“Extra” Praise for a Job Well Done
Posted by Vectorform – August 30, 2009America’s top celebrity news and gossip show just got a little juicier. Vectorform recently collaborated with ExtraTV to develop a unique application for the Microsoft Surface. A simple and fun interface was created to show host Mario Lopez how to interact with videos and images using multi-touch gestures and a natural user interface. The application supports telestration- in case Mario wants to draw a fake moustache on Paris Hilton! Celebrity content can be sent to the Surface via remote access for on-the-fly updates. Best of all, Vectorform’s one and only Alison Weber had the opportunity to sit down with Mario Lopez and show him how to use the application. Mario was a joy to work with and a very quick learner on the new technology. As a result of our efforts, ExtraTV has extended its glowing praise on a job well done to Vectorform.
Visit ExtraTV Online and Learn More
Microsoft Surface Goes Global, Powered By Vectorform
Posted by Administrator – July 23, 2009TV9, ASSOCIATED BROADCASTING COMPANY PVT. LTD.
It is no surprise Vectorform designed and developed the first Microsoft Surface application to debut in India. TV9 is the flagship station for Indian media-giant Associated Broadcasting Company Pvt Ltd (ABCL), and Vectorform’s multi-touch application took viewers by storm when used to illustrate the 2009 Election of the Indian Parliament. Live from Andhra Pradesh, ABCL CEO and TV9 anchor Ravi Prakash made television history with his innovative presentation of the election coverage.
During the 2009 Parliamentary Elections, ABCL wanted to see TV9 reinforce its status as a market-leader in innovative news coverage, and to boost viewership by providing the most engaging on-air coverage of election material.
Vectorform designed and developed a set of applications for the Microsoft Surface, which allowed on-air illustrations of election status and past election history. The Microsoft Surface debuted in the United States in 2008, and the TV9 deployment represents the first use of the platform in India.
To be a success, the application suite had to accommodate the complex working of the Indian electoral system. Like the United States, India has a federal form of government, however, the central government in India has greater power over its states, and its central government is patterned after the British parliamentary system. The core components of the suite focused on Andhra Pradesh, and other applications highlighted local and federal election results.
- Andhra Pradesh Members of Parliament Map: Depicted the state’s three major regions and its Parliamentary Constituencies. The map allowed on-air talent to drill-down into each area, and show results for the previous election, as well as a representation of the incoming results in the 2009 Election.
- Andhra Pradesh Members of Legislative Assembly Map: Also depicted a map of the state, and the smaller constituencies for the Legislative Assembly. As on the Members of Parliament Map, the application allowed on-air talent to drill-down into each area, and show results for the past election, as well as a representation of the incoming results in the 2009 Election, and the election’s winner and runner-up.
- Members of Parliament by State: Provided a high-level view of the parliamentary elections from 2004 and 2009 in the remaining 28 states.
- The Battleground: Provided Mr. Prakesh with a way to illustrate the unique alliances formed by parties both prior to, and directly following the 2009 election.
Additionally, Vectorform created a web-based content management application to enable off-air administrators to feed election data into the application suite as the results were tallied.
On Saturday, May 16, 2009, Ravi Prakash demonstrated the application suite, using hand-gestures and real-world objects to interact with both live and historical data surrounding the Indian General Elections. The presentation quickly gained the attention of viewers and press-outlets around world.
The primary objective of the project, from the client’s perspective, was to reinforce their position as trendsetters, vis-à-vis use of latest technology complimented by innovative ways of presenting information; thereby propelling TV9 higher up on the Indian electronic media ladder as pioneers- in terms of content, capability and innovation. Last but not the least, TV9’s objective for all projects is to increase TRPs (Television Rating Points), which are primary incentives for promoters & sponsors to align with TV9. The television program featuring the election coverage on the Surface did just that – made a big impact on a landmark day in Indian politics -when over hundreds of thousands of living rooms across the country were glued to the television set.
Cook’s Children’s Health
Posted by Administrator – July 21, 2009Vectorform, in cooperation with Cook Children’s Health System, has created a suite of applications to assist with Motor Control and Learning for Neurological Rehab. These applications are designed to exercise and evaluate a patient’s motor control. Each application was designed to allow the clinician to manipulate test conditions and tailor the therapy to address the unique needs of each patient.
Cook Children’s Health Systems and specifically Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, TX is one of the most well respected children’s hospital in the country. They are on the cutting edge of technology having already acquired five surface units.
The Cell Explorer
Posted by Administrator – July 20, 2009
Microsoft asked Vectorform to build a solution for the School of the Future, a collaboration between Microsoft and The School District of Philadelphia, in which technology is infused into the entirety of curriculum at a high school, serving as an example for learning communities around the world. The purpose of this project was to allow stakeholders to understand the opportunities and benefits provided by Microsoft Surface. The application needed to highlight the cellular process called protein synthesis, while providing students with an informative and immersive view into the components of animal and plant cells. The solution has already received high praise from demonstrations given at this year’s National Educational Computing Conference (NECC), which was held in Washington DC.
Vectorform designed and developed a solution that focused on two components: A Cell Explorer, which allows students to browse through a Cell SVE. Users have the ability to manipulate the components of the cell, and explore more detailed information to allow granular information to be reviewed. The Protein Synthesis Lab allows students to manipulate the specific objects involved in the protein synthesis process at a high level. While strategizing the specific order of tRNA molecules that need to be inserted into the ribosome factory to satisfy the requirements of the protein being synthesized, users are presented with the creation of a polypeptide chain, which eventually turns into protein.
Another Vectorform Appearance in Fast Company!
Posted by Administrator – July 14, 2009Back in May, Vectorform announced its affection for Fast Company after the publication featured our MSNBC Election Experience and Coldwell Banker’s Home Search Application, created in partnership with FD Kenisis, in Chris Dannen’s 11 Killer Apps for Microsoft Surface. Well, it appears the feeling is mutual, as Vectorform’s BMW Product Navigator made an appearance on Chris Dannen’s Five More Killer Apps for Microsoft Surface. The BMW Product Navigator allows customers to create their own unique BMW vehicle with the Surface by using real world objects, including paint chips, leather samples, rims and trims. Check out what all the fuss is about!
Vectorform Recognized as UX Revolutionaries
Posted by Administrator – March 17, 2009Vectorform took home the prize for Microsoft Germany’s annual client innovation award. We won the User Experience Revolution Award for the BMW Product Navigator, and picked up our trophy at CeBIT’s MSDN Cinema. The BMW Product Navigator was built for the Microsoft Surface platform, and allows users to custom configure a 7 Series using real paint chips, leather, trim and wheel samples.
The Power of eGovernment, at Your Fingertips
Posted by Administrator – March 17, 2009The German state of Hessen teamed up with Microsoft and Vectorform to debut a first-generation eGoverment application for the Microsoft Surface. The multi-touch experience enables citizens of Hessen to interact with the latest information on politics, education and the environment. Attendants at CeBIT were the first to see what multi-touch technologies can do for eGovernment.
Multi-touch at the NAIAS 2009
Posted by Vectorform – January 22, 2009A big splash for Vectorform at the NAIAS 2009…multiple doses of multi-touch experiences created for the Chrysler 200C concept vehicle unveil.
From a multi-touch dashboard that interfaces with a mobile touch screen phone, to a completely seperate MS Surface experience demonstrating the multi-touch capapbilities using…multi-touch. Unveiled and recieving a ton of publicity.
Future of Vehicle Connectivity – Chrysler 200C
Happy New Year from Vectorform!
Posted by Vectorform – January 9, 2009So what is 2009 going to bring? Well if our January antics are the prelude, we’re in for quite a show. Starting off with turning 10 years old, showing off a new brand identity, our first iPhone app, CodeMash in Cleveland, CES in Vegas, NRF in New York and wrapping it up with the 2009 NAIAS in our hometown of Detroit…Whew! It’s a wonder we were able to look out the window and see the snow fall in December, well there’s no snow at our Hyderabad office, but you know what I mean.
Details? Well, I’m going to take a little liberty to sneak outside of the ‘Surface Only’ blog for a moment…
*10 years old: Growing up and in need of a new brand identity. What did we find out? Vectorform has become a place where employees feel comfortable and valued, like a family, and that creates a culture that is innovative and exciting, with people who are passionate about the work that they do and supported to bust out and try new things, meeting employee and client needs alike. Happy Birthday, Vectorform!
*iPhone: Debuting in the iPhone app business with the SurfaceDJ, and it looks like it’s being picked up at a good rate. Definitely more to come in this realm.
*CodeMash in Sandusky, Ohio: Our lead Tech Dev., Joe Engalan will be speaking at 11am on Thursday, Jan 8th about multi-touch developing and demonstrating apps that we’ve been working on.
*CES in Las Vegas: already making a splash with our NBC SurfaceDJ in the NBC booth, you just have to check out Al Roker’s dance moves. Yeah, it’s for entertainment…but just think if each little head were bits of information that were being passed around the world?
*NRF New York, NY: This year Microsoft invited Vectorform to take part in their future of music concept store “Sonic” at the National Retail Federation “The Big Show” in New York at the Javits Center. Adapting one of our retail prototypes to match the music realm, we’ll be featuring not only a Surface app, but also a Windows7 application featured on a TouchTV Networks screen. Yeah, Big Stuff….
*Last, and certainly not least..NAIAS in Detroit, Michigan we’ve been brewing a good one. For what feels like a really, really long time we’ve given up, and missed like crazy, some of our swankiest developers to work onsite at Chrysler on a top secret integrated multi-touch development that will be unveiled at the 2009 NAIAS in Detroit…that’s still all we can say! Be sure to check it out!
For now, that’s what we have going on. In the little moments when we come up for air, we’ll keep blogging with the happenings in the tech world.
Thanks for stopping by!
As seen in the New York Times
Posted by Vectorform – December 3, 2008Sifting through some of the new press Vectorform has received post-BMW Configuration release, and was surprised by a write-up in the New York Times. The article is an oldie but goodie, referencing last month’s highlights, including: the Vect-O’Lantern, NBC, and SNL’s MegaPixel Touch Map.
Check it out:
Microsoft Surface in the wild