This video illustrates the function
of a new kind of tangible user interface called media blocks.
In our first example, we will demonstrate media blocks
containment and transport functionality.
Here we insert a block into a slot mounted
on a digital whiteboard.
The slot plays a brief audio sample
to let us know a recording is in progress.
We then write a sample phrase on the whiteboard,
which is recorded onto network storage associated
with the media block object.
When we are done, we remove the block, which is again
confirmed by an audio signal.
Now we will review this recording
on several media devices.
First, we print the whiteboard session
by inserting the block into a network printers slot.
While the printer is working, we'll
record an example video clip.
We do this by inserting a second media
block into a slot associated with an overhead video camera.
When we remove the block the video recording
to network storage is stopped.
We now return to the printer to retrieve the hard copy
of our whiteboard session.
To view a real time playback of the whiteboard and video
recordings, we next move to a video display.
After inserting the whiteboard media block
into the display slot an animated playback is shown.
Inserting our second media block,
we may easily view our earlier video recording as well.
In these examples we have recorded and carried
online media directly between devices
without using traditional computer interfaces.
At the same time it is also desirable to exchange
information with traditional computer terminals.
Here we insert the whiteboard block
into a slot mounted on a conventional computer monitor.
A window scrolls out of the slot displaying
the block's contents.
We then use GUI drag and drop to drag the whiteboard recording
into a supporting program.
In the first video we have demonstrated media
blogs basic container and transport functionality.
Now we will show the use of media blocks
as physical controls.
In this case, we will assemble a multi presentation using
our media sequencer device.
We begin by placing the block containing
our whiteboard recording onto the sequence rack.
A digital shadow indicating the whiteboard contents
appears beneath the block.
We next add our earlier video recording to the rack.
By changing the sequence of the physical blocks
we also change the sequence of their digital contents.
Now we would like to add several elements
from earlier presentations.
We play some media block containing our siggraph
slides onto the sequencers position rack.
By moving the block from left to right, we are able to index
through its contents on a perspective wall display.
We then copy the selected title slide
by pressing a blank block on the target pad.
We place this title at the beginning
of our new presentation.
Next, we review a block containing our paper's figures
and copy out several images for use.
We now transfer our completed presentation
to a block for subsequent display.
We also send our presentation to the printer
by copying the elements into a block associated
with the printer queue.
Finally, we'll display our completed presentation
and retrieve the hard copy of our slides.
First, we carry our presentation back to the video display.
After inserting the media block, the first element
of our presentation is shown.
We navigate subsequent elements of the presentation
with a display's browse wheel.
Turning the wheel once.
Our earlier video is displayed.
Turning the wheel once again.
Our whiteboard illustration is played back.
The remaining images are similarly viewed.
Finally, we conclude by walking to the printer where we have
remotely dispatched our slides.
We retrieved the presentation hard copy for further review.