Air Guitar Tshirt

March 31, 2007

something pretty cool i found in a magazine i read

Every wanna-be rocker’s fantasy comes true

CSIRO has ‘built’ a shirt which could fulfil the fantasy of anyone who has, in the privacy of their homes, jammed along with one of rock ‘n roll’s great lead guitarists.

13 November 2006

Led by engineer Dr Richard Helmer a team of researchers at CSIRO Textiles and Fibre Technology in Geelong has created a ‘wearable instrument shirt’ (WIS) which enables users to play an ‘air guitar’ simply by moving one arm to pick chords and the other to strum the imaginary instrument’s strings.

“Freedom of movement is a great feature of these textile-based interfaces,” Dr Helmer says.

”Our air guitar consists of a wearable sensor interface embedded in a conventional ’shirt’ which uses custom software to map gestures with audio samples.

 “It’s an easy-to-use, virtual instrument that allows real-time music making – even by players without significant musical or computing skills. It allows you to jump around and the sound generated is just like an original mp3.”

The WIS works by recognising and interpreting arm movements and relaying this wirelessly to a computer for audio generation. There are no trailing cables to get in the way or trip over.

Textile motion sensors embedded in the shirt sleeves detect motion when the arm bends – in most cases the left arm chooses a note and the right arm plays it.

“It’s an easy-to-use, virtual instrument that allows real-time music making – even by players without significant musical or computing skills”

By customising the software, the team has also tailored the technology to make an air tambourine and an air guiro (percussion instrument).

Dr Helmer says the development of the WIS required intensive collaboration by researchers with high-level skills in computing, chemistry, electronics, music composition and textile manufacture.

“The technology – which is adaptable to almost any kind of apparel – takes clothing beyond its traditional role of protection and fashion into the realms of entertainment and a wide range of other applications including the development of clothes which will be able to monitor physiological changes,” he says.

 

i would totally get this, the only problem is that it is probably worth more than a regular guitar, argh, i havent found how much for it but im looking, belive me :)

http://www.csiro.au/news/ps2gl.html via csiro.au via Breakaway magazine

Doggy Treadmill

January 24, 2007

well since Jake put a link to my site i guess i should update cuz im lazy like that, and yes i did get a virus from that program

The Doggy Treadmill
Most people know that owning a dog has some responsibilities that come along with it, the most important ones being: keep the dog fed and take the time out of your day to go on a nice walk. Knowing the US, there’s a category of people that want a dog, but don’t feel like going walking everyday. For those of you lazy people out there that fall into that category, you should do your dog a favor and get him/her the Doggy Treadmill. And yes, I think this is the most ridiculous pet gadget I’ve ever seen. Ever, I swear.

Just think, if you get yourself a real treadmill, you and your dog could exercise together. Aww, it would be a great Christmas Card. There’s no real way to force your dog to go onto the treadmill though, you could tie the leash to it, but still, eventually old Sparky will figure out how to get off (or at the very least how to stay to one side). I’d definitely be tempted to put some tasty treat just in front of the treadmill and see what happens. I’ve been making fun of this contraption high quality piece of exercise equipment, but it may have one use that seems practical, for when it rains. But dogs love rain, and there is such a thing as an umbrella.

I can’t find any pricing information, not that anyone would want to buy this because it would probably be extremely expensive, and you’re better off going outside (eek!) and getting a bit exercise (and fresh air) for you and your dog.

Seriously this is a really good idea, expecially since im living here in cold North Dakota, though the article doesnt say how much im betting its pretty expensive

The Doggy Treadmill (seriously) via coolest-gadgets.com

Nice Expensive Toy???

January 3, 2007

Well since me and Jake excuse me Jake and I (thanks Matt) were talking about our sites and he commented that i never update here is one just for you Jake, since you are probably the only one who even KNOWS about this site

Dolphin Boat/Sub Can Jump Out of Water and Dive

This is one wild and expensive water toy. This boat can hold two people and is able to dive up to two feet under water for up to 20 seconds at a time. When the craft surfaces it can jump up to 10 feet in the air and perform tricks.

When the craft is in the air you can perform barrel rolls and the like. The current is called the Seabreacher and is 14 foot 10 inches long and weighs in at 1000 pounds. Power for the craft comes from a 175 HP Atkins marine rotary engine and you can get an optional 240 HP super charged engine that weighs in at 300 pounds.

One of the designers had this to say about aerobatic maneuvers in the Seabreacher. “It’s really just for fun. It’s a 3-D jet ski. We liken it to a monster truck. In the end we would like to turn it into a recognized sport as you can race and jump. You can do a single or double roll in the Seabreacher which is great fun though the landing is quite rough.” The craft is a one of and would cost in the neighborhood of $78,000 to build. Story and image via Dailymail.co.uk.

Wouldnt i love to have that, go under a lake, look at all the pretty fishies, then pop up and scare the living crap out of some unexpected fisherman only to get reported to the police or coast guard etc. and have this $78,000 "toy" taken away, OUCH

i guess ill have to at least TRY to update at least 1.5 times a week, after i get the bagilion alg II assignments i have to get caught up with, OW

taken via I4U Gadgets

Wiimote Straps Replaced

December 15, 2006

Well, how ’bout that… on top of the 200k DS and DS Lite AC adapters being recalled replaced this morning, Nintendo just announced an additional voluntary replacement of 3.2 million straps for their Wii Remote Control. Whereas the AC adapter recall is said to be limited to Japan, the Wiimote strap replacement program is most definitely worldwide affecting "all Wiis sold" to date and most of the units still on shelves. So yeah, your strap is on the list for recall if you own a Wii. Whether the broken strap claims were bogus or not is now moot, the perception certainly exists that there’s a problem with California class-actions sure to follow. So kudos to Nintendo for acting relatively quickly to address the issue before it snowballed into another Sony "rootkit" fiasco. No information on how to return your strap for the new beefier version, but you’ll know as soon as we do.

Update: Thanks to tipster Stefan for digging into Nintendo’s bowels and unearthing the replacement request form. Good news, looks like they’ll simply ship the new strap without the mess of having to return the old one.

Update 2: Nintendo just called to let us know that the replacement program is entirely voluntary, and does not constitute a "recall". That means Nintendo apparently doesn’t think it’s a risk for most people, but if you do you can feel free to get that Wiimote strap. Nintendo issued this statement: "Nintendo has a long tradition of delivering high-quality products and excellent customer service. The Wii Remote is meant to be gripped, and the wrist straps are a secondary measure. We have found that some consumers get more excited playing Wii Sports than we could have imagined. This resulted in a very small number of wrist straps breaking. We have replaced the broken wrist straps and continue to reinforce with consumers the safe and fun use of our products. Through its voluntary wrist strap replacement program Nintendo is offering a stronger wrist strap free of charge to consumers by calling 1-800-859-4519 or by visiting support.nintendo.com."

Update 3: Here’s the info Nintendo gives when you order your replacements: "Thank you for your request. Once your replacement wrist strap order has shipped, you will receive a confirmation email from Nintendo. We expect to begin shipping replacement straps around December 21st. It will take 5 to 9 days for delivery depending on your location. Please do not contact Nintendo regarding your replacement wrist strap until after that time period has passed."

Wiimote straps via Engadget

Gifts Gifts Gifts

December 10, 2006

Yea i so know Wired for Gadgets owner Jake in real life, yes sadly so u may see that he has his gift giving guide through the 22nd yea so im gunna copy a few of his (dont tell him)

Gamer in your familia? this is for you: The Logitech MX Revolution.

The Logitech MX Revolution is the latest mouse from Logitech. Logitech´s innovative MicroGear™ Precision Scroll Wheel lets you fly through long documents or switch to precise click-to-click scrolling for navigating lists, slides, and image collections.

You can also toggle between open documents with the convenient Quick-Flip thumb wheel, or search the Web by highlighting a word or phrase and pressing the Search button.

It has a built-in battery with a charging stand to charge your battery. This is great for a desktop, but not so great for a laptop because you’d have to hall around a charger. Also, there a mini receiver you have to take with, though it is the size of a flash drive.

So if you’re looking for a wireless mouse for that special someone, be sure to ask if it’s for a desktop or a laptop. If for a desktop, get the MX Revolution. If it’s for a laptop, the VX Revolution, also from Logitech. It has all the same great features, except that it takes a AA battery and has a snap in receiver. Both are great s. The MX goes for $99, while the VX goes for $79.

Logitech MX Revolution

Logitech VX Revolution

Great time waster

November 3, 2006

yea so today in Alg II all we practically did was play this

The  concept is to draw one or more lines on which a tiny animated guy with a sled can ride. The game includes a physics simulation, which means the track must be sufficiently smooth to prevent the character from falling off the sled. It also continues on forever. Many quite complicated tracks have been created, which include loops and other stunts.Tracks are typically shared by uploading a video to web sites, such as YouTube or Google

if you need something to pass time check this out!

Linerider {Thanks Matt and Jon}

Alien Sighting

October 27, 2006

yea well here in my home state of North Dakota an alien sighting supposedly happened, think what you want

Creature sightings stir talk

 
Pig-grabbing space aliens are the talk of Tappen, N.D., and beyond.

 

But Torrey Briese, whose family counts three close encounters with the inexplicable, doesn’t much worry what others think.

“Some people probably aren’t going to believe it. I’m not even trying to convince anybody. We know what happened,” said Briese, a member of the Tappen School Board whose family operates a ranch outside of town.

Briese and his wife, Myra, spoke Thursday of three strange occurrences experienced by family members in the past year, two of which were reported by their son Evan, 16.

According to Myra Briese, the latest incident went something like this: Her son awoke early on the morning of Sept. 12 and got up to get a glass of water.

 

Looking out a window, the boy saw something moving in the corral that is home to several large hogs that are basically family pets.

Thinking it might be a coyote, he grabbed a gun and walked into the corral.

There, he encountered two creatures standing 8 to 9 feet tall that were doing something to one of the hogs. The boy fired his .22-caliber rifle at one creature and was pretty sure he hit it, judging by the unearthly scream it emitted.

Another creature then grabbed the boy and threw him to the ground, causing him to black out.

The boy ran to the home of his older sister, Trista, a short distance from the house he shares with his parents.

Trista Briese made a frantic phone call to her parents and it wasn’t long before they, and later the Kidder County sheriff, were on the scene.

Evan Briese, whose shirt was in tatters, told his story.

The sheriff, Doug Howard, then left but came back the next day. He ultimately came to no conclusions about what happened to the hog, Myra Briese said.

Several days later, with the help of a hypnotist, Evan Briese remembered more details.

Five entities had been in the corral. Two were in the process of dragging what appeared to be a hog when the boy interrupted them.

“It’s unexplainable,” Myra Briese said.

“This still bothers Evan to this day,” she said, adding that her son feels guilty for not being able to save his younger sister’s hog.

As for the other incidents, one was in April when Evan and his cattle dog, Buster, were checking on cows during calving season, his parents said.

Investigating a flashing glow, the pair walked over a hill and saw an object resting on the ground that appeared to be scanning a waterhole with an intense beam of light.

At first, boy and dog could do nothing but stare.

The spell was broken when Buster ran barking at the craft, which took off into the night, causing what amounted to a sonic boom.

“It woke Myra up,” Torrey Briese said of the sound, adding that he, too, witnessed something unusual this past summer. It happened one night in July, when he was giving a neighbor a ride into town.

Briese said he and the neighbor noticed a bluish light in the sky, which stopped when they stopped and moved when they began driving.

“We spent about a half-hour watching it,” Briese said, adding that at one point the object flew so fast it went several miles in a matter of seconds.

Based on the description of the object his son saw in April, Briese links the two events, adding that he’s never been given to flights of fancy.

“Evan and I are very skeptical,” Torrey Briese said. “We used to watch ‘The UFO Files’ on TV and laugh out loud.”

Briese said he wouldn’t be surprised if people feel the same about his story, but he said the family doesn’t feel a need to prove anything and they’ve moved on.

“We’re not out looking for aliens every night,” he said.

Brice Barnick, the mayor of Tappen – located off Interstate 94 between Bismarck and Jamestown – said visits by UFOs are the talk of the town, though he himself is not quite on board.

“I’m not saying it can’t happen. But I’d have to see it to believe it,” Barnick said.

At the time of the April incident, the Brieses were put in touch with Richard Moss, a UFO investigator who happened to be in Tappen for a funeral.

Moss, of Long Prairie, Minn., is the Minnesota representative of the Mutual UFO Network, an organization based in Colorado dedicated to the study of UFO phenomena.

Moss, a former high school science teacher, said that in many years of investigating UFO reports, only a handful have impressed him as having the potential to be genuine.

The Tappen incidents, he said, fall into the latter category.

“There are a lot of people out there who are telling false stories. The credibility of the witness is a big thing,” Moss said.

In the case of Evan Briese, Moss said it was interesting to view the boy’s demeanor before and after the hypnotic regression.

Prior to hypnosis, “He (Briese) had a sort of unsure look on his face. He was still really wondering what had happened. After the hypnotic regression, he knew. He was made to remember,” Moss said.

Sheriff Howard was off duty Thursday and could not be reached for comment.

John Lemieux, a Kidder County deputy, said he did not believe the incident in September resulted in a written report.

Torrey Briese said strange things are still happening.

A relative who farms in the Tappen area recently had a sheep die, and a veterinarian who examined the animal found no obvious reason for its , Briese said.

A cause of wasn’t the only thing missing.

Someone, Briese said, removed a single testicle from the animal.

It was done with surgical precision, he added.