Although we've already been up close and
personal with a number of
Ambient's unique devices, a recent conference at the Ambient Information Systems Workshop brought a bevy of new (and old)
conceptual devices back to the limelight. Aside from the
Google Clock and Ambient
Orb, David Rose spoke about the opportunity to present a multitude of interfaces with varying resolutions in a number of environments so that individuals could get updates on what's important to them with "just a glance." Among the ideas was a Weather Watcher display that could be tailored for sailors by divulging forecasts and current wind information, a Sailing Zone display that could easily pinpoint the "ideal situation for boating," and a thin
wallet-infused display that could crank out pertinent information to the owner. Additionally, a energy tracking Home Joule is currently being trailed in New York that uses color to quickly convey data about how much juice is being consumed in a home. So if you're intrigued in the slightest, and can't wait to see how
ubiquitous displays and the human race will inevitably work and play together in perfect harmony, be sure to hit the read link and cringe as you read over things you thought of years ago but kept to yourself.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
patsy @ May 14th 2007 11:30AM
Oh yeah, I can hardly wait to get advertising in my wallet. That's where it's at, baby!
steve @ May 14th 2007 11:38AM
If your gonna stick some sort of dynmic, connected display in my wallet, how about the balance of my debit card? Now, that would be usefull.
Nate @ May 14th 2007 2:20PM
So useful, in fact, that it immediately alerts the pickpocket as to whether or not he just wasted his time.
richard @ May 14th 2007 10:14PM
Ambient is a bunch of liars who abandon their customers anyhow. Remember the Ambient Dashboard? I wouldn't either, except that I bought one with the promise that there would be a developer kit coming within a couple of months (this was oh, about a YEAR ago) that would let my dashboard display the information that I really wanted to see.
They don't answer emails about it... they're just content to let their products die, and act like they don't exist. There are quite a few of us out here still waiting for the dev kit to arrive... what have we gotten in return? The Ambient Dashboard has been deleted from their site, like it never existed. At least have the balls to tell your customers that hey, you just don't care about keeping your word! Ambient, you will never see another red cent of my money. Liars!
David Rose @ May 15th 2007 12:59PM
Richard,
I apologize for not shipping the developer kit for the Ambient Dashboard. Our engineering team was swamped by delivering the Weather Watcher product and we de-prioritized adding this functionality to the product and web site. In retrospect it was a good decision because the Weather Watcher has turned into a hit product, and the retail community has not "gotten" the Dashboard. I guess representing digital information as traditional analog dials is still too far-out. Or we need a much bigger marketing budget to explain it.
If you'd like to send us your Dashboard we would be happy to send you another Ambient product.
David Rose, Ambient Devices