Imaging

Quantum dot image sensors set to change camera industry

Quantum dot image sensors set to change camera industry

Those of you who, like me, just recently managed to score the digital camera of your dreams will be very excited to learn that it’s possibly going to be obsolete real soon. Based on technology developed by University of Toronto professor Ted Sargent, who is now CTO at start-up InVisage, the new image sensor uses a matrix of nanoparticles embedded in a polymer film which can be simply “painted” onto the top of a low-cost wafer at room temperature. If the hype is to be believed, the new sensor offers four times the sensitivity of conventional CMOS image sensors at a dramatically reduced cost per chip. [Thanks, Glen!]

Che Guevara in dice

Che Guevara in dice

Silicon Valley software engineer Ari Krupnik makes what he calls “pixel mosaics” as a hobby. Besides dice, he’s also used bullet casings and M&Ms. You may have seen Ari in this full-page ShopBot ad in MAKE 14. His rendering of Che Guevara, above, uses 400 black dice. He’s also done one of George Orwell. (“Maybe one day my prose can be as fluid as his,” says Ari–hear, hear!) This page includes another dice example and some good detail on Ari’s process.

Radically folding deployable table design

Radically folding deployable table design

The obvious caveat, here, is that these are CG renderings of a concept design. Even relatively simple devices and mechanisms tend to breed unexpected problems in the transition from virtual to actual, and, IMNSHO, the cat’s not really in the bag until you’ve made a real one in the real world. Still, pretty delightful mechanical design here. It’s called “Grand Central,” from Swedish freelance designers Sanna Lindström and Sigrid Strömgren. [Thanks, Billy Baque!]

How-To: Beginner cigar box guitar

How-To: Beginner cigar box guitar

Here’s a thorough tutorial by gerlindagrimes (Atlanta, GA) on building your own cigar box guitar. We sure love them ’round here! More: Intern’s Corner: Cigar Box Guitar bloopers Intern’s Corner: Naked piezo pickup for Cigar Box Guitar Weekend Project: Electric Cigar Box Guitar Cigar Box Guitar Build notes Maker Workshop – Cigar Box Guitar on […]