Starving Artistry

So a while back I watched this anime series called “Dennou Coil.” It was about a bunch of kids living in a near future where everyone wears glasses that were basically their computers. The glasses projected images onto the lenses allowing them to see and interact with virtual objects, animals, as well as perform basic computer/cell phone functions like email, web surfing, and making phone calls. At the time I thought it was a neat concept, but I definitely think we’re heading in that direction.

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So, 3D movies are the new hot thing. James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, and many other big shots in the industry are betting that it will catch on like wildfire. I just saw UP in 3d, and after getting over the initial “WOW this is in 3d” thing, it was a very enjoyable and immersive experience (is it leaps and bounds over just a 2d movie? I dunno…) But, what I found interesting was an article in Time magazine which was talking about the 3d movies. As we all know, you have to wear glasses to enjoy 3d movies. When talking about the future of 3d, Jeffery Katzenberg (CEO of Dreamworks) said the following:

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“Someday,” predicts Katzenberg, “people will buy their own movie glasses, which they’ll take to the movies–like people have their own tennis rackets.”

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Isn’t that a neat concept? Only a hop and a skip to the realities of Dennou Coil. ‘Cause if we all have 3d glasses, and they become fashionable enough, made with prescriptions, etc… stores will start making 3d billboards, and stuff like that. Everything will be 3D! But that doesn’t make it interactive… but check out this new “game” developed for a handheld system:

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I think the next logical step for that technology is to put it in our Cell Phones. Imagine a manequin standing in the window naked. You could hold up your cell phone, and then dress the manequin however you want to, preview the clothes available in the store, stuff like that. Brings a whole new level to window shopping.

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The next step is this new technology from Microsoft called “Project Natal.” Basically you can interact with video games with NO controller. Just use your body! It works by having a camera pointed at you that can accurately detect your appendages and how they’re moving… check out the vid.

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Then you imagine combining the technologies together, and you have something very similar to what exists in the reality of “Dennou Coil.” The “Natal” thing is only related because there will need to be some way to interact with everything, but it’s unlikely we can have cameras pointed at us at all times… but I’m not concerned, I don’t have to be the one to figure it out. If this ever happens in my lifetime though, I’m sure as heck gonna be an early adopter.