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Back to the Future in Real Life?

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How many people have dreamt about being Marty McFly and traveling across time? If you’re one of them, then you might be interested to know about the GigaPan Time Machine. ((GigaPan Time Machine)) Created by some guys from Carnegie Mellon University, the GigaPan Time Machine might not exactly be like the DeLorean, but it does make time traveling somewhat of a reality for you and me.

It is actually a computer system that allows users to view certain locations via videos or images. These images and videos are rendered in gigapixel-scale (hence the name?). The cool thing is that you can explore the images/videos by moving back (or forward) in time. At the same time, you can also zoom in and out.

To make that clearer, let’s say you are looking at a field of tulips somewhere in The Netherlands. You can choose to zoom in to have a clearer view of the beautiful flowers. More so, you can go back in time and watch the flowers start to form as buds and then slowly come into full bloom.

Interested in knowing how the system was created? Believe it or not, it has been made possible by HTML5! Based on HTML5, the researchers were able to develop “algorithms and software architecture that make it possible to shift seamlessly from one video portion to another as viewers zoom in and out of Time Machine imagery.”

I guess words can’t really explain how much fun this thing can be, so here’s a video to show you.

Not exactly as glamorous as speeding up a clunky old car and not exactly Back to the Future, but it’s still something!

DIY LEGO Motors

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Motor
There is no doubt that LEGO is fun for people of all ages. Not only is it fun, but it does have educational value as well. However, for some people, the ultimate level of fun with LEGO can only be reached if you can make things move around and play with them as they do. That’s where LEGO Motors come into the picture.

You can purchase LEGO Technic Motors, which are all ready for use. They use standard LEGO style electrical connectors and are powered by a 9-volt power supply. Of course, with convenience comes the price. But what if you had the skills, determination, and means to create your own LEGO Motors?

This guy just JMEMantzel has caught the attention of countless LEGO fans all over the world with his YouTube video of how to make your own LEGO Motors. You might be thinking – why spend all that time creating your own when you can buy them readymade?

Come on now, it’s all about the sense of self-achievement and satisfaction, and you can’t get any better than making your own toys. Understandably, it’s not for everyone, but if you’re a DIY-er, this video will get you all excited. I bet you’ll be heading off to do some shopping after watching this.

A word of wisdom: you might want to check out insurance quotes online as well. After all, your LEGO collection needs all the protection it can get – especially if you’re going to tinker around with electronics as well.

Why don’t you send some love down JMEMantzel’s way by visiting his YouTube Channel and letting him know what you think?

Photo via Lego Hacks

What a Bored Math Teacher Can Do With Pencils

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For some reason, I have always had a good relationship with my math teachers in grade school and high school. Now college professors were always touch and go – with all the math courses I had to take, I was bound to meet one or two that didn’t exactly become a bosom buddy. In any case, one thing that bugged me about certain branches of math was the fact that they didn’t seem to have immediate practical applications. All those equations and computations just seemed fruitless to me as a student who wanted to make something useful. I am sure many students have felt – and feel – the same way.

If it were up to this particular math teacher, though, I bet that students would have more practical applications of what they learn in class. Or maybe not.

What’s for sure is that he found some free time in his hands, a whole lot of pencils – 80 of them, and different kinds of glue. Throw in some geometric principles and a dash of inspiration, and this is what you get.
STAR Pencil
That’s called the STAR – Standardized Testing And Reporting, which is actually the test that his students are taking this month. (That’s where some of the inspiration came from!)
STAR Pencil Side
This is the same sculpture taken from a different angle.

In his blog, Mister Math Teacher ((An Ocean of Knowledge An Inch Deep)) talks about other sources of inspiration: work by George Hart ((Geometric Sculpture)) and Carlo H. Sequin ((Carlo H. Sequin’s Web Site)). He also reveals just how he got his pencil sculpture made. If you have an excess of pencils, why not give it a try?

Now I wonder if his star pupil will get the sculpture at the end of the academic year?

The Alphabet in Retro Video Games

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There is something to be said about babies, children, and alphabets. While not everyone wants a kid of their own, many can’t help but want to buy their nephews and nieces all sorts of things. (At least I know I do.) And when it comes to teaching kids to learn the alphabet, the traditional “A is for apple. B is for boy…” does not appeal much anymore. Why stick with those tried and tested relations when you can use other words that follow themes that your children will learn more from?

Remember the Star Wars alphabet book I wrote about some months ago? It’s all very good for those who have The Force in them. Now what if you’re a child of retro video games? Think Tetris. Asteroids. Ahh…now do you see where I am going?

I’ve got no alphabet book for you this time, but I have a perfect image for you to print out: the alphabet of retro video games. ((Source: Ufunk))

alphabet-jeux-video

Not only will your kids learn their ABCs, but they will also benefit from the educational experience that only video games can bring. Enough said.

Are You a Saboteur?

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Smash ComputerSaboteur. Doesn’t that word have a nice ring to it? For someone living a “normal” life, the word saboteur brings with it a sense of danger and excitement. While it may not be the most politically (or morally) correct word, saboteur does evoke curiosity.

So what does this word have to do with you and me?

According to a study conducted by online back up company Mozy, the best way to get a new computer in the workplace may be to make sure that your current computer does not work properly. In other words, sabotage your current computer! The study’s results also include company-issued mobile phones.

Now don’t get it wrong – Mozy is not suggesting that workers turn saboteurs. They were merely relaying the answers of 3,000 office workers that they surveyed. These office workers are from the UK, France, and Germany. Some other interesting findings:

  • People working in the UK have the worst situation – they have equipment that is, on the average, more than five years old. In other words, they have the most outdated computers and phones.
  • The French are the most destructive. They have the highest number of responses which reflect the sentiment that deliberately breaking equipment is the best way to get an upgrade.
  • The Germans have the newest equipment – averaging 2.5 years. In general, they also trust their employers to give them an upgrade when necessary. Talk about German efficiency!

They also found out that people with better computers at home tend to be more frustrated with their work computers. You think???

Saboteur may sound thrilling, but I think that that may not be the best way to impress your boss, don’t you think? Oh, and it will not work for home-based people like me who buy our own computers. Definitely not. So, exciting or not, this one is not going to be a saboteur any time soon. How about you?

Via Backup Review
Image via Examiner

Robotics Merit Badge for the Boy Scouts of America

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Boy Scouts Robotics Badge

Let it not be said that the Boy Scouts of America do not keep up with the times. Countless boys belonging to various generations have long been working hard to earn merit badges. These badges are testaments to the skills and talents that Boy Scouts have acquired over the years. Traditionally, the merit badges were all about sports and wilderness survival, among many others.

This week, however, the Texas-based organization is upping the level by adding a new merit badge: the Robotics Merit Badge. One goal in creating this merit badge is to promote science and technology and engineering and maths (STEM). In doing so, the BSA is adjusting to the new developments in technology and is making itself more relevant to the youngsters of today.

How do the Boy Scouts of today earn this new merit badge? Just think about creating your own electronics kits and joining competitions. These kits can range from the simplest of devices to some of the more complicated robots. Here are more examples of how one can earn the merit badge. ((Source: PR for Robotics Merit Badge))

  • Explain and discuss hazards and safety prevention
  • Explain how robots are used today
  • Discuss three of the five major fields of robotics (human-robot interface, mobility, manipulation, programming, sensors)
  • Design, build, program, and test their robot
  • Demonstrate the robot, and share the engineering notebook for that robot
  • Attend a robotics competition or do research on robotics competitions

If the mere mention of the Boy Scouts make you think of only camping, making fires without matches, and tying knots, think again. This organization is rather important in molding young boys and it is great that technology is not being ignored!