Physics Game

I like physics. I like games. 'Nuff said.

Online Physics Games

What is Unite for?

You've either already heard about Unite, or you will soon. This is a new product from Opera - the company that makes a supposedly really good browser, that I've never bothered to try. "Aye, there's the rub." A lot of people are used to seeing Opera in that context - just another web browser that they don't feel compelled to even try. That might be the first nail in the coffin for their new product Unite.

So what is Unite? Well basically it is a point and click web server for home use. Without going into technical details it allows you to easily put your own website on the Internet, without putting your content under someone else's control. It has drag and drop widgets for file sharing, a media site (think Internet radio with your music), photo-sharing (like flickr), a chat server, a message wall, and some others. If people like/use it I would expect many other widgets to come soon - the glaringly obvious one being video sharing (like YouTUBE).

Perhaps the biggest difference though is that since the content is on your own computer you do not have to agree to the terms of service of another site, nor give up your ownership of your files (that caused a huge backlash on FaceBook) and you can remove data when you want to. You also have control over who sees (or doesn't see) your content (if you care about this then do it carefully though).

Caveat: this is your own computer doing the serving, over your own Internet connection. If your connection isn't fast enough (upload speed, not download speed) then people won't be able to get your content fast enough. You may have limits on your total upload amounts, on top of speed issues.

So what could/will people use Unite for?

• replacing social networking software. Instead of hosting your status and your pictures (and other stuff) on FaceBook or MySpace or [insert huge list of social networking sites] host it where it already is - on your own computer. If you put up links to other people using Unite that are your friends you now have the "networking" part. P2P (peer-to-peer) social networking!
  
• replacing sharing services like flickr and YouTUBE - impose your own limits, no "pro" account required. No need to spend time uploading pictures/videos - it is already where you want to share it from
• having a personal radio station that only plays music you like (own)
• keeping in touch with people (like the social networking sites already listed)

Will people use it? I have no idea. It has a lot of potential, but like I said at the beginning many people are going to think of anything with the word Opera as just another web browser (or maybe a fat lady singing Wagner). The fact that you have to install Opera on the computer that is running Unite probably works against it. Note: people accessing the site can use any web browser.

Can people use it? On the technical side that will depend on their ISP (most will allow some use). On the useability side it doesn't look like most people will have much trouble getting it to work, although setting access/security might be a little more effort for some people.

What's missing? There should be a video sharing widget, and a friends widget. I'm also suprised there is no blog widget.

What do you think it might get used for? What do you think is missing? Have you actually tried it yet?

Another UI update

How about just using your cell phone to write notes in the air. Demo does not show this being used to interact with a computer - but why not. Especially if the phone and the computer are both Bluetooth.

Webpage for above video: http://synrg.ee.duke.edu/media.htm

Customized blogger template

I've always disliked the width of the templates that Blogger (blogspot) provides. I knew I could fix it, but I also knew it would take a while to find all the sizes that needed changing, as well as to resize the images used. Before I tackled the job I decided to do a quick search and of course someone had already done it. Here is a courtesy link to the site: The Blogger Guide.

UI update

Just a quick update to an older post concerning UI in the future. At that time I said Nintendo (Wii) and Apple "get it" and to expect similar UIs to emerge. I also said that I expect deviceless UIs, meaning physical gestures, touch control, etc., to get big (I know there is actually a device involved, but not an obvious to the user one).

Here are three new devices/systems:
Wii like motion controllers from

• Microsoft, and
  
• Sony

and a TV that has no remote - it reads your hand gestures.

Last, a device like a huge iPod touch (but it isn't focused on music/video) - the CrunchPad.