Now this may be a shot in the dark, but I'm beginning to explore the idea of storing quartz composer data in a mysql database, using the RSS feed patch and a MySQL to RSS php script. You can pass parameters to the php script by adding them on to the end of the RSS url; these could then be stored in the database, returning a simple RSS result showing success or failure. In the same way the parameters could be formed in such a way as to grab particular data on request.

In fact, as long as the result is returned in RSS xml format, the PHP script could do any number of things that Quartz Composer won't let you do otherwise.

I'm doing this using MySQL, Apache and PHP installed locally on my machine; and calling the script at http://127.0.0.1/rss.php

The great thing about this stuff, is that all my experience in PHP and XML can be utilised to add to my compositions.

SteamSHIFT out

•   [Taiko Center, Kyoto](http://www.taiko-center.co.jp/english/engindex.htm)   

             (tags: [drum](http://del.icio.us/steamshift/drum) [taiko](http://del.icio.us/steamshift/taiko)  )

Owen and Mayu

Originally uploaded by steamshift.

The next installment of Japan photos is now online; these are all from the wedding ceremony.

OOh makes me almost giddy with excitement as to what could be done… We might actually see some interfaces that are totally intuitive!

World of Apple - Multi-Touch Interaction Video: "This page contains a video and several images showing some of the touch screen patents that Apple owns. Although the video appears to be for research purposes it contains some interesting footage on just how these patents could be used."

(Via World of Apple.)

It‘s a shameless rip off of a vinyl record on a deck; but what you should get is all the various plates moving together at a set speed, unless friction is applied to the touch plate - then the slip mat should slip against the drive plate and the slip plate to allow the motor to keep rotating, despite the slowed speed of the touch plate. In addition, by using a large gear plate (could equally use a drive belt mechanism), and a small cog on the rotary encoder, you don’t need a hugely accurate encoder.

My thought is to make a smallish one of these, maybe 6" diameter, for use as a movie speed controller in Quartz Composer, via midi. The speed read from the encoder directly influences the speed of the movie; it should also allow for winding it back and forth and so on.

Conceptually it is about providing the physical feedback that is so often lacking in digital interfaces.

SteamSHIFT out.

Today I received 2 packages; the first a small delivery from Farnell InOne : 3 endless rotary encoders - with push button built in, and 3 assorted analogue to digital converter ICs. Mmmm … I can feel some experimenting with making custom midi controllers for Quartz Composer coming on. The A/D converters are the missing link between the sensors that I want to hook up and my Basic Stamp (2) which does the processing and midi output. Will post schematics and such when I get somewhere!

Also arriving today was a few parts for my PowerBook screen, the bottom third of which has decided to give up the ghost. It occasionally flickers into life so I‘m pretty sure it’s the cable that connects the LCD to the motherboard. All I have to do now is figure out how to crack open the screen enclosure! Oh and if you‘re thinking of buying a Powerbook or MacBook Pro - I’d personally recommend buying AppleCare; even taking the screen off the machine is not for the faint of heart (I'm told opening up the screen itself is somewhat of a nightmare), and screens run to £350+

SteamSHIFT out

•   [Your First Synth](http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/analogsynth/YOUR_FIRST_SYNTH/YOUR_FIRST_SYNTH.html) 

(tags: analog audio circuit diy electronics hack howto make music toys )

• [Wicked Quake 3 Tricks](http://www.planetquake.com/rocketland/haqsau/wickedq3.shtml) 

(tags: games quake3 )

• [www.span.com -  MiniDrive MicroDrive 1.8" - IMtc40a - Toshiba 1.8" ATA6 Emerald   MK4006GAH   Bare  (40gb, 4200rpm, 2mb)](http://www.span.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23_504_1801&products_id=5061) 

(tags: drive hard ipod microdrive )

• [we make money not art: Liquid (tele)vision mediation](http://www.we-make-money-not-art.com/archives/007507.php) 

(tags: art video visuals )

• [WOMB-Future Style"web"](http://www.womb.co.jp/) 

(tags: design japan music tokyo video visuals vj )

• [XpressCDs - Prices for Single CD duplication and Production](http://www.xpresscds.co.uk/audio-cd-production.asp?show=single-prices) 

(tags: cd duplication )

• [Zend Technologies - PHP 5 In Depth - XML in PHP 5 - What's New?](http://www.zend.com/php5/articles/php5-xmlphp.php#Heading17) 

(tags: PHP XML XSLT webdev )

I would love to have a play with this stuff and see what I could do with it!

HMC MediaLab - Fantastic stuff - Fantastic stuff: “Hyperfabric is a new interface that lets you reach beyond the screen. It‘s a very ’touchable‘ surface, made out of an elastic-like fabric called ’Hyperfabric‘. The screen warps like rubber, and can sense how hard your press it, where you press it, and you can even have lots of people using it at once. You really feel like you are going ’through' the screen.”

(Via Future Feeder.)

Let me start by saying that I am a big fan of Quartz Composer - it can do a huge amount of what I want to be able to do in the realms of visual art. To me however, the biggest problem I can see is that the authoring environment is not well suited to live performance, and yet if you create a standalone environment such as Eskatonia's excellent Quartonian VSM app, you lose the ability to add new nodes on the fly - which for me is one of the great advantages of quartz composer.

What is the answer? Maybe one option would be to embed as much of the core of quartz composer as possible into quicktime itself and make the actual authoring environment open source, so that inspired hackers could extend the environment in different directions.

On the other hand, perhaps with this technology looking to gain momentum, Apple could afford to be a little less tight-lipped as to the direction quartz composer is due to take!

One of the more insane and possible brilliant (but we will see) ways of creating energy I have seen in a long time!

Harnessing artificial tornadoes as an energy source: "The energy released by a large hurricane can exceed the energy consumption of the human race for a whole year, and even an average tornado has a power similar to that of a large power station. Louis Michaud, a Canadian engineer, believes he has devised a way to harness that energy by generating artificial whirlwinds that can be controlled.

His Atmospheric Vortex Engine would be produced inside a cylindrical wall. Warm air at ground level enters via tangential inlets around the base of the wall. Steam is injected to get the vortex started. Once established, the heat content of the air at ground level is enough to keep the vortex going. As the air rises, it expands and cools, and water vapour condenses, releasing even more heat. This is, in fact, what powers a hurricane, which can be thought of as a heat engine that takes in warm, humid air at its base, releases cold, watery air about 12 kilometres up, and liberates a vast amount of energy in the process.

Michaud's vortex would reach a similar height to that of a hurricane, but its base would remain stationary. The intensity of the vortex would be controlled and there would be turbines at the base of the vortex to harness its energy as air rushes through the inlets. Mr Michaud estimates that an atmospheric vortex engine with a diameter of 200 metres would produce around 200 megawatts of power.

So much for the theory. Now Michaud must demonstrate that its system works in practice.

Via The Economist (Via we make money not art.)

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