I would end up in the emergency room if I tried this.
Archive for the science Category
Why Spend Thousands On A Laser Burner?
Posted in Links, science, Toni Tiller with tags Art, diy, hack, laser, Toni Tiller on December 2, 2009 by Toni TillerThe Uncanny Valley Explains My Urge To Kick Babies
Posted in Miscellaneous, science, Stephanie Gerolimatos with tags baby, daily, dancing, dropkick, science, stephg, uncanny, valley on October 17, 2009 by ssstephg
A friend of mine posted a link on Facebook to this article in Science Daily. You know how representations of humans that look eerily human but still not quite right are a little disconcerting? Well, the article is about how monkeys have the same issue with representations of monkeys that look eerily monkey-like but still not quite right. Apparently, we’re both more comfortable with representations of our species that take conscious liberties than with those weirdly close but somehow off types.
Brief clip from the article:
The uncanny valley, a phrase coined by a Japanese researcher nearly three decades ago, describes that disquieting feeling that occurs when viewers look at representations designed to be as human-like as possible — whether computer animations or androids — but somehow fall short.
So yeah, there’s a scientific reason why I want to dropkick this disgusting little tyke…
This one’s ok by me though…
But Is It Art? Feed Me, Seymour.
Posted in "But Is It Art?", Miscellaneous, news, science, Tom Bennett, Uncategorized with tags "But Is It Art?", news, rat, science, Tom Bennett on August 20, 2009 by Tom Bennett
I need this in my neighborhood in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. It’s a newly discovered
Rat-eating plant.
What it does with the bones, I don’t know. Now if an obnoxious Donna Summer-playing neighbor-eating plant can be discovered, I’ll be set.
Life Imitating All The Wrong Art
Posted in Art, science with tags 2001, Art, impending death, robots, terminator on August 3, 2009 by jdhastingsThe Newscientist today brings us a photo of people wearing artificial leg type things, that are now being mass produced in Japan:
What’s wrong with that, you ask? Nothing in and of itself. These machines will be great for the disabled, and any number of other useful tasks. However, I have reason to believe that the product itself is just a ruse and a front hiding the radical agenda of a doomsday cult.
How can I say that?
A) The Company’s name is Cyberdyne, aka the company that invents the freaking Terminator computers and
B) They named this product HAL, as in the computer that killed all but one member of the Jupiter mission back in 2001.
Come on, people, they’re ADVERTISING their allegiance to the Robot Revolution here? Does nobody else care? Will we stare down the barrel of the gun they’re pointing at us and do nothing but call them cute??
Be afraid, people. Very afraid.
Also, this device will probably be used by perfectly healthy people and just make us all fatter and lazier.
-JD
Are You a Red or a Blue?
Posted in Art, news, science on May 6, 2009 by jdhastingsI was listening to an old podcast from NPR this morning and they had a story about the effects of color on cognitive performance. Basically, does surrounding ourselves with different colors cause us to perform better at some tasks better than others?
The answer, apparently, is yes. When participants’ background color for their monitors was Red, they performed better on concrete, detail oriented tasks while those with blue backgrounds did better with creative, open-ended tasks. Red apparently puts people on edge, with more fear of failure, so they remain more alert and perform activities as such. Whereas Blue relaxes you so your brain wanders more freely.
So if you’re wondering why you don’t seem to do much but clean your brand new Red studio, maybe you now know. Same if you find yourself sitting around your blue office giggling like you’re stoned.
Yarn Theory Redux
Posted in Art, events, exhibits, mixed media, science with tags Art, exhibits, feminism, fiber art, galleries, yarn science, yarn theory on April 14, 2009 by jdhastings
“Lorenz Manifold” by Hinke Osinga
In mid-January I posted about a recent trend of using fiber art to visualize certain scientific or methematical concepts.
As it turns out, I’m not the only one who’s been following the trend. The PS122 Gallery in New York is holding an exhibition this month titled “Yarn Theory”. As they state on that website, “Yarn Theory highlights the vibrant and deep interrelationship between the sciences, mathematics, crocheting and knitting.”
They go on to state:
Highlighting the work of some of today’s most interesting practitioners, Yarn theory juxtaposes installations and art objects made with a scientific or mathematical basis as a starting point, and with mathematical models and items made explicitly to explain or clarify abstract concepts, which end up being compelling aesthetic forms unto themselves. Because of their incremental structure, the crafted shapes often mimic growth systems found in nature. Such correlations are being explored by today’s needle workers, many of whom are also scientists and mathematicians professionally.
This sounds like an excellent show with any number of aesthetic, scientific and political issues to address and II encourage anybody who is able to attend to go. The exhibit will run from April 25 until May 17 and the gallery is located at 150 First Avenue, NY, NY 10009 (enter on 9th St. between First Ave. and Ave. A).
-JD
Freaky, But is it Art?
Posted in "But Is It Art?", Art, current events, events, exhibits, Miscellaneous, science, Tom Bennett with tags "But Is It Art?", anomalies, exhibit, freak show, gallery, human oddities, shock and horror, side show, Tom Bennett on April 10, 2009 by Tom Bennett
Ever since my father took me to Madison Square Garden, when I was 7, to see the Barnum and Baily circus I have been fascinated with it and the side show.
An artist and photographer, James Mundie, let me know about this.
There is an exhibition of human oddities and medical anomalies at a gallery in downtown Los angeles called the Todd Browning Gallery, named after the director of the classic horror film, “Freaks”. The gallery specializes in vintage and contemporary photography by international artists. The show is called Shock and Horror
Miniature Implantable Eyeball Telescope
Posted in "But Is It Art?", science, Stephanie Gerolimatos with tags eye, prosthetic, technology, telescope, vision on April 4, 2009 by ssstephgThanks to my pal Daniel for sending this really cool link. Vision Care Opthalmic Technologies has developed a visual prosthetic device designed to correct or improve vision loss due to dysfunction of the macula. Basically, they implant a tiny telescope of sorts directly into the eye which functions to enlarge images 3X or 2.2X across the retina. The larger image is then focused on not just the damaged area of the macula, but on healthy tissue as well which allows the patient to see without blindspots. Wow! Telescopes, cameras, what’s next? So much potential! This sort of technology sends all kinds of exciting artsy sci-fi fantasies through my geeky little head. Thanks Daniel! -Steph Gerolimatos
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