A few weeks ago I attended TEI’10 hosted at the MIT Medialab.

“TEI, the conference on tangible, embedded, and embodied interaction, is about HCI, design, interactive art, user experience, tools and technologies, with a strong focus on how computing can bridge atoms and bits into cohesive interactive systems.”

To keep it simple, I decided to just posted a lot of media instead of a summary of the TEI ’10 conference… enjoy !

Inspiring projects

Unlike most conferences I have been, this conference was not only a place where scientific work was presented but also where artists could show their work (art meets science).

The following two projects are clearly an example for this:

• SMSlingshot (link contains cool video!) by Patrick Tobias Fischer, Christian Zöllner and Thilo Hoffmann.
• Electronic Popables: exploring paper-based computing through an interactive pop-up book by Jie Qi and Leah Buechley.

Some of my pictures shot at the conference

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More pictures of the conference

Pictures created by Jean Baptiste Paris on Flickr.

Studio sessions

Pictures created by Seth Hunter of the studio session on surface computing
(I should be in there somewhere…).

Video studio sessions

Nice video compilation of the different studio sessions that took place at the MIT Medialab.

Blog

A blog about the TEI 2010 conference

Keynotes

• John Frazer
• Vik Muniz

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As usual, backup all your messages (SMS / E-mail / etc) before using this tutorial.
We will perform a total reset so everything will be lost.

Oh and you’re doing this at own risk … (so for those who care, your warranty will be void).

Requirements

• A T-mobile G1 USA or a T-mobile G1 UK (Firmware version does not matter, RC30 or RC8 will work)
• An USB cable
• A Micro SD memorycard (comes with the G1)
• A fully charged battery
• A MS Windows / Linux or Mac OS X system

Downgrading

1. Download the factory reset firmware.
   If you have the USA version download this file: HappyNewYear.zip
   If you have the UK version download this file: HappyNewYearUK.zip

   MD5sum: (HappyNewYear.zip) = 4f0efb2037524a06bda26f286bba474d
   MD5sum: (HappyNewYearUK.zip) = b253b71fad2ed0352bcb58c4966b9a25

2. Connect your G1 to your computer and mount the SD card.
3. Backup the content of the SD card.
4. Format the SD card to FAT32 mode.
5. Unzip the zipfile and copy the file DREAIMG.nbh to the SD card.
6. Rename DREAIMG.nbh to DREAIMG.NBH (might also work without the capitals…, but better save than sorry).
7. Unmount the SD card.
8. Unplug the USB cable.
9. Turn the G1 off.
10. Hold the Camera button and press the Power button to start in bootloader mode.
11. Press the power button to start the downgrade to RC29 USA or RC7 UK
    (this takes a few minutes, dont interupt the progress)
12. After finishing, softreset the G1 to reboot (Hold Call, Menu and End).

If everything went well, you are now a proud owner of a rooted G1. Sign in with your Gmail account. If the login fails, you might need to add your APN settings (use the Menu button to add a new APN profile).

If you don’t have a dataplan, it is also possible to use wifi to sign in. Follow the instructions from modmygphone.com.

Installing testkeys

Before we can install a custom firmware we need to install the test sign keys.

1. Go to the market and download the Telnet application.
2. (optional) Press menu and selection the settings. Click Sound & display. Disable the screen timeout by selecting Never timeout. If the screen is locked while we are installing the test keys, the telnet connection might be interrupted … (Trust me, you don’t want this , my heart skipped a beat when it happened here…)
3. Mount your SD card (connect the USB cable).
4. Delete everything that is on the SD card.
5. Download this package: AndroidMod.zip (mirror)
6. Unpack the AndroidMod zipfile.
7. Copy recovery_testkeys.img and boot_nosecure.img on the SD card.
8. Unmount the SD card.
9. Unplug the USB cable.

On your G1, everything you type on your keyboard is also being run in a hidden console with root permissions. So we will now start a telnet deamon in root mode.
Note: There are 2 ways to install the test keys, one is from the SD card and the other one is using ADB (from the android SDK). I recommend using the SD card method because this is easier for non-developers.

1. First I recommend rebooting your phone after installing the telnet client and disabling the screen timeout.
2. Press enter a few times to clear the hidden console.
3. Type telnetd and press enter (It will open up the contact search while you’re typing but don’t worry this is normal).
4. Open the application tab and start the telnet client.
5. Keep the settings (server: localhost with port: 23), press connect to server.
6. You should now see a console.
7. Hit enter a few times to clear the line.
8. We first need to mount the system, type:
   mount -o rw,remount -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
9. Next we need to copy the keys to the system dir, type (one command at the time!):
   cd /system
   cat /sdcard/recovery_testkeys.img > recovery.img
10. Now its time to flash the image, type:
    flash_image recovery recovery.img
11. Turn off the phone.
12. Hold the Home + Power button to start in recovery mode.
13. If you did it the right way you will see a triangle with an exclamation mark.
14. Press ALT+L
15. It should now say something like Android system recovery utility Using test keys.

Your phone should now be ready for custom firmwares.

Customizing the bootloader

Installing the bootloader allows developers to test patches from the android code base (cupcake, Cupcake, CUPCAKE!). The following instructions will work on any G1 that is using the custom firmwares from Jesusfreke (v1.3). The following instructions will work on any G1 using RC29.

The installation process is the same as installing a new android os update. This update wont overwrite your OS (Bootloader and OS are two separate parts)

1. Mount your SD card (connect the USB cable).
2. Delete everything that is on the SD card.
3. Download the file EngBootloader_v2_NoSigCheck.zip from this XDA topic (mirror)

   MD5sum: (EngBootloader_v2_NoSigCheck.zip) = 8008e01cb2c35e06b704e4dfb624ce4e

4. Rename the file to update.zip and copy the file to the SD card.
5. Unmount the SD card.
6. Unplug the USB cable.
7. Turn off the G1
8. Boot into recovery mode (Home + Powerbutton)
9. Press Alt-L (View console)
10. Press Alt-S (Install update)
    This takes a few minutes, xda states: “Take particular caution not to interrupt the process, as a damaged SPL block will irreversibly brick your G1.”
11. When the update is done, restart your phone.
12. To confirm that you installed it properly, power off your G1.
13. Power on your G1 with Power + Camera button.
14. You should now see a picture of three androids on skateboards.
15. Exit the bootloader by pressing Call + Menu + End.

If you want to revert to the original G1 bootloader, use the file attached in the XDA topic.

Updating to a rooted firmware

Note: This section is a bit outdated.

If you are unfamiliar with the different types of firmwares, I recommend to use either the Official ADP firmware (1.5) from HTC or a customized firmware made by Jesusfreke. If you’re upgrading to a new firmware, be sure to apply the radio update before the system/recovery image.

General instructions for updating to a new firmware
(Outdated, new Jesusfreke firmwares are available)

Its now time to install the custom firmware. Currently there are three flavours available:

• RC30 (USA) Jesusfreke v1.3
• RC8 (UK) Jesusfreke v1.3
• ADP1 (Android Development Phone) Jesusfreke v1.3

If you are a normal user that wants to have root access, install RC8.
If you are an advanced developer that wants to do kernal hacking, install ADP1.

Unless you’re using a T-mobile USA sim, do not install RC30 because this version comes with myfaves. Depending on your provider this could cost money. You will also get messages from your provider about sms messages that could not be delivered.

The RC8 and ADP1 release comes with all the apps of RC30 (excluding myfaves) so you wont miss anything.

I will now continue on how to install RC8 on your rooted G1.

1. Mount your SD card (connect the USB cable).
2. Delete everything that is on the SD card.
3. Download RC8 from this topic (filename JFv1.3_RC8.zip) (mirror)
4. Rename the file to update.zip and copy the file to the SD card.
5. Unmount the SD card.
6. Unplug the USB cable.
7. Turn off the G1
8. Boot into recovery mode (Home + Powerbutton)
9. Press Alt-L (View console)
10. If you updating from RC30 to RC8 it might be wise to perform a wipe (Alt-W).
11. Press Alt-S (Install update)
    This takes a few minutes, do not interrupt the process or you may brick your phone.
12. When the update is done, restart your phone.
13. Congrats! If no errors appeared you should now have a properly working RC8 with root access.
14. You can now sign in with your gmail account (You probably need to fill out the APN settings again).

Because we changed our signature keys to use test sign keys, updates from T-mobile or google wont install anymore (OTA Updates). Future updates need to be installed manual.

Used sources / Credits

• HTC Dream Service Manual (Mirror).
• Downgrade instructions by Disconnect.
• Modded recovery and boot images by Jesusfreke.
• Wiki entry on installing the testkeys at ModMyGphone.
• Getting root on a G1 at XDA.
• Custom firmwares by Jesusfreke.
  (RC30 USA, RC8 UK, ADP1 Android development phone) v1.3.
• Engineering bootloader for G1 posted by Jashu.

Special thanks to

Disconnect, hmepass and JesusFreke for helping me downgrade my G1.

fIRC chat is a free IRC client for the Android platform.

Download

The application is available on the android market. (Cyrket)

Bugs and feature requests can be posted >>> here <<<.

Donations

If you find this useful software, please consider a donation:

Feature list

TODO: update feature list (outdated)

Current features:

• Connect to irc servers such as Freenode, EFnet, Quakenet, Gamesurge and many more)
• Multichannel
• PM / Authserv / Whois

Connecting to the server/channel:

• In the Main Menu click connect
• Adjust the settings (nickname!!!) and touch connect
• After connecting it should show the Main Menu.  Click #chat to view the channel list

Sending a private message:

• To start a private conversation, PM a user and let him/her reply.
• Go back to the Main Menu and select PM. It should show up in the list.

Notes:

• Most options (such as Join channel, Channel topic, Channel userlist and Leave channel) can now be accessed with the menu button.
• Help is now available in the channel view menu.

Update history

Changelog
=========

1. v0.1.0 (Release date: 22 / 12 / 2008)
- Initial release
2. v0.1.1
- Bug fix (nickname)
3. v0.1.2
- Bug fix (nickname)
4. v0.1.3
- added ACTION (/me)

5. v0.2.0 (Release date: 31 / 12 / 2008)
- Major improvements now supports Multichannel, PM, and lots of GUI improvements.
6. v0.2.1 (Release date: 01 / 01 / 2009)
- Custom fix for thanksgabe server
7. v0.2.2 (Release date: 04 / 01 / 2009)
- Fixed: ping pong issue (fixed gamesurge and quakenet servers)
- Note: gamesurge requires lowercase nickname, realname and ident.
- Fixed: crash on disconnect
- Fixed: notification bug in Server status window
- Added: AUTHSERV support (/authserv auth username password)
- Added: Linkify of text messages
- Added: Help button in the channel view to show available commands
- Added: show MODE
- Added: WHOIS support (/whois nickname)
- Updated: PM overview enhanced (displays username & hostmask in the overview)
- Updated: Userlist sorting
8. v0.2.3 (Release date: 05 / 01 / 2009)
- Added: Notification on incoming private message
9. v0.2.4 (Release date: 06 / 01 / 2009)
- Fixed: Mode issue on quakenet
10. v0.2.5 (Release date: 10 / 01 / 2009)
- Fixed: scrolling bug
- Fixed: auto forward (channel) bug
- Fixed: channel join/part bug (mode issue)
- Added: Timeout notification
11. v0.2.6 (Release date: 12 / 01 / 2009)
- Fixed: Focus issue in chatmode
- Added: Auto nickname complete (press search button while typing)
12. v0.2.7 (Release date: 28 / 01 / 2009)
- Changed: Default server, realname and ident
- Changed: Don’t clear channel on disconnect/time out
- Changed: Removed the ongoing flag for fIRC in the notification window
13. v0.2.8 (Release date: 26 / 02 / 2009)
- Added: Exit button
14. v0.2.9 (Release date: 15 / 03 / 2009)
- Fixed: IPv6 issue (thanks for reporting kash)
15. v0.2.10 (Release date: 15 / 03 / 2009)
- Added: Clickable userlist
- Added: Channel list (/list)
16. v0.2.11 (Release date: 26 / 03 / 2009)
- Fixed: /me bug in private chat
- Added: Join multiple channels on connect (comma separated, supports channels with a key)
17. v0.2.12 (Release date: 24 / 08 / 2009)
- Fixed: Layout, should now be compatible with the on screen keyboard
- Added: Disabled screen time out when chat view is enabled.
- Added: Warning for #android channel to prevent spam
- Changed: Shutting app down without kill pid

Screenshots (v0.2.x)

Screenshots (v0.1.0)

As usual we Europeans get all the ‘new’ electronic devices 6 months later than the US or Asia. Often these devices cost more as well (for example iPhones, PSPs, NDS) because someone decided that 1 USD == 1 EUR. Luckily I was able to get a T-mobile G1 just before I left the states .

Today I released my first application on the android marketplace (something similar like the apple store). It is an IRC chat client called fIRC:

fIRC chat is a free IRC client.

Current features:

• Connect to irc servers such as Freenode and EFnet
• Supports only one channel for now
• Only landscape mode for now…

Available user commands:

• To change your current nickname: /nick changeme
• To request a user list: /userlist

Todo:

• Server message output
• Multichannel support
• PM support
• A better way to visualize the userlist (another listview?)
• Nicer GUI for the chat area

A few screenshots:

Suggestions, bug reports and comments can be posted here. The project page can be found here.

SimTouch is another TUIO simulator build using the Adobe Air runtime. The core benefit to using SimTouch is the transparent background allowing the application developer to have a better grasp of what he/she is ‘touching’.

SimTouch uses the same xml format that FlOSC might use to translate OSC message to a TUIO object. SimTouch needs a simple socket server to relay the XML Socket message between applications. Typically on port 3000.

Screenshot:

Author:

Matt (mlegrand at gmail.com)

Project URL:

http://code.google.com/p/simtouch/

How to use:

• Install Adobe AIR
• Download and install SimTouch v0.01.air
• Download the socket server from simtouch (currently available for Mac OS and Windows)
• Start the socket server
• Start simtouch
• Start your flash (TUIO compatible) multitouch application
• Drag the overlay on top of you multitouch application
• Use shift-click to add virtual touches (multitouch)

Video:

Multitouch Media Application Pro v2d (01-05-2008)

Multitouch @ SOCO Amsterdam (21-01-2008)
A short summary of “In de ban van ‘t ding” (VPRO). The full episode is available at: http://player.omroep.nl/?aflID=6366562
In this episode Erwin visits SOCO Amsterdam. Peter Distol and Ralph Das are giving a demonstration of the table we’ve build together at the SOCO. The table uses front illumination and touchlib for touch detection and processing.

Demonstrated Applications: Smoke (touchlib),Newswell (Ralph Das) and Multitouch Media Application (Laurence Muller).

Multitouch Media Application v1 (14-09-2007)

Example multi-touch applications developed at the Universiteit van Amsterdam (UvA), the Netherlands.

1. Touch tracer
2. Real-time fluid dynamics simulation with objects
3. Multitouch puzzle game
4. Multitouch Media Application
5. tDesk a multitouch desktop environment (Windows XP hack)
6. NASA World Wind multi-touch plugin

Software:
Microsoft Visual Studio 2005
MS Visual Studio 2005
MS Visual Studio 2005 SP1
MS Visual Studio 2005 SP1 Update for Windows Vista (only needed when using vista)

TortoiseSVN
TortoiseSVN latest binaries

Miscallenous Libraries
OpenCV (download OpenCV_1.0.exe)
DSVideoLib (download dsvideolib-0.0.8c)
VideoWrapper (download  VideoWraper_0.2.5.zip)
GLUT (download glut-3.7.6-bin.zip)
OSCpack (download oscpack_1_0_2.zip)
CMU 1394 Digital Camera Driver (download 1394camera645.exe)
Windows Server 2003 R2 SDK (aka Platform SDK) Web Install, Full download or ISO
The platform SDK has been replaced by the Windows SDK:
Download the Web Install or DVD ISO image
DirectX SDK (download March 2009 or newer)

Installation instructions

1. First install Visual Studio 2005
2. Install the the Visual Studio 2005 SP1 update – Vista users: Rightclick on the setup and run as administrator.
   (Also be sure to have a few gigabytes spare on your C:\)
3. If you’re using Windows Vista you will need to install the SP1 update for Vista aswell, again in administrator mode.
   (Windows XP users can continue reading).
4. Now it is time to install the libraries, start with installing OpenCV 1.0. Just use the recommend path and let it set the environment variables.
5. Next, create a directory called C:\_libraries and unzip the content of dsvideolib, VideoWrapper, GLUT and OSCpack to this directory.
   
6. Install the CMU 1394 Digital Camera Driver (yes, even if you dont have/use a firewire camera)
   During the setup Check “Development Files” and “Program Shortcuts”.
7. Install the Platform SDK, typical settings should be fine.
   (I used the ISO to install this, if you use the webinstaller be sure to download the right platform).
8. Install the DirectX SDK.
9. Install TortoisSVN.

Setting environment variables

Depending on your setup you might need to change a few directory location values.

1. Press the right mouse button on “My Computer” and choose: Properties > Advanced > Environmental Variables
2. To add an entry, click “new” at the System Variables.
3. Add the OpenCV root directory:
   name: “OPENCV_HOME”
   value: “C:\Program Files\OpenCV”
4. Add the DSVideoLib:
   name: “DSVL_HOME”
   value: “C:\_libraries\dsvl-0.0.8c”
5. Add the VideoWrapper
   name: “VIDEOWRAPPER_HOME”
   value: “C:\_libraries\VideoWraper_0.2.5″
6. Add the OSCpack
   name: “OSCPACK_HOME”
   value: “C:\_libraries\oscpack_1_0_2\oscpack”
7. Add the CMU driver location
   name: “CMU_PATH”
   value: “C:\Program Files\CMU\1394Camera”

Checkout touchlib svn

1. Create a directory called C:\multitouch in windows explorer
2. Click the right mouse button and choose SVN Checkout
3. Enter “http://touchlib.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/” as the URL of the repository
4. Enter “C:\multitouch\touchlib” as checkout directory
5. Click OK (confirm creation of the directory)
6. Downloading the files might take a while because of the demo movies which are included. (rev. 395 is 121,14 MBytes)

Visual studio settings

We are almost done with setting up the enviroment, there are just a few steps left before we can compile Touchlib.

1. Open up “solution.sln” in the “C:\multitouch\touchlib\build\VC8″ directory.
2. Choose Tools > Options
3. On the left choose Project and Solutions > VC++ Directories
4. On the right change “Show directories for:” to “Include files”
5. Add the directory “C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v6.1\Samples\Multimedia\DirectShow\BaseClasses”
6. Add the directory “C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v6.1\Include”
7. Add the directory “C:\Program Files\Microsoft DirectX SDK (March 2009)\Include”
8. Add the directory “C:\_libraries\glut-3.7.6-bin”
9. Change “Show directories for:” to “Library files”
10. Add the directory “C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v6.1\Lib”
11. Add the directory “C:\Program Files\Microsoft DirectX SDK (March 2009)\Lib\x86″
12. Add the directory “C:\_libraries\glut-3.7.6-bin”
13. Click OK
14. In the menu choose Build > Build Touchlib
15. When it has compiled Touchlib, Build > Build solution
16. The End

* last update on 13-04-2009 (Latest windows sdk + dx sdk)