When Google Maps was released in early 2005 it was quite cool to be able to see a birds-eye view of various places (even if you could only zoom in so far). Since then, there has been many improvements - more view types, clearer pictures, closer zoom etc.
In mid 2007, a new view type: Street View was made available. I must say, it is quite cool - Street View allows you to actually see the street as if you were there at the place. This view was only available to a selection of cities in the USA and Australia (the ‘birth’ place of Google Maps) was left out…until today!
Yes, as of today (5th August 2008) there is Street View in Google Maps for pretty much all of Australia! At first I was quite excited, as I’ve had a look at Street View in USA before (1 Infinite Loop 
) and thought “Wouldn’t it be cool if this was in Australia?”. Now that it is in Australia I must say it is cool, but definitely also scary! In my opinion, being able to see your own house on Google Maps and with the correct (or a very close) address feels scary!
» Continue reading 'Google Maps - Street View…in...'
Quite some time ago (about late 2007) I saw this documentary called “21 Up Japan” which is similar to the “Up Series“. The idea of the documentary is the follow a group of children from when they were 7 years old, and then every 7 years they go back to them and see how they are going. The interviewers had a set of semi-structured questions which they asked, and it was very interesting to see how everyone’s answers changed from when they were 7, 14, and 21.
After seeing this documentary I decided I wanted to do something similar - make my own time capsule However it wasn’t until a few months later in early 2008 when I found an old exercise book which had some short stories that I had written in 1995 that really got me started. Reading those stories made me realise how much can change in a few years (and how much we can forget!). My time capsule is bit different to 21 Up Japan - it does have a set of questions which I plan on answering once every year or so, but the majority of entries are more diary-like entries of times when I feel like something important has happened.
» Continue reading 'creating a time capsule'
Another great illusion - and this time you get to make it! Have a look at the Three Dragons from Grand Illusions - the movie clip is really quite cool! After seeing the clip I actually went and made it straight away (much easier to make than the penguin) but sadly it didn’t turn out as nice as the illusion in the video clip. It seems like you need some light behind the dragon for it to work. Though I’ll still put it on my desk at work and see if I get any weird looks
» Continue reading 'dragon illusion'
The image above probably looks very normal - a set of everyday chess pieces (without pawns). White pieces on top covered by black clouds, and black pieces at the bottom covered by white clouds. If they don’t look like chess pieces, try clicking on the picture to enlarge it - my friend thought they were teeth when he saw it on my msn display pic!
So, if we are imaginative, and assume the chess pieces are real, it would make sense that we can use them and play a normal game of chess…right? Well, not quite - because the chess pieces are identical. They are the same - pixel for pixel. If you don’t believe me ‘cut and paste’ the chess pieces and they will magically “change colour”. Even if you believe me you can give it a go, quite mind blowing if you ask me!
» Continue reading 'clear as black and white…right?'
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