Monday, October 27, 2003

Sorry to beat around the bush for too long. It isn't easy to see the forest one is deep in the woods. Adding mechanized wheels to a PC in a manner that I have suggested seemed to have a tremendous implication. After that is done, a robotic PC will play a even bigger role in:
1. Remote security monitoringThat means being able to monitor a location remotely.
2. Robotic photography Enable digital cameral to capture and stitch digital photo into one contiuous panoramic picture. Also makes time-lapse photograhphy easy
3. Mobile Videoconference It turn any rooms of your house or office into a full featured videoconference room including the restroom.
4. Centralized Multi-device mobile docking station This sounds self-explanatory enough.
5. AV-appliance intergration PC-based Sunday backyard endless music Jukebox. No need to go to the phone, when the phone rings. The caller can visually drive the PC-phone combo appliance to where you are according to the onboard floormap of your home.
6. Long distance eLearning This is a way to recorder or re-broadcast the teaching material of entire classroom session in realtime. In an age of highly contagious disease, to stay home doesn't mean that you have to miss the class.

Sunday, October 26, 2003

It is about time for PC users to wise-up and demand a non-handicapped PC from the PC makers. With ubiquitous WiFi technology, the PC is on the verge of being unleashed into a self-mobile domestic communicative appliance, fully able to be not just a computer but a robotic carrier/ universal mobile docking stations for all types of devices such as digital camera, mobile phone, mp3 player just to name a few. Whomever to fulfill PC's robotic, mobile and roaming destiny will be the first to successfully lead the invasion of PC in the living room.

Friday, October 24, 2003

If an airport can be made to be mobile like the air craft carrier why can't a computer be made to be like a mobile robotic digital gear carrier/docking station and roam freely where ever is needed. What is once stationary will be roamingly mobile if technology allows it.

For a pdf copy of the actual patent please click below
6443543.pdf
Please note that the pictures within the patent are minimal and for representation only. The actual product will be more presentable commercially. The copy of this patent also does not show all other possible and user customize-able attachements that will be added to the product, in which will make the total product even more versatile and useful. As the sole patent owner for this innovative PC outfitter device I am currently seeking PC manufacturing companies to license, purchase patent rights or enter into a royalty agreement for this timely invention.

Tuesday, October 21, 2003

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The above picture shows how such device can be a mobile tripod/camera carrier. Such device can be easily programmed to accept all kinds of control command from a wireless Playstation style game-pad. Controls which might include both camera pan/tilt/zoom and room to room relocation of the entire device. With a mechanized camera rotative attachement, whatever the camera sees can be be transmitted locally or remotely in a way similar to submarine's periscope. Except the fact that the medium for such image relay aren't totally optical but digitally over IP traffic.



The above picture shows the device in a collapsed mode. In such collapsed mode this device can be utilize as an all-in-one desktop PC with the monitor ergonomically mounted on the side for comfortable viewing. None other all-in-one PC design is nearly as versatile as this one.




The above pictures show the device in a more extended video capture mode. The general rule of thumb is that the device will be small enough to be nimble but big enough to be stable. I believe such balance can be easily achieved. For safety, when using such device as a robot, it makes sense to lower the main table-top to lower the center of gravity to avoid tipped over.



The picture shows the device in a collapsed mode. The apertures on the table top is design to accommodate all types of additional peripherals.



This pictue shows the device in an leg-extended mode. Not an ideal mode for remote roaming but ideal as a make-shift stationary PC kiosk.



This is a cross-sectional view of the device. Further showing the potential multi-devices mobile docking-station product concept.


Saturday, October 18, 2003

With just some minimal mechanical modifications and additions, a PC can be much more useful than what it is now. Unlike other home appliances, a PC-based informational appliance is a prime candidate for a near-robotic or a stepping stone towards a full-featured robotic reality. Due to user's comfort level with PC, it makes even more sense to have an appliance with dual role of PC/robot. This is a new kind of photo-communication robotic appliance that will enable those lonely PC users around the world to reconnect with other people both in the chat room and out. In fact, this appliance will turn any room in the world into a full-featured "chat room" complete with all the bells and whistles. In another world, this appliance will turn any room in this world into a full-featured videoconference room. And I believe is the only way for videoconference to popularize.

Wednesday, October 08, 2003

Besides the badly needed mechanized wheels, height adjustability, and photo rotational attachments, there is another aspect of modern PC usage that needs to be addressed. Being an avid PC user myself, I noticed that PC's relationship with all its peripheral devices can often be describe as nothing less than a total unmanageable mess or docking stations overload in a physical sense. The problem is that when more docking station is attahced to a PC the less "mobile" the PC become. Not that the PC is fully mobile in the first place. Therefore, I suggest that PC should be a mobile multi-device docking station for devices such as mobile phone, PDA, iPod mp3 players, wallet, Rolex watches, door and car keys, eye glasses, diamond rings, or any things that you don't leave home with out, and finally a smoke detector just in case of fire emergency so your PC can inform you locally by the onboard loud speaker or globally by sms, email or MSN instant messenger. God only knows how many life this PC of the next generation will save?

Tuesday, October 07, 2003

"Operation PC Versatility Enhancing via Robotic Mobilization" started when something in the air inspires me to explore what if one can equip wheels to the bottom of a computer? Also let the computer issue precisely control over the rotation of the wheels. Later I realize that some sort of height adjustablity similar to a photo-tripod is necessary feature. This train of thoughts later evolved into the unique photo-oriented attachement design embodied in my patent.
Ironically, the PC being the most proliferated and versatile appliance ever created by mankind can be even more useful by incorporating what my patent suggests. Any modification that enhances the overall functions of a PC should be granted a fair chance, especially in this ultra competitive "Post-PC" Era. If for any reason, the entire PC industry refuses to make a PC more like a wified-photo-robot, somebody better give me a damn good explanation. Otherwise, I am going to make an appointment to be the first to jump off from the top of the Building 101 in the city of Taipei, before it is still the tallest skyscraper in the world. That would be a good test to see if the unique bambooish/wedding cake design is actually suicide-proof.

My previous attempts to entice known electronic and computer vendors with my patent has been nothing but painful uphill battles. I've been warn that the corporate world does not welcome an inventor with open arms. I am currently seeking a computer related magazine publishers to publish a story regarding my patent. While vacationing in Koh Samui of Thailand, I met a reporter from CNN. Not surprisingly, he believes that my patent and its seemingly unlimited product potentials makes a very news-worthy tech story. My experience in posting in Google newsgroups had also been negative to say the least. But most of my face -to-face, one-on-one discussion about the potential of my patent has been very encouraging. Naturally, because, I have given more thought energy toward my own patent than anybody else.
Soon I will upgrade this blogger account necessary for image upload. That way I won't risk over-explain or under-explain what my patent is about. After that is done, I guess it might be time to contact a magazine publisher or two.

Perhaps it would only be a matter of time for Microsoft to release Windows OS Robotic Edition. After all, Media Center Edition 200X OS doesn't not sound exciting enough for most of us to reach for our wallets.
Robotic vacuum does have its charm, but let's not overlook the fact that the real worthwhile technological challenge is robotic photography. With some kind of image tracking and auto-stitching 360 degree on the fly panoramic, or endlessly panoramic design to show a entire street of a popular business district like the 5th Ave of New York. With today's few hundred giga size hardrive, camera attached to a PC can take an endless photo around the world for God only knows how many times. Also time lapsed photography for effortless capture of image of a sunset or sunrise.
Apple's iSight Firewire webcam claimed to be some sort of "breakthrough" but the breakthough is only limited in cosmetic sense. Users still aren't able to control the pan/tilt/zoom that is common in a high end videoconference system. Robotic PC is the ideal camera carrying appliance in a semi-controlled environment. Such as a warehouse, retail store, or domestic living room. My patent design aim to offer a camera independent solution for pan/tilt/zoom. Plus it will remotely relocate the camera to an optimal location in near real time. How cool is that? Online experience will be even less virtual and more real. Such actual remote mingle machine is fully capable of chatting with a roomful of live people in a meeting or at a party.

Monday, October 06, 2003

Similar to the ER1 robot from www.evolution.com, my patented invention is also a docking station for PC with mechanized wheels and camera attachement. I have informed Evolution Robotics about my patent but they'd pretty much ignored me. But I did managed to get a phone interview for a job from Evolution Robotic's human resource dept. But unfortunately I was under-qualify.
ER1 is like a version 1.0 robot. There are many rooms for improvement. Improvement such as height-adjustments and a mechanized rotational attachement that mimic the function of the human neck. At first I expect ER1 to quickly evolved into a robot that is similar to my patented design. But some how no one seemed to share my vision. Which is, why not design a robot that can function as a full featured PC or vice versa? Please note that I am using the word "robot" in its minimal and non-humanoid sense.

The hidden trend of PC slowly evolving to a robot is not very apparent. Yes, your PC might not be blind (attached with a webcam); might not be deaf (equiped with speakers/microphone; but it is most likely immobile. That is to say that most PC I know can't move an inch by itself. Despite the fact that how "fast" the CPU might be. The PC industry had been selling us handicapped PC and I wonder why till now, no one had filed a complaint. To enable a PC to move from point A to point B makes a lot of sense. With Wifi connection, a PC relay many types of information via the Internet. To be able to move a PC just like NASA move its Rover at the surface of Mars isn't that far-fetched. To say that such device "might be" useful is a total understatement.

Similar to the Rover that NASA sent to Mars, PC-based digital robotic photography appliance is a two-way communicative intraplanetary explorational rover for the earthly bounded souls like you and me.
With WiFi connection and my patented (US 6,443,543) product concept, PC is on the verge of evolving into a mildly robotic domestic communicative appliance. (or a mobile digital hub) Basically, as a height-adjustable mobile PC docking station with mechanized monopod/camera attachement. This PC/robot/camera will boldly go where no PC had gone before. (For example, Woman's locker room) It is no secret now that a WiFied PC on mechanized wheels is an ideal camera carrier. With the mechanized rotational monopod that enables the onboard camera to point towards the right direction. By remotely navigating this PC with a newly learned or exsiting floor plan and the onboard camera, while relaying the streamed images... One can "drive" PC around no matter where you are. But... Did I just describe how mortal masses can obtain this power of omnipresence?