Quest Visual
Otavio Goood is the founder and CEO of Quest Visual, which developed “World Lens.” His partner in the venture is John DeWeese. World Lens is an smart-technology application, which can be used to convert foreign languages and objects into familiar content for the user. Their goal is to help the people of the world communicate, and this App holds a great deal of potential for international business and travel. While it is a global aimed concept, World Lens also has value in the classroom since many schools are populated with learners whose first language is not English. Thus learners could use such a tool to help them build better sense of concepts or ideas.
He comes to Quest Visual and World Lens from a background of software architect and game design and is supported by John DeWeese who also has a background in software architecture. Quest Visual represents the second venture for Otavio. He previously co-founded Secret Level, which was later purchased by Sega in 2006. Quest Visual has limited information about the rest of the supporting team, however, Otavio appear to have the chops to found and support the further development of products for Quest Visual as well as the training and experience to make this a successful venture.
As a perception of venturist Octavio demonstrates the value of having a set of skills (programming), but also the insight to see an application of the skills and experience in an area of useful need in a user friendly manner. Interestingly I’d argue that this venture is also a function of the environment in the sense that smart-phones are relatively new and such a venture would not have been possible 10 years ago.
References:
http://questvisual.com/about/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otavio_Good
Deborah S 6:06 pm on May 30, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Dave,
This is certainly an interesting app. I have many international students in my classes who would benefit from it, especially since it doesn’t require the user to be connected to the Internet (and we cannot get Wi-Fi connections consistently through the concrete walls of the computer labs). I checked out the website and liked the fact that you can simply point your phone at text and have it translated instantly. This would certainly help students in a test situation where they need to know the translation of a question very quickly.
Deborah
Dave Horn 8:08 pm on May 30, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I suppose the trick would be guiding students how to use it appropriately so that it was used to build their skills rather than permitting them to bypass having to learn the language or concepts.
mariefrancehetu 7:00 pm on May 30, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Dave,
As a second language teacher I think this app has much potential. You are right, this type of venture would not have been possible 10 years ago . . . just imagine what apps folks will be able to come up with in another 5 years or so! The possibilities are unlimited!
Marie-France
janetb 7:54 pm on May 30, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
So, the sci-fi geek in me harkens back to the Star Trek Universal Translator. Not the first sci-fi gizmo to make it into the real world and undoubtedly not the last! If only transporters were coming soon …
Thanks for the summary!
Janet
Dave Horn 8:07 pm on May 30, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
interesting to see what types of new products are going to be produced in the future. It’s interesting that many of the research into a technology for one purpose are often then producing spin-off applications (research into cloaking technology is better refining use of light in optics and computing power).