Monkey Mini - tutorials, resources and information for Apple Mac mini users - www.monkeymini.co.uk: "MonkeyMini is a website setup to help those deciding whether or not a Apple Mac mini is the right purchase for you (and we can assure it is!).

"

Foamcore Gray Card: “It sounds so trivial, but a simple piece of gray-colored foamcore, purchased at a local craft store, is a godsend for digital photography. The board's flat surface serves as a perfectly uniform, non-glare background for shooting gizmos and stuff. Stuff, as in stuff you want put up for auction on eBay, stuff to illustrate articles, stuff for your blog. The stiff gray card — 20 by 30 inches — produces no highlights, even in full sunlight. The objects appear to float in limbo (or all white). Moving and removing objects from the image using Photoshop is a cinch.”

NB: In the UK this stuff is called Foam Board and can be picked up at craft stores or art suppliers. It isn‘t all that cheap but still cheaper than specialist stuff. If you’re doing lots of photographing objects, it is probably worth making up a 3 sided box, and lighting it properly (for a really pro look!).

(Via Kevin Kelly — Cool Tools.)

Processing 1.0 (BETA): "Processing is a programming language and environment built for the media

    arts and design communities. It is created to teach fundamentals of computer 

    programming within a visual context and to serve as a software sketchbook. 

    It is used by students, artists, designers, architects, and researchers 

    for learning, prototyping, and production.

The beta software for Processing 1.0 was released 20 April 2005 and can

    be downloaded here. Bug fixes are being made as 

    we head toward the 1.0 release. Processing is free to download and available 

    for PC, Mac, and Linux. "

BuddySpace - Instant Messaging + Maps + Semantics = Enhanced Presence Management for Collaboration, Learning, and Gaming: “BuddySpace is an instant messenger with four novel twists: (1) it allows optional maps for geographical & office-plan visualizations in addition to standard ‘buddy lists’; (2) it is built on open source Jabber, which makes it interoperable with ICQ, MSN, Yahoo and others; (3) it is implemented in Java, so it is cross-platform; (4) it is built by a UK research lab, so it is 100% free with full sources readiily available. But BuddySpace is about more than just ‘messaging’, as we explain below.”

Grass Biofuel Pellets: "The need to find alternatives to fossil fuels and reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions has peaked interest in biofuels by energy specialists around the world. REAP-Canada has pioneered the research and development of biofuel pellets made from switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) for use in space heating applications. Switchgrass, when pelletized, has considerable potential to displace oil, natural gas, and electricity used for heating fuel. This development can significantly reduce greenhouse gases and heating costs and sustainably assist the development of rural communities. Fast growing warm season perennial grasses have been identified as ideal candidates for biomass fuel production due to their high net energy yield per hectare and low cost of production. (Pellet Stoves)"

1. TERI RUEB: "Embodied interaction and social computing, wireless and wearable computing, tangible interfaces, history and theory of interactive art and technology.

"

1. TechKwonDo (julian bleecker):“To stay on the forefront of emerging technologies and innovation Julian has developed a successful art-technology practice. This practice allows a significant degree of experimental latitude that then fosters creative innovations in the kinds of user experiences that advancing technologies make possible”

2. Artworks, Tuomo Tammenpaa: "Tammenpaa works as an active media artist and designer in Finland, just outside Helsinki. During the last ten years he has participated in several exhibitions in Scandinavia, Central Europe, Asia and North America presenting video and media installations, of which his long dedication on the awarded NEED project, a multi-platform ‘marketing and consumerism laboratory’, has been most significant. (blog)"

3. Elizabeth Goodman: "Elizabeth Goodman's design, writing, and research focuses on critical thinking and creative exploration at the intersections of new digital technologies, social life and urban spaces. Her recent projects include: digital street game-mobile gaming on street corners (with Michele Chang); Jabberwocky a familiar stranger exploration—Comfort, and Play in Public Spaces (with Eric Paulos); and the sensing beds- slow technology for beds (with Marion Misilim)

"

1. anne galloway [purse lip square jaw] : “PhD candidate, technology researcher, ethnographer & designer, raised in the tropics, current inhabitant of Ottawa in the Land of Ice & Snow, lover of avocados and olives, the music of Medeski, Martin & Wood and My Bloody Valentine, strange places, brilliant & otherwise hardcore people”

Ubiquitous Computing : “Ubiquitous computing names the third wave in computing, just now beginning. First were mainframes, each shared by lots of people. Now we are in the personal computing era, person and machine staring uneasily at each other across the desktop. Next comes ubiquitous computing, or the age of calm technology, when technology recedes into the background of our lives. Alan Kay of Apple calls this ‘Third Paradigm’ computing.”

What Ubiquitous Computing Isn't

Ubiquitous computing is roughly the opposite of virtual reality. Where virtual reality puts people inside a computer-generated world, ubiquitous computing forces the computer to live out here in the world with people. Virtual reality is primarily a horse power problem; ubiquitous computing is a very difficult integration of human factors, computer science, engineering, and social sciences.

Pervasive media refers to the electronic extension and expansion of the human senses through the ubiquitous presence of intelligent software and silicon systems. The concept relies on a mix of technologies, from digital signal processing to computer networks and information management. Its adherents envision, and in some cases are beginning to deliver, a spectrum of content, applications and services that enable improved information access and communications across a range of rich interfaces, displays, smart output devices and terminals.

shigeru ban: paper loghouse:

"in june 1995, a great number of people were still

forced to live in shabby tents in parks nearby their

destroyed houses even six month after the earthquake

in kobe. ban's solution was a cheap and simple structure

that could be build by anyone.

the foundation was made of sand-filled beer cases,

the walls of paper tubes and the ceiling and roof of tent

material. the roof and the ceiling were kept separate in

summer to allow air to circulate and closed in winter to

retain warm air. they were easy to recycle after use,

easy to transport, easy to store and the paper tubes

could be made on site.

'the good thing about paper tubes is that they are readily

available in various thickness and diameters.

the weight they can support depends on these two things.

theoretically, I can make buildings a few stories high,

but I haven‘t yet been given the opportunity,’ says ban.

shigeru ban is a pioneer of paper tube structures (PTS),

he investigated the substance and found that not only

could recycled cardboard be molded into load-bearing

columns, bent into beautiful trusses and quickly assembled,

but it could also be made waterproof and fire resistant.

in the space between the paper tubes, self-adhesive

waterproof sponge tape was applied to both sides."

Houses of the Future: "The Cardboard House represents the reduction of technology and the simplification of needs. By demonstrating that we are able to recycle 100% of the building components at extremely low cost, the Cardboard House is a direct challenge to the housing industry to reduce housing and environmental costs.

"