Second part of presentations were today. Some people were sick (or hungover) so they couldn’t present, thus George had alot of Q &A time in which he was grilled over his idea. Poor guy. Anyways onwards to the recaps.

Mobisnap- Drew

Generic consumers make the application widely used but the small screen could be a problem in navigation. The icons at the bottom of the image are handy and great for easy access to tools. Although i think there isn’t a need for a rotate button if you can just tilt the phone to rotate the image. A send button should be included in the icons too.

Poker- Russell

There is room and game monitoring but i don’t think it will be that succesful, games should be recorded incase a report is brought up about a certain game. Room stats could be added when scrolling. It would be good if groups could book or buy a certain room for their private use which would be available tot ehmm all the time.

 Scriible- Nathan

Allows for networking now which is great for people to find their works and their friends works. An ability to save images before they’re drawn over should make it more fun and less annoying when someone does drw over their stuff. Maybe people can only draw over other works 10 seconds after the artist has drawn preserving their works for a time.

My beat- Kristina

I like it because it is such an abstract and arty idea. Kinda reminds me of windows media player except now the visuals create what song is to be played and in what order your playlist is arranged. Kinda like a cool emotional diary.

Surprise Me- George

All about trying something new, which is quite a popular idea since now there are some many lists of “things to do before you die” and stuff. But to avoid legality issues maybe business should register with the service much liek the yellow pages. This way when bad reviews are written they can’t complain. Good thing is they promote their business as well.

Ok enough about presentations. For my website Rob has given me the suggestion of how i should present it. As it is a fairly abstract idea i have to present it in  my website as if it was real. So i could present the site as a information site and sort of pretending to be the developer in order to push the idea. This is a pretty good idea as at this point i have been finding it hard to bring information and research into my site without making it too overbearing and boring.

Kristina has given me an idea that the iphone could work in conjunction with a hard drive which is kept on the user turning them into a sort of human computer. She suggests that this could be an upgrade to my idea later on in development.

So what you have on your iphone can be loaded straight onto the hard drive for storage.

OK well i will blog about this more later when i can go through stuff and figure out what to do.

AND my question to you kaz is…”where’s wally?”

So after longs hours of contemplation and thoughts of “but i can;t prototype something that’s not real and brainwaves are immeasurable without the real technology!” i realised why should i be protyping the iphone software, i should prototype user interaction. Therefore i should be protyping the headset as well. ths is where good ole low fidelity prototyping comes in. I;m going to create a make shift headset and get users to wear it whilst they play computer games, text msging on normal phones and pretty much wear it during any activity that i propose the “real” thing could do.

 The aim of this is to determine how long someone will put up with wearing it and when will they bother to do so, also how comfortable are they wearing it in public. . By using it, it would indicate it to be useful and would interfere with everday activities. However the failure to use it or to take it off alot would indicate a need for changes to the headset e.g shape, size etc.

 Once that physicality part is done i will then prototype the software via storyboard, this allows for users to grasp the concept more easily and have a turn in interacting. So i’d have cards saying things like “so if you were concentrating well this would happen, but if you weren’t somethng else would happen”. The storyboarding has been made easy since i found videos detailing the actual controls and effects. This protyping idea will determine how user friendly the idea is and indicate necessary changes and improvements.

 So now i know how to prototype, i;ll now apply this. Oh and of course update much very neglected website.

yes, i know i have neglected blogging for a while, so this semester break will be sort of a catchup. The reason i haven’t blogged is due to my maths studies. They are not fun i tell you. But yeh i am starting to build up my second minisite which ultimately builds of my first but probably with much better features.

 I’m thinking of using a lightbox to launch videos and images. But so far as it comes to the whole results from prototyping i really don’t have results. If anyone reading this knows how i could potentially prototype this it would be great. So this week i;ll be spending my break thinking about prototyping.

 But right now i found another video about brainwave technology and how it is used in games. So enjoy. Absorb. learn.

check out this video! it has out more faith into my idea really

and wow half life makes a return hahahaha

I finally made some progess with user evaluation and results which is good. I manged to ask various potential users some questions and i got some great results which i have summarised in my minisite.

ok so as submission date looms overhead and i haven’t developed idea 2 (brainwave coomunication) as well as i had hoped, and the lack of a testable user group which would be appropriate and easily accesible. I have decided to revert back to idea one out of practicality. However i have made some rather good modifications to the design of the database which has taken into account feedback from surveys. Features have been added, user group is more clearly defined and user group is easily accessible. overall idea one us just more feesible.

So screwed! i have no user group defined as of yet since one user group consists of ppl who can’t actually communicate themselves how am i to ask them questions?! this is getting really weird and complicated now.

 I might take a different angle to focus on for this particular application. Maybe make it a broader application for people in general. It’s pretty similar to the brain training game on nintendo ds anyways, just a little more advanced.

 The application isn’t designed for the iphone right now but further on like 5-10 yrs from now when the technology will be more compact and less physically invasive.

Ok so so far i have just eben researching in order to provide a substantial basis for my idea. So far everything is supporting my idea as something that is entriely possible and beneficial to the entire community in many ways.

Brain wave technology could change lives

Imagine controlling a computer using only your thoughts

By Robert Bazell

Chief science and health correspondent

Updated: 4:31 p.m. PT Dec 6, 2004

ALBANY, N.Y. – It looks like a simple video game, but look closer and you can see that Scott Hamel is moving colored squares on the screen without touching any controls. He’s not even moving at all. It’s his brain waves that control the computer cursor.

“The first time I realized I was controlling it was kind of mind blowing!” says Hamel. “The technology is science fiction!”

Hamel lost the use of his legs in an auto accident 27 years ago, but with his arms he is still quite active — even driving drag race cars.

He volunteers for the brain wave project because he knows it could help people who are totally paralyzed — they could communicate and perform all sorts of complex tasks with this technology.

“If you can move a cursor in several dimensions and you can select items, then you can have the panoply, the whole universe of computer programs available to you,” says Dr. Jonathan Wolpaw, who heads the project at the New York State Department of Health’s Wadsworth Center in Albany.

“Studies show that if paralyzed people can communicate, they can have lives that are worthwhile and meaningful and enjoyable, both for them and their family members,” says Dr. Wolpaw.

Brain waves are the very weak electrical signals given off by the firing of millions of nerve cells in the brain. They can be measured by wires in a cap placed on the outside of the head.

The program that translates a person’s waves into computer movement takes some practice.

“The person learns to talk to the computer and the computer learns to listen to him,” says Dr. Wolpaw.

How difficult is it?

A novice can get connected in a few minutes and at least in some cases score some successes with the simplest task on the first few tries.

But the volunteers, like Hamel, who practice extensively, can make it work quickly and accurately.

“The more independent you can be, the more successful you can be,” says Hamel. “To be able to do your own thing, that gives you more self confidence.”

© 2007 MSNBC Interactive

There are technologies that can roughly identify what a person is thinking about, based on his or her mental activity. The computer can detect whether you are thinking about a calculation, a place, a colour or even what you want to eat for dinner.

Every letter of the alphabet has a different brainwave pattern, this was determined by 1999. So if improved hardware is all it takes to speed up the device, Cyberkinetics’ chip could be able to process thoughts as fast as speech – 110 to 170 words per minute – by 2012. Imagine issuing commands to a computer as quickly as you could talk.

Technologies have been created in order to interpret these brainwaves in order to form words and sentences. This allows for written communication between speech impaired people. The technology overall is bridging gaps and providing greater interaction between people.

The whole process of reading brainwaves come in two categories:
1.Involves direct detection of thought patterns on the brain cortex surface -this has been promoted by Braingate/Cyberkinetics
2.The other main alternative that i know of relies on near infrared detection of blood flow assosated with thoughts- this can be done completely non-invasively.

See Kaz! i really was doing work! 

Here is my take on everyone’s ideas(well most of them, sorry to those of you who i haven’t got anything written for)

Jean’s idea: iBall
New take on the maze game. Looks addictive and handy for a time when i’m on a train and am really bored.

Kristian:
Similar to Harrisons idea which also involves clubs. Calls himself Je veux Toir, lol pretty much from the song By yelle which literally means “i wanna see you” which is weird. His idea is based on organisng a night out for people who don’t know where places are.

Brian’s idea: DDR game on ur phone without dancing
Tap tap revolution, it’s similar to this japanese game on the nintendo ds.

Trent’s idea:iRecipe
 Specific to young ppl moving out of home. I personally haven’t had problems with cooking food but it’s common that other ppl do.

Kristina’s idea:digital storytelling
Personalisation for the iphone good as it’s why ppl prefer myspace over face book (personalisation). Interpretation of user emotion and feeling. 

Andrew’s idea:WoWGo!
Very specific to WoW users.

Beth’s idea:  location game
Like the amazing race! She can make a tournament out of the game due to geo- cache-ing

Adam’s idea: security software
He always does stuff on security. What if it got stolen? would that be a breech of security itself? or is there a safeguard as to who can access info on each phone. Good idea though.

Kevin’s idea: iMouse….weird
Replaces the mouse used for computer and laptop. saves having to carry a mouse and preferable over touchpad. Easier to use on Photoshop. Won’t it get scratched?

Alex’s idea: iremote 
No comments. I lie, i like the action controls. Big help for disabled and elderly due to aging population. But if they had arthritis the movements could be strenuous.

David’s idea: iheard
I wouldn’t buy it off itunes, i’d download it off limewire. But the fact it will find a match is good saves me having to remember lyircs and searching on google later. Creates a search profile , but i don’t like how it downloads automatically because that would be alot of money.

Georgie’s idea: ifarm
Aimed at Rural people which is an incereasing issue in Australia. Only person so far to change urban demographic. Cost effective due to combining many applications into one phone. Time effective for farmers, helps in productivity as farming is their livelihood. Only thing is that GPS is not spot on with location it is has a field of error so i don’t know how good it would be at sewing seed.

Florence’s idea: hologram
If it popped out of nowhere i’d get freaked out. i think though by 2070 ppl will have other things to do simlar things.

Chloe’s Idea: foreign exchange calculator
Saves me from searching google for a converter. Useful for buying on ebay here and even overseas where i’d be so lost. I think it would be really really good for people who work on planes and such because currecy would change so much and it would keep them up to date. Good for shoping as some things are more expensive in the place you go to compared to where you live.

Patrick’s idea: Flying Game
voice chatting options makes the game more interactive. The way that you control the game is pretty cool and makes it more fun however there are only so many ways u can tilt limiting controls. how do you earn points? and what are the objectives?

Michael’s idea: iStyle
Makes shopping so much easier especially for us poor(for kevin) uni students. So much easier than just using google and ebay. I swear i spend hrs on that thing to no avail! just don’t understand how the picture finds other items similar to it.

George’s idea: recommender system 
George Michael…hahahaha WHAM! ON the  go rating. Good idea but i personally don’t care where i eat as long as i don’t have to walk very far. BUT! there are heaps of people who will make good use of the ratings. Ratings are becoming more popular as well. Actually i change my mind, it would be good if u were in an area u were unfamiliar with so u know where to go for the better food. Good way to spread the word about seedy places or good places. Although i reackon ppl would start suing over defamation as they do already.

Suna’s idea: Community media sharing
Sorta reminds me of a discussion board which is already available. Higly user based. Kind of like a search and post thing. Useful if looking for something to watch or listen to.

Eric’s idea: shared whiteboard
Wants to create a stylus which allows u to draw on iphone. Funniest presentation ever! interesting idea but i think it is a fairly common idea as well. Nathan  had a similar idea which took a twist on the drawing program. I think eric should create a new spin on the drawing idea. 

Mandy’s idea: simulator
Cost effective compared to a $250 model helicopter which i find to make her idea more appealing.  She has a good basis for her idea which could make it fairly succesful. Fairly interested in the simulation.

Will’s idea: Story application.
He has an interesting way of determining user interaction, the model iphone with flash cards.

 Eileen’s idea: Game?
Didn’t really understand this one but i’ll read her blog.

Drew’s idea: photoshop+iphone
Don’t know how the iphone will deal with the powerful demands. Small screen could limit the applications abilities.

Julia’s idea: iPimp
I found julias idea to be a fun nd interactive a game application. Very appealing to the male demographic just wondering how females will become more interactive. But she addressed this and is still working on how she will do that so it should be interesting  to see what she comes up with. Will have to overcome the camerphone law in public places

Lucy’s idea: tetris 
How big are the blocks going to be because how would u spin them if they were small.

Nathan’s idea: shared drawing space
really interesting about the whole idea of an infinite drawing space. I can see it being really good but also frustrating because ppl tend to get precious about their works and would hate ppl to draw on it and they would have the money to buy their own whiteboard space. Good for marketing though.

Vanessa’s idea: stress relief person
Reminds me of the tamagotchi from way back in the day. Very interesting take on stress relief. I would like to shake my iphone like crazy due to anger! but it would cost wayyyyy to much if i broke it.

Ali’s idea: Real time game
I would so play this game! it’s fun and looks like good excersice! Should have a radar. Does the map take into account objects such as cars or holes? wouldn’t want ppl staring at their phones and running only to fall into a hole.

Jeerish’s idea: language teacher
Good idea but she should get input from ppl living in the countries of the languages origin because accents can change when the language crosses countries.

Martha’s idea:train times
Would have helped me yesterday when the countrylink which was supposed to bypass my train couldn’t be found thus delaying my trip home.

Nathaniel’s idea: iPA
It would leave alot of people out of jobs.

Ok heres the deal with my thought process “DO NOT DO WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING” welll that does not seem to have worked because after reading other peoples blog i realised someone else has the same/ similar idea.

So here i was thinking i was all smart and up-etty but noooooooo i was quikcly brought back to reality in a way much like a person who is doing the waltz but is smacked extremely hard in the leg with a Hammer. Yes it was THAT painful (not). So as of no i am in a state of depression. Presentations are tomorrow and my idea although sorta good is not very solid. And just realising that there is a similar idea pitch is also nerve wrecking.

Oh wells off to do more crazy research and  i will post my research on biometrics already incorporated into phones.

Biometric Phone: Pantech GI100

Probably won’t see it in the US anytime soon (if ever), but Pantech’s new GI100 has some pretty hot biometric features. For starters, you can lock out anyone who isn’t you. You can also associate each of your fingers (provided you don’t have more than ten) to speed-dial numbers, so you just have to touch the sensor and your phone will discreetly place a call.

Wednesday December 1, 2004 7:59 AM CST

Biometric technology has been around for more than a decade with little fanfare. However, interest is heating up for biometric security devices in communications. Iris scanners, voice recognition modules and fingerprint readers promise to raise the bar on locking down access to computers, networks, Web sites and even cell phones.

One of the hottest markets for biometrics is the mobile phone industry, where consumers abroad are already embracing its security and convenience. Industry watchers confirm that such advanced security devices are already popular in technology hungry countries in Asia and Europe.Some analysts predict that today’s US$285 million biometrics market in Asia and the Pacific Rim will grow to nearly $431 million by the end of next year. The forecast for biometric devices worldwide is even rosier. Revenues for biometrics worldwide could sprout from $1.2 billion in 2004 to $4.6 billion in 2008.U.S. consumers, however, will have to wait two years to get their hands on such high-tech cell phones, which already are being introduced abroad.

Security Issues

“Biometrics in much more convenient than PIN security. And convenience is what sells biometrics in phones,” Mansfield told TechNewsWorld.

He said one of the biggest surprises domestic service providers found is that interest in cell phone security is strong among mainstream consumers, not just enterprise accounts. Service providers are starting to give more value-added services. Security issues in cell phones are now becoming a top priority.

“Consumers have been the largest adopter of wireless technology and are readily adopting biometric devices,” Mansfield said.

Future Offerings

Mansfield says he is certain that fingerprint sensors will be central in new phone offerings. Consumers will need this new approach to security to handle the high-speed access that cell phones will provide.

Cell phones will act as debit and credit devices. The practice of swiping an ATM card or a credit card at the supermarket is already established. Putting that same technology into a cell phone’s SIM card is the next logical step.

Mansfield said there is evidence of that trend already developing in foreign markets. In Japan, workers use cell phones for keyless entry. Train stations have devices that read the cell phone data chip to make a ticket purchase, rather than using a debit card.

In South Korea, consumers are able to conduct online banking transactions from their mobile phones much the way they do from their desktop computers.

M-Commerce from cell phones will be one of the next big advancements in consumer convenience, according to Mansfield. Consumers will not only be able to order tickets and make seat selections with their cell phones; they will download the ticket into their cell phone’s memory and use that data to enter the theater.

“A lot of cool things will be happening,” Mansfield said.

The Iris Authentication Middleware is now available to networks and phone manufacturers that wish to add a layer of security to existing alphanumeric passkeys. As it can be added to existing phones running either Symbian or Windows Mobile, chances are good that it will soon be rolled out in the hyper-competitive Japanese phone market by a network looking for a marketing edge.

As long as a phone has a camera of at least 1 megapixel, the application can be used to lock the handset and then open it using the camera to scan one of the user’s irises. According to the press release, false positives occur in no more than one in 100,000 scans.

Naturally, whichever eye is to be used as the key has to be pre-registered with the software; a process Oki claims takes a matter of seconds. After that, the only way a potential data thief is going to get his hands on the phone’s contents is too gruesome to even think about.