Computer: How to Build a Portable DIY Face Detection System for under $30!

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How to Build a Portable DIY Face Detection System for under $30! - 2011-05-13 12:27:37-04

For those of you who want to build a portable DIY face detection system (without the use of full-sized computers/laptops/netbooks), engineering students at Cornell university have come up with a simple solution using an Atmel ATmega644 8-bit microcontroller, a C3088 camera module with an OmniVision OV6620 CMOS image sensor, Atmel’s AT45DB321D Serial Dataflash, a Varitronix MDLS16264 LCD module for output, a 9-volt battery, and a small wooden structure for chin support. And all of this can be done for about $30. Best of all, all schematics and code is provided so you can duplicate the circuit yourself for your future projects. For our senior ECE design, my partner and I created a portable face recognition system. To our knowledge, it’s the first face recognition system on a microcontroller. You enroll with one button and log in with another. You can build our system for about $30 and then use it to control access to anything: a safe, a door, or the beer fridge. In our demo video, we just output to an LCD for feedback instead of actually controlling access to something. Also see video of this portable DIY face detection system in action: (The system uses a face “template”, … Continue reading →
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Bulletproof Clipboard! - 2011-05-13 15:52:50-04

Want to defy those flying bullets with a clipboard? Did I hear a clipboard??? Yes, this Bulletproof Clipboard does exactly that, stops up to a 9mm bullet, rated at level 2 body armor. I think this is perhaps a good clipboard you can slip into your chest the next time you get into a gun shooting. Each Bulletproof Body Armor Clipboard is a section of Level II body armor, with a clip attached to hold the paper. Level II body armor is tough enough to stop the penetration of 9mm bullets and all those stopped by Level I and Level IIA. The Bulletproof Body Armor Clipboard is the toughest clipboard we’ve ever held. Sure, it’s heavy, but when you own a clipboard that can stop bullets, weight doesn’t matter anymore. Nothing matters anymore, other than your own awesomeness for being the only person in the office to own a Bulletproof Body Armor Clipboard. Oh yeah. Here’s a video of the Bulletproof Clipboard in action: This post Bulletproof Clipboard! was originally from zedomax.com bulletproof, clipboard, Featured, Featured Gadgets, Gadgets
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Flashbang Bra Holster Allows for Quick Draws for Ladies! - 2011-05-13 21:15:18-04

Here’s a genius idea, a bra holster that can hold your gun for quick draws. I think this could also lead to accidental flashing but hey, it’s a great idea, watch this video: You can get this on eBay. via wired This post Flashbang Bra Holster Allows for Quick Draws for Ladies! was originally from zedomax.com Featured, Featured Entertainment, Featured Gadgets, flashbang bra holster, Gadgets, ladies, quick draws
This post Flashbang Bra Holster Allows for Quick Draws for Ladies! was originally from zedomax.com
How to Build a DIY Energy Meter for Less Than $20! - 2011-05-14 02:07:19-04

For those of you who want an inexpensive DIY energy meter that would detect how much electricity you use, you might want to take a look at this hack where the author uses a simple circuit to detect infrared pulses from the electric meter whenever there’s 1 watt of electricity used. via hackaday This post How to Build a DIY Energy Meter for Less Than $20! was originally from zedomax.com build, Circuits, DIY, diy energy meter, Featured, Featured DIYs, Featured Gadgets, Featured Hacks, Gadgets, Hack, how-to, HOWTO, Microcontroller, Projects
This post How to Build a DIY Energy Meter for Less Than $20! was originally from zedomax.com
ZeroTouch Multi-Touch, an Invisible Multi-Touch Interface! - 2011-05-14 10:34:49-04

Here’s an interesting multi-touch idea that might be very useful and implemented across all multi-touch devices in the near future. The ZeroTouch as its name says, uses “zero” physical touch to the screen and can implement the same multi-touch gestures as on a regular multi-touch screens “invisibly”. The frame is lined with 256 IR sensors, which are connected to a computer. When ZeroTouch is mounted over a traditional computer screen it turns the display into a multitouch surface. In a demonstration at CHI, Moeller played a computer game using multitouch controls and it worked without issue. Taken one step further, if the screen is suspended then a user could paint a virtual canvas. Using an iPhone to select the colors, when users place their finger or hand into the frame the drawing begins to appear on a display that the system is connected to. If just a finger enters the frame then the brush will be narrow, but if an entire hand or arm enters it, then the brush stroke will be wide. Check out the video of ZeroTouch in action! via pcworld This post ZeroTouch Multi-Touch, an Invisible Multi-Touch Interface! was originally from zedomax.com Computer, Featured, Featured Gadgets, Gadgets, … Continue reading →
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Corvette C6 Proved to Be a Death Trap When Battery Dies! - 2011-05-14 11:21:11-04

Here’s some serious issues with Corvette C6s. When the batteries die, the door release buttons stop working, therefore effectively trapping the driver in the car. Of course, this may be funny if your friends are around but if you are stuck in the middle of nowhere with 110 degree sun (perhaps somewhere in Arizona), there’s a good chance you might starve to death if your cellphone loses signal completely. Murphy’s Law, it can happen. There is however, an emergency manual lever to open the doors when this happens but hey, there are people who don’t read instructions (and might starve to death.) Watch this video of poor man trapped in his own sports car, hilarity ensues: At the worst, if you own a Corvette C6 and you don’t like reading instructions, make sure you equip yourself with a windshield hammer to get you out of battery trouble. via autoblog This post Corvette C6 Proved to Be a Death Trap When Battery Dies! was originally from zedomax.com Auto, battery dies, Cars, corvette c6, death trap, Featured Auto
This post Corvette C6 Proved to Be a Death Trap When Battery Dies! was originally from zedomax.com
iPhone 5? Maybe Next Year, Think More Like iPhone 4S! - 2011-05-14 12:23:17-04

According to reports from insiders, Apple will not be launching iPhone 5 (as some of you thought) but iPhone 4S, which will include the same form-factor as the iPhone 4 but with an Apple A5 dual-core processor (like the iPad 2) and HSPA+ support. Plus, as shown in the photo above, iPhone 4S should be available on T-Mobile and perhaps Sprint. This is inevitable as Apple is losing grounds quickly to Android by having their devices only available on AT&T and Verizon Wireless. What do you think? Will you buy the new iPhone 4S or wait another year for iPhone 5? via bgr This post iPhone 5? Maybe Next Year, Think More Like iPhone 4S! was originally from zedomax.com Featured, Featured Gadgets, Gadgets, iPhone, iPhone 4, iphone 4s, iphone 5, Smartphones
This post iPhone 5? Maybe Next Year, Think More Like iPhone 4S! was originally from zedomax.com
Android Arduino! - 2011-05-14 12:32:25-04

The big news this week from Google’s IO Conference in San Francisco is that Google will be pushing for the development of Android Arduino, inviting all Arduino developers all over the world to utilize the power of Android with Arduino. I think this is going to be great and I will personally be making some Android Arduino hacks soon so watch out for that. You can read more about the Android Open Accessory Kit. The Android 3.1 platform (also backported to Android 2.3.4) introduces Android Open Accessory support, which allows external USB hardware (an Android USB accessory) to interact with an Android-powered device in a special “accessory” mode. When an Android-powered powered device is in accessory mode, the connected accessory acts as the USB host (powers the bus and enumerates devices) and the Android-powered device acts as the device. Android USB accessories are specifically designed to attach to Android-powered devices and adhere to a simple protocol (Android accessory protocol) that allows them to detect Android-powered devices that support accessory mode. Accessories must also provide 500mA at 5V for charging power. Many previously released Android-powered devices are only capable of acting as a USB device and cannot initiate connections with external … Continue reading →
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How to Make a DIY Hookah Out of a Fire Extinguisher! - 2011-05-15 10:59:05-04

We’ve got lots of smoke shops here in San Francisco where you can blow some smoke with hookahs. Well, if for some reason your country/city doesn’t have hookah cafes, you can always make yourself a DIY Hookah like this Russian guy did, you can see detailed photos here at EnglishRussia.com. One Russian guy decided to make a hookah with his hands. He used a flask of an old fire extinguisher, tees, sleeves, caps of the pipes and a hose. As a result he got a fairly good hookah. By the way, you too can do something similar if you wish. This post How to Make a DIY Hookah Out of a Fire Extinguisher! was originally from zedomax.com DIY, diy hookah, Featured, Featured DIYs, fire extinguisher, Hack, how-to, HOWTO, make, Projects
This post How to Make a DIY Hookah Out of a Fire Extinguisher! was originally from zedomax.com
Top Five Bluetooth Headsets - 2011-05-15 23:45:19-04

In our busy lives, Bluetooth has made connecting devices easy and this set up works well with mobile devices such as cell phones. I thought that producing a top five of Bluetooth headsets would be fairly easy, but for from it as there are so many factors to consider. Therefore, this Top Five list will just cover the current popular devices. In the future, we will be covering the most expensive, cheapest and of course my favourite the smallest Bluetooth headset. However, at the moment enjoy this list of popular headsets and as usual, we are interested in your thoughts too! The Jawbone ERA Bluetooth headset When it comes to style and performance, the Jawbone ERA Bluetooth headset is a device that looks simple enough, but under the casing there is an accelerometer and applications processor this means this small device that you may think is great for hands free communications can also be used for other functions such as navigation and even games control. These are the details for the smart looking Jawbone ERA Bluetooth headset; The Jawbone ERA is the only Bluetooth headset equipped with military-grade Noise Assassin 3.0, the latest version of Jawbone’s industry-first noise and wind … Continue reading →
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