Some quick words on how you can use this wonderful Google like calendar plugin with mydigitalspace onDemand.

http://mydsondemand.com/gettingstarted_jquery_fullcalendar

For applications where a no touch interaction with a system makes senses, eg food preparation, warehouse management etc - then the use of the a NUI (Natural User Interface) can be considered.

One version of this is the XBox Kinect controller which can be purchased for around $190.  This control has a USB interface and can be plugged into any Windows7 based PC.

You can the download the Kinect SDK, which includes the drivers for the Kinect - you then have a NUI controller for a Windows7 based application.

You can then using the sample c# code at http://mydsondemand.com/examples - which has the core routines to connect to the onDemand service - simply create an application say that uses the  endpoint methods to interact with the information.

OR write a simple design document and get a freelancer.com c# programmer to build it for you.

The age of integration and cross-mashing via layers of abstraction is here!

Get a backlight projector screen and can even have the image floating... Minority Report style.. :-)

Only minor issue is that the SDK, released a couple of months ago, is currently for personal and experimental use - but can at least put into the design process as  a potential resource.  We are currently talking to Microsoft about their road map to make it available for business use.

A good one for the klids

In doing some technology teaching at my daughters primary school, I discovered the Microsoft Research FUSE Labs fantastic "Kudo Game Labs".

It is free.

I have attached some information.

The link [http://fuse.microsoft.com/page/kodu.aspx] in the attached document, has a stack of information and also the Victorian Governments report on it's impact in the classroom.

I will let you know how I go with teaching it and how much a mess with their heads... :-)

1. See http://mydsondemand.com/gettingstarted_robotics for some thoughts on how you can mash telemetry and "robots" into mydigitalspace onDemand.

Vry useful for manufacturing type solutions - eg get direct information from a production line about orders complete or send a command to a warehouse system to pick an order based on a new customer order being placed or may be a supplier order to a supplier based on a "parts bin" getting to a certain level.

2. Also see http://pusher.com for how you can make your application real-time using Websockets "push" framework.  Great for messaging solutions - eg new order for in-field service person.

Some words on the ibCom application framework and how it relates to User Experience Design (UXD).

http://mydsondemand.com/gettingstarted_uxd