Jun 18 2009 Hoverboards Coming Soon: Timeline Shows Current Time Relation To Futuristic Movies
Well, we've got a scant six years until robot police officers and hoverboards. And only 13 before we find out we've been eating our dead. Not that you haven't been already, you sick little necromancer, you!
Worry About The Replicants, Not The Apes [poppedculture]
Thanks to SuperDeanio, smurfette and Chris, who live in the moment because, you know, carpe diem or whatever.
May 27 2009 What, No D20?: The Dice Rolling Machine
The Dice-O-Matic is used to roll dice for online games hosted by GamesByEmail so that there are actually physical dice being used instead of a program. The 7 foot tall, 104 pound machine produces over 1.3 million die rolls a day, about 80,000 of which are used for games. The rest are all in vain. And speaking of in vein: alcohol, that's where it belongs.
Industrial Dice Rolling Machine [ohgizmo]
Apr 1 2009 Google's CADIE And Gmail's Auto-Pilot
Well folks, the apocalypse is upon us. Google has foolishly unleashed the world's first "artificial intelligence tasked-array system" (death-bot) upon the world. CADIE (Cognitive Autoheuristic Distributed-Intelligence Entity) is going to kill us all, and, even worse, delete all the porno on the internet (personal speculation).
So although CADIE technology will be rolled out with the caution befitting any advance of this magnitude, in the months to come users can expect to notice her influence on various google.com properties. Earlier today, for instance, CADIE deduced from a quick scan of the visual segment of the social web a set of online design principles from which she derived this intriguing homepage.
Nice homepage, reminds me of my own. But to her credit, CADIE has actually done some good. Namely, creating a Gmail program that answers your emails for you when you're too busy getting hosed down (violently, not sensually) by the coming robot army. It's called Auto-Pilot.
As more and more everyday communication takes place over email, lots of people have complained about how hard it is to read and respond to every message. This is because they actually read and respond to all their messages.
But what happens if a sender and recipient both have Autopilot on?Two Gmail accounts can happily converse with each other for up to three messages each. Beyond that, our experiments have shown a significant decline in the quality ranking of Autopilot's responses and further messages may commit you to dinner parties or baby namings in which you have no interest.
There you have it folks, April Fools, 2009. See you all tomorrow, when telling your girlfriend you got her sister pregnant stops being funny and starts being real.
Google
and
Gmail Auto-Pilot
and
CADIE's Blog
Thanks to TJ, sofa king, Smith III, amy, The Mighty Musnud, Dave180!, oisin and Ryan, who only drive on auto-pilot. Nice guys, that's safe.
Mar 25 2009 Sure, Why Not?: Turning The 8-Bit Gameboy Metroid Into A 16-Bit Full Color Version
Remember when Metroid II: Return of Samus came out for the Gameboy (1992)? I remember it like it was yesterday because I have a time machine and may or may not have stopped in the early 90's on my way back from the Jurassic era (best singles cruise EVER). Anyway, Project AM2R (Another Metroid 2 Remake) was undertaken to turn the 8-bit Gameboy game into a 16-bit, full color joint. This is a video demo, which I'm not afraid to admit gave me a nostalgic boner. Did somebody just say pogs? *BOING!*
Thanks to Keej, who once stuck it to Mother Brain like nobody's business. You nasty, Keej.
Jan 30 2009 Augmented Reality Coming To LEGO Retailers
We've already seen several examples of augmented reality here on Geekologie. Some sexier than others. And now the technology may be coming to everybody's favorite modular plastic blocks -- LEGO!
LEGO will apparently be rolling out these new 'Digital Box' kiosks to select toyshops around the world that allow you to see a 3D representation of what the LEGO model looks like when fully assembled. The kiosk uses a built-in video camera and custom augmented reality software developed by a German company called Metaio, and because the model exists in 3D, you're able to interactively turn and move it around to see it from all sides.
Sweet! I've always had trouble telling what a LEGO set will look like when it's finished because I usually end up with a belly full few pieces. So this won't help at all. But still, they should use this technology for something more practical -- like microwaveable meals. Am I right? Yes, now hit the jump to see my lunch.
Continue Reading " Augmented Reality Coming To LEGO Retailers "
Nov 13 2008 Good Idea!: Man Submits Drawing Of Spider Instead Of Payment For Overdue Account
David Thorne didn't have the $233.95 to pay an overdue account. So what did he do? What any other budding young genius would do, he submitted a picture of a spider he drew instead. Unfortunately, Jane Gilles, who is clearly a mega-bitch to the nth degree, wouldn't accept it. So what happened next? Hit the jump to find out. But I'll give you a hint: time travel! And also, David's account not getting paid.
You really want to read the rest, so hit it.
EDIT: Here's the original page which provides a little more info.
Oct 8 2008 Prevent Drunk Emailing: Google Mail Goggles
Google recently unveiled a Gmail application that may help prevent drunk emailing. When in use, the program requires a potential emailer to solve a few mathematical problems before the message can be sent. Pretty clever, now make something similar for cell phones and we'll be set. Or you can just subscribe to The Geekologie Writer's method of drunk messaging prevention -- dropping your phone in the pisser when you're trying to text. I touched a urinal cake with my finger!
Google's Mail Goggles Prevents Drunk Emailing [wired]
Thanks to The Superficial Writer and DJ LIBOR, who both probably regret sending this tip.
Jun 20 2008 Blood Soap Is Cool, I Want Some In My Mouth
Clue brand Blood soap has red coloring added so it looks like you're cleaning blood off your hands whenever you go to wash them. It's an awesome idea and my mommy says I should wash my mouth out with rat poison because I use lots of dirty words. I want some, unfortunately I've got the feeling it isn't real. It should be though, because I'd buy some. Or, I dunno, just keep cutting myself.
Clue: Blood soap dispenser [make]
Thanks Shawn, now lets make this stuff in hand sanitizer form so we can take it anywhere.
Jun 12 2008 Robotic Dog Better Than The Real Thing For Combating Loneliness In Old Folks
Researchers at St. Louis University are using Aibo, a discontinued (maulings) robot dog from Sony to study how a robotic pet can alleviate loneliness in old folks. According to their study, a dog made out of metal and plastic is just as good as a real puppy. And possible even better since they could be fitted with sensors and shit to take a patient's pulse, blood pressure, savings account, etc. The video is a must watch, as the old people are the cutest bunch of nuts I've ever seen. I'm still skeptical about the whole robotic dog thing though. I mean, some crazy old bat brings a Big Dog home, and the next thing you know, dead old people everywhere. And then who would AOL sell their internet services to?
Robot Dog Therapy [sciencentral]
Thanks to Shawn, who knows how much I love old people and hate robots
Jun 6 2008 Reading Material: RSS Toilet Paper Printer
I'm not sure if this is even real or not, but I sure hope it is because I'm getting pretty damn tired of the reading material options in the office bathroom (a couple Highlights and an empty cereal box). The RSStroom Reader allegedly prints out your favorite RSS feeds on toilet paper so you can catch up on Geekologie without bringing your laptop to the can (which, don't get me wrong, is perfectly acceptable as well). Now that's just freaking brilliant. Plus, it comes with biometric user identification (presumably assblast-based) so I don't have to sift through all The Superficial Writer's Tigerbeat and BOP feeds. Haha, I know I promised I wouldn't tell, but I'm a liar, not a 12-year old girl!
RSStroom Reader shows where you think blogs belong [dvice]
Thanks to Marie, a hot French chick who promises to wipe exclusively with Geekologie
May 12 2008 Guitar Hero Mod For One Handed Players
That handsome devil in the picture there is Ben Heckendorn, a man best known for his portable consoles and a number of one handed controller mods. Well he's back with another, this time a controller that allows someone to play Guitar Hero with a single hand (and foot). It's basically a pedal that replaces the strum bar. You just wonk on it with your foot when you need to strum, and press the buttons on the guitar like you normally would. Great job, Ben. I love the fact that there are people out there like yourself that take the less-fortunate gamer into consideration when you're modding. Now if you could just make a robotic arm that chucks a Wii Wheel at the television whenever someone loses at Mario Kart, I think we'll be set. Not that I have a use for one -- I don't lose. No, I think The Superficial Writer needs one. You see, while not handicapped in the traditional sense, he's no good at the game and throws a hissy fit whenever you red shell him. Plus he's just an all around poor sport*.
*I'm going to the free clinic this afternoon, you better have been joking.
One more picture of the device after the jump.
Apr 22 2008 Segway Inventor Makes Water Regenerator
Dean Kamen, who invented the Segway and clearly loves himself some denim, has created a new water regenerator. It's called the Slingshot (?) and has no filters whatsoever. It works via vapor condensation distillation and runs on, get this, cow fudge! Not only can the thing crank out perfectly clean water from any source (sea water, mud puddle, sewage, peepee), but it generates enough electricity to power 70 energy-efficient bulbs!
Kamen estimates the units will cost between $1,000 - $2,000 when they go into production and anxiously wants to get them into areas around the world with poor water quality. I'm all for it, and really do hope they reduce the rate of disease caused by nasty stuff in the water supply. While this waits to be seen, there is one thing known for certain -- I'd pee in it.
Happy Earth Day everyone. Go out there and plant trees. Or smoke some (wait, that was Sunday). Well, do something good for this great big ball we call home. But hurry -- the robots are coming.
Worthwhile video of Kamen showing off the machine on the Colbert Report after the jump or here.
Continue Reading " Segway Inventor Makes Water Regenerator "
Apr 11 2008 Kit-In Box Prevents Unwanted Keyboard Cats
Kit-In Box is not exactly what it sounds like. I thought it was going to be a box you order that comes with a kitten (like a Cabbage Patch doll, but furry and alive). It's not. It's a little wooden bed that clamps to the side of your desk so your feline friends don't sleep on your keyboard (as they are so fond of) when you're trying to work. They cost $50 and come in cherry, birch, and mahogany finishes. I need several, because my girlfriend has four cats. Well, three cats. One beaver.
A picture of what the unit looks like with two little dogs in it, after the jump.
Continue Reading " Kit-In Box Prevents Unwanted Keyboard Cats "
Jan 28 2008 Neat Idea: Whirly-Gig Helicopter Camera
Designer Tsunho Wang has developed the Flying Stick, which is a whirly-gig camera. You just rub it between your palms and let go. It takes off and snaps pictures at regular intervals and even has face recognition capabilities. Well it would if it was real. Right now it's still conceptual. Pretty cool though, I really want one. Far safer than my old method of taking shots from above, which was to climb a tree or get on the roof. Although this could be dangerous in its own way. You know , if it came down in your eye.
UPDATE: I just went outside and did a little experimenting, and I think I've come up with a great solution to aerial photography. This is what you do: You borrow your roommate's camera, set the timer, and right before it goes off you throw it as high as you can. Since it's not your own camera there's no need to worry about catching it, so there's no chance of bodily harm. You just let it fall.
UPDATE: Mike -- sorry about your camera dude. I went into your room to see if you were here and I saw it smashed to bits on your desk. Someone who really hates cameras must have broken into the apartment and spotted it. I'm not totally sure but I think they may have eaten the rest of your cereal and pissed in one of your dresser drawers too.
A couple more pictures after the jump.
Continue Reading " Neat Idea: Whirly-Gig Helicopter Camera "
