Stanford researchers create genetic transistors, make biologic computing possible
When constructing computer circuits, most folks start with silicon and metal, but not the researchers at Stanford. The boffins in Palo Alto want to build computers out of living tissue, and to that end they’ve created a biological transistor, called the transcriptor. Transcriptors substitute DNA for semiconductors and RNA for the electrons in traditional transistors — essentially, the transcriptor controls the flow of a specific RNA protein along a DNA strand using tailored combinations of enzymes. Using these transcriptors, researchers built logic gates to derive true/false answers to biochemical questions posed within living cells. Using these bio-transistors, researchers gain access to data not previously available (like whether an individual cell has been exposed to certain external stimuli), in addition to allowing them to control basic functions like cellular reproduction.
This new breakthrough — when combined with the DNA-based data storage and a method to transmit DNA between cells the school’s already working on — means that Stanford has created all the necessary components of a biologic computer. Such computers would allow man to actually reprogram how living systems operate. Of course, they haven’t built a living genetic PC just yet, but to speed up its development, the team has contributed all the transcriptor-based logic gates to the public domain. Looking to build your own biologic computer? A full explanation of the transcriptor awaits below.
Filed under: Science
Via: The Verge
Source: Stanford University, Science Magazine
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Leave a commentHow to Create Breathtaking Architectural Photographs
You don’t have to be a career photographer to create dramatic and breathtaking architectural photographs. With a little practice the weekend photographer can learn to create eye-popping images that look as though they had been captured by a professional. You needn’t have the latest, greatest or most expensive equipment. The most important aspect of photography – what sets the great photographs apart from the good photographs – is how the subject matter is seen and captured onto film or onto the page.
I will share with you some some tips and suggestions to get you started. This guide will apply to other aspects of photography as well. Photography is a skill that can be developed and improved without much difficulty. Practice makes perfect, so get out there and click away!
Shoot from many angles.
Walk around the building that you want to photograph and take pictures from all around. The facade, sides and backs are all worth individual attention. Architects often create their edifices so that no two sides are alike. A favorite photograph may not be the recognizable front, but rather an off-center shot taken from behind. If you are at the base of a tall building, point your lens to the sky and shoot from the bottom up. Likewise, if you are in a large city and happen to be on top of a tall building such as the Empire State Building or the Eiffel Tower, if you can stand it, look down with your camera and shoot the building from a bird’s eye view.
Play around and have fun. With today’s digital photography we do not have the cost-prohibitive expense of developing roll upon roll of film which allows us now to have the freedom to experiment and try new things with our cameras and our lenses. In the end, if we don’t like the way our pictures have turned out we simply delete them. The more pictures you take of a subject, the better your chances of ending up with photographs that you will like.
Why are you taking pictures?
Photographs can serve many things to many people. Most importantly they capture a moment, a memory in your life. Do you want your picture to look like a post card, or do you want it to be more creative, like a work of art? Your photograph will serve as a memory in your visual journal – it will tell the story not only of your journey, but it will capture a special moment forever. It is up to you to figure out how you best want to record that moment. Are you visiting a new city? Maybe the building you are shooting is a small part of the backdrop.
In a bustling city, the people, taxis and traffic can help to create the overall mood. In the country perhaps trees, a farm or a fence completes the scene. The addition of these other elements contributes to the overall telling of your story. The old saying is true, a picture does indeed tell a thousand words!
Consider your light source.
A building’s overall look and feel will change throughout the day. Think of the sun and the importance she plays. When she’s rising or setting she will cast dramatic shadows that will enhance and play off the natural architectural lines and details. Perhaps her light will bounce and reflect off the many windows to create a feeling of fluidity and movement.
Buildings shot at night, lit up by artificial light from within and from the streets below often seem softer and more regal. If you can, try to shoot the same building at different times throughout the day while focusing in on different areas. You will be amazed at how dramatically different the same structure will appear.
Get ready for your close-up.
Don’t be afraid to zoom in. Take a close look at all the individual detail that the naked eye misses. Pay attention to lines, curves and movement. Zone in on textural details such as brick, stone, wood, metal, and glass. Is the building old? Is the trim ornate? Are there gargoyles or other decorative creatures and elements?
These details are beautiful and often unseen by the naked eye. Most importantly they tell a story and your camera is there to tell the story through your eye – your point of view. Here we are looking at not one building but two. In the photo above a simple keyhole is captured and enlarged and what is revealed is color and history and a wealth of textures.
Think outside the box, or in this case inside the lens.
Walk around the building with your eye in the lens. Zoom in to capture images and views that are overlooked by many. Capture elements like windows and doors. Try shooting into an open window or door. Zoom out to capture a scene. Look around the building to see what else is relevant. Is there a magnificent sunrise? Are there people walking in and out of the building?
What are these people doing? Are they strolling leisurely or are they in a rush? Often you will want to focus solely on the buildings but there will be times when you need characters, setting and scenery to help tell your story. This happens to be one of my favorite photographs taken in New York City on Fifth Avenue. The building is iconic. The brand is legendary. This small snippet creates, perhaps, an even more dramatic effect than had the famous store been shot in her entirety.
Black and white.
Black and white photographs are powerful and dramatic. They set a mood and set a scene. They evoke feeling and emotion that are often missing from a color photograph. A black and white photograph can create an additional sense of color and movement. The focus is fully on the subject and therefore creating less noise and distraction that often accompany colored photographs.
There are many free online sites such as Picasa or PicMonkey that allow you to play with the color and do minor edits to your own pictures. As you change your picture from color to black and white look closely at the two. You will be amazed at how vastly different the two photographs will appear. In color, this was a busy and distracted photograph.
Shoot off center.
Many photographers believe in following a popular rule in photography known as the “Rule of Thirds.” This simple rule can make an ordinary photograph extraordinary. Using your eyes, scan the scene and divide it into three sections both horizontally and vertically. When composing your shot, simply place your important elements either along these lines, or where the lines intersect as opposed to the center of the frame. This works best when trying to shoot the building in its landscape, but do try this method when you are shooting close-ups as well. You will be amazed at how different the composition appears.
Equipment and tools; what you need to take great photographs.
If you’re serious about wanting to take some professional looking photographs I would steer clear of the point and shoot cameras. There are some wonderful DSLRs (digital single lens reflect) on the market that are priced to accommodate any bank account. Technological advances are so great that the simplest, most basic camera can yield the most spectacular results. A kit lens is a good lens to begin with. It will capture most scenic shots and allow for some detailed images within a fairly close range.
An average kit lens is an 18-55 millimeter lens and most professionals would advise to start here. Play around with the camera and the lens. You’ll notice that you may favor a wider angle, more scenic shot, or you tend to zero in on the more minute detail. When you have a sense of preference you may want to opt for a telephoto or zoom lens or a wide angle lens. More often than not it’s the lens that will have the greatest effect on your photography – more so than your camera. For a novice I might suggest going with the least expensive camera and spend your money on the lens. A good camera is an investment few regret.
Other accessories you may want might include a tripod or a flash for nighttime shooting. When traveling you’ll most likely do a lot of walking and you won’t want to be bogged down by heavy equipment. If you have a small point and shoot or an iPhone, you can always supplement with those. I continue to be amazed by the quality of the photographs that my iPhone produces. When traveling I make sure to bring a back up battery as well as a charger. There’s nothing more disappointing than having your camera die as you are about to shoot your best picture ever!
Take as many pictures as you can, from as many angles as you can from as many points of view. Let your camera click away. Play with the light. Play with the composition and look at the overall picture as well as the most intimate of details. Practice makes perfect and soon you will find a style that’s all your own.
If you have 25 pictures of the Taj Mahal you are more apt to have a couple of really great picture than you would have had you just taken 1 or 2 in passing. Photography is a skill that can be cultivated and perfected. You’ll be amazed at by how much your photography will improve in a relatively short period of time.
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10 Budget Friendly Tricks Interior Designers Use to Create Luxurious Looking Spaces
Dotted throughout the United States are master planned communities made up of homes that are identical to each other. As each home resembles the one next to it, it becomes more desirable to have an interior that is unique and offers a perception of affluence. We all want to have our homes look like that of high end professionally decorated mansions, but often lack the funds to achieve it. Living in a space that looks expensive and is easy on the budget does not have to be out of reach. Anyone can have dapper dwellings with a few careful considerations.
1. Crown Molding
A space that lacks crown molding tends to look average. The lack of detailing tying the walls and ceiling together gives a space an unfinished cheapened look. For very little money, crown molding applied to the walls provides richness to the space. When picking out molding opt for a wide trim for more impact. In fact the wider the trim the more expensive the room can look.
2. Paint
The toughest decision anytime you decorate can be what color to paint a space. Opting for either a crisp white or high pigment paint in a neutral hue will lend an air of sophistication and affluence to the room. Neutral walls allow for the rotation of accent colors seasonally if desired. Another easy trick that really adds that lux finish to a home is to paint interior doors black. It will instantly give the space an expensive vibe; just be sure to tie the doors to the rest of the décor with other uses of black accessories.
3. Pillows
Throw pillows are always a fabulous accessory for your sofa, loveseat or oversized chair. A collection of small store bought pillows appears to be trying too hard and shouts unoriginal and cheap. First, they are not quite big enough to be impactful and are too small to be of any real benefit. Secondly, if the goal is to look luxurious, pillows that any home can have defeats that idea. So ignore the 12-18 inch pillows that you can pick up at the local home store. Opt instead for the larger 22-inch pillow covers and stuff them with 24-inch inserts. The overstuffed pillows offer that luxurious feel you desire.
4. Window Treatments
The options for window treatments are endless and cross many price points. It is best to spend moderately on the best quality you can afford. Avoid flimsy curtains and ones that are unlined, these are two telltale signs of poor quality. Sure, the price might be nice, but you want your room to look elegant and expensive, right? Instead of buying them right off the rack at the local home store, find a selection at a specialty fabric store. Their experts can help you create window treatments with in your budget that will look like you spent a lot more for them. Once you have picked out your curtains, hang them as close to the ceiling as you can to draw your eye up and project the illusion of fullness. Curtains hung just above the window tend to look sparse.
5. Hardware Finishes
Most tract homes built come with very standard hardware finishes. They are generally cheap, in both cost and appearance. Builders use these bulk items, as they are more cost effective to use, but not always the best for a homeowner desiring a more custom look. Oddly enough, hardware is also not that expensive to replace with more personalized options. Change out the drawer pulls in the kitchen and replace them with more unique pieces. You can find them at any hardware store, specialty shop or even at a flea market. The goal is to locate ones you love and not mirror your next-door neighbors. You can change out the builder’s basic faucet for something more interesting as well. Any good plumbing shop can work with in your budget too.
6. Lighting
Just as with hardware, lighting is another one of those builder’s standard accessories that lack personality, character and style. Toss out nondescript chandeliers and ceiling fans; replace them with a unique designer look. There is no need to shop the high-end lighting stores, try scouring a flea market or second hand store for a budget friendly piece. A bargain found on a chandelier goes a long way toward creating that expensive designer inspired look. The right one may even have your friends talking. Add table lamps and floor lamps in each room, too. Lighting of any kind will also create an expensive look and feel.
7. Hardwood
While wall-to-wall carpet is soft and warm under foot, it is does not lend itself to a lavish look. Hardwood on the other hand provides that classic visual appeal. It seem like a budget buster, but it will last for years making the investment well worth it, especially if you compare it to replacing carpeting every few years. Hard wood comes in many types of wood and some are more luxurious than others are. Opt for a dark wood that will add richness to the space, similar to the idea of painting your interior doors black. You can layer a beautiful area rug on top of the wood flooring to anchor the room and tie design elements together.
8. Accessories
Gold often considered synonymous with wealth can actually appear rather tawdry. Gilded frames, gold baubles and brass lighting can be tacky when all used together. The color can be hard on the eyes while trying too hard to provide a luxurious look. Silver, chrome and brushed nickel are easier on the eyes and offer a truly polished look. Trade out those old gold frames for some new silver ones; replace that brass table lamp with a brushed nickel lamp and sell the gold at your next yard sale. Silver will also help to reflect light better than gold will, adding to the look you want to achieve.
9. Furniture
Furniture is usually the single largest investment made in a room, but not always an area that one can invest in heavily. Yet, spending on cheap poorly made furniture will cost more in the end. Instead, try shopping secondhand stores, consignment shops and estate sales for well-constructed pieces to be reupholstered. This will give you the opportunity to customize your look for a fraction of what a high-end designer piece would run you without sacrificing any desired quality.
10. Housekeeping
As Albert Hadley once said,” There’s no point in creating something beautiful for someone who is a slob….” He is right. The easiest and least expensive way to make a home look posh is to keep it cleaned. Dust and vacuum weekly, avoid clutter and your home will shine. All of the other touches will stand out and be noticeable. Isn’t that the whole point of a designer like home?
So you can see it does not take a lot to achieve an expensive look. Just follow these tips and tricks and you too can have a great looking home on reasonable budget. How do you give your home a designer look on a dime store budget?
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The extremes of technology customer service: how common sense and empathy create unmatched loyalty
Allow me to explain how two discussions started off in very similar ways, and ended… shall we say, differently. This is me, attempting to muster any sort of pleasantness in my voice at some ungodly hour of the morning on a Google Voice connection from Dubai back to the US:
“Hey! I’m having to cut a trip short due to an emergency back home. I actually purchased a trip protection plan when I checked out online — would it be possible to provide a refund for this flight now that I need to cancel it?”
From here, I was told that this was too vague. That I would need medical proof of an injury or illness, and that if it were a pre-existing condition — something like reoccurring cancer — that simply wouldn’t do. Oh, and if it’s a home emergency, you’ll need proof from your home insurance company that your abode is “uninhabitable.”
“So… I’m basically hosed here? This trip protection plan doesn’t really protect very much, does it?”
“… Do you want to file the claim?”
“No. That’s okay. Thanks for your time.”
It doesn’t have to be this way.
Filed under: Misc
The extremes of technology customer service: how common sense and empathy create unmatched loyalty originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 12:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Create Your Room Plan in Seconds with iPhone and iPad MagicPlan App [Video]
![main Create Your Room Plan in Seconds with iPhone and iPad MagicPlan App [Video]](http://cdn.freshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/main.jpg "main")
Need your room layout on paper as soon as possible? Check out the MagicPlan application, a small program which can generate the plan of a room in seconds. Simply innitiate the app from your iPhone or iPad, turn around in a circle, mark the corners and take pictures with the device’s camera. The result? A professional sketch with an accuracy of about 6 inches, which can further be exported in multiple formats. Here is more from the developers: “Solutions are available on the market to measure a house, draw floor plans and program on the web. However, the current solutions are not integrated and are complex to implement. Creating a floor plan takes time, necessitates expertise, and is often expensive. Thus, creating the floor plan of a house is still very much in the hands of professionals. MagicPlan revolutionizes the real estate market: no need for expertise, time or money.With MagicPlan, everyone can create a floor plan“. Have a look at the video below to better understand how it works and tell us if you find this application useful!
![app plan Create Your Room Plan in Seconds with iPhone and iPad MagicPlan App [Video]](http://cdn.freshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/app-plan.jpg "app plan")
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Leave a commentTargus collabs with iDevices to create iNotebook, transcribes your scribbles for $150
What happens when a computer accessory manufacturer and a Bluetooth-savvy app developer team up? iNotebook, that’s what. Targus has been working with iDevices to create the aforementioned writing recognition app / pen combo for the iPad. Making use of a rechargeable Bluetooth receiver, the pair utilizes a special pen to transfer the slate owner’s haiku from paper directly to their mobile device. So long as you mind the 9.5-inch x 7.5-inch notepad size restriction, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting that grocery list transferred quickly. Available in June, the only question is if you’ll drop $149.99 on this bad boy. Even though an iPad case is included, we might have to pass.
Targus collabs with iDevices to create iNotebook, transcribes your scribbles for $150 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Leave a commentGerman researchers create smudge repellent coating from candle soot
While they’re working on the lack of feedback, and need for exposed skin problems for touch screens, that other gripe — dirty smudges — could soon be wiped-out permanently. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz obviously had enough of sleeve-cleaning their devices and created a coating that could usher in a smudge-free world. The discovery comes after the team applied candle soot to glass and then coated it in silica to keep it in place. The glass is then heated to a bratwurst-baking 600 ºC for calcination, which makes the soot transparent — somewhat handy for screens. To test, different oils and solvents were applied, but the glass’ superamphiphobic properties soon fended them off. A resilient coating sounds a little more straight-forward than what Apple recently applied to patent, but until either of these see the light of day, you’d better keep that Brasso close by.
German researchers create smudge repellent coating from candle soot originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Dec 2011 14:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Stanford researchers create transparent battery, dream of a see-through iPhone (video)
We’ve had about all of the transparent displays we can handle. Besides, what good is a screen you can see through if the electronics behind it are as opaque as ever? Thankfully, the fine folks at Stanford are working hard to move us towards a future filled with invisible gadgets. Yi Cui and Yuan Yang led a team that have created a lithium-ion battery that appears transparent. In actuality, the cells are composed of a very fine mesh of electrodes, approximately 35-microns wide, that are small enough to appear invisible to the naked eye. The resulting power packs are cheap and flexible but, currently, can only store about half as much energy as a traditional Li-ion battery. Cui has a particular destination in mind for creation, as he told the college paper, “I want to talk to Steve Jobs about this. I want a transparent iPhone!” Check out the video after the break.
Stanford researchers create transparent battery, dream of a see-through iPhone (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Leave a commentAmber Glazed Bathroom Tiles Create Astonishing Bathroom Interiors
Glazed bathroom tiles from ModCraft can transform your bathroom into a surprising new space. By allowing the renovation of your old bathroom to encompass modern bathroom tiles, you create a specific bathroom interior design personalized to fit your needs and look glamorously modern. Hand-crafted with distinct precision, the amber glaze bathroom tiles in this bathroom setting were described by Better Homes and Gardens as “combining warm ripples of retro with cool contemporary flair“. The faceted valley tiles in amber glaze splendidly contrast with white surroundings and merge with any transparent surface nearby. The best thing about these tiles is that a small amount of them can make a big difference if combined with the right kind of materials and shapes. As you can see in the photos, the interior designer – Andee Hess – used the tiles on the wall behind the bathtub and accentuated the colour and shape of the tiles by pairing them up with heavily veined onyx. The bathtub and cabinetry were first installed and the tiles and onyx insertions were used to create a warmer atmosphere in the bathroom. Take a look at how beautiful the tiles can look in a well-designed bathroom!
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Leave a commentHow to Create Multifunctional Play Areas for your Kids
Wouldn’t it be nice if your home was large enough to have a separate play area for the kids, an area for you to watch television, and a separate area for everyone to coexist and still be happy? Well, maybe in a dream world, but in the real world, most homes have to be creative when thinking of areas for the kids to play. Quite possibly, the main gathering areas, such as the living room and family room have to accommodate the kids, the older siblings, and the parents. Here are tips for creating multifunctional play areas that the whole family will enjoy.
- Expand upon what you already have: In many homes, you already have the ‘bones’ for a good playroom. Consider using main walls of your living room or dining room that have plenty of space for kids to be imaginative with. Wide open walls can be used for bulletin boards, lining up easels for art projects, or can be painted with chalkboard paint for the ultimate in non-stop creativity for your kids. If you are handy with do it yourself projects, consider building built-ins for desks for adults and children to utilize while other family members are using the wall chalkboard.
- Turn unused space into a playroom: If your home has storage space or rooms that are not being used to their full potential, consider transforming them into multifunctional play area and congregating space. Basements, storage rooms, and unused dens or offices are good spots to transform. The advantage of these areas are the ability to take playful, whimsical wall colors, fun furniture, and combine the space with adult sized furniture, and storage, and the space instantly can house all ages of the family. Use one wall for a television and video game area, and the entire family will enjoy using this space at separate times of the day.
- Combine education and play: For many homes, the ability to have a separate studying quiet area and an activity play area is not realistic. Combine the two functions, and separate at what times of the day you house the separate activities. Desks for kids that have computers and organized space for school work and activities, can later be used for board games and crafting projects. Consider using desks that have plenty of top work surface space and can take advantage of vertical wall space as well. Organization stores have great ideas for hanging baskets, shelves, and colorful bins to keep kids’ belongings close at hand, yet out of parent’s way!
- Share the space, but still make it fun: If you live in a small home or an apartment, find ways to share the space with your little ones, but still make it fun. Opt for neutral tones and use organizational decor to add color, and creative inspiration. Colorful rugs, accessories, and wall decor can make your child feel like they aren’t giving up being a kid! If your main area has to be used for adult entertaining at a later time, opt for family friendly furniture slipcovers, and transitional color palettes that will make your home still feel sophisticated. A neutral palette of chocolate browns mixed with blues and greens can feel grown up or kid-like, depending on what decorative accents you have in the room.
Having a multifunctional playroom in your home can keep the sanity between all family members. Since children don’t play 24 hours a day, it is realistic to house a playroom in the same place where you have common household activities. For open floor plans that have a great room, instead of individualized space, consider housing louder play areas closer to the kitchen area, and quieter play areas closer to the bedrooms. This will help your household maximize the benefit of combining multifunctional playrooms, and make you happier at the end of the day.
Freshome readers how do you solve the play area in your home?
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