Yes, it does look cool on screen. But these are modern science fiction movies, with technology from the near future. Nowadays, prop designers have to make plausible props if they want their skills taken seriously. So some thought is put into their design.
And these props in particular face the some of the same constraints as we've been discussing--they need to be one-handed so that the hero can wave his gun around, small so that he can stash them in his pocket without bulking up the costume, and they need to have a large screen that can be read in the theatre.
Extensible screens are a good solution to the problem, and are a more realistic technology than holograms. These guys keep up with developments in technology same as you and me, it's just that they use it to "build" things that don't exist yet.
Why don't they just make a screen that can change size
I've noticed that all the PDAs in recent sci-fi movies have extensible screens. The ones that spring to mind are from Minority Report and The One.
Obviously, extensible screens are the way to go. How close is the technology? I'm thinking either a roll-up screen made out of active paper, overlapping or collapsed panels, or a "display string" that spins, displaying the image as it goes.
I'd prefer a flip open, smaller sized pda phone than this and I dont like the keyboard.
So you want the 180g? Trust me, if I had to do it over again, I'd rather have the keyboard than Graffiti.
I can only hope that these later Treo models have more stable software. My 180g locks up on a regular basis. One time it froze when I dialed "2". And sometimes it can't get a signal unless I reset it.
Frankly, I'm disillusioned with all the phones with OS's. Windows CE, Palm OS, they both crash way too much. It's a phone. It shouldn't crash.
At this point, I simply want a phone with a calendar, a to-do list, an address book, and a good battery life, that can sync to my Mac and doesn't crash. I don't care about downloading extra software. I don't care about MP3 -- I have an iPod for that. I don't care about BlueTooth. I don't care about Internet. I don't care about voice recording -- it won't be as usable as a separate device. I don't even care about GSM, not anymore. Maybe a camera would be nice, and maybe not, but I don't need one.
Is it too much to ask for a phone built to my personal, exacting standards?!
It is the same thing. Look at the Washington and Massachusetts judges' decisions. They ruled that gay marriage was legal because the law promised non-discrimination, or because the law did not say that marriage was only between men and women. So gays were allowed. They didn't make up new laws.
Judges do NOT create new legislation. They just interpret existing legislation, or strike it down.
Re:One of the saddest things I'v ever read.
on
Virtual Girlfriend
·
· Score: 1
A blanket with wool or feathers inside is still a blanket.
The inner walls of the warehouse were covered with numbers. Equations as complex as a neural network had been scraped into the frost. At some point in the calculation, the mathematician had changed from using numbers to using letters, and then letters themselves hadn't been sufficient; brackets like cages enclosed expressions which were to normal mathematics what a city is to a map.
They got simpler as the goal neared--simpler, yet containing in the flowing lines of their simplicity a spartan and wonderful complexity....
The equations narrowed as they were carried on down the wall and across the floor to where the troll had been sitting, until they became just a few expressions that appeared to move and sparkle with a life of their own. This was maths without numbers, pure as lightning.
They narrowed to a point, and at the point was just the very simple symbol: "="
Re:Use of non-native species isn't always a disast
on
Purple Weed vs. Beetle
·
· Score: 1
Each Purple Loostrife produces thousands of tiny seeds every year. These seeds lie dormant when buried in mud...
The article notes that the planners don't want the weed eradicated totally, because that would kill the beetles. They said "the ideal situation is a small population of plants supporting a small population of beetles" so that the beetles are still around to take care of dormant seeds when they finally sprout.
Brings new meaning to the term "self-tapping screw".
Seriously, though, I wonder about the mechanical stresses that fasteners undergo. Will their environment preclude things like smart metals that depend on temperature or whatever to activate? And, of course, the vibration might mess with the control circuitry.
Still, it is cool. This would be a boon for Harley owners. AFAIK, they often have trouble with bolts that loosen up under the vibration. These could tighten themselves to counteract that.
Plus, it would be cool to have a big red "Disassemble" button.
Slashdot Mirror
Those people would only look marginally crazier if they were bowing down before a statue of a giant slug and hailing it lord of mankind.
I, for one, welcome our giant slug overlords.
No, it just means that it looks cool on screen.
Yes, it does look cool on screen. But these are modern science fiction movies, with technology from the near future. Nowadays, prop designers have to make plausible props if they want their skills taken seriously. So some thought is put into their design.
And these props in particular face the some of the same constraints as we've been discussing--they need to be one-handed so that the hero can wave his gun around, small so that he can stash them in his pocket without bulking up the costume, and they need to have a large screen that can be read in the theatre.
Extensible screens are a good solution to the problem, and are a more realistic technology than holograms. These guys keep up with developments in technology same as you and me, it's just that they use it to "build" things that don't exist yet.
Why don't they just make a screen that can change size
I've noticed that all the PDAs in recent sci-fi movies have extensible screens. The ones that spring to mind are from Minority Report and The One.
Obviously, extensible screens are the way to go. How close is the technology? I'm thinking either a roll-up screen made out of active paper, overlapping or collapsed panels, or a "display string" that spins, displaying the image as it goes.
I'd prefer a flip open, smaller sized pda phone than this and I dont like the keyboard.
So you want the 180g? Trust me, if I had to do it over again, I'd rather have the keyboard than Graffiti.
I can only hope that these later Treo models have more stable software. My 180g locks up on a regular basis. One time it froze when I dialed "2". And sometimes it can't get a signal unless I reset it.
Frankly, I'm disillusioned with all the phones with OS's. Windows CE, Palm OS, they both crash way too much. It's a phone. It shouldn't crash.
At this point, I simply want a phone with a calendar, a to-do list, an address book, and a good battery life, that can sync to my Mac and doesn't crash. I don't care about downloading extra software. I don't care about MP3 -- I have an iPod for that. I don't care about BlueTooth. I don't care about Internet. I don't care about voice recording -- it won't be as usable as a separate device. I don't even care about GSM, not anymore. Maybe a camera would be nice, and maybe not, but I don't need one.
Is it too much to ask for a phone built to my personal, exacting standards?!
You're locked in a room with Jeffery Dahmer, Hannibal Lector and a cellular Marketing Executive. You have a gun, but only 2 bullets. What do you do?
Wave the gun. "Jeffrey, Hannibal, get to work. I ain't got all day."
folks in the US and Western Europe will be inconvenienced
Inconvenienced?! My world will end, you insensitive clod!!!
You know, I saw the photo, and I said to myself, "Yep. That is exactly what a holographic disc should look like. They got it right."
It's all gold, depth, and rainbows.
Once again, Mankind has put Mother Nature in her place, saying "You ain't the boss o' me, Nature!"
It is the same thing. Look at the Washington and Massachusetts judges' decisions. They ruled that gay marriage was legal because the law promised non-discrimination, or because the law did not say that marriage was only between men and women. So gays were allowed. They didn't make up new laws.
Judges do NOT create new legislation. They just interpret existing legislation, or strike it down.
A blanket with wool or feathers inside is still a blanket.
Don't forget, there is still the unexplained slowing down of extra-solar space probes. There are things going on; things we don't understand.
Mys-TEER-i-ous things (with waggling fingers)...
The skill of "instant counting" is called "subitizing."
According to research, playing action video games increases people's subitizing ability.
For example, a Doom player is better at instantly estimating the size up a force of imps.
The inner walls of the warehouse were covered with numbers. Equations as complex as a neural network had been scraped into the frost. At some point in the calculation, the mathematician had changed from using numbers to using letters, and then letters themselves hadn't been sufficient; brackets like cages enclosed expressions which were to normal mathematics what a city is to a map.
They got simpler as the goal neared--simpler, yet containing in the flowing lines of their simplicity a spartan and wonderful complexity....
The equations narrowed as they were carried on down the wall and across the floor to where the troll had been sitting, until they became just a few expressions that appeared to move and sparkle with a life of their own. This was maths without numbers, pure as lightning.
They narrowed to a point, and at the point was just the very simple symbol: "="
"Equals what?" said Cuddy. "Equals what?"
The frost collapsed.
Hmm. Not so much...
According to the Chinese I know, they don't care and acknowledge that Taiwan is basically another country. It's just a Chinese government thing.
See, and I just used my last mod point. That's just how my life works. :(
Heh..."Apple Shrugged" by Ayn Rand.
http://www.enotes.com/atlas-shrugged/8052
Each Purple Loostrife produces thousands of tiny seeds every year. These seeds lie dormant when buried in mud...
The article notes that the planners don't want the weed eradicated totally, because that would kill the beetles. They said "the ideal situation is a small population of plants supporting a small population of beetles" so that the beetles are still around to take care of dormant seeds when they finally sprout.
Wow. This just seems so true. You have definitely given me food for thought.
Hey, look! I'm tooth-typin'!
The poster was at Computer Associate's Soviet Russia office.
Only for name tags and patches, according to the link.
Brings new meaning to the term "self-tapping screw".
Seriously, though, I wonder about the mechanical stresses that fasteners undergo. Will their environment preclude things like smart metals that depend on temperature or whatever to activate? And, of course, the vibration might mess with the control circuitry.
Still, it is cool. This would be a boon for Harley owners. AFAIK, they often have trouble with bolts that loosen up under the vibration. These could tighten themselves to counteract that.
Plus, it would be cool to have a big red "Disassemble" button.
She can rev up my engine anytime. :)
How about voting in Democrats with guts?
So, Feingold, then? The only NO vote? Is he even running?