Direct from Norway’s tourism board, check out this mega 360 degree photo taken hovering in the air above Geirangerfjorden. Click through to check out interactive features, including maps and other views. Created by Making View.
Category: Culture
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The Descriptive Camera Uses Human Intelligence Tasks to “Develop” Photos
Does a higher HIT bit get you better camera “resolution”?
The Descriptive Camera works a lot like a regular camera—point it at subject and press the shutter button to capture the scene. However, instead of producing an image, this prototype outputs a text description of the scene. Modern digital cameras capture gobs of parsable metadata about photos such as the camera’s settings, the location of the photo, the date, and time, but they don’t output any information about the content of the photo. The Descriptive Camera only outputs the metadata about the content. … After the shutter button is pressed, the photo is sent to Mechanical Turk for processing and the camera waits for the results. A yellow LED indicates that the results are still “developing” in a nod to film-based photo technology. With a HIT price of $1.25, results are returned typically within 6 minutes and sometimes as fast as 3 minutes. The thermal printer outputs the resulting text in the style of a polaroid print.
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gokey: keeping your keys safe on the go
An interesting concept, but I’m not totally convinced. I already run with my large-ish Garmin Forerunner 310XT GPS watch on one wrist, and try to keep the stuff I run with to a minimum. If you must run with a metal key on you, this could be a workable solution – however, how about just stashing your key somewhere when you go for a run – a lockbock on the doorknob, hiding it in a planter, or any of the other tricks of the trade. Anyway, to make wearing another wristband truly valuable to me, how about giving it a bit more functionality. Split the band in two and make it into a watchband, so I can use is in conjunction with the watch I already wear. How about integrating a contactless payment RFID chip in the band, like the Rumba Time GO watch, so I can pay for that post-run coffee without going home to grab my wallet? How about custom stamping it with a runners emergency details?
Give it more function than just holding a single key, and maybe I’ll wear it. And don’t make it look un-wearably toy-like, like the Rumba Time watch.
gokey is a sleek silicone wrist band that conceals your key when you are out and about. This accessory is not only stylish but serves a purpose. While there are many work arounds for storing keys, none of them offer a worry free experience. gokey alleviates this running stressor and brings peace of mind to your jog.
gokey: keeping your keys safe on the go by Francesca Passoni and Cristina Cook — Kickstarter.
Rumba Time GO video:
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Jill Discussing Brownies on Thats What She Said
According to my sister Jill:
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Innovative Transparent Bubble Tents – My Modern Metropolis
I’d love to stay in one of these for a bit..
French designer Pierre-Stéphane Dumas has put a new spin on camping outdoors with his series of tent-like chambers shaped like igloos, under the name Bubbletree. Each bubble suite is fit to be fully furnished with enough space for a bed and resting chairs. They come in two forms—transparent and half-opaque—for different settings, whether you want to lay back and take in your surroundings or simply have a private lodge outdoors.
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How About A Rent-By-Day Office to Accompany your AirBnB apt? Loosecubes.
Good friend Kelly just shared this new site with me. Loosecubes is like the AirBnB for officespace. Companies can post their free desk and office space on the site, and workers of all types – freelancers, travelers, etc can find temporary working space at those open desks.Loosecubes’ blurb:
What is Loosecubes?
Loosecubes is a global office sharing community. We connect members who have an empty desk, studio or sofa with other members who need a productive and inspiring place to work. Loosecubes makes it easy to find the right people to share your workday with.How does it work?
Loosecubes matches business owners who have extra space to share by the day with members who need a place to work every now and again. Entrepreneurs, travelers, remote workers and independents can find a great workspace wherever and whenever they need it.
Things seem to be going well for Loosecubes. They were written up in JWT’s 100 Things To Watch in 2012, and were recently featured in a Smart Planet Blog Post. I’ll definitely be signing up, as a renter right now, and possibly a host soon, depending on how my new office’s space shapes up.
I love this new-ish concept of open space sharing. People have extra space not being used, and can put it up for use on an open marketplace. Market forces dictate the pricing, and people who need space get it. Keeps things lean and optimized. I’m a huge fan of AirBnB, and use it frequently with my own space.
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BBC Gives Language Lessons, Online, For Free!
Little did I know – the BBC gives out free language lessons on their website. All sorts of modules are available, including complete courses in French, Spanish, Greek, Chinese, German, Italian, and Portuguese. This is quite an online resource – both for casual reference, as well as for a complete start to end course.
BBC – Languages – Homepage: All you need to start learning a foreign language.
In addition to BBC’s curriculum helping me stay brushed up on my Spanish, I’ve also been interested in hiring a spanish language internet “intercambio” language partner on skill trading site Fiverr.com – for five bucks, user mariapia will spend 30 minutes speaking spanish with you on Skype. Sounds like a great deal to me!
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Composer Creates Artificial Engine Sounds For New Audi Hybrid @PSFK
Interesting concept from Audi – custom vehicle noises for otherwise silent electric cars.
audi e-sound for e-tron electric vehicles from designboom on Vimeo.
Composer Creates Artificial Engine Sounds For New Audi Hybrid [Video] @PSFK.
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Marble Machine Chronicle
Marble machines, endless entertianment. A great chronicle of one artists work…
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Muji’s Ambient Background Music
Every time I shop in the Muji down the street from my office, I notice their soothing, hip, and perfectly fitting background music. Sometimes it’s ambient dreamscapes, sometimes pop, sometimes acoustic, but always nice. Today Boing Boing posts a piece about Muji’s BGM ambient background music. Soothing… Makes me remember back to the Buddha Machine, and miss hearing tracks from Brian Eno’s “Hello Waveforms” while out and about.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpfUksipbIs&list=RDrpfUksipbIs#t=7
More details on the now defunct “Things You Should Download” blog.
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Find Out What’s New with Startup Videos
Love having complicated new products explained to you with nifty animations and videos? Startup Videos is here for you. This gallery site collects some of the best explainer and product intro videos out there. A few of the more interesting ones I found:
MixScan
MixSCAN Explainer Video from Fueled on Vimeo.
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Banff Mountain Film Festival in NYC
Had a great time last night attending the NYC leg of the Banff Mountain Film Festival with my NOLS Crew, and friends.
Notable Films:- Ski Bums Never Die
Directed by Eric Crosland
What does it take to be a ski bum? An unending dedication to powder skiing? The ability to do anything in your ski boots? A lifelong quest for deep snow? Find out with this unusual and inspiring band of skiers in the Kootenay region of British Columbia.
– My second time seeing this! First time was at Backcountry Film Festival in Driggs, ID - Kadoma
Directed and produced by Ben Stookesbury
“Kadoma” is the nickname for Hendri Coetzee, a legendary South African kayaker who is known for exploring some of Africa’s wildest rivers. In December 2010, American pro kayakers Chris Korbulic and Ben Stookesbury followed Coetzee into the Democratic Republic of Congo for a first descent of the dangerous Lukuga River. Seven weeks into the expedition, tragedy struck.
- Towers of the Ennedi
Directed and produced by: Renan Ozturk
The Ennedi Desert of Chad is a hot, sand-scoured and unfriendly place. But from its vast belly rise clusters of breathtakingly lovely spires, towers, and rock formations. Veteran climber Mark Synnott – known more for his far-flung adventures than his technical accomplishments – brings young climbing stars Alex Honnold and James Pearson to the Ennedi to explore its untouched landscapes. - Reel Rock: Origins – Obe & Ashima
Directed and produced by Josh Lowell
There’s a nine-year-old girl from New York City taking the bouldering world by storm, and her name is Ashima Shiraishi. Guided by her coach and former bouldering star Obe Carrion, this tiny master is crushing competitions and raising the bar for her peers. A trip to the bouldering mecca of Hueco Tanks provides a glimpse of the past for Obe and the start of amazing new adventures for Ashima.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eNVWZV6n_Q
- Ski Bums Never Die
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Having Dinner with Jim Haynes in Paris
This past February, I spent time in Paris with my brother and sister. Our first night in Paris the three of went to a very cool dinner party hosted by legend Jim Haynes. Fortunately for us, there was a NY times photographer at the party. Although no pics of us made it into the Times article, it’s definitely a good read.
Nearly every Sunday, for the last 34 years, Mr. Haynes, a Louisiana-born expatriate, has opened the doors of his former sculpture studio in Paris and invited the world to come dine in largely the same spirit.
“There’s no prior screening, no invitations, “Mr. Haynes, 78, said. “I just say the first 60 or 75 that call can come and that’s the mix.”
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Explainer: Mom This is How Twitter Works
Hah, this is great. Next time your luddite mother asks your in confusion what all this “twittering” is about, just send her over to this site. Jessica Hische lays it out nice and clear.
Jessica’s Conclusion:Twitter is awesome, but while it seems like a relatively simple service, it is quite nuanced. I hope this site helped you or someone you know get acquainted with twitter so that you can stop writing your tweets incorrectly, accidentally airing your dirty laundry to the internet at large. I am not an employee of twitter, just an avid (understatement) user of the service that wanted to lend a hand to twitter n00bs. This site is not a comprehensive guide as twitter is always adding new subtle features to make their service more useful and user-friendly, but this should demystify most of the basics. You can always visit support.twitter.com to find out more.
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Jacob Sutton’s LED Surfer
Quick video today from friends over at NOWNESS.
Jacob Sutton’s L.E.D. Surfer on Nowness.com.
From Nowness:
Fashion photographer and filmmaker Jacob Sutton swaps the studio for the slopes of Tignes in the Rhône-Alpes region of south-eastern France, with a luminous after hours short starring Artec pro snowboarder William Hughes. The electrifying film sees Hughes light up the snow-covered French hills in a bespoke L.E.D.-enveloped suit courtesy of designer and electronics whizz John Spatcher. “I was really drawn to the idea of a lone character made of light surfing through darkness,” says Sutton of his costume choice. “I’ve always been excited by unusual ways of lighting things, so it seemed like an exciting idea to make the subject of the film the only light source.” Sutton, who has created work for the likes of Hermès, Burberry and The New York Times, spent three nights on a skidoo with his trusty Red Epic camera at temperatures of -25C to snap Hughes carving effortlessly through the deep snow, even enlisting his own father to help maintain the temperamental suit throughout the demanding shoot. “Filming in the suit was the most surreal thing I’ve done in 20 years of snowboarding,” says Hughes of the charged salopettes. “Luckily there was plenty of vin rouge to keep me warm, and Jacob’s enthusiasm kept everyone going through the cold nights.”
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The Art of Flight
It’s been a long long time since I saw a snowboard film with this kind of production value. The Art of Flight is simply amazing, and I’ll let the trailer speak for itself.
A new breed of action sports film comes to life as Red Bull Media House, in association with Brain Farm Digital Cinema, present “The Art of FLIGHT”, a Curt Morgan Film. Two years in the making, “The Art of FLIGHT” gives iconic snowboarder Travis Rice and friends the opportunity to redefine what is possible in the mountains. Experience the highs, as new tricks are landed and new zones opened, alongside the lows, where avalanches, accidents, and wrong-turns strike. Immerse yourself in a cinematic experience as Brain Farm and their arsenal of filmmaking technology capture the culture, wildlife and scenic landscapes the riders take in along the way. Join in the ride as the creators of “That’s It, That’s All” completely rewrite the formula for action sports cinema with “The Art of FLIGHT.”
– iTunes
Behind the Scenes: https://snowboardmag.com/videos/behind-scenes-art-flight-aspensnowmass
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Exploring the Abandoned: China’s Zombie Ghost Cities
Over the past few years, I’ve explored a number of small ghost towns: Centralia, Pennsylvania, and Alta, Colorado. Now, I’ve found a new abandoned area to explore: Ordos, Mongolia.
Video journalist Adrian Brown recently filed an interesting report on SBS Dateline discussing the ghost towns that are being build all over China and Mongolia. I’d love the opportunity to get out there and explore a few of these for myself some day, and se what kind of lives the people who actually do live in them lead, and how it feels to be in an uninhabited city. From the looks of it, it seems like it may feel a lot like the AMC TV Show “The Walking Dead“. Actually, why haven’t more zombie movies been shot in China? (more…)
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Talkin’ ‘Bout My Generation: NY Times on “Generation Sell”
Quick link for today – an interesting article by NY Times writer William Deresiwicz about my generation being the “Entrepreneurial Generation“..
From Deresiwicz’s article:
The millennial affect is the affect of the salesman. Consider the other side of the equation, the Millennials’ characteristic social form. Here’s what I see around me, in the city and the culture: food carts, 20-somethings selling wallets made from recycled plastic bags, boutique pickle companies, techie start-ups, Kickstarter, urban-farming supply stores and bottled water that wants to save the planet.
Today’s ideal social form is not the commune or the movement or even the individual creator as such; it’s the small business. Every artistic or moral aspiration — music, food, good works, what have you — is expressed in those terms.
Call it Generation Sell.
Bands are still bands, but now they’re little businesses, as well: self-produced, self-published, self-managed. When I hear from young people who want to get off the careerist treadmill and do something meaningful, they talk, most often, about opening a restaurant. Nonprofits are still hip, but students don’t dream about joining one, they dream about starting one. In any case, what’s really hip is social entrepreneurship — companies that try to make money responsibly, then give it all away.
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xkcd: Map Projections
I usually don’t post direct XKCD comics, despite the fact that they’re all fairly brilliant. But this one really stuck a chord for me, since I love to travel.
So, where do I fall on the chart? I have an inflatable 3D globe at home, and yes, I’m very clever. Aside from that, I also have a couple of nautical charts and topo maps hanging up, which use a different projection method to visualize smaller sections of land and sea.
Looking forward to making it across the entire map. no matter which projection!
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Photos: BACK TO THE FUTURE 2 2011 : Irina Werning
For today, a great gallery of photos put together by photographer Irina Werning. What was old is new again..
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Jill Promotes “Party Like A Culinista” on FOX 19
Congratulations to my sister Jill on her recent appearance on Cincinnati’s FOX 19!
FOX19-Morning Xtra-PLAC from all things delicious on Vimeo.
Be sure to check out Party Like A Culinista!
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The Deleted City: My Original Website on Geocities
Geocities, home of my original Jamfan2:Web website. Back in the year 2000, I had just gotten to college at The University of Colorado at Boulder. The web was just really beginning to hit the mainstream, and everyday users were just starting to get into publishing their own webpages. One of the first major platforms for publishing to the web was Geocities. I built my first website on Geocities in order to distribute photos and news of my activities to friends and family – and to experiment with web publishing. Now, Geocities is long gone, but the entire geocities archive still lives on in The Deleted City. The full archive of Geocities is also available as a torrent.
Additionally, my original website has been archived forever by The Wayback Machine in the Internet Archive. Take a look for yourself, and see what was on my mind in 2000.
After creating my first site on Geocities, I soon moved over to using the first version of Blogger. Once on blogger, I bought my first domain name – ILikeLasagna.com. After blogger, I had a period of time without much web presence, and then switched over to my current platform, WordPress. Including my Geocities site, I’ve been publishing on the web for over 11 years. That’s a long time of being a geek. ;)
Untitled from deletedcity on Vimeo.
The Deleted City is a digital archaeology of the world wide web as it exploded into the 21st century. At that time the web was often described as an enormous digital library that you could visit or contribute to by building a homepage. The early citizens of the net (or netizens) took their netizenship serious, and built homepages about themselves and subjects they were experts in. These pioneers found their brave new world at Geocities, a free webhosting provider that was modelled after a city and where you could get a free “piece of land” to build your digital home in a certain neighbourhood based on the subject of your homepage. Heartland was – as a neigbourhood for all things rural – by far the largest, but there were neighbourhoods for fashion, arts and far east related topics to name just a few. Around the turn of the century, Geocities had tens of millions of “homesteaders” as the digital tennants were called and was bought by Yahoo! for three and a half billion dollars. Ten years later in 2009, as other metaphors of the internet (such as the social network) had taken over, and the homesteaders had left their properties vacant after migrating to Facebook, Geocities was shutdown and deleted. In an heroic effort to preserve 10 years of collaborative work by 35 million people, the Archive Team made a backup of the site just before it shut down. The resulting 650 Gigabyte bittorrent file is the digital Pompeii that is the subject of an interactive excavation that allows you to wander through an episode of recent online history.
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Tiny Living: My Top 5 Super Small Japanese Living Arrangements
After living in NYC for about 7 years, I thought I was fairly well accustomed to living in small quarters – studio apartment, storage everywhere, continuously optimizing my use of space. But of course, the Japanese have us New Yorkers beat when it comes to efficiently using space. After a bit of digging around on the monster web, here’s a few cool examples of tiny Japanese architecture, “kyo-sho-jutaku” in Japanese, apparently.
- The River Side House in Tokyo, designed by Mizuishi Architect Atelier. I love the architect’s use of the top attic space for a childs play area, keeping the space safe for kids with railings, but still allowing lots of natural light to pass through. The other notable area of the house is the office/common area, with large windows on either side, and a full length bench that hides lots of storage boxes.
- The River Side House in Tokyo, designed by Mizuishi Architect Atelier. I love the architect’s use of the top attic space for a childs play area, keeping the space safe for kids with railings, but still allowing lots of natural light to pass through. The other notable area of the house is the office/common area, with large windows on either side, and a full length bench that hides lots of storage boxes.
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The Creators Project
Last weekend I went with a friend to check out The Creators Project in DUMBO, Brooklyn. A few shots:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamfan2/6267249373/
(more…)
