Saturday, December 29, 2012

Fwd: 3D CineCast

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "3D CineCast" <olivier.amato@itbroadcastanddigitalcinema.com>
Date: Dec 29, 2012 4:04 AM
Subject: 3D CineCast
To: <john.sokol@gmail.com>

3D CineCast


Google's New VP9 Video Technology Reaches Public View

Posted: 29 Dec 2012 01:05 AM PST

VP9, the successor to Google's VP8 video compression technology at the center of a techno-political controversy, has made its first appearance outside Google's walls.

Google has built VP9 support into Chrome, though only in an early-stage version of the browser for developers. In another change, it also added support for the new Opus audio compression technology that's got the potential to improve voice communications and music streaming on the Internet.

VP9 and Opus are codecs, technology used to encode streams of data into compressed form then decode them later, enabling efficient use of limited network or storage capacity. Peter Beverloo, a developer on Google's Chrome team, pointed out the new codec support in a blog post earlier this month.

Releasing VP9 gives Google a chance to improve the video-streaming performance and improve other aspects of VP8. That's important in competing with today's prevailing video compression technology, H.264, and with a successor called H.265 or HEVC that also has the potential to be attract broad support across the electronics and computing industry with better compression performance.

Codecs might seem an uninteresting nuts-and-bolts aspect of computing, but they actually ignite fierce debates that pit those who like H.264's convenience and quality against those who like that Google offers VP for free use.

H.264 is used in videocameras, Blu-Ray discs, YouTube, and more. But most organizations using it must pay patent royalties to a group called MPEG LA that licenses H.264-related patents on behalf of their many owners.

Google has tried to spur adoption of VP8 instead, which it's released for royalty-free use. One major area: online video built into Web pages through the HTML5 standard.

However, VP8 hasn't dented H.264's dominance, and VP8 allies failed in an attempt to specify VP8 as the way to handle online video. As a result, HTML5 video can be invoked in a standard way, but Web developers can't easily be assured that a browser can properly decode the video in question. Internet Explorer and Safari support H.264 video, Firefox and Opera support VP8 video, and Chrome supports both codecs.

Google had tried to encourage VP8 adoption by pledging in 2011 to remove H.264 support from Chrome, but it reversed course and left the support in. Mozilla, several of whose members were bitter about Google's reversal, has since begun adapting Firefox so it can use H.264 when the operating system supports it. Windows 7 and 8, Apple's OS X and iOS, and Google's Android all have H.264 support built in.

One cloud that's hung over VP8 is the possibility that others besides Google would demand royalty payments for patented technology it uses. Indeed, MPEG LA requested such organizations come forth as it considered adding VP8 licensing program, and it said last year that 12 organizations have said they have patents essential to VP8 use.

But it's been nearly two years since MPEG LA issued started seeking VP8-related patents, and the organization still hasn't offered a license.

The VP8 and VP9 codecs have their origins at On2 Technologies, a company Google acquired for $123 million. Google and assorted allies combined VP8 with the freely usable Vorbis audio codec to form a streaming-video technology called WebM.

By Stephen Shankland, CNET
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Thursday, December 06, 2012

Fwd: Revolve Robotics' debut robotic telepresence iPad stand Kubi is NOW LIVE on Indiegogo!



Begin forwarded message:

From: Marcus Rosenthal <marcus@revolverobotics.com>
Date: December 6, 2012, 5:03:47 AM PST
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: Revolve Robotics' debut robotic telepresence iPad stand Kubi is NOW LIVE on Indiegogo!

Hi friends,

We're excited to announce that our Kubi project is now live on Indiegogo! 

Kubi is the easy-to-use robotic platform we designed to enhance the video calling experience and other telepresence applications on tablets like the iPad.  A web-controlled, robotic iPad stand, Kubi means "neck" in Japanese and lets you look around and interact with remote environments during video calls.  We have created intuitive controls that operate effortlessly with Skype, FaceTime and other video calling applications so you can control your Kubi from across the globe, elevating video calls to a more natural, interactive experience.

Kubis are available for pre-order through our Indiegogo project from December 6 until January 16. Visit our project page and watch a video of Kubi in action, learn more about our product design, development and company! 

For those of you who have been waiting, we have a limited release of Kubis available for pre-order with a special early bird offer of $199 ($50 discount!).

We are so grateful for all your support during development stages and are thrilled for the opportunity to take Kubi from prototype to product in your home and beyond!

Please help spread the word by sharing with your friends and colleagues.

Thanks you for your support,

Marcus Rosenthal & Ilya Polyakov
Co-founders
Revolve Robotics
415-735-5502


Wednesday, December 05, 2012

Drivers file lawsuit over NYC red-light cameras - WSJ.com

It is worth noting similar cases have been brought on the West Coast. It had been blogged here.

http://online.wsj.com/article/AP1431c98f812642ea9bc8a330898e23a9.html

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Friday, November 23, 2012

The Vision Gyroscope

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g4hBwgGNX0

Estimates angular velocities solely by means of image processing. Operates under a large variety of conditions and matches or even outperforms current MEMS gyroscopes in terms of accuracy, responsiveness and resource consumption.


Monday, November 12, 2012

3D-Bee Diamond

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "VEFXi - Creator of the 3D-Bee" <media@vefxi.com>
Date: Nov 12, 2012 6:22 PM
Subject: One Day Sale: 3D-Bee Diamond only $249!
To: <john.sokol@gmail.com>

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

One Day Sale: 3D-Bee Diamond Only $249!

This is hot! 3D-Bee Diamonds are 50% off for one day only, Nov. 13, 2012 in tandem with the game release Call of Duty, Black Ops II. Take advantage today!

50% off 3D-Bee Diamond
50% off 3D-Bee Diamond

About VEFXi:

VEFXi is the leading developer of the highest quality realtime 2D to 3D converters in ten hardware market segments and six service markets. VEFXi products are also utilized by several movie studios as the technology of choice for 3D conversion. VEFXi is uniquely positioned to advance 3D technologies with its current and future product lines. VEFXi is headquartered in Portland, Oregon. To learn more visit http://www.vefxi.com .

Learn more about VEFXi's cutting edge technology.

Forward email

This email was sent to john.sokol@gmail.com by media@vefxi.com |  

VEFXi - Creator of the 3D-Bee | PO Box 860 | North Plains | OR | 97133

Fwd: Optrix Expands Video Capturing Capabilities with New Accessories for XD Sports Case

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Pedro Chen" <pedrochen@maxborgesagency.com>
Date: Nov 12, 2012 11:18 AM
Subject: Optrix Expands Video Capturing Capabilities with New Accessories for XD Sports Case
To: <john.sokol@gmail.com>

Optrix Expands Video Capturing Capabilities with New Accessories for XD Sports Case
Selection by iStabilizer includes the Glidepro video stabilizer, rugged Dolly, extendable Monopod and Tripod Flex

Marin, CA – November 12, 2012 – Optrix, designer of action sports video cases for smartphones, in partnership with iStabilizer, announces the availability of accessories customized for the acclaimed XD Sport Wide-Angle action case.  Designed to transform the iPhone 4, 4S and iPod Touch into an extreme wide-lens camera, the XD Sport adds the Glidepro handheld video stabilizer, rugged flexible Dolly, extendable Monopod and Flex Tripod to it's stable of accessories and mounts.

"Although the XD Sports Case is military grade and rugged enough to withstand almost any condition, it is also the perfect iPhone case for photography enthusiasts," said John Willenborg, founder of Optrix.  "Our new line of accessories gives both photography novices and professionals even more options to capture their memories while keeping their device safe."

Product Highlights:

Glidepro – Hand Stabilizer
-    Ideal to capture smooth and steady videos anywhere
-    Eliminates the shakes typically associated with hand-held filming
-    Utilizes same technology found in professional filmmaking equipment

Dolly – Flexible Roller
-    Ideal for tracking shots, time lapse, artistic work and capturing travel videos
-    Large wheels provide smooth movement
-    11" adjustable arm allows for unique angles and positions

Monopod
– Extendable Arm
-    Ideal for self-portraits, high/low angles, self-videos and POV shots
-    Extendable arm provides access to hard to reach camera angles and positions
-    Lightweight portable design extends up to 3 ft

Flex
– Flexible Tripod
-    Ideal for usage from unique angles, including poles, tree branches and more
-    Flexible legs secure your XD Sport to virtually any surface
-    Compact size makes it a perfect travel companion

Optrix's new accessories are available individually or in bundles at www.optrix.com.  The Optrix XD Sport action sports case can be found at select Apple, Best Buy and Target stores; and online at Apple.com, Bestbuy.com and www.optrix.com

For additional information about Optrix, visit our website or contact PR representative Pedro Chen at 305-374-4404 x139, PedroChen@maxborgesagency.com.

About Optrix
Optrix is a designer of military grade action sports video cases for iPhone 4, 4S and iPod Touch that enables capturing in all environments while taking advantage of the iPhone 4S interface and advanced video capabilities.  Optrix's team of extreme sports athletes includes race car drivers, skateboarders, mountain bikers and surfers, and is committed to becoming the leading provider of extreme filming smartphone cases.

About iStabilizer:
Based in Park City, Utah, iStabilizer designs universal smartphone mounts that allow users to create professional, high quality photos and videos. With their lightweight and compact tripods, dollies, steady cams and mounts, iStabilizer helps amateurs and professionals alike, turn ordinary camera work into extraordinary works of art. iStabilizer's team of highly motivated creative individuals are committed to providing the highest level of product performance and service, for many years to come.

Media Contact
Pedro Chen
Sr. Account Manager
Max Borges Agency
(305) 374-4404 x139
PedroChen@maxborgesagency.com

###
 
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Sunday, November 11, 2012

Jury says journalist arrested while videotaping police is not guilty


Jury says journalist arrested while videotaping police is not guilty

Police Major Nancy Perez, moments before she arrested Miller on January 31, 2012.

A jury acquitted a Florida photojournalist who was arrested on January 31while documenting the eviction of Occupy Miami protesters. The police accused Carlos Miller, author of a popular blog about the rights of photojournalists, of disobeying a lawful police order to clear the area. But another journalist testified he had been standing nearby without incident.

After Miller's January arrest, the police confiscated his camera and deleted some of his footage, including video documenting his encounter with the police. That may prove to be an expensive mistake. Miller was able to recover the footage, which proved helpful in winning his acquittal. He says his next step will be to file a lawsuit charging that the deletion of the footage violated his constitutional rights.

"I was questioning their orders. That's what I do"

The one-day trial occurred on Wednesday. In a Thursday interview, Miller told us that the prosecution accused him of "being antagonistic to police because I was questioning their orders." However, he said, "that's what I do. I know my rights. I know the law."

During the trial, Miller's attorney, Santiago Lavandera, admitted that Miller used some coarse language with the police officers at one point during the evening. But he stressed that it wasn't the job of a journalist to meekly obey police orders.

"When you're a journalist, your job is to investigate," Lavandera told the jury. "Not to be led by your hand where the police want you to see, so they can hide what they don't want you to see. As long as you are acting within the law, as Mr. Miller was, you have the right to demand and say, 'no, I'm not moving, I have the right to be here. This is a public sidewalk, I have the right to be here.'"

Miller told us the jury deliberated for only about half an hour before returning a verdict of "not guilty." He said his case was helped by the footage he recovered from his camera. That footage, he told us, clearly showed that there were other journalists nearby when he was arrested.

One of them was Miami Herald reporter Glenn Garvin, who testified in Wednesday's trial. According to Miller, when Garvin saw Miller being arrested by Officer Nancy Perez, "he immediately thought he was going to get arrested, so he asked Nancy Perez if it was alright for him to be standing there and she said, yes, he was under no threat of getting arrested."

Enlarge / Perez is cross-examined by Miller attorney Arnold Trevilla.

There's a history of confrontations between Miller and the police, and Miller said the police had singled him out for that reason. An e-mail disclosed during the trial showed the police had been monitoring Miller's Facebook page and had sent out a notice warning officers in charge of evicting the Occupy Miami protestors that Miller was planning to cover the process.

Constitutional challenge

Now that Miller doesn't have a jail sentence hanging over his head, he's planning to turn the tables on the Miami-Dade Police Department. He plans to file a lawsuit arguing the deletion of his footage by the police violated his constitutional rights.

According to Miller, such incidents are disturbingly common around the country. As camera-equipped cell phones have proliferated, ordinary Americans have increasingly used the devices to document how police officers do their jobs. And he said he heard of numerous incidents in which the police confiscate these devices and delete potentially embarrassing footage.

Miller told us most victims don't stand up for their rights in court. In many cases, people are happy simply to have the police drop the charges against them. But Miller isn't so easily cowed.

If Miller files his lawsuit, he will join a handful of other plaintiffs who have gone to court to vindicate their rights to record the activities of police officers. Judges in Massachusetts and Illinois have held it unconstitutional to arrest people for recording the activities of police. A Baltimore man hassued the police for deleting his footage from his cell phone. The Obama administration filed a brief in the case arguing that deleting such footage violates the Fourth Amendment.

Miller points out that if an ordinary citizen deleted footage relevant to an alleged crime, he could be charged with destruction of evidence, a felony. He believes that police officers should also be held accountable when they seize cameras and delete footage.

Wednesday, November 07, 2012

Apple Told to Pay $368.2 Million to VirnetX in Trial- Bloomberg

> From: JM
>
> http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/2012-11-07/apple-told-to-pay-368-2-million-to-virnetx-in-patent-trial-1-.html

A federal jury in Tyler, Texas, said Apple's FaceTime function, used on the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad as well as Mac computers, infringed four VirnetX patents. VirnetX had won a $200 million settlement from Microsoft Corp. in 2010 over the same technology.

"This victory further establishes the importance of our patent portfolio," VirnetX Chief Executive Officer Kendall Larsen said in a statement.

The VirnetX patents cover the use of a domain-name service to set up virtual private networks, through which a website owner can interact with customers in a secure way or an employee can work at home and get access to a company's electronic files.

Microsoft Files Patent to use Kinect to Detect Audience Size for Licensing Content

http://www.hackingnetflix.com/2012/11/microsoft-files-patent-to-use-kinect-to-detect-audience-size-for-licensing-content.html

Friday, November 02, 2012

H.264 Decoder in JavaScript Running at 30fps

I must admit, I missed this one when it happened.

A friend of mine was telling me they were streaming live H.264 video off an AR Drone Copter using  Broadway.js

Some 15 years ago I did an H.263 decoder in Java, but it was miserable and only had enough cpu to
do 176x144 postage stamp size video.

Source code available here:
https://github.com/mbebenita/Broadway

Native JavaScript H.264 decoder offers compelling demo of JS performance
Mozilla has released "Broadway," a native JavaScript-based H.264 decoder that …
http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2011/10/native-javascript-h264-decoder-offers-compelling-demo-of-js-performance/

Broadway: An H.264 Decoder in JavaScript Running at 30fps
JS Challange: Build an H.264 decoder in JavaScript for Firefox and Chrome. If we can do PDFs and MP3s, we can do H.264!
http://badassjs.com/post/12035631618/broadway-an-h-264-decoder-in-javascript-running-at




Similar project but for WebM video:
Route9.js: A VP8/WebM decoder in JavaScript
http://badassjs.com/post/13551173773/route9-js-a-vp8-webm-decoder-in-javascript

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Inter-Continental 8K Media Streaming Demonstrated at the GLIF Global LambdaGrid Workshop

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: BC
Date: Thu, Oct 18, 2012 at 8:50 AM
Subject: Inter-Continental 8K Media Streaming Demonstrated at the GLIF Global LambdaGrid Workshop
To: John Sokol 
http://www.ces.net/doc/press/2012/pr121017.html

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Hasselblad aims for luxury camera market, not just pros - CNET Mobile

http://m.cnet.com/news/hasselblad-aims-for-luxury-camera-market-not-just-pros/57514888

Fwd: IEEE CES - Oct 23, Quantum Dots / Nanosys

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Gary Sasaki" <gary.sasaki@digdia.com>
Date: Oct 16, 2012 8:54 AM
Subject: IEEE CES - Oct 23, Quantum Dots / Nanosys
To: <ieee-scvce@listserv.ieee.org>

Note: NVIDIA has been a great venue for our meetings, but sometime in 2013 we will need to move to a new venue. 
If you know of a venue that we can use that can hold about 150 people or more, please let us know.  Thank you.

 

 


October 23 Meeting Notice

Subject:

Quantum Dots, The Future of LED Display Technology

Speaker(s):

Jason Hartlove, President and CEO of Nanosys

Venue

NVIDIA - 2800 Scott Blvd, Building E

Date and Time:

October 23, 2012
6:30 - 7:00 Pizza + Drinks, Networking
7:00 - 8:30 Talk and Questions

Register Online

Click to Register

Abstract

Consumers want a lifelike experience in a handheld device and color performance is the one area where large gains can be made immediately to greatly enhance that experience. Color performance, the next major differentiator in the mobile market, will bring a stunning new visual experience to the consumer and a great new value proposition to the manufacturer.

Current mobile devices are only capable of displaying 20 to 30 percent of the visual color spectrum. This means the user is missing a large component of the visual experience.

Designed as a diffuser sheet replacement, Nanosys' QDEF creates an ideal white backlight for LCD displays. The result is stunning color and a more lifelike user experience. High-color displays allow consumers to enjoy more visceral, more impactful, and truer to life content from photos to movies to videogames.

Speaker

Jason Hartlove joined Nanosys in 2008 with a proven track record of turning emerging technologies into successful commercial products. Prior to joining Nanosys, he was president of the Imaging Solutions Division of MagnaChip Semiconductor in Seoul, South Korea, where he turned an internally focused semiconductor group into a multinational company. Mr. Hartlove is the author of more than 20 patents, including the winner of the Hewlett Award in 2004 for best patent. Mr. Hartlove holds a B.S. in electrical engineering from UCLA and has completed graduate work at the Anderson School of Management at UCLA.

Meeting Place
NVIDIA, 2800 Scott Blvd., Building E, Santa Clara
Click to see overhead photo of campus

Admission Fee: Open to all - to attend -
(Please register in advance. If you cannot register in advance, you can still show up at the door, but please allow extra time for NVIDIA security signin.)

IEEE CES members - free
IEEE Student members - free
IEEE members - $5 (pay at door)
non-members - $10 (pay at door)
You do not need to be an IEEE member to attend!
(If you wish to be a member of IEEE, click here)

To see our upcoming events - click here

 

 

Best Regards,

Gary Sasaki

DIGDIA

twitter: @digdia

 

This message being sent to you on behalf of the IEEE Santa Clara Valley Consumer Electronics Society
Click here to be added or removed from this mailing list

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Founders of Leap Motion: Our Amazing 3D Tracking Will Be Everywhere | Singularity Hub

http://singularityhub.com/2012/06/13/founders-of-leap-motion-our-amazing-3d-tracking-will-be-everywhere/

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Barnes & Noble's 2 New Nook Tablets Take On Both Amazon and Apple | Gadget Lab | Wired.com

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/09/barnes-noble-announces-nook-hd-and-hd-plus/

AT&T Launches Voice-Controlled U-verse Remote App | News & Opinion | PCMag.com

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2410194,00.asp

The Pokemon Plot: How One Cartoon Inspired the Army to Dream Up a Seizure Gun

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/09/seizure-fever-dazzler/


In 1998, a secret Army intelligence analysis suggested a new way to
take out enemies: blast them with electromagnetic energy until their
brains overload and they start to convulse. Amazingly, it was an idea
inspired by a Pokemon episode.

Application of "electromagnetic pulses" could force neurons to all
fire at once, causing a "disruption of voluntary muscle control,"
reads a description of a proposed seizure weapon, contained in a
declassified document from the Army's National Ground Intelligence
Center. "It is thought by using a method that would actually trigger
nerve synapses directly with an electrical field, essentially 100% of
individuals would be susceptible to seizure induction."

This wasn't the only method the Center suggested for taking down
combatants. Other exotic, less-lethal weapons included a handheld
laser gun for close-range "antiterrorist special operations roles"; a
"flood" of network traffic that could overload servers and "elicit a
panic in the civilian population"; and radio frequencies that could
manipulate someone's body temperature and "mimic a fever."

The military needed weapons like these because TV news had hamstrung
the military's traditional proclivities to kill its way to victory: It
now lived in a world where "You don't win unless CNN says you win,"
the report lamented. But while the Pentagon still laments the impact
of the 24/7 news cycle on the U.S. military, it hardly thinks
less-lethal weapons are a solution to it. In fact, the U.S. has kept
most of its electromagnetic arsenal off of the battlefield, in part
because the idea of invisible pain rays would sound so bad coming out
of an anchor's mouth.

Danger Room acquired this secret study on nonlethal technologies
thanks to a private citizen, who filed a Freedom of Information Act
request, and now wishes to remain anonymous. By coincidence, Sharon
Weinberger wrote a 2008 Danger Room report after independently
acquiring a piece of the document – an addendum that described using a
"Voice of God" weapon, powered by radio waves, to "implant" a
suggestion in someone else's mind. It wasn't even close to the
strangest suggestion made for exotic weaponry.


Perhaps the most disturbing item on the Army's nonlethal wish list: a
weapon that would disrupt the chemical pathways in the central nervous
system to induce a seizure. The idea appears to have come from an
episode of Pokemon.

The idea is that seizure would be induced by a specific electrical
stimulus triggered through the optic nerve. "The onset of synchony and
disruption of muscular control is said to be near instantaneous," the
1997 Army report reads. "Excitation is directly on the brain." And
"100% of the population" is supposed to be susceptible to the effects
— from distances of "up to hundreds of meters" — "[r]ecovery times are
expected to be consistent with, or more rapid than, that which is
observed in epileptic seizures."

That's not a lot of time — the Army's analysis noted that a grand-mal
seizure typically lasts between one and five minutes. But the analysis
speculated that the seizure weapons could be "tunable with regard to
type and degree of bodily influence" and affect "100% of the
population." Still, it had to concede, "No experimental evidence is
available for this concept."

The document cautioned that the effectiveness of incapacitating a
human nervous system with an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) "has not been
tested." But the analysis speculated that "50 to 100 kV/m free field
of very sharp pulses" would likely be "sufficient to trigger neurons
or make them more susceptible to firing." And a weapon that harnessed
an EMP-induced seizure could conceivably work from "hundreds of miles"
away. The idea might as well have been stamped "As Seen on TV."

"The photic-induced seizure phenomenon was borne out demonstrably on
December 16, 1997 on Japanese television when hundreds of viewers of a
popular cartoon were treated, inadvertently, to photic seizure
induction," the analysis noted. That cartoon was Pokemon, and the
incident received worldwide attention. About 700 viewers showed
symptoms of epilepsy — mostly vomiting — an occasional, if strange,
occurrence with TV shows and videogames due to rapid, flashing lights.

The Army's interest in the technology doesn't appear to have gone
anywhere. When Danger Room asked the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons
Directorate, the command overseeing the Pentagon's weapons that can't
kill you, if they had ever developed or explored developing an EMP
seizure ray, spokeswoman Kelley Hughes flatly replied, "No." But at a
minimum, it's bizarre that the U.S. military would entertain the idea
of neurological weaponry.

The seizure ray was just one of several futuristic nonlethal weapons
the National Ground Intelligence Center envisioned. Another favorite:
"handheld laser weapons" for blasting focused light against nearby
terrorists. These weren't supposed to be the sorts of lasers that can
burn through steel — after all, nearly 15 years after the Army intel
report, the Navy still doesn't have a laser cannon small enough to
mount on a ship. The "point and shoot" lasers were supposed to be
dazzlers, to disrupt sensors or even blind assailants from up to 50
meters away. Alas, the paper lamented, causing "permanent blindness"
was prohibited by binding international treaties, so development of
handheld dazzlers would likely be restricted. (As it would turn out,
"gross mismanagement" by U.S. military bureaucracy would be the larger
obstacle.)

Then came the cyberweapons. The Army intel report presciently
predicted using "information technology as a nonlethal weapon." It had
in mind "a campaign to disrupt a nation's infrastructure so that they
feel they are not ready for a formal conflict." No, the Army wasn't
thinking of any kind of proto-Stuxnet. It had in mind sending torrents
of traffic to "flood" foreign servers until "a panic in the civilian
population," now without internet access, "persuades the [adversary]
military not to execute a planned attack." Pay attention, Darpa and
U.S. Cyber Command. Alternatively, the military might disrupt an
enemy's ability to control its forces by flooding the internet with
tons of inaccurate information — "either through distribution of
disinformation or illegally altering web pages to spread
disinformation." It isn't clear if the report meant to restrict that
"illegal" activity to foreign web pages.

And then came the fever. The report speculated that blasts of radio
frequency waves could "mimic a fever" to the point of incapacitating
an enemy. ("No organs are damaged," it assured.) "Core temperatures of
approximately 41 degrees Celsius are considered to be adequate" — the
equivalent of a 105.8 degree fever, which is frighteningly close to
inducing a coma or brain damage.

The idea would involve a "highly sophisticated microwave assembly"
that could induce "carefully monitored uniform heating" in "15 to 30
minutes," depending on someone's weight and the wavelengths employed.
"The subjective sensations caused by this buildup of heat are far more
unpleasant than those accompanying fever," the report assured. Yet the
military would have to be careful not to cause any "permanent" organ
damage with such a weapon — which would take careful monitoring, as
the report noted that increasing someone's body temperature a single
degree Celsius beyond the envisioned 42 degrees would probably be
fatal.

As it turned out, the military would develop a microwave weapon — the
Active Denial System. That's a microwave gun that, as I learned
first-hand one fateful afternoon, makes victims feel like they've
stepped into a blast furnace. But its frequencies are too shallow to
penetrate the skin, and can't even pop a bag of popcorn. (It's been
tried.) Still, the idea of being heated with something like that for
15 minutes to a half hour is unbearable: I lasted maybe two seconds
before my reflexes forced me to jump out of the way of its beam. And
in 2010, the device was recalled from Afghanistan when commanders
realized it was a PR nightmare. It has one of the many downsides to
these weapons that the Army's 1998 that report didn't consider. Of
course, few things age worse than predictions for the future.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Fwd: IEEE CES - Sept 25, MHL / Silicon Image



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gary Sasaki <gary.sasaki@digdia.com>
Date: Mon, Sep 24, 2012 at 8:47 AM
Subject: IEEE CES - Sept 25, MHL / Silicon Image
To: ieee-scvce@listserv.ieee.org


 


September 25 Meeting Notice

Subject:

MHL® (Mobile High-Definition Link)

Speaker(s):

Chandlee Harrell - Silicon Image

Venue

NVIDIA - 2800 Scott Blvd, Building E

Date and Time:

September 25, 2012
6:30 - 7:00 Pizza + Drinks, Networking
7:00 - 8:30 Talk and Questions

Register Online

Click to Register

Abstract

Today's "Post PC Era" means smartphones and tablets are increasingly being used for gaming, watching videos, productivity applications and more. The advanced hardware and software integrated into the latest mobile products, however, limits the users' experiences – as content can only be viewed on the mobile device's small screen. Yet, there's a new technology that allows the ultimate, interactive experience. MHL® technology delivers 1080p60Hz uncompressed video with up-to eight channels of digital audio packed into a low pin count, 5-pin interface that meets the mobile device's low power requirements. MHL enables consumers to enjoy interactive applications such as gaming from their MHL-enabled device to an HDTV, while charging the mobile device. With introduction of the latest MHL 2.0 specification, higher power charging and technology required for transmission of 3D formats are supported.

Speaker

Chandlee Harrell - Sr. Director, System Architecture & Technology, Silicon Image, Inc.

Chandlee Harrell is the senior director of system architecture and technology for Silicon Image, overseeing the company's standards activities and new technology development. He serves on the MHL Technical board and is actively engaged in new initiatives for the MHL standard and its burgeoning ecosystem.

Prior to joining Silicon Image, Mr. Harrell worked at Silicon Graphics and Bell Labs and has vast experience in digital video, imaging, 3D graphics, streaming networks and video coding. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Brown University, and a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering / computer science from Stanford University.

Meeting Place
NVIDIA, 2800 Scott Blvd., Building E, Santa Clara
Click to see overhead photo of campus

Admission Fee: Open to all - to attend
(Please register in advance. If you cannot register in advance, you can still show up at the door, but please allow extra time for NVIDIA security signin.)

IEEE CES members - free
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non-members - $10 (pay at door)
You do not need to be an IEEE member to attend!
(If you wish to be a member of IEEE, click here)

To see our upcoming events - click here

 

 

Best Regards,

Gary Sasaki

DIGDIA

twitter: @digdia

 

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Monday, September 17, 2012

Fwd: Register Now: Impinj RFID Webinars

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Peter Horton" <phorton@impinj.com>
Date: Sep 17, 2012 3:37 PM
Subject: Register Now: Impinj RFID Webinars
To: <john.sokol@gmail.com>

Dear John,

I hope this message finds you well.  I just wanted to remind you that Impinj will be hosting several webinars covering a variety of exciting RFID topics beginning this week.  We encourage you to register and attend the sessions that are of interest to you.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Integrating Video Surveillance with RFID
We'd like to invite you to attend a special 30-minute webinar on the benefits of integrating video surveillance with RFID. Join us as we discuss the how SimplyRFiD's NOX solution, powered by Impinj® RFID, is revolutionizing video surveillance and delivering real-time benefits to organizations across all industries.

What you'll learn
• Benefits of Integrating RFID + Video
• Monitoring the Movement of Assets such as People, Laptops, and More
• Locate the Current Location, Historical Location, and Watch Items in Real-Time
• Asset Tracking Case Studies


Featured Speakers
Carl Brown, President - SimplyRFID


When: Thursday, September 20, 2012, 9:00AM to 9:30AM Pacific

Click Here to Register for the Integrating Video Surveillane with RFID Webinar

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Best Practices for Passive RFID Asset Tracking
Join Miles Technologies and Impinj as we discuss the critical components and challenges associated with surveying, deploying, and managing a successful asset tracking solution using passive RFID technology. Regardless of your company's industry, if your goal is to track the items that impact your business the most, you do not want to miss this webinar.

What you'll learn
• Trends in Asset Tracking
• Anatomy of an asset tracking solution
• Best practices for implementing an RFID based asset tracking system
• Asset tracking use case scenarios

Featured Speakers
Tracy Hillstrom, Sr. Product Line Manager - Impinj, Inc.
Thomas O'Boyle, Corporate Vice President – Miles Technologies, Inc


When: Wednesday, September 26, 2012, 2:00PM to 2:30PM Central

Click Here to Register for the Best Practices for Passive RFID Asset Tracking Webinar

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Automatic Vehicle Identification using Passive RFID
We'd like to invite you to attend a special 30-minute webinar on Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) using Passive RFID technology.  Join Impinj and Confidex as we discuss the critical components and benefits of AVI, and how Confidex's new AVI products, powered by Impinj Monza® 4E tag IC, are enabling exciting, real-world applications such as toll collection, access control, and fleet management using passive RFID technology.

What you'll learn
• Automatic Vehicle Identification Trends & Standards
• Why Passive RFID is the right choice for AVI
• A Real-world Customer's AVI Experience using Passive RFID

Featured Speakers
Tracy Hillstrom, Sr. Product Line Manager - Impinj, Inc.
Bill Compitello, Director of Sales – Confidex, Ltd.


When: Wednesday, October 03, 2012, 6:00AM to 6:30AM Pacific  -and- 10:00AM to 10:30AM Pacific

We will host two sessions for this webinar, please join the session that works best for you.

Session 1: October 03, 2012 @ 6:00 AM Pacific
Click Here to Register for This Session


Session 2: October 03, 2012 @ 10:00 AM Pacific
Click Here to Register for This Session


------------------------------------------------------------------

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me anytime.

Cheers,

Peter Horton
Channel Marketing Manager
Impinj, Inc. 

This email was sent to john.sokol@gmail.com. We respect your privacy. Click to unsubscribe.

UK company's 'augmented reality' glasses could be better than Google's

http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/uk-companys-augmented-reality-glasses-could-be-better-than-googles-20120911-25pdn.html

Google's Glass project may face some stiff competition, after UK company TTP develops a 'heads-up' prototype.

TTP augmented reality glasses prototype ... doesn't require a change of gaze by the wearer.
TTP augmented reality glasses prototype ... doesn't require a change of gaze by the wearer. Photo: Stephen Bond
A Cambridge-based company has figured out how to make "augmented reality" glasses that will seamlessly project information into the scene in front of you, creating a more effective version of the technology Google is developing with its Glass project.
Developed as a prototype by The Technology Partnership (TTP), a technology development company, the glasses incorporate a tiny projector in one arm of the spectacles. The picture is then reflected from the side into the centre of the lenses, which are etched with a reflective pattern that then beams the image into the eye.
For sports, you could show information like your heart or breathing rate. 
Roger Clarke, TTP
That means the image is directly incorporated into what the wearer sees when looking directly ahead – unlike Google's current incarnation of Google Glass, which puts a small video screen in the bottom right-hand corner of the right eye. That requires the wearer to look down to focus on it, taking their attention away from the view ahead.
Google's Sergey Brin shows off Google Glass earlier this year.
Google's Sergey Brin shows off Google Glass earlier this year. Photo: Reuters
Unlike the present Google Glass implementation, where it is obvious that the user is looking into a screen in the corner of their glasses – both because it is visible and because their eye direction changes – the TTP system is invisible to anyone watching, and doesn't require a change of gaze by the wearer.
Though the TTP glasses are only a proof of concept, its engineers believe the idea could be taken up by larger businesses that are interested in developing systems incorporating augmented reality. Though it declined to give any names, it is understood to be talking to at least one California-based company about applications of its technology.
"We would talk to all the big players," says Dr Allan Carmichael, business development manager at TTP. "We would tell them that we have a solution, and we would aim to persuade them that this can be used in practice." TTP would then license the technology to companies that were interested; TTP is not, Carmichael emphasises, a manufacturing company in its own right.
"Sports and leisure use are obvious applications," said Roger Clarke, TTP's project manager for augmented reality technologies. "For sports, you could show information like your heart or breathing rate; a simple display with relevant information is where this technology is headed. Then after that is proven you can move on to larger displays with more tailoring and information."
Carmichael thinks that the "killer app" for an augmented reality system might be one that would work when you look under your car bonnet, "so rather than seeing a big block, you see it all clearly labelled to tell you what part is what". Alternatively, he suggests, surgeons might find it useful, "not to show them what they're looking at, because it's never actually that clear, but to tell them what's happening to the patient's life signs – to the blood oxygenation when I press here, what happens to the pulse. If you can display that directly into their field of vision, that's really useful."
At present the system is only able to display a still image in monochrome. But engineers at TTP are confident that, as interest in AR-based systems grows, companies will be able to make tiny video projectors that can be incorporated into the arms of spectacles.
Google's Glass project aims to produce systems built into ordinary-looking spectacles that would overlay information about a location, or from the user's internet feeds, into their visual field. A concept film released in April suggested that one day systems which could react to location and to what was seen by the wearer would become commonplace.
"Google has done a remarkable job of getting the world to alight on the idea of augmented reality," says Carmichael. But he feels that the next step needs to be to improve both the appearance of the system to the user and to other people. "It's about creating desirability and elegance in how it appears," he says.
Clarke says that sports glasses, because they tend to be large, offer the best option. Recon Instruments already offers ski goggles which have a built-in video projector like Google Glass, but those too are limited to a non-central point.
In the TTP prototype, the present projector technology offers VGA, or 640x480 pixel, resolution. "We can get a video attachment in a few weeks," he said.
The team has also devised a passive system by which the user can control the device, or an attached computer, just by moving their eyes to the left or right. Rather than using eye-tracking systems, which demand a camera watching the pupils and which Clarke says are "relatively computationally expensive", it uses passive electrodes mounted on the glasses that monitor activity in the muscles at the side of the temple - which produce particular signals that are indicative of eye movement.
He thinks that head-mounted displays could have been commonplace now, but that in the 1990s companies making displays decided not to focus on miniaturisation, and instead aimed for bigger products, principally seen in large screen TVs. "Sony and Sharp bet that people would want smaller displays. That turned out to be the wrong bet then. If things had gone differently then we would already have very high-quality tiny displays today."
Carmichael is confident that, in time, heads-up displays using glasses such as TTP is demonstrating will go from the realm of experiment to become commonplace. "If you had told people in 2002 that they could have their email on their phone, they would have said 'why would I want that?'," he says. "Getting micro-displays is still a big challenge, but the lenses are getting better all the time." In time, he adds, we might find that such glasses are ideal for something that we barely do at present – such as watching video while on the move.


Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Thanko Intros HDMI Over Ethernet Streaming Solution

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Thanko-Intros-HDMI-Over-Ethernet-Streaming-Solution-164079.shtml


Thanko HDMI Over Ethernet Streaming Solution
Enlarge picture
Even though wireless video streaming solutions seem to pop just about everywhere nowadays these are still to expensive for the average consumer while image lag and transmission range can still prove to be a problem so Thanko developed an adapter that sends HDMI video or audio pver to your HDTV via Ethernet.

Ethernet connectivity aside, this works pretty much like your standard wireless video transmission kit, coming with two units (a receiver and a transmitter), one of these being attached to your laptop, PC or any other type of HDMI enabled device while the receiver gets connected to your HDTV.

Once setup, video can be transmitted over Ethernet, Thanko's solution being able to stream 1080p content up to 150 feet (about 45 meters) away from the source, a pretty impressive feat when you compare it with present day wireless video streaming technologies.