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OCTOBER 11, 2005 at 2:30 PM
Posted by EUDAEMONIA
Source: Phoneyworld.com & Irish Independent
As it was mentioned back in spring, the Weasleys' living room clock
in the Harry Potter books, which indicates where any family member is at the moment, may become available to households in the future. The Irish Independent reports that Microsoft is researching on the development of a similar device that will display locations of family members outside the home with the use of mobile gadgets.
Inspired by JK Rowling's novels, the researchers and developers have labeled it the "whereabout clock". A brief summary as to how the technology is being developed surfaced recently:
The whereabout clock's screen uses icons bearing the faces of each family member. Signals from their mobile phones are used to tell the computer where they are and the icons wander between colored segments to show whether they are at home, school, work or elsewhere.... The clock will also be able to receive and display text messages. For instance a mother could text the screen that "working till 9pm, please put dinner in oven" and the words would hover next to her face icon.
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Head Girl
Points: 467
the_pensieve says:
oh oh oh oh!!! I NEED that clock! They have to make them affordable for the average family with kids. A new way to keep up with teenagers!
Parents will love this clock, kids will end up hating it....:-D
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 9:49 PM EST
Mediwitch
Points: 2608
nickyole1 says:
How totally awesome! I so want that clock! I don't know exactly where I would put it, but it looks so cool anyway!
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 10:04 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2559
TonksUSA says:
Would Jo get the ideas credit? In the words of every Harry Potter fan, "Harry Potter rocks!"
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 10:13 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 331
cckeimig says:
Yikes! Big Brother, here we come! And I *don't* mean the TV reality show. It has its positive points, of course, but...
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 10:19 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2852
H/HrShipper4Ever says:
Thats AWESOME !!!!! I would love to have a clock like that... JK should get some money from this since she was the one who thought of the concept... Next thing we know there might be Invisilibity Cloakes for sale....
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 10:22 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 380
Lolita~Lanez says:
Wow that's pretty cool. I don't really want it though.
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 10:41 PM EST
Theoretician
Points: 3609
MyUnbreakableVow says:
Sounds expensive. I wouldn't want my parents to know where I am anyway. And the government could track you. They could know your every move. *is paraniod*
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 10:46 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1970
Jekca says:
I don't know if I would have wanted my mummy to have all that info...but still, the idea could be REALLY hilarious!
I might have to have one someday, just for laughs.
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 10:48 PM EST
Hogwarts Valedictorian
Points: 2807
Lily*R/Hr says:
Sweet! But you'd have like no privacy, that's kinda creepy.
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 10:50 PM EST
Witch
Points: 813
harrypotterfan4eva says:
OH MY GOSH! That would be so cool to have! They would probaly be super expensive though!
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 10:53 PM EST
Prof. of Cultural Literacy
Points: 4464
PowerGranger says:
It's unbelieveably cool to think that one of JKR's inventions is actually being created by Microsoft, however, I am a bit creeped out by this device. Since I have a child, I can see the merit of knowing where he is, but it's all a bit too 1984. And I mean Orwell, not Miami Vice and Duran Duran.
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 10:59 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2465
undisputed760 says:
That would suck right now because sometimes you dont want your parents to know where you are haha. but in the future when I have kids that will be great haha.
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 11:02 PM EST
Hogwarts Psychologist
Points: 4236
Patronus Wiz says:
I remember that!!! Okay, so it takes forever for these things to actually come out. I don't think I'll buy one but it's a pretty neat idea anyhow.
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 11:09 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1126
Dumbledore's girl 4 ever says:
Oh my gosh!!!!!!! This sounds totally amazing, I am sure this would be an awesome clock to have, I would love to have one !
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 11:10 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 450
natural-born-weasley says:
That would be so amazingly awesome.
It would be perfect because if my mom was wondering where my dad was well, she'd know.
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 11:13 PM EST
I'm Daniel's Everything
Points: 4009
KissMeInTheRain says:
That's awesome! Technology is making abousolutely incredible advances now adays....I really want this clock!
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 11:17 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1629
Seijuro Hiko says:
Wow, most of the comments are about how cool it is and how people want want. But it's creepy, goes a little too deep into privacy. Technology is making me sick. For this to work kids would have to have cell phones, or bionic implants.
DEATH TO TECHNOLOGY!
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 11:27 PM EST
Witch
Points: 983
LuNaWaNaBe says:
That is amazing! Technology has progrssed so far. I would really like to have of of them, but I bet they'll be really expensive.
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 11:48 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 491
IrishGrace says:
That looks awesome! I'd definitely get one for my house...
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 11:57 PM EST
Unrivaled Sorceress
Points: 3498
Lily Evans. says:
It's kind of scary to see how advanced of a society we have come when we can create things like this......And it is also very scary that my parents would always know where I was!
Kate
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 12:05 AM EST
Witch
Points: 988
Yami-Tenshi says:
Interesting without a doubt, but it's also going to arrise issues about privasy and such. There will be debates about this one. Still, it sounds like a useful tools for parents to monitor their kids.
Jo was the originator of that idea by what we know. I hope she gets credit
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 12:18 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1160
Sophia Veritas says:
OK WOW that is just awesome. I want one! They'll probably be really expensive at first though.
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 12:18 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1100
fire and brimstone says:
That is awesome. I would so buy one of those whenever i get older to keep track of my family. Especially my children whenever i have kids
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 12:20 AM EST
Witch
Points: 917
hermioneadmirer says:
I think that is really stupid in my opinion because first of all not everyone has cell phones,and it shouldn't be made into a real thing.There would be a lot of complications with it.
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 12:22 AM EST
Dark Mark Caster
Points: 7648
FireboltFlyr says:
That is totally wicked! I would love to have one of those clocks in my house... Knowing where everyone is at all the time is soo cool.... but kinda scary at the same time. I would get one know if they had it!]
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 12:40 AM EST
Witch
Points: 883
Bossy Boots says:
That would be the coolest thing ever!!! I wouldn't want one at my house, though. Sometimes I don't want to be found :)
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 12:53 AM EST
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