Just a thought

As the years go by!

From birth to around 20 years of age, you learn a lot at school, university, home, etc. The learning experience empowers you and you are ready to conquer the world.

From about 20 to 30 years of age, you set out to use your learning experiences to improve your life. You want to lead the world. You imagine yourself like Bill Gates OR You want to be the best Doctor or Scientist in the world!  What an ambition! You even start to think that the only way you can be happy is by realising your goals. As you get to the end of your thirties, you wake up and start to look around you. What do you see? You see people! Loved ones! Then you realise that they are the only ones that can make you happy! You start to get your priorities right!

From 30 onwards, you start to make corrections and appreciate those around you more. You start to help people more because you never know what tomorrow will bring. You don't decide tomorrow! The fact that tomorrow comes is a big enough achievement!

Kinect animated spherical projection of avatar head

A lot of possibility in terms of communication can be made with the Magic Planet and the Kinect. Instead of just flat surfaces, users can interact with a display that is shaped like a human head, adding depth and realism to the conversation in teleconferencing.

Learning in Virtual Environments - 3D Algebra Simulation

3D visualization and interaction may potentially enhance the understanding of complex subjects by learning through observation and interaction.

We designed an interactive 3D Maths (Algebra) simulation and visualized it on three different systems (CAVE, 3D Desktop and Smartphone).

UCL Computer Science Outreach with Generating Genius - August 2011

I organised a week-long outreach programme with Generating Genius, which took place from 15-19 August 2011. I was initially worried that it may have to be postponed (or cancelled) due to the spread of the England riots between 6 and 10 August 2011. Luckily, the investment of time and effort by Generating Genius meant that non of their kids were involved. It serves to highlight the need for more investment in the future of our kids. You can find out more about the outreach programme from the UCL's press release in the link below:

London teens learn about the latest virtual reality technology in UCL Computer Science’s state-of-the-art Virtual Environment lab.

CAVE (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment) is an immersive virtual reality environment where projectors are directed to four walls of a room-sized cube.

Here, I explain how the CAVE works to the young students.

Young students are experiencing a virtual conflict scenario.

 

Another group of students also experiencing the virtual conflict scenario.

One of the Lego robots the students worked on controlling with using Google Android phones via bluetooth.

Judges at the prize winning ceremony at the end of the week-long programme. Judges are from Google and includes Prof. Finkelstein (Faculty Dean).