Yes, it's called a web cam. But what of the video part?
So here I was, in front of the computer, enjoying a video about Windows Schemas and eating a sandwich. I even watched it at an accelerated speed. It's the tready thing to do, you know? Compress time? Anyway, when the video ended, I was perplexed. I was using my hands to eat and my brain to digest information, but then the information flow stopped. The computer needed me. The keyboard needed my hands.
But my hands were dirty! I was still eating. At that point, I complained, I dreamed, I wondered. Why can't I interact wth the computer in some way where I don't have to touch the keyboard? Why couldn't it just systematically go through my news sources? It's what I do every day anyway. Then I quickly focused on issues like scrolling speed and eye movement... I thought maybe I could wave my hand around, still not touching the keyboard, and make heads or tails of the situation. Waving my hand... That felt like EyeToy.
Why isn't there an EyeToy for the PC? I wonder if going out and buying EyeToy on impulse is a good excuse for a usablity study. Webcams have been around forever, but has there been anything with interface design and video feedback? Jeez, how often could someone look at their ugly mug all day and do wax on wax off to the computer screen... I mean, it's just a thought.
Not all interfaces are good ones. But can it be done? Can radical ideas be made into useful ones using the right amount of usability studying? Or are there some concepts that are too wacky and won't get anywhere...? Who knows.
Maybe I will.
Posted by Mark Canlas at January 16, 2004 02:45 PM