"The object of the Think Next Conference is to get excited about start-ups that can change the world," said Microsoft Israel R&D center head Yoram Yaacovi at the center's fourth Think Next Conference yesterday, where 20 start-ups were presented. "We set up an incubator at our offices at the R&D Center, which takes up an entire floor. We're now beginning a class of ten start-ups."
Microsoft presented developments and ideas for applications, some of which are already integrated with the company's products. "Think Next reflects new trends in technology that will enrich the user experience in the coming years," said Yaacovi. "The first of these is the melding of the virtual world with the PC. This trend is basically combining the next generation of the natural user interface and the turning of any surface into a display, and virtual reality technology."
One of the developments on display is Alice, a product that displays the virtual world on a mirror. Through the looking glass, a person can wear virtual clothes, play ball games, or build an office. Microsoft plans to embed this technology in mirrors at hundreds of stores, and, in future, possibly in private homes too.
Another application is Mobile Travel Companion, which seeks to change the traveler's experience in the world by allowing a person to speak with a speaker of a foreign language without feeling helpless. For example, the traveler records a sentence in a particular language, which is automatically translated. Another option is to hold the mobile phone next to a menu or sign to obtain a translation of the text in real time. This application can already be downloaded at Windows Phone app stores. It can already be used offline for some languages.
Onx is another development designed to set various rules for smartphones to make automatically. For example, when a spouse sends an SMS, "Where are you?", an automatic response is generated providing the location based on GPS standard. Another example: when a person leaves work, the smartphone automatically sends an SMS to his or her spouse, "I'm on my way home."
Cliplets is user-friendly software for computers for editing home video clips. The software makes it possible to edit a clip of two people jumping, or engaged in some other activity, so that one person stays in the air in mid-jump while the continues to jump.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on April 23, 2012
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