Week 4- Input and Output

           When considering such a complicated product, the question of application comes into play. In other words… how is this going to work? There are intricate input and output processes that need to be considered, due to the fact that this product is entirely touchscreen. Upon researching the Microsoft Surface, I came across  “PixelSense,” which ”allows a display to recognize fingers, hands, and objects placed on the screen, enabling vision-based interaction without the use of cameras. The individual pixels in the display see what's touching the screen and that information is immediately processed and interpreted.” (Microsoft.com) By using this, or something similar to this, input and output is made easy for The Glass of Tomorrow.

            Here is a run-down of how Pixel Sense works: First, a contact such as a finger or object is placed on the display. Then, IR back light unit provides light through the optical sheets, LCD and protection glass, that hits the contact. Then, light reflected back from the contact is seen by the integrated sensors. Sensors convert the light signal into an electrical signal or value. The values reported from all of the sensors are used to create a picture of what is on the display. The picture is then analyzed using images processing techniques. Then, the output is sent to the PC. It includes the corrected senor image and various contact types. (Microsoft.com)

            Other things to consider to make The Glass of Tomorrow the best it could possibly be are voice recognition and NFC technology. This product would utilize voice actions as a means of input. When we speak, a microphone converts the analog signal of our voice into digital chunks of data that the computer analyzes. From this data, the computer extracts information to interpret what word is being spoken. Similarly, Near Field Communication (NFC), technology would come in handy. Like the new Google Wallet, the Glass of Tomorrow would use the same system of encrypting data and storing it on an NFC chip to connect to a device. That way, your phone can act as a portal between you and all other technology around you, especially if you use the Glass of Tomorrow at home, in the workplace, and socially.