Author: arybin

Assistant Director, Visual Resources Collection, University of Chicago
THATCamp Organizer

Categories
Innovative Technology

How Much Does That Folder of Images Weigh?

It may eventually be possible to tell via TeslaTouch, a new tactile technology for touchscreens (say that ten times fast). Chris Harrison, a Ph.D. student at Carnegie Mellon University is working with Disney Research to create a new method of electronic screen production, utilizing electrical impulses to simulate different sensations. According to the CNN Tech Blog:

The touch screen is made up of three layers. A glass plate, topped with a transparent electrode and an insulator, is what people touch. To simulate friction and texture, the electrode creates small electrical fields in the insulation layer. These fields oscillate between positive and negative charges, creating those sensations.

Such technology could make it possible to feel computer keys on a touchscreen, allowing users to “touch type” rather than look at the screen’s keyboard. Rubber, sandpaper, and even cat fur could be simulated. Additionally, the technology can imitate the “weight” of files or folders, depending on their size. This could allow users to feel how long a file or folder will take to transfer from one location to another.

For more information, see the TeslaTouch project page.

Categories
Exhibitions

Indian Folk Art: Patua, Warli, Gond, and Madhubani

Tomorrow!

Indian Folk Art: Patua, Warli Gond, and Madhubani

Friday, October 8th at 3:00pm

South Asia Commons – Foster Hall 103

Please join the South Asia Language and Area Center for the first Friday Chai of the 2010/2011 school year on October 8th at 3:00 PM in Foster hall, room 103.

In addition to being the first Friday Chai, Friday marks the premier of “Indian Folk Art: Patua, Warli, Gond, and Madhubani”, an exhibition of Indian folk art in four styles originating in Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. Dr. Poornima Paidipathy, Harper Schmidt Fellow and Collegiate Assistant Professor, will give a short introduction to the exhibit. Manvee Vaid, collector and curator of the works, will also be present to explain the origins of the artwork and well as answer questions.

Please join Dr. Paidipathy and Ms. Vaid for a discussion of Indian folk art following the presentations. Chai and samosas will be served.

The artwork will be on display in Foster 103 until the end of Fall Quarter. Open viewing hours are restricted to the times of public events in Foster 103. The exhibit will be viewable every Friday of the quarter, between 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM. All of the artwork in the exhibit is available for purchase.

Categories
Images on the Web Innovative Technology Museums Renaissance - Baroque

Uffizi Images in High Resolution

Via Open Culture:

This past week, an Italian web site (Haltadefinizione) placed online six works from the famous Uffizi Gallery in Florence, all in super high resolution. Each image is packed with close to 28 billion pixels, a resolution 3,000 times greater than your normal digital photo. And this gives art connoisseurs everywhere the ability to zoom in and explore these paintings in exquisitely fine detail – to see strokes and details not normally seen even by visitors to the Uffizi.

These digital reproductions will be available online for free until January 29, 2011.

Categories
Artnet Innovative Technology Modern - Contemporary

Auctions App from artnet

A free mobile application is available from artnet, allowing users to “Buy and Sell Fine Art. On the Go.” Find price details for hundreds of original modern and contemporary artworks, vetted by experienced auction specialists.

Click to download from iTunes.

Categories
Images on the Web Innovative Technology Photography

Photographing the Atomic Bomb

Today NPR’s The Picture Show featured photographs taken by Harold Eugene Edgerton during the 1950s which captured the earliest moments of atomic explosions. As the NPR article explains:

After the war, EG & G, Inc. (Edgerton, Germeshausen and Grier Inc.) developed the rapatronic camera for the Atomic Energy Commission to record — specifically, in one take only — the beginning of nuclear explosions… The dangers of shockwaves and radiation required the camera to be placed 7 miles from the detonation site on a tower some 75 feet in the air. Exposure time was one-hundred-millionth of a second. The exposure time was so small that no conventional mechanical shutter could be used. A magnetic field was created around two polarized lenses that were rotated, permitting light to pass through an optical system.

An example of the rapatronic camera is pictured above. To see examples from the series of atomic bomb photographs by Edgerton, visit NPR’s article.

Categories
Color Image Quality Presentation Tech Support

Optimal Mac Settings for Projection in CWAC

Have you had trouble getting presentations to look good in CWAC classrooms? Are images too dark, or the wrong size? The following tips will solve most projection problems and work best for MacBook Pros. Knowing how to adjust your resolution, mirroring and color profile will help you when presenting outside of CWAC, too, since every projector is a little different.

Please Note: In CWAC, we recommend turning off at least the first two rows of lights closest to the screen for maximum color accuracy and brightness.

We now have VGA and HDMI connections (with adapters for Mac!) You might consider trying HDMI for the best color and clarity.

First, select System Preferences from the Apple menu at the top left of your Finder toolbar. Then click on Displays.

When this window opens, you can check “Show displays in menu bar” if you would like a shortcut to Displays in your Finder menu. Next, adjust your ExtronScalerA (Projector) resolution. We recommend 1900 x 1080 (or as high as your monitor will allow) at 60 Hz.

Now adjust your Color LCD (Laptop) resolution to 1440 x 900.

Go back to the VGA Display window and select the Arrangement tab. Check or uncheck the box as you prefer (if you would like to project exactly what is on your laptop screen, check Mirror Displays. If you would like to show a Powerpoint presentation with presenter notes, or drag only one window to the projector screen at a time, uncheck this box).

Finally, click on the Color tab. Switch profile to sRGB IEC61966-2.1. This should correct images that are appearing dark or muddled. If sRGB IEC61966-2.1 is not showing up on your list, be sure that the box “Show profiles for this display only” is NOT checked.

For a MacBook, settings are the same as above except the Color LCD (Laptop) resolution should be set at 1280 x 800.

Click here to read more about this topic. If you have trouble setting up a different kind of laptop, or if you have any questions, please contact the VRC or AV Services.

Categories
Museums News

“New” Work by Pieter Bruegel the Elder Identified

The Wine of Saint Martin’s Day, currently owned by a Spanish private collector, has been now been identified as a work by 16th century Flemish painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder. It has been attributed to the artist by the Museo del Prado following several months of study and the restoration (restoration work included a right to purchase option). If acquired by the Museo del Prado, this would double the number of works by Bruegel in Spain (the only other being Triumph of Death, located at the Prado).

Click here for more information.

Categories
Images on the Web Museums

Digital Images from the British Museum

The British Museum offers free online delivery of images in the collection for print non-commercial use. Register for free; requests are delivered as jpeg attachments, and are limited to 100 per month. This service is available for print use (non-commercial publication, less than 4,000 copies) only, but all images from their website are available for educational non-commercial use (including projection in the classroom).

Please read full terms of use.

Categories
Color Innovative Technology Software

A Color App for the iPhone

The mobile application colorID, by Winfield & Co. LLC (and available for download from iTunes for $1.99), is a color recognition tool that allows users to capture, identify, and share colors on the go. A recent blog post by Austin Seraphin highlights a profound use of this application: used in conjunction with the iPhone’s standard VoiceOver screen reader and iPhone camera, colorID speaks the names of colors. This allows visually impaired users to hear a narrative of color as they experience it. Below is an excerpt from Seraphin’s blog; find the entire post here. Read more about accessible applications here.

The next day, I went outside. I looked at the sky. I heard colors such as “Horizon,” “Outer Space,” and many shades of blue and gray. I used color queues to find my pumpkin plants, by looking for the green among the brown and stone… I then found the brown shed, and returned to the gray house. My mind felt blown. I watched the sun set, listening to the colors change as the sky darkened. The next night, I had a conversation with Mom about how the sky looked bluer tonight. Since I can see some light and color, I think hearing the color names can help nudge my perception, and enhance my visual experience.

Categories
ARTstor Luna News Powerpoint Presentation Software Tech Support VRC

We’ve Moved!…

…back upstairs, and down the hall! Please come visit us in Suite 257 of the Cochrane-Woods Art Center.

The beginning of fall quarter is quickly approaching. Need help using ARTstor? Finding what you need in LUNA? Creating presentations? As a reminder, VRC staff are available for individual or group training sessions. We also provide in-class image searching orientation for students in the humanities. If you are interested in scheduling a session, please contact us.