Tuesday, August 18

iphone/itouch: how does the image change when the unit is turned on it's side?

My son has an iphone & it has always fascinated by how the screen works moving it along with his fingers & zooming in & out & of course how the image changes when it turned. Now I know! (Sort of)
The technology used to enable the image to move when the unit is moved is called a 3-axis accelerometer. The processor in the unit senses that the unit has turned & the accelerometer alters the image to the desired orientation.
I admit that I got really bogged down in the technology around what the 3-axis actually do. I really was a bit beyond me, but I got the basic concept.
It really is an amazing piece of technology. Maybe I might get myself an iphone one day! I will have to just learn how to do more than just turn it on first!


Wednesday, August 5

Pattie Maes: Sixth Sense

My first thought about this new technology was WOW!!!.

I could see numerous applications for the device in my own life. Would it make my life easier? In many ways yes. But, & there is always a but, do I really want all this information at my fingertips? Would it really just add more stress. It is certainly a very exciting concept. . I am left in no doubt that when this becomes commercially available it will be embraced in much the same way as other new technologies.

I am perhaps a little apprehensive about what this will do to our future. Will anybody really have any privacy? The stranger you meet today can, with this device, access a wealth of information about you in just a matter of seconds. It is true that whatever information they are accessing is available through the internet, but it is not so immediately accessible. Will we be judging those we meet by the information bought to us by this device & not by our own personal perceptions? What are the repercussions for us on a personal & a professional level?


Pattie made the use of the device look simple. It is easy to see that this technology will have many applications to us all in our everyday life. It will certainly change the way we function in our day to day lives both personally & professionally.

The question now is what is coming next?