codeguppy.com - JavaScript coding for kids

There are many ways to introduce kids to coding. Some prefer to use block based coding, while others jump directly in text based coding.

I'm a strong proponent of text based coding for kids. Therefore I want to recommend a very nice coding platform that can be used by both kids as well as adults: codeguppy.com

The platform can be used at home and also at coding clubs. There are many interesting projects on site as well as downloadable materials.

Note: codeguppy.com can also be used for Hour of Code.

iPad case with built-in keyboard

This post describes a protective case for a keyboard-less tablet type computer (eg. Apple iPad) that incorporates a built-in keyboard for a convenient conversion between tablet like device and laptop type device.

Target

Although the case will be a general purpose case usable by anyone, the following people categories will find it highly useful.
- students: due to the lightweight and long battery life of tablet computers (eg. see iPad) students will prefer to take one of these devices to class for taking notes instead of a full laptop or netbook. The case keyboard will allow students to use the tablet as a laptop taking advantage of the physical full keyboard for increased typing speed and accuracy.
- professional workers: tablet computers (eg. Apple iPad) includes office suites and other business applications very similar to desktop alternatives. However operating these applications without a real keyboard is very difficult. The case keyboard will give professional workers full mobility and a familiar laptop like device that can be used at the office or on the go (eg. on the plane).

Case details

The case will resemble a regular Apple iPad case with reinforced panels for structure and a slim built-in keyboard on one side.

Figure 1 shows the opened case as is seen from above. On the right side is mounted the tablet device. On the left side is the built-in keyboard. See next section for keyboard specifications.


Figure 1

Figure 2 shows the case in laptop position, with tablet on the vertical side and the keyboard on horizontal side.



Figure 2

To maintain the balance of the case in laptop position, a flexible hinge will be placed on the back of the cover. Figure 3 shows the hinge in open position sustaining the case in laptop position.


Figure 3


When traveling the case will be closed as showed in figure 4 to protect the tablet.



Figure 4
 
Construction materials

The case can be constructed using reinforced vinyl / leather panels for a classical tablet case look and feel. A such case will usually be left permanently on the device for protection
The case can also be constructed using hard plastics for a laptop / netbook type look and feel. A such case may optionally contain other devices as described in the "Other case additions" section below.

Keyboard details

- The embedded keyboard should be slim to prevent adding thickness to the case. A rubber type keyboard may be a good fit
- The embedded keyboard should be Bluetooth type for easy / transparent integration with the tablet computer (eg. Apple iPad). The Apple iPad (and potentially other tablets) have built in support for external Bluetooth keyboards
- The Bluetooth keyboard should be powered by one or many button-like batteries.
- The Bluetooth keyboard should have a very low-power Bluetooth transmitter / receiver in order to ensure long battery life due to the fact that the tablet device it will always be located in close proximity with the keyboard.
- Alternatively, a non-powered, non-Bluetooth keyboard can be used by connecting it to one of the tablet ports (eg. to the iPad universal connector) by using a short cable.

Other case additions

The case can incorporate additional devices that are missing from the hosted tablet or that can supplement the existing hardware. Example:
- camera. Since some tablets like Apple iPad don't include cameras, the camera on the case will be integrated via Bluetooth or connector with the tablet in order to fill the missing functionality.
- extra battery. The case may contain an extra rechargeable battery connected to the tablet for additional hours of operation.

Conclusions

By combining revolutionary tablet devices (eg. Apple iPad) with a functional case the users can get the best from both worlds: coolness and mobility offered by the tablet while maintaining laptop usability by the use of keyboard.

Any intention to sell or build a product based on this information should be discussed and approved in writing by the author of this post (owner of VMA Smart Tech Ideas blog).

Mobile to VoIP bridge

Finally a flexible and affordable mobile to VoIP (Skype and SIP) bridge service was launched at the beginning of this year. As opposed to other similar services, this is the first one focused on simplicity and customization.

Although it is marketed as a mobile to VoIP bridge service, you can use it with almost any classical phone. All you have to do is dial a local access number (or a toll-free number), and after the system recognize your CallerId, type your abroad number.

The interesting part is that you choose the rates by registering your preferred VoIP providers with this service. All your calls will be routed through one of your registered providers according to a dial plan you define.

This is the registration page for you providers. For maximum convenience, you can register more than one account with the same provider. Note that the service doesn’t actually register with SIP proxies because most people have also ATAs at home that use the same service.



The following screen is the one where you define you dialing plan. You basically need to specify just a prefix for each account that you want to use. While on the road, call a local PSTN access number, then your destination number beginning with the prefix for the appropriate account.



For even a simpler way to call abroad family and friends, the service offer the ability to define personal local numbers for those contacts. Just add these numbers to your phone’s address book and you are ready to call. For the other contacts (that you don’t call that often) just dial a generic local PSTN access number.



At this moment the service offers local PSTN access numbers in 40 countries including United States (numbers in 48 states), most western and eastern European countries, Israel and a few others from Asia and Africa.

While in beta the service will be FREE for all users. After that, the service owner announced that will introduce several plans: a free one targeting individuals (ad-supported) and some commercial plans targeting mobile corporate users. The free accounts will not have the possibility to define personal local access numbers. The users of free accounts will have to dial a generic local PSTN access number or the toll free number.

For more information about this service please drop me a comment.

VMA IVVR (Interactive Voice and Video Response) for Skype

VMA-IVVR it’s an Interactive Voice and Video Response project that I start developing recently. VMA-IVVR is a server product targeting Skype and SIP networks. Basically a provider that implements VMA-IVVR will appear on Skype (or other SIP networks) like a regular contact that any user from inside the network will be able to call it for free. Instead of a person to answer the Skype call, VMA-IVVR will pick up automatically prompting the user with a video menu.

Target networks

- Skype
- SIP Networks

Who will benefit from VMA-IVVR?

Any company that wants to expand their legacy audio only IVR system with video content. Imagine giving a free call to Acme. Corporation using Skype and automatically be prompted by a video menu where in an high-quality video a person will welcome you and invite you to touch a key from 0 – to – 9 to choose one menu option. The person in the video may announce the options with voice and in the same time those options being displayed as an overlay image. By using the touchtone keys of Skype the consumer will be able to browse through all menus provided by Acme Corp. finding the information he needs.

Discount sellers. Sellers will greatly benefit from VMA-IVVR to increase sells and display their products on a new channel more interactive than TV and easier to use than Internet. Using videophone (Skype of SIP based) keys the consumer will browse the entire collection of products of a seller that will take advantage of VMA-IVVR technology.

Multimedia content distributors. Imagine seeing an advertisement on Internet saying something like that: “Call freevideo@acmecorp.com from your Skype application or 232-FREE-VIDEO from your Packet8 network to access thousands of free movies.”. Multimedia content distributors will benefit from the high quality multimedia channel provided by today Skype or SIP networks to offer audio and video content to consumers in an interactive way.

Application service providers. Imagine consulting your bank account in a video way from your Skype applications. You’ll be able to view balances, do transactions and more from your videophone keyboard.

With the expansion of Skype and SIP beyond PC borders the VMA-IVVR application will become more and more valuable. An entire category of people not familiar with computers or Internet will be able to access any VMA-IVVR powered system using an easy to use hardware videophone. Hardware videophones are available currently for SIP protocols and are expected to appear also for Skype network. VoIP networks have currently millions of users who will be able to call for free and VMA-IVVR based provider.


Important: VMA is open to accept any contribution or collaboration for VMA-IVVR system. If required an open-source project will be made available to encourage developers to participate in this product. Just leave a comment or write an email if you are interested in this project.

Enterprise Email to Phone

All services are basically one and the same application exposed via three different interfaces.

Voice-SMTP

This is the first one in the package. As the name suggests is an SMTP server doubled as an email-to-phone gateway as well. The service is addressed to developers who want to extent legacy applications or applications for which the source code is not available with new services such as voice notifications. If a legacy application is able to send notifications via emails by configuring an SMTP server and the message text then integration with Voice-SMTP is as easy as 1-2-3.

The first step consists in setting Voice-SMTP as the SMTP server of the application. Then, the second step is setting the message that is sent to the SMTP server. The Voice-SMTP will receive the message but instead of treat it like an email it looks into message content and interpret the enclosed text.

The message content should be written in a simple XML format that instructs the Voice-SMTP server how to deliver the voice message. One of the tags represents the phone number that should be called, while the rest describe the message that should be delivered.

For a pleasant human voice the Voice-SMTP server accepts prerecorded audio messages. The prerecorded audio messages may be stored ahead of time on the SMPT server itself for repetitive use or sent as email attachments for one time use. The user has the ability to select these messages by adding a few tags in the XML message. Voice-SMTP server comes also with a text to voice engine that can read a text with either a female or male voice. The system is able to deliver the message to both humans and answering-machines (by instructing the system to wait for silence on the line).

Email to Phone

Instead of using the Voice-SMTP server to deliver the voice message, use any SMTP server but send the message to a particular email address where a bot application will read all the emails and process them as described earlier.

Web Services Phone Gateway

The same story with this service as well. This time, though, targeted are not legacy applications but newer applications capable to consume a Web Service. This is because the platform is exposed this time like a Web Service.

Email (and other media) to mail gateway

This describes a service that behaves like an email to classical mail gateway. In the beginning the service will be email to mail only but after that this can be extend with the following features: toll-free phone to mail, web to mail.

The service can be useful in the following situations and will work as described:

- New generation people sending letters to their old style parents and grand parents;
- Companies wanted to speed up the letter writing and packaging process;
- Advertisement companies;
- Other scenarios.


The service will have a website where users will create secure accounts;

Users can upload fonds (money) in these accounts;

The site will contain a sections were users will be able to define mail addresses for themselves and their contacts. One of the personal addresses should be made default.

For each defined address the users will need to define a nickname;

Sending an email to nickname@webtomail.com (putting in subject like a security token that will identify the sender), will have as effect sending a letter from the default address to the one identified by the nickname.

To send letters users may use the following mechanisms as well: phone calls to a 1-800 number or direct web site access;

For increased productivity a Word plug-in (or better a printer driver) should be developed. Simply printing at that printer (or using the plugin) will have as effect sending a classical mail letter.

The service may have additional features for corporate users such as the ability to specify including of a certain flyer with each mail that goes out.

The service should be exposed as web services also to facilitate integration with enterprise applications (eg. applications that send bills).

The service should allow choosing the paper type (may be paper or a greeting card) on which the printing is made.

The service will be interfaced with USPS, UPS, FEDEX, etc. for mail delivery.

Later on additional services may be added, such as: on the fly translation to other language by a certified translator (this may be achieved through integration with a specialized third party service).

Other later on service may be the ability to attach digital data to a letter: the sender uploads the data to a certain location and then the service will take that data, write it on a CD and enclose the CD in the envelope.

By having different print and mail facilities across the world the service may be cheaper and faster than regular mail. Opening a new facility can be done on franchise model.

By making a partnership with an advertisement distribution company it will be possible to send free letters. Each free letter will contain inside a flyer with advertisements from the sponsor.

Reference:

http://www.l-mail.com/ (looks like a similar service)

Attach a note service

This describes a social-bookmarking type service called: Attach a note. The service will make use of the ability to add buttons to Links toolbar in Internet Explorer.

Basically on the browser toolbar you’ll be able to place buttons such as:

- View attached notes
- My notes
- Add a note

When a user will navigate to a web page, let’s say a product page on a producer site, by a simple click on View attached notes will be able to see all notes left by other people to that page. This is very important especially on websites without any kind of feedback type forms. Using this service, smart consumers will be able to quickly access other users note before buying products described by producer as perfect.

Free Video-On-Demand system

Free Video-On-Demand system supported by advertisements

Introduction

The purpose of this document is to describe a free VOD system supported by advertisements. This system will bring great benefits to different parts such as: end user consumers, content providers and advertisement agencies.

Today there are many discussions (even implementations) around the VOD advantages but all presents the issue as a service that allows consumers to rent videos at a certain price. There are no plans for a free VOD system.

Description

The main ideas of the Free VOD system described in this post are:

- a Free VOD system offered by Internet Service Providers to their customers at no additional charge;
- Viewers will have access to a database of thousands of categorized movies, documentaries and shows from where they can pick whatever they choose. No more annoying interruptions that the show is not free and costs, etc. The entire database is categorized and has graphics and reviews for each item.
- When a video is chosen the play begin instantly, the end consumer having the ability to pause, rewind or fast forward the show;
- From time to time the show is interrupted by intelligent target commercials, exactly like those from a usual television channel;
- Each viewer will have a personal profile into the system so the commercials will be precisely targeted according to each person interests, location or monthly income;
- To be future proof the system should take advantage of IPTV technology and probably make use of Microsoft’s TV platform on client side;
- Although the viewers will be able to use the Free VOD system, the recommended solution will be a standalone unit (like a standard A/V box) that connects to local Ethernet (or maybe directly to phone line or TV cable) and to a TV set. Different variants of this device may be produced: dedicated used only with the Free VOD system, other hybrid devices (a Free VOD receiver with a DVR functionality) most useful to existing TV providers that distribute also live TV besides the Free VOD system;
- Optionally, the system may work also as a classic VOD system. When viewers pick a movie they’ll be asked if they want to pay for it to see it free of commercials or if they want to see it for free;
- In order to work the Free VOD system should offer content from big movie industry companies: Sony Music and Film, Warner Bros, Imax, etc.

Justification

- Nowadays technology is advanced enough to allow implementation of this system. Because the service will be offered directly by ISP providers the bandwidth and connection quality will support the service without any problems (a standard resolution video transmission encoded in MPEG4 requires only 1.5MBits / second bandwidth);
- consumers are educated to see commercials during TV shows so advertisement presents will be seen as normal;
- The Free VOD system will be used like the Web Sites are used today – although commercials are annoying the Internet users prefer free sites (with advertisements) rather than sites that charge for information;
- TV consumers are used with the model where they pay a monthly payment and receive content without being forced to pay each time they pick something to watch;
- Advertisers can target very precisely their commercials and more than that because the service is digital (over internet) the viewers can order products as they watch the TV (either they are watching from a computer or from a internet enabled device connected to their TV set);
- ISPs can offer the service free of charge to their clients;
- The system can collect different information about viewers and make automatically statistics. In this way the price of commercials may be adjusted based on customers requests (most wanted shows or the new ones may cost more);
- This system will change forever the way video distribution works – I estimate to have the same impact that iPod devices produced and probably will take out of business established companies such as BlockBuster or NetFlix;
- The system may be offered free of charge to ISP providers (such as Bellsouth, Comcast, EarthLink, etc);
- Will bring a lot of fame!

Benefits at a glance

Consumers: Free movies and shows available on demand.
Advertisers: The ability to target customers precisely, Obtain detailed information about viewing habits.
ISPs: New services offered to existing customers, Diversification of services.
Content providers: Money from advertisements will pay viewed movies, Increase movie sales.
System producer: Money from commercials and (optional) money from ISPs that will use the service.

Photo contest site

Like www.soaphoto.com but with more features:

Users get points for submitted photos, when vote other photos or when are voted

Users get a startup number of points when they create an account

Users can sell or buy photos to points in open bids

Users can buy votes (eg. Users may sell their not so appreciated photos and with the obtained points buy more votes for the others)

Each photo has attached its entire history (a buyer may request photo history for a certain number of points)

The photos submitted by users must be originals.

The site itself behaves like any other user. It has the following attributes:
- may own photos;
- may put taxes on photos;
- may confiscate photos if users don’t play correctly;
- may bid on photos;

Each month the winner gets the price offered by the site: a digital camera.

Users are on different categories: bronze, silver, gold… They advance based on their activity. The inactivity may retrograde them.

Site will accept only digital photos with EXIF attached only in a certain resolution.

Personal internet communicator

A set top box device (similar with a DVD player), that will be always connected to Internet and always silently running.

The device is for non-tech peoples (elderly people).
By simple switching the TV on channel 3 (etc), you’ll see some information summary: number of messages received, pictures received, weather, local news, etc.
By using an advanced remote the user will be able to write emails, navigate albums, etc
Always connected on an instant messenger type software
Make a beep when receives messages
Optional have PVR card and software
The interface should be very friendly – for example when is in stand by should always scroll weather and local news info in a way similar with the channel that give tv program
The device is a good opportunity for shopping

Related web sites

http://www.akimbo.com/
http://www.tivo.com/

0-Knowledge personal communication machine

This describes an appliance dedicated to make long distance communication via Internet accessible to elderly people and computer illiterates. The first version of the system will be implemented using a standard PC (maybe based on a VIA Mini-ITX board) and if successful the appliance will be migrated to a lower power solution.

The main characteristics are:

Full screen GUI like: MCE, SageTV, etc
No keyboard or Mouse just a TV like remote and touch screen
Should connect to TV ( HDTV )
Localized GUI
Should perform tasks such as:
- send voice email – ask person to dictate the message, which then is attached as an MP3 file to the email;
- read emails – text emails and voice emails;
- video telephone – see the person who you are talking to (preferable using SIP);
- ability to record telephones (video or just audio and received files during calls);
- always on and online;
- ring when someone contacts via video telephone or when a new message is received;
- the software should have also a module for power users (similar with MS Outlook ) that allows sending different types of emails to 0-Knowledge computers: text emails, voice emails, photo album emails;
- the computer should come with extensive multimedia help system – that the new users will watch like a series of TV lessons;
- Optionally may offer PVR like services.

Live Advertisement Board

This describes construction of a live advertisement board. The construction is hobby like but may present several advantages in advertisement industry as well.

The entire advertisement board is inside a rectangular box with an illuminated glass from inside;
On the front of the box you can see a piece of paper of a particular size;
A two roll mechanism (one at the bottom and one at the top) make the paper scroll after a certain amount of time, or when a new advertisement arrives;
The paper roll passes a printer mechanism which prints directly on the paper.

The construction may look like in the following image:

The advantages (over a similar construction with LCD or electronic paper) are:

- lower startup cost;
- the cost is moved in time when printing new signs;
- the panel can be connected via internet to a provider that periodically change advertisement;
- a smaller panel may also be used in a home to display latest news or emails.

Photo module for personal home server appliance

This describes a photo module that can be used on a Windows or Linux computer:

The technology should be .NET / ASP.NET that will run on Windows via MS .NET Framework and Linux via Mono project implementation (PHP may also be applicable);

On the server side will be images stored in some folders;

The web gallery should allow photo selection from those folders and resize them on the fly when the viewers are watching the gallery;

To improve speed the web application may create a cache in a folder, the size of the cache being established in the application settings. Less accessed photos can be deleted from cache is the cache becomes full. The cache may contain resized versions of photos;

The web application may have the possibility to lunch an application that will preprocess automatically all specified photos and put the results in the cache;

The web site should provide a form that will allow sending photo emails. When a photo email is sent, in the email will be inserted only links to images from the server;

The person that sent a photo email should be able to see how many peoples have watched the email (and each photo in the email);

Next generation home network access point

How many times did you stop your home network router? Do you keep the router always connected or do you stop before going to bed? Most people never unplug their router, which is opposite to personal computers. This simple observation is the base for the home appliance described in this document.

Home network access points are common IT equipments found almost in any home. Unfortunately they do only one job and are completely closed. This paper describe a next generation device, that may look like any other home network router but will have advanced functionality as described here. For easy reading, the device will be called in this paper: ROUTER2.

The essential part in ROUTER2 is a slim hard drive that adds the following benefits to the device:

- the device will have classical functions found in any other device of its class, such as Wireless access point, Network Switch and Internet Router;
- embed much more OS features (preferable Linux) because of an extra storage space;
- the device will be visible in the internal Windows network, being in this way a perfect NAS device;
- integrated Web server and FTP server will allow remote access to files stored on the device. Users will be able to build their own web site without paying expensive hosting space;
- integrated backup server software that will allow users to use the device as a backup solution;
- optional integrated antivirus that will scan all incoming traffic;
- miscellaneous applications such as web photo album that will automatically allow sharing of personal photos with outside world via web;
- plug-in-able – users will download additional software modules from manufacturer website or 3rd party producers (ex. embedded mp3 streaming server, etc);
- when not used, the hard drive will enter in stand by thus increasing its lifetime and decreasing the noise and heat dissipation.

For more information:

http://www.axentra.com/ – They produce an application similar with the previous described one, but with 2 major disadvantages: big size and big price (between $500 and $900);
http://www.mirra.com/ – Mirra Personal Server is a server dedicated for backups
http://www.buffalotech.com/ (and http://www.kurobox.com/ ) and other companies produce NAS devices

Appliance for automatic backup and file sharing

This paper describes a server appliance for non-it small business companies that will simplify the backup and file sharing operations.

The appliance should be build on a VIA Mini-ITX motherboard in a small case like the one from the following picture











(Morex Venus 669 Case)

The case should contain 2 HDD in RAID-1 (with mirror) for data protection
The HDD should be in easy changeable enclosures with fans and LCD for displaying temperature and other parameters, like the appliance from the next picture:

The operating system should be Linux based, well hidden behind a browser based user interface
The appliance should be integrated with the producer public website.

For more information:

http://www.mirra.com/ – A similar backup solution

Enterprise collaboration tool

This text details the idea of a simple collaboration tool for Windows. Main features of this tool are:

- transparent integration into Windows OS and Windows Explorer;
- after installation property windows for folders will have a new sharing tab ( Virtual Network Sharing ), in the same way you have now: Sharing and Web Sharing;
- Under My Network Places to appear a node Virtual Networks and here to appear different sub-networks;
- Users will navigate the Virtual Network (integrated into Explorer) in the same way they navigate now the SMB network (Windows network);
- The entire Virtual Network will be build over a P2P infrastructure;
- The virtual network should work properly even computers are on different physical networks behind proxies and firewalls;
- In order to function a public server will support the infrastructure;
- From marketing point of view a home version can be made available for a very low cost and a corporate version much more expensive. The server technology can be sold to big companies who want to orchestrate themselves the virtual networks.
- The underlying protocol should be OS independent so in the future to be able to create clients for other platforms (MacOSX, Linux, PDAs, etc)
- From business point of view the infrastructure should be extended in the future with new collaboration tools such as remote desktop management application (that will work behind firewalls), webex style tools, etc.

Customizable Keyboard

This device describes a customizable keyboard. Instead of buying an entire keyboard, the customer buys essential elements:

• keyboard base
• keys

The keyboard base will look like a normal keyboard but will allow easy replacement of keys caps.

The keys will be available in different colors and fonts: red, yellow, gray, white, etc. and with different symbols. Some key caps will be black the user having the ability to customize itself the symbol using different stickers.

These keyboard will have a website of it’s own from where the users will order keyboard base (maybe different models) and keyboard caps.

Reference:
OLED keyboard: http://www.artlebedev.com/portfolio/optimus
Keyboard for applications: http://www.synctronics.com

SMS Alerts

Subscribe to SMS Alerts and define channels of interest. For each channel select the news that you are interested in and define a schedule.
The system will send you automatically a SMS with that information in concordance with the schedule. The user may chose from a predefined set of channels, or defines their own channel.
The model may be: free account – maximum 5 sms/day, paid account – unlimited sms. Or only free account but insert advertisements in each sms.

Example of channels:

- breaking news from CNN;
- random joke;
- stock watch (either send daily or fix an threshold that triggers the sms);
- sports watch;
- blog watch (rss, etc);
- etc.