Monthly Archives

January 2012

Blasphemous

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I know there are probably innumberable reasons why the SARTRE autonomous road train could be considered complete anathema to the driver (note: not commuter), but I can’t help but being desirous of this technology right now.  Who hasn’t wished for a way to put the car on autopilot during a particularly tedious stretch of driving?  Imagine how even having just one SARTRE lane on our highways would provide a safe alternative to driving while getting drowsy and definitely eliminate traffic snarls on tourist filled roadways near beaches, arenas, etc.  An interesting answer to our country’s lack of acccessible – traditional – trains.

(Autoblog)

Don’t Feed The Animals

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Wired profiles what it is calling the documentary about the internet generation in a recent web post. The film in question is Me @the Zoo and – while an interesting look at online celebrity – does not, at least to me, seem to live up to the description.

While it’s certainly true that the story of Chris(sy) Crocker makes for a nearly perfect exploration of fifteen minutes of YouTube fame, I’m not so sure that the subject or the circumstances necessarily speak to all those in the same cohort. Case in point: many students at the Commonwealth campuses that I work with – in the same age range – have never posted a video to YouTube before and are downright uncomfortable with their own images being online and in the public. So while it’s true that we have created a fantastic platform for micro celebrity (and further true that many young people are exploiting it), I don’t think it’s fair to say that all internet generation individuals will connect with the Chrissy Crocker story.

As I round out this post that was originally intended to point to a cool documentary about the students that we teach about media I find myself instead somewhat annoyed that Wired has falsely advertised a film that is more a Chris Crocker vehicle. Perhaps smart on Crocker’s part to get involved with the project, but not exactly hard-hitting. However, I’m not at Sundance and haven’t yet seen more than the trailer above so I guess the jury can stay out to lunch for the time being.

A long, strange journey

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It’s been a very bizarre trip for cold fusion.

Odd topic, no?

Well, actually no as I’ve covered it once before.  At the time (March 2010) I was fresh off of watching a video clip that had infuriated me.  60 Minutes had interviewed several scientists who had been involved with the 1980s announcement by Fleischmann and Pons of their – several times now proven – findings with a room temperature fusion reaction.  The general consensus was that maybe, just maybe, the science actually worked and “oh, by the way” Fleischmann and Pons were perhaps the victims of some world class backstabbing.  The resigned look of both bitterness and “I freaking told you so” on Fleischmann’s face says everything.

But, looking back from where the field is now in 2012 does provide a little hope.  Dubbed “Low Energy Nuclear Reaction” or LENR now, cold fusion is bubbling back up to the mainstream.

I started hearing about LENR on some fringe-y sites here and there via the work of Dr. Andrea Rossi.  His E-Cat system caught my eye – and the eye of researchers, industrialists and politicians from Sweden to Massachusetts.  Skeptical myself, you can imagine my surprise when I started seeing it pop up in financial network reports.  And presidential candidate interviews.  And most recently in a ringing endorsement from NASA:

We could really use this one, Universe.  Please don’t let me down.

2012 NAIAS

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Like last year, I attended the North American International Auto Show in (lovely) Detroit.  Having just arrived back yesterday after over seven hours of driving I’m just now starting to process some of the things that I encountered at Cobo Hall.  Below is a gallery of some of the sights that are pinging around my brain:

Prior to the show, I also attended Autoweek‘s Design Forum at the College for Creative Studies.  The event brought together auto industry and media players as well as car fans and, most interestingly, design students from the College.  I particularly enjoyed seeing the thesis projects set up next door, especially since I’d have gladly been enrolled in their program had I known about its existence years ago.  Of note to me as a technologist:  design display boards featured QR codes that delivered student details to the viewer’s phone.  With so many potential employers walking through, this stood out as extremely clever.  Another use to mention in my own workshops on the technology.

The Sound of New Mics

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Finally, Blue has given us an heir to the fabulous and versatile Mikey microphone for iOS devices. Right around the time that I was mocking up what a mobile media creation iPod kit would look like, I discovered the Mikey and realized what a great companion it would be.

Unfortunately, it was also around this time that it became apparent that the Mikey would not work with Apple’s newest hardware due to pin/power incompatibility. Saddened, we sent the devices out without external mics – or, in the case of the IDS mobile media kits, with handheld line-in microphones. This worked well enough, but the Mikey presents such a tightly integrated and infinitely portable package that it’s almost a no-brainer.  Can’t wait to get my hands on one when they go on sale!

And for those looking for a more desk-bound solution, Blue has also released the Spark Digital condenser microphone with iPad compatibility, a more official setup than the Yeti + Camera Connection Kit we had been trying.

(Engadget)

The waiting game

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2012 has become the year of nautical tracking, it would seem:  my new favorite pastime is tracking the progress of Wallenius-Wilhelmsen ship Don Juan as it makes its way through the North Sea and eventually on to Nova Scotia, New York and Baltimore.  Why, you ask?  Because my new car is aboard and having its VIN allows me to do so!  The folks over at the Swedespeed Volvo forum have put together a comprehensive thread on the subject of tracking custom orders.

You’d better believe I’ll be checking in with the Southampton radar information when it will be catching a view of Don Juan on Sunday.  As I said to Kate, GPS and the internet would have made the pirate’s life so much easier…