Archive for Links
Wes’s reading: the siftable edition
Siftables
A fellow from the MIT Media lab demonstrates “siftables”: little block-like computers that can interact with each other.
Some of the examples he shows are:
- two blocks that are colored paint buckets that can ‘pour’ (he physically lifts and pours) into a blank block to change its color
- a word game that’s like Boggle or TextTwist, where you have a set of letters and have to make words out of them. Instead of writing or typing the words, you arrange the blocks. When they get close enough to each other, they check the dictionary and make a noise if you’ve made a word
- a game to help kids learn language. The blocks with images on them and picking up the block and showing it to the screen puts that object into the scene. You could show a dog and it would appear and bark, a cat would meow, and putting the blocks together makes them talk to each other.
Very cool innovation in how people interact with computing. Check out the video linked above (~ 7 minutes) if you can to see the rest of the demos.
Vista Media Center help
I set up a Vista Ultimate machine to work as a media center. I have it hooked up to the TV using a DVI-to-HDMI cable and the sound runs into my stereo system. It works pretty well and I’m in the process of transferring all the TV shows and movies and pictures to it.
Jessica and I went to watch something the other night, though, and Media Center didn’t have the codec. So, this site was very helpful in pointing out two programs that help you with container and codecs:
- Guide to Codecs in Vista Media Center
- Programs from article above:
- Haali Media Splitter: so you can open other video containers besides .AVI
- ffdshow (this version recommended): a codec bundle so you can play lots of different video and audio types
- Haali Media Splitter: so you can open other video containers besides .AVI
I’m still getting the hang of the media center, but I think it’ll be helpful and fun.
You try to live on 500k …
I’ve been kinda quiet on the webpage lately, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been reading a lot.
Specifically, I’ve been reading and listening to lots about the financial crisis. I’ve got some comparison ideas I’d like to put together, but here’s my favorite news article about the bailout so far:
You try to live on 500k in this town
Apparently, some New York bankers may not be able to afford their lifestyle if their bank accepts bailout money and becomes subject to the proposed $500,000 executive compensation cap.
My heart bleeds for thee, New York bankers.
