Losing Our Tech-osterone

So a vendor comes in and does a pitch and demo for a product we were interested in. 

But this technology vendor, a Fortune 100 company, couldn’t figure out how to plug in their laptop for the demonstration. 

The presenter is holding his plug from the computer and comparing it to the ports on the monitor and going, “Is it a male or is it a female?”

It’s almost like he’s going innie or outtie…

And he’s repeating this over and over again as he keeps trying to plug in his cord to the various openings. 

Everyone is sitting sort of uncomfortably at this point, and so I try to break the tension and say, “I didn’t know we were going to be getting an anatomy lesson today.”

Well, we got the guy some technical help–the government to the rescue–and before long, he figured out the males and the females and the presentation was on the screen. 

The only problem, the title slide for his presentation had a misspelling for the product they were selling. 

At this point, all I can say is, this is why American business is getting soft!  😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Truly My Love

So this is the graffiti on the wall of the ladies bathroom in Barnes and Noble. 

My wife said to make sure everyone knows that she took the photo and not me (uh, that would be awkward). 

I can’t make out all the graffiti on the wall, but the one in the center says:

“True love isn’t something made up in stories or books. It exists truly, if you believe truly, and truly fight for it. Real love is magic.”

Another one talks about “Gonzales” who is the most beautiful man.

And yet one more…

“I wish I knew how to tell my boyfriend I love him.”

Let me just be frank that the Graffiti in men’s bathrooms is nothing, nothing like this. 

It’s more obscene, uses lots of 4 letter words, and has women’s first names and phone numbers. 

Why do women write and profess their love for men on bathroom walls, while men seem to think and express themselves in far more graphic terms–and why do this while in the stinkin’ bathroom?

I think this may make for some interesting gender studies for someone out there. 

From a technology perspective, I think if people are going to insist on thinking and fantasizing in the public bathroom, perhaps we need some white boards or monitors that you can write and erase from–that way at least we can make room for the next guy/gal to write their truly’s next. 😉

(Source Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)

Magic Computer Displays

This is some awesome technology from Tactus Technology.

It is called a dynamic tactile touchscreen.

Here’s how it works:

When you want to type with a tablet or other touchscreen display, not only do you see a QWERTY keyboard, but also the buttons actually rise out of of the flatscreen display–for a tactile typing experience.

Using microfluidics, the fluids in the screen actually change shape–and form buttons.

When your done typing, the keyboard buttons melt away back down into the screen.

It all happens in a split second and has negligible impact on power consumption (i.e. less than 1%).

This type of tactile experience with computer displays can be used for tablets, smartphones, gaming devices, and I would imagine even SCADA devices (e.g. for turning a dial, pulling a level, etc. all virtually on a monitor).

Goodbye physical controls and hello magic touchscreen–presto chango. 😉