Diane sent a video clip my way this week that got me thinking about what's next in the world of the reference interview. Does anyone remember that bit in that Tom Cruise movie Minority Report where he pulls up all those records in thin air & pushes them around etc. 'til he finds the one that he's looking for?
It's here, sort of, if you can afford it. Perceptive Pixel have a great demo video of their 8-ft multi-touch "collaboration wall", which you can buy as a 2007 fantasy Christmas gift at Neiman Marcus for $100,000. It is on my list...
For a bit less money you'll eventually be able to get a Microsoft Surface computer. Mind blowing interfaces with real-world objects such as your cellphone, & some great real-world commercial applications in stores, restaurants etc.
But hey, how 'bout getting a collaboration wall or a surface at the information desk? Lay your card and your books on the table to check out... Fly through Google Earth directions to experience your journey before you take it. Drag database articles to your folder on the fly, them move the whole folder to your USB. Pull up info related to your class project as you sit and discuss it, & sort through the stack of documents with your hands instead of your mouse. All good stuff. A bit much at $100k, but perhaps by 2015? A worthy addition to the master plan, methinks!
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