Exposure to the cloud--The new cloud computing interactive experience

As a new web-based infrastructure, "cloud" has built a rich platform for the vast number of computer users so that they can use a variety of applications and services. The emerging technology is now attracting more and more researchers ' attention.

Of course, computer users are free to harness the power of the ability to interact with this rich repository. More and more people begin to find that interactive means, clients and "cloud" if they can be combined, must have a great space for optimization.

Microsoft Research has begun a series of studies on cloud computing, covering a number of areas including computer security and encryption, operating system design, cloud software, data center construction, related equipment, and green computing. This diversity has been well demonstrated in the 2010 Mester (techfest 2010, the annual cutting-edge research project results show), held in Redmond from March 3 to 4th.

"Exposure to the cloud-the new cloud computing interactive Experience"

One of the most fascinating research projects in the Technology section is the "exposure to the cloud-the new cloud computing Interactive Experience" (Inside the Cloud:new cloud-computing Consortium). In this project, researchers at Microsoft (Microsoft Research Asia) and Shine (Microsoft study Cambridge) have worked to explore the rich and evolving ecosystem of "cloud", Looking for new ways to use, and eventually together to nurture this outcome.

The combination of client and cloud paints a vision for us: We are able to access data stably and unimpeded wherever and whenever we can, and through Internet data mining, social networks, and the construction of public and personal information files, the amount of data that customers can access is staggering and vast.

"Because the resources of cloud computing are extremely rich," said Richard Harper, director of the Shine Social digital Systems (Socio-digital BAE) team, "in this case, the traditional two-dimensional desktop design acquires and delivers data, people, The scheduling and location of a variety of real-time links has become inadequate. Cloud computing needs to be based on a new interactive approach, and the new input-output technology is the prerequisite for its implementation. ”

Cloud Mouse Prototype

The Cloud Mouse is a technology that was launched by Microsoft Zhang Chunhui researcher (research project leader) and collaborated with Harper, a new general-purpose user interface designed for cloud computing.

The project brings together Harper and several Microsoft researchers who are Zhaochun, Changtong, and human-computer interaction groups in the Hardware Computing group (Hardware Computing Group) (Human-computer Consortium Group) Wang.

The researchers realized that "cloud" brings together a large number of user-generated data and data, only to provide users with such a complex dynamic information in the efficient way to obtain useful resources, it is possible to provide users with valuable information and services, which is the cause of their research cloud mouse.

"The cloud is how people interact to get out of the desktop," Harper said, "and this technology brings users from the desktop into the cloud, allowing users to gain a richer experience in intimate contact with the data." ”

The study group envisioned a situation where the data would be presented directly to the user via hand-held projectors or 3D glasses (augmented eyeglasses) or multidimensional display screens (such as three-dimensional imaging), and the cloud mouse was the hardware device that users needed to interact directly with the data. When the user moves the cloud mouse over these visual data, different sensory output (such as vibration or sound) can alert the user where to retrieve or view information, mark or store information, or lead the user to the target.

Basic operation of Cloud mouse

Regardless of how the data is presented, the cloud mouse can help users interact with the data in the virtual world, such as a 360-degree stereo movement, showing the depth of space, proximity and geometric relationships between objects. In a demo, the user looks at a photo and he/she will have an experience in the image: by changing the cloud mouse pointing up and down, you can achieve a 360-degree mobile viewing and in-depth screen observation.

"Cloud Mouse can achieve many goals," Harper said, "It allows users to browse and convert between multiple screens, and give users real and natural sense of touch and use." Using the cloud mouse, you can click on objects directly in the cloud space, or easily drag and drop targets between different screens, and we want users to feel as if they are in the real cloud space. ”