Wallstream, Idea and Concept

This weekend we’ve gathered to build a web app. We started with the idea ‘Wallstream‘. Which is a backchannel-like webbased application which aggegrates online information and displays it on a large (LCD or Plasma) screen. We aim to use physical prototype interfaces to let the users interact with the online content. Also, a more personalized experience will be created.

History

More companies store important information online. This information is becoming more accessible via API’s and therefore can be re-used and connected easily. During events backchannels are very important as they provide additional conversation and information about the event. Backchannels most of the times are displayed on big screens (LCD / Plasma tv’s).

The idea

Now, if companies are having more important information stored online… Why are we only using our laptops, workstations and mobile phones to view and interact with the content? For example, physical office space and online content are disconnected. Wallstream aggregates content and displays it on a big screen within the physical space. Through physical interfaces Wallstream enables users to interact with the content displayed.

Conceptualized

We’ve already talked a bit how Wallstream is going to operate, but we used the first few hours of day #1 to create a concept which is realistic to build in two days. Two objectives were set. First is the actual application we need in order to display the information on the screens. It runs in a browser and must be optimized for a display resolution of 1920×1080. It connects to different online services like Twitter, Flickr, RSS Feeds and others. Later on services like Basecamp, Highrise, Harvest and other online collaboration tools are added in order to aim the service at (small) companies. Second, physical interfaces are added so users can interact with the displayed software.