Non Sequitur for Saturday, January 22, 2011

Non Sequitur for Saturday, January 22, 2011: ""

Texting your door lock: "open pls. TY"

Texting your door lock: "open pls. TY": "

You can leave your keys at home with this clever hack by Billy Chasen, who rigged up his deadbolt to a Propeller-based Spinneret Web Server. Using an SMS gateway called Twilio, he can open and close the lock by tapping out a quick text message. Not only that, but the system also responds to acknowledge his request. For security, there's a whitelist of permitted senders.

It's an awesome project, but I hope for Billy's sake that his deadbolt doesn't go rogue and start texting up all his deadbolt friends. 'R U unlocked right now?'
[via BuzzFeed]

More:

• How-To: Lock a deadbolt from the outside
• How-To: Make a remote controlled deadbolt
• How-To: Shut down your computer with a text message

Badass Bandsawing

Badass Bandsawing: "

TM reader Dan tipped us off to the awesome video above (originally posted on BoingBoing) in which a guy cuts a three-dimensional deer out of a block of wood with nothing but a slightly-modified bandsaw — in under a minute.

No, I’m not kidding. Take a look and I’ll meet you back after the jump.

I’ll admit that I agree completely with the first YouTube commenter: Even more amazing than the craftsmanship is the fact that he still has all his fingers after whipping them around a bandsaw blade that way. Still, that’s some incredible artistry. I wonder what the guy can do when he takes some time?

Sadly I couldn’t find much information on the bandsaw mods. At the beginning of the video we see a title indicating that the mods include “polyurethane tires” and “precision-ground blades.” I’m guessing that the tires might allow him to make those super-tight turns, and the blade is obviously extra-sharp. Do any of you know about these mods? Anything that’ll turn a basic Craftsman saw into something like we see in the video is worth a feature here on Toolmonger.

"

Yang Yongliang: Cigarette Ash Landscape

Yang Yongliang: Cigarette Ash Landscape: "

Curated turns us onto this news:

“Two things about this work of art are amazing. First, the scale. Second, Yan Yongliang has turned a collection of black and white photographs and formed a collage mimicking cigarette ash. The ash itself mimics a city scape, and the photographs are all architectural. Full circle, fully engrossing.”

Read more over at Curated.

This article originally appeared on Selectism.com.

Yang Yongliang: Cigarette Ash Landscape

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© 2011 Selectism for Titel Media. Author: Jason Dike |
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How-To: Paint with light

How-To: Paint with light: "

Our friends at Photojojo give us a step-by-step tutorial on how to paint with light. All you need is a camera with manual exposure control, a tripod, things that glow, dark clothing, and a dark space.

If you have enough time, you can create a stunning stop-frame animation, or even write out your marriage proposal across a few city blocks. [via Lifehacker]

More:


HOW TO - stop motion light painting

Read the Full Story » | More on MAKE » | Comments » |



Read more articles in Imaging |


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"

Make: Projects - Hang a picture from a pull tab

Make: Projects - Hang a picture from a pull tab: "

When I was a teenager, we had a distinctly impolite name for a pull tab that had been removed from the can with the rivet ring still intact, said name being based on a persistent urban legend about the alleged redemption value of these relatively rare tabs. I can assure you, dear readers, that legend has nothing to do with the reason I am familiar with this handy trick for removing pull tabs with the ring intact every time. Turns out, a tab with an intact rivet ring is quite useful for mounting to wooden frames as a picture hanger. And I, you know, have to hang up lots of pictures. Seriously.

More:

• Make: Projects — Light Switch Time Capsule
• Make: Projects — No-Holes Poster/Quilt Hanger
• Make: Projects — Install a Penny Countertop

Read the Full Story » | More on MAKE » | Comments » |





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'Killer paper' could prolong shelf life of foods

'Killer paper' could prolong shelf life of foods: "

Silver is a known killer of harmful bacteria, and has already been incorporated into things such as antibacterial keyboards, washing machines, water filters, and plastic coatings for medical devices. Now, scientists have added another potential product to the list: silver nanoparticle-impregnated “killer paper" packaging, that could help keep food from spoiling...
Continue Reading 'Killer paper' could prolong shelf life of foods

Tags: Bacteria,
Coating,
Food,
Nanoparticles,
packaging,
Ultrasonic



Related Articles:

• New packaging would indicate when food is spoiled


• Samsung set to launch Silver Nano Wash system that kills 99% of bacteria


• New polymers could make life tough for bacteria


• New lacquer-based antibacterial active film keeps food fresher, longer


• Low-cost, durable, lightweight battery made from paper


• Turn waste office paper into toilet paper

"

Axolotl eggs could provide a potent weapon in fight against cancer

Axolotl eggs could provide a potent weapon in fight against cancer: "

A common cause of cancer is when cells are altered or mutated and the body’s tumor suppressor genes are switched off. Scientists at the University of Nottingham have managed to bring cancer cells back under control by reactivating the cells’ cancer suppressor genes using an extract from axolotl oocytes. The scientists say the discovery could form a powerful new technology platform for the treatment of a variety of cancers...
Continue Reading Axolotl eggs could provide a potent weapon in fight against cancer

Tags: Cancer,
University of Nottingham



Related Articles:

• Stem cell elimination offers ovarian cancer breakthrough


• LED device could aid in cancer treatment


• Genetically engineered immune cells watched in real-time as they kill cancer


• Fingernail-sized implant successfully eliminates tumors in mammals


• Biodegradeable nanoparticles promise end to toxic chemotherapy treatments


• Cheek swab technique could provide simple cancer screening

"

On the go: Top gear in the year 2031

On the go: Top gear in the year 2031: "

When you look back 20 years to the era of brick-like mobile phones, film-based cameras and – scary as it is – no Facebook, it's easy to see how far technology has come. But how far will it go? In the final installment of our "on the go' series we've cast our minds two decades into the future to take a look at some of the most promising mobile technologies that are likely to reach maturity by the year 2031, delivering connectivity, convenience and portability on a science fiction scale...
Continue Reading On the go: Top gear in the year 2031



Related Articles:

• NEC to launch card-sized telephone


• Nine megapixel camera phone module announced


• Sharp develops high def mobile 3D camera module


• Meta Group warns on Office camera phones


• Disposable mobile phones on the horizon


• The hard disk drive mobile phone is nearly here

"

Avitas Control-1 – perfect for the racer on a budget

Avitas Control-1 – perfect for the racer on a budget: "

Here’s something for the racer on a budget to chew on. Turkish composite specialist Avitas has taken the covers off its first complete car, the Control-1, at the Autosport International 2011 show in Birmingham.

Designed and built in-house, the Control-1 is the result of two years of development by the Istanbul-based company, which has been around since 1969 and specialises in producing automotive composite plastic products.

The Control-1 is built around a tubular chassis, and features carbon fibre panels and all-round double-wishbone suspension. It’s equipped with a four-cylinder 150 hp engine, mated to a five-speed sequential gearbox, and the rear-wheel drive vehicle weighs in at just 660 kg.

It’s intended to be inexpensive to buy and run, providing both competitors and championship organisers with an efficient way to go racing, or start a new series. Any takers then?

© 2011 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 16 Jan 11 16:35:22 +0000.

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What To Do When You Find Something Cool On The Internet

What To Do When You Find Something Cool On The Internet: "

Congratulations, you found something cool on the internet. Now you can use this handy dandy flowchart to figure out what you should do next. (more…)

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