|
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.
Reader Comments (296)
Your Thoughts
click to write...
Copyright © 2002-2009 HPANA. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 
HPANA is an unofficial fan site, in no way affiliated with J.K. Rowling,
Scholastic Books, Bloomsbury Publishing or Warner Bros. Entertainment. All
trademarks and copyrighted material are the property of their respective owners.
About HPANA | Movie 6 | Send a news tip | Contact us | Privacy policy
226-250 251-275 276-296
Witch
Points: 935
fizzingwhizbees says:
Thats awesome i always knew it would be possible but it would be alot cooler if it was magic behind it. i love magic/
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 4:34 PM EST
Squib
Points: 101
kipperkid says:
That would be sooooo cool, i would really love one of them, i hope that it comes out before chrimblemus or at least before me 21st
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 4:34 PM EST
Hogwart's Ghost
Points: 2604
gemma_barnett1985 says:
I want one, but i don't think i will beable to afford one when the come out. You never know, if i win the lottery, i'll buy a load and give them away.
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 4:40 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1578
*sweet_angel_baby* says:
That is awesome!!!...i would so love to buy one of thosee clocks!! so when does it come out?!?! i hope it'll be soon enough for christmas!!
that clock will always remind me of Ron and the twins (because of the second movie :P) so i'll like to have one..;)
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 4:40 PM EST
Witch
Points: 558
Padfoot Returns says:
Oh wow that's sooooo cool! I'd want that clock but I probabaly wouldn't be able because of the high price.
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 4:43 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 787
Beyondfreedom3 says:
That sounds really cool, but here in America I just have two words for you: Big Brother. How could the government not use this technology to their advantage?
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 4:48 PM EST
Mage of Celestial Melody
Points: 3324
Telos says:
I really don't want my parents to have that clock......they will know exactly where i am......that may not be a good idea.
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 4:50 PM EST
Witch
Points: 739
The 4th Champion says:
That would be so cool! I loved that in the movie!
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 4:51 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1812
Scilia Snape says:
That's awesome! I wonder if you need to carry a tracking device of sorts to keep the hands moving.
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 4:55 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1023
hpff_#1 says:
That is so freakin' awsome!!! I want one really really really bad!!! How much will it cost that would be sooo conveniant for my family!
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 5:03 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1090
Octavian Petronius says:
That's either really cool or really scary. You know that once you can see it, hackers will be able to get in and see it to. I don't know if I want someone who might be wanting to rob my house to see where I am, or even the government for that matter.
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 5:07 PM EST
Witch
Points: 834
Lily's Husband101 says:
That rocks!!!!!I so want one!!!!!
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 5:07 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 309
Wicked_06 says:
I Want ONE that would be wicked!!
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 5:09 PM EST
Editor of the Squibbler
(Moderator)
Points: 2031
eudaemonia says:
BEmshoff: I think they're going to be taking it slow on the idea of insertion of microchips into people and just use mobile phones in the meantime. There must be some kind of tracking device. They mentioned GPS (Global Positioning System), which they say aren't going to be used so there might be something similar they'll create. That reminds me...
I think they have to be very careful in regards to how people are linked up to that clock. It reminds me of a news article I read where some guy was caught stalking his ex-girlfriend by use of a cellphone. He had stuck it somewhere under her car and with some GPS chip or something installed in that cellphone. He kept showing up in places where she'd go... even when she went to visit dead relatives in the cemetery! It was lucky the ex-girlfriend was able to prove it to the authorities. *shudder*
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 5:12 PM EST
Dumbledore's Protégé
Points: 3558
Harree Potter says:
Woo Hoo. The Irish Independant was used as a source! I live in Ireland! I read that paper! On the matter of the clock, I'd imagine that it is still impossible.
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 5:12 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1823
Veela_gurl says:
Now, that would be a cool novelty to have. Harry Potter mania is claiming the world.
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 5:13 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 61
Zankou says:
COOOOOOOOL! I want one! bit i dont have a mobile phone....
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 5:13 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1069
Xenatina says:
I was wondering how long it would be until someone made a Weasley family clock!!
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 5:15 PM EST
Witch
Points: 851
Wesleylove says:
i want that clock. i dont care how much it will coast. i love the wwesley family. that why i have my Screen Name Wesleylove, Cause i love them. So i want the clock.
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 5:15 PM EST
Student
Points: 250
Wolf Animagus8 says:
OOOOOOO! I want one!! I could keep track of my parents so I could get away with stuff!!
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 5:20 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 508
GRAWP_1579 says:
OH I would loooooove one of those they sound soooooo cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool!
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 5:26 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1826
snapelupinfan says:
I really don't think that I want to know all day where my family members are. A little bit privacy is not that bad. But it sounds like a great piece of technology. And if you don't want to be observed, you can just "forget" your little gadget!
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 5:30 PM EST
Weasley Garden Faerie
Points: 4481
Tamlynn says:
That is so cool...I wonder how they will figure out how to make the phone be able to give its location to the clock...I mean like how does it know if you are at home, at work, etc.
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 5:32 PM EST
Student
Points: 201
*sHaDoW* says:
Ok....Now that is a serious leap towards the future!
How cool is that?
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 5:45 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1380
Chadick says:
WOWWW!! It sounds so cool! I want it!!!! I wonder how much it will cost. I bet it's going to be expensive, with the latest technology applied to it and all...Hurray to JK Rowling for the idea....Very unique!!!
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 5:46 PM EST
The Chosen One
Points: 9942
Gryffindor Dude says:
That is so freaking cool but I don't know if I want my mom seeing where I am all the time! haha. That wouldn't be very good.
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 5:47 PM EST
226-250 251-275 276-296
Back to top of page