Monday, August 25, 2008

» 30 Essential PDF Documents Every Designer Should Download :: Positive Space :: The Graphic Design Blog

It’s actually 30+ documents, and some are actually templates… nonetheless very useful.

Well it took me a lot longer than I had originally expected but I was able to track down the original links to more than thirty PDF documents that I have collected over the past couple of years. I have personally archived every one of these files due to the high quality of content. No matter what you call them; ebook, white paper, or resource they all contain information that no designer should go without. (In actuality there are more than 30 files however it was a good round number for the title…)

» 30 Essential PDF Documents Every Designer Should Download :: Positive Space :: The Graphic Design Blog

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

I-CubeX Online Store - BioWave v1.2 : Skin surface voltage sensor

Not the best marketing catch-phrase, and the price at > $500 US (not including the transmitter) gets blown away by the NIA, but this still sounds pretty cool.

We don't care what you think - this sensor is mind-boggling. Developed by the inventors of the renowned BioMuse, it captures EEG (brainwaves), EOG (eye movements) and facial EMG (muscle movements). Includes notch filter to reduce power grid noise (50 or 60 Hz). Here is the user guide. Use the BioWave with a wireless Wi-microSystem in all cases to operate conveniently without tether and ensure electrically safe operation (see application notes below).

I-CubeX Online Store - BioWave v1.2 : Skin surface voltage sensor

Infonec Computers - Computer parts Canada, PC Components, laptop computers, motherboards, processors, CPU’s and much more : OCZ NIA Brain Mouse - USB

Infonec out of Markham has the NIA at a cash-discounted price of $149.00.

Is it worth it for 2-3 keys on an input device?  Or should you just go for a Throttle Quadrant with 350 button positions at $125.00?

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Regular price: $153.47. All listed prices are in Canadian fund and before taxes & shipping.

Infonec Computers - Computer parts Canada, PC Components, laptop computers, motherboards, processors, CPU’s and much more : OCZ NIA Brain Mouse - USB

Or go open-source?

http://biomusic.wikidot.com/usb-dux

http://openeeg.sourceforge.net/doc/

http://www.sensorwiki.org/index.php/Sensors#Biosignals

In terms of value for your money and the development effort gone into this, $149.00 seems like a steal.

OCZ NIA Brain-Computer Interface - HotHardware

A very comprehensive review of the OCZ NIA.   Should be interesting for daytraders and gamers alike, and those with repetitive keystroke jobs (enter key anyone?).

According to the article, a grounding strap might be a good add-on.  And a sweatband.

And it isn’t going to replace the mouse just yet.  Like the Dvorak keyboard, it might be more efficient, but if nobody knows how to use it the chances of mainstream adoption are going to be slim.

Overall, the NIA is no where near as convenient as traditional input methods. Often, a significant amount of preparation is required before using the NIA, although setup never took more than 2-5 minutes. We didn't feel the extra preparation was unbearable, but it does become a bit annoying when all you want to do is frag some people with your mind (and face and eyes).

OCZ NIA Brain-Computer Interface - HotHardware

Microsoft Flight Simulator - a knol by Felipe Bachian

What’s a knol?  It’s a new beta application from Google which allows you to be the “expert” on a subject and write an article.  Similar to Wikipedia, though it focuses more on a single unit of knowledge (knol) rather than a comprehensive encyclopedia definition. 

It is also a forum for advertising through creating articles for products or services  (unless you are in Cuba, Iran, Burma (Myanmar), North Korea, Syria, or Sudan of course!)

Here’s a snippet from one knol.

Bruce Artwick developed the Flight Simulator program beginning in 1977 and his company, subLOGIC sold it for various personal computers. In 1982 Artwick's company licensed to Microsoft a version of Flight Simulator for the IBM PC, which was marketed as Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.00. Microsoft CEO Bill Gates was fascinated with Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's Night Flight, which described the sensations of flying a small aircraft in great detail.

Microsoft Flight Simulator - a knol by Felipe Bachian