We're big fans of "Scientific American Frontiers" around here. We were quite surprised to trip over this link of a program called "Games Machines Play". Well worth a view, if you can spare better part of an hour!
Cool Link Wednesday - 'That's a Lot of F...
Dave Hrynkiw
June 13, 2012
Don't even bother reading this introduction - skip on ahead and go to the first link in the list. It'll blow your mind.
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Medusa -Proximity Aware Multi-Touch Tabletop This interactive surface (which is actually a version of Microsoft Surface) uses a mind-boggling 138 proximity sensors to detect people around and using the table. As far as we can tell, they're using some type of Sharp IR sensor, as well as some Phidgets interface devices. |
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The ShakerBOT - Snakeboard inspired robot This is a insanely hypnotizing wheeled robot, that travels big zig-zagging around. Apparently it was inspired by something call "Snakeboards", which I've never heard of. We have a similar wiggle cart for kids in the office, that we often like to hop on and drive between the aisles of inventory. It does not always go very well. Make sure you click through and check out the video! |
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1000 Fireflies - Electronics for 1000 Bicyclists Says the website, these are "interactive blinking LED devices outfitted with microcontrollers and radio units that allow them to mutually and observably synchronize with others, as do certain species of firefly." It's an ambitious undertaking, and the results look gorgeous. It's not too far off our own version Firefly (well, not really, but kinda). |
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Creating Illuminated 3D Objects with a Laser Cutter - Instructables Tutorial We like lasers, acrylic, 3D objects, AND lights. So needless to say, this is right up our alley. Instructables author theseeker did a great job using two-dimensional objects to create something three-dimensional. As a bonus, it even looks somewhat pixelated. The tutorial is pretty comprehensive, going all the way through the design, production, and final assembly. |
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Iscar Chip Formation - Slow Motion During Steel Cutting Solarbotics has some Sherline equipment we use for machining fixtures and the like (yeah, machine tools are cool...). We tripped over this link that shows magnified and slowed video of what it looks like when a machine tool cuts steel. Looks like putty. Hypnotic! |
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Mobile Lorm Glove - Communication Glove for Deaf-Blind Persons Some German developers have come up with a really great solution to help those that are deaf and blind to communicate via Lorm, a tactile sign language, through a glove with vibrating motors and a Bluetooth connection. It's a really ingenious use of technology to make communication more accessible for those that have multiple impaired senses. |
Hopefully there was enough neat stuff in there to keep you distracted for a little while on our way to the final stretch before the weekend.
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The S.A.F.E.!
The Solarbotics Arduino / Freeduino Enclosure - That's what it is, and that's what it does! We love our laser, and part of the job is making things that make our job easier. We're finding enclosing our Arduino projects makes them... well, more survivable. Here's our first release of the S.A.F.E., with more variations coming!
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