Advancements and changes in technology happen every day. It is hard for anyone to keep up with it all. There is always new and better just around the corner. One of the leaders in technology research is the MIT Media Lab located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. At the forefront of the research in the many labs at MIT are smart objects and smart environments. Leonardo Bonanni works in MIT’s Media Lab in the Tangible Interface division. Within the lab there are different divisions, each working with smart objects and smart environments in a different way. In his presentation Bonanni introduced us to these different divisions and helped us to understand exactly what they are. He also provided us with examples of the different projects each division has worked on and he gave us a look into the future of technology.
First let’s go over what smart objects and smart spaces are. Smart objects and spaces are ubiquitous computers. A ubiquitous computer is a computer that has disappeared completely, it is taking standard everyday objects and turning them into computers without having the typical computers that we today. Engineers and designers are working in different ways to create new and exciting products and technologies that will change the future. There are four different kinds of smart objects and spaces: tangible interfaces, ambient displays, augmented reality, and wearable technology.
Tangible interface is when a tangible object is turned into a computer. Some examples Bonanni showed us where music bottles. When the lid of a bottle was taken off, music would play. He explained that these bottles could be used to deliver messages, especially to the elderly who have trouble using machines. Another example was a paintbrush that when you place the bristles on any surface, it’ll copy the image and you can draw with it on a screen. He explained that there was a camera under the bristles and it just took a picture of whatever you held it up to. It made complete sense once we knew how it worked, but before that I was amazed. All of the examples he shared amazed me. How do you take an object, and in a sense, bring it to life. I know this is the wave of the future, but it still boggles my mind.
Ambient displays are everywhere around us. They are not in-your-face devices that you play with, but they are the background of our lives. Some examples are ambient orbs. They are glowing balls that you can set to tell you anything you want. When your setting is reached, it’ll then turn a certain color. For example when it is supposed to rain, the orb will turn blue. When you see it, you’ll know you need to take an umbrella. Instead of having to look up the weather, you just need to look at your ambient orb. Augmented reality is a combination of the real world with computer generated data. An example that Bonanni told us about was something called an electronic lens. An electronic lens is a sticker that you can leave anywhere, and you can record a message onto the sticker. When you put an electronic device up to the sticker, you can hear the message and leave your own message also. Lastly there is wearable technology, which is exactly what it sounds like, technology that you can wear. It includes bracelets, jackets, etc.
All of these different divisions of smart objects and spaces give us a look into the future. A future I myself am still having a hard time believing will exist. I was excited as well as overwhelmed by Bonanni’s presentation. I am excited to see the technological advances, and to see the future, but it is also overwhelming to see so much change taking place in my lifetime. He told us that it would only be a few short years before the things he spoke about would reach the public. I am anxious to see what will happen.
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