audio gadgetware
This device in a Japanese toilet makes the sound of running water, to mask other, ummmm…, indelicate noises. Saves water, since patrons don’t feel compelled to flush a toilet multiple times to block sounds. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ond_IaNA4wk] video link [kudos boingboing] Previously: When Ambient Sounds Go Bad, Celebration of Nature Sounds
Even Lower Carb Bread 1 cup warm water1/8 stick of butter2 egg whites (left over from here) or 1 egg 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour1/2 cup wheat gluten1/2 cup wheat bran1/2 cup oat bran2 TBS flax meal1 TBS spoonable Stevia1 1/2 tsp yeast1/2 tsp salt1/2 tsp molasses Add liquid ingredients to bread maker, then … Read more
With eight current software titles, thirteen years in business, plus several additional programs OEMed by other companies at one time or other, we thought it might be fun to talk about failed products. At Sagebrush, every project kick-off starts with a new notebook. The bookcase behind me has a shelf of notebooks with zero net … Read more
The New York Times’ tech guru David Pogue [link no longer found] tells of actual tech support calls on a “Best Of” CD compilation. Caller: Hey, can you help me? My computer has locked up, and no matter how many times I type eleven, it won’t unfreeze. Agent: What do you mean, “type eleven?” Caller: … Read more
A fine way to start the week: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ONJfp95yoE] video link (Or should we say MouSing Mouser? ) [kudos Make]
Check out this optical theremin with schematic using a circuit hacker’s favorite 555 timer chip. Expect a square wave rather than sine wave output. link [via Make:] Previously: Theremin Student Design Projects, Theremoid FilmFest
Pamelia Kurstin plays and talks theremin in this clip from TED: video link [kudos TED]
The original USA theremin patent was issued February 28, 1928, exactly 80 years ago today. Related: Original Theremin Patent Filed, Happy Birthday Léon, Theremin Patents, Theremin Patent
WinChime 1.0, our first Sagebrush product, was released February 27, 1995, running on Windows 3.1 . Win95 would not appear until November of that year, computers were just beginning to come equipped with sound cards and CD-Rom drives, and people wanted something to play on their new devices. Audio takes up a lot of space … Read more
In an earlier, we had pointed out several theremin student design projects. Here, we mention theses and dissertations related (however remotely) to this hands-off instrument: Visual Frets for a Free-Gesture Musical Interface, Leila Hasan, MIT MS EECS, 2001. Visible lasers provide frets. Toward an Understanding of Musical Gesture: Mapping Expressive Intention with the Digital Baton, … Read more