The Wii isn’t just a hard to find around the holidays perfect gift but since it’s release, it’s become clear that Nintendo didn’t just create a wicked console – their innovative remotes are high-technology for a meagre $35. I’ve seen a couple of cool hacks using the Wii remote but I think this one takes the cake.
A Theremin is a musical instrument that you play without using your hands. It’s a cool looking contraption that gained a bit of attention in the 50’s mostly because it was used in many a sci-fi flick to make those cheesy sounding special effects. Now Ken Moore has put the Wii remote into use to create his own version of the Theremin. It’s pretty darn awesome:
And for the hell of it, Moore has posted some video of the Wii theremin in action. I particularly love the Star Trek theme…
As with a whole load of other people out there in the world, I still don't know what I want to do "when I grow up". I have an idea but sometimes I'm reminded of things that I've loved over my life so far and I reminisce of what life would be like if I had followed a different path.
In my elementary and early high-school days, I was fascinated with paleontology and archeology. For a long time I though I wanted to study ancient cultures and civilizations and though somewhere along the line I moved beyond wanting to work in the field. I never quite gave up on the dream all together and I still take great joy and pleasure from a few odd classes here and there on the subject and occasionally, by a TV special.
TED has posted a video of Louise Leakey, another of the great clan, speaking to the crowd about human origins. She seems a bit nervous though I'll guess that perhaps she's more excited than nervous, but the talk is interesting and she has some amazing animations and photos I hadn't seen before.
I was checking out the newest news from TED when I discovered this little story.
During the BBC World Debate last month, which was hosted by TED, someone, presumably a heckler, stood up from the crowd and started talking loudly. Turns out it was Robin Williams and the comedian took over the stage, stopping the debate for a full eight minutes of laughter.
BBC caught the entire thing on video and they've posted three minutes of the impromptu stand-up. I'm surprised that it's not quite as funny as I had hoped for but Williams does take a few shots at himself and then goes on to take a few at technology. My favourite of the bunch is (paraphrase) "You walk into Google and you have have is a computer and an exercise ball. I think that's how they're hatching new employees."
I want more of Robin Williams doing stand-up. It's better than seeing him in crappy movies.
The great folks at TED have just posted clips from a speech given by Nicholas Negroponte, architect and computer scientist best known as the founder and Chairman Emeritus of MIT's Media Lab, at the first TED conference in 1984. I think it's safe to add the title "futurist" to Negroponte's resume. Not only are the bits of his speech really interesting and ground breaking in 1984, a number of them are now a reality.
There are plans to release the entire 2 hour talk but some of it needs to be restored. In the meantime, take a time out and check out Negroponte "wax prophetic on the converging fields of technology, entertainment and design".
