Thursday, January 3, 2008

Thing 9 Technology


This is new technology that I could learn to love. Fingertip Digitizer.
This is part of an article from the University of Buffalo Newletter

With the tap of a single finger, computer users soon may be drawn deeper into the virtual world using a new device developed in the University at Buffalo's Virtual Reality Lab.
UB researchers say their "Fingertip Digitizer," which users wear on the tip of the index finger, can transfer to the virtual world the meaning and intent of common hand gestures, such as pointing, wagging the finger, tapping in the air or other movements that can be used to direct the actions of an electronic device, much like a mouse directs the actions of a personal computer, but with greater precision.
What's more, the Fingertip Digitizer can transfer to personal computers very precise information about the physical characteristics of an object -- and even can sense the shape and size of a human gland or tumor -- when a user taps, scratches, squeezes, strokes or glides a finger over the surface of the object.
According to Kesavadas, the Fingertip Digitizer will help bridge the gap between what a person knows and what a computer knows.
"With this device a computer, cell phone or computer game could read human intention more naturally," he explains. "Eventually the Fingertip Digitizer may be used as a high-end substitute for a mouse, a keyboard or a joystick."

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This was very interesting to learn, however I don't think I would ever have a need for it.

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The libraries of the future


Susan Gibbons is associate dean for Public Services and Collection Development at the University of Rochester, River Campus Libraries. In 2005, she was named one of Library Journal’s 'Movers & Shakers' and was a Visiting Program Officer for the Association of Research Libraries in 2006. Susan Gibbons’ 2007 book The Academic Library and the Net Gen Student talks about gaming in the library and how important it really is. According to Gibbons,"Gaming is not just about playing games it involves socializing,conversations, reading, writing, research, buying and selling, the formation and dissolution of partnerships and pacts, mentoring, instruction, and a host of other activities." Gibbons focuses solely on Massive Multiplayer Online Role-playing Games (MMORPGs). I will be active in the library's future