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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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Student
Points: 284
CharlieChop8 says:
thats is sooooooooooooooo kool! i want one!! very useful aswell hmm christmas is coming up soon! *wink wink nudge nudge* 47 days australia! ACCIO DECEMBER 1st!
Posted Oct 14, 2005 at 7:31 AM EST
Squib
Points: 177
Jeffaplus says:
Wow, that is cool. And somewhat ... um ... magical? Futuristic? I can't think of the right word.
Oh well, I'll be first in line when it comes out!
Posted Oct 14, 2005 at 4:55 PM EST
Points: 90
Elphie says:
That sounds AWESOME!! It would be really cool to get a clock like that.
Posted Oct 15, 2005 at 2:22 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1908
Opera Ghost says:
By the time this clock comes out, the only thing people will be able to tell about me is what room of the nursing home I'm in! So I am not too worried about my privacy being invaded.
Posted Oct 15, 2005 at 4:16 AM EST
The Fifth Marauder
Points: 2771
Curious Werewolf says:
This clock sounds so cool! And you can TEXT MESSAGE IT?? Geeze...I'll bet it'll be really expensive, that is of course if it is made! I hope it is, it'll be the clock of the future! Everyone will want one! All thanks to JKR, yaay!
Posted Oct 15, 2005 at 12:41 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 348
mpk says:
This is a very interesting item.
Posted Oct 15, 2005 at 2:41 PM EST
Squib
Points: 161
~Mischief_Managed~ says:
Thats totaly awsome!!! It would be so cool to have a clock like that. I can't wait.
Posted Oct 15, 2005 at 9:52 PM EST
Heiress of Gryffindor
Points: 3537
Nienna Narmolanya says:
Coolness!
That would be soo totally, wickedly awesome. Even if it wasn't in Harry Potter, I'd still think it would be cool to have one of those. I'm guessing that it's gonna go for at least a small fortune, so I'll think about it when t actually does come out.
Weren't they working on some "Invisibility Cloak" thing too?
Posted Oct 15, 2005 at 11:43 PM EST
Auror
Points: 4080
RON's all up in heRmiONe says:
Oh my god I want that clock. That would be so cool to have that. It probibly won't come out until another three years though. It would be so cool. I can't believe it.
Posted Oct 16, 2005 at 1:12 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 471
Artymus Pax says:
Wild. Just plain wild. At first I thought we were talking about a replica. I imagine there will be a lot of teens who won't like being lojacked, however.
Posted Oct 16, 2005 at 7:19 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 91
HufflepuffHunny02 says:
That is neat! I can't wait to see what it looks like!
Posted Oct 16, 2005 at 8:07 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1418
Wanta House Elf says:
That is sort of cool.
But will interfere with kids skipping school, unless they leave their mobiles behind!
Posted Oct 17, 2005 at 12:47 AM EST
Princess of Nargles
Points: 4137
hp_fan206 says:
Gosh, that is TOTALLY awesome! If they have those in the future, I'd love one! Except I wouldn't really like my mum tracing me that much, hehe.
Posted Oct 17, 2005 at 6:59 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 539
Emma's true fan and lover says:
This clearly explains that the fan base of Harry Potter extends far beyond us fans themselves and the books have inspired a mammoth company , Microsoft, to invest in an idea picked straight out from the books.
The clock looks simply amazing and the fact that you could text messages using your mobile phone and that the message could be viewed on the clock is ingenious . I'm going to ask my cousin in Microsoft to let me look at this clock, I'm sure this is going to remove from any future favours but I really want to see how it works and perhaps I'll convince him to get me a discount.
Hahaha, maybe I'm just pushing my luck a bit too far.
Anyways, if the clock is as good as it sounds it is, it's going to sell like Hotcakes, but maybe those who think this will invade their privacy won't prove to be big fans of this clever new device.
Posted Oct 17, 2005 at 7:58 PM EST
Witch
Points: 537
Head Dementor says:
That's awesome!!!
Imagine if they actually were able to make one but without the phone thingy?!?! That would be even cooler!!
Posted Oct 20, 2005 at 5:40 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 427
Draco Malfoy_Lover says:
That would just be the best thing that has ever come out for the HP things. That would just be so cool if it didn't need the phones. This is just to cool. ;)
*~Draco Malfoy is so hot!~*
Posted Oct 22, 2005 at 3:24 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1041
hedgehog says:
I find it horrible. No privat sphere anymore. If you're in the toilet, cheating to your wife or gambling - first put your mobil telephone somewhere you want them to assume you to be.
Posted Oct 27, 2005 at 5:57 AM EST
Student
Points: 285
Jen Malfoy says:
cool I would love to have one of those clocks!
Posted Oct 28, 2005 at 5:32 PM EST
Squib
Points: 106
dscully35 says:
Now that would be something cool...if they can make it highly advacned one day, they can use it for certain parolee's
Posted Oct 28, 2005 at 8:31 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 62
doublethebubble says:
i think it would be cool if it worked, AND only if i would get to choose if i wanted to be found or not. like an on/off key on my single "device". it should also automatically turn on when in "mortal peril". because microsoft will find out how to do that. :)
Posted Oct 29, 2005 at 2:00 AM EST
Witch
Points: 913
MaeMuffin[DOT] says:
*SOON I SHALL NO LONGER BE A DRATTED {MUGGLE} SSSSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOON*
Sorry 'bout that!
The whole clock IDEA sounds VERY cool, but
It is gonna b SSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOO EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!!!!!
:D
Posted Oct 30, 2005 at 6:02 PM EST
Witch
Points: 654
Mrs_Norris says:
Can we say a little Big Brotherish. The technology is already available to the government and police but opening to the public is a little scary. It would just help stalkers. Like they need any.
Posted Nov 2, 2005 at 7:12 PM EST
Student
Points: 256
phoenixgirl127 says:
Everyone would know where you are all the time! But they do sound cool and its weird what Harry Potter has inspired.
Posted Nov 3, 2005 at 11:08 AM EST
Student
Points: 290
Molinex says:
COOL...know we could know where r our familiars...but i'll feel like the weasleys..... BECAUSE IM 7 BROTHERS ON OUR FAMILY.....XD
Posted Nov 21, 2005 at 3:45 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 346
fabian prewett says:
that'd be such a cool thing to have i hope that they do make it. it sounds like such an unbelievable concept tho doesn't it
Adam.
Posted Nov 26, 2005 at 7:33 PM EST
Witch
Points: 622
Livia De Romanus says:
I want that clock! If I had money I would find a way to buy it, but alas, I don't. THat is so cool, I like the idea, THEY SHOULD MASS MARKET IT.
Posted Nov 27, 2005 at 6:49 PM EST
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