DARPA flaunts HD heat vision camera small enough to carry into battle
Thermal imaging cameras are highly useful tools for military and law enforcement types, letting them see humans inside buildings or land a helicopter in the fog. High definition models are too heavy for servicemen to tote, however, so DARPA and a private partner have built a 1,280 x 720 LIWR (long-wave infrared) imager with pixels a mere five microns in diameter. That’s smaller than infrared light’s wavelength, allowing a slighter device without giving up any resolution or sensitivity while costing much less, to boot. Researchers say that three functional prototypes have performed as well as much larger models, allowing them to see through a simulated dust storm, among other tests. If DARPA ever lets such goodies fall into civvy hands, count us in — you can never have too much security.
Filed under: Cameras, Science, Alt
Via: Gizmag
Source: DARPA
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Verizon begins collecting user data for targeted ads, is kind enough to offer ‘opt-out’ escape route
Verizon begins collecting user data for targeted ads, is kind enough to offer ‘opt-out’ escape route originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 04:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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QReo is for cookie, that’s good enough to scan (video)
The medium is the message. That’s really all you need to know about this junk food marketing. Integrated ad agency RedPepper, which prides itself on communication via “human-centered, highly-spreadable ‘things’,” assembled a group of stoners employees to answer the age-old question: can cookies convey QR codes? No, never pondered that ultimate mystery before? Well, bust out the smartphone and get to scanning this collection of 441 black and gold Oreos for the answer. We won’t ruin the URL-directing surprise for you, but prepare to be minorly underwhelmed — it’s not like the company’s heralding the return of glorious trans fat. Curiosity piqued? Then head past the break for the how’d they do that? hyper-speed video and its Daft Punk backing track. (Disclaimer: No cookies were harmed in the filming of this project, only consumed.)
Continue reading QReo is for cookie, that’s good enough to scan (video)
QReo is for cookie, that’s good enough to scan (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Sep 2011 21:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Wicked Lasers’ S3 Krypton laser is bright enough to blind astronauts (video)
If you ever plan to lead a PowerPoint presentation projected on giant white board orbiting the Earth (we’ll leave the logistics of that one up to you) there’s only one laser pointer that will get the job done — Wicked Lasers‘ S3 Krypton. The Guinness Record-pending pointer produces about 86 million lux and can be seen from up to 85 miles away, well beyond the edge of our atmosphere. Of course, at roughly 8,000-times the brightness of the Sun, serious safety precautions are needed when operating the S3. Goggles are a must (and bundled with the handheld laser), while sensors and a microprocessor regulate current to keep the tube of aluminum from overheating in your hands. The top end model is available now for $1,000 but, if blinding astronauts isn’t on your agenda, lower-powered versions can be had starting at $300. Check out the video after the break.
Continue reading Wicked Lasers’ S3 Krypton laser is bright enough to blind astronauts (video)
Wicked Lasers’ S3 Krypton laser is bright enough to blind astronauts (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Sep 2011 23:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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A1, Flexible Enough?
Established in 2010 from the merger of two popular telecommunication providers, A1 and Telekom Austria, A1 Telekom Austria is now the leading service provider in Austria with more than 5 million mobile and 2 million fixed-line subscribers and 9,700 employees. At the end of April they announced that the two consumer brands would merge into a single one under the A1 name and a new identity created by Saffron. A micro site introducing the new identity (with a brief movie) can be found here and a press release (PDF and in German) here.
Both previous logos lacked the luster of a consumer brand, looking too serious an un-fun for their own good. If the new logo doesn’t lack anything it’s certainly luster. Built around a monolithic, black “A” the logo is a three-dimensional flexible identity that can take on a slew of different skins, whether it’s just a change in the materials its made of (from glass to metal) or what its draped in (from cables to grass). As far as flexible identities go this is as basic, and almost needless as it gets. There is no element of surprise, the executions aren’t too exciting, and all the concepts feel almost gratuitous. There is a definite boost in the fun factor for the brand but that’s only by comparison to the old. The big, bold “1″ is nice though.
Thanks to Krzysztof Jeziorny for the tip.
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Sierra On-Line games hit iPad via web app, those old enough to remember them rejoice
You may or may not be old enough to remember Sierra On-Line, makers of such fine games as Leisure Suit Larry, the King’s Quest, and Police Quest, but none of that matters anymore. Thanks to the folks over at Sarien, you now have access to these glorious titles via your iPad‘s web browser. The entire catalog has been ported over, and the games which were previously available via the web only are now there on your Apple tablet! The whole shebang is now hosted on Amazon‘s content distribution network, and the games have been extensively tweaked for that multitouch interface. Sarien hasn’t apparently been issued a cease and desist from Activision — owners of the catalog — yet, so get these free gems of yesteryear while you can.
Sierra On-Line games hit iPad via web app, those old enough to remember them rejoice originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 21:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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