Electronic Paper Writable Wall Calendar

The above image is the only example something that reflects the titled idea.   The Calou is an actual E-Paper Writable Wall Calendar.  Alas, it it's still not exactly what I mean when I say "Wall Calendar".

In the search to merge the realities of the past with the ideals of the future, I still want a calendar that will be large enough to view from more than a few feet away.  But it still needs the capacity for writing in (in actual handwriting) dates, times, and notes.

I realize that this is a Mad Tech Idea in that some fairly smart software is needed to interpret the handwriting of many into something a computer understands.  Usually writer programs train themselves based on much of the user's writing.  But what if many people write, each with a different style, can the software still recognize it and translate to text?

My proposed wall calendar needs to be several fold larger than the CALOU.  Something on the order of at least 24 x 18 inches (60 x 45 mm), upwards of 80 x 60 inches (203 x 152 mm).

The calendar must update automatically, each month without hassle.
The users need to be able to access other months to add their notes.
It should react only to the digital e-pen (not hands or sleeves).
It will be connected to a primary cloud calendar so that those who remote can see the calendar.

At the moment this idea does not seem so easy or inexpensive, but in all honesty, what are Mad Tech Ideas if not ... a little crazy?

Modular Everything

Modular Everything

It's no secret that Google's ATAP is making modular phones. And as of very recently the OLPC group is going to be making modular laptops for schools.  So what is next? Will we see modular appliances? Or maybe modular home appliances?

Some of these things already exist.  GM proposed the modular car back in 2005, but I haven't seem them begin making them. Sure many of their vehicles share parts, that's just common business sense. But what manufacturer actually makes vehicles that the consumer can get generic parts for, outside of accessories?

Alas, not everything lends itself easily to modularity.  While desktop computers became modular, and to some extent laptops are too, there's are few de facto standards for swapping parts between devices that would otherwise be left out of the part-swapping ideal.

Modular Appliances

I'd like to see a modular touch-screen device that can be swapped between my Dishwasher, Refrigerator, Dryer, Washer, Oven, or Microwave. It could be between the same manufacturer, but I want to be able to swap it in from another appliance, in the case that one breaks.   I'd like to see my DVR act more like the desktop computer that it is, allowing me to easily upgrade the processor, memory, or storage drive.  I'd like my TV to offer the same computer upgrade options as the supposed DVR changes.

Are these Mad Tech Ideas or is are they just in the making?

Free Wireless HotSpots Everywhere

Some of the ideas stated in this blog were thought of back when the idea was in fact MAD.  But in some case they sit around a bit and become REAL. This idea is one of those such that started out as mad and became real (or is in the process of becoming real).

Past Prediction of the Future

When I originally came up with the idea of ubiquitous WiFi everywhere, the year was 2001 and I had just discovered WiFi 802.11b.  It was fascinating and almost ridiculously cumbersome.  How could I check the connection if there was no cable?  At the time I had signed up with Earthlink DSL at a blazing 1024 kbps /128 kbps.  I was livin' the good life.

Many of my neighbors had dial-up connections, and most of them had computers.  But none of them had even heard of WiFi. By the summer of 2001 I had purchased and installed USB WiFi-B dongles for each of my neighbors (there were only 6 families) and set up a system whereby they could all access my Wireless Network at speeds up to 128 kbps / 16 kbps per user.  Yes, I gave it away.

Some of my neighbors were downright dumbfounded and my initial data showed that they barely used the free service that I was providing. But as they recognized the constant availability, they all came around to using it more often. And two of them felt that they should pay me a portion of what they had been paying their prior ISP.   The whole system worked out quite well, as my usage was often late at night, while theirs was often in the morning and early evening.

What's Happening Now

Alas, Google and Comcast have begun to do what did 14 years ago, although on a much grander scale.  Comcast X-finity cable modem / routers all have a 2nd, dedicated SSID labeled "Xfinity" that is open to anyone.  Just cruise your neighborhood (presuming Comcast is common in your area) and look for these Access Points. In the last year I've found over 500 of them when driving through Silicon Valley.

Google on the other hand is doing something similar, but through Google Fiber service, Starbucks, and a future Mobile Carrier service.  Google knows fully well that WiFi can handle the needs of the people far better than current Mobile data can.  The mobile service that they will likely roll out in the future looks to mirror the business plan of Republic Wireless.

Google's been supplying free WiFi on airplanes and in Time's Square for the past few years.  It's not apparent who else is willing to spread the love.  Hopefully in the near future this Mad Tech Idea about Free Wireless Hotspots will actually be everywhere.

Automobile as a Platform

Although not a spectacularly new idea, the Automobile as a Platform will hopefully be the new killer app in the near future.  General Motors is apparently thinking along these lines for all models from 2015 and beyond. But will some day all manufacturers use this approach and if so what operating system will they use?  Will it be compatible with other vehicles on the road?  I will explore these ideas and questions in this post.

At the beginning of 2015 at the Consumer Electronics Show it was apparent that Google and Apple are hot on the ideal of the Automobile as a Platform. Or more specifically the control of an automobile as a platform.  Both Android Auto and CarPlay are targeting the inner functionality of the vehicle.  But it's not just the ideal of the Sat-Nav and Media, but just about everything.  And now with Apple (rumoured) to be joining the fray for Autonomous vehicles, we're in for a decent show in the near future.

Compatibility would seem to be a simple concept. It is fortunate that at least a few regions have decided to allow semi-autonomous vehicles on the road.  As for compatibility, it is now a question of whether Google and Apple can or will work together.  I've even heard that Ford is dropping Microsoft for Blackberry,

The future certainly seems bright, and interestingly enough, this isn't so much a of Mad Tech Idea after all...

Smartphone Camera External Lens Standard

In recent years, we've seen some fairly impressive changes in the Digital Single-Lens Reflex (DSLR) market.  The micro four thirds system has allowed the physical size of digital cameras to be reduced.  Digital cameras have flourished in the modern era, but smartphones have taken center stage as they include a camera and mobility. Yet the of idea combining the use of a smartphone camera with a digital external lens may make, at least amateur, photography a new renaissance.

Currently smartphone cameras have no standard placement on the backs (and fronts) of the smartphone chassis.  Although the Apple iPhone does often remain in the same location, since the size and shape of the device changes, it does not lend itself to a standard.  Of course the smartphone manufacturer would also like to be able to distinguish itself from others and not leave the user out in the cold with junk hardware.  But if a standard could be developed, all cameras could have an impressive added feature.

For now with the odd locations and specs of smartphone cameras there does not seem to be a simple way to adapt the smartphone to an external camera.   This may be solved in a number of ways.

1. A thin space around the surface circumference of the lens could be modeled to have a slot lock to secure an external add-on
2. The external lens could operate independently of the smartphone camera.  It could rather be a completely separate device that is merely connecting to the smartphone via Bluetooth or WiFi.
3. A new standard wireless interface for external lenses could be added to smartphones. 
4. All smartphone manufacturers could coordinate to put their cameras in the same location on the device (highly unlikely).

Sony has been rumored to have come the closest to this ideal, running with number (2) in the list.  Hopefully, we may soon see this idea take shape.  According to SonyAlphaRumors.com the Sony DSC-QX10 and DSC-QX100 may have built-in camera sensors, Bionz processor, WiFi, NFC, and an extra SD-card slot.  This would allow the phone to do the photo processing, storage and possibly transmission. We may expect to see these idea appear in early September 2013.

Although the Sony QX series may not fit an actual standard, it's at least a step in the right direction.

Google Glass Solo

It's reasonable to say that just about anything could happen by the time Google Glass makes it the market.  I'm not sure if it will be totally amazing awesome or just slightly better than it is now.  However, what I hope Google does, if not eventually, is to make Google Glass its own entity.  I want Google Glass Solo.

This only barely made my Mad Tech Ideas list because it doesn't look like Google is going to do it.  For right now Google Glass looks to be heading in the direction of a Smartwatch.  Effectively, Google Glass is a bluetooth add-on to your smartphone.  Sure it has a full Android OS, local storage, a screen, a camera and a battery with sufficient life to last the whole day, but that doesn't mean it's a phone, right?  It's like saying that because electric cars don't go VROOM when you hit the accelerator means they will never be "real" cars.

Ok, ok, so it would be difficult to interact with a non-touch screen with only one button.  But I seem to recall that Google supports voice interfacing too and it would seem to make sense that maybe 95% of the interaction could be via voice.  But I'm also sure that if Google Glass were a stand-alone device that it could also have accessories in much the same way that it is currently an accessory to a smartphone.  

However, seeing that most Android-based smartphones have access to a keyboard interaction known as "swiping", it may be safe to say that using one's eye to swipe might be a possibility (Sw-eye-ping?) If sw-eye-ping is possible, then the only thing they'd need to perfect is tapping, which at least for now could still be done via the temple tapping that is currently a part of Google Glass. 

I think we can all see that although this might sound like fantasy, it's no less reasonable that the idea that you could wear your smartphone on your head, 18 months ago.  Google Glass exists, it might not be publicly available yet, but it will be soon and then shortly after that, the solo model... I hope... will become available.  

Here's looking at you Google.  This Mad Tech Idea is free, please... please, please, please consider it.

"I concede that every sun must set, and yet the son of the father must also rise"

Google Hangouts Localized Calling

Google hangouts will ring your devices, but what if you tend to user one device more often than another, like your Nexus 7 at home, but HTC One when out. I would hope that Google could at some point figure out which device you're using the most and at what times during the day and direct the call to that device.

It might be more obvious if one of your devices is moving at a high rate of speed, that you're driving, or if by a particular route that you're actually on a commuter train.  Or if per chance you bring along the tablet but are using the phone, Google could determine by the percentage of use that you prefer the phone today.

This idea might seem a tad extreme to expect of any other company. But knowing what Google has accomplished before, with the overflowing pot of well-educated and brilliant engineers, I'd bet that they already thought of it and are baking it into the back end as I write this. It's all in Google Now, they already know you better than you realize that you don't know yourself.

"Do Androids dream of electric sheep?"