Sehmi-Conscious Thoughts : Innovation

Microsoft Tag - Snap. Blink. Wow!

asehmi — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:21:24 GMT

Sometimes there's just a really cool idea worth mentioning. I hope this Mobile Tagging concept takes off because with server redirects from the info stored in the high capacity colour barcode tag, the possibilities seem endless and loose associative coupling between tag and function means the target scenarios can be really flexible.

"Microsoft Tag creates unlimited possibilities for making interactive communications an instant, entertaining part of life. They transform physical media (print advertising, billboards,product packages, information signs, in-store merchandising, or even video images)—into live links for accessing information and entertainment online.

"With the Microsoft Tag application, just aim your camera phone at a Tag and instantly access mobile content, videos, music, contact information, maps, social networks, promotions, and more. Nothing to type, no browsers to launch!"

Go to http://www.microsoft.com/tag/ for general info, http://tag.microsoft.com to make tags (you'll need to sign in using your Live ID), and http://gettag.mobi to download the tag scanning/snapping app for your mobile phone (Apple iPhone; Blackberry 81xx, 83xx and Bold; J2ME based handsets; Symbian S60 3rd Edition ; Windows Mobile 5 and 6).

This is my tag below and I can use the management tool to set up the associated tag action. In this case I've linked the first to my Blog and the second to my vCard, but you're also able to link to free text or a dialler. To get them to do their stuff just click to see a larger image, then Snap. Blink. Wow! :-)

This is the management console where, as of now, I have just two tags. Notice how you can get a report of how many times your tags would have been scanned.

This could be big for business to consumer scenarios!

Update: Long Zheng has written a couple of neat technical post on this technology. Check them out - [1] [2].

AutoCollage 2008

asehmi — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 03:14:43 GMT

http://research.microsoft.com/autocollage/

My daughter spends hours making photo collages of her friends and school trips for her desktop backgrounds. Today I came across a Microsoft Research Product called AutoCollage that'll do an awesome job for her. You can buy it for $20 or £20 depending on your geography or get a 30 day free trial.

Would be great if this just came in the box with Windows 7 now, wouldn't it?

The Incredible Quadraped

asehmi — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 23:05:01 GMT

I am completely bowled over by this video of Boston Dynamics' Quadraped. How long before this stuff hits the consumer business - 5 years, 10 years, or sooner?

Innovation in the Big House

asehmi — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:13:03 GMT

I'm often looking for pointers to where customers and partners can check out Microsoft innovations in an easily consumable - informal - fashion. Channel 9 has definitely been the first place I think of. Then I suggest visiting our very active Bloggers on MSDN. If one's more future-oriented then I would strongly recommend Microsoft Research and now specifically the MSR TechFest 2008 Demos of which I'd suggest Tiny Web Services and World Wide Telescope!

Recently Microsoft launched a new innovation insights talk show called Perspectives at On10. The first episode is with Henrik Nielsen and Tandy Trower who explore the Microsoft Robotics initiative. They discuss why they think Robotics is a Next Big Thing. And Henrik and Tandy explain how the CCR/DSS infrastructure which supports the Robotics platform is broadly relevant in an era of loosely-coupled services.

So there's lots of wonderful inspiring stuff you can see, hear and read about. And if you like, have a laugh on the Big House too!


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