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Archive: Online
November 29, 2008
Noodle oracle
I don't generally do a lot of food posts over here, but I thought this was really clever - love noodles, but getting bored with your same old combinations? Consult the Noodlr, the noodle soup idea generator cooked up by Serious Eater Michele Humes. Via Angry Chicken
Posted by Patti Schiendelman |
Nov 29, 2008 07:00 AM
Online |
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November 26, 2008
Think Anatomy learning site
Street Anatomy has launched a cool new sister site, Think Anatomy.
I found that reading an anatomy textbook, sitting in lecture, and dissecting in lab weren't enough to really master anatomy. So I turned to the Internet to find resources like dissection videos, interactives, games, quizzes, etc., to supplement my study material. It took a lot of time to sift through the results and put together a list of valuable online anatomy resources. That's where the inspiration to make Think Anatomy started. I wanted to make a site that anatomy students could use to find study aids without having to use a major search engine like Google. So after many many hours spent searching, reviewing, and categorizing anatomy sites, Think Anatomy is finally ready.
Posted by Patti Schiendelman |
Nov 26, 2008 02:00 PM
Kids, Online, Science |
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November 25, 2008
Makezine searching in the USA - Ranked by state with StateStats
Check it out - Makezine searching in the USA - Ranked by state with StateStats.
This tool shows you how popular a Google search query is in each U.S. state, giving a ranking like the one you see in the left column. It then compares this ranking with other ways of ranking states, like average income or population density, using Spearman's rank correlation. The middle column shows the results of these comparisons, with the strongest correlations listed first. High numbers (close to 1.0) mean that the rankings "line up" closely, which may indicate a relationship between the search query and the ranking metric. For example, mittens tends to be searched by users who are in northerly states (high latitude) and states with a lot of frost. Low numbers (close to -1.0) indicate a negative relationship -- that is, the rankings are close to being opposites...
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Nov 25, 2008 12:10 PM
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Holiday art in Google docs...
Some enterprising folks over at Google have collaborated via Google Documents to create holiday art using cells in a spreadsheet as the pixels. A time delay video was taken and is available over at YouTube and the result is pretty spectacular. More info on how they did this is available behind the scenes. They're inviting people to share their own masterpieces or post a video response over on YouTube.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Nov 25, 2008 09:00 AM
DIY Projects, Holiday projects, Online |
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Processing 1.0 is out!
Processing 1.0 is out - Arduino and Wiring are physical computing initiatives related to Processing, open source, data visualization, amazing work - and now it's 1.0!
Processing is an open source programming language and environment for people who want to program images, animation, and interactions. It is used by students, artists, designers, researchers, and hobbyists for learning, prototyping, and production. It is created to teach fundamentals of computer programming within a visual context and to serve as a software sketchbook and professional production tool. Processing is an alternative to proprietary software tools in the same domain.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Nov 25, 2008 05:30 AM
Arts, Mods, Online, Open source hardware |
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November 21, 2008
Best of GeekDad - LEGO, RPGs, Back to the Future and more...
Here ya go, best of GeekDad for the week!
How to Become a LEGO Millionaire
The economy may be in the tank, but collectors of rare goods will always be doing well when there are obsessed people in need of special pieces. And that includes LEGO.
A Starter Guide to Roleplaying With Kids
One dad shares his path to raising his kids in the proper geeky manner: by starting them on tabletop RPGs early.
GeekDad Holiday Gift Guide #3: Kids' Gadgets & Videogames
Need suggestions for your geeklings' holiday gifts? We're on it!
Taking the Kids Back to the Future
Sharing the movies that made us geeks with our kids.
Put on Your Game Face: Nintendo Miis vs. Microsoft Avatars Ultimate Smackdown
This week Microsoft introduced avatars into their online world. How do they stack up against the Wii's roly-poly Mii's?
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Nov 21, 2008 10:30 AM
Online |
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November 20, 2008
iTunes U offers a wealth of free info
The iTunes U category @ the iTunes store gathers together a ton of free and interesting educational vids on a variety of topics including - engineering, mathematics, science, and much more - iTunes U
More:
Interactive electronics learning online!
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Nov 20, 2008 02:00 PM
Online |
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November 18, 2008
How-to Tuesday: 1934 USB web cam
A while ago I converted a 1934 folding camera into a USB web cam. I brought it with me to Maker Faire Austin 2008 and a lot of people seemed to like it. In fact, a lot of people wanted to know how I made one. I promised them I would do a how-to on the blog, and I always keep my promises, so let's get started.
The best part about this project is the availability of the cameras. I was able to pick up a USB web cam for $10 at a local bigbox store. The antique cameras I picked up on ebay for $1. Actually, I picked up (2) cameras for $1 each and the shipping was only $5. That was a great deal. You can easily pick one up for less than $10 online or a local antiques shop.
What you need:
- Antique folding camera - Available on ebay for $1 - $10
- USB web camera - Available for $10 - $20
- Heat-shrink tubing
- Rosin core solder
- Soldering Iron
- Glue Gun
- Arms of Assistance - Make you own
- Fume extractor - Make your own
- Miscellaneous hand tools - screw driver, needle-nose pliers
Step 1: Purchase the cameras
First you need the cameras. Scour the Internet, check local antique shops, or ask your friends. These types of cameras, both the antique camera and web cam, are readily available and they are very affordable.
Step 2: Remove the lens
Start by opening up the antique folding camera. There is usually a switch somewhere that slides over so you can load the film.
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Nov 18, 2008 08:00 AM
Computers, DIY Projects, Electronics, hacks, Online, Photography |
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November 17, 2008
Google voice search for the iPhone
I tried out Google's new voice search for the iPhone - it worked perfectly first try and all the other tries - I was wondering if it would be faster than typing for some things, and it is - so I'm going to likely use this for a bit until something better comes along or if it doesn't work out - it's now available at the iTunes store (free) too.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Nov 17, 2008 07:35 PM
Gadgets, iPhone, Online |
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Google SketchUp 7 is here!
Adrian from Google has an overview of the latest SketchUp, he writes -
We're very excited to announce the new release of Google SketchUp 7. If you don't already know about the fun you can have with SketchUp, here's a quick recap:SketchUp is software you can use to build 3D models of anything: your house, killer robots, furniture, trees, abstract art — anything. Architects and engineers use it to design buildings and other structures. Woodworkers use it to plan their projects. And lots of people use it to figure out where to put their furniture. SketchUp is easy to learn, it comes in free and Pro versions, and it's more fun than a houseful of clowns. Oh, and you can use it to build models for Google Earth, too.
So what's new in SketchUp 7? There's too much to list here, but we focused on three major areas for this release:
Making it even easier to get started – We've created a new class of "smart" objects called Dynamic Components, which are simpler to work with for new modelers. Take a look at this video to see what I mean:
Making it easier to share what you make and collaborate with other people – We built a better link between SketchUp and the rest of the 3D world, made it possible to "sign" your models, and added Google Docs–style collaboration and sharing to our 3D Warehouse.
Adding powerful features for experienced SketchUp Pro users – SketchUp is only half of the SketchUp Pro suite; the other half is all about sharing your work with your clients. LayOut 2 (which is now officially out of beta and rarin' to go) lets you create multi-page documents and presentations. Your models are linked to your LayOut file so that changing the former automatically updates the latter.
Take a look at the What's New in 7 page on the SketchUp website to get the whole scoop. There's a great video to watch, and it stars some of the more prone-to-sunlight members of our engineering team — in lab coats, no less. Don't miss it.
There's a detailed list at their "What's new" page too - it looks like a great update!
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Nov 17, 2008 01:00 PM
DIY Projects, Online |
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Thingiverse Launches today...
Thingiverse is an "object sharing" site that enables anyone to upload the schematics, designs, and images for their projects. Users can then download and reuse the work in their projects using their own laser cutters, 3D printers, and analog tools. Think of it as a Flickr for the Maker set.I uploaded my iPhone stand, you can check it out there!
Besides implementing our licenses, Bre and Zach have also gone the distance and allowed users to license works under the GNU GPL, LGPL, and BSD licenses, as well as allowing them to release works into the public domain. Thingiverse uses our license wrappers for each of these licenses thereby enabling automatic indexing by machines like search engines.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Nov 17, 2008 11:10 AM
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November 11, 2008
Google reader can auto-translate
There are a lot of makers who read MAKE with Google's news reader (Google Reader) and now you can read it your native language with Google's auto-translate feature they just rolled out - more details here on the Google blog... and you can read MAKE here.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Nov 11, 2008 03:00 AM
Online |
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November 7, 2008
Pixel art depot
Simple but fun, the Major Output pixel art site let's you create and post your own simple pixel graphic - plus browse through a big collection of other's work. My resistor and capacitor contrubutions can be seen in the mix above. - Major Output
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Nov 7, 2008 01:00 PM
Arts, Online |
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Visualizing Wikipedia page edits
A visualization of people who’ve contributed to the Barack Obama page on Wikipedia. Users who edit a lot drift toward the center. Best watched full screen. Visualized using code_swarm (Processing) and my new Wikipedia page history parser Wikiswarm (Ruby). Instructions on how to make your own visualizations can be found in the README.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Nov 7, 2008 08:10 AM
Arts, Online |
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November 6, 2008
Population map - Boroughs of NYC
Wow, makers like map visualizations! JB (and a couple other folks) sent in this map of the boroughs of NYC and the populations of entire states that fit inside them!
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Nov 6, 2008 11:40 AM
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Giant widget
Wow, here's a giant widget that has... everything - I put it on the extra hacked up display here until I couldn't take the info overload via RW.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Nov 6, 2008 11:00 AM
Online |
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The astrometry pool on Flickr automatically adds labels to the astronomy photos you upload
Wow, this might be the coolest thing ever - The astrometry pool on Flickr automatically adds labels to the astronomy photos you upload. Brought to you by the folks at Astrometry.net...
If you have astronomical imaging of the sky with celestial coordinates you do not know—or do not trust—then Astrometry.net is for you. Input an image and we'll give you back astrometric calibration meta-data, plus lists of known objects falling inside the field of view.We have built this astrometric calibraton service to create correct, standards-compliant astrometric meta-data for every useful astronomical image ever taken, past and future, in any state of archival disarray. We hope this will help organize, annotate and make searchable all the world's astronomical information.
More:
Astronomy Hacks. Why use the traditional approach to study the stars when you can turn computers, handheld devices, and telescopes into out-of-this-world stargazing tools? Whether you're a first timer or an advanced hobbyist, you'll find Astronomy Hacks both useful and fun. From upgrading your optical finder to photographing stars, this book is the perfect cosmic companion...
Cover up to see in the dark... MAKE 03 - page 190.
'Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders'--get out under the stars. If you're interested in observing multiple stars and astounding deep-sky objects (nebulae, galaxies, and clusters), this book shows you how to do it--everything from choosing your equipment to actually finding the objects when you are out there in the field.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Nov 6, 2008 08:30 AM
Online, Science |
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Election maps based on population
Mark Newman's, Department of Physics and Center for the Study of Complex Systems, University of Michigan election maps based on population via Waxy. I suspect in 4 years we'll see these on all the networks doing "live morphs" from geographic view to population view on a big touchscreen with a hologram operating it...
Most of us are, by now, familiar with the maps the TV channels and web sites use to show the results of the presidential election:
The states are colored red or blue to indicate whether a majority of their voters voted for the Republican candidate, John McCain, or the Democratic candidate, Barack Obama, respectively. Looking at this map it gives the impression that the Republicans won the election handily, since there is rather more red on the map than there is blue. In fact, however, the reverse is true – the Democrats won by a substantial margin. The explanation for this apparent paradox, as pointed out by many people, is that the map fails to take account of the population distribution. It fails to allow for the fact that the population of the red states is on average significantly lower than that of the blue ones. The blue may be small in area, but they represent a large number of voters, which is what matters in an election.
We can correct for this by making use of a cartogram, a map in which the sizes of states are rescaled according to their population. That is, states are drawn with size proportional not to their acreage but to the number of their inhabitants, states with more people appearing larger than states with fewer, regardless of their actual area on the ground. On such a map, for example, the state of Rhode Island, with its 1.1 million inhabitants, would appear about twice the size of Wyoming, which has half a million, even though Wyoming has 60 times the acreage of Rhode Island.
Here are the 2008 presidential election results on a population cartogram of this type...
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Nov 6, 2008 07:30 AM
Arts, Online |
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November 5, 2008
The end of TV: Boxee + Apple TV + Hulu
The end of TV: Boxee + Apple TV + Hulu, a review of Boxee @ Tux Geek...
People want to do much more with their iPhone then Steve Job allows. So they jailbreak it. The same goes for the Apple TV. While it is a great and relatively cheap media center, it has restrictions, just like the iPhone. Wouldn’t it be nice to play xvid videos, stream shows from Hulu, listen to LastFm, Twitter the name of the movie you are currently watching or see what music your friends are listening to on your big screen TV connected to an Apple TV? Well, you can do that with Boxee!Boxee is an open source media center, with social networking features, currently in an invite-only alpha stage. It is a fork of XBMC, a media center initially designed for the Xbox, but then ported to run on all major platforms. Boxee runs on Linux, Mac, and soon Windows. You can put it on your AppleTV with a grandma-simple “hack“, with no adverse effects.
What does it do?
As other media center software, Boxee allows you to browse and play media files (movies, music, photos) from local hard-disks or DVD drive and can stream music and videos from the internet or other computers in the network (SMB/SAMBA shares). It supports 1080p HD and it reads virtually any type of media, except DRM files.
Boxee scans your default media folders and downloads the related meta-data and artwork for your music and video files. Unfortunately, it doesn’t import your iTunes or iPhoto libraries - a big loss for Mac users.
When playing a song you can choose to see the lyrics (especially useful for a karaoke night) or display information about the band or artist.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Nov 5, 2008 09:00 AM
Home Entertainment, Online |
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November 4, 2008
Elect-o-meter
I recently updated my arduino ambient orb to use some boards I got cut at a boardhouse in Colorado, and handed off a few of the finished products off to various friends of mine. Well, my good friend John Erickson tossed together an awesome script for the election returns tonight. The orb starts off dark, and the script periodically checks the election results. As the results come in, the orb will gradually get brighter and brighter blue or red based on who is pulling in the EVs.
I grabbed his script and a spare board I had with me at the office, and used a plastic cup to whip up a quick electoral ‘orb’:
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Nov 4, 2008 12:30 PM
Arduino, DIY Projects, Electronics, Online |
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The MAKE gift guides for 2008!
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Current Podcast
Maker Faire Austin - Green Tech
Makers from around the world gathered to share their "green" inventions and technology at Maker Faire in Austin. Make plans now to attend the next Maker Faire. To download Maker Faire Austin 2008 - Green Tech MP4 click here...
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