You are here: Home / Archives for General Tech

Throwable camera ball

October 16, 2011 by 1 Comment

As the months go on I get more and more excited by the whole 3D printer thing. If you’re not aware of them, 3D printers actually allow you to create objects directly. Once they hit consumer affordability levels, watch for some of the super cool things that emerge alongside the endless pile of crap most of us will create.

One such example on the cool side of the equation is this ball that contains 36 cameras. Have a look for yourself:

So imagine: in five years time, most of us will be ‘printing’ out products, possibly as advanced as these (though that may take a little longer). Do you believe it or not?

[via Extreme Tech]

Filed Under: General Tech, General Tech, Science Tagged With: ,

A geek’s tribute to Steve Jobs

October 6, 2011 by Leave a Comment

It’s been quite a day with the death of Steve Jobs at 56. I spent some time putting together a small graphical tribute that shows how Steve’s original and subsequent leadership of Apple had an impact on my life. It shows the Apple gear I’ve owned over the years, with some nostalgic words thrown in.

Here it is, for what it’s worth:

Filed Under: General Tech, General Tech, Retro Tagged With: ,

On the fly 3D surface reconstruction: KinectFusion

October 5, 2011 by 1 Comment

Microsoft’s Kinect is rightfully getting a lot of attention from researchers. One snippet that caught my attention is a collaboration between Microsoft and a number of UK and Canada-based researchers. The result is KinectFusion.

Have a look for yourself:

The implications for virtual worlds are fairly obvious. The thing that particularly struck me is the dynamic capability of the approach even at this early stage – if something changes with the physical world environment, it is reflected virtually. For the education, science and health fields, to name three, this is huge.

One obvious example within my pet area of clinical simulation: a camera (with consent) is placed in a busy emergency department in a large teaching hospital. Emergency nursing students based at a rural university receive that feed, had it convert on the fly to 3D for use within their virtual learning environment. Students may actually ‘work’ a full shift virtually, needing to respond to the challenges of the changing environment as they occur.

As I said, there’s a long way to go (for starters, KinectFusion is about surfaces only), but the progress is rapid and exciting. Over to you: what applications could you see this being good for?

Filed Under: Alternatives, From the TMJ forums, General News, General Tech, Health, Virtual Worlds Tagged With: , ,

Virtual University Collaboration: ENCKE

October 2, 2011 by Leave a Comment

The Australian Digital Futures Institute is powering on with its work in virtual worlds. Coming up in a few weeks is their 2-day ENCKE Virtual University Collaboration (ENCKE isn’t an acronym, but a comet bringing change).

The details:

This unique event will begin with an intensive two day in-world meeting. Over the following 4 weeks some of the main ideas and concepts for virtual teaching, learning and meeting spaces developed by participants will be constructed on the new virtual university island (with assistance from professional SL builders). Then over the next 3 months participants will be able to book and use these spaces for their own teaching and learning sessions, role plays and meetings. During this time there will be informal follow-up and evaluation meetings. Traditional conferences last a few days and allow for ideas to be presented and for some follow-up discussion to occur.

The plan is to have the virtual university island(s) as an ongoing collaborative and space to allow for construction and testing of applications of virtual world technologies to university teaching and learning. We welcome your ideas and suggestions for this and future events.

When: 27 & 28 October 2011, 10am to 5pm Australian EST

Where: On a new Second Life island (slurl to be advised)

Registration: The fee to participate is AUD$325 (inc. GST) and includes the conference and related workshop, tutorial, demonstration and tour session plus 3 months access to the constructed spaces. It is expected that participants will have a SL avatar and have acquired at the least the basic skills of interacting in a virtual environment. The event is limited to 50 participants. We do expect the event to be fully subscribed so please register early to secure your place.

Check out our scoop.it page: http://www.scoop.it/t/virtual-university-education-in-virtual-worlds/

Registration available at: http://adfi.usq.edu.au/encke.html

Filed Under: Education, General News, Virtual Worlds Tagged With: , ,

Emergency birth at home simulation

September 22, 2011 by Leave a Comment

This article originally appeared over at our sister-site Metaverse Health.

One of the biggest challenges with online or PC-based simulations is the infrastructure required to run them. The move to web-based simulations is key to resolving that issue although web-based currently can come with a trade-off on complexity in a lot of cases.

That said, sometimes simplicity can still cover key concepts and that’s evident with a nice little simulation developed by the Engender Game Group at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

It provides a home-based scenario where a woman needs support through delivering her baby. It covers everything from the initial meeting through to initial post-natal care until medical assistance arrives. Have a go for yourself.

For the record I’ve confirmed the validity of my choice not to become a midwife, as I got barely more than half the questions in the scenario correct!

[via Serious Games Market]

Filed Under: General News, Health, Virtual Worlds Tagged With: , ,

Sigh: Sydney’s first oxygen bar

September 7, 2011 by 1 Comment

It had to happen eventually – the oxygen bar fad has come to Australia. The full press release:

Australia’s first Oxygen Bar launches at Darling Harbour!
Please let us know if you are interested in:
o   Review dates/times – arrange with us
o   Press Release & Fact Sheet – attached and below
o   Interviews/shoots at the Oxygen Bars available – interview with Co-owner Rob Azar
o   Images at - http://www.flickr.com/photos/cardinalspin/collections

Oxygen Bar, a Breath of Fresh Air for Sydney
Sydneysiders can now smell the Lavender, Eucalyptus or Jasmine, not at one of the city’s many florists, but at Australia’s first ready-to-breathe oxygen bar, recently opened at Darling Harbour.
The O2 Bar Oxygen Station has over 15 exciting scents to be breathed for up to 15 minutes at a time for maximum effect. Coffee lovers can grab an airborne cappuccino, or follow their nose to the fresh scent of vanilla bean, coconut or lime via the Bar’s many aroma infusers.

The best part, 02 visitors receive a direct hit of 90 percent oxygen with each aromatic breath. Oxygen in our air typically offers just 21 percent, but at a higher concentration oxygen can create feelings of increased energy, refreshment, and stress relief.   Greater concentration, increased memory and athletic performance after oxygen sessions are also commonly reported.
Oxygen bars have been a huge success overseas, particularly the United States, Japan and in large cities, providing an escape from pollutants, allergens and impurities found in air. Oxygen is also revered for its anti-aging properties.

Not just for health lovers, oxygen is an effective detoxifier getting a reputation for offering a faster way out of dreaded hangovers. Say goodbye to late night booze munchies, or breakfast kebabs. Party lovers can get back on their feet in no time, by flooding the body with calorie free oxygen to overcome a hangover.

Frequent fliers will also appreciate a dose of 90 percent pure to restore their depleted levels of oxygen, the main cause of Jetlag. And stress heads will benefit from taking a deep breath of oxygen or ten, to repair the body’s impaired ability to properly take in and utilise oxygen when stressed.

90 percent oxygen requires no sugars, caffeine, shakes or crashing when the effects wear off.  Oxygen is a natural and harmless way to rebalance the body’s oxygen levels for faster recovery and increased vitality. 02 is also a relaxing way to stop and smell the roses, tangerines or watermelon.

Sydney’s first O2 Bar is open seven days a week from 10am until late. A hit of oxygen costs $1 per minute, with 15 minutes just the right amount of time to feel recharged and rejuvenated.

O2 Bar has eight oxygen stations attended by O2 tenders who provide disposable cannulas to each visitor to place around their nose.  Free i-pad access and water is offered to visitors who want more activity while they breathe.

Address – Shop FF08, Level 2, Harbourside Shopping Centre, Darling Harbour

Email - oxygen@o2bar.com.au
Website - www.02bar.com.au <http://www.02bar.com.au>
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/O2bar-Oxygen-Station/#!/pages/O2bar-Oxygen Station/140937395991188
Twitter–http://twitter.com/#!/OTwoBarSydney

Trading hours:

Mon – Wed: 10:00 am-9:00 pm
Thurs: 10:00 am-10:00 pm
Fri – Sat: 10:00 am-12:00 am
Sun: 10:00 am-9:00

Of course, like any press release, there’s plenty of hyperbole. As far back as 2003, concerns have been expressed about Oxygen bars. Wikipedia has a fairly good overview of the phenomenon as well. My favourite phrase in the press release is “calorie-free oxygen”.

Over to you: will you be turning up to partake of a whiff or two?

Filed Under: General Tech, General Tech, Society

Ballet in Second Life: Archidance

August 20, 2011 by 1 Comment

I’m an absolute heathen when it comes to dance, particularly ballet. That said, I was pretty impressed with this short piece of machinima. Ignoring the artistic merits, I hadn’t thought of what a brilliant choreography tool virtual worlds could be. I consider myself enlightened now.

Apparently Ballet Pixelle’s Archidance was performed back in June, wish I’d seen it. Have a look for yourself:

[via Indigo Mertel]

Filed Under: Art, General News, Music, Virtual Worlds Tagged With: , ,

Ten funny Star Wars videos

August 14, 2011 by 1 Comment

It’s time for another one of our regular humor posts. This time I thought I’d go in deep and pick the ten best videos that parody Star Wars. Obviously it’s objective and feel free to add your own picks in the comments. In the meantime, enjoy:

1. Injured Stormtrooper

2. Star Wars Help Desk

3. Lego Star Wars – The New Guy

4. Never Call Me At Work

5. Chad Vader : Day Shift Manager – A Galaxy Not So Far Away

(If you haven’t watched Chad Vader before, you haven’t lived. Check out all the episodes)

6. Star Wars Episode 3: A Lost Hope

7. Grocery Store Wars

8. Empire State of Mind

9. Interrogation Droid

10. Star Wars: The Empire Brokeback

Filed Under: Gaming, General Tech, General Tech, Humour Tagged With: , ,

Gamification of work: a pointed critique

August 14, 2011 by 1 Comment

As you’re probably aware, there’s been a lot of interest over the past couple of years in ‘gamification’ – the application of gaming principles to work or any activity where the objective is greater participation. We reviewed one of the tomes dedicated to it last year – the arguments for the concept are appealing to say the least.

That said, I was just as engaged with the argument against gamification from Ian Bogost. He essentially argues that by trying to incorporate gaming into a workplace, you are killing the fundamental magic that makes games appealing. Have a read for yourself.

For what it’s worth, I think things fall somewhere in the middle. There’s no doubt some companies will latch onto the concept of ‘gamification’ (and I agree with Bogost that the term sucks), purely because it’s the latest ‘cool’ strategy and then implement it poorly. That said, I think the opportunity exists to do it right – have a look through these slides (linked by a commenter on Bogost’s post) for one powerful argument on how that could be achieved:

Meaningful Play. Getting »Gamification« Right.

Like any emergent area there’s plenty of debate and until there are numerous engaging and effective examples of gaming applied to work, there will thankfully be sceptics questioning it and pushing the boundaries.

Filed Under: Business, General News, General Tech, Op-ed, Virtual Worlds Tagged With: , ,

Unlimited Detail: simulation implications

August 3, 2011 by 1 Comment

I ran across a fascinating video via New World Notes, that shows an alternate way of rendering 3D environments. The seven-minute video provides a fascinating (albeit hyperbole-filled) overview of the atom-based approach, called Unlimited Detail.

The driving force behind the project is Queensland, Australia-based Bruce Dell, working for an outfit called Euclideon (whose website is unavailable strangely).

Before I go on any further, you should have a look at the video yourself:

One more external pointer: Popsci covers the issue well, but it’s worth reading the comments on that article to pick up on some of the scepticism around about Unlimited Detail.

Of course, whether Unlimited Detail is a near reality or a pipe dream is partly a moot point: it still raises some interesting points for me on how enhancing the current approach to graphical detail is pivotal to the success of 3D environments in a range of areas, including my pet topic of clinical simulation. Until there’s the ability to replicate complex behaviours or procedures in a graphically realistic way, true simulation will remain problematic in these environments.

Let’s take even a ‘simple’ procedural simulation like inserting an endotracheal tube (ETT). The need for graphical reality is critical if any attempt is to be made to translate the practice to the physical world environment – the state of the ‘patient’, their position on the bed, the anatomical correctness of their trachea, the flexibility of the tube and so on. That;s why I’m encouraged by developments like Unlimited Detail.

Of course the real test is whether it sees the light of day in environments accessible to the general public.

Filed Under: Education, General News, Health, Virtual Worlds Tagged With: , ,

Previous Posts