The Human Media Lab worked together with Singtel, BaseFX and EON to create the fullest possible immersive teleconferencing experience possible at the AIS Future of Telecommunications experience in Bangkok, Thailand. Using Kinects to create live 3D surround video of the users, and representing these video models in a 3D cave system, users can communicate as if they were standing next to each other. They can walk around each other in full size and experience shared virtual rides. We also designed and implemented the gesture interaction system that allows users to touch virtual objects such as menus floating in front of them, or, e.g., move simultaneously to choose the direction of the ride. Come check it out at the CentralWorld mall flagship AIS store in central Bangkok.
Not Apple, Not Altair, but Queen's University Invented the PC
MCM/70 by Micro Computer Machines
Designed and built in Kingston, Ontario, the MCM/70 was released by Queen's University Professor Mers Kutt in 1973. It had a keyboard and monitor akin to the Apple II, a full 3 years ahead of the Apple I, 1 year ahead of the Altair, which had just dip switches. A beautiful industrial design featuring cassette tape input akin to the Commodore 64, which came out 8 years later. Too bad it didn't run BASIC but APL.