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Comment Halloween inspired floating skull (Score 1) 273

This was from last year, the beginning/end of this demo video:

http://vimeo.com/53309957

has a floating skull that uses 4 different animation systems simultaneously. The skull's mouth movement and facial expressions are animated using audio data.
I had Don't Fear The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult playing.

This is for TCS, a game engine built for controlling electronics (ship computers/interactive touchscreen interfaces for superhero lairs/awesome halloween home automation systems):

http://hyperplaneinteractive.com/blog
https://facebook.com/hyperplaneinteractive

Comment I just bought a Kinect for PC (Score 5, Interesting) 198

There are some differences between the PC version and the Xbox version. The PC version has "upgraded" firmware that allows for gesture recognition at closer proximities. Also, its about $100 more than the Xbox Kinect.

I'm now using it for speech and gesture recognition in Touch Control System (TCS): a 3D game engine built for controlling electronics.
http://hyperplaneinteractive.com/blog/tcs-in-depth/

Comment Re:Observation (Score 1) 878

To counter the effects of previous marijuana use he had to take quite some prescription drugs that in turn damaged his stomach.

That doesn't sound right. Never have I heard of anyone needing a prescription to counter the effects of previous mj use.

I could see someone having problems from cancer related drugs, or something like that, but taking an rx to counteract something harmless isn't logical.

Comment Re:The Formula (Score 1) 878

I also wanted to add that programming drunk can be fun too.

After working on a complicated problem for too long, I often end up taking a few shots. Get this programming party going! Yeah!

Wake up in the morning thinking what the hell happened last night, then thank science for version control.

The code works, just don't look at it.

Comment The Formula (Score 1) 878

Espresso + Sativa = Productivity

Hash = Good Ideas

Indica = Sleepy Procrastination

I would say it helps programmers in the same way that it has helped many great philosophers.
It helps you take a step back from a specific focus on particular details.

While looking at a bigger picture, your mind starts to pick up on subtle patterns which can shape the underlying paradigm of your work.

The whole universe is now part of the framework and you'll start to wonder what, if anything, black holes have to do with class inheritance.

Did I initialize that variable or did that already happen in another plane of reality? I better sit back and smoke another one before I get too ahead of myself.

Comment XNA Game Studio and Sprite Effects (Score 1) 172

I would suggest XNA Game Studio: http://creators.xna.com/en-US/

There are plenty of examples for you to tear apart and modify with the class. Everyone could create their own alien ships to destroy or something.

Programming, however, might be a but much for art students. If I were you, I'd go for texture implementations like model skinning (both world objects and character animation), 2d textures for menus, and sprite effects - how transparency comes into play, 3D space and z-order, and post processing effects like lights and such.

They you go.

-Mike

Comment Re:Physics of computing the universe (Score 1) 269

The computer itself is the simulation and so there is no need for an additional 'outside our universe' computer, but rather a platform of rules for the computer to operate. Also, keep in mind that a computer doesn't need hardware, just 1's and 0's.

The human mind cannot comprehend infinite time or space and so we should inherently know that much of the reason and functionality of our existence is incomprehensible and even unfathomable to our small human minds.

Everyone should read God's Debris by Scott Adams.

I've studied AI stuff for a few years now and my view on reality is constantly evolving the more I learn...

I am under the impression that everything in our existence, broken down to its simplest form, is nothing but a series of facts (observed or otherwise unknown to us) in specific patterns. These patterns of facts, glued together to form data trees, comprise all of reality.

Its like all of matter is one giant glob of putty, constantly churning, forming new random facts and data patterns. Much like how matter is neither destroyed or created; it is recycled.

Reminds me of a recent article about Horizontal Gene Transfer.

We are all just subsystems of a bigger dataset and there is no real individualism.

Comment Re:inodes (Score 1) 2

Well, first off, I can't store incoming/outgoing email messages in a database. Second, what if I had an image gallery containing more than 50k images? They do not want you storing that in a mySQL database. The load caused by that would also get your account suspended. They don't even like you using "dynamic" pages. Meaning no PHP of CGI, just static HTML. Going on vacation and not checking email for a day or two would bring my websites down, especially since BlueHost's spam protection is minimal at best.
Data Storage

Submission + - Is a 50,000 file count a reasonable hosting limit? 2

Mike Blakemore writes: My hosting provider (BlueHost) just implemented a new account limit where I can only store 50,000 files. The problem here is that they claim to offer unlimited space, unlimited data transfer, host unlimited domains, and 2,500 POP3/IMAP enabled email accounts. I only have around 130 email accounts and now I'm 300k files over the limit. 95% of my files belong to email account holders who have been using BlueHost's provided webmail apps. So I now have less than 14 days to delete all of my email before they suspend my account. This file limitation is not on their website or anywhere in their TOS. If I were to set up the allotted 2,500 email accounts and each account received 20 emails, I would be in violation of their undocumented "terms" and my account would get suspended. Same thing with their "Host UNLIMITED Domains" claim. If I transferred 50,000 domains over to them, my account would get suspended. Is this common of other hosting providers? Can they even legally do this to me? Couldn't one consider this false advertising and bait and switch? And lastly: Should I report them to the Better Business Bureau or get legal help?

Comment Your degree was a waste of time (Score 1) 613

Everybody has a degree nowadays and a degree means nothing compared to experience. Instead of racking up student loans, you could have been applying yourself to actual work experience.

Go for internships and specialized training in whatever you plan on doing for the rest of your life.

A degree in computer engineering is nice, but you'll find that you still have to start from the very bottom and work your way up. Computer degrees are obsolete before you finish your textbooks.

The ONLY difference between a high school grad and a college grad is that once they enter the workforce, the college graduate still has to pay back loans for another 20 - 30 years.

Same thing with certifications - most employers will say they are a requirement on the job posting, but unless you can show solid real world experience, you are out of luck.
Movies

Submission + - Remake of TRON and Logan's Run

SuicideJockey writes: The Hollywood Reporter has a story up about the remake of TRON and Logan's Run. "Commercial director Joseph Kosinski is in final negotiations to develop and direct "Tron," described as "the next chapter" of Disney's 1982 cult classic."..."Kosinski, who last month signed on to helm the remake of "Logan's Run" for Warner Bros. Pictures..." Here's the URL: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i16c1ed3bf76536b4c669651706799643

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