iPad + Structure Sensor = 3D Scanner

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."  - Arthur C. Clarke
People born in the 80's experience a unique pleasure. What,to them was science fiction,is now rapidly becoming science.Like the lightsaber,true virtual reality gaming.

And the 3D scanner. A 3D scanner scans objects. In 3D. That's about it. Why one?

Depicting objects in true 3d is a major pain.  Players of  Minecraft would know how difficult it is to build even the most simplest of objects.

Constructing perfect face-masks is one of the key plot devices Mission Impossible Relies on. Whether or not this is actually possible, was explored by the MythBusters, who visited a special effects shop and had the masks made by professionals.
The masks failed. Miserably

World of Warcraft fans have been clamouring to play tournaments at real life locations.

While these 3 problems seem unique to themselves, their solutions can be offered by a single gadget.
Enter the 

Structure Sensor 

Brainchild of Occipital©,who saw the untapped potential in PrimeSense,the software behind the kinect.
How it works: all you do is keep it focused on the object you need scanned,while completing a full circle around the object. Simple as that.

optimum range

Other 3d scanners exist,but this one's different because it's compact,actually attaches to a mobile device and it's cheap. Other 3d scanners begin from the neighbourhood of $1400,but by backing the kickstarter,you get one for $329.This is how it looks mounted on an iPad

While masks made by professionals take lots of time,effort and moolah to make,and still end up looking crappy.Now, with a 3D printer and the structure sensor,a scan takes <60 seconds,and you print it!This will produce an almost perfect replica,down to the tiniest wrinkle.


The 3D printer seemed straight out of sci-fi. But to use it, a 3d object had to be drawn,by hand,using a 2d interface,making it a painstaking and very long process.This breakthrough simplifies the process,easing the way for indie developers.

While these applications are explored thoroughly by the video,I feel one has just been glossed over,left for our imagination.I feel that gaming is one area which will advance staggeringly.

RPG's or role playing games, still leave a sense of emptiness,primarily because the character we're playing is not me!Multiplayer games would feel a lot better if instead of some computer rendered graphic,you could actually see your friends brains splattering out in slow-mo!

‘There are three things that matter in property: location, location, location.’ While FPS games try very hard to bring their experience to life, there is always a wistful feeling : I wish i could play this,not in a fictional location,but near my home/school/some real location. The video assures me that both these voids will be filled,and quite soon,too.

Here's the icing on the cake : It's completely open source. That's right,hack away! Though designed to be used on the iPad/iPhone, connecting to an android device is possible using a lightning cable. All Apps shown in the video are only in the iOS platform,but since it's made open source in all of Occipital's openhandedness, one can only hope intrepid developers make it accessible to android too.

31 days to go,and counting.

Probably playing in the background...

“All the permutations and combinations of the 7 basic scales”

“Something, which when done right, speaks to and soothes your soul” - (moi!)

These two definitions, are poles apart :
 one completely clinical and scientific, and the other, to quote our professor:
 “A politician’s answer or a b.s answer”.

But, both of them define the exact same thing. What is it, you ask???

MUSIC

Very rare indeed are the people who can rightfully claim to never have been influenced by, listened to, or been associated with, in any manner whatsoever, for a majority of their lives.(The part of me that loves John Grsiham novels talking!) Indeed,the opposite seems true

Here are some thoughts on music from some people you might recognize : (In case you don't, I hope you come in peace, alien life form.)

“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music. ... I get most joy in life out of music.”

"Music oft hath such a charm 
To make bad good, and good provoke to harm."
(Measure for Measure, 4.1.14)

"Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent."        
(Victor Hugo of Les Misérables fame)

"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy."(Ludwig Van Beethoven in all his glory!) 

"Philosophy is the highest music." 
Invented Philosophy!!!(or did he?, another philosophical question!)

"The best music is essentially there to provide you something to face the world with." 

"I don't know anything about music. In my line, you don't have to"

"I need music. It's like my heartbeat, so to speak. It keeps me going no matter what's going on - bad games, press, whatever!"
(One of B-Ball's all time Greats - Lebron James)

"I love to listen to the classical music because it calms me down, calms my nerves down." 
Novak Djokovic

"Sometimes I feel like rap music is almost the key to stopping racism." 
Eminem

These quotes, literally, spawn space and time. How old is music?Well, the answers seem to contradict, but, shockingly, here's a YAHOO  answer, of all things. To sum it up, what it says is : no freaking way to answer that question, for the reason that it began before history was a thing.

Originally, I intended to compare and contrast Hindi songs of the present and 10 years back. I wished to say that the lyrics, tunes and the general quality overall has degraded significantly. Though this does seem to be the case, in the years 2009-12(here,here and here!) more recent releases don't have lyrics that sound like the person wrote them was high on lsd, sleep-deprived and going through a mid-life crisis.

It is the popular belief that music is 'degrading' over the ages. Eminem, Akon, and Hani Singh are alll constantly critiqued for releasing songs which have lyrics that make you want to commit suicide(literally!). But that doesn't stop all and sundry from listening to them,now does it?

All the people against about today's music compare it with golden oldies. But logically speaking, the only music that endures centuries has to be phenomenal, to say the least. I doubt whether all of Eminem's songs are gonna be listened to. So, music hasn't degraded. Only our perceptions as a whole have been changed.

Conclusion???
Much ado has been made about the subconscious mind, and how it manifests itself in very,very weird ways.
Why is it that the F-bomb drops very easily, but we cringe mentally when we encounter the word rape in any form. Is it because some other 4-letter words have become very commonplace? Is it because those words form an integral part of today's music and culture(Ironic isn't it?). I'm no scientist. 
You decide.



P.S :
To 'educate' your taste : 500 greatest songs of all time by rolling stone  (It's dumb. And old)

A Tribute:

What do you define fame as?

Is it having a Google doodle as your name? Or a front–page feature extolling your greatness splashed across a leading tabloid?

“Fame is a fickle friend”. However fickle a friend may be, it's still a friend. And friends have to be earned.

What more fame could anyone wish for?

“The Father of India”.  

  “Mahatma” Gandhi. 

 “Father of non violence”. 

These and innumerable other titles are attributed to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Yet,...

I don’t respect him. I don’t feel proud to be his countryman. I firmly believe that he was not a milestone in our struggle for independence, but was a stone to Bhagat Singh and other revolutionaries who advocated the path of violent revolution.

Beloved Leader. Is the 2nd word mot juste'?I think not

You will, definitely think I’m wrong over here. But, read on…

I respect him for one reason and one reason only: he was a magnificent orator.

That’s about all there is. We ended up losing a part of our country to Pakistan, and another part to Bangladesh. All under his prime-ministership. He could have done so much more as the country's 1st prime minister. But he didn't.

Stopped the partition of Bengal. Why is he here?

“Where the mind is without fear
and the head is held high,
where knowledge is free.

where tireless striving stretches its arms toward perfection.
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost it's way

In to that heaven of freedom, my father,
LET MY COUNTRY AWAKE!”

― Rabindranath Tagore, Gitanjali

Just an excerpt from his famous compilation of his own poems. Made famous because he received the Nobel     prize in Literature for it. He didn't have to accept the Nobel Prize did he? But, like any writer, it played a bright light to his insect: irresistible.

 This is the only grease mark on his otherwise spotless life.

All of these people did have that most fickle of friends, fame. But, did they earn it? (Side note: “Bhagat Singh” has squiggly lines under it. All the other names don’t. MS word, which generally thinks Indian names are spelling mistakes, is recognizing these names. More proof of their fame.)

If you do define fame as having a Google doodle as your name, or a front – page feature extolling your greatness splashed across a leading tabloid, then everyone listed above is famous. (Except Bhagat Singh.)

Yet......

They do not provoke the feeling of pride in being their fellow countryman. Nor do they inspire me, however fleetingly.

However......

There is one man, who fails on both counts, but makes me proud to be an Indian, and has my undying respect.

A child genius, in a time where such a thing was virtually unknown. Seeking god in his teenage years. Went on to mesmerize a foreign audience with his words alone. Inspired countless youth to join the freedom struggle.

An idealist, spiritualist, loyalist. A monk. And a brilliant philosopher and an orator par excellence.

Obviously, as you might have guessed eons ago, this person is Swami Vivekananda.  It’s his 150^th anniversary today. Apart from a few festivities, this day has gone by virtually unnoticed.

No politicians trying to get in the public eye, making speeches about how they’re following his vision.

Apart from few events few and far between, no commemoration for him.

And, most noticeably, no Google doodle.

I am sure that whatever I try to write about him, will fail to be adequate. Either in the department of eloquence, inspiration, or simplicity. To put it in a nutshell, whatever I try to write about this great man will not be perfect. And he deserves perfection. I’m giving below, what I consider to be his best quotes, which cover a huge area. Do take the time out to read them. If you can’t stomach them all, at least go through the “Guidelines” part.

On God:

1)     This is no world. It is God Himself. In delusion we call it world.

2)      God is self-evident, impersonal, omniscient, the Knower and the Master of nature, the Lord of all. He is behind all worship and it is being done according to Him, whether we know it or not.

3)      God is merciful to those whom He sees struggling heart and soul for realization. But remain idle, without any struggle, and you will see that His grace will never come.

On Our Culture:

1)      If there is one word that you find coming out like a bomb from the Upanishads, bursting like a bombshell upon masses of ignorance, it is the word “fearlessness.”

2)      The essence of Vedanta is that there is but one Being and that every soul is that Being in full, not a part of that Being.

3)      He whom the sages have been seeking in all these places is in our own hearts; the voice that you heard was right, says Vedanta, but the direction you gave to the voice was wrong.

On Undesirable Aspects of Life:

1)      Why are people so afraid? The answer is that they have made themselves helpless and dependent on others. We are so lazy, we do not want to do anything ourselves. We want a Personal God, a Savior or a Prophet to do everything for us.

2)      Fear is death, fear is sin, fear is hell, fear is unrighteousness, fear is wrong life. All the negative thoughts and ideas that are in the world have proceeded from this evil spirit of fear.

3)      Astrology and all these mystical things are generally signs of a weak mind; therefore as soon as they are becoming prominent in our minds, we should see a physician, take good food, and rest.

4)      Superstition is our great enemy, but bigotry is worse.

5)      We came to enjoy; we are being enjoyed. We came to rule; we are being ruled. We came to work; we are being worked. All the time, we find that. And this comes into every detail of our life.

6)      Desire, ignorance, and inequality—this is the trinity of bondage.

Guidelines:

1)      First, believe in the world—that there is meaning behind everything.

2)      Tell the truth boldly, whether it hurts or not. Never pander to weakness. If truth is too much for intelligent people and sweeps them away, let them go; the sooner the better.

3)      This is the first lesson to learn: be determined not to curse anything outside, not to lay the blame upon anyone outside, but stand up, lay the blame on yourself. You will find that is always true. Get hold of yourself.

4)      Those who are overcautious about themselves fall into dangers at every step; those who are afraid of losing honor and respect, get only disgrace; and those who are always afraid of loss, always lose.

5)      Fill the brain with high thoughts, highest ideals, place them day and night before you, and out of that will come great work.

6)      Great work requires great and persistent effort for a long time. … Character has to be established through a thousand stumbles.

7)      Even the greatest fool can accomplish a task if it were after his or her heart. But the intelligent ones are those who can convert every work into one that suits their taste.

8)      Knowledge can only be got in one way, the way of experience; there is no other way to know.

9)      Fill the brain with high thoughts, highest ideals, place them day and night before you, and out of that will come great work.

10)   Perfection does not come from belief or faith. Talk does not count for anything. Parrots can do that. Perfection comes through selfless work.

He led his life in a very simple manner. It was precisely that no-nonsense demeanor and aura of knowledge, confidence and purity about him that enabled him to pull of the line “Brothers and sisters of America” like no one ever could.

My conclusion will also be a quote: the quote.

"Arise, Awake, and stop not till the goal is reached!"

Diwali.The Darker Side

The prodigal son(rama) returned home after thirteen years of exile.Exuberant common folk,to show their happiness,lit lamps in each of their homes.Thus diwali was born.


In our typical Indian fashion,we made it what it is today.

             Pomp and splendor best sum up this,"The Festival Of Lights".The one festival,in my opinion,which every Indian celebrates and enjoys,regardless of any secular or social differences.


"The Festival Of Lights".What an apt name!

    How sublimely enjoyable is the sky to behold!
          All lit up,a panorama of pyrotechnic wonders,an Olympic opening ceremony,almost,in every direction,as far as the eye can see.

    How delightful are the expressions on tiny tots faces!An expression of fear,excitement and sheer happiness,their faces light up even as the fireworks do.

    How awesome are the wild and crazy antics of teenagers(guys especially)!!!.doing things forbidden,wild and bordering on insanity,which nevertheless give an adrenaline rush like nothing else(On a personal note,I spent many of my Diwali's dropping lit chilli bombs down the opening of an exposed pipe on the terrace.As to what that pipe transported,I decline to tell you!!)

Let me now move over to the other,oft ignored aspects of Diwali.                                  .

 People who suffer asthmatic ailments find it very hard to properly enjoy this day.

 Municipal workers,who work hard enough as it is,face more work the day following Diwali than on a typical workweek for them.



We're literally burning money today.Not our money,of course,but still,the fact remains.


Last year,and the year before that,the night sky was cloaked in a perpetual fog,which was the smoke from our crackers.



All these problems,though huge,pale in comparison to the most horrendous,inhumane and shocking problem with Diwali.Which indeed,is the very reason for this post.



I spoke of the the bliss experienced by little kids. The reason for their joy are the fireworks aren't they?

Let me pose a question.

                        WHO MAKES THOSE CRACKERS???
Isn't the workforce responsible composed largely of kids who belong in primary schools??.

Even in a controlled environment with extreme precautionary measures,accidents happen.This environment,I think can safely be said,is poles apart from the one at S*****I(figure it out).


The kids working there handle saltpeter(an ingredient of gunpowder),SOLID SODIUM,potassium permanganate  on a regular basis without safety equipment of any sort.(whoever thinks i'm spouting rubbish,Google it)

I'm a betting man.Yet I would't wager ONE single rupee that a child unfortunate enough to face this horror will escape,unscathed in body and unbroken in spirit,able to start a normal life(I didn't include pictures because they were too horrifying)

Is there something about these little children which makes them less human?
Don't they deserve the same happiness children on the other side of the spectrum enjoy today?
Don't they,both as Indians and Humans have the right to DEMAND a normal,if not better lifestyle?/


And isn't it our MORAL,ETHICAL and FUNDAMENTAL DUTY to give it to them?

If anyone is thinking,"it's a form of population control",I pity you.No sense in you reading further and wasting your time.

There are some people who,fully cognizant of the facts,buy fireworks worth 500\- instead of 1000\- and feel they've made a huge sacrifice,and are really noble.Well,you're NOT!

let me address another class of people.The ones whose only association with an NGO is through facebook.Do you feel you're helping out by just singning on,maybe liking a few posts, and commenting????

IF the answer's yes,you're DELUDED.


if even one person's still reading,genuinely wanting to help these poor souls out,there is a way.


It involves Huge sacrifice,yet the rewards are equally herculean.


consider it a heartfelt plea,consider it a request,consider it BEGGING if it makes you grant it.

DO NOT BUY CRACKERS THIS DIWALI.

yes,the sacrifice is huge,but the impact's huge too.

If even one person refrains from buying crackers,all these words have not been in vain.


Though it might seem paradoxical and redundant,

HAVE AN AWESOME DIWALI!


  
                                     

Advertisements : My take on them

                                           

                                     

Recognize this?well if you don't its MOTOROLA,the company that invented the cell phone.What possible reason would you have for not recognizing a company that literally changed the world?This question and the one under the following question have a common answer

Check 'em out.Recognize them?Why???

Now,just for a minute,look in a clockwise direction from the top right corner.If someone from the 20th or 19th century saw them,they'd just be a bull in a poorly drawn triangle,an apple with a bite taken out of it,and a BUNNY WEARING A BOW - TIE! But for us, They represent in exactly that order:
1)The very symbol of cheap fast food
2)Opulence,decadence,luxury and in a word,CLASS!(I Adore Lamborghini!!!)
3)Playboy - Need I say more?!
4)Slick,cutting edge,(forgive my french),sexy!and purely AWESOME(love apple too,obviously!)


Why is there such a difference?why,instead of scoffing at thier ridiculousness,do we form images of things we covet??Wait for it(though you obviously figured it out)

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ADVERTISEMENTS

They're everywhere.Open any website,and loads of them pop up.Turn on the T.V,and there they are! We berate their existence,and yet ironically, Google/YouTube them when we hear about something cool.Like this one

And these...

Let's not forget the serious one's:

Says "don't cut the rain forest" waaay in the bottom.

On one side, there's ads which try brainwashing us into buying something, and on the other, we have just two examples here out of countless ones,which aim at improving our daily lives,or say something for a good cause.

The Google substitute of the 20th century...

Even though we have Google, and not the one above, advertisements still influence our decisions on what to buy. For example,the iPhone 4s was released on Oct.14 last year.

If interested, you can go through the following sites: 1,2

Specifically,check the comments section in #2. Not at all entering the question of whether you can get as good as,if not a better phone,from another manufacturer,let's examine whether a need exists to upgrade.


well, clearly,the guys owning an iPhone are loaded,but a new phone after a year.Based on what?
 - An 1/2 inch bigger screen
    26 grams lighter
    1.7 mm thinner
    An improved i OS which is still pretty glitchy

Are these few features worth  10,000 bucks?(hell yes,it's an iPhone and it's new.but i didn't say that.you didn't hear me)


leaving that apart, why did the iPhone craze start?Because of it's association with awesome.
Why did that start?
'coz of advertisements.

The actual cost of manufacturing a 16 GB iPhone 5 is $207.It's actual cosst?.$649.
apple's profit percentage??? : 31%.

This took 0.26 seconds via a google search. definitely, almost everyone owning an iPhone is fully aware of this fact.A 2% hike/drop in government fares/something we own, causes a huge outcry among the populace.

Yet, a 31% hike for a phone with very few improved features which is released eleven months after its predecessor has people clamoring to buy it.All because of the brand image firmly sequestered into their minds that owning one is cool.

Yes, ads do serve a very useful purpose.And it goes without saying that the con's outweigh the pro's

fine,pushing it.but i couldn't resist!

And,also it's pretty obvious that they'll exist as long as humanity does.

The solution? Think for yourself.don't just trust the ad, Google,consult people who used what you want to buy,and make an informed decision.

to sum up, lemme leave you with two simple taglines

"Don't let the Ad control your mind"

"Think outside the AD" 

Happy Shopping!



                             

Entertaining yourself @ 5:00 Am

It's 5:50.I turned yesterday at around eleven(early i know but i was celebrating.dusshera hols from today!).
somehow,i found myself awake with no sleepiness at around 4:30.Obviously,after staring at the clock to make sure of the time,i grew bored.
I didn't feel like vegging out-either on the net or on the t.v.So what else could i do,apart from falling asleep again?

I went out for a walk.At 4:50'ish.

there's a saying"Half the world does'nt know how the other three-quarters lives"

Today,it became apparent that the saying was completely true.hills,mountains and all that shit isn't needed to appreciate nature.Just taking a walk(only if you're not feeling pissed off at life)is more than enough.

I walked for 10 minutes in the mini tank bund near my house,then i just walked around,The exceptionally clement climate today,the completely still roads,and the stray dogs gamboling(really!) put me,a staunch pessimist, in exceptionally high spirints.I was walking and singing/wailing "chala jata hoon", the fast five track by danza kuduro(highly recommended!) ignoring"is he from yerragadda?" looks from strangers,I'd like to suggest this to everyone,especially creative guys n' gals.There's nothing more inspiring.

I'd like to close with a quote,my own humble one"The best way to just be with yourself is at 5:00 am in the morning,walking just because you want to.This is also the best way to really calm yourself"

Please guys,try it.If you haven't,just do it for the new experience.You won't regret it. This I promise.

Terrorism : Why I Think It Persists ,And Why It'll Never Die

Lumbini park,Mecca Masjid,The Taj hotel.Sound familiar?Of course.What do they all have in common?Pat comes the answer"They're all famous tourist spots."There's also another reason.

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They're all sites which witnessed that most ancient,unholy,disgusting and perverted of all human acts:arguably one of humanity's oldest acts: TERRRORISM.

Leaving out the obvious points of shitty security and all that jazz which enabled the terrorist to do  their job,let's look at another,oft ignored question.

WHY did they do it?maybe because they were commanded.

but WHY did they chose to be terrorists?

Just take a look at this 

This is something we all start of as

Do you really think that will become a full fledged human weapon,mercilessly killing anyone under the sun?(this was a rhetorical question!don't answer).

The terrorist who murders without knowing why is just a tool in a really sick,twisted and sociopathic animal,just as his gun is a tool for him.But when,does this(click to see) become the cause of this(not for sensitive people)?

how does he get such a warped view of life that he is willing to kill a living,breathing human being?

typically,people become terrorists because they might be the victims of dreadful attacks.This is one of the most tragic paradoxes.they wish to inflict their suffering onto as many as they can.

Terrorism is defined as "Acts of violence designed to achieve a political goal."

did this guy know what the ultimate objective of his leader was?I doubt it.

Looking at the definition,2 questions immediately flashes to my mind.

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HOW DID AMERICA ACHIEVE INDEPENDENCE?

WHAT DO YOU CALL AMERICA'S INVASION OF IRAQ?

wasn't it through glorified murdering on a large scale?

isn't america a country,which,according to the definition,a country born out of terrorism?can we say that terrorism,though hiding under several cloaks,is still rampant?

I say yes.though the following statement might seem downright cynical and warped,I still say it

"A terrorist lurks inside each and every one of us."


The question remains: will terrorism ever stop?well,when entire governments themselves not only condone it,but also practice it,albeit under lofty labels,how the hell will a person,possibly devastated by the sudden deaths of his loved ones,shortly listening to the words of someone like this gain strength to stay in touch with his human side?

Just a question to ponder on.