I spotted this while checking out my contact photos on Flickr. Apparently this was part of the masquerade at the LAcon IV science fiction convention in Los Angles. You can see more photos from this convention here.
Remote Head-Mount Gyroscope-Controlled Camera Plane
Ooo, an R/C plane with a cockpit mounted micro video camera/transmitter that’s slaved to a gyro on the pilots head. Lots of discussion here. Video here, here, and here (best by far, lots of close passes with the ground).
Pretty much the idea is that the camera is sending a cockpit point of view back to the pilot where he views it on a set of head mounted goggles. To add a bit of extra zing to the equation the camera pans and tilts in response to the wearers head movements. You can see the fun that could be had with this, eh? Telepresence is amazing!
Some specs and build notes from the discussion group: (prices in Canadian I think)
My equipment is old. New equipment:
Gyro:$425
headset:$699
cam: $99
video tx/rx: around $150
antenna: 8dbi patch (optional) around $60
amateur radio license is req’d because you need to exceed 10mw of power.(it’s not hard to get and inexpensive in Canada)
and also it’s easy to plug, but not easy to get good video link without video dropout. It’s not easy to explain everything for me to someone who don’t have good electronic skill, for now it’s not for everyone.
The cam in this setup is glue on a servo and allow 45 deg of panning, the servo is plug in the rudder channel if not use or on slider etc. The servo can be modified to 180 deg easily by adding two resistor on pot. lead or buying a special circuit.
Early Apollo Program Slides
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]
Pumpkin Pinhole Camera
I know that the holiday season is past, but remember that pumpkins can also be a symbol of Thanksgiving! So, can you make a camera out of a fleshy autumn squash? Apparently you can…
pinhole camera made from a real pumpkin! on Flickr – Photo Sharing!
DIY Photobooth Project
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]