Just stumbled upon this new way to pay. Why haven’t I seen such a life-changing product yet? When is it coming to the UK cs6 master collection mac?
Visa payWave allows your Visa Micro Tag to be read only when in close proximity (1-2 inches) to a secure reader that accepts Visa payWave payments. After waving your Visa Micro Tag in front of it, the reader will indicate that your information has been received and is being processed through the secure Visa network.
I was doing some searches on how people have been hacking the Nintendo Wii Remote, making use of the plethora of sensors it contains – an ADXL330 accelerometer 3-axis accelerometer, a PixArt optical sensor, allowing it to determine where the Wii Remote is pointing (senses infrared light sources like the Wii’s sensor bar).
I came across a video demo by Johnny Chung Lee of one of his many hacks, which attempt to create a perspective controlled 3D viewing experience analogised as being like taking a flat 2d photo out of a photo frame, meaning that you can see through the frame at varying perspectives and distances. Interestingly, instead of putting the sensor bar above your TV, you put it on your head. The system calculates a change in the visible scene based on the location of your head; thus the wearer feels like he’s immersed in the scene.
The demo in the video is really, really cool. This use of the technology (which is new to me, at least) has obvious applications in VR and gaming. How many times have we seen gamers tilt their head to get a better view round the corner?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd3-eiid-Uw[/youtube]
Source: http://wiihacks.blogspot.com/2007/12/head-tracking-vr-using-wiimote.html
OK, I tried to be funny with the title there. No more S&M innuendos, I promise.
Researchers from TAI-CHI (Tangible Acoustic Interfaces for Computer-Human Interaction), based “somewhere” in Europe, have developed techniques to locate the origin of vibrations on physical objects. The article discusses how the team has developed four main technologies, which I won’t go into here. What’s interesting is the second technique, called “time reversal”. I wonder how this works 🙂
“Time reversal is a beautiful technology,” he says. “Unlike TDOA, it works with any object and it does not require special materials. Because it needs only a single sensor and a normal computer, it is very simple and cost-effective. “
Actually, it has nothing to do with the fourth dimension and the space-time continuum. They explain:
“It works on the notion that each location on the surface of a solid generates a unique impulse response which can be recorded and used to calibrate the object. Time reversal works on 3D objects just as well as flat surfaces. “
Interesting applications: I guess we can create better punch/kicking arcade machines based on the damage you cause on something via vibrations, not just the offset momentum you create on the object by bashing the hell out of it. My dreams of a Taekwondo decent kicking machine can finally be realised!
Source: http://www.physorg.com/news116778958.html