems that will have to be addressed before I completely give up on using buttons. Personally, my main problem is using a touch screen for typing. Cell phones keep getting smaller and smaller and are able to do more and more like text, post things on facebook, write e-mails, play games, and so much more. But, when a phone becomes smaller, so do the buttons. I don't know how many times I have mistyped words on my phone because of how close the letters are to each other and how small they are on the phone. Also, since there are no physical boundaries for each letter, I often find myself hitting things I didn't mean to hit. There is definitely a lot of polish that needs to go into touch screen technology before I am completely sold.

Input Technologies

Input Technologies have really shaped they way of the future. Some types of Input Technologies are touch screens, digital cameras, and the magnetic strip on credit cards. It is amazing to me that 50 years ago, none of these things existed. One of my favorite new things is the touch screen. The picture is a picture of a touch screen. In the late 1960s, the idea of touch screens really came into thought. But it wasn't until the 70s, and 80s, that they took off and really made the first ones. Over the years, the improvements in the touch screen have been amazing. Before, touch screens could only sense on point of touch, but now, something called multi-touch technology is improving on that. Some good examples are the i-pod touch, and the iPhone. Something I never knew before is that touch screens are used in airplanes. I never really gave it much thought, but I guess it makes sense.

Another type of input technology are digital cameras. Thinking back, it is hard to remember the time when you couldn't just look at the picture you took right after you took it. Digital cameras have made taking pictures so much easier. Now, if you take a picture and you don't like it, then you know right away. Also, you are able to tell if the picture actually came out, or if its just a picture of shadow. One of my personal favorite things about a digital camera is that there are no more random purse or bag shots, and if there are, then you can just delete them. Digital cameras are a great improvement in technology.

A different type of input technology is the magnetic strip on credit cards. Along with this magnetic strip, there is also the MICR, which is the numbers at the bottom of the check. Both of these technology improvements are two things that most people take for granted. I never really think about it when I am using my credit card, but not that long ago, this simple transaction would have taken a lot longer, and probably would have been done with cash. It is just amazing to me how something so little as the magnetic strip on a credit card can have such an impact on my everyday life.

Microsoft Surface(Revised)

In my blog today I would like to discuss the Microsoft Surface. the Surface is a large multi-touch computer that allows users to interface with technology in a whole new way. This technology has a wide variety of business and personal uses that stands to change the way that people view computers. Some companies like AT&T have already began to capitalize on this technology, with many more likely to follow suit. The surface has broad implications in the business world, where it has potential in many industries from retail outlets and restaurants, all the way to manufacturing or office use.

The Surface has four main areas that differ it from any other computer system. First is the direct interaction that the user has with the computer; there is no keyboard or mouse, and it is not just a simple touchscreen either, as the Surface also can be instructed by gesturing. Secondly it is a multiple user computer. With a 30 inch screen it is easy for several people to gather around and interact with each other using the Surface. Third development adds on to the second, saying that it is directed from multiple areas. While object recognition is the last and most fascinating area. This feature simply lets you place objects on the screen, and will provide different responses depending on the object.

The Microsoft Surface has a distinct makeup, unlike any other computer system. It has a 30-inch screen that sits on top of a table like build. It is 22 inches high, 21 inches deep, and 42 inches wide. Important features include the powdered steel interior frame, and acrylic top surface. The system is run by a custom version of Windows Vista has capabilities to support Ethernet, wireless, and bluetooth connectivity.

Microsoft Surface

So the most recent invention of technology is "touch screen" and the more it improves, the more you're able to customize. This creation is called application software. As an example for the latest and most recent inventions of technology, the class was introduced to the Microsoft Surface. The Microsoft Surface a.k.a the Milan is a multi touch computer that responds to natural hand gestures and real world objects, helping people interact with digital content in a simple and intuitive way. This trendy "coffee table came out in 2007 and is just now beginning to become a supply on the demand list. The only major problem for the increase of sales is the price. The Milan cost roughly around $10,000. This price isn't really a big deal for most businesses, but non business buyers find this price a bit much.

Using the Milan for Businesses:

Most businesses find this new piece of technology extremely useful. It provides tremendous potential for businesses to improve communication and be more effective in how they deliver information and services to customers. AT&T was the first retail company to introduce the Microsoft Surface in their stores. AT&T tech supporters mentions how the they plan to harness the power of the surface to provide its retail store visits with unique opportunities to learn about the growing universe of mobile applications and devices. In the future, you'll be able to:

Learn: Customers can review features of a particular mobile device by clicking on it. Also you be able to select multiple phones and bring them side by side and compare them

Explore: Customers can view interactive coverage maps at the national, state, local, or street level using a simple touch.

Customize: In the future, customers will be able to drag and drop ringtones, graphics, videos, and more by "grabbing" the content with their hands from a menu and "dropping" it into the phone.

I think this is only the beginning of the improvement of technology. Sure the prices are a little steep, but at the end of the day, this is something that is going to be worth it. What do you think?

Touch Screens

The type of technology we have these days amazes me, especially the technology that we as average individuals can afford to own. One of these types of technologies that really fascinates me is the touch screen. From iPhones to iPads to the Microsoft Surface, the fact that mouses are becoming more and more out of the picture and technology is becoming more and more personal is awesome.

Touch screens make complicated processes easier for people to complete, as these monitors simply display just as much information as needed to complete the task. Touch screen devices are input devices. There are three basic types of touch-screen monitors: resistive, capactive, and surface acoustic wave.

Resistive systems are made up of two layers one that is a conductive layer and another that is a resistive metallic layer. An electrical current runs through these layers and the two layers make contact when you touch the screen. The computer then figures out the coordinates of the area where the layers make contact, and then a special driver translates this information to the operating system. Capactive systems are made up of a layer that is full of electrical charge that is transferred to the user when they touch the screen, thus lessening the electrical charge on the spot of touch on the capactive layer. A surface acoustic wave system uses sound waves within the surface of the screen that are interrupted when you touch the screen.

According to HowStuffWorks.com, that while the resistive system is the cheapest, its picture clarity is the lowest of the three. The capactive system has better clarity than the resistive, but the surface acoustic wave has the best and is also the most expensive.