Digital Signposts

Digital imaging moves to the next level

Just when digital imaging applications seem to have reached a high water mark, new developments appear at Siggraph. The video above (via O'Reilly Radar) shows some stunning developments in resizing images without cropping and scaling. The last sequence will add completely new perspective to the debate around 'removing' data from images.

Interactive Map of Education and the Future

I was excited by this interactive map from the KnowledgeWorks Foundation. Based on research data, it suggests the  forces and drivers of educational change and their possible impact. One can explore the map intuitively, or collaboratively, possibly in a CPD setting. The nodes on the map expand and offer opportunities for further study or to engage in online discussions, it is also intuitive and satisfying to use. (Source:  Information Aesthetics ).

"All Yesterdays Tomorrows Today"

As promised in my preceding post, I would like to share another of my digital treasures;  the  eponymous blog, Modern Mechanix, which also includes extracts from  various science and technology magazines published in the US from 1920's till the 1980's. Modern Mechanix is a continuum of speculative prediction  and articles that range from the bizarre  to the mundane, occasionally revealing a grain of truth with echoes in the present, or depicting a paradoxical utopia/dystopia. 

Those who know me understand my fascination for the absurd, and the surreal. I love these images and illustrations which would grace the portfolios of the Futurists, Surrealists and indeed the Dada movement.  They are source of creative inspiration and  resources when needed. Although there is much to laugh at, there are also some disturbing underlying concepts.

From todays standpoint is is fascinating to revisit the zeitgeist, and try to interpet the aspirations and fears of the times. Modern Mechanix provides an interesting subtext to the official histories and journals; after all  what kind of man would own his own computer?  Please feel free to add your own nominations of current technologies, which might be included in future issues of Mechanix, as a comment. Finally, this entry, always makes me think of Andrew Keen and typewriters. Thanks to Boing Boing for the pointer.

Its that time of the year again

image credit quinn.anya

It's summer, a time to relax and share with you, some of the delights from my digital cornucopia.  Firstly some Music.

David Byrne has a 'radio station',  featuring themed playlists he changes monthly, past episodes have covered  Afro Cuban, Psychedelia and even  Catchy Tunes.  This August he targets opera with an honest and direct approach;

"Here's an area I know very little about: Classic Opera. I am familiar with some of the well-known tunes — incredibly moving, over-the-top tunes many of us have heard without knowing their sources — so that's pretty much what I've assembled here. They may not be the definitive performances, or in some cases they may be, but they're all pretty grand. In many cases these are old recordings, so the quality of the recording will vary, but the emotion is more or less consistently pedal-to-the-metal."

This echoes my sentiments exactly, never being  as knowledgeable as I, (thought), I should be on the finer points of opera.  I am now playing this fantastic music as loud as I can get away with,   enjoying it in the manner intended;

"...the Italians and French excelled at incorporating elements of regional music into their productions. I believe I hear elements of Neapolitan song in Verdi. They were the popular music of the day and the audiences were rowdy and noisy — you could eat, drink and probably fornicate in the theaters at that time. Farmers and fishermen sang these tunes in fields and bars — and so can we."

Spot on, David.