Research of Interest, 8/29/09 Edition

So, I've been stumbling across some interesting research this week, some of which has some really great applications. I figured that I'd share some of these with everyone. 

MIT's Bokode

I just ran across this research and watched their demonstration video for this technology, and I have to say, this is an amazing use of an understood and somewhat scientifically unnoticed physical phenomena in a completely new way. This is the kind of novelty that makes research such a pleasure to be a part of. 

Basically, their approach is to utilize the Bokeh effect, which distorts out of focus light, to encode visual information that can only be observed through an out of focus camera/sensor (that is, one whose focal point is infinity rather than the "object" being sensed). Their direct application is to use this to reduce the size of fidicuals created for computer vision/augmented reality systems, as well as increasing the robustness of the angle calculations and the range detection of these systems.

That might not have made much sense, but their demonstration does an excellent job describing their work.

To read more about their work, check out their research website:

• Bokode: Imperceptible Visual Tags for Camera Based Interaction from a Distance

Magnetic Resonance for Power Transmission

I also ran across this TED talk given by Eric Giler, CEO of WiTricity, which capitalizes on the work of some other MIT researchers (except in the Physics department, this time!) Over the past few years,  I've had a number of non-ECE's ask me about the possibility of wireless power transmission. For the most part, I've been a nay-sayer of the technology. 

However, the demonstration given at this talk and the approach that they have implemented has me starting to see the "light" in this work. My main concern with wireless transmission has been my assumption that transmission would be via some EM frequency band, which conjured visions of burning holes in the atmosphere and highly dangerous and inefficient broadcast systems.

But this system relies on magnetic resonance versus some EM broadcast, which is a really interesting idea. Basically, they're pulling the two coils of a transformer apart, separating them by meters currently, but hopefully miles in the future. Giler does a better job explaining their technology than I do, though, so I'll let you watch the video and see for yourselves.

I still had a couple of engineering questions after watching this:

1. How efficient is the power transfer (for the transmitter)?
2. How focused is power transmission (how much can we expect to lose into the air? Does it even work like that?)
3. How can these systems be made larger/smaller?
4. How much additional tech is needed to separate a transmitter and receiver by a "real" distance?

I suppose I'm just really looking for equations, maybe I should read the some of the supporting papers :)

So what do you all think? Have you come across any other interesting and novel pieces of research recently?

Music For Fun #3

I wanted to share a recording I took on Sunday at Trinity Methodist Church in Smith County, MS. This was from a yearly gathering there for former members and relatives of former members since passed away. The church is currently inactive, but the grounds and cemetery are maintained by the association that my father and his father before him lead.  

This recording is two piano pieces played by an elderly lady that has been coming to the Trinity Reunions for many years. Both she and her husband have a very hard time getting around these days, but they travel a long way to come every year. She always moves people when she gets behind the piano, playing from memory and a style that has passed away from general audiences. 

I also want to let everyone know that these Music For Fun posts are available as a podcast, too. You can subscribe to the podcast by pointing your downloader (iTunes or otherwise) to the RSS for this blog, which can also be found on the sidebar. 

Trinity Methodist Church -- Piano

Music For Fun #2

This is the jazz piece that I promised in the last post.

The Covenant -- Unnamed (Live: 7/21/09)

Music For Fun #1

Chris Ruhs, Josiah Meints, and I have formed an impromptu musical collaboration called The Covenant. We did this to perform at a program Chris's wife, Anna, has scheduled for her Young Adult (YA) group at the public library. Word on the street is that we're going to be playing electric guitars in the stacks...shhh.

Anyway, we had a productive practice session last night that I wanted to share. Its all a little rough, but enjoyable nonetheless. Here is the lineup:

• Me (Eric Tramel): Clarinet, Vocals
• Josiah: Guitar, Vocals
• Chris: Djembe, Vocals, and some Clarinet twiddling during warmup

These two selections, one I'm posing now and another I'm posting immediately after this, are our arrangement of the song Simon&Garfunkel popularized and you all know by heart: Scarborough Fair. After this is an improvisational jazz piece that is yet unnamed which we threw together. I hope you enjoy!

The Covenant -- Scarborough Fair (live: 7/21/09)

New URL

Firstly, the updates so far have been less regular than I would have desired, especially right at the start of this site, which is mostly due to the fact that I'm in the process of moving across town. I've been getting things ready, packing stuff away and cleaning up. I still have some work to do in getting things set up, such as internet access, etc. 

Secondly, I wanted to let you all know that you now have a new URL to point your browsers and feedreaders too:

• http://espacevide.net

I've been wanting to register a domain name for some years, but never really got around to it. The new URL will direct you straight to here, but without having to fiddle with the squarespace.com extension. Enjoy!