Sunday, September 04, 2011
Keepon on The Works
The robot Keepon (developed by Hideki Kozima and programmed by Marek Michalowski) dancing to the song "Don't You Evah" by the band Spoon. Keepon and Spoon reunited at WIRED NextFest in LA September 10, 2007 for Creative Commons.
Cast (in order of appearance): Keepon, Hideki Kozima, Jim Eno, Britt Daniel
Keepon Wrangler/Programmer: Marek Michalowski
Executive Producers: Melanie Cornwell, Scott Dadich
Producers: Melanie Cornwell, Zana Woods
Director: Jeff Nichols
Concept by: Melanie Cornwell, Laura Eldeiry, Nancy Miller
Written by: Jeff Nichols, Adam Stone, Chris Walldorf
Director of Photography/Camera Operator: Adam Stone (Mortimer Jones)
Editor: Chris Walldorf (Mortimer Jones)
Graphics and Effects: Joey Beason (Edit at Joes)
Additional Color Correction: Joe Murray (Edit at Joes)
Tokyo Production Managers: Heath Cozens, Sawako Imai
Keepon robot
We've been having a torrid affair with the Keepon robot since 2007, his simple yellow shape and unflappable adherence to the beat capturing our hearts. But, sadly, this has been an unrequited love, as the little guy has only been available to research institutions (and, apparently, rock bands) at the tear-inducing price of $30,000. Now there's a version we can finally bring home to mother, the $40 My Keepon. It's being dubbed a "toy," so we have our doubts that it can bust the same sort of moves its Pro predecessor puts down (embedded after the break), but we're certainly going to be first in line to find out when they hit stores. No, we don't know when that is just yet, but we're told all will be revealed on February 14th. Yes, Valentine's Day.
Barobo iMobot teddy bear learns from your commands, will definitely make varsity (video)
Barobo's iMobot modular robotics system just launched earlier this year, and the folks behind it just started shipping the first kits last month. Turns out, they were on hand here at NEXT Aarhus with a bona fide demo, and we couldn't resist a quick demo. The actual kit is being hawked primarily to universities -- we're told that each $2,000 robot can be programmed to do just about anything, and if you stock up on a couple, you can produce full-on humanoids, a camera-toting rescue snake or something else that'll undoubtedly take over the world in just a few centuries. Each robotic piece is equipped with WiFi and Bluetooth, and aside from mounting points used for connecting family members, there's a couple of sensor ports that allow for rangefinders and proximity modules to be stacked on as well.
The real show, however, happened when Elmo's long-lost cousin made an appearance. We're told that the creature is strictly a prototype using miniaturized versions of the robotic pieces that are on sale now. Those minis aren't up for order per se, but cutting the right check might land you with more than a smile. As you'll see in the video past the break, the software program written for the bear allowed it to "learn" movements that were dictated by the human holding it, and once the latest cheer was burned into its cotton-filled brain, a simple button press played things out in fantastical fashion. Have a look. You won't be disappointed.
Video: “Der Kritzler,” An Automatic Scribbling Machine
Der Kritzler - scribbling "The Chancellor" from tinkerlog on Vimeo.
An automatic scribbling machine sounds less than useful, admittedly, but it’s really just the style of line created by this motorized drawing machine. It’s reminiscent of ASCII art, in which heavier characters are used to create darker tones; in this case, the more jiggle added to the drawing platform, the more ink is put on the drawing surface. It’s kind of mesmerizing.
Friday, September 02, 2011
SOUP KITCHENS IN U.S. RISE AS ECONOMY COLLAPSES ? www.crookreport.co.uk
SOUP KITCHENS IN U.S. RISE AS ECONOMY COLLAPSES?
99 weeks is 5 shy of TWO YEARS. These people aren't unemployed. They are UNEMPLOYABLE.
They lack marketable skills to sell to those who buy skills. In short, their skills set is worthless.
They need to train themselves for work that is available and growing or the need to resign themselves to menial labor jobs, which are jobs that do not need skills.
Millenials: A Disappointed Generation?
Members of Generation Y are starting their careers in perhaps the worst job market since the Great Depression. Experts say the experience creates both immediate and long-term negative impacts, including lower salaries now and in the future. While their reduced spending power will not have a lasting drag on the U.S. economy -- one cohort with reduced consumption does not hold tremendous weight amidst a very broad population, economists say -- it does have significant repercussions for how these young people conduct their adult lives and careers.
Thursday, September 01, 2011
Samsung Unveils Dual-Core Galaxy Tab 7.7 And 5.3-Inch Galaxy Note
Samsung Unveils Dual-Core Galaxy Tab 7.7 And 5.3-Inch Galaxy Note
Samsung understands this, and has thus tried to build a tablet for just about any size pocket or backpack you may own. We all know about the GalTab 10.1 and 8.9, but today even smaller models join the pack. At the IFA conference in Berlin, Samsung today announced the Galaxy Tab 7.7 and the 5.3-inch Galaxy Note.
Samsung understands this, and has thus tried to build a tablet for just about any size pocket or backpack you may own. We all know about the GalTab 10.1 and 8.9, but today even smaller models join the pack. At the IFA conference in Berlin, Samsung today announced the Galaxy Tab 7.7 and the 5.3-inch Galaxy Note.
Kids learn to make their own mobile apps at summer camp
At ID Tech Camp, kids as young as 7 years old can start learning how to program their own smartphone apps. SmartPlanet correspondent Priya David Clemens meets some kids who just might be the Silicon Valley giants of tomorrow.
100 YEARS / STYLE / EAST LONDON
100 years of East London style in 100 seconds. Sept 13th 1911 - Sept 13th 2011.
Back to the Start
Coldplay's haunting classic 'The Scientist' is performed by country music legend Willie Nelson for the soundtrack of the short film entitled, "Back to the Start." The film, by film-maker Johnny Kelly, depicts the life of a farmer as he slowly turns his family farm into an industrial animal factory before seeing the errors of his ways and opting for a more sustainable future. Both the film and the soundtrack were commissioned by Chipotle to emphasize the importance of developing a sustainable food system.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Eric Kessler’s ‘Time Escape’
Time Escape from Eric Kessler on Vimeo.
With some of the top names in the industry and timelapse photography, ‘Time Escape’ is a quick compendium of the work the group did while shooting timelapse for Tom Lowe’s upcoming TimeScapes film. Simply put, the group shot some of the most stunning timelapse in some of the most stunning places on Earth.
Kessler TimeFest 2011: Behind The Scenes from Kessler Crane on Vimeo.
Learn about image-making and storytelling from the perspective of a photographer and filmmaker.
http://twit.tv/show/twit-photo/22
Hosts: Catherine Hall and Leo Laporte.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
We learn about image-making and storytelling from the perspective of a photographer and filmmaker.
Guest: Vincent Laforet- Filmmaker- DGA Director & DP, Photographer, Producer, Blogger and Tech Geek.
Download or subscribe to this show at twit.tv/photo.
Thanks to Cachefly for providing the bandwidth for this podcast.
Running time: 1:03:32
Vincent Laforet — New York & Los Angeles
2010 HDDSLR Gear Video from Vincent Laforet on Vimeo.
Hundreds Arrested In Sustained Tar Sands Protests At White House
August 30, 2011
Hundreds Arrested In Sustained Tar Sands Protests At White House
Protests demand Obama use veto power to halt proposed expansion of Keystone XL pipeline that would carry tar sands oil from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico
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