TED: The potential of SixthSense technology

Signal-boosting for the most interesting video I've seen lately: Pranav Mistry exploring the potential of the SixthSense system.

TED is an increasingly-influential series of conferences about the cutting edge -- of tech and other things -- and often has cool ideas, but this one's exceptional, less for the technology actually shown and more for the ideas in it. The high concept is that there has been a lot of work done for bringing real-world objects into the digital realm, but not enough for going the other way. He shows some demos -- I suspect semi-rigged, but still provocative as all get out -- for how to build a cheap system that makes the digital and real worlds really interactive. The key idea is that, by combining a portable camera and projector, you can really start blurring the lines.

The tech itself is homebrew and a little hokey, but those with a sense of technology history will remember that most technological revolutions start that way. I think he's on to something here, and it'll be interesting to see where it evolves...

TED: The potential of SixthSense technology

Signal-boosting for the most interesting video I've seen lately: Pranav Mistry exploring the potential of the SixthSense system.

TED is an increasingly-influential series of conferences about the cutting edge -- of tech and other things -- and often has cool ideas, but this one's exceptional, less for the technology actually shown and more for the ideas in it. The high concept is that there has been a lot of work done for bringing real-world objects into the digital realm, but not enough for going the other way. He shows some demos -- I suspect semi-rigged, but still provocative as all get out -- for how to build a cheap system that makes the digital and real worlds really interactive. The key idea is that, by combining a portable camera and projector, you can really start blurring the lines.

The tech itself is homebrew and a little hokey, but those with a sense of technology history will remember that most technological revolutions start that way. I think he's on to something here, and it'll be interesting to see where it evolves...

Gah -- I don't have *time* to be sick

Woke up with a classic sinus headache this morning: sort of fuzzy around the edges, and stuffy without being precisely stuffed-up. Started to get more worried when I got to lunch and found that I had no appetite for it at all. (When I just nibble at caesar salad and macaroni and cheese, you *know* something is wrong.) Felt gradually more unsteady and queasy, so I went home at 2pm and took a 12-hour Sudafed.

I've never had projectile vomiting before. Not an experience I care to repeat. (Fortunately, I got to the bathroom in time.)

If I had a fever, I'd be worrying about flu, but my temp's been running normal-low the whole time -- best guess is that it's just a mild cold causing a truly horrific sinus flareup. I'm doing rather better now: taking some more Sudafed on an *empty* stomach partly cleared my head (although I'm still groggy), fixed the post-nasal drip and eased the queasiness. But it's still a slow-and-careful evening of chicken soup and toast for me, and a strong hope that this clears up tomorrow...

Gah -- I don't have *time* to be sick

Woke up with a classic sinus headache this morning: sort of fuzzy around the edges, and stuffy without being precisely stuffed-up. Started to get more worried when I got to lunch and found that I had no appetite for it at all. (When I just nibble at caesar salad and macaroni and cheese, you *know* something is wrong.) Felt gradually more unsteady and queasy, so I went home at 2pm and took a 12-hour Sudafed.

I've never had projectile vomiting before. Not an experience I care to repeat. (Fortunately, I got to the bathroom in time.)

If I had a fever, I'd be worrying about flu, but my temp's been running normal-low the whole time -- best guess is that it's just a mild cold causing a truly horrific sinus flareup. I'm doing rather better now: taking some more Sudafed on an *empty* stomach partly cleared my head (although I'm still groggy), fixed the post-nasal drip and eased the queasiness. But it's still a slow-and-careful evening of chicken soup and toast for me, and a strong hope that this clears up tomorrow...