Wednesday, October 29, 2008
No need to touch
With the new advances in technology there is no surprise that in a short period of time that touches screens will become obsolete. The Microsoft Corporation is in the process of developing a new technology called SideSight that uses inferred sensors, they can sense up to 10 cm from the side of the phone or mobile device. This technology allows you to both scroll and search the internet without ever having to touch anything except for thin air. There will also be an option where you can use a pen to mark up the screen with notations; you could mark the internet, important documents, etc. This technology will forever change the size of the technology that is released. Cell phones, PDA’s and all other handheld devices will become smaller and smaller without the necessity to touch the screen or any buttons. This will also change the IT world forever; it will make both travel and everyday use of mobile devices both faster and more convenient. There are only a couple things wrong with the SideSight software that Microsoft is in the process of making. First it will be difficult to control the inferred sensors; the phone or mobile device may move the screen or scroll when you do not want it to. The other problem is that the sensors are only fast enough to move at 11 screens per second and Microsoft wants to get that number up to 20 screens per second before they release the technology to the public. This technology will not just impact the use and speed of IT but it will also change the carriers that companies use. Since Microsoft will obviously not release the technology to apple for the Iphone, companies will be hesitant to use AT&T and the Iphone and will choose to give their business the carrier that has the rights to the new technology. I am really hesitant to believe that this SideSight technology will actually work, it seems that it is pretty farfetched to move a screen without touching it, I think that the software will lag and not work very efficiently. In summary if Microsoft is able to fully develop this software it will change the way IT is used for ever, things will be done more quickly, and people will be able to hold actual computers at the palm of their hands. With this type of innovation the rate at which mobile devices srink is unpredictable.
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5 comments:
I found this blog to be very interesting. I agree with the writer when they say there will probably be many difficulties with the SideSight reading motion that was not meant for it to read. I am confused by their statement that we will be able to hold a computer at the palm of our hands because it seems that we can do that already with the Iphone and other such phones. While it may be quicker, I also have many doubts about the efficiency of this technology. The writer also pointed out that Microsoft will obviously not want to offer its techonology to Apple, but I wonder if Mac would soon after come out with it's own version of the SideSight if it does end up being a success.
From keyboards, to touch screens and now onto sensors, our information technology world has not stopped. I remember when the touch screen was first invented, how much difficulty it brought to users. Sometimes you would actually have to touch the screen three or four times before the item you wanted was selected. I find it tedious and frustrating, and I believe that the SideSight will bring the same difficulty, if not more. It seems as if you will not be able to use your phone if someone is sitting very close to you. Their sensor will interfere with your ability to make a phone call or search the web. I do however like the idea of marking up the internet and important documents. It allows the user to edit and highlight important points without having to print the document.
While I find the SideSight concept very interesting, I do not think it is necessary. The touch screen was a huge break through in technology and I think it should stop there. The iPhone took more than a few tries to be perfected and I see SideSight having the same complications. I think it will be very difficult to get used to and will interfere with standard calling and texting. This may seem like an attractive product, but I am interested to see how popular it is when it is released. If SideSight is successful, it will change IT and open new doors for future products.
I also think the idea behind this blog is a little far fetched. How often are we on our phone and multitasking. I can't think of many instances where I have given my undivided attention to searching the web or reading an email on my phone. I also don't think that smaller is necessarily better when it comes to Phones and PDAs. I know personally I opted for a bigger Blackberry phone- the curve, instead of the smaller version- the pearl, because I was sick of haing to deal with a smaller screen on my old phones. In order to work out the kinks on the new phone would impossible. What kind of calibration would be necessary? What kind of support could be offered? While I think from an IT standpoint that this is possible, I don't think it is practical. It will be interesting to see how successful Microsoft is at introducing his product and if demand expectations arise the same way they did for Blackberrys and the iPhone.
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