Have Your Family Gather 'Round the Virtual Table

Ridgelift writes "A new device is helping families and loved ones feel connected even when they're far apart. Part of the Media Lab's Habitat project, a pair of 'cyber-tables' are equipped with radio tag readers, projectors and computers running on Linux and Macintosh operating systems. 'Habitat's designers say the system can give people a sense of what their loved ones are up to and perhaps even how they are feeling'."

Comments

Re:Big potential for the future

[iggymanz]

Windows remote admin - VNC, baby

Re:Who funds this research?

[Ridgelift]

When I have to stop and think what message I'm sending tossing my keys on the table, that's where I draw the virtual line.

95% of all communication is non-verbal. Technologies like these are an attempt to come up with ways to communicate non-verbal communication. Of course nothing beats visiting in person, but perhaps the technologies that follow these ones will help people who are in isolation cope better, such as Antarctic stations or perhaps deep space exploration.