Google Tech Talks June 13, 2008 ABSTRACT Spatial orientation is central to peoples senses. Symbols, icons and images in space make up what we look at. Diagrams maps and images can serve different purposes; lots of kinds of maps exist. In this talk I have been asked to talk about maps and discuss some of the things I see in Googlemaps “from the outside”. The ever-present UI issues of orientation and focus are so concrete with maps. Integration of information without overloading a UI is always a danger and especially with maps; Annotation, undo and telling a story are all topics that seem central to the directions online maps are going. I will base my description of maps on projects on visual language such as virtual campus and placemap at MIT. Speaker: Ted Selker Dr. Ted Selker develops and tests new user experiences. He spent ten years as an associate professor at the MIT Media Laboratory where he ran the Context Aware Computing group, co-directed the Caltech/MIT Voting Technology Project, and directed the Counter Design Intelligence: product design of the future project. His work is noted for creating demonstrations of a world in which human intentions are recognized and respected in complex domains, such as kitchens, cars, on phones, and in email. Ted’s work takes the form of prototyping concept products supported by cognitive science research. Prior to joining the MIT faculty in November 1999, Ted was an IBM fellow and directed the User Systems Ergonomics Research Lab …
Video Rating: 4 / 5

A new report commissioned by Virgin Media and carried out by The Future Laboratory claims that two thirds of the UK loves being connected at all times and feels more relaxed when connected than when not. These people have even been given a media friendly name: ‘SOSOs’ – those who switch on to switch off. Apparently SOSO behaviour is not only reflected in a love of being connected to technology but also by anxiety caused by the implications of not being connected. Over a third (35 per cent) experienced anxiety when not able to use technology to stay in touch with their family, around a third (31 per cent) was most anxious about not being able to make money/work online and 27 per cent was most concerned with not being able to connect to friends. Anxiety is also apparent when technology can’t be called upon to provide advice, whether through online maps (25 per cent), dating (21 per cent) or shopping for the best deals (15 per cent). Says psychologist Nik Simpson: “At any moment, an urgent email may ping into an inbox, a client may call, an old friend may get in touch via Facebook or a family member may want to get in touch. Therefore, to disconnect from technology may mean missing something we cannot afford to. Always being connected actually becomes increasingly essential for peace of mind, further reinforcing SOSO values.”