Tech news that's more sober than bOing-bOing

[jesse_the_k]

is "Future Tense," a collaboration between Arizona State University, the New America foundation and Slate.com.

The reports look at the impact of technology on society. They're piecse extend beyond the gee whiz to always consider technology's political impacts as well as social justice concerns.

What initially caught my eye is their sensible assistive tech reporting. No inspirational nonsense, no "this one gadget will change everyone's life!"

For example, The best adaptive technologies are designed by people with disabilities.

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Truly revolutionary technologies require engagement with users throughout the design and development process. While it's helpful to get feedback and ideas from focus groups on users' needs, short sessions don't give us a full understanding of the challenges and opportunities in developing assistive technology solutions. It is imperative that people with disabilities play a leading role in envisioning, conceptualizing, developing, implementing, deploying, testing, and validating potential solutions, tools, and technologies.

Several years ago, an ASU student came to me asking about technology that might help him get access to the content of the blackboard in his classes. David Hayden was a freshman double-majoring in math and computer science, and he also was visually impaired. Even sitting at the front of the class couldn't get him the access to the board to understand the process being enumerated in solving math problems or designing an algorithm by his professors.
quote ends

My attention went zing! because the genesis of Raised Dot Computing, the software company I co-owned in the 80s, was a tool called "Electric Blackboard," which enabled math professor Caryn Navy to display equations on a screen, just like on a class blackboard.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2015/03/03/the_best_adaptive_technologies_are_designed_by_people_with_disabilities.html

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One that came over the transom today was New Fabric Interfaces Weave Together Textiles and Computers in Unexpected Ways

which explores a loom-driven game controller, called Loominary. When you're done playing, you also get a tangible woven item!

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Loominary is a game system that uses a tabletop loom as the controller for the games. The games are written in Twine and the choices in the game are shown in distinct colors. The player weaves with the appropriate colored yarn to control the game, and in doing so weaves their choices into a scarf they are actively making through play. When game play is complete, the woven scarf will be unique to each player’s set of choices and exist as a more permanent record of their play session.
quote ends

http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2017/08/15/fabric_interfaces_allow_users_to_interact_with_computers_in_new_ways.html

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The Future Tense "Citizen's Guide to the Future" blog
http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense.html

I find their weekly newsletter handy, as it's got has just the right amount of teaser text plus links to the full stories.

http://link.slate.com/join/3qk/newslettersignup

Comments

[raino]

Ooh, I love that loom idea! Could be done with a knitting machine too I think.

Ourobos

[jesse_the_k]

Absolutely! I think Jacquard looms were the first use of punch cards.

Re: Ourobos

[raino]

Yes they were! First to guide silk weaing and next lace machines.

[davidgillon]

My sister's school, which was a technology testbed, was completely kitted out with electronic whiteboards, rather than traditional blackboards.

[jesse_the_k]

So, did one basically tweet at the board? Or did it OCR Folks handwriting and send out notes after class?

[davidgillon]

Combination touch-screen and PC screen as I understand it, so you can scrawl on it or drive it wirelessly from a PC, but in a hung-on-the-wall whiteboard format.

Way cool!

[jesse_the_k]

I wonder if there was a Tex driver to put math on screen?

(Checking in from a lovely laundrette complete w great ice cream, coffee drinks, and wifi)

Re: Way cool!

[davidgillon]

Now that's a classy laundrette! Not quite as good as the one we had at college that was next door to the bar, but getting there.