Comment: So long, Vzn. It's been swel. (Score 1) 303
But I guess I'll be moving to Sprint this summer. That Evo 4G is looking mighty sexy right about now.
Comment: You take the good with the bad. (Score 1) 464
Is this really surprising, people? REALLY? They're just playing CYA. Chase obviously doesn't want to step on any political "hot buttons" on either side of the aisle, so they're somewhat arbitrarily disqualifying charities affiliated with both "liberal" causes (less restrictive laws on marijuana) and "conservative" causes (anti-abortion). Although I'm sad to see the former disqualified, if it means one of my banks (full disclosure: I am a Chase customer) doesn't give money to some anti-choice lunatics, I'm happy.
Chase might not have predicted that highly politically charged charities would make it into the top $foo list. Not every charity is something everyone can get behind, like the Stop Grinding Baby Kittens Into Soup Foundation. (I will now stand back and wait for one of you knuckleheads to talk about how you support the grinding of baby kittens into soup...)
Building 3D Models On the Fly With a Webcam 93
Posted
by
kdawson
from the do-you-see-what-i-see dept.
from the do-you-see-what-i-see dept.
blee37 writes "Here is an excellent video demonstration of a new program developed by Qi Pan, a graduate student, and other researchers at the University of Cambridge. The 'ProFORMA' software constructs a 3D model of an object in real time from (commodity) webcam video. The user can watch the program deduce more pieces of the 3D model as the object is moved and rotated. The resulting graphics are of high quality."
Comment: Reminds me of this (Game Boy mockup) (Score 2, Funny) 20
Comment: Re:Robotix ruled (Score 2, Funny) 785
As much as I hate to agree with Mr. "God spoke to me", seconded. Robotix was pretty amazing.
3-D Virtual Maps For the Blind 50
Posted
by
kdawson
from the see-me-feel-me dept.
from the see-me-feel-me dept.
Roland Piquepaille writes to let us know about research into producing palpable maps for the blind. Scientific American has the story of Greek researchers who produce 3D "haptic" maps that "use force fields to represent walls and roads so the visually impaired can better understand the layout of buildings and cities." Two separate systems produce haptic output from standard video and from 2D maps. The systems have been tested on a small number of users. Currently the devices that interpret the "force fields" for sight-impaired users are not portable, and so the systems are most appropriate for doing research before, e.g., visiting a new city.