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Posts with tag laser

Filed under: Design, Developer, Utilities, Productivity, Freeware

DAVID 3D laserscan software

3D Laser scanner
Computer scientists from Germany have developed a way to laser-scan an object via a webcam into your computer. The software calculates the 3D dimensions based on the input it receives from the webcam, which views the laser beam being swept over the object you are scanning. At first it looked as though this was too-good-to-be-true, but you decide for yourself. I haven't tried this myself, and I really don't know what I would use it for, but it looks very cool for anyone thinking about scanning your own head, your cat, or something else in 3D. I suppose any 3D or game artists would find it useful, since they are constantly trying to find good ways of mapping a new object into the computer so they can model it, play with it, and change it. The software that accomplishes this feat of engineering is available as a free download. The software you can download doesn't allow full 360 degree scans...yet. Hopefully the developers will put out a new version in response to all the feedback they will undoubtedly be getting. We shall see.

[Via Engadget]

Filed under: Hardware, News

Intel's laser-based processor

Intel's laser-based chipIn the next 5-10 years by all estimates we should have a processor capable of 1Tbps throughput, at least according to Intel. The optical networking chip Intel is working on uses laser light as the medium for performing computations, instead of the traditional transistor-based chips. Light represents data, which is processed instead of molecules or electrical signals. I guess you could say that fiber optic technology is quite similar to how this chip works. light moves faster than pretty much anything else we currently have, so it makes a great data carrier. A substance called indium phosphide is one that emits light on a single wavelength when electricity is applied to it, which will generate the light source needed to make this processor work. This chip could pay big dividends in computing, not just in fiber networking systems, but in computing platforms as well. Intel believes they could mass-produce these chips in the next 5-10 years, and they will cheaper and easier to produce. Computing at the speed of light sounds good to me.

Featured Time Waster

Forumwarz - a potentially offensive time waster

I pwn UAfter spending the better part of an hour on Forumwarz I still can't decide if it's just sick or if it's kind of fun. It's a bit like a car wreck on the highway. I know I shouldn't be looking but I can't quite turn away.

It's sick, it's twisted, it's the internet on it's worst level and darn it, it's kind of fun. At least for a little while.

Forumwarz is a parody role-playing game that takes place on the internet - or at least the Forumwarz version of it. Your goal is to complete missions that are given to you through a mock up of GoogleTalk called Sentrillion.

Your first "friend" is ShallowEsophagus who begins giving you missions to pwn various forums by being a troll. Depending on the character type you are assigned at start up, you have tools like drooling on the keyboard or bashing your head on the keyboard that you can use to destroy forum threads and eventually, pwn a forum.

Future missions involve buying illegal software from the Russians, pwning more difficult forums and other internet oddness.

Completing missions gives you cash, called Flezz in game, and items that you can pawn or use in other missions. The game is NOT for those easily offended. It's crass, coarse and there are frequent f-bombs in the fake chat sessions.

This is also a game for a more mature audience as it requires you to shop at the Drugs R Fun store to get various concoctions to improve your playing, engage in certain cyber activities to get more Flezz and just generally use a more adult perspective.

If you can get past that, here are the more enjoyable and time-wasting aspects.

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