Dizzy – an aware kind of robot

Dizzy – an aware kind of robot

DizzyRick writes “It’s difficult to approach Dizzy without him becoming aware of it. And he’ll let you know he saw you by `talking’ to you, in a way that seems to convey emotion. If you move about, he will join the action by exploring his `terrarium’. When he gets hungry, he goes to his feeding point to have a lunch brake of an hour or so. While eating, he continues to react verbally to motion around him.” Link.

One Time Use Astrophotography – CVS PV2 and your telescope

One Time Use Astrophotography – CVS PV2 and your telescope

Pv2 Manual Infinity Attachm.ThumbnailJason writes “In anticipation of the Mars proximity last Saturday, I put together a quick howto on using your hacked CVS camera (or any digital camera, really) with a telescope. I was planning to do a follow-up with some photos, but the sky has been overcast in Minneapolis for 4 days now. Hopefully, some Makers out there had better viewing conditions and can share their pics. As for me, it looks like I’ll have to wait for some other celestial event before I can try this out.” Link.

HOW TO – Assemble an Open Source IPTV Production Suite

HOW TO – Assemble an Open Source IPTV Production Suite

58033934 B6133434D2 MMark writes “The ‘Open Source IPTV Production Suite’ is an ensemble of high-level animation, 3D, compositing and editing tools that are available as free, open source GPL applications. However, this is not a direct attempt to duplicate the production tools found in Apple’s Final Cut Studio. It’s an attempt to create a fully functional, professional software suite that is capable of generating high end VFX and 3D animation like those found in Shake and Motion and Maya. Don’t be fooled, just because the software is open source doesn’t mean that it isn’t of professional grade.” Link.

Homemade pet collar…

Homemade pet collar…

07 LampheadJim writes “This weekend we made a homemade pet collar (to prevent our cat from scratching at a wound on his neck) out of left over folders from changing the colour on the back of my Powerbook. Saved us having to ring the emergency vet clinic and only took about twenty minutes. Very basic, but handy.” Link.

For sale: Britain’s underground city

For sale: Britain’s underground city

City We wonder if it’s available for visits. A nice “Maker Holiday” if so. “Welcome to to Cold War City (population: 4). It covers 240 acres and has 60 miles of roads and its own railway station. It even includes a pub called the Rose and Crown…The subterranean complex that was built in the 1950s to house the Conservative prime minister Harold Macmillan’s cabinet and 4,000 civil servants in the event of a Soviet nuclear attack is being thrown open to commercial use.” [via] Link.