Author: John

Early Apollo Program Slides

Humans on the moon

 

Now this is a lovely photo set of early slides from the Apollo space program. There were so many hopes and dreams back then weren’t there? Maybe the next 50 years will bring these dreams to full realization.

One commenter made this remark:

"This slide, as well as two others you have posted, were used in a presentation by M. W. Rosen and F. C. Schwenk at the Tenth International Astronautical Congress in London, England, August 31, 1959."

[via boingboing] 

NASA dawn of the Apollo program slides – a photoset on Flickr

Optimus Upravlator Keyboard

Humm, not quite the keyboard that was shown around the Internet like a gold plated dancing monkey a few months ago but it’s close.

The Upravlator keyboard is an input device of a new type. Within the case, a 10.8″ LCD screen with a resolution of 800×600 pixels is enclosed. Over the screen, there is a board with 12 transparent buttons. Every button features four contacts (at the top, at the bottom, on the left, and on the right). Pressing the button in the middle is possible, too (“fifth contact”)
Besides the power supply cord, Upravlator uses another two cords for connection to a computer (USB and VGA). To plug the video cable, the second monitor port (available in most configurations) or the second video card are used (the choice of the video card is up to you, it’s not part of the standard package).
Upravlator uses open standards and protocols, which will make it easier for developers to create applications. The to work under Windows and Mac OS X. device is going
Expected to be available for sale in the second half of 2007.
Patents pending.

Ok, I’ll help out with their viral marketing, it’s cool enough for that. These things would be killer for voice over IP phone systems. Many times they use either an LCD sidecar (box on the side of the phone that costs an obscene amount of cash) or an application that runs on your PC (PC needs to be on all the time, the license costs an obscene amount of cash and extra software on computers is just bad.). This would replace the sidecar and be driven from the phone or the PC. Extra keyboard and screen all in one. Well I think it’s a cool idea. Yeah…

 [via thegadgetblog]

Optimus Upravlator keyboard

DIY Photobooth Project

Photo booth

 

 

 

Now this could be some serious fun at a large party. Who will be the first to add an input screen and make your very own sicker photo booth (purikura)? These would be simple enough to make as a portable unit, maybe mount it on the back of a bike so you would have a mobile booth. Cool street party fun!

This is a tutorial on how to build your own photobooth much like the traditional ones seen at malls, amusement parks, and shopping centers the world over. This booth however is completely digital and is much much cheaper/easier to do at home…

[via MAKE]

DIY Photobooth

Creationist Kent “Dr. Dino”Hovind Goes to Jail

DinoI saw this and I just could not find any words that would do this justice [via Boingboing]:

Kent "Dr. Dino" Hovind, founder of Creation Science Evangelism and the Dinosaur Adventure Land creationist theme park in Florida ("where Dinosaurs and the Bible meet!"), and his wife face more than 200 years in jail for tax fraud. (Previous post with background here.) Yesterday, Dr. Dino was found guilty on 58 counts, including not paying an $845,000 employee-related tax bill. From the Pensacola News Journal:

U.S. District Judge Casey Rodgers released Jo Hovind until sentencing but denied Kent Hovind’s request to be released. He most likely will be detained at either Escambia County Jail or Santa Rosa County Jail until sentencing.

(Assistant US Attorney Michelle) Heldmyer said Kent Hovind was a flight risk and a "danger to the community."

His attorney, Alan Richey, argued that the Internal Revenue Service pursued his client because of his religious beliefs.

Kent Hovind, whose life’s mission is to debunk evolution, says he and his employees are workers of God and therefore exempt from paying taxes. He pays his employees in cash and does not withhold their taxes or pay his share as an employer.

Link to Pensacola News Journal article, Link to Scientific American’s "15 Answers to Creationist Nonsense"

Photoplane – Pinhole Camera of the Sky

Pinhole camera R/C rig

Pinhole camera of the skyCruising over city buildings, a small remote controlled plane attempts to hold steady, very steady. With a flick of a switch the ground controller send a signal that commands the plane to activate a small servo. One one thousand, two one thousand. The switch is reversed and the servo returns to its former position. The plane starts it’s decent to the field. What just happened? Would you believe that the plot of the remotely operated aircraft just took a photo of the buildings using a pinhole camera? By using fast film (ISO 1600) Daniel is able to take surprisingly sharp photos. Go have a look at his blog and take a look you might be inspired to build your own.

 

Photoplane-Pinhole