Taking scientific toys to the next level. I would say the only downside would be the hefty price, currently at USD $160 for 6 pieces at Modular Robotics. Would really cost a bomb to get enough pieces to make something really useful/amusing on a larger scale.
Showing posts with label Gadgets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gadgets. Show all posts
If you still do not know already, #OCCUPYWALLSTREET has turned into #OccupyTogether, and it is sweeping nationwide across the United States.
I guess largely the liberation of Libya has had global repercussions, similar to that during the fall of Eastern Europe and USSR. There is an overwhelming surge of belief in power to the people.
Even back home in Singapore, we too had a similar event and rush of emotions when against all odds, the Workers' Party made a historical breakthrough by winning Aljunied GRC in the General Elections.
The difference though between protests back home and in the States, is that, in Singapore, the battles are largely fought online, over social medias, or at rallies. Meek as we are, and all the restrictions in place, Singaporeans don't really hold protest rallies.
On the contrary, in the States, where views are much more liberal, protestors tend to use more action instead of words. However, it should be noted that despite the numbers, most of these protests have been really peaceful.
So now, you have an interesting situation. From history, we know that when Ghanhi stood up against British rule and fought for independence, his non-violent defiance was met with force, mostly in the form of arrests and detentions. There was a growing frustration to suppress him into submission.
Today, we have a similar scenario with the #OccupyTogether movement. As an official of the law, what do you do when a growing number of protestors, legally abide by the laws in place, exercise their civil rights, and refuse to back down?
As we've seen in #OCCUPYWALLSTREET, the ultimatum was macing/pepper spraying the protestors into submission.
10 years ago, the news only came from the media, in the form of photographs, videos or first-hand accounts from on-site journalists. It might have been possible to censor such events from the headlines, or even downplay it.
But today, with camera-phones everywhere, and the internet just a click away, events seen through the public eyes can spread like wildfire. The NYPD defended the use of the pepper spray, calling it "appropriate" use of force.
And now, just days after the above incident, a similar event happened, this time in the University of California Davis. From the National Public Radio article:
"... In a demonstration of support for the Occupy movement, a small group of protesters was sitting, arms linked together. Campus police told them to move. The students didn't. And that's when an officer walked down the line of seated men and women, pepper-spraying them. Some took it straight in their faces...
... Campus police said the officers had been surrounded by protesters and commanders have defended their actions. So did university Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi — which led to a call from the school's faculty association for her resignation. Katehi has since said she wants an outside, independent panel to review what happened and that she doesn't plan to step down..."
So yes, it begs the question. Pepper-spray, like the taser, is supposedly to be a less-than-lethal agent for self-defence, riot and crowd control. However, is it "reasonable use" to pepper-spray non-violent protestors? In my view, the officers could have just picked up the student protestors if they wanted to, it's not like they were armed and dangerous.
But the more impressive turn in this incident, is the response by the non-violent protestors. Also from the National Public Radio article:
"... On Saturday, after a news conference she held, Katehi remained inside one of the university's buildings for a couple hours. Outside, protesters regrouped. And when she emerged, there was one of the most amazing scenes so far related to the Occupy movement. As Katehi and another woman walked three blocks to an SUV, they passed through a gauntlet of several hundred students — who remained silent in a powerful show of their disdain.... "
The deafening silence. The walk of shame. Indeed, silence did speak volumes louder than words ever could.
Really love the concept of the desk/bar counter. Overall less complex than the lego style apartment of Christian Schallert, which I think is nice too. Guess the trend is really catching on. Hope that they become a thing in Singapore in 10 years time =3
So the Lytro is finally up for sale, 8GB going for $399 and 16GB for $499, though shipping only starts in 2012. I'm so hoping that it will be slightly cheaper during Black Friday!
I just love-love-love the ability to refocus in the same photograph. Just view the photos on their blog or photo album and you'll get what I mean!
" Lytro lets you take pictures like never before. Unlike a conventional camera that captures a single plane of light, the Lytro camera captures the entire light field, which is all the light traveling in every direction in every point in space.
Since you'll capture the color, intensity, and direction of all the light, you can experience the first major light field capability - focusing after the fact. Focus and re-focus, anywhere in the picture. You can refocus your pictures at anytime, after the fact. "
For those really dark and hopeless times when Murphy's law is onto you. Maybe someone can make a Singaporean version online? Would be cool to consolidate all the unique swears in cultural diverse Singapore!
Embedding is sadly disabled, so you'll have to watch it at Vimeo
When Apple released the iPhone 4S, they also unveiled Siri, a function that allows you to use your voice to send messages, set reminders, place phone calls, and more.
I guess it was just a matter of time before someone adapted it to our favourite Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System. Ah, good old cynicism!
Rube goldberg machines have always fascinated me. The biggest problems to tackle with building one is usually finding methods of transition from one set-up to the next.
The most common way would be using dominos and popsicle sticks. However, the overall effect is usually less dramatic.
That's where the Cobra Weave comes in. I'm sure some of you have heard of it in Scouting or Guiding, and yes, it is a rather decorative weave for campcraft, which you can use to make rather pretty bracelets or keychains.
Well, the weave has since been translated for use on popsicle sticks. And interestingly, this variant also adds an additional characteristic of the cobra to it, as the weave will dramatically rise upwards as it travels down its explosive path. If only we learnt about it years back. Well, enjoy!
So, about 24 hours ago, Apple did not announce the dawn of the iPhone 5 but rather, the release of the iPhone 4S. And as the truth starts to slowly sink in, the social media is going abuzz with outspoken thoughts if one should get the iPhone 4S, despite the presence of iPhone 5 in the near horizon.
To me, it is just seemed like an adult version of the Stanford Marshmallow Experiment. It is true that in real-life, there is often no end point or eventual goal, as life goes on.
However, similarities can be drawn if we look at such events as independent cases. Such as iPhone 4S now? or iPhone 5 months later? Even as adults, do we suffer from poor impulse control? Is deferred gratification really that abstract and distant?
What are your thoughts?
OMG! OMG! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! ^^x
Please let me see this in Singapore soon! Pretty PLEASE =3
USD $19.90 on ThinkGeek
So, months back I posted about the awesome Russian AA-12 fully automatic shotgun... And now they are back with more =3
Ever wondered how it feels like to be Rambo... or a Heavy in TF2 with his Minigun... or even mounting the mini turret in L4D? Well... judging from this video... it must truly been an awesome feeling =3
" That's what the fuck I'm talking about. You cannot get more firepower than this, anywhere in the world. "
Gotta say, the execution here is really clean-cut and supplies you with overwhelming sense of "I need this"... much like an Apple Ad these days =x
and it seems to have found a really cool niche target group here... I guess it being silent... waterproof... USB chargeable... and looking almost completely innocent... and even doubling as a thumbdrive... really pushed it above its competitors...
Project: Duet hit its marketing target of $15k in just 2 days.. and is now soaring over $43k.. a testament that sometimes... you don't need to invent the wheel... you just need to take the time to listen more, and reinvent it =3