tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65595462024-03-13T05:23:12.044-07:00Digital Village DispatchThe online blog for Digital Village Radio.Doranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432197902507876037noreply@blogger.comBlogger655125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559546.post-41557508434807288282012-10-27T11:59:00.005-07:002012-10-27T11:59:47.647-07:00Welcoming Endeavour Home<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="500" height="281" data="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=109786" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"> <param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=66cbb19fc0&photo_id=8088618007&flickr_show_info_box=true"></param> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=109786"></param> <param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=109786" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=66cbb19fc0&photo_id=8088618007&flickr_show_info_box=true" height="281" width="500"></embed></object><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/8088618007/">Welcoming Endeavour Home</a> a video by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/">~db~</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>This afternoon at Exposition Park. I had a front row seat.</p>Doranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432197902507876037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559546.post-78342456680306212982012-10-27T11:59:00.003-07:002012-10-27T11:59:31.757-07:00Under Endeavour's Wing<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="500" height="281" data="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=109786" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"> <param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=445d4ee6af&photo_id=8088598738&flickr_show_info_box=true"></param> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=109786"></param> <param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=109786" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=445d4ee6af&photo_id=8088598738&flickr_show_info_box=true" height="281" width="500"></embed></object><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/8088598738/">Under Endeavour's Wing</a> a video by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/">~db~</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>This afternoon at Exposition Park. I had a front row seat. I love the mom next to me telling her kids <i>"You'll never see this again."</i> So true.</p>Doranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432197902507876037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559546.post-52272517403364455132012-10-27T11:59:00.001-07:002012-10-27T11:59:10.341-07:00Endeavour's Tiles<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/8090241770/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8330/8090241770_4bbc4f2324_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/8090241770/">Endeavour's Tiles</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/">~db~</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>Also known as the High-temperature reusable surface insulation (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_thermal_protection_system#High-temperature_reusable_surface_insulation_.28HRSI.29" rel="nofollow">HRSI</a>)</p>Doranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432197902507876037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559546.post-25160863268498350162012-10-27T11:58:00.003-07:002012-10-27T11:58:44.541-07:00Made In The USA<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/8093819998/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8472/8093819998_4d3becf934_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/8093819998/">Made In The USA</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/">~db~</a></span><br clear="all" /><p></p>Doranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432197902507876037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559546.post-58757137666832123632012-10-27T11:58:00.001-07:002012-10-27T11:58:27.617-07:00Shuttle Flaps<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/8096915585/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8045/8096915585_538edace6c_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/8096915585/">Shuttle Flaps</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/">~db~</a></span><br clear="all" /><p></p>Doranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432197902507876037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559546.post-17066777927878851702012-09-08T07:51:00.001-07:002012-09-08T07:51:17.713-07:00Play Me!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7955581938/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8303/7955581938_20e03f3d06_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7955581938/">Play Me!</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/">~db~</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>From <a href="http://www.symbiosiso.com/" rel="nofollow">SymbiosisO</a>, <a href="http://www.symbiosiso.com/products/play-me-/" rel="nofollow">Play Me!</a> is a pillow with an embedded music player.<br /><br /><i><a href="http://s2012.siggraph.org/attendees/sessions/symbiosiss" rel="nofollow">SymbiosisS</a> is part of a collection of textile interfaces, SymbiosisO (“O” for objects), which behave as organic displays and react to definable impulses by showing pre-defined patterns that animate slowly over the surface. It welcomes viewers to sit and rest on soft-folded material that displays an active, slowly shifting pattern. When excited, the pattern starts forming, in a playful, curious way, around the place where the textile was touched. Once the disturbance is abated, the pattern continues its peaceful expansion. This vivacious interaction of a vibrant pattern is a demonstration of the potential for tangible textile interfaces. Ubiquitous computation – an active, programmable secondary skin to surround everyday objects – is an ambient, “noiseless,” and thus vigorous way to visualize information and form space.<br /><br />Kärt Ojavee<br />Eesti Kunstiakadeemia<br /><br />Eszter Ozsvald<br />New York University</i></p>Doranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432197902507876037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559546.post-24657315528185591902012-09-02T11:24:00.001-07:002012-09-02T11:24:18.738-07:00Botanicus Interacticus<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7915373824/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8315/7915373824_14c32f75df_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7915373824/">Botanicus Interacticus</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/">~db~</a></span><br clear="all" /><p><i><a href="http://s2012.siggraph.org/attendees/sessions/botanicus-interacticus-interactive-plants-technology" rel="nofollow">Botanicus Interacticus</a> is a technology for designing highly expressive interactive plants, both living and artificial. The project is motivated by the rapid fusion of our computing and dwelling spaces, as well as the increasingly tactile and gestural nature of our interactions with digital devices. It is an interaction platform that expands interaction beyond computing devices and appliances to place it anywhere in the physical environment.<br /><br />Botanicus Interacticus has a number of unique properties that set it apart from previous work on interactive plants:<br /><br />- This instrumentation of plants is simple, non-invasive, and does not damage the plants. It requires only a single wire placed anywhere in the soil.<br /><br />- The interaction goes beyond simple touch detection to allow rich gestural interaction with the plant (for example, sliding fingers on the stem of the orchid, detecting touch location, proximity tracking, and estimating the amount of touch contact.<br /><br />- The gesture recognition is accurate. It applies machine-learning techniques for precise and unambiguous recognition of gestures.<br /><br />- It deconstructs the electrical properties of plants and replicates them using electrical components. This allows a broad variety of biologically inspired artificial plants that behave nearly exactly the same as their biological counterparts. The same sensing technology is used with both living and artificial plants, making them interchangeable.<br /><br />A broad range of applications is possible with this technology: designing interactive, responsive environments; developing a new form of living interaction devices; and developing ambient and pervasive interfaces. At SIGGRAPH 2012, the technology's versatility is demonstrated as an entertainment application where visitors can communicate with living and artificial plants by gesturing on them and observing the plants’ “response” in the form of rich computer-generated imagery and sound.<br /><br />Ivan Poupyrev<br />Disney Research, Pittsburgh<br /><br />Philipp Schoessler<br />Disney Research, Pittsburgh and Universität der Künste Berlin<br /><br />Jonas Loh<br />Studio NAND<br /><br />Gunnar Green<br />TheGreenEyl<br /><br />Eric Brockmeyer<br />Disney Research, Pittsburgh<br /><br />Willy Sengewald<br />TheGreenEyl<br /><br />Munehiko Sato<br />Disney Research, Pittsburgh and The University of Tokyo</i></p>Doranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432197902507876037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559546.post-86919529970148718072012-09-01T07:38:00.001-07:002012-09-01T07:38:40.850-07:00HeartBeats Watch<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7906503528/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8305/7906503528_586c30c58e_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7906503528/">HeartBeats Watch</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/">~db~</a></span><br clear="all" /><p><i>Stretching or shrinking hours at the beat of your heart, <a href="http://s2012.siggraph.org/attendees/sessions/heartbeats-watch" rel="nofollow">The HeartBeats Watch</a> is a timepiece in which the duration of time is paced not by seconds but according to the wearer's heartbeat. Through a heightened awareness of self, The HeartsBeats Watch brings together art and science to reveal emotional complexity of time and the human body. A poetic investigation of the physiology of emotions, health, immortality, and control, the watch bridges the gap between society and medical science, invoking a broader cultural perception of life.<br /><br />Julie Legault<br />V2_ Institute for the Unstable Media, Royal College of Art</i></p>Doranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432197902507876037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559546.post-73771242156008480792012-08-30T06:47:00.001-07:002012-08-30T06:47:38.634-07:00Colloidal Display<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7893929486/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8175/7893929486_c476aaf896_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7893929486/">Colloidal Display</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/">~db~</a></span><br clear="all" /><p><i><a href="http://s2012.siggraph.org/attendees/sessions/colloidal-display-membrane-screen-combines-transparency-brdf-and-3d-volume" rel="nofollow">This project</a> proposes an innovative solution that transforms a soap film into the world’s thinnest screen. It has several significant points in comparison to other displays or screens:<br /><br />- The screen’s transparency can be controlled dynamically by using ultrasonic sound waves. Because of its transparency, membranes and a single projector can develop the plane-based 3D screen.<br /><br />- The screen’s shape, surface texture, and reflectance can be controlled dynamically with ultrasonic sound waves.<br />Because of its dynamic character, the screen can display realistic material.<br /><br />- The screen’s unique material, which allows objects to pass through it, promotes new ways of human interaction with flexible displays.<br /><br />These features open a new path for flexible displays.<br /><br />Yoichi Ochiai<br />The University of Tokyo<br /><br />Alexis Oyama<br />Carnegie Mellon University<br /><br />Keisuke Toyoshima<br />University of Tsukuba</i></p>Doranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432197902507876037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559546.post-89553580879297805302012-08-29T06:45:00.001-07:002012-08-29T06:45:46.539-07:00Snail Trail<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7887243538/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8442/7887243538_31e5907027_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7887243538/">Snail Trail</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/">~db~</a></span><br clear="all" /><p><i>Philipp Artus’ snail trail is a 360-degree laser animation loop projected onto a column. The two-minute animation relates the story of a snail, which in response to its environment, keeps evolving new means of locomotion; ultimately inventing the wheel and eventually devolving back to its original form. The projection surface is made from a phosphorescent material creating an afterglow that slowly fades out. As a result of the phosphorescent trails, viewers can simultaneously see what happens, what has happened, and what will happen. This reflection on time is elaborated further through the endlessly cycling structure of the work as well as through the recurring pulse of sound and light, which refers to periodic natural phenomena like the tides or the seasons.</i></p>Doranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432197902507876037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559546.post-673144225522869572012-08-25T06:37:00.001-07:002012-08-25T06:37:41.208-07:00Sustainable Cinema (detail)<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7856833496/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7137/7856833496_b0caa813ca_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7856833496/">Sustainable Cinema (detail)</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/">~db~</a></span><br clear="all" /><p></p>Doranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432197902507876037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559546.post-85205985763544001402012-08-24T07:10:00.001-07:002012-08-24T07:10:25.055-07:00Sustainable Cinema<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7850926068/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7123/7850926068_f4a6af29bf_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7850926068/">Sustainable Cinema</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/">~db~</a></span><br clear="all" /><p><i>The wind-powered <a href="http://s2012.siggraph.org/attendees/sessions/sustainable-cinema-no-4-shadow-play" rel="nofollow">Sustainable Cinema No. 4: Shadow Play</a> is a kinetic public sculpture that harnesses sustainable energy to generate a moving image. By using natural power to re-create an early art form that led to the beginnings of cinema, the sculpture references the histories of both motion pictures and industrialization. It explores a possible future of environmentally responsible media; looking forward by looking back.<br /><br />Scott Hessels<br />City University of Hong Kong</i></p>Doranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432197902507876037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559546.post-13872822551301027512012-08-19T09:04:00.001-07:002012-08-19T09:04:46.336-07:00Coronado<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7815866318/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8306/7815866318_b38b3230b7_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7815866318/">Coronado</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/">~db~</a></span><br clear="all" /><p><i><a href="http://news.ctrlsave.com/#15565845454" rel="nofollow">Coronado</a> is a six channel sound installation that is inspired by the sonic experience I had at the Coronado beach in California. Using an ocean drum controlled by autonomous mechanical arms as the source of the soundscape, a feedback loop is created and the sound waves are bounced across the six sound channels, creating a spatial interpretation of the sound scape.</i> <br /><br />- <a href="http://news.ctrlsave.com" rel="nofollow">Kian-Peng Ong</a> aka Bin // <a href="https://twitter.com/ctrlsave" rel="nofollow">@Ctrlsave</a></p>Doranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432197902507876037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559546.post-8676943848627280082012-08-18T15:57:00.001-07:002012-08-18T15:57:31.170-07:00Tavola<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7811035504/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8306/7811035504_1bf00efda5_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7811035504/">Tavola</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/">~db~</a></span><br clear="all" /><p><i><a href="http://s2012.siggraph.org/attendees/sessions/tavola-holographic-user-experience" rel="nofollow">Tavola</a> is a new platform for holographic and interactive 3D experience. It enables holographic 3D visual and 3D audio experience in a natural, free-space 3D interaction, and it can augment the interface of smaller devices such as smartphones. The head-tracking component is compact, accurate, and non-intrusive to the user’s appearance. The system supports in-the-air 3D interaction and several hand gestures via a set of natural and immersive free-hand interaction methods. Possible applications include kiosks, virtual tourism, shopping, education, training, environment simulation, and data visualization.<br /><br />Yue Fei<br />Panasonic Silicon Valley Laboratory<br /><br />Andrea Melle<br />Panasonic Silicon Valley Laboratory<br /><br />David Kryze<br />Panasonic Silicon Valley Laboratory<br /><br />Jean-Claude Junqua<br />Panasonic Silicon Valley Laboratory</i></p>Doranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432197902507876037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559546.post-59209015786752502982012-08-18T07:49:00.001-07:002012-08-18T07:49:32.103-07:00Bunny Zapper<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7808303436/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7140/7808303436_275739dc0f_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7808303436/">Bunny Zapper</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/">~db~</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>Actually a demonstration of removable printing, allowing surplus promotional items to be reused, with a different message, instead of being thrown away. This bunny was one of several items they used.</p>Doranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432197902507876037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559546.post-69299942599750647622012-08-17T08:17:00.005-07:002012-08-17T08:17:54.381-07:00Saturation (Detail)<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7802157500/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8429/7802157500_b3031590ca_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7802157500/">Saturation (Detail)</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/">~db~</a></span><br clear="all" /><p><i><a href="http://s2012.siggraph.org/attendees/sessions/saturation" rel="nofollow">Saturation</a> is an installation that highlights the abundance of wireless signals occupying the electromagnetic spectrum. The work indexes the FM radio spectrum to reveal the density of the invisible communications infrastructure saturating the environment and our bodies.<br /><br />The work is installed in the form of an enormous chandelier; a set of open aluminum boxes housing FM radios are strung together and hung from the center of the ceiling. At rest, while concealed within their enclosures, the radio receivers output an ocean of static. Once exposed [by pulling on a big red rope in the center of the installation], the radios each connect to a different station, filling the space with a cacophony of noise. This process reveals a densely populated, dynamic array of electromagnetic fields that, while intangible, constantly permeate our bodies and environment.<br /><br />Daniel Barry<br />University at Buffalo<br /><br />Adam Laskowitz<br />Design 5 and University at Buffalo</i></p>Doranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432197902507876037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559546.post-10276405059264278232012-08-17T08:17:00.003-07:002012-08-17T08:17:29.785-07:00Making Of The Man<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7759843800/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7270/7759843800_3d4aaa4697_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7759843800/">Making Of The Man</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/">~db~</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>A <a href="http://www.makerbot.com/" rel="nofollow">MakerBot</a> in action.</p>Doranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432197902507876037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559546.post-24770810288151593952012-08-17T08:17:00.001-07:002012-08-17T08:17:07.977-07:00Tardigotchi<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7759751216/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8285/7759751216_4fe33a512a_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7759751216/">Tardigotchi</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/">~db~</a></span><br clear="all" /><p><i><a href="http://www.tardigotchi.com/" rel="nofollow">Tardigotchi</a> is an artwork featuring two pets: a living organism and an alife avatar. These two disparate beings find themselves the unlikely denizens of a portable computing enclosure. The main body for this enclosure is a brass sphere, housing the alife avatar in an LED screen and the tardigrade within a prepared slide. A tardigrade is a common microorganism measuring half a millimeter in length. The alife avatar is a caricature of this tardigrade. Its behavior is partially autonomous, but it also reflects a considerable amount of expression directly from the tardigrade’s activities.</i></p>Doranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432197902507876037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559546.post-53718904148836268312012-08-17T08:16:00.001-07:002012-08-17T08:16:44.480-07:00Ready For Your Closeup<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7759079076/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7279/7759079076_b08297b478_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7759079076/">Ready For Your Closeup</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/">~db~</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>Part of the setup for making <i>The Merchant of Venus Prime</i>.</p>Doranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432197902507876037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559546.post-66151094694168866922012-08-17T08:14:00.001-07:002012-08-17T08:14:22.764-07:00TELESAR V<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7755857220/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8305/7755857220_4ed5a44de4_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7755857220/">TELESAR V</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/">~db~</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>The <a href="http://tachilab.org/modules/projects/telesar5.html" rel="nofollow"><b>TELE</b>xistence <b>S</b>urrogate <b>A</b>nthropomorphic <b>R</b>obot</a> was by far the most exciting thing I saw at SIGGGRAPH this year. As presented it was a sort of robotic <i>avatar</i>, with a human wearing a large helmet equipped with stereoscopic displays and audio, plus haptic gloves which provided both pressure <i>and</i> temperature feedback.<br /><br />In the demonstration, an operator sits in a chair, wearing the helmet and gloves. They see and hear the video and audio provided by the robot's cameras and microphones. As the operator moves, TELESAR mimics those movements in real-time, whether looking around, or reaching out to touch something. When the robot is offered a cup of water, the operator is asked to estimate how far away the cup is, and then to reach for it. He successfully grasps the cup and is able to determine the water inside is cold.<br /><br />Additionally, the headset has a microphone, allowing the operator to speak through the robot's <i>mouth</i>, interacting with people (or perhaps other robot/avatars) in proximity to the TELESAR avatar. Indeed, after the demo, the audience is given several minutes to talk with the <i>robot</i>, which actually meant interacting with the human sitting a few feet away. Still, the effect was obvious and immediate. People weren't talking with the operator, they were talking with TELESAR.</p>Doranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432197902507876037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559546.post-45539310006264640592012-08-17T08:13:00.003-07:002012-08-17T08:13:59.540-07:00SplashDisplay<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7753638942/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8445/7753638942_fde58f208e_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7753638942/">SplashDisplay</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/">~db~</a></span><br clear="all" /><p><a href="http://s2012.siggraph.org/attendees/sessions/splashdisplay-volumetric-projecting-using-projectile-beads#page-title" rel="nofollow"><i>SplashDisplay</i></a> is an interactive system in which you toss styrofoam <i>"food"</i> at a "whale" (actually a blue disk of light) swimming in the middle of foam beads. The system is able to detect where the food lands, and creates outward ripples radiating from that spot. If the food lands on the whale, it responds with a happy spout, which is caused by a low frequency speaker below the foam beads.</p>Doranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432197902507876037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559546.post-34906005029069415302012-08-17T08:13:00.001-07:002012-08-17T08:13:29.074-07:00JUKE Cylinder<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7753108760/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8302/7753108760_5af73a287b_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7753108760/">JUKE Cylinder</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/">~db~</a></span><br clear="all" /><p><i>"<a href="http://s2012.siggraph.org/attendees/sessions/juke-cylinder-device-metamorphose-hands-musical-instrument" rel="nofollow">JUKE Cylinder</a> is a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esz7mOyNQtw&feature=player_embedded" rel="nofollow">cylindrical interactive device</a> that metamorphoses hands to a musical instrument by localizing the sound image on the hands and enables users to control the pitches of the sound. Users create and control the sounds of real musical instruments (guitar, piano, flute, etc.) with their hands. They perceive that the sounds originate from interactions or objects that would not normally produce audio output."</i></p>Doranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432197902507876037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559546.post-60133309103823608582012-08-17T08:12:00.001-07:002012-08-17T08:12:58.312-07:00MIT Mood Meter<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7752875494/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8293/7752875494_42c00efcda_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/7752875494/">MIT Mood Meter</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dopey/">~db~</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>The <a href="http://moodmeter.media.mit.edu/" rel="nofollow">MIT Mood Meter</a> counts the number of smiles it can see in a large room, or indeed a whole community, and notes how long those smiles last over time. The <i>Happiness Barometer</i> on the left can be seen as a general measurement of the mood of that group of people. The visual feedback is meant to <i>"raise awareness of how our own smiles can positively affect the surrounding environment"</i>.</p>Doranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432197902507876037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559546.post-31010277157771480242012-06-29T06:35:00.000-07:002012-06-29T06:35:14.019-07:00The Supreme Court Ruling on ACAHere's my take on the the Supremes' decision today:<br />
<br />
Chief Justice John Roberts pays attention to the news... and the polls. He noticed, that after the high court's "Citizens United" ruling that said that corporations could take over our political system with... if you just called it free speech... Money, people were not impressed. The Montana decision rendered less than a week ago not only solidified that ruling for individual states, but brought with it a reason for Roberts to become more concerned.<br />
<br />
He began to notice that the Supreme Court was increasingly being seen as just another wing of the extreme right's ability to dominate every branch of government with money... and billions of it.<br />
<br />
So he saved his and the Court's prejudiced hide by deciding that he would do, as he promised in his acceptance hearing (which had lately been brought up repeatedly as proof of his hypocrisy), to hang a left turn and basically do what the Constitution told him to.<br />
<br />
He realized, at this politically charged time, that he'd better live up to his promise or be forever branded as the head of maybe the most activist Supreme Court since some bizarre period buried till now in the 20th Century.<br />
<br />
I empathize with many who say that he had more than historically moral reasons and even have had an inner smile when he both justified and announced that it was, after all, an OBAMA TAX. But Judge Roberts, in the end, did the correct (right?) for him, thing.<br />
<br />
-Ric<br />
<br />Doranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432197902507876037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559546.post-18942293192259355172011-05-14T10:28:00.001-07:002011-05-14T10:59:16.503-07:00Digital Village in ExileAs you (hopefully) have noticed, Digital Village has been off the air for several weeks. This post is to help explain what is going on, and what is happening with Digital Village Radio.<br /><br />First, station management has assured us that <span style="font-weight:bold;">Digital Village is <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> going away!</span> In fact KPFK has asked us to <span style="font-style: italic;">expand</span> our format to include more elements and voices. We've spent our time off the air developing some of these new features and topics. The plan is to return to the air after the Spring Fund Drive, though it <span style="font-style: italic;">may</span> be at a different day and/or time. Be sure to check back here periodically to get the latest Digital Village news.<br /><br />To the best of our knowledge, Digital Village Radio is the longest running radio program focused on the social and cultural impact of computers, the Internet, and technology in general. When we began in 1995, many questioned whether we would have enough to talk about. Nobody does that any more. In fact, there is now so much to talk about that Ric and Doran can no longer do it alone. Which brings us to our first big announcement.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >The Digital Village Radio call for volunteers!</span><br /><br />We are looking for a number of people who are interested and willing to work with us in producing the weekly Digital Village broadcast and its online content.<br /><br />We need people with good organizational skills, who can work on a deadline to help produce the show and its individual segments. We are looking for people active in the community who can work on the air and behind the scenes to help create the most cutting-edge program about digital culture in the country.<br /><br />Some will work on the air, conducting interviews and producing segments. Others will work behind the scenes, gathering info, scheduling guests, and generally helping produce the weekly program as well as other online events and features. Technical skill in radio production or with online media is a plus, but not required.<br /><br />The most important requirement is commitment. We really need people who are willing to stay with the project as it develops. Quitting after a couple weeks will do more harm than if a person didn’t sign up in the first place. That said, we understand that this is something of an unknown we’re asking volunteers to sign up for. It’s just that we ask that you consider whether you are willing to commit to at least 3 months. If not, this probably isn’t for you.<br /><br />What we <span style="font-style: italic;">don’t</span> need are people who just want to be radio stars, or have a specific agenda to push, regardless of how noble it may be. We need people who can take direction and be part of a team which covers a wide range of topics. And while we are <span style="font-style: italic;">absolutely</span> looking for people who can help come up with fantastic ideas for the show, we also need people willing to do whatever work is needed to produce the program. If your interest is only to be in front of the microphone, then again, this probably isn’t for you.<br /><br />So, if you haven’t been scared away yet and are still interested and willing to make the commitment, send your resume and cover letter to <span style="font-weight: bold;">KPFK’s Volunteer Coordinator Jessica Woods</span> at <a style="font-style: italic;" href="mailto:volunteer@kpfk.org">volunteer@kpfk.org</a>. Please do it quickly so we have time to evaluate the candidates and get the team assembled before we go back on the air this Summer. With your help, we’ll bring Digital Village to the next level.<br /><br />Thanks!Doranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432197902507876037noreply@blogger.com1