Certification - November 2008 - (Page 40)

WhAT WE LIKE Virtual Becomes Reality It’s like something out of the 1985 classic “Back to the Future” — a walk-in virtual-reality pod that can transport you back through time, propel you into the future or open the door to an alternate reality: a reallife time machine. Except in this case, it doesn’t require that you drive a DeLorean full of plutonium at 88 miles per hour. It’s called the Immersive Cocoon, and it’s being developed by NAU, an international design collective. Boasting 360-degree screens and motion sensors that respond to movements of the face, arms and legs, the Immersive Cocoon, when complete, undoubtedly will represent the next generation of computing. According to a CNN.com article, the virtual-reality dome could have many possible uses, from the educational — students taking 3-D jaunts through history — to the recreational — video-gamers reveling in more lifelike play. “As the wrap-around display glows with activity,” the official Web site states, “the guest escapes to far-off temples, initiates an office video conference or challenges friends in an online gaming forum.” The design even inspired the futuristic movie “Minority Report,” according to the site. The site goes on to state that a limited number of Cocoons will be leased to corporations for internal communications and remote working solutions, but that “many will find their way into airports and public spaces.” Check out some wild images of how the inside of the Cocoon will look here. Internet Inside Your head Photo courtesy of nau.coop It seems that virtual reality is the name of the game these days. Neurotechnology research firm Cyberkinetics is working to decode neural impulses and translate them into action with its BrainGate Neural Interface System, currently in clinical trials. The system aims to provide people with severe motor impairment — due to major spinal injuries or diseases that damage the nervous system — with the ability to communicate with a computer simply through their thoughts. The system operates via a sensor that is implanted into the motor cortex of the brain and allows people without the ability to speak or move to control a computer. Imagine if you had instant access to the information superhighway just by thinking about it. Say you wanted to find out when “The Dark Knight” is playing at your local theater. Close your eyes for a second and pull up Fandango.com to find movie times. Lost on the road and need directions to the nearest gas station? MapQuest is available at the blink of an eye. Boasting 60-degree screens and motion sensors that respond to movements of the face, arms and legs, the Immersive Cocoon undoubtedly will represent the next generation of computing. 0 CERTIFICATION MAGAZINE November 2008 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088763/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088763/ http://www.nau.coop/ http://www.CNN.com http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/09/11/immersive.cocoon/ http://www.i-cocoon.com/ http://www.i-cocoon.com/ http://www.cyberkineticsinc.com http://www.cyberkineticsinc.com http://www.cyberkineticsinc.com/content/medicalproducts/braingate.jsp http://www.nau.coop http://www.cyberkineticsinc.com/content/medicalproducts/braingate.jsp http://www.Fandango.com

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Certification - November 2008 Editor's Letter Contents Tech Careers Dear Techie Virtual Village Data Stream Academic Connection Troubleshooting What We Like Look Ahead The Gender Gap: IT Lacks a Woman’s Touch IT for Free: Volunteering Today Interface Technical Architect: Learning, Growing, Innovating Inside Certification Endtag Ad Index

Certification - November 2008

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