Friday, December 12, 2008

Japanese Scientists Successfully Extract Images From Human Brain

mind reading
Apparently, it is now possible to recreate images from information recorded from the brain. They are using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technology that is then fed into a computer. The Computer decodes the raw data through comparative analysis into images that are seen by the subject being scanned. It is just at the beginning stages of development but this is a major breakthrough and they seem pretty confident about the potential of this technology.

Here is a link to the original article in the Japanese Newspaper Daily Yomiuri Online.

Click on the picture on the right for the original article in the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shinbun.


There are so many potentially wonderful applications for this technology. Just think of what this could mean for coma patients. Not to mention what it could mean for art, entertainment, and the evolution of human culture. The possibilities are staggering. We really are standing at the cusp of a whole new era of marvelous possibilities.

Personally, I can't wait for an Electroplankton -like interface that will allow me to transform my dreams into music videos. I'll be making music in my sleep.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Adjustments

It took me a few days but I finally got my new Art-Craft Clubman frames adjusted to the point that they are comfortable without being so loose that they slide down my nose. Yesterday, someone actually complimented me on my new frames.

She said, "You probably get that a lot."

I told her that I actually didn't and I thanked her. She made my day, because she is actually the first person to tell me that they liked my frames. I had someone once refer to me as the man in the horn rimmed glasses and tell me that they liked Heroes. When I told them that I liked it too and it was one of my favorite shows, they said, "You should like it. You're in it."

Yeah, but usually no one seems to notice, which is just fine with me because I don't wear them to be noticed. I just like the look and feel of the frames.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Art Craft Clubman Frames Arrived

My Art Craft Clubman frames arrived today. They are perfect.
They were in even better condition than I was expecting. They seem almost brand new and barely worn. They are an older vintage pair with the crimp on nose pads.

I adjusted them and tightened the five barrel hinges. I put new screws in them as well and transferred the lenses from my Shuron Ronsir Zyl frames and to my surprise they fit quite nicely. The Art Craft frames are shaped slightly different but not enough to really matter. I plan to get new lenses put in them early next year anyway.

I am so happy and they look great.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Patiently Waiting


I feel like a little kid again. Normally I am a pretty patient person but I was recently browsing Ebay when I found and purchased the exact pair of Art-Craft Clubman frames that I had been seeking for over a year now. Now I am waiting for them to arrive and they should be here any day.



My obsession began in November of 2007 when I was watching an episode of Heroes. There was a scene in the episode that showed an extreme closeup of Noah Bennet's glasses. I suddenly decided that my next pair of glasses would be in that type of frame.

So I began searching the web trying to find out what brand of frame Mr. Bennet wears. It took me a while because none of the posts or Wikipedia entries that I had read had seemed to get it right. I later discovered that this was because Noah wore a different brand of frame in season one than he did in season 2.

I continued my search and, thanks to my photographic memory, I soon discovered that Mr. Bennet's new frames, the ones that I fell in love with, were in fact Art Craft Clubmans. Toroise and gold. Once I realized what I was looking for I soon discovered, much to my dismay, that these frames were discontinued by Art Craft sometime in 2003 or 2004.

I began looking on websites that sold vintage frames and thought I had scored the perfect pair only to realize that they were too big. I eventually went to a local optician and settled for a pair of tortoise and gold Shuron Ronsir Zyls. Shuron is the company that created this style of frame and they are nice. They just don't quite have the nice streamlined look that the Art Craft Clubman does. It's kind of like wanting to buy a Tesla Roadster but having to settle for a Toyota Prius.

But now I have finally found the frames I have been searching for.
So this quest is finally at an end.