August 29, 2007
Slashdong Book Club: Blue Root
Slashdong Book Club: Blue Root
There's definitely some perks to having words like "teledildonics" as technorati search feeds. Mainly because I find things like this. Blue Root is a book that was released for free today by its author, Rina Slayter. The reasons she's releasing it, from her blog:
Because writer friends of mine keep asking me what's up with it, where it's being published and are shocked to find out that no, it's not going to be released in paperback or even ebook from a publisher who was willing to take a chance. They enjoyed it so much that they still ask after having read it over a year ago and hadn't forgotten in.
Sure, it's got some first-book-itis, but a lot of the things in it are being tackled today. Teledildonics comes to mind. Bluetooth-enabled portable computer devices. The iPhone.
And suddenly, the reason I'm posting about this becomes evident. Yes, folks, it's a book with teledildonics in it. How can advertising like this not make you want to read the fuck out of this thing?
For some light reading including a networkable, programmable sex toy, a wimpy villain who reeks like garlic, a semi-self-aware A.I., a cat named Trouble, a rekindled romance and a whole lot of sex-crazed, living zombies, read Blue Root.
So, go on, read it. You know you want to. I'll be writing a book report and presenting it to the class when I'm done.
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August 26, 2007
It's on now, bitches.
Shit yes, it is on.
For some values of it.
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August 24, 2007
Arse Elektronika - WHY HAVE YOU NOT BOUGHT YOUR TICKETS YET
From the depiction of a vulva in a cave painting to the newest internet porno, technology and sexuality have always been closely linked. No one can predict what the future will bring, but history indicates that sex will continue to play an essential role in technological development. The porno effect accompanies every new technological development. Is it going too far to assume that research in nanotechnology and genetic engineering will be influenced by our sexual needs? The surgical modification of sexual organs is no longer something very unusual. The question is not whether these technologies alter humanity, but how they do so.
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August 19, 2007
qDot + Falcon = Oh Lord No
Dear friend I borrowed the Falcon from: I swear I'll clean it before I give it back.
===
That's a NovInt Falcon, with a dildo tied to it (using crocodile clips and wire, 'cause this is a workbench, not a bedroom!), being controlled through a python script running the motors to full out, then full back.
This is a fucking SWEET way to burn out the motors, so unless you're making stupid videos with a friend's one that they let you "check out for the weekend", I don't recommend trying this method.
Go implement a nice, romantic PID loop, instead. It's what the kids call "closing the loop". Smooth positional control is better anyways. See if you can be the first to implement "the swirl".
(Note: First person to get Oprah to talk about the crisis of "closing the loop" in high schools gets... something awesome)
Here's the pretty printed HTML version of the code, or the actual python file
Since FTDI has cross-platform drivers, this script should technically work on Windows, Mac, or Linux (Update: So the current python script will actually only run on windows, 'cause PyUSB, the FTDI interface layer, is windows only. However, FTDI makes drivers for all platforms, and you've got the protocol now, so it's just a matter of compiling for whatever you platform may be and using that). 'course, I expect NovInt's upcoming SDK will probably involve a lot more features and making programming MUCH easier (and they're releasing it free to non-commercial developers anyways), but I'm still awful proud of myself for getting this far without documentation. I'll write up the whole story of how I put this all together tomorrow. Right now, pre-brunch sleep awaits.
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August 9, 2007
The Fuckable Falcon
Holy. Fucking. Fuck.
These are the times when I realize I'm not alone in this world. Oh no, there are other pervs out there, with too much hardware and too much time.
The NovInt Falcon. Basic idea: You hold onto the little ball in the front and can move on 3 axes. However, there's force feedback on all of those axes, meaning that it will actually push against you. So, if you shoot a gun, you actually get recoil. If you run into a wall, you will actually feel the force. The motors on all the axes are decently strong, too. Here's an incredibly underinformed video that at least gets the point across:
I've been lusting after this thing for the better part of 2 years, as I think it has real potential as a user interface device. I always thought it'd be cool to hook it to one of the poke-the-doll games like Virtually Jenna and have tactile feedback in... Well, use your imagination. However, I totally didn't think of actually fucking the device itself.
But thank fucking GOD people read this and send me their ideas. What you see there is a falcon attached to a fleshlight. There's no fastening mechanism in the picture, but according to the person who sent this to me, tape can be used as long as there's some sort of level for the fleshlight to rest on. With the right amount of lubrication, the motors will take care of the linear movement and you now have your very own desktop fucking machine, with stylish footprint that you don't have to hide from your parents!
The fleshlight looks like it was almost designed for this use! Though using something lighter, like a Tenga or Nue, might be preferable. For those looking for outies instead of innies, this is a prime candidate for the already popular Vaculock dildo system
The Falcon comes with debugging software that, when used in conjunction with a mouse movement recorder, can play patterns. The movements can be generated, saved, and replayed.
And don't worry about fucking it too hard, 'cause...
"Yes, the Falcon is designed to be durable. Although it is a precision instrument, it is not delicate or something to be babied. So we do not anticipate that mechanical failures are going to be a issue with the Falcon. This is one reason why we extended our warranty to a full year - we are confident in its durability."
Man, posts like this are why I still run this page.
And you can bet I'll be working on this myself.
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August 8, 2007
Stupid Conference Tricks (SIGGRAPH 2007): Wiibrator Port to OS X
I try to do one stupid project every conference I go to now. This time (SIGGRAPH 2007), it was porting the Wiibrator to OS X so I could use it on my mac. This also involved getting a SWIG'd version of libusb working on OS X, which means I can now port Twitterdildonics to python easily.
Unfortunately, the wiibrator only "sort of" works due to the fact that the python bluetooth lib isn't thread safe and therefore I have to do my input fetching and other computations in the same thread, which means I don't update fast enough to beat the wiimote sampling rate, so the FFT isn't real happy. But, not bad for a few hours work over the week while the boring papers were up. :)
I'll have it at the reception tonight, wheee. :D
Wiibrator Python Source, libusb compiled library w/ swig interface (SWIG stuff taken from USBTiny Project)
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August 4, 2007
Hmm, maybe I will have something... (qDot - Live from SIGGRAPH)
Well, got my badge and my program and all that, so let's see what's going on...
*flips through program*
Ooooh, 8 "haptic input device" companies on the show floor...
*flips somemore*
Some of the talks and posters...
- A Ball-Type Vibro-Tactile Space Mouse Using One Web Camera
- An Electrical Muscle Stimulation Haptic Feedback for Mixed-Reality Tennis Game
- Meshless Visual and Haptic Interaction From a Real-Time Depth Image
Emerging Technologies...
- Fibratus Tactile Sensor (capable of sensing 'gentle' touch)
- Freqtric Game (Human skin contact as game controller)
- Gravity Grabber (Wearable Haptic Display to Present Virtual Mass Sensation)
- Haptic Telexistence
- Microsoft Surface (Ok so there's not much haptic here but I have this whole thing about Surface displaying nude people while I eat off of it so I can act like I'm eating at one of those sushi places where you eat off a nude person except like I can be eating buffalo wings out of the freezer or something.... yeah.)
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August 2, 2007
qDot @ ACM Sandbox and SIGGRAPH 2007
Yup. I'll be around San Diego all week for ACM Sandbox and SIGGRAPH. Poke me and say hi if you're there.
If you're interested in updates on the non-sex stuff that's happening there, I'll be trying to blog it at Nonpolynomial Labs (Note: I have a horrid track record in doing this).
If there's ribaldry, you can bet it'll show up here, though I somehow doubt that's gonna happen.
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