Making New Devices Real
Host
Stefanie Mueller
MIT/CSAIL
Abstract:
In the first part of this talk I will describe SenseCam, one of the first wearable cameras to be developed, and its application in support of patients with memory impairments. As a researcher who aims to seed new types of hardware device in the market and change people's perceptions of how they can use technology, in many ways SenseCam was the 'perfect' project. The device was adopted enthusiastically, both by memory-impaired patients wishing to improve their recall, and by researchers and clinicians as a tool to support their work. Unfortunately, in the long-term SenseCam has not (yet) proven to be a viable commercial product.
Despite recent advances in tools, processes and resources in support of hardware design and prototyping, I believe it's actually becoming more difficult to make the transition from research prototype to commercially viable product. In the second part of the talk I will present my perspectives on why this might be, along with some ideas about how it might be addressed. My ultimate aim is to enable a 'long tail' of hardware products, which fuel innovation in the device space whilst simultaneously providing greater customer choice.
Bio:
Steve Hodges is a Principal Researcher at Microsoft where he combines device-related research insights with emerging technologies to create new hardware concepts, tools and technologies. By seeding adoption of these beyond the lab he ultimately aims to demonstrate new ways in which technology can empower individuals, organizations and communities. Examples of his work include Azure Sphere, BBC micro:bit, Sensecam, .NET Gadgeteer, the EPC and software-defined batteries.
In the first part of this talk I will describe SenseCam, one of the first wearable cameras to be developed, and its application in support of patients with memory impairments. As a researcher who aims to seed new types of hardware device in the market and change people's perceptions of how they can use technology, in many ways SenseCam was the 'perfect' project. The device was adopted enthusiastically, both by memory-impaired patients wishing to improve their recall, and by researchers and clinicians as a tool to support their work. Unfortunately, in the long-term SenseCam has not (yet) proven to be a viable commercial product.
Despite recent advances in tools, processes and resources in support of hardware design and prototyping, I believe it's actually becoming more difficult to make the transition from research prototype to commercially viable product. In the second part of the talk I will present my perspectives on why this might be, along with some ideas about how it might be addressed. My ultimate aim is to enable a 'long tail' of hardware products, which fuel innovation in the device space whilst simultaneously providing greater customer choice.
Bio:
Steve Hodges is a Principal Researcher at Microsoft where he combines device-related research insights with emerging technologies to create new hardware concepts, tools and technologies. By seeding adoption of these beyond the lab he ultimately aims to demonstrate new ways in which technology can empower individuals, organizations and communities. Examples of his work include Azure Sphere, BBC micro:bit, Sensecam, .NET Gadgeteer, the EPC and software-defined batteries.