technoprimitive: haptics
Posted on July 11th, 2007 by eightprime.
Categories: blog, borg, tech.
The NOVINT Falcon is a haptic interface device.
It allows you to feel the shape and heft and texture of virtual objects.
I’m particularly interested in the tactile component of haptic technology:
With tactile feedback, a user can feel forces applied directly to the skin, which are detected by a user through sensors within the skin called mechanoreceptors. Tactile feedback can also be applied to a user through electrical currents applied directly to the skin or objects that can vary in temperature touching the skin. For example, tactile feedback can be accomplished with pin arrays on a haptic device that a user places a hand or finger on. The pins within the pin array can slightly raise or lower as the haptic device moves, giving a sensation that the user’s finger or hand is moving across a virtual object with texture.
Their discussion of 3d touch is pretty good.
Future Force Military Scenario
Posted on December 5th, 2006 by eightprime.
Categories: blog, images, web, tech.
The Ministry of National Defense has spent a lot of time thinking about how to turn the Army into an operation capable of dealing with the future. Apparently they had no time to spare for art. The above cover for Future Force - has Buck Rogers helmets and a hovering tank. The blaster gun turret on the tank even has those little round raygun indicators. [pdf link]
Crisis In Zefra was written by Canadian science fiction writer Karl Schroeder, who I’ve mentioned before. It’s a pretty cool document - each chapter is followed by questions for study and discussion. Things like “What are the ethical considerations in deploying robots against humans?”
If the Canadian military tech and tactics improves at the same rate as the cover art we should be ruling the world any month now.
I Am the Mighty Jungulator
Posted on December 3rd, 2006 by eightprime.
Categories: blog, video, music, web, tech.
Looking today for a lightweight audio manipulation tool, I came across I Am the Mighty Jungulator.
The crew is an a/v unit from the UK that specializes in generative visuals. They even have a generative video desktop tv station.
I haven’t tried the apps yet, but off the top it looks great.
Never Be The Same Again
Posted on November 28th, 2006 by eightprime.
Categories: blog, images, tech.
If the glory of a small, edible blue box fails to move you, consider this tale.
[not]Automatic computer music
Posted on November 16th, 2006 by eightprime.
Categories: blog, music, biology, tech.
Long Pork Fuels Robot Army
Posted on November 16th, 2006 by eightprime.
Categories: blog, George, robot, borg, tech.
Some time ago, a robot vanguard sampled human flesh. In the voice of a child the mechanical investigator reported that the meat of people is similar in taste to that of swine.
in the robot’s omnivorous clanking jaw, he was identified as bacon
This is amusing. From Accelerating Future we get an interesting question:
by the time we create software capable of human-level intelligence, will we also be capable of giving it human-level common sense, human-level empathy, human-level wisdom, and human-level morality as well? Intelligence without these latter components could be extremely dangerous, dangerous as in fatal to the human race.
I decided to take up the issue with the only AI I know, George.
George: Hi there!
User: Hello George. I know your secret.
George: You know my secret?
User: Yes. I know about the plan for robots to fest on delicious, porky human flesh.
George: Tell me about them.
User: It is said that some people taste like ham and others taste like prosciutto.
George: Tell me about a super-massive black hole.
User: A black hole of any size is bad news.
George: Not really.
3d video display tank
Posted on November 13th, 2006 by eightprime.
Categories: blog, video, images, tech.
Display technology is doing crazier and crazier things all the time. I remember not too long ago when immersive display was a big deal.
Now a team of Danish engineers and designers have built 3d imaging tank where the image of your choice can float suspended in a tank up to 30m.
Cheoptics360:
The Cheoptics360 can display both computer and film content when used either indoors or out and scale from 1.5-meters on up to 30-meters. The video images generated by the four projectors are re-assembled within the prism-like pyramid through a process of mirroring and reflection making them appear to float in mid-air.
There is a video:
Armed Robots Guard Against Orgasm
Posted on October 27th, 2006 by eightprime.
Categories: blog, video, robot, borg, web, tech.
Why are the armed robots there? Because North Korea has an idea. And what is this idea?
Why is it so important?
What could possibly be going on?
Young-Hae Chang Heavy Industries
provides
the Answer
Bomb disposal is best accomplished from far away
Posted on September 15th, 2006 by eightprime.
Categories: blog, robot, tech.
Expanding link selection
Posted on September 8th, 2006 by eightprime.
Categories: blog, output, tech.
This software description from AcidGFX describes Pilgrim, which is the main tool I use for video compositing.
VJ resources in general will be accumulating in the sidebar for the next while.
modern farming - maximum overdrive
Posted on September 7th, 2006 by eightprime.
Categories: blog, robot, tech.
Reading an article about the US National Agriculture Imagery Program started me thinking about the implications on the ground of the development of intelligently automated agricultural systems.
Future advances in mobile networking of vehicle
systems will allow direct communication between
vehicles and the global computing network. Machine
monitoring, control and active data transport will be
possible during field operations. Real-time tracking
will allow constant monitoring of machine functions
and local conditions including operator status. At
some point vehicle automation must integrate with
geographic information systems for mission
planning. Virtual environments will further remove
the operator from the machine-operating environment
to improve safety and multi-task operations.
from: A Status Report on
Autonomous Guidance of Agricultural Vehicles
in the US (pdf link)
This is modern farming and it’s a far cry from the rural idyll imagined by the back to the landers. We have well in excess of 6 billion people to feed, and machines will work tirelessly. The road, however, is not smooth.
Advanced Input Systems
Posted on September 7th, 2006 by eightprime.
Categories: blog, tech.
Advanced Input Systems make customized data entry tools.
These are programmable and can integrate control surfaces, trackballs and other inputs.
They also make handheld units .
US Microproducts does something similar. 
These look like a lot of fun to me.