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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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The Last Herald-Mage
Points: 2621
darrrrkwind says:
That's really cool. Seriously. I want one!!! I wonder when they'll be available and how much they'll cost. Probably way more than I can afford. :-(
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 10:22 AM EST
Keeper of the Faeries
Points: 5239
juliebug04 says:
That sounds pretty cool...
Still not sure how they would make it work in today's society, but it sounds pretty cool!
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 10:24 AM EST
Witch
Points: 541
ProfMM says:
The fact that what I said made no impact on what you all are saying makes me feel very very old! Don't you think it would be awful for someone to know exactly where you are at all times? Not only could parents know everything you do, but so could your coaches, the principal...heck, even the government could follow you. What if terrorists decided to stalk people?
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 10:35 AM EST
Squib
Points: 148
RonLovesMe! says:
That would be amazing. It would be cool yet weird at the same time... I mean people knowing where you are at that exact time, seems a little scarey to me. It is also really cool that we have advanced so much in technology that we have the capability to make such a clock. Can't wait for GoF! I LOVE RON!
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 10:37 AM EST
Witch
Points: 606
Slytheprincess says:
it is nice but I don't want anyone to know where I am ALL THE TIME.
I knew it would happen because almost all cool stuff in movies always come out in market later. :)
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 11:09 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 464
Glastea says:
How randomly cool! If they do manage to make it... wow! can't wait to randomly phone everyone I know about it! Tee Hee!
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 11:59 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2495
Jbird says:
That sounds so awesome! I would love to see the final result. I wonder how they would put the words hovering next to someones face-I can't picture it.
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 12:09 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1195
Dumbledore's (Wo)man says:
I wonder it they will have a section for "Mortal Peril"? *grins* That would be funny.
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 12:09 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 39
bladerz_17 says:
Wow that is so cool. i bet any potter fan wud jus die to have 1. but ya i guess it wud be really expensive!!!!
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 12:43 PM EST
Squib
Points: 174
Nikki Potter says:
Wow thats great! i mean these people are really intelligent to inveny uch a clock!
Mom i want one!
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 1:01 PM EST
Muggle Representative
Points: 9117
The Lime says:
OH MY GOD!!! My family seriously needs a such clock, it would be SO cool! Awesome! Great! Wonder how much it will cost?
Nevermind, I'll buy it anyway!
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 1:40 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1375
'Arry + Hermy says:
That clock would be so cool but you could probably get into lots of trouble if you said you were at a friends but really you were at a party!
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 1:57 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 470
Lavender_Brown says:
That would be soooo cool and I'm first on the line to get if they accomplish it;)
Weasleys' magical clock rocks!
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 2:32 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 707
dalenorth says:
That is clever and cool, I like it. I bet it would be expensive though.
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 2:37 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1894
Hermione5 says:
wowowowwowowowowowowowowoooooooooooooooowowowowo!!
I just can't believe it! A real magical clock! i would love to have one! When I first read that part of the book, I thougt it would be great if they mad eit true! And now....
The Impossible does not exist!! Yeah!
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 2:49 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1492
*PotterPrincess* says:
I can't belive this. Are they actually developing it? They said that it works with the signals from the mobile phone, so everyone in the family wouldnhave to get one for the clock to work.
I think it's amazing.
JKR inspired them and it's probably something for parents because they are usually worried about where their kids are.
Amazing! Just amazing!
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 3:35 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 613
dietbrand says:
I do hope none of you would buy this crap? You would be so easily tracked by hackers and especially spammers. An RFID (RFID: Radio Frequency IDentification) chip in your cellphone for instance would make a supermarket able to track you to your home and bombard you with tons of unwanted commercials. Please people, you are handing your privacy on a silver plate with a satin napkin and for what? For the "magic" of a movie?
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 3:37 PM EST
High Inquisitor
Points: 23477
KT Lady says:
WHOA! Thank god for Harry Potter, right? haha That is truly amazing! I hope to own one of those, one day :P
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 3:38 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1401
Dobby`s Friend says:
That is so cool! It is quite amazing what muggles can di without magic:-)
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 3:55 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1780
TheOtherMinister says:
How amazing! I never thought it would be possible, but i wouldn't want my mom to know where I am every second, I like independence.
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 4:04 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2223
Pheonixflames says:
Wow that clock sounds like a really good idea, I would love to get one even if it was just for looks! wow to think someone has figured out how to make it work!
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 4:24 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 34
Bookworm Chica says:
Dude, fricken A! That's so awesome! I want one of those clocks!
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 4:43 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1370
hellothere says:
How awesome! I want a clock like that. I can't believe it. I need that clock!
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 4:56 PM EST
The Golden Snidget
Points: 3157
Mrs. Phineas Nigellus says:
Oh my gosh! Yahoo! That is so awesome!! I'd love to have that, although it might get annoying for my parents to always know where I am. Anyway, I think it's really cool how JKR's world, which is completely devoid of technology, can make incredible advances in our world. Ironic.
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 5:15 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1872
Potter Luver says:
Wow, that's awesome! That'll be one high-tech device. I'm so getting that if they manage to make it!
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 5:17 PM EST
Squib
Points: 135
hpluver8476 says:
That would be the coolest thing ever invented! Expect for TV!
Posted Oct 12, 2005 at 5:48 PM EST
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