Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
Sony DataTiles Inspired By What SF Movie?
Sony DataTiles have resurfaced, thanks to YouTube. In the video shown below, the DataTiles from Sony's Computer Science Laboratories show their stuff. Jun Rekimoto, Brygg Ullmer and Haruo Oba wrote the original paper describing the DataTiles as "A Modular Platform for Mixed Physical and
Graphical Interactions."
(Sony DataTiles in action)
The DataTiles use the following ideas about the way people interact with computers and data:
- Tagged transparent objects as graspable interaction modules.
It uses transparent acrylic tiles to serve both as physical windows for digital information and to trigger specific actions (e.g., launch an application, or submit a query) when placed on a sensor-enhanced display surface. - Mixed visual and physical interactions.
Users can interact with the information displayed by DataTiles using a pen or mouse. In addition to normal GUI interactions (e.g., mouse operations and widget operations), several combinations of physical and graphical interfaces are possible. For example, a printed high-resolution image (on a tile) can be visually fused with dynamic displayed graphics. Grooves engraved upon the tile surfaces also act as passive haptic guides of pen operations. - Physical language for combining multiple tiles.
Following a simple “tile language,” the placement of several tiles can compose a kind of 'sentence.' In this way, relatively simple combinations of tiles can express computational behaviors and functions.
(Data tiles from Minority Report, 2002)
In the Sony DataTile video, a tile called the TimeMachine can be placed next to other tiles, in this case a weather forecast and a video. Rotating the "dial" on the TimeMachine tile causes the others to move.
(DataTile user rotates TimeMachine)
In Minority Report, Tom Cruise does exactly the same thing, but with the large screen. He uses his glove to conjure up a circular control; as he "dials" it, the video of the father and son in the foreground goes back and forth over time.
(Note "dial" in upper right - moves through father/son images)
However, if you guessed Minority Report as the inspiration for DataTiles, you're wrong. Sony's DataTiles date from 2001, if not a bit earlier. Minority Report was screened in 2002.
It turns out that the creators of Sony DataTiles directly credit 2001: A Space Odyssey, by Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke:
"Our inspiration for using transparent tiles as interface devices came from the film “2001: A Space Odyssey”, where the memory of the computer “HAL” was stored in transparent rectangular slabs."
(HAL 9000 undergoes memory modification)
Take a look at more real-world technologies related to the Minority Report movie and 2001: A Space Odyssey. Read more about the Sony DataTiles in DataTiles: A Modular Platform for Mixed Physical and Graphical Interactions.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 4/8/2007)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 1 )
Related News Stories - (" Display ")
Augmented Reality Book Covers Reveal The Inner Book
'The E-paper holograms leaped from lurid covers...' - Greg Bear, 2003.
TCL CSOT 17-Inch Printed OLED Scrolling Display
'..a wide sheet of clear material suddenly flared with light and swirling colour.' - EC Tubb, 1958.
Looking Glass Display Good Enough For Science Fiction, Fantasy
'The figure seemed to be swimming toward the surface.' - Roger Zelazny, 1981.
LG Wing Twisting Smartphone Might Be Fun
'A polycarbon screen unfurled...' - William Gibson, 1986.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
Japan's LignoSat Space Wood Satellite And Dan Simmons' Treeship
'The Consul remembered his first glimpse of the kilometer-long treeship...'
Skyline Robotics Instantiates Heinlein's 'Window Willie' Skyscraper Robot
'Do you know what window washing used to cost by the hour?'
Drone Bombings In Moscow Foreseen 100 Years Ago
'Once the target is confirmed, it uses an IR laser to send a coded signal back to the parent, clearing it to attack.'
I Didn't Know You Can Already Buy Flesh Putty
'I filled your bullet hole with flesh putty and the lattice.'
'A Sign in Space' Gives Practice In Decoding ET Messages
'... it will be easy to form an alphabet which shall enable us to converse with the inhabitants of the moon.'
Melting Permafrost Endangers Infrastructure
'From the tower's huge octagonal base radiate wide silvery strips...'
EELS Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor For Enceladus
'It was about five feet long... a black bullet head and red camera eyes.'
Lazy Lawyer's Trust In ChatGPT Misplaced
'The Law Society has strict rules on the use of pseudo-intelligent software...'
Paradromics Implant FDA 'Breakthrough Device'
'I used my implant to tell MILLIE what we wanted...'
Mice, At Least, Can Sober Up Quickly
'Then draw some aldodote-vitamin pills from the medic.'
Is It Time For Lunar Farside Telescopes?
'Mount Ambarzumian Observatory, on Farside.'
Spaceflight Vertigo Solved By NASA Releasing The Kraken
"I threw up in my helmet."
TM-62 Loitering Ground Landmine
Runaway movie comes to life!
Helpful Robots In Science Fiction
'If you douse me again... I'm donating you to a city college.'
Lunar Pogo Stick - Retro Technovelgy From 1968
'Lucky touched the leap knob...'
MIT And Rice Create Blade Runner Photo Analysis
Rick Deckard, your photo analysis is ready.
