bajab
Feb 6 2007, 01:18 AM
Yet another amusing technology imitating art thing (remember the Omnioculars I posted some time ago?)
Apparently Microsoft were trying to make a clock like Mrs Weasley's. It was called the whereabouts clock:
QUOTE
The clock is a situated display that uses cell phone data to display the general whereabouts of family or business team members.
It is intended to be used in a central location where the entire family/group can see it.
It is a good example of an "at a glance" display.
It is a "private" device - only family/team members can access it.
It displays "coarse-grained" information: "at work" or "at school" gives just enough information.
The Whereabouts Clock has been tested in the office at Microsoft. It makes use of automatically transmitted SMS messages to the device from family/team member cell phones.
http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fict...asp?NewsNum=929
passerby
Feb 6 2007, 05:38 AM
Doesn't the disney phone have this stuff, to a lesser extent, too? I've seen the commercials, anyways. . .and the kids is all "oh, my phone is so cool" and the mom can see where he is, who he's been talking to, all the necessary data to keep track of her kid -right there on the computer and the other parents say "oh, you're so cool" and she says "I know." Or something like that.
Very interesting, huh? Having two small children, I can't exactly say I wouldn't mind owning Mrs. Weasley's clock. (I got the wristwatch version for Christmas. Way too big for my wrist, but it's so shiny!)
gamma
Feb 6 2007, 08:02 PM
heh heh this could be useful for later on in life. Thats interesting. Many of you think that this could be a bad thing for you right now. Think though by the time it is out you could be parents so it could come in handy if your kids run away or sneak out of school or something.
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Weasly_Girly_83
Feb 10 2007, 05:05 AM
I don't like the sound of that. I don't know, something about my mom being able to look at the clock in the kitchen and know exactly where I am, based on my cell phone. I don't know, that feels almost like she's spying on me or doesn't trust me or something. That's definitley not something that I would be excited about.
james pickles
Feb 10 2007, 09:55 PM
Yeah I know. You know when you see the X men films and you think..well maybe humans will evolve into mutants with supernatural powers some day. But then you think, the only privacy we have now is our own thoughts and we would have no privacy at all if we have telepaths and mind readers. So I really don't like the sound of this clock because if my mum got one it would lessen the little privacy that I have now.
Silence Dogood
Feb 11 2007, 10:01 PM
I agree with you both james pickles, and Weasly_Girly_83 on the whole privacy thing, except for one thing...What if you or someone who is "on the clock" with you got kidnapped, or something like that. The clock would be a great way for the police to track you down, and get the quack into jail! For that reason I think it could be a good thing.
As for myself, I won't have to worry about something like that, my mom isn't very technological. It took her a month to figure out her voice mail on her cell phone! As for my dad, he knows I can handle myself, and he trusts me to make good decisions.
Weasly_Girly_83
Feb 12 2007, 04:16 AM
If I were to be kidnapped and I was on the clock I quess I can see how it would be a good thing. Except that I doubt that the clock would be able to say where I was taken to. It may be able to say that I was missing and help people start looking for me faster. But I how could it possibly know the exact location that I'm in, especially considering that in most cases of kidnapping, the person who was kidnapped doesn't even know where they are.
HPfan#1
Feb 12 2007, 08:05 PM
I think it could come in really useful, mainly for parents though!! Because they will know whether their child is where they said they would be or not!!! Or incase of a kidnapping or something serious like that!!
Reecy13
Feb 13 2007, 10:06 PM
That seems kind of lame, but its cute that they thought to bring that to life. I don't think i would invest in one actually. It might be something nice for a mom to have though.
HaRRYPoTTeR FReaK
Feb 13 2007, 10:39 PM
I guess it could be useful if you were one of those over-protective type parents who have to know exactly what you kid is doing 24/7... Rather annoying for the kids, but it could come in handy for the parents.
Madmoiselle Lilly
Feb 13 2007, 11:55 PM
Omg, if my mum did that to me, I would go berserk! It would make me feel like she doesn't trust me - which I think she already doesn't. That would really really suck. I can't see it being a good thing unless I was being kidnapped or something, but other than that - no way.
Weasly_Girly_83
Feb 14 2007, 12:10 AM
I know, I would hate it if my mom had a clock like that. I'd feel like she doesn't trust me at all. It's not so much that I care if she knows where I am, because I go where I tell her I'm going. But she already doesn't trust me. Like, when I tell her I'm going to a party at a certain friends house she'll actually call my cell phone while I'm there and make me let her talk to my friends parents, just to make sure I'm where I'm supposed to be and there is parental supervision and all that. It's so annoying!
windnrain05
Apr 13 2007, 10:12 PM
i find her clock to be quite interesting. it's so neat that she can now where her family is at any moment in time. i believe this clock, if found by LV, could be quite useful to LV.
Member of the Phoenix
Jul 18 2007, 02:39 PM
I don't know if they will be able to market it, but I think it would be kinda cool to have a clock that would be able to tell you where your loved ones are. I think it would be so that you don't have to wonder about what could be taking so long. You would already know where they are.
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