Month: August 2007

Compound-Eye Camera

He looked at biological imaging systems–in particular, the compound eyes of insects–for the design blueprint. The technology, called TOMBO (Thin Observation Module by Bound Optics), is actually a collection of 9 small lenses and software that analyzes the scene by mimicking the process that insects use to recognize the position, shape, and color of objects. The researchers have crammed TOMBO’s hardware into a tiny box the size of a shirt button. And in the age of increasingly smaller and thinner mobile gadgets, such a compound-eye camera could provide powerful image-taking and image-recognizing functions in, for example, a cell phone.

camera the size of a shirt button can extract 3D information from scenes and recognize objects.

Mutual Catfishing

He tried to explain what drew him to his computer. “When I’m talking to Cindy or you like this, face-to-face,, it’s hard for me to say what I feel.” As Tommy, however, the words came easily. And then there was Jessi. He loved her, or at least believed he loved her, though he knew he was “never going to meet her.” His plan was to “kill Tommy off” in Iraq, but Cindy intervened too soon. He nearly committed suicide because of his guilt about having lied to Jessi. Why, I asked, when he was suspicious of so much of what Jessi said, did he believe she was who she claimed? “She kept sending pictures. 1 picture, maybe not. But there were so many pictures over a period of time.”

too funny. both sides were internet dogs, as it were

Welcome to my squash cave

Many of London’s most financially advantaged residents, including oil tycoons and Indian steel magnates, have been “seeking permission to excavate under the garden… making space for a 3-story garage with car stacker, a swimming pool, a gym and a private home cinema.” There are even “walk-in showers with waterproof television screens and glass walls that turn opaque with the press of a button, and cost £1000 / m2.”

if they keep their mac mansions underground more power to them. at least it does not contribute to sprawl.