The 3D Desktop
Jun 16, 2007 Software
I have been into the concept of 3d desktop interfaces for a long time since the days of Lawnmower Man. We still have a ways to go with Hardware because for a system to properly function as a Virtual 3d environment the hardware has to be able to do alot of data crunching both for the CPU and GPU and memory has to be abundant and fast. Software wise we are not completely there but there is definite progress being made in that department.
Currently I have the Ubuntu Linux Operating System running the Beryl window manager which is a sub directory of Compiz. Dont know what I talk about, do a Wikipedia Search. Its not the Minority Report but it definitely is an upgrade in comparison to
the Apple and Windows UI that has been the same for roughly 12 years. The Basic concept of using a mouse has been around for about 20 years but we are making changes toward that department as well with the release of Multi touch tech, but i digress.
Alot of the features in Compiz have been implemented in Apple’s OSX already but now someone has created the same 3d Cube desktop feature for Windows based PCs. The software is called Yod’m 3D which stands for (Yet anOther Desktop Manager 3D). Yes it is Yet another Desktop manager because they have had many to be released. Many of the older ones have turns your Desktop into a 3D First Person Shooter style interface where if you want to do office work like typing in Microsoft Word, you would actually walk over to the desk and click the paper to start writing or walk to the televsion to start watching tv. It’s a nice idea but its not integrated well with the platform you are using it on plus it gets tedious to walk somewhere virtually to do something. I mean thats why we created the Operating Systems, so the tools we need would come to us, not so we can goto the tools needed. Anyways if you want to try it out then click the link. It’s free and just slick to show your friends, you know Eye Candy. It’s not as diverse as Beryl or even Compiz but its cool.
Helping to Save the Internet
Jun 11, 2007 Announcements
I figure the best way for me to help is by spreading the word and signing up for the good fight, the fight for Net Neutrality. Save the Internet dot com is an organization pursuing the obvious effort of saving the Internet, but from what? Saving it from government and corporation control which will limit ordinary citizens capability with the Internet. This is just like any other means of enjoyment, pleasure, desire, and necessity in livelihood that we are ALLOWED or NOT ALLOWED to appreciate within this country. Setting Rules and Regulations to benefit a higher regard. But i still post.
At least go to the site a post a comment to add to the testimonial if you agree with them.
Photosynth
Jun 8, 2007 Networking
I heard about this on Digital Life TV so I had to lay it down on the blog. Photosynth is a new project from Microsoft Live Labs. It takes digital images that have been taken at a specific location but at different times and places and sews them together to make a 3d like panoramic image. This is nice in design. I like the interface and the ability to run from within the browser but I don’t see too much practical use, because it seems too scripted if you ask me. The big thing about this is that you can take other peoples images from locations like a Flickr and it should be about to build the location. That seems like a little too much processing power to perform and it should take a hell of a lot of pictures to achieve the same quality of imagery as the Demo displays.
What I think is that Microsoft is taking the same initiative as Google where they are trying to recreate Physical Locations in the Virtual Reality. This project is just Microsoft’s version for achieving the same goal. More power to them if they implement this into some mapping site but I want Google to achieve and Microsoft just remain idle.
