And if you’re scratching your head about that one, take a look at the new page up at http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/kodu/ .

Announced as Boku at PDC, Kodu is a great project using a world simulator environment and a graphical language for writing programs to bring the concepts of processes and programming to very early ages.  To show just how radical the programming environment is, it can ONLY be used with a game controller – everything is keyed off of using the controller to manipulate the environment and write programs in it.

Tags: Software/Tech

If you were at PDC, you may have noticed the little tags scattered around the conference, there were two types that I noticed.  One was the Surface tags that everyone had, going around and doing their scavenger hunt on the dozens of units around, but there was another type that I think fewer people noticed.  These were the multi color tags scattered around on various signs and conference rooms. 

Well, I’m probably the last person to know about it, but it appears you can create your own tags as well as just use the pre-generated ones.  http://www.microsoft.com/tag/default.aspx has the interface for not just the reader, but to be able to create your own tags to use.  Now you’ve seen me talking about various types of 2D barcodes, but this is the first one I’ve seen that uses color.  This is an interesting addition because it does seem to add additional information encoding, plus I could see a situation where by using colors, the tags could be embedded inside actual images so as to be (nearly) undetectable for people, but able to be pulled out by readers.  There have been some very creative people in Japan making art out of 1d and 2d barcodes that they use, but this could make things a LOT more interesting.

(updated – just had to add a tag!)

Tags: Software/Tech

You’ve probably seen all the announcements about the Windows 7 Beta 1 that happened at CES (Chris already scooped me here) but if you’ve got an MSDN or TechNet subscription and haven’t logged in for a bit, you might want to check your download library.  I think you’ll find some really nice surprises in there!

Tags: Software/Tech

I once again had to miss the Singularity Summit back in August (too much travel) but a number of the sessions now have videos up on the web site.  Now I just need to get them transcoded so I can drop them on my Zune and listen during my travels.  You can grab the videos at http://singinst.org/media/singularitysummit2008.

Tags: Software/Tech

For everyone that’s been interested – remember that the Dare To Dream Different contest only has a couple of days left.  If you’ve got a great idea, get it in at http://dreamdifferentcontest.com/ and coming back from the holidays might be a good bit nicer!

Tags: Software/Tech

Sorry, I’ve been a bit slow in blogging – things have been going at a really breakneck pace.  Just got finished talking about our Surface table today (which you can see at Innotech Austin tomorrow) and will be talking there tomorrow on RIA and how this particular client model is influencing software.  Then it’s off to Austin Maker Faire!!!!   We’ve been working on this for a while – and it’s all coming together (if it’ll JUST stop raining – no I didn’t say that.)  We’ll be over by the Mousetrap – come by and try your hand (or hands) at building embedded systems or running around a robot.  I’ll be acting as one of the robot jockeys over the weekend, but you’ll get to meet the whole team as we’ll have everyone around the event.  Plus, we’ll have some Lego NXT bots that you’ll have a chance to win and take home to continue your robotic adventures. 

Oh, and did I mention the donuts?  Come by and try donuts made by C# code – process control doesn’t have to be documents or trouble tickets!

Tags: Software/Tech

That’s all I can say – he’s got the scoop this time.  http://blogs.msdn.com/chkoenig/archive/2008/08/20/create-your-own-photosynth-synth.aspx

(If the link doesn’t give it away, it’s about how you can create photsynths with your own photos.  No longer is it just other people’s photos you have the option of walking through.)

Tags: Software/Tech

Discovery Channel is extending their range of shows focused around making and breaking things with an upcoming show “Prototype This!”  Looks to be coming up on October 15th (just in time for Maker Faire) and I’m definitely going to queue it on the PVR.  My only disappointment is that they toned down the T-Shirt slogan.

You can find the info on the show at http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-10016485-52.html?hhTest=1

Tags: Software/Tech

I’ve been watching a more expensive kit at Fry’s for a while, but Ecotopia has a nice, more affordable (if you discount the shipping, I’m sure) Hydrogen fuel cell car.  Why am I ranting about the specifications for it?  Because I’ve already got my Micro .Net Framework board running off solar, but solar is much less desirable when you’re demoing in a presentation room than when you’re out and actually using the board.  A fuel cell (or a couple if it came to that) would be great for both staying off grid when we talk about remote sensor nets and the like, and would be useful as well to put in the bots to keep my impatient and OC self from playing the battery shell game with charged, discharged and partially charged battery sets between the wall charger and the bots themselves.

Tags: Software/Tech