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Robotics

Low-Cost Robotic Arm Sketches Faces 93

ptresset writes "A low-cost robotic arm has been sketching faces at the Kinetica2010 art fair in London. Created by the Aikon project research team, the system drew faces non-stop, its creator having to take the role of an automata to repeatedly change the paper. The Aikon project is based at Goldsmiths College, University of London. The main objective of the Aikon project is to implement a computational system capable of simulating the various important processes involved in face sketching by artists. The ensemble of processes to be simulated include the visual perception the subject and the sketch, the drawing gestures, the cognitive activity, reasoning, the influence of the years of training, etc. It is evident that due to knowledge and technological limitations the implementation of each process will remain coarse and approximate. The system implemented is expected to draw in its own style."

Comment Re:Tactile feedback (Score 1) 125

I'm a sound man and guitar tech. I have built (and worked on) more than a couple. The GP is WRONG about a fundamental fact of acoustics where guitars are concerned.

Both electric (we're talking well built, not Musician's Friend Strat or Les Paul style budget models) and acoustics both "dissipate" sound at about the same rate. The path is just different. With an acoustic, the sound is radiated by vibration of the wood and is directed outward by the sound hole. In a solid body, the vibrations are constrained in the wood and transfered to the pickups though sympathetic vibration of the strings. Pluck a $2000 Strat unplugged and listen to the decay (put your ear on the headstock or body). Then pluck a $2000 Martin and notice, that while the note is louder, the decay is about the same. If it's not, then there is something wrong with your guitar. It's the tight coupling of parts, type of wood, and construction that affect sustain, whether you are talking about electric or acoustic.

The invention of the electric preceeded solid body by a few years when the need for amplification to be heard among the big band instruments was realized. These were really not much more than an acoustic design with either a mic or mag pickup strapped under the strings. According to Aspen Pittman's Tube Amp Book, feedback problems were indeed one of the main reasons for developing solid body electrics. The acoustic-electrics of the time were real problematic.

And why is everyone tweaking on these "this ain't a real guitar" comments. Of course it isn't! It's a fucking midi controller. That's like bitching that a Fender Rhodes isn't reallty a piano. Jebus!

Comment Re:Bending strings (Score 1) 125

This is technology that allows the engineer to move off key singing back into proper pitch within their Digital Audio Workstation.

God I wish I had some mod points. I'm a sound man and that is some funny shit. I used to have that Farside comic laminated to my console. Haven't seen it in years. Thanks for the memory. And IMHO, Auto-tune IS a suck button. Thanks Cher!

Censorship

Canadian Hate-Speech Law Violates Charter of Rights 651

MrKevvy writes "The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has found that federal hate-speech legislation violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the equivalent of the US Constitution's Bill of Rights. This decision exonerates Marc Lemire, webmaster of FreedomSite.org, but may have farther-reaching consequences and serve as precedent for future complaints of hate-speech."

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