Archive for the 'm[dot]blog: Couloir Bandit' Category

Lens thinner than paper

May 24th, 2005 * Comments(0)

Boffins at Universite Laval in Quebec have developed a lens that’s five times thinner than paper (I guess it depends on the paper used in comparison) and is able to zoom and focus without moving any mechanical parts.
Sound a lot like something Phillips (I think) announced a while ago. They used some sort of liquid that changed shape depending on the amount of electrical current running though it.

Obviously the most obvious aplications for both of these technologies are mobile phones, security cameras and such where space is limited.

press release

The lens is made by adding a small quantity of photosensitive material to a liquid crystal cell. When the material is exposed to laser light, it forms a network of stable polymers varying in density according to the intensity of exposure. “The network is like a spiderweb, with its center denser than its periphery,” explains Galstian. “When we apply a weak electrical current to it, the crystals in the center realign differently from those in the periphery and thus take on the shape and behavior of a lens.”

The curve of the lens – its focal point – can be modified by changing the intensity and frequency of the electrical current. The researchers have thus been able to modify the lens’ focal distance from 1.6 to 8 meters in a few milliseconds by increasing the voltage from 1.5 to 4.5 volts. “The reaction is very fast and doesn’t involve any mobile parts or mechanical movements.” The focal point of the lens can go from 60 centimeters to infinity.

Designing websites for older users

May 23rd, 2005 * Comments(0)

 AARP.org study on how webdesign should adapt to older users.

Positively 10th street podcast

May 23rd, 2005 * Comments(0)

I’ve been relatively ambivalent with regard to podcasting but I realize there’s some pretty interesting stuff out there.
Like  The Gillmor Gang – WARNING, geek area ahead

So what about the Positively 10th street podcast? Believe it or not it’s a family podcast by Joanne  The Gotham Gal Wilson, her husband Fred  A VC and their three children.
Yeah, I know… who wants to listen to a family ramble on about their lives etc?
Well, I’ve been subscribed to Fred’s feed for a while and he proved to be quite music savvy. It could just be I’m biased coz his music taste is in a way similar to mine (at least in part) and he provided some very interesting cues for further exploration.
And then there’s the fact that he offers one MP3 a week for free download

Their podcast, a combination of everyones music selection, seems to follow the same paths (which is hard to believe)

But the real reason I thought I’d point them out is actually just the concept behind the family podcast coz it strikes me as a bit weird (though not in a negative way) How do they make it work with two teenage girls and one kid?

Ohh, well…download, listen to it and see for yourself. It’s not that bad

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