Sixth Sense Technology and A New Way of Thinking

So there's this technology we heard about in my Educational Technologies class called "Sixth Sense Technology." At first I geeked out and thought they'd invented a way to see dead people. But sadly/happily-- no. this technology is SOOO much cooler than that.

Here it is:



This technology involves a camera (like a webcam), a tiny projector, a little mirror, a few colored caps, and your phone. Lemme see if I can sum this up: It projects an image out which allows the user to interact with it. That in itself is sa-WEET. You can interact with something that is not there. Ok, that sounded cooler in my head. It's still cool. The technology interfaces with your cellphone and the internet available there. With colored finger pointers (think marker caps, fingernail polish, or eraser tips) the user can interact with a the information presented through a projected image and have access to all sorts of relevant information:
-book reviews
-cell-phone numbers
-ecologically friendly toilet paper brands
-maps
-pictures
-directions
The thing I found coolest and jaw-dropping-est was the picture function of this technology. The system recognizes what the speaker refers to as "iconic gestures," such as the forming of a square with one's fingers, and automatically takes a picture. WHAT?! Yeah. Flippin' SWEET! The saying "there's an app for that" goes SOOO much further here. This is future stuff, people. This is Star Trek TODAY.

I think the really cool thing about this technology isn't necessarily what it can do, though. Phones can take pictures and perform internet functions, smart boards can interact in similar ways with colored markers. The really stand out feature of this technology is how it adapts to the user rather than the user having to adapt to it. This technology does not require the user to learn anything a whole lot different from what one would do normally. This is technology without sacrifice, or with less sacrifice. You can use it anywhere, and do not anything, but a lot with it, doing what you normally would do but with greater access to information resources.

I feel like this is a central concept to educational technologies. I think teachers have hesitated to embrace technology in the past because of the sacrifices, real and perceived, they felt they would have to make to integrate that technology. Going to a computer lab means not having access to group work; it might not work just when you need it to or if you don't do it just the right way; teachers do not have the know-how to run technology effectively, or even know what options are available to them currently; using a WebQuest or other internet assignment means you have to take time to learn how to use the technology effectively which takes time from your core subject area. This last grievance is one that I've heard touted and felt more acutely as a student throughout my school career. But here's the beauty of this approach to technology: technology is supportive rather than constraining or limiting. It is used to supplement an already existing experience rather than create a new one entirely. This technology adapts to you and thus makes possible more options within a preexisting framework, rather than creating a new framework entirely. This is what educational technologies have been looking for. This is what we've needed.

To sum up: sa-WEET!