Electronic

Open Broadcaster Software

Open Broadcaster Software is free and open source software for video recording and live streaming. Supported features include: Encoding using H264 (x264) and AAC. Support for Intel Quick Sync Video (QSV) and NVENC. Unlimited number of scenes and sources. Live RTMP streaming to Twitch, YouTube, DailyMotion, Hitbox and more. File output to MP4 or FLV. GPU-based game capture for high performance game streaming. DirectShow capture device support (webcams, capture cards, etc). Windows 8 high speed monitor capture support. Bilinear or lanczos3 resampling. Syphon in and out   https://obsproject.com

Sliider

Sliider is a simple yet usable application for VJing with webGL and other interactive web based graphics. Stream content from web pages, crossfade between two streams and/or output to Syphon to share with other applications. Mouse control of webpage preserved. It works on Mac OSX, Windows and Linux. Embedded Chrome browser. 99% of what works in Chrome will work in Sliider. full screen output A <-> B crossfader Load html files from disk or the web Syphon output for the OSX version Control panel with sliders and buttons Drag and click in the scene with the mouse   http://udart.dk/2013/11/01/introducing-sliider-vjing-with-a-web-browser/

Museum of Obsolete Media

A great online resource that catalogues current and obsolete formats for Film, Photography, Video, Audio, and Data http://www.obsoletemedia.org/film/

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Clipping Path Factory

Get your Clipping Paths made for for $0.49 each We do it 100% hand-made. Clipping Factory isolates images from their backgrounds. You can upload images without a path; and within 12-24 hours (rush service in 12 hours, standard service in 24 hours), you can download these same images, but now with a path. Take a look at the “How to Send Files” section for a detailed description of the work flow. It describes how to send us your images, in what format, and what to do with them once we’ve returned them to you. http://www.clippingfactory.com/introduction.php

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DIY material analysis

Use a homemade spectrometer to scan different materials, and contribute to an open source database. http://spectralworkbench.org/

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100 Open Source programs for Audio and Video

Open source applications make it easy to create, listen to and view digital audio and video content. Animation 1. Blender Replaces: AutoDesk Maya Suitable for professional use, Blender is a 3D animation suite that offers modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing and motion tracking, video editing and game creation capabilities. It also features a customizable interface, and it can import and export from a wide variety of file formats. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X. 2. Art of Illusion Replaces: AutoDesk Maya Art of Illusion isn’t quite as polished as Blender, but its developers claim the latest version (released September 2013) “is both stable Read more

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The Feynman Lectures on Physics

Caltech and The Feynman Lectures Website are pleased to present this online edition of The Feynman Lectures on Physics. Now, anyone with internet access and a web browser can enjoy reading a high-quality up-to-date copy of Feynman’s legendary lectures. This edition has been designed for ease of reading on devices of any size or shape; text, figures and equations can all be zoomed without degradation.1 http://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/

Circuit design app

Autodesk today expanded its suite of free 3D tools by partnering with Circuits.io to launch an electronics design tool: 123D Circuits. The program allows users to create virtual breadboard-based designs to build and experiment with circuits. A virtual Arduino board can be added to the design, and the code can be edited in a browser window and simulated. The code can also be edited collaboratively (“a Google Doc for electronics” Autodesk claims). The program also provides hooks that allow users to have the virtual boards professionally manufactured. http://www.123dapp.com/sandbox

LibreOffice free alternative to Microsoft Office

LibreOffice is the power-packed free, libre and open source personal productivity suite for Windows, Macintosh and GNU/Linux, that gives you six feature-rich applications for all your document production and data processing needs: Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Math and Base. Support and documentation is free from our large See what LibreOffice can do for you »

Audio speakers made from paper

Inspired by Marcelo Coehlo’s paper speaker and Vincent Leclerc’s Accouphene textile speaker. These paper and fabric speakers are made by running 5-9V amplified sound signal through a very conductive coil in close proximity to a magnet. Unlike most speakers that have the wire coil wrapped cylindrically and placed around the magnet, here the coil is in the plane and directly adhered to the membrane that moves the air creating sound. Also see: etched fabric speaker, carved and engraved wood speakers, plated seashell speakers: http://hlt.media.mit.edu/?p=1372  

Getting Started with Raspberry Pi – book

  What can you do with the Raspberry Pi, a £25 computer the size of a credit card? All sorts of things! If you’re learning how to program, or looking to build new electronic projects, this hands-on guide will show you just how valuable this flexible little platform can be. This book takes you step-by-step through many fun and educational possibilities. Take advantage of several preloaded programming languages. Use the Raspberry Pi with Arduino. Create Internet-connected projects. Play with multimedia. With Raspberry Pi, you can do all of this and more. Get acquainted with hardware features on the Pi’s board Read more

Arduino’s co-creator explains electronic circuits for absolute beginners

Looking to learn the basics of using the Arduino starter board? Well be sure to watch this informative video hosted by Massimo Banzi, one of the Co-Founders of Arduino. The video explains how to build a basic circuit with the Arduino board, and how to use each of the basic components such as LEDs, switches, and resistors. So if you are new to engineering, or have only recently purchased the Arduino started kit, this video is a must-watch! View this video and others at RS online: http://ow.ly/e3WVr Buy the starter kit and related Arduino products: http://ow.ly/e3WVr

Encyclopedia of Electronic Components Volume 1: Resistors, Capacitors, Inductors, Switches, Encoders, Relays, Transistors

  Want to know how to use an electronic component? This first book of a three-volume set includes key information on electronics parts for your projects—complete with photographs, schematics, and diagrams. You’ll learn what each one does, how it works, why it’s useful, and what variants exist. No matter how much you know about electronics, you’ll find fascinating details you’ve never come across before. Convenient, concise, well-organized, and precise Perfect for teachers, hobbyists, engineers, and students of all ages, this reference puts reliable, fact-checked information right at your fingertips—whether you’re refreshing your memory or exploring a component for the first Read more

What is 3D Data Capture?

A document put together by SPAR Point Group detailing the many ways that 3D data can be captured. What is 3D Data Capture Includes image examples and a glossary of the 3D Data terms. Georeferenced, non-georeferenced, Laser scanning, Time of Flight, Phase-based, hand-held / close range, photogrammetry, structured light scanners and sonar.

Learn Processing

Processing is an open source programming language and environment for people who want to create images, animations, and interactions. Initially developed to serve as a software sketchbook and to teach fundamentals of computer programming within a visual context, Processing also has evolved into a tool for generating finished professional work. Today, there are tens of thousands of students, artists, designers, researchers, and hobbyists who use Processing for learning, prototyping, and production. Online book, free: http://natureofcode.com/book/

instructions for converting all of your DRM’d Kindle books into a non-DRM format that you can read on any number of devices.

Migrating from Kindle to iBooks I started off reading eBooks from the Amazon Kindle store. As time has progressed, I’ve found myself using my physical Kindle less and less. Partly because I forget to charge it, and partly because I can never get the lighting in my favorite reading locations quite right. And at night? Forget about it. So I’ve converted all of my Kindle purchases to ePubs for use in iBooks. I could use the Kindle app for iOS but I’ve found iBooks to be faster at syncing read position, and it feels a lot more natural to use. Read more

KeyShowX 2.0

KeyShowX is a simple, yet powerful, tool for making multi-screen presentations and shows. It is a companion product for Apple Keynote or Microsoft PowerPoint. Consider it as a universal, flexible and scriptable remote control unit that allows simultaneous execution and synchronization of multiple presentations running on different computers. As an extra bonus, you can also control Apple DVD Player and QuickTime Player.  

Syncing with iCloud on older machines

It can be quite frustrating if you have computers that do not run Lion OS but you still want to sync with the iCloud. The answer, i found, is the software below. It can be installed on any machine running Snow Leopard, which can be installed on any intel machine. http://www.chronosnet.com/Products/sohoorganizer.html You can also use other services such as those offered by Google and Yahoo! to sync between devices as well Sam

How to Make an Interactive Network Visualization

Interactive network visualizations make it easy to rearrange, filter, and explore your connected data. Learn how to make one using D3 and JavaScript. Networks! They are all around us. The universe is filled with systems and structures that can be organized as networks. Recently, we have seen them used to convict criminals, visualize friendships, and even todescribe cereal ingredient combinations. We can understand their power to describe our complex world fromManuel Lima’s wonderful talk on organized complexity. Now let’s learn how to create our own. In this tutorial, we will focus on creating an interactive network visualization that will allow us to Read more

What happens when my Mac is stolen?

Undercover aids in recovering a stolen Mac by transmitting its location, photos of the thief and screenshots revealing what he is up to.   What happens when my Mac is stolen?   Accurately locate your stolen Mac Undercover uses advanced technology developed by Skyhook Wireless to locate your Mac based on Wi-Fi positioning. In addition, Undercover transmits network information, enabling our recovery center to accurately track and locate your stolen Mac within a range of 10-20 meters. See what happens on your Mac Undercover is the world’s first theft-recovery software that will send screenshots of your stolen Mac at regular Read more

Data visualisation tools

visualization.ch put together a selection of data visualization tools that they use the most and that they enjoy working with. It includes libraries for plotting data on maps, frameworks for creating charts, graphs and diagrams and tools to simplify the handling of data. Even if you’re not into programming, you’ll find applications that can be used without writing one single line of code. They will keep this list as a living repository and add / remove things as technology develops.

MULTI TOUCH TOOL FOR TRACKPADS

Duncan just pushed the latest version of an open-source tool he’s been working on that sends touch events of a trackpad via OSC. It currently only works for Apple trackpads (MacBooks, maybe Magic Trackpads?).     The app reads finger data from the trackpad, assigns a unique ID to each finger, and continuously sends OSC events about the position, orientation, size, etc. of the touch event. These OSC events can be read by something like Unity 3D, so that you can test a mobile multitouch interface without having to compile to a touchscreen device. I’ve made small demos for Unity Read more

Mac anti-virus software review 2012

So Mac invulnerability to malware is a myth, at least according to security researchers from Kaspersky Lab. And although such a blunt statement may be a blow to the ego of some Mac users, it remains true. Security researchers from all walks have long argued that it was only a matter of time before the Mac became popular enough that virus, malware, and spyware makers would come calling, and the recent Flashback scare has only served as a reminder that overconfidence precedes carelessness. Especially when it comes to technology. The Flashback flare-up happened less than a year after another malware spike, which Read more

Mac laptop battery monitor

With coconutBattery you’re always aware of your current battery health. It shows you live information about your battery such as how often it was charged and how is the current maximum capacity in relation to the original capacity your battery had when it left the factory. Of course you are able to save the current maximum capacity of your battery. So you can see the changes of your battery health over time. coconutBattery is and will always be freeware. If you like it, a donation is always very welcome. http://www.coconut-flavour.com/  

Start Developing iOS Apps Today

Creating iOS apps is fun and rewarding, and if you’re a new developer you might be wondering where to begin. This road map provides the perfect starting point for iOS app development. On your Mac computer, you can create iOS apps that run on iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch. Follow this road map to learn where to get the tools you need, understand the major concepts and best practices, and see where to find more information. As you proceed through the road map, you will use Xcode and the iOS SDK, Apple’s tools for app development. You will learn the Read more

Puredyne is the USB-bootable GNU/Linux operating system for creative multimedia

Instant USB-bootable creative desktop Puredyne is the USB-bootable GNU/Linux operating system for creative multimedia. Puredyne is a live distribution, you don’t need to install anything. Simply boot your computer using the live USB or CD and you’re ready to start using software such as Pure Data, Supercollider, Icecast, Csound, Fluxus, Processing, Arduino and more. Read more   One tiny USB provides you with the complete puredyne GNU/Linux system including all software, and extra space to store your files. Ideal for workshops, installations, or super lightweight travelling. For who? Puredyne is developed for artists, by artists. It’s used for live music, installation art, hardware hacking, teaching, Read more

How To Remotely Control Your Mac Using Simple AppleScripts

If you’re lucky to have two or more Macs in your home or office, you no doubt find occasions where you would like to remote control a Mac either from another room or from another part of the country. You probably know that you can use the Shared feature to remotely control another Mac on the same network. But by creating some simple AppleScript commands you can control a remote Mac much faster, alleviating the need to open the Shared screen feature. If you have never worked with AppleScript before, don’t fret. The following Mac remote control scripts are very Read more

Digital preservation – Rafaël Rozendaal

More and more I hear people talking on the subject of the preservation of internet art. It is a new medium and no one knows what exactly will happen. Will we still browse the web in 15 years? Will information be injected straight into our mind without any screens? Art works should last a long time. I love seeing old art, and I think it’s not until an artist dies that we get the big picture of their work. Many media came before the internet. Lots of those media were lost, and some were saved. Paintings, sculptures, books, celluloid, vinyl, Read more

Digital Artists Handbook: Game art: theory, communities, resources

Like all digital media, video-games can be designed, produced, deconstructed and re-appropriated within the context of art. Even though the history of video-games is relatively short, it is already rich with examples of artistic experimentation and innovation. Unlike film or video, games still represent a fairly immature medium, slowly evolving to locate itself in mainstream culture. The majority of games often present simplistic or crude visions of interactivity, narrative and aesthetics, but the mediumoffers unique potential for the creation of exciting new forms of art. Like any digital medium the evolution of art/games is  closely tied to the development of Read more

Digital Artists Handbook: Hardware hacking: open hardware and stand alone objects

That’s a broad title. Building your own hardware can mean a lot of different things. To narrow thescope a bit, this article talks about embedded Single Board Computers (SBCs) and microcontrollersfrom birds eye view. An embedded SBC is anything that is complex enough to comfortably host astandard operating system, while a microcontroller is too small for that. PDF: Digital Artists Handbook: Hardware hacking: open hardware and stand alone objects

Digital Artists Handbook: working with others

It is of course a truism, often repeated, that the Internet has been the basis for a revolution in (remote) interpersonal communications, collaboration and data sharing. It is probably safe to say that there would be very few of the Free/Libre and Open Source (FLOSS) projects that exist today without the collaboration technologies the Internet supports. One of the many effects of the powerful tools FLOSS has put in to the hands of creative people is that it has potentially made them more independent. No longer are they reliant on specialists with access to expensive software and hardware to carry out Read more

Digital Artists Handbook: Software Art

The term ‘software art’ acquired a status of an umbrella term for a set of practices approaching software as a cultural construct. Questioning software culturally means not taking for granted, but focusing on, recognising and problematising its distinct aesthetics, poetics and politics captured and performed in its production, dissemination, usage and presence, contexts which software defines and is defined by, histories and cultures built around it, roles it plays and its economies, and various other dimensions. Software, deprived of its alleged ‘transparency’, turns out to be a powerful mechanism, a multifaceted mediator structuring human experience, perception, communication, work and leisure, Read more

Digital Artists Handbook: Working with graphics: Processing

You might have come across the ‘made with Processing’  hyperlink on the internet or heard ofProcessing before. Over the past six years it has become a real phenomenon, allowing creative mindsto access the digital world. Based on a rather simple syntax and minimal interface, Processingsmoothly drives beginners into the scary world of programming.This article is not a tutorial, but rather an attempt to give you a global idea of what the programmingenvironment is, looks like and why it was created. Should you decide it is the tool you need, thisarticle will hopefully provide enough pointers to online and offline resources Read more

Digital Artists Handbook: Graphics

Image reigns supreme. From the thousands of films churned out each year from Nollywood, to the persistent recording of images by security cameras in London to the scaling of windows on your desktop computer, you are already a pixel pusher. But, how can you reign supreme over images? How can you become an active participant in the creation of graphics and move beyond passive consumption. While the distinction between amateur and professional is erased in the Youtube-record-a-video-get-rich-generation, the focus upon high-quality content controlling tools is key. What is the point of mastering verion 3.5 of Killer Graphics App 97’s fuzz Read more

Digital Artists Handbook: Pure Dataflow – Diving into Pd

This article introduces the possibilities of the software Pure Data (Pd), explains a bit why it’s so popular among artists and shows what Pd can be used for. The goal is to help artists decide if Pd is a tool for their own work. Pure Data, or PD for short, is a software written by mathematician and musician Miller S. Puckette. It  has become one of the most popular tools for artists working with digital media. Originally conceived in the late 90s as an environment to create sounds and to compose music, it was soon extended by modules to work Read more

Free Computer Science courses from Stanford University

Stanford University offered three of their most popular computer science courses to the public this fall, online for free. The courses were so popular that Stanford’s doing it again in January. This time they’re offering 7 computer science courses: Computer Science 101 http://www.cs101-class.org/ Machine Learning (one of the offerings this past fall) http://jan2012.ml-class.org/ Software as a Service http://www.saas-class.org/ Human-Computer Interaction http://www.hci-class.org/ Natural Language Processing http://www.nlp-class.org/ Game Theory http://www.game-theory-class.org/ Probabilistic Graphical Models http://www.pgm-class.org/ Cryptography http://www.crypto-class.org/ And two entrepreneurship courses: The Lean Launchpad http://www.launchpad-class.org/ Technology Entrepreneurship http://www.venture-class.org/ No tuition, no textbooks, no set class times (students get a week to complete the assignments).

Bundled, Buried and Behind Closed Doors

Bundled, Buried & Behind Closed Doors is a short documentary explaining internet infrastructure, focusing on the art deco building 60 Hudson Street in Tribeca, which is now one of the most concentrated carrier hotels in the world. The internet has an “ironically very limited geography in terms of big strategic concentrations,” explains Stephen Graham, professor of cities and society, Newcastle University, in the short film. “The big affluent high tech information rich regions” is where the infrastructure is densely located. And 60 Hudson Street was especially ideal as a hub, given that the building was already designed to accomidate cables as it was first Read more

Free DNS When You Need It

Dyn’s legendary free DNS service allows you to create a hostname that points to your home or office IP address, providing a easy URL for you to remember anywhere you have internet access. Dyn also provides update mechanisms for making hostnames work with your dynamic IP address, delivery of your DNS records to five DNS servers in five Tier 1 bandwidth datacenters around the world, fast propagation/reliable static IP caching for DNS TTL values and more. Website: http://dyn.com/dns/dyndns-free/

Journalism school teaches students pre-digital newspaper production techniques

While archeologists try to recreate what life was like 10,000 years ago, and historians try to recreate what life was like 1,000 years ago, journalists can’t even recreate how they published a newspaper 20 years ago. No one documented the details or saved the old equipment. (I had to buy some of it from creepy old men through Craigslist.) Journalists may write history’s first draft, but when it comes to covering their own history, they don’t even take notes. I can imagine college students 20 years from now asking their aged adviser… Your digital cameras didn’t just beam images to Read more

Directory of APIs

website: http://www.programmableweb.com/apis/directory

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Codecademy: A Slick, Fun Way To Teach Yourself How To Program

It’s a web-based, interactive programming tutorial that holds your hand and walks you through the basics of JavaScript. At this point it’s just getting started — the lessons only go as far as ‘While’ loops — but it clearly has loads of potential for one key reason: it actually feels fun. Website: http://www.codecademy.com

Programming Languages Reference Sheets

syntax for common tasks in a side-by-side format Scripting Languages: PHP, Perl, Python, Ruby Embeddable Languages: Tcl, Lua, JavaScript, Io Shell Languages: Bash, Zsh, AppleScript, PowerShell C Style Languages: C, C++, Objective C, Java, C# Pascal Style Languages: Pascal, Ada, PL/SQL, SQL/PSM Lisp Dialects: Common Lisp, Scheme, Clojure, Emacs Lisp Type Inference Languages: Standard ML, OCaml, Scala, Haskell Declarative Languages: Prolog, Erlang, Oz Concatenative Languages: Forth, PostScript, Factor Computer Algebra Software: Mathematica, Sage, Maxima Numerical Analysis Software: MATLAB, R