Yesterday's future is here today November 28, 2010 11:10 PM Subscribe
Make it so! This is a video featuring a functional home automation PC interface based on Star Trek's LCARS interface. The attention to detail and everyday usability is awesome. Though he does not say what he used to develop his system, a flash LCARS environment is available from the LCARS Standards Development Board. (previously:)
Brilliant. Now all he needs is voice-recognition so he can give orders from the couch, and a screen-reader (with Majel Barrett's voice) so it can read his mp3 playlist or wikipedia searches to him, and that's pretty much the Star Trek computer. posted by rifflesby at 11:36 PM on November 28, 2010 [2 favorites]
I would have to rig the fridge to play the replicator noise when I opened the door. Then I would say, "Computer, Mountain Dew, cold" every single time. posted by Menthol at 11:39 PM on November 28, 2010 [17 favorites]
I don't know. While this screen imitated the visual style of the LCARS interface, it didn't accurately replicate typical console behaviours, which include ceasing to work at a critical juncture, insistently beeping to indicate that the controls are not responding, transferring foreign intelligences via blue energy to the fingertips, and exploding at the slightest provocation. posted by bicyclefish at 11:59 PM on November 28, 2010 [20 favorites]
I love the LCARS interface, it makes me feel like you could truly do things with a 'touch of a button'. If he trimmed off file extensions and could rethink the form/keyboard inputs to function with as few presses as possible, I would adore it. The presentation of information is just perfect for me though, I thoroughly love the weather display and useless network routing feed out! The large fonts and flowy UI sections are a dream, but then he opens a web browser and we're back to html and tiny fonts... posted by Submiqent at 1:12 AM on November 29, 2010
Man, this is a way better idea than that RealDoll that looks like Data. posted by Greg Nog at 2:51 AM on November 29, 2010 [10 favorites]
Man, this is a way better idea than that RealDoll that looks like Data
We're not still talking about the rerouting of the banana, are we? posted by maxwelton at 4:01 AM on November 29, 2010 [8 favorites]
There is an Android Tricorder app that uses the same TNG style interface. You can have your own little pretend Star Trek in your pocket. posted by thylacine at 6:04 AM on November 29, 2010 [2 favorites]
You're not allowed to talk about a real doll that looks like data with linking. posted by jb at 7:02 AM on November 29, 2010
Left Brain: Huh. Suppose it had to happen eventually. What's the point of a Tricorder anyway? Home Automation is totally the train set of the 21st century.
Right Brain: GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE I WANT IT NOW NOW NOW posted by The Whelk at 7:39 AM on November 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
Probably the best argument for having an open app environment is the lack of good Star Trek apps for iOS. There are plenty of mediocre ones out there, for sure.
This is the reason I bought an iPad and yet all that is available to me are shitty RSS readers that barely work, look terrible, and cost $5. posted by danny the boy at 10:33 AM on November 29, 2010
I bet that guy gets more lobe than an earring catalog. posted by Casimir at 12:16 PM on November 29, 2010 [2 favorites]
I had to troubleshoot a wireless network a couple weeks ago, and found myself actually using the EMS screen on android tricorder for checking channel activity and signal strengths. That is, I used it for real work and not just being a star trek dork. It was pretty awesome. posted by 7segment at 1:40 PM on November 29, 2010 [2 favorites]
« Older When Dennis, an introvert bodybuilder, invites a l... | Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie re... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by rifflesby at 11:36 PM on November 28, 2010 [2 favorites]