Tuesday, November 30, 2004

Fire on Franklin street

After taking my cough, sore throat, and sleepy draught medications, I am resting when I smell SMOKE. Peep out the window to see the building across the street on Fire, and flames licking the night sky as burning embers erupt from the top of its roof. It was a 3-4 story building with an asphalt roof, and I hope all the people in it are safe. We were evacuated due to smoke, so we got to walk around fire engines from Somerville, Brookline, down the street in Centra Square. A 1/2 hour later, the cynosure flame is still going on 2 sides but luckily we were able to return home and rest. I can imagine how tough it must be for the families who lived there, and for the neighboring homes! Who would ever think a fire could be so big and erupt so quickly. We are very lucky it was not a blustery night! It's always something in Central Square...

Congratulations Duff!

Well, Thanksgiving seems to have been a great time for new beginnings. My friend Mike Duff got engaged and I was bowled over by his photo album! They got engaged in scenic Hawaii, and his fiancee, also named Kelly like my new-sister-in-law, was equally beautiful. Congratulations, and I look forward to saying hello in person sometime soon. WOW!

12 sided calendar

12 sided calendar

DallasNews.com | News for Dallas, Texas | Opinion: Balance of Opinion

DallasNews.com | News for Dallas, Texas | Opinion: Balance of Opinion Ellen Goodman writes:
" I remember the AT&T ads that encouraged people to "reach out and touch someone." Our generation learned to touch by touch tone. We were sold on the notion that a phone call is nearly as reassuring as a hand.
Now we hardly notice how the language of emotion and technology have been entwined. We 'keep in touch' via cellphones. We "connect" over the Internet. We 'see' each other over videophones. Technology has made it easier ­ and perhaps more likely ­ to live apart. So we create more and more technological fixes for the human fix we are in: distance from people we love."

It's an interesting article about the imporatance of real communication/presence over telecommunication and virtual presence. I would have to agree that there's no good substitute for the real thing. Yet, I would argue that having alternative ways of enhancing remote communication does not cheapen our experience, but rather, enhances remote communication. Remote communication is something that is not going to go away. The alternative to enhancing remote communication could be a far lesser experience "nothing, no contact".
Remote telepresence is really the key to allowing a person to share their presence with people they want to be there for, but cannot due to constraints of time and money... I think the concerns about cheapening the experience are misdirected, as at least an experience is better than no experience at all.

Friday, November 26, 2004

Congrats to Ben and Kelly!

This was a busy Thanksgiving. I got to meet my new sister-in-law's family and attend their wedding! What a nice family and I am happy that my brother is so happy! Also, the new family-in-law is really cool! It was the first wedding I've seen up-close, and it went really well. I'll put up pictures this weekend. Congratulations, Ben and Kelly! Also, good to meet the Lees and Kims! :)

Tuesday, November 09, 2004

Sensorial Communication

Tomorrow I'm giving a talk at Tufts University CS Department about Sensorial Communication, my research topic. Hopefully I will be in good shape (I've been recovering from a nasty cold).
Well, good thing I have a lot of old presentations to draw from. Fortunately, I have a video of comtouch that shows the project with talking in the background. Wish me good luck!

Sunday, November 07, 2004

cough on the keyboard

When you've got a cold and have to stay home, you get busy catching up on things you meant to do. Like putting up pictures from my visit with Ian way back in April.
Here's a picture of the animator at work:

Also, the beautiful walks I like to take around Paris.

Monday, November 01, 2004

Wireless Weather Forecaster

Wireless Weather Forecaster Using the same nationwide content-distribution network as the Ambient Orb,
the Wireless Weather Forecaster shows accuweather.com 5-day forecasts on a
dedicated 4" screen through cute icons and a glanceable bar graph for just $100 bucks.

Guages show me how:: Dundas Gauge for .NET Gallery

Dundas Gauge for .NET Gallery

Dundas Gauge includes a full assortment of gauge types including circular,
linear, angular, thermometer, and more to help developers add a new dimension
of visualization and analysis

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIM!!!!

'ello, me duck!: HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIM!!!!

ArtFutura 2004 . Augmented Reality

Rebecca Allen, from MLE, will be showing her work at ArtFutura 2004 . Augmented Reality Wish I was in Barcelona!