Episode 318 — Virtually Floating

By | |
1 Comment
Chair with balloon
Photo by Florian Klauer on Unsplash

Digital humans & deep fakes to personalize movies, a floating chair, importance of OS patches, security and backup.  

Michael and Michael start things off right for this episode with a blog post from Ian “ePredator” Hughes on Digital Humans.  This sparks a discussion on what it might be like to take advantage of deep fake technology to personalize and customize a movie to the viewer’s choices.  Replacing Harrison Ford with another actor in the Star Wars films reminds Michael R of a photo of Pee-wee Herman as Darth Vader.  

Next, a Laughing Squid post of an ingenious floating chair captures the co-hosts’ imaginations.  The build video is cool – and the structure of the chair even more amazing.  A nice little project for our listeners to consider doing.  Check it out!

In the next portion of the podcast, the co-hosts consider a ZDNet article about the Facebook AR neural wristband controller.  This controller captures the neural signals from the brain as they travel down to the hand.  Quite an advancement over 1989’s Nintendo Glove. 

The last set of topics are all about the importance of keeping your operating system up to date on your devices and having current backups.  For the example on security, the pair talks about a malicious 0day bug that leverages a Gatekeeper exploit.  Michael and Michael were both very happy that Shirt Pocket Software has updated it’s SuperDuper! backup application to run under Big Sur.  Have a look at the blog post in the show notes for all the details – the good news is that there is a beta that works: Michael M created a successful backup with his machine over the weekend.

Selected Links

Feeding Edge LTD blog post: Digital humans evolve — https://www.feedingedge.co.uk/blog/2021/04/29/digital-humans-evolve/ 

Pee Wee blog: May the Fourth be with you on this Star Wars Day!!! >> PW as Darth Vader — https://peewee.com/2020/05/04/may-the-fourth/pw-as-darth-vader/ 

IMDb: Altered States movie (1980) — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080360/ 

ZDNet article: Facebook’s ‘mind-reading’ tech startup deal could completely change how we control computers — https://www.zdnet.com/article/facebooks-mind-reading-tech-startup-deal-could-completely-change-how-we-control-computers/ 

ZDNet article (video): Facebook unveils further details about its mystery virtual AR neural wristband controller —  https://www.zdnet.com/video/facebook-unveils-further-details-about-its-mystery-virtual-ar-neural-wristband-controller/ 

Indiegogo: Mudra Band — https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/mudra-band-touch-free-control-for-apple-watch#/ 

Games at Work episode 281: The Sound of the Present — https://gamesatwork.biz/2020/07/27/episode-281-the-sound-of-the-present/ 

Nintendo Power Glove — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Glove 

Objective-See article: All Your Macs Are Belong To Us — https://objective-see.com/blog/blog_0x64.html?mc_cid=ae2a6d55f2&mc_eid=09c68cf9db 

Shirt Pocket Watch blog post: Finally. — https://www.shirtpocket.com/blog/index.php/shadedgrey/comments/finally/ 

Shirt Pocket Software — https://www.shirt-pocket.com 

iMore article: Apple must rein developers in before they make a mockery of App Tracking Transparency rules — https://www.imore.com/apple-must-rein-developers-they-make-mockery-app-tracking-transparency-rules 

The Verge article: Apple says old Magic Keyboard is ‘fundamentally compatible’ with new 12.9-inch iPad Pro, but warns of imperfect fit — https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/29/22410350/apple-ipad-pro-mini-led-magic-keyboard-case-2020-model-fit-accessory-screen-protector 

iPad Pro — https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-ipad/ipad-pro/12.9-inch-display-128gb-space-gray-wifi-cellular 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (24.6MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Podcast Index | Youtube Music | RSS | More

Episode 317 — Tags to the Future

By | |
Comments Off on Episode 317 — Tags to the Future
four tags
Photo by Angèle Kamp on Unsplash

Impact of video calls, macOS on iPad, AirTags much more than finding things, terrestrial and extraterrestrial bots and their LEGO models, and Ted Lasso.

The trio of co-hosts has great fun on their video call recording this audio podcast.  They contemplate the impact on your brain with and without breaks.  Then, there’s more fun to be had with this week’s Spring Forward announcements from Apple.  The team imagines what it might be like to have MacOS running on an iPad.  And, using the Wired article as a springboard, Andy, Michael and Michael discuss the importance of AirTags beyond finding lost items.

Next, it’s on to all things robotic, starting off with ANYbotics inspection robot, the ANYmal.  Getting ready for the Star Wars multi-day May the Fourth celebration, the team takes a close look at the new R2-D2 build celebrating Lucasfilm’s 50th anniversary.  Another bot was in the news this past week: NASA’s Martian helicopter drone made history with the first powered flight on another planet. Ingenuity also gets the LEGO treatment, with a mini build you can make at home.

The co-hosts wind things up with a recommendation from Andy on the upcoming second season of Ted Lasso, which happens to be filmed near him.  Pretty amazing! 

Selected Links

TechCrunch article:  This is your brain on Zoom — https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/21/this-is-your-brain-on-zoom/ 

Insider article: Zoom calls trigger our ‘fight or flight’ survival reflex because we can’t escape the squares of close-up faces — https://www.insider.com/zoom-calls-trigger-fight-or-flight-survival-reflex-study-2021-3 

The Verge article: Put macOS on the iPad, you cowards — https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/22/22396449/apple-ipad-pro-macbook-air-macos-2021 

Wired article: Apple AirTags are about so much more than finding your keys — https://www.wired.co.uk/article/apple-airtag-uwb 

TechCrunch article: The ANYmal inspection robot gives Spot some four-legged competition — https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/21/the-anymal-inspection-robot-gives-spot-some-four-legged-competition/ 

ANYbotics — https://www.anybotics.com 

Plastic Logic post: Plastic Logic’s colour display revolutionizes smart wearables — https://www.plasticlogic.com/2021/04/20/plastic-logics-colour-display-revolutionises-smart-wearables/ 

Slashfilm article: Cool Stuff: LEGO Gives R2-D2 a Makeover with New 2,314-Piece Set for Lucasfilm’s 50th Anniversary — https://www.slashfilm.com/new-r2-d2-lego-set-lucasfilm-50th-anniversary/ 

Space Explored article: How to build your very own LEGO Ingenuity mini-figure — https://spaceexplored.com/2021/04/20/how-to-build-your-very-own-lego-ingenuity-mini-figure/ 

Mashable article: Watch NASA’s helicopter make its historic first flight on Mars — https://mashable.com/video/mars-ingenuity-helicopter-flight/ 

Variety article: ‘Ted Lasso’ Season 2 Trailer Reveals What’s Next for Richmond — https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/ted-lasso-season-2-trailer-release-date-1234955802/ 

PrintsAndRecreation Etsy shop: Obisanya Richmond Jersey — https://www.etsy.com/listing/986037270/ted-lasso-sam-obisanya-richmond-jersey-t 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (28.9MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Podcast Index | Youtube Music | RSS | More

Episode 316 — Omni Metaverse

By | |
Comments Off on Episode 316 — Omni Metaverse
futuristic mixed reality scene
Photo by Drew Graham on Unsplash

3D printing, Metaverse & Omniverse platforms, lightsabers, Mercedes EQS and code for NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter.  This week’s episode with Andy, Michael and Michael has it all.

The team starts off with a story about how surgeons are using 3D models to visualize the planning for their procedures.  Duke takes this one step further – printing out those 3D models.

Epic Games makes news with a $1 Billion (insert Austin Powers meme) funding round to bring their vision for the metaverse to life.  This story, along with Nvidia’s Omniverse Enterprise and the Core multiverse provides ample discussion points for the co-hosts. 

The Cruel World game from the Games that Shouldn’t Be Games Jam gets the next spotlight in the episode, mainly because the players are actively trying to keep the game going, when the mechanics would have indicated the opposite.

Wrapping things up for the episode, The co-hosts discuss the new Mercedes-Benz EQS and NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter, marveling at the screens on the first, and the software bug fixes being sent to the latter.  By the time this episode is posted, Ingenuity may have achieved the first powered flight on another planet.  

Selected Links

DukeStories article: At the Heart of Research and Medicine — https://stories.duke.edu/at-the-heart-of-research-and-medicine 

Epic Games blog: Announcing a $1 Billion Funding Round to Support Epic’s Long-Term Vision for the Metaverse — https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/news/announcing-a-1-billion-funding-round-to-support-epics-long-term-vision-for-the-metaverse 

VentureBeat article: Epic Games raises $1B for long-term metaverse plans, with $200M from Sony — https://venturebeat.com/2021/04/13/epic-games-raises-1-billlion-to-fund-long-term-metaverse-plans/ 

Core — https://www.producthunt.com/posts/a-multiverse-of-games-created-by-you 

VentureBeat article: Nvidia reveals Omniverse Enterprise for simulating products and worlds — https://venturebeat.com/2021/04/12/nvidia-reveals-omniverse-enterprise-for-simulating-products-and-worlds/ 

Erik Brynjolfsson’s Machine Platform Cloud book — https://www.brynjolfsson.com/books 

Vice article: Players Were Meant to Make ‘Cruel World’ Unplayable, Now They’re Saving It — https://www.vice.com/en/article/5dbmmq/players-were-meant-to-make-cruel-world-unplayable-now-theyre-saving-it 

Games that Shouldn’t Be Games Jam — https://itch.io/jam/games-that-shouldnt-be-games-jam 

The Verge article: How Disney’s ‘real’ lightsaber patent actually works — https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/13/22380919/disney-real-lightsaber-patent-star-wars-ben-ridout 

The Verge article: The 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS is a Declaration of Maximum Electric Luxury — https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/11/22375877/mercedes-benz-eqs-ev-s-class-specs-hands-on 

TechCrunch article: All the tech crammed into the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS — https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/15/all-the-tech-crammed-into-the-2022-mercedes-benz-eqs/ 

The Verge article: Ingenuity’s flight on Mars is delayed again as NASA fixes a software bug — https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/13/22381554/ingenuity-mars-first-flight-delayed-nasa-fixes-software-bug 

NASA Science Mars Helicopter Tech Demo — https://mars.nasa.gov/technology/helicopter/# 

Extended remix links for this week

Kotaku article: Hasbro Unveils $700 Self-Transforming Optimus Prime Robot — https://kotaku.com/hasbro-unveils-700-self-transforming-optimus-prime-rob-1846650442 

The Verge article: Google Earth’s historical 3D time lapse shows the ravages of climate change — https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/15/22383964/google-earth-3d-timelapse-climate-change 

The New Yorker article: The Unlikely Rise of the French Tacos — https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/04/19/the-unlikely-rise-of-the-french-tacos 

Boy Genius Report article: Disney might revive a long-lost ‘Star Wars’ show on Disney+ next month — https://bgr.com/entertainment/star-wars-detours-disney-plus-streaming-rumor-release-date-5919006/ 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (23.0MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Podcast Index | Youtube Music | RSS | More

Episode 315 — Reeses McBoatface

By | |
Comments Off on Episode 315 — Reeses McBoatface
Ferry McFerryface from Australia
Photo by AussieActive on Unsplash

Reeses Puffs boat, AI pickup lines, AR map gamification, Doom on SLR & cross stitch, a water-cooled MacBook, clustering Raspberry Pis, classic games on Apple Arcade, advanced math and sneaky games.

Michael, Michael and Andy join forces to take on two weeks’ worth of stories after a much needed break.  Starting things off on a nautical note, the team contemplates the appearance of the Ever Given cargo ship that was blocking the Suez Canal appearing in Microsoft Flight Simulator.  Would make for a great Oculus experience!  Turning to starboard, the Reeses Puffs boat with the self-proclaimed first ever milkcuzzi is sold out.

Having enough of the water, the team moves to dry land.  There they evaluate the latest innovations in AR way finding, and how the process of keeping maps up to date could easily be gamified.  Then, the co-hosts discuss artificial intelligence with an article on how AI is being used to write pick up lines and even write songs.  This spurs a memory of the Music Genome Project, the underlying engine that powers Pandora.  

Next, the team has a couple of fun examples of Doom, both on a camera, and on cross stitch.  Brings new meaning to a photo shoot. 

Then, the team has a more detailed computing hardware discussion, first with a person who water-cooled their MacBook Pro.  Then, Andy shares his latest Raspberry Pi effort, a ClusterHAT setup with PiZeros. Check out the links below, and watch for his tweets on this cool project.

The team then muses on the latest games being added to Apple Arcade.  Winding things up for this episode, Michael, Michael and Andy conclude with the math behind crumpling paper, googly eye dice on Kickstarter, and the upcoming Gollum game.

Share your precious links with the Games at Work team on Twitter @gamesatwork_biz ! 

Selected Links

Gamesradar article: Someone has added the trapped Suez Canal cargo ship to Microsoft Flight Simulator — https://www.gamesradar.com/someone-has-added-the-trapped-suez-cargo-ship-to-microsoft-flight-simulator/ 

Reeses Puffs boat — https://reesespuffs.boats 

TechCruch article: Google Promises better 3D maps — https://techcrunch.com/2021/03/30/google-promises-better-3d-maps 

Vice article: A Scientist Taught AI to Generate Pickup Lines.  The Results are Chaotic. — https://www.vice.com/en/article/z3vjey/artificial-intelligence-ai-pickup-lines

Music Genome Project — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_Genome_Project 

PCGamesN article: Here’s Doom on a digital camera — https://www.pcgamesn.com/doom/camera 

ClusterHAT — https://clusterhat.com 

The PiHut Cluster HAT Case v3.0 — https://thepihut.com/products/cluster-hat-case 

Blink(1) — https://blink1.thingm.com 

TechCrunch article: Daily Crunch: Apple Arcade expands with classic AppStore games — https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/02/apple-expands-apple-arcade-with-classic-app-store-games/  

Fantasian — https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fantasian/id1517339045 

eurogamer.net article: Star Trek: Legends is a fun RPG caught between two worlds — https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-04-08-star-trek-legends-is-a-fun-rpg-caught-between-two-worlds 

Kotaku article: Star Trek Legends Is A Fun Time, Not An Annoying Grind — https://kotaku.com/star-trek-legends-is-a-fun-time-not-an-annoying-grind-1846613885 

Popular Mechanics article: The Math of a Crumpled Piece of Paper Is Insanely Important. No, Seriously. — https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/math/a35913950/crumple-theory-paper-creases/ 

Kickstarter: Googly Eye Dice — https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/theevergreenburrow/googly-eye-dice 

Ocean’s Thirteen — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean%27s_Thirteen 

Slashfilm article: ’The Lord of the Rings: Gollum’ Trailer Stealthily Slinks Around Middle-earth — https://www.slashfilm.com/lord-of-the-rings-gollum-trailer/ 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (27.2MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Podcast Index | Youtube Music | RSS | More