HTC Vive, HTC and Valve’s VR headset collab, was supposed to be the first major headset release, followed by the Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR in early 2016. But HTC just posted via Facebook an update stating the commercial headset will be delayed until April. No reason as to why, but regardless, the wait continues.
Tuesday, 8 December 2015
SANTA - Just hanging around. (Face Recognition #2)
To do this I expanded old and wrote new code to detect faces.
Under the hood I am able to detect a face, the amount of faces looking at the screen, the general distance of the person(s) and their position(s). With a little math and knowing the position of the camera it will be able to accurate determine the distance and height of a person looking at the camera.
This is useful for determining whether it's an adult or small child doing the looking.
In this example, which can be left running, Santa is just existing. He will do random things, dance, run about, complain, tell the time etc but whenever someone actually pays attention to him, he will run up to the screen and look that person in the eye. If the person gets very close, he will lean in closer to the camera himself making full eye contact. He'll likely say something amusing, do a wiggle, wave or point. Most likely he'll say a big Merry Christmas.
I spent a little time creating this for a couple of reasons. Obviously the time of year, but also this will add another form of interaction to our apps. Making them engaging and magnetic. It was part of the work I had planned in my original manifesto and now we can can create characters, even historical ones, that will animate and actually look at the children. Perhaps in time even take its cues from them.
This technology has existed using more complex cameras such as a 3D Kinect but rarely with a simple webcam.
Again I will add to the code over time. And a character might soon be able to ask questions, spot a shake of the head or a nod, even a smile or other emotion.
In short, this is just a fun piece but the technology opens up new avenues for us.
This can even work through an actual window playing on a big screen!
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| Santa : Chillin' |
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| If the user gets too close, so will Santa! |
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| Santa having a chat |
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| Occasionally, he'll knock on the screen, looking for attention |
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| If Santa gets ignored he'll march off mumbling to himself |
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| Santa's hobbies include : Breakdancing... |
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| ..Handstands... |
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| And Disco Music. |
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| He will also announce the time, every hour, with a Merry Christmas or little jingle of bells. |
Under the hood, Santa's brain is actually a little more complex than you might imagine!
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| Santa's free will. Or not. It gets very philosophical in here. |
And this is how he sounds. I went a big Gandalf in places...
TASKMASTER ROCKET - UPDATE | ALSO WHERE TO PUT THINGS?!?!?
Quick note:
The Taskmaster Game has reached enough stability to call it Version 1. I will bring this in on Thursday.
In the near future I will be making this even more solid, keeping better records, reading external files and so on.
I will also be adding collectables and bonuses. And I'm thinking for the TaskMaster lists to make collectable 'alien cards' showing pictorial (or animated) reminders of the meaning of each word. These are very quick to do.
Remember, this is only ONE game that can use the TaskMaster lists. The same lists can be used in any other type of game and I have some more of those planned.
On top of this, the LISTS CAN BE CHANGED TOO. So one game can be used to revise nearly any subject. And any one subject can be revised using multiple games! Get bored with the rocket? Race the car, avoid the asteroids, clear out the zombies etc.
Comments are extremely valuable about how you would like to see these games progress, reward systems, editability, power-ups, mnemonics, troubles areas... anything.
We also need a good way of sharing files. Some of which are quite large. Google Drive is how I am sharing at the moment but the loops and hoops that need to be jumped through are annoying for the adults and too confusing for the children. If I am going to supply games and apps it would need to be done with simple links. Once click = download.
I am looking into options
The Taskmaster Game has reached enough stability to call it Version 1. I will bring this in on Thursday.
In the near future I will be making this even more solid, keeping better records, reading external files and so on.
I will also be adding collectables and bonuses. And I'm thinking for the TaskMaster lists to make collectable 'alien cards' showing pictorial (or animated) reminders of the meaning of each word. These are very quick to do.
Remember, this is only ONE game that can use the TaskMaster lists. The same lists can be used in any other type of game and I have some more of those planned.
On top of this, the LISTS CAN BE CHANGED TOO. So one game can be used to revise nearly any subject. And any one subject can be revised using multiple games! Get bored with the rocket? Race the car, avoid the asteroids, clear out the zombies etc.
Comments are extremely valuable about how you would like to see these games progress, reward systems, editability, power-ups, mnemonics, troubles areas... anything.
We also need a good way of sharing files. Some of which are quite large. Google Drive is how I am sharing at the moment but the loops and hoops that need to be jumped through are annoying for the adults and too confusing for the children. If I am going to supply games and apps it would need to be done with simple links. Once click = download.
I am looking into options
Monday, 7 December 2015
Cheap as PI
In Brief
Raspberry Pi just unveiled the Raspberry Pi Zero, a fully functional computer board that costs only $5.
Next to Nothing
British tech company, Raspberry Pi just unveiled its newest model—a 6.5cm by 3cm, fully functional computer board that sell for only $5. Dubbed Raspberry Pi Zero, the device packs half a gigabyte of memory with provisions for a MicroSD slot for additional storage, a mini HDMI port, and a processor that is 40% faster than its predecessor.
“The original Raspberry Pi Model B and its successors put a programmable computer within reach of anyone with $20–35 to spend … At the start of this year, we began work on an even cheaper Raspberry Pi to help these people take the plunge,” the company said in an article published on their blog.
Similar to other computers developed by Raspberry Pi, the machine runs on Raspbian, which is a version of the popular Linux operating system specifically built for the company. The Raspberry Pi Zero can easily run applications such as Minecraft or the programming tool Scratch.
Cost of Technology
“Of all the things we do at Raspberry Pi, driving down the cost of computer hardware remains one of the most important. Even in the developed world, a programmable computer is a luxury item for a lot of people, and every extra dollar that we ask someone to spend decreases the chance that they’ll choose to get involved.”
The Raspberry Pi Zero’s cost makes it possible for more people, and kids especially, to learn and develop actual computing solutions to problems. Anchored by a real operating system, this new computer is paving the way for young minds across the world to develop and understand IT.
Currently, the machine is available for sale in the UK and US.
A safe fun drone. (About time!)
In Brief
Fleye features an innovative soccer-ball shaped design that does away with exposed blades and adds autonomous flight capabilities.
The World’s Safest Drone
Fleye is a personal flying robot from a Belgium-based startup that features a very innovative design. Its developers are calling it “the world’s safest drone.” It has the shape and weight of a typical soccer ball and is designed in such a way that it’s safe to touch it while it’s in mid-flight.
But of course, it’s not just for flying about randomly—it sports an on-board dual-core computer and an HD camera that can shoot 1080p video at 30fps, oh and also take 5 megapixel photos.
It can be flown remotely or with pre-programmed “missions” that allow autonomous flight. These “missions” include a Selfie mode, Panorama, and Manual, which allows users to program a route for Fleye.
Fleye can also be programmed to execute mission autonomously, reacting to what it sees in its environment. This means that, if a person or other object crosses its path, the little guy can move to avoid it.
It also have a number of different operation methods. It can be controlled using either the virtual gamepad in its iOS and Android apps, or with a bluetooth gamepad.
Worried that it will come crashing back down right after takeoff or that you won’t be able t go anywhere exciting? Ultimately, a single charge keeps it in the air for 10 minutes. That may not get you to the next town or anything, but Fleye can reach a top speed of up to 16 km/h (10 mph), so it won’t exactly be tied to your house either.
Kickstarter
Fleye is the brainchild of electrical engineer Laurent Eschenauer and aerospace engineer Dimitri Arendt, and recently launched a Kickstarter campaign with a €175,000 funding goal. To date, they have reached well over $88,000, and they have only just begun. Ultimately, the project still has 38 days to go.
The team plans to start shipping out drones by September of next year.
Wednesday, 2 December 2015
JAVASCRIPT FOR KIDS
JavaScript for Kids is for kids, but also for adults who don't know anything about coding and want to learn. The author, Nick Morgan, is a front-end programmer at Twitter, and he does a great job of clearly presenting programming concepts like data types, control structures, functions strings, arrays, loops. Nothing is dumbed down. You'll also learn jQuery to make interactive web pages, and Canvas to create graphics. Along the way you'll write several computer games.
Infographic Porn
Really beautiful. If they made one for our timezone I would have one on my wall.
I once made a 75 year calendar like this but nothing near the intricacy.
http://gizmodo.com/explore-our-cosmic-neighborhood-with-this-gorgeous-scie-1743863083
I once made a 75 year calendar like this but nothing near the intricacy.
http://gizmodo.com/explore-our-cosmic-neighborhood-with-this-gorgeous-scie-1743863083
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