DIY combining random displays into a single, large virtual display.

The Junkyard Jumbotron lets you take a bunch of random displays and instantly stitch them together into a large, virtual display, simply by taking a photograph of them. It works with laptops, smartphones, tablets --- anything that runs a web browser. It also highlights a new way of connecting a large number of heterogenous devices to each other in the field, on an ad-hoc basis.



The Junkyard Jumbotron is designed by Rick Borovoy, Ph.D. and Brian Knep at MIT's Center for Future Civic Media.

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Get the code to install it on your displays, here.

CATRA: Cataract Maps with Snap-on Eyepiece for Mobile Phones

Can we create a device that makes people aware of their early cataract condition? Using a light-field display, the researchers' method projects time-dependent patterns onto the fovea. Interactive software measures the visibility and point spread function across subapertures of the crystallin lens. By repeating this procedure for several light-paths, the cataracts size, position, density, and scattering profile are estimated.

Created by the MIT Media Lab, Camera Culture's research group with Vitor Pamplona, Erick Passos, Jan Zizka, Manuel M. Oliveira, Everett Lawson, Esteban Clua and Ramesh Raskar, CATRA utilizes a forward scattering technique, which allows the user to respond to what they visually experience.

Their device scans the lens section by section. The user sees their projected patterns and presses a few buttons to map the light attenuation in each section of the eye. This information is collected by the device creating an attenuation map of the entire lens. This allows individuals to monitor the progression of the severity of the cataract.

The maps capture a full point spread function of the lens, allowing the researchers to simulate the visual perception of a cataract affected subject over time. Early cataract onset is difficult to diagnose. This device aims at measuring cataracts, which is highly portable and collects quantifiable data to help tackle a global health problem making it ideal for the developing world.
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BodyNotes: a mobile tool to enhance the interaction between patients and healthcare practitioners.

BodyNotes was created by the MIT Media Lab. It contributes to a series of projects that enhance the interaction between patients and healthcare practitioners. BodyNotes is a mobile tool that combines anatomical landmarks to physical objects as a mean for a patient to discuss body pain with her doctor.

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The video introduces Anna, an amputee who uses BodyNotes to track the pain and comfort she feels throughout the day when wearing her prosthetic limb. Anna can view visualizations and summaries of her reported pain by location, intensity, time, duration and activity.

This data is also accessible to Anna’s prosthetist. BodyNotes also allows remote, real-time collaboration.

During their session, Anna uses a photo to indicate the exact points where she feels pain. Since this screen is simultaneously seen by the prosthetist, and the interaction is synchronized, he can show what modifications Anna could do on her own.

BodyNotes enables advanced logging and telemedicine functionality on mainstream mobile phones. It has the potential to improve health care and communication, allowing patients and doctors to better spend their time by reducing the need for office visits.

Stevie B Microsoft Research demo!

A bit of insight on what the research group I have recently joined at Microsoft, the Applied Sciences Group, is devoted to. Amazing display technologies coupled to novel interaction paradigms. Enjoy!

The secrets of a pop-up book!

My current favorite pop up book for the iPad, the Three Little Pigs and the Secrets of a Pop-Up Book. Almost as interactive as a real pop up book! Thank you Sumit!

Of course, my favorite tech-pop up book for the iPad comes from les éditions volumiques!



You can find it -> here

Solar Music

Sculpture at Maudslay, Newburyport, MA September 2010 by Kevin Belli.

Sun Boxes by Craig Colorusso are an environment to enter and exit at will. It's comprised of twenty speakers operating independently, each powered by the sun via solar panels. There is a different loop set to play a guitar note in each box continuously. These guitar notes collectively make a Bb chord. Because the loops are different in length, once the piece begins they continually overlap and the piece slowly evolves over time.




Here is a video, Sun Boxes at the 12th annual Sculpture at Maudslay. Filmed by Kevin Belli on September 18, 2010.

Nokia C7 as remote control for BMW car

Now we are talking!

Microsoft for the win!

Today was my first day at Microsoft. I am officially a researcher in the Applied Sciences Group!



The coolest research group in industry: "The interdisciplinary group focuses on the synergy between optics, electronics and software to create novel human computer interfaces. The ASG mainly supports projects for next generation computing and interface hardware for Mobile, Xbox, and Microsoft Surface. It also works closely with Microsoft Research."

I had visited Microsoft Research back in February, met fantastic researchers including Paul Dietz (the man behind DiamondTouch, the multi-user touch screen table) and Steven Bathiche (the man behind Mothmobile, a hybrid robot that uses an insect as its control system via a neural electrical interface).

I fell in love with their work, their vibe, their philosophy. I am so fortunate to join this team, and will be updating with cool techy projects very soon!

Reclaim Vacant Lot with What City’s Got

Photo by Recetas Urbanas.

A proposal made to the city of Seville for legislation to assist in the temporary transformation of public and private solares – vacant lots walled off for security – into public spaces for at least six months. Wall rubble is incorporated into the design, and elements of car and pedestrian barriers are used to construct benches, see-saws, swings, and bike racks with readily available plastic materials like concrete. Instruction sheets were produced to allow residents to construct their own furniture.
The project is designed to minimize material movement, cost, and other barriers to change.
Santiago Cirugeda is an architect based in Seville who has proposed semi-legal strategies for housing and urban renovation under the name Recetas Urbanas, or “urban prescriptions,” since 1996. He inhabits gaps between laws, exploiting overlap and oversight to practice autonomous architecture.

More info

New year 2011 resolution…

New year 2011 resolution: watch TRON, again and again!



I've watched TRON: Legacy at an IMAX, and this is the best movie I have seen in years. The French duo Daft Punk made a soundtrack so perfect that it makes you cry as you watch light, motions, decors, crazy ideas combine with the nostalgia of the old computer dream.

Back in time...







... And now ... the new trailer. Well I don't think the new trailer is any good. And also it is a spoiler. So just go see the movie, in a IMAX preferably.







And go see it again and again in 2011!

Happy new year!