Tech Week

Working with funds from DARPA, researchers at Cornell University, the University of Chicago and iRobot came up with an ideal robotic gripping device, simply a latex party balloon filled with ground coffee. They are calling it the Kinetic Gripper, it was made so that once perfected it can be used on actual robots as their hands for an easier and much simpler grip on things.


http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-10/coffee-filled-balloon-makes-best-robotic-gripper

Reflection of Article

After reading the article online about misleading threats I thought that it was rude and extremely uncalled for, even anonymously to say something so volgur (sp?) on the internet. Its cause a big stir over someone running their mouth off, so I think that if someone is willing to make such a remark then they should go ahead and say it to the other persons face and face the consequences. I think that keeping anonymous comments is still a good thing, I still think that anyone should be able to state their opinion freely w/o worry online and that they shouldn't get rid of it because of one dumb remark. Whether or not you like someone or agree with them, there just are some things that are meant to be kept to yourself.

Tech Week

A new projector allows floating 3D objects – from a model of the heart to a talking human head – to be viewed from any angle. The Ray Modeler prototype, developed by Sony, is on display for the first time in the UK at an exhibit at the British Library, London, called General Knowledge. The device creates 3D images that viewers can see from all angles without stereoscopic glasses. Sensors that recognise gestures allow it to be spun around when you wave your hand in the desired direction. The system can recreate both static and moving objects. A static object can be captured on a turntable with a single camera, whereas many cameras are needed to capture motion. The shots are transformed into 360 images to be displayed by an LED light source in the system.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19594-floating-3d-virtual-objects-appear-at-british-library.html

Weekend

On Saturday I had to wake up early to go to the school take the PSAT's. Then after that we had a varsity volleyball Finals game against Tenafly, but we lost. :( On Sunday my little sister, big sister, her fiance, and I went to New York City to show her fiance around since he just moved to NJ from Egypt. First we went to the Metropolitan Museum, then to the World Trade Center, after that we went shopping for a little in Times Square, we ate at the big Olive Garden there. After that we went to the M&M store and the big Toys R' Us, they had a Ferris wheel inside and a whole candy department called Candy Land. I had a lot of fun that day.

Tech Week

Microsoft Surface (codename Milan) is a mulit-touch product from Microsoft which is developed as a software and hardware combination technology that allows a user, or multiple users, to manipulate digital content by the use of gesture recognition This could involve the motion of hands or physical objects. It was announced on May 29, 2007 at a D5 conference. Targeted customers are in the hospitality businesses, such as restaurants, hotels, retail, public entertainment venues and the military for tactical overviews. The preliminary launch was on April 17, 2008, when Surface became available for customer use in AT&T stores. So far the new computer has only been available to hotels, cosinos, etc.  Microsoft Surface is said to have a release date sometime in 2011 for everyday customers to buy.


http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gadgets/news/4217348

Weekend

On Friday we had a volleyball game and then I went to my friend Heathers Sweet 16. On Saturday I went to the mall and the football game. On Sunday the volleyball team had to run a concession stand for the runners at the 5K run. We had to give them water, bananas, and granola bars. There was about a hundred runners, and it was fun helping all of them out.

Tech Week

Microsoft's Lightspace technology

It is a new fun way of making presentations. This is said to either make using power point much more difficult or more fun depending on the presenter. The LightSpace prototype projects slides, documents, photographs or video onto any surface, from a table to a door. Presenters can then touch and literally pick up a virtual item from a display and carry it across the room as a spot of light in the palm of their hand.  While this is still a prototype, it is expected that Microsoft comes out with an actual 3D power point presenter in about two years.



http://www.sott.net/articles/show/216054-Extreme-PowerPoint-Places-You-in-3D-Slide-Show