BT Develops 'Minority Report' Light Interface
From: VNUNet - 12/08/2004
By: Robert Jaques

A wireless, gesture-controlled ambient-light display interface that recalls
the futuristic technology of the movie "Minority Report" has been developed
for home use by BT Group. "We set out to find a way of creating a knowledge
source in an integrated but unobtrusive way, bringing everybody easy,
relevant and up-to-the-minute information," explains Adam Oliver, BT Group's
head of information access. The interface employs animated light sequences
and sounds on unobtrusive devices to alert users to important data such as
weather reports or emails. By waving their hand over the front of the device,
users would trigger BT's Laureate text-to-speech software to read out the
information highlights in a natural-sounding voice. The device contacts an
"ambient service portal" employing a Wi-Fi LAN access point with a broadband
link; users can select the types of data the portal watches for, and tailor
how that information is visualized on their device. In addition, the device
can monitor for vocal commands, delivering requested information via speech
recognition software. The interface is expected to make possible new services
for BT's broadband users by enabling customized online information to be
piped directly into their homes without the need to actually go online.
Oliver says the technology is designed to accommodate older or disabled
users, noting that "The fact that you do not need keyboard skills or the
ability to use complicated software to get information from the unit is
fantastic."  

http://www.vnunet.com/news/1159947