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View Full Version : When "New Technology" Becomes "Close To Home"


Jon Westfall
06-29-2006, 12:00 PM
We post on an aweful lot of cool stuff here, some of it related to Pocket PCs, and some of it just so cool that we have to post on it (hence the "OFF-TOPIC" forum). But most of this stuff, like the <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=49631">CE Based Wrist PC</a> seem like a longshot to actually see in wide use. Until this morning, I had lumped this <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=26302">post from 2004</a> into that category. It looked like a cool technology at the time, but I figured it would take quite awhile to catch on to my neck of the woods.<br /><br /><img src=http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-20040328-VoceraBadge.gif><br /><br />Well, I was wrong. This morning while at the local community hospital with my mother, I saw quite a few nurses and orderlies wearing the Vocera badges, and using them. It got me wondering - what is the most memorable technology that you thought looked uber-cool when it was announced, and what was your reaction when it finally did (or did not) come into widespread use? Anyone have that "Wow, I can't believe that caught on!" reaction like me?

Brad Adrian
06-29-2006, 12:32 PM
Can anybody say, "Virtual Keyboard?" §;{›>

Ilium Software
06-29-2006, 02:25 PM
Virtual Reality Gear

There were promises that soon it would be found in every facet of life, there were daring first steps into the consumer market (anyone remember Virtual Boy? http://www.virtual-boy.org/), and units like this one
http://www.portlandpartyworks.com/attractions/images/th_virtualreality.jpg
started popping up at arcades around the country.

But then sadly...it all went away. Having played the arcade games around ten years ago they really worked great and were lots of fun. The best explanation I've heard for the demise of consumer VR is that it caused vision damage if used regularly due to the simulated long view over an actual distance of a couple inches.

Beyond that I have no idea what happened to it and I'm really disappointed. I mean seriously...playing WoW or Half-Life 2 in a full immersion VR environment? *sigh*

Marc Tassin
Ilium Software
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[email protected]
+1 (734) 973-9388
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http://www.iliumsoft.com

And be sure check out our new blog! http://blog.iliumsoft.com/

PDANEWBIE
06-29-2006, 06:26 PM
I remember those Cybermind was the company that made them I believe -

http://www.cybermind.nl/Our%20Products/VR%20LBE%20Systems/2000%20SU/body_2000%20su.html

I played Dactyl Nightmare ALL the time. It was cool you just paid a block of money for a set amount of time no matter how good or bad you were at it.

Too bad that stuff hasn't taken off.

GBlyth
06-29-2006, 08:43 PM
EZPASS!!