- Two ThinkPad screens better than one?
Lenovo's newest ThinkPad, the W700DS, has an extra 10-inch screen that pulls out of its side to supplement the main 17-inch display. The extra screen is designed for photo editors and designers to use to display a photo editing software tools pallet while the main screen shows the image being manipulated. The 11-pound behemoth runs $3,600 and will be available next week.
- Hitachi one button, one ball TV remote control offers minimalist pleasure
The future of touch and gesture interface technology is moving forward rapidly, but there are still innovations happening in area of traditional hardware interface devices. Hitachi recently unveiled a new kind of television remote control specifically designed to benefit the computer savvy needs of IPTV viewers.
The idea of the remote is to take the remote control away from the current 100-button monstrosities that currently plague TV jockeys and make the process of using an onscreen GUI an intuitively simple process. No release date or price has been announced, but if the current touchscreen revolution has sausage-fingered geeks worried, this kind of remote offers a bit of home media center hope.
Via Impress Watch
- Duck Hunter: Three infrared shots and this flying duck is toast
Coming this spring for $29: Duck Hunter victimizes a free-flying rechargeable duck with an infrared gun. Shoot that flying contraption three times, and he plunges to earth, ripe for the stomping.
- Hunter Concert Breeze System puts a speaker inside a ceiling fan, at last
Ceiling fans are without a doubt a great way to keep air flowing a room, but putting a wireless speaker in a ceiling fan is one great idea. Why? Because ceiling fans are usually in the center of the room, which is coincidentally the perfect acoustic location. That's why the folks at Soundolier (they guys who brought us those wireless lamp speakers) teamed up with the Hunter fan company to create the Hunter Concert Breeze Ceiling System, a wireless ceiling-fan speaker that emits sound that will feel like it's raining down on you.
Setup is easy: You connect the Soundolier Maestro 2.4GHz wireless transmitter to any audio source. Now the fan is ready to receive audio signals, said to be full-range digital-quality audio, from up to 300 feet away. The speaker is located in the fan's light, below the blades. The volume and light are controlled by a credit card-size remote control. It's set for release in "early 2009."
- Sign Language Translator is a pocket-sized way to learn to sign
The Sign Language Translator by Krown does just what its name implies: it takes the words you feed into it and, on its modestly sized touchscreen, plays a video of the proper hand sign. If you type in "happy," for instance (or one of 3,500 other words), a video — acted out by a decidedly somber, almost creepy older man — plays and in a matter of seconds just about anyone could effectively communicate with the deaf or anyone who relies on sign language.This is quite honestly the coolest application of a pocket dictionary we've seen in a long time. Looking up foreign words is just as helpful, but the Sign Language Translator could help the average person as well as caretakers, parents and friends of those who have lost their hearing.
Look for the Sign Language Translator to hit early this year for around $200, and check out the gallery below for more views of this gadget by Krown.
Content by CaRP PHP RSS parserNYT > Whales and Whaling
News about whales and whaling, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.
- Japan Seeks Australia?s Help to Thwart Whaling Opponents
Japan said Tuesday that it would formally ask Australia to keep anti-whaling activists and their ship, the Steve Irwin, from refueling at Australian ports.
- Navy Settles Lawsuit Over Whales and Its Use of Sonar
The Navy said that the deal required it to continue to research how sonar affected whales and other marine mammals.
- Whaling Ship Hauled Ashore for Restoration
The world?s last wooden whaling ship is about to undergo a $2.5 million restoration that will take three years to complete.
- Sonar Over Whales
The Supreme Court showed troubling deference to the views of the military, deciding to lift two restrictions on the Navy?s use of sonar.
- Saving Wild Salmon, in Hopes of Saving the Orca
Alexandra Morton thinks salmon farms drove the whales away from the Queen Charlotte Strait of British Columbia and is fighting back.
Content by CaRP PHP RSS parserCeramic Arts Daily Feature
Ceramic Arts Daily provides insight, instruction, and resources for the community of Ceramic artists worldwide.
- Video Tip of the Week: Throwing Altered Vase Forms on the Potters Wheel
Today's video comes to us from potter Benjamin Gufford of Goldsboro, North Carolina. After visiting two much-admired potters this summer, Benjamin was inspired to take his work in a new direction. The technique he demonstrates in the video is the result of this new inspiration. Watch the video now! When you can't get out to visit other artists in their studios, remember to check in with Ceramic Arts Daily to keep you inspired in your studios. Even if we don't realize it at the time, looking at other artists' work - at all types of work - informs our own creative processes. I hope that this video, and all the great stuff in the video archives and features archives, helps keep your creative juices flowing. In addition to the video, Benjamin has shared some additional thoughts on his altered vase forms and his influences. Read More
- The Month in Clay - September 2008
In preparing the Month in Clay feature for September, I noticed that there were a few hotbeds of ceramic activity showing up on my radar. The Pacific Northwest was brimming with great ceramic events so I decided to include several of those. Perhaps folks in that area can coordinate some ceramics excursions and hit them all. Minneapolis, Minnesota, a notoriously clay friendly town, also had lots to do this month. Plus, I have gathered a selection of events and exhibitions from various points all around the country. But of course, there is simply too much going on out there to highlight in this feature, so if you don't find anything happening in your area below, click over to the Ceramics Monthly Calendar for a more comprehensive listing.
- Pushing the Envelope: Creating Complex Ceramic Sculpture with Bone-Dry Clay a...
One of the challenges of working with clay is timing, especially when constructing a complex sculptural form. Making sure that all components are at the appropriate moisture and stiffness level when joining pieces is one of the key considerations that sculptors must address. Sculptor Mark Gordon has adapted a technique he first observed being practiced by traditional Egyptian brick makers for his ceramic sculpture. The technique is a sure-fire and simple way to securely attach bone-dry greenware to bone-dry greenware. It works great for him, especially when he is under pressure to meet deadlines and scheduling challenges. Mark shares his technique with us today.
- Video Tip of the Week: Hip to be Square - Making Squared-Off Mugs on the Pott...
Today?s video comes to us from potter Keith Phillips of Asheville, North Carolina. Keith takes us through his process of making squared-off mugs, starting on the pottery wheel with a bottomless cylinder and continuing through to the finishing stages, which incorporate some handbuilding techniques. Since there is no narration on this video (just snappy tunes!), Keith has shared some additional thoughts and instruction on this process below. With the visual of the video and the written how-to instruction, you should be all set to try this technique in your own studios! - Jennifer Harnetty, editor.
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