G-speak technology

I’m sure if you ever watched the movie Minority Report you remember the scene where Tom Cruise’s character, John, was standing in front of the computer screens, moving his hands around, and manipulating what he was watching on the screen as he tried to figure out when and where the next crime would take place.

Science fiction you say?  Well, not so fast.  Did you know that technology is actually available today?  It is called G-speak and is developed and offered by a company called Oblong Industries.  G-speak is a “spatial operating environment, a futuristic gesture computer interface…”  (Lynch, 2017)  Multiple images and programs can be displayed on standard screens using computers and other personal devices.  These images can be manipulated.  The company’s CEO, John Underkoffler shows an overview of this software during a tech convention in 2010.

G-Speak is a collaboration tool that allows multiple devices, programs and people to work on a project at the same time, in real time.  It can be used by people in the same room or with people all over the globe communicating through this program at the same time.  Watch this demonstration video on how Oblong’s product Mezzanine can be used as group members collaborate on a project.

This is a very powerful collaborative tool.  In business, I would think it could be very beneficial.  My brother leads a team of computer programmers that collaborate on many projects.   Various team members and companies who contract them are spaced throughout the country.   I can see how this program could be valuable to him and his team as they write and troubleshoot these programs.  I can also see it being used by architects and engineers who may be collaborating on projects with clients as they design future developments.  Many other uses in the professional world are also possible.

Since I am a classroom teacher, and that’s were my interest lies, this program is probably not something I will be using anytime soon. Although it would be very cool to have this type of collaboration tool for my students, I don’t think it is very practical for today’s classroom.  My assumption is that is it very pricey.  I say that because in the above video the demonstrator was asked several times about how much it cost and she evaded the answer every time! So, with that assumption I would say that it is probably not affordable for most educators to use. That is unfortunate in the fact that education is producing tomorrow's workforce and if this technology is going to be used in the workplace students need to have experience with it. 

I found it strange that Underkoffler stated in his talk that he thought that in the next ten years this type of program would be standard on computers.  That talk was recorded in 2010.  So, I would expect to be hearing and seeing a lot of talk about it.  In researching this topic most of what I could find was dated from 2008-2012.  There was not very much that was up to date.  I guess we will see where the future leads with this technology. 

Works Cited

Lynch, E.D.W.  G-speak, a Computer Interface Controlled by Hand Gestures, June 27, 20ll.  Retrieved from  https://laughingsquid.com/g-speak-a-computer-interface-controlled-by-hand-gestures/ March 11, 2017.

Minority Report 's gesture-based user interface.   Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJqbivkm0Ms March 11, 2017.

Oblong g-speak spatial operating environment.  Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYfUfwnSD70 March 11, 2017

Oblong Industries-On the Verge.  Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGz_xxvyaA8

Pointing to the future of UI:  John Underkoffler.  Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6YTQJVzwlI March 11. 2017.