Technabob » Video

Slinky on a Treadmill Cannot Be Stopped

Shane McGlaun — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:00:39 +0000

Back when I was growing up, Slinkies were actually made from metal. I got up to more than a little mischief with my Slinky, after discovering if you threw that spring at your little brother just right, it would wrap around his head and get stuck. I was my own superhero wielding a Slinky and lassoing the bad guys. It was also cool that the Slinky could walk down the stairs should ever need to escape the fiendish clutches of little bro.

Most of the Slinkies I see today aren’t the same. Being made from plastic, they don’t seem to walk down stairs as well. A geek with a real metal Slinky and an old ragged out treadmill decided to play with a simple, yet epic idea. He started the treadmill to rolling at an angle, and let the Slinky start walking and videoed the result.

Naturally, video ended up on YouTube with all the Slinky walking action. A few times the slinky appeared ready to jump off out of exhaustion, but the little metal guy kept on walking, and never gave up. Check out the video for yourself, and prepare to be mesmerized for the next 3+ minutes.

[via JWZ via BoingBoing]

Users Upload 72 Hours of (Cat) Videos per Minute to YouTube

Shane McGlaun — Tue, 22 May 2012 17:30:11 +0000

YouTube is crazy popular. One of these days, Google will figure out how to make more money off those videos and generate metric tons of income. Until then it’s a place we can go to look at videos people post up of things as mundane as their daily breakfast or as exciting as car crashes and cats playing musical instruments.

And there’s no end in sight to volume of content being produced. Over the last year, video uploads to YouTube have grown 50%. According to the streaming video site, approximately 72 hours of video is uploaded every minute compared to 48 hours of video uploaded each minute just one year ago. To put things in perspective, back in 2007, only six hours of video was uploaded to the site each minute. I wonder how much it costs Google to run YouTube, streaming that much video has to have massive bandwidth costs.

[via Gigaom]

TOUCHY Human Camera: The Truman Show IRL, Only Bulkier

Range — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:00:53 +0000

Are you using your smartphone to Instagram and Tweet photos all over the place? Get into the 21st century, thanks to TOUCHY, Eric Siu’s wearable camera that captures images from the perspective of its wearer.

Eric Siu, from Hong Kong, has conceived a new kind of tactile camera and he’s named it TOUCHY. It was developed while he was a resident artist at the Ishikawa Oku Laboratory at the University of Tokyo in Japan. The TOUCHY camera sits on top of the user’s head, blocking out his sight with oversize shutters until another person activates it. Only while the wearer is touched will the camera capture images, once every ten seconds, leaving them blind when not touched by another human.

Think of TOUCHY more as a social experiment than an actual product concept. The device itself is quite bulky and rather ridiculous looking, but it definitely makes you think about how we broadcast our lives on the web, thanks to smartphones, at the same time being more and more self-absorbed in our gadgets while we walk around.

[via designboom]

Guy Creates Star Trek Phaser, Sets It to Stun… a Balloon

Conner Flynn — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:30:38 +0000

We are well on our way toward a real working Star Trek phaser with a stun setting as evidenced by the video below. This guy created a working phaser in his garage and it is amazing. He gets -2 points for not drawing a Klingon face on that balloon that he kills, but that’s okay because he gets +10 for complete awesomeness.

It looks like this homemade phaser was made by combining a classic Star Trek phaser casing with a powerful blue laser unit. It’s a good bet that it is the laser module from a PlayStation 3 Blu-ray drive. At least that’s what some are speculating. So does popping a balloon qualify as a real stun setting?

Look, the balloon popped. I’m willing to bet that if you had been hit by that beam, you would have screamed and dropped to the floor like a Ferengi losing a latinum fortune. It would have at least hurt you a little. We aren’t sure if the sound is part of the weapon or added later, but it completes the effect.

[via Geek]

Mini Cannon Opens a Bottle of Beer with a Boom

Conner Flynn — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 01:00:40 +0000

You don’t need huge weapons to make impressive explosions. Take this Pocket Artillery mini cannon for example. It’s tiny and armed only with a BB, but when it shoots a bottle of Corona, the results are impressive.

We all like to watch things blow up. There’s something oddly intriguing about destruction. Maybe it reminds us of how fragile life and everything else is. Then again, maybe destruction is just plain fun. Check out this video and you will see what I mean.

There’s something oddly fascinating about how this bottle explodes and the cannon boom is pretty impressive too. Just put this Corona bottle inside of a glass and that’s how real men pour a drink. The glass shards? They just put hair on your chest.

[via Obvious Winner]

Death from Above: Quadcopter Modified to Carry Machine Gun

Conner Flynn — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 20:00:28 +0000

You probably already know the FPSRussia YouTube channel from their many videos of carnage showing a nice Russian-sounding guy using different weapons. His latest video may be the best yet. In this one, he isn’t even holding a weapon. Instead, a remote-controlled quadcopter named “Charlene” is doing the shooting.

There aren’t many details on this quadrotor, but we know that it’s a prototype unit that was either modified from a standard quadcopter or actually a work in progress for use by the military. There’s a camera in front and underneath is a deadly machine gun. That said, there’s plenty of suspicion that this thing is a fake, and just a promotion for the next Call of Duty game.

Charlene is controlled using a tablet with the view configured to also act as a target reticule for the gun. It seems to have great accuracy. All I can say is, it’s a good thing we don’t see this thing in our skies. It would be the last thing we see.[via Geek]

Bird Man Video Maker Admits It Was Fake

Shane McGlaun — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 22:30:47 +0000

I want to get this off my chest off the top: You bird man, you bastard you! Now that that is out of the way, Dutch filmmaker and animator Floris Kaayk has admitted that video that went viral earlier this week of a man claiming to fly with bird-like wings was a fake. The man doesn’t call it a lie or fake but rather “a media art project” and he worked on it with a media production company called Revolver.

The filmmakers came clean on the Dutch TV show called Wereld Draait Door. The video was very well made and the video makers even set up social networking background for the fake wing builder, Jarno Smeets. The fakers set up Facebook, twitter, and LinkedIn accounts for Smeets – all in an attempt to lend more credibility to the video, and it worked very well.

I can’t say that I’m surprised the video was fake. After all, the segment in which he was flying in the air looked pretty unreal. I can’t say that I’m not disappointed it’s fake though. I really wanted it to be possible. What do you think about videos like this that go to extremes to convince people they are real, only to come back later and say “haha, fooled you?” Fun and games, or lying bastards?

[via Fox News]

10 Hours of Darth Vader Breathing

Conner Flynn — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 22:00:47 +0000

Some people do yoga, others meditate or build Lego sets. Humans have many different ways to relax. Here’s a new way to get in your zen place – Listening to 10 hours of Darth Vader’s breathing.

Oddly enough, it seems pretty relaxing. Sounds like Vader sleeping really. If the Lord of the Sith had a wife, this is what she would hear all night, sleeping beside him. So, if you find yourself wound up too tight and stressing out, close your eyes and listen to this 10 hour video. Take some deep even breaths. It will calm you right down.

Vader should actually sell this under the name, “The Soothing Sounds of the Sith”. Maybe he could become some sort of New Age calming coach. Yoda’s breathing doesn’t calm anyone down, so who’s really the master?

[via Obvious Winner]

Luke Doesn’t Stand a Chance Against the Almighty Wampug

Conner Flynn — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:00:21 +0000

You would be forgiven for thinking that the following video is George Lucas’ latest attempt to re-edit Empire Strikes Back, but it’s not. Lucas could never create something so cute. His idea of cute is Jar-Jar and little annoying Anakin. Chubbs the Pug dog makes a much better actor.

Yeah, so basically somebody dressed up their pug (named Chubbs) as the Wampa from Hoth and shot a short film. A film which I would now like to see extended and fleshed out. I could watch this dog eating a Tauntaun and harassing Luke Skywalker for hours.

What other characters can we replace with cute little dogs? All of the Ewoks certainly. Definately Jar-Jar. Chewbacca for sure. Someone make this happen. I want an all-dog cast of the Star Wars saga on my desk by next week. Go.

[via Geeks are Sexy]

Puffer Fish Forced to Chase Laser Pointer at Gunpoint

Conner Flynn — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 22:00:01 +0000

I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of seen cats and dogs play with laser pointers. You’ve probably toyed with your own pet with a laser pointer and tormented them at some point. Animals go crazy for it. They just love to chase the light. And the silly buggers even think they can catch it somehow. It’s about time that fish got in on the action.

This video shows a puffer fish being forced to chase a laser pointer attached to some sort of a gun. That’s all we know for sure, as the weapon can be seen at the beginning, with the laser pointer attached. What kind of sick mind forces a fish to do this?

The dumb fish doesn’t care of course. He just doesn’t want a cap popped in his fin – or he thinks it’s some sort of glowing worm he can eat. As soon as he starts playing, he probably forgets about the gun anyway, because fish are (don’t hate me for saying this marine biologists)… kinda stupid.

[via VVV via Geekosystem]

Borderlands 2 Launch Date Trailer Will Make You Joy Puke Your Face Off

Conner Flynn — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:07 +0000

Borderlands was a very enjoyable game. I felt it had some problems, but I had a ton of fun playing it. That said, Borderlands 2 looks like it kicks things up a few notches, and builds upon what the first game got right.

This Launch Date announcement trailer is sick! Like the trailer says “Get ready to joy puke your face off!” Just watch the video and you will understand. This game looks freaking amazing. There are more huge guns, more huge creatures and more ass-kicking all around. You get a new ride, new characters, new skills and a whole lot more. The game will have the campaign mode of course, along with a four-player co-op mode and split-screen.

Vault hunting has never looked so insane. Borderlands 2 should arrive on September 18th, and you can pre-order it now over on Amazon. Having watched the video, I now can not wait to play this game.

“Inception Park” in Buenos Aires: One Wild Ride

Hazel Chua — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:00:16 +0000

Inception was both an eye-opening and mind-opening movie, although it was mostly and obviously fiction. Floating people and objects will never become a reality unless somethings gone awry with gravity. But then again – is it possible?

It apparently is, at least in the mind of film director Fernando Livschitz of Black Sheep Films. He created this captivating video called Inception Park where you’ll see a rollercoaster “flying” on an exhilarating ride through the streets of Buenos Aires, Argentina – completely untethered. Watch the video below for a truly trippy ride:

How Livschitz did it, we can only guess. (Sure, we know he did it using video editing software and by adding lots of effects, but exactly how to do it is what I meant.)

[via Pop Up City]

Love Box iPhone Analog Video Mixer: Done with Mirrors

Range — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:00:57 +0000

The Love Box is an analog video mixer for iPhones and it’s not an app or add-on, nor is it filled with complex buttons and dials. Nope, it’s a box with some mirrors. That’s all there is to it.

The Love Box was created by the Honest & Smile agency in Barcelona, Spain and it was conceived for a documentary film as a simple way of capturing both sides of a conversation in a single shot, using an iPhone. It’s a wooden box which pops open to reveal a tray inside. It’s got a slot for an iPhone, and a carefully positioned mirror which you line up about 1/2 way in front of the camera’s lens. It requires a little fiddling with the angle to get it just right, but once set, it allows you to shoot split-screen videos and stills.

It’s definitely an interesting idea, but you’ll have to shell out €58 (~$78 USD) on Etsy for what amounts to a few blocks of wood and a small mirror positioned in the right spot. I suppose if you’re the DIY type, you could make your own if you don’t want to spend the money.

[via Wired]

Reel Doozy Adds Santa (or Keenan Cahill) to Your Holiday Movies

Shane McGlaun — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 23:00:02 +0000

If you have kids and they’re anything like mine, they are apt to bust out singing and dancing at any given moment to some sort of soundtrack in their heads. One episode of Dancing with the Stars, my daughter danced with her cat and after a talk about how kitty’s legs don’t move like our arms, poor ol’ Cutie still fears music.

The point is, I end up with a lot of video of my kids doing weird things dancing around. I bet most parents have a bunch of that stuff too. If you want to turn some of those dancing videos into holiday vids you can share, Reel Doozy is a new iOS app that will let you. The app uses green screen tech to superimpose Santa, elves, or that Keenan Cahill kid from YouTube in the video dancing with you.

The app lets you upload the videos you make to YouTube, Facebook, and email them as well. The app is free and you can get the first four video foregrounds free as well. Grab the app on the iTunes App Store now if you want.

Vending Machine Gets See-Through Touchscreen, Facial Recognition Tech

Technabob — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:00:52 +0000

If recent developments are any indication, I think we’re on the precipice of a whole new era in vending machines. Thanks to modern technology, these mechanical devices are about to get an upgrade. Here’s one new concept design which adds a large touchscreen to the front of the machine to help you with your transactions.

Developed by Sanden, in cooperation with Okaya Electronics and Intel, this concept vending machine has a 65-inch full HD vertical display on front. The transparent touchscreen display can not only show animated graphics, but provides product information and merchandising, and even acts as a clock while waiting for its next customer.

The prototype machine even offers facial recognition technology so it could display customized menus based on the individual user as they walk by. And if it doesn’t know you, it can display products based on what demographic it THINKS you fit into based on your age or gender. How Minority Report of them.

[via DigInfo.TV]

YouTube Passes 20 Billion Views a Month in the U.S. (19.9 Billion Were of Cats)

Conner Flynn — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:30:58 +0000

As if there were any doubt that YouTube is the heavyweight champion of video streaming, here are some new numbers that will illustrate the point very effectively. According to comScore, in October 2011, YouTube accounted for 49.1% of all videos watched on the web in the US. That sure is a lot of cat videos.

It’s estimated that 42.6 billion videos were viewed online in the U.S. in October, with 20.9 billion served up by Google’s video juggernaut. VEVO took second place with 827 million, and Hulu came in third with 791 million.

What about unique viewers who watched videos? You might expect Facebook to be the big winner, but no. Again YouTube took the lead, beating Facebook by triple with 161 million unique views, versus 59.8 million on Facebook. And the average amount of video viewed per person was a staggering 7 hours. Remember these stats are just for the U.S. The company’s overall stats are much higher.

[via Search Engine Land via geek]

uWave Microwave Lets You Watch Youtube Videos While You Wait for Your Food

Conner Flynn — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 22:00:55 +0000

This isn’t the first microwave that I’ve seen with built in YouTube capabilities, but it is the latest attempt. The idea is that human life has become so saturated with mindless content, that we can’t even cook a meal without being entertained.

This microwave will play YouTube videos while your food cooks. It does so by matching your cooking time with the highest rated YouTube video of the same length.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

The uWave was created by a team of University of Pennsylvania students who were competing in the PennApps hackathon. The team used a tablet computer and some clever coding in order to get it to match the cooking time with YouTube videos. If that’s not enough, the uWave also sends you a text message when your food is done, and Tweets that you’ve used it too.

So, now humans will never be without a cat video or a text message, even when nuking a bag of popcorn. Humanity marches on… Then walks straight into a pole because they were too busy entertaining themselves.

[via Hack A Day via Thatsnerdalicious]

Help Me Obi Wan Kenobi – 3D Holographic Displays Get Real

Technabob — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 23:00:15 +0000

If you’ve ever wondered when the holographic projector that R2-D2 used to deliver Princess Leia’s message would actually be real, that time appears to be now. This new display technology allows for images to be displayed in mid-air, using a rapidly moving laser beam.

Developed by Japan’s Burton, Inc., and based on technologies from AIST and Keio University, this 3D display can display images not just in the air, but underwater too. The system uses “by focusing laser light to produce plasma excitation from the oxygen and nitrogen in the air.” It’s capable of producing about 50,000 dots per second at a frame rate of somewhere around 10-15 fps. While their demonstration uses simple geometric shapes and words, I think they should replace the image with Princess Leia.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

I wonder if this technology would fit inside an astromech droid.

[via DigInfo.TV]

Honda’s New ASIMO Robot Shows Off

Conner Flynn — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 22:00:05 +0000

Honda has been busy, and not on new versions of the Civic or Accord. Today, the company has unveiled their new ASIMO robot, improving upon the 10 year-old design. Now ASIMO can kick balls, (hopefully not human male’s) hop on a single leg and it can even predict the direction a person will walk, so that it can avoid collisions with the person.

This new robot also has a much improved intelligence and can adapt to situations. He still can’t sign autographs.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Of course he can still do all of the things that he used to as well, which includes running and stealing the show at whatever events he attends as well as open a thermos and pour a drink. That last should come in handy on Jabba’s Sail Barge, should he ever decide to infiltrate and rescue his friends.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

[via TechCrunch via Geeky Gadgets]

Darwin-OP Robot Likes Beer, Needs Counseling

Conner Flynn — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:00:52 +0000

Darwin has a problem. The first step to dealing with the problem is admitting that he has one, which he won’t do. He likes the drink too much. When he doesn’t get it, well, he hurts those around him.

It’s all in the video. I hope they played it back for him during an intervention. You see, in the video, Darwin-OP is offered two beers by a pair of abusive enablers. One is a Bud Light and the other is Tecate. You can see that he is already “not okay”. He is clearly suffering some withdrawal symptoms and he’s probably shaking a little too. Yet his tormentors continue.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Whenever presented with the Tecate, he’s like transfixed. His eyes follow it everywhere. He wants some of that liquid crack. It’s maddening. He runs to it and just stands over it as if saying, “My precious”. One of the laughing enablers picks him up by the neck and he is still running toward that sweet nectar. Running in the air! Darwin has it bad.

Finally the little bot can’t take it anymore. He has had enough. If he can’t have that joy juice, nobody will have it. He starts kicking the can, all pissed off. I don’t blame him. Poor little guy needs him some rehab.

This is why you don’t give robots booze.

[Trossen Robotics via Youtube]