Twenty Nine

Day 29. The art of making.

In the fall of 2007, I took a computer numeric control (CNC) machining course. Although I’ve had a chance to work with various shop machines, such as a manual mill and lathe, the power and flexibility of the CNC machines opened up a whole new level of creative possibilities. Given the machine’s ability to carve almost any shape imaginable, I decided to create my own custom shift knob for my beloved Mini Cooper (2006). Spherical shift knobs were common and, admittedly, somewhat boring. More radical designs generally turned out to be uncomfortable or tacky looking. I wanted something unique and beautiful. Something that exuded quality, both through it’s design and feel in your hand – a solid heft that helped guide your shifts from gate to gate. It had to feel fantastic and natural in your hand. Oh, and it had to have drop-dead gorgeous looks.

The picture you see above is a snapshot of the creation process – and in my opinion, arguably the most beautiful stage of the entire process. The painstakingly polished finish of the aluminum is breathtaking and unbelievably fragile. It’s a beauty that simply cannot last – not in the real world. Hmm…my thoughts seem to be wandering. Anyways, I’ll be uploading the entire sequence of pictures that will constitute the “making of” set for the shift knob.

And yes – it’s in my car now, and I use it everyday :)

One a day.

Nine

Day 9. It’s here.

The most important thing about photography is getting the shot. Sounds simple, but it’s a little difficult when you don’t have a camera with you. Whenever I anticipate a special photo opportunity, I’ve been lugging around a Canon 20D plus matching lenses. This works fantastically, so long as you’re willing to carry 6+ lbs of gear with you. There have been so many instances when a once-in-a-lifetime photo was missed because I didn’t have a camera with me. Lately (especially since starting this “one a day” project), I’ve been more diligent about carrying a camera, the Panasonic TZ5, wherever I go. This also works great – but the creative in me has been itching for things like aperture & shutter control, lens choices, and low-light capabilities. So what’s small and offers all of the above?

Meet the Olympus Pen E-P1. Oh, and did I mention that it’s absolutely breathtaking to look at? I think I’m in love. It also reminds me of the camera that first got me into photography – my mother’s Nikon FM2, a classic. I still miss the completely mechanical feel of the FM2, it’s weight in my hands, and the noise (or is it music?) it makes. But this comes awfully close in arousing similar emotions. Enough talk. Let’s take some pictures.

Cambridge, MA.

One a day.

Flock

Trying out a new browser.  It’s supposed to integrate all of my “social” websites into one browser.  Freaky stuff.

Flock

Tweenbots

If you don’t find this story (or “experiment”) heartwarming, then you might be more robot than this tweenbot.  Created by a NYU student, the tweenbot is a cardboard robot with an irresistibly cute smiley face that can only move forwards.  As a result, it needs the help of those around it to navigation to its final destination.

I’m inspired by this.

Test posting from an iPhone

Just testing to see how the WordPress app on the iPhone works!

Windbelt – micro generator

This is just awesome.

Material Science, Real Multitouch, and a Jumbo Jet

I’m completely swamped preparing for the GRE…but I’ve still got to jot these things down!

d3O’s developed a cool gel-like…thing that conforms to surfaces (such as your body) but stiffens up on impact. There’s obviously a lot of potential for this in the sports industry, which is where most of their initial product offering seems to be. Their website also outlines their design and product development processes, which we all know are uber-cool.

I wouldn’t be surprised if most people have already seen this demo (or one of the earlier prototypes). Perceptive Pixels is a multitouch technology company started by Jeff Han (consulting research scientist for NYU). I recall seeing some of the earlier videos way before the iPhone was even rumored, not to mention recent developments at other companies such as Microsoft (the Surface). It’s sort of interesting to note, though, that this technology really is different from it’s “competitors.” For example, the iPhone uses capacitance to detect input. Perceptive Pixels’ interface is actually pressure sensitive (it converts pressure to light, which is detected by a sensor behind the display). They also emphasize the fact that their technology is developed on a larger scale, allowing the use of not only two hands, but also multiple users to work together in collaboration.

Buy a 747. Cool.

Think City

The internet and power grid connected, Stirling engine hybrid electric car.

Think

Okay, their official website is lacking some of the technical information regarding the internet/power grid connectivity and the possibilities of an integrated Stirling engine generator. Read this excellent article for a deeper insight into the company and what they’re trying to do. There’s a lot to digest there, ranging from technical achievements to reinventing the automobile sales experiences. A whole lot of green.

Saltwater = Fuel?

Here’s a recent article that covers a surprising find by an inventor who stumbled upon a strange phenomenon of burning saltwater. Granted, it’s probably not what you think – no, the water isn’t burning. What is burning, however, is the hydrogen released from the saltwater by a radio frequency machine (which was what inventor John Kanzius was actually working on as a possible treatment for cancer).

There’s obviously a lot of analysis to be done before one can declare this a viable energy source, but it does give something to think about. The hydrogen economy and the fuel cell technology has long been in a predicament of being a “clean” energy source, except that there is no efficient way of mass producing pure hydrogen. Although it’s yet to be determined, if this process of using radio frequency waves to release hydrogen from saltwater deems to be a (relatively) efficient process, it might give fuel cell technology its much needed boost.

Notes: Of course, something has to power the RF generator…and more energy will be needed to produce the hydrogen than is released when the hydrogen burns.  What will still be interesting is to see the efficiencies of this process versus other methods of extracting hydrogen.

Oh, and despite what the video says, “water” is not an “element”…