Daily Bits

noemi

Reality Touchscreen: The World’s Largest?

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Touchscreen
And you thought the iPad 2 is at the top of the list for huge screens…

Think again, folks. The Reality Touchscreen developed by engineers at the University of Groningen is the real thing. This screen measures in at 10 meters wide by 2.8 meters high. For those of you who speak/think/count in feet, that’s 32.8 feet wide by 9.2 feet high. Every other touchscreen display is suddenly paling in comparison, isn’t it?

So how did the engineers create the screen? In the news report published by the university on their web site, they made use of hardware that can be bought off the shelves and public domain software. All they needed was a splash of creativity – and engineering know-how – and they got themselves a nice big toy.

After you watch this touchscreen in action – see the video below – you will most certainly want to play with it, but it is no mere toy. This touchscreen can take more than a hundred simultaneous touches. More so, the screen itself is transparent – something which reminds me of those cool computer screens in sci-fi movies and TV shows. For those who put a lot of weight on design, you will appreciate the curvature of the screen.

On the technical side, this baby is powered by 6 HD projectors, 16 IR lights, and 6 cameras. These make the immense multi-touch capacity possible. The display has a 4900 x 1700 resolution and has a 120Hz refresh rate.

Now see for yourself what a little do-it-yourself can do.

Awe-inspiring is an understatement. I want one of these!

Predator: The Musical

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The other day, I arrived at home to hear songs from Sweeney Todd blaring over the surround sound system. I have only seen the movie in bits and pieces, but the soundtrack got me thinking about musicals. Imagine my reaction when I saw a video of Predator: The Musical!

Predator may not be the most brilliant movie you’ll ever see, but there is something to be said about Arnold Schwarzenegger, especially in his glory days.

No, we are unlikely to see the California governor on Broadway anytime soon. It is also unlikely that we’ll see a full-blown movie musical with Arnie in it. Still, this video should give you something to chuckle about on this Monday. Forget Monday Blues – “If It Bleeds, We Can Kill It” is all you need today.

The people behind the production:

Music and lyrics by Jon Kaplan and Al Kaplan (Conan the Barbarian: The Musical, Silence! The Musical)
Contains variations on Alan Silvestri’s landmark “Predator” score.

Dutch, Billy, Dillon, Predator: Al Kaplan
Mac and Ramirez: Jon Kaplan
Anna: Sharmila Guha

If you are a die-hard Arnie fan and you want your own copy of this, buy the video from the iTunes store.

Roombots: The Furniture of the Future

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Space is perhaps the most critical issue that urban dwellers face today. Anyone who has had the experience of searching for an apartment or condo unit in the city will know that a few square meters of living space may very well cost an arm and a leg. Depending on the location, you may have to throw in one of your kidneys as well!

Living in cramped quarters shouldn’t be all that bad – if you can find miniature sized furniture that suits your fancy. But what if technology gave you the option to only own a few pieces of furniture that changes to the specific item that you need or want? Scratch that – what if you can own tiny robots that can configure themselves to build the piece of furniture that your needs dictate?

That is what Roombots is all about. The guys at Biorobotics Laboratory are working on a concept that might provide the ultimate solution to interior design for the space-starved. Roombots are modular robots that serve as building blocks for practically any piece of furniture that one will need in the house. If this concept becomes reality, you may very well find yourself sleeping in a bed at night – a bed that can convert itself to the dining table which you will use for breakfast. What the bots will do with the bedding, I have no clue. You do get the idea, right?

Here are some photos of the concept.
Roombot Table
Roombot Coffeetable
Roombot Chair
Roombot Stool

I am not sure about the aesthetic value of the Roombots, but I am sure that can easily be tweaked once the technical aspects have been perfected. For the technical details and videos of the bots in action, visit Biorob.

Happy Birthday, Steve Jobs!

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Steve Jobs Birthday
Join the rest of the world in making a toast to one of the most brilliant people of our generation: Steve Jobs. Born Steve Paul Jobs in February 24, 1955, the co-founder and CEO of Apple has made himself a lot of critics – and even more devotees – over the years. Whether you admire him or you hate him, there is no doubt that Steve Jobs has made an impact in your life – one way or another.

Today, Steve Jobs celebrates his 56th birthday. We have not heard much from Mr. Jobs in the recent weeks, although rumors about his failing health have been circulating. We may not hear from him or Apple regarding this memorable day, but we can still send a greeting his way. Some Steve Jobs fans have created a web site – Happy Birthday Steve Jobs – where anyone can leave a message for the Apple CEO. Whether or not he gets to read your message, you may never know – but it’s the thought that counts!

In case you want to do something more than leave a message on that site to commemorate Steve Jobs’s birthday, check out an infographic I shared about a year ago: 15 Things You Didn’t Know About Steve Jobs. And, if you’ve got a hankering for something sweet, why don’t you make some ice cream just the way Steve Jobs likes it? You can find the recipe here.

Got any ideas on what to do on Steve Jobs’s birthday to send good vibes down his way?

The New MINI Micro Car Concept

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MINI Coopers are among the most beautiful cars there are. True – that statement is rather subjective, but in my mind, these cars are undeniably eye candy! While there may be people who would not want to own a MINI, you will be hard pressed to find someone who will say outright that a MINI is an ugly car.

Yesterday, MINI released photos of its new concept car – the MINI Rocketman. The concept car is based on the idea that the future of living is in cities. While this may be arguable, there is no doubt that people continue to flock to urban areas and that space is a prime commodity in cities. Bearing this in mind, the guys at MINI have designed the urban car of the future.

To give you an idea how small this car is, it measures in at only a little over 3 meters. While the Rocketman has tons of distinctive features, it does not totally diverge from what makes MINIs the beauties they are. Here are some features of the car:

  1. Future-forward carbon construction
  2. Doors that glide forward instead of having hinges. This design allows for more space when getting in and out of the car
  3. 18-inch wheels
  4. Solid glass roof with distinctive lighting (the similarity to the Union-Jack was done on purpose)
  5. Customizable LED lighting in the cockpit
  6. Downward-opening tailgate for efficient storage

The Rocketman is going to be showcased at the International Geneva Motor Show from the 1st of March to the 13th of March. For those of us who won’t be able to make it there, here are some photos of this beauty. Get some tissue ready to wipe off that drool!
mini_rocketman_concept_1
mini_rocketman_concept_13
mini_rocketman_concept_51






For more on the MINI concept car, visit PSFK and the MINI Space Blog.

Xbox Kinect Opens Arms to Hackers

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kinect
Hackers may not be the proper word to use, but there is no doubt that hackers are clapping their hands with glee with the recent announcement from Microsoft. The software giant recently announced that it is going to open up the playing field by releasing a software development kit sometime in spring. This will allow software developers to play around with the Kinect on a deeper level than the average user.

According to Microsoft, “The intent of releasing a “starter kit” for application developers is to make it easier for academic research and enthusiast communities to create even richer experiences using Kinect technology.” Furthermore, with the release of the software development kit, people will be able to access “deep Kinect system capabilities such as audio, system APIs, and direct control of the sensor”.

At first, the software development kit will be targeted at amateurs only. Those who want to jump into the fray for commercial purposes will have to wait a little longer for the commercial release. Just how long – there is no word as of yet.

Personally, I will never be able to take advantage of this software development kit as I have no idea what to do with it, but I am sure there are enough “hackers” out there who cannot wait to try and see what they can do with the Kinect.

If Microsoft can be believed, the Kinect is the fastest selling gadget of all time. It really is not that surprising as it really upped the ante after the Wii revolutionized the way we play our games, is it?

Via The Telegraph