By now, you’ve probably seen or at least heard of the Microsoft interactive table system. This is one of the coolest things ever, even if you don’t care for Microsoft. Sort photos physically, ‘fling’ music and pictures onto your assorted devices and more.

But what if you don’t have the thousands of dollars to spend just to be able to have a really nifty setup like this?

I would love to be able to buy something like that. But if you don’t have the thousands of dollars to spend and are good with making things, then you can build a multi-touch input device (the fancy term for the touch screen system). The down sides are that it will be a bit ‘crude’ (you have to write your own apps) and you do need to find a video projector for this project.

On the other hand, it seems you can find projectors on eBay for not too much (if you look carefully). There is even an auction or two selling instructions on how to make an LCD projector (less than $10 for the instructions) if you’re so inclined.

As far as the ‘crudeness’ goes, I would guess that the more people that use it, the more call there will be for programs and the more people will build programs for it; just like how it is with Linux.

So go ahead, get in early on the next stage in computing - without breaking the bank.

The problem with virtual reality has always been that you’re confined to a relatively limited space… if you go too far, you’re going to end up at the end of your cord. If the virtual reality setup has something like a treadmill, then you’re still restricted to going in mostly one direction.

Sure, the environment will move around, depending on how it’s programmed, but that’s not very realistic, is it? Fortunately, someone has come up with a rather good idea: a virtual reality sphere. I’m not sure how you get in or out of these things, but at least you’re able to wander in ‘unlimited’ space as you explore your virtual world.

I’d love to try one of these things, unfortunately I’d wager that they’re prohibitively expensive for the moment. If not, I’d love to buy one some day.

Once upon a time, we were told that in 50 years we’d have flying backpacks, flying cars and we’d be living on the moon. Whatever happened to that?! I want my flying car. I want to live on the moon. At the very least, I want to be able to visit a cool space station.

Alas, I’m not sure any of that’s going to happen in the next 50 years. Will anything like Star Trek ever happen (without the faster-than-light travel, presumably)?