Posted on December 11th, 2010 by axb
Remember our very old friend the Antikythera mechanism? Well, designer and Lego aficionado Andrew Carol has decided to reincarnate the ancient Greek computer once again.
Just like the original Antikythera, which the Greeks most likely used to predict a variety of astronomical happenings, the Lego version uses a complex array of gears (illustrated in the video below) to track information such as the position of the sun and moon, and to foresee events like lunar and solar eclipses.
Video after the jump.
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Lego Form
Tags: Computer
Posted on December 8th, 2010 by axb
Could these be your backup GPS?
Between Global Positioning Systems and the lack of privacy on the Internet, you might think someone could track you down anywhere.
But GPS-enabled devices are not perfect. Some areas are GPS dead zones, and if the satellite signal can’t locate you, you’re lost to anyone using the system.
So, Researchers at North Carolina State and Carnegie Mellon Universities have developed an ingenious solution – a shoe with radar embedded in the heel.
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Tags: Computer, Electrical
Posted on November 22nd, 2010 by jxh
This brings a whole new meaning to “freeze frame”: a team of engineers in Finland has created the world’s first ice touchscreen.
The device was inspired by the Finnish tradition of building snow and ice sculptures during long winters and built by a team of Nokia researchers. In a New Scientist interview, a team member says of the inspiration for the project: “We decided to see if we could make an ice sculpture that was interactive.”
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Tags: Art, Computer
Posted on November 17th, 2010 by jxh
Going to the movies is always fun, but would you still enjoy it if you knew the movie was watching you?
Soon, movie theaters may be equipped with cameras that will use facial recognition technology to monitor which way you are facing; if you’re laughing, scared, or bored; and if you came alone or with friends.
In order to monitor facial expressions, the theater cameras will illuminate the audience with infrared beams and create 3-D stereoscopic images of each viewer. Aralia Systems, a British security firm, received a $350,000 grant to develop the system.
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Tags: 3D, Computer, Entertainment, Movies
Posted on November 11th, 2010 by jxh
Recycling is extremely important because it reuses materials, reducing waste and pollution, and keeping our planet clean.
Many laptops contain recyclable components, including precious metals such as platinum. However, those components are usually melded together in such a way that no ordinary person could safely deconstruct them.
That is why a group of grad students from Stanford University designed the Bloom laptop, which can be disassembled for recycling in just two minutes without any tools.
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Filed under: Computer, e-News, Environmental | 1 Comment »
Tags: Computer, Environmental
