Category Archives: Technology

Finding Form in Farming

Posted on October 4, 2011 by | 15 Comments

Last month marked the 49th OSU Farm Science Review, held at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center in London, Ohio.  While grain storage structures, livestock handling equipment and the latest in agricultural technology may not sound like fertile ground when it comes to visual elements, the show yielded many colorful, graphic images.

More than 600 exhibitors displayed their products and services to help farmers improve their on-farm efficiency and profitability. This year’s theme, Where Farmers Go to Dream, emphasized agricultural innovation and helped seed new ideas and long-term vision for the farming industry.

The event attracts more than 140,000 visitors from all over the country and Canada, who spend three days perusing 4,000 product lines, while learning the latest in agricultural research, conservation, nutrition, gardening and landscape development.

More @ Farm Science Review

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Posted in Photography, Technology

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MedFlight Takes Safety to New Heights

Posted on July 18, 2011 by | 5 Comments

MedFlight has just introduced a new helicopter, the Euro Copter 130, which will eventually comprise their entire fleet. Pictured above hovering over the Santa Maria replica, the Euro is capable of moving at 130 knots – technology that Christopher Columbus couldn’t have imagined.

This agile, light, single engine chopper can carry a pilot, patient and three medical personnel and has a roomy interior that provides greater access to the patient.

Equipped with all the National Transportation Safety Board’s recommended equipment, the Euro Copter comes complete with night vision capabilities.

Its Traffic Collision Avoidance System, Satellite Real Time Weather and voice, video and flight recorder gives the pilot added safety measures. Whether in the air or on the ground, MedFlight places patient safety first. A representative from MedFlight noted that while the Euro Copter 130 may be capable of 130 knots, their pilots will not be pushing the envelope in terms of speed.

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Posted in Photography, Technology

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Where Dreams and Technology Meet

Posted on May 2, 2011 by | 11 Comments

A visit to the National Museum of the United States Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force base in Dayton, is the closest you’ll come to time travel (without a Back to the Future modified Delorean) as you move from the Wright brothers’ legacy to present day stealth technology.

Our visit took us from the Early Years Gallery, starting with the Wright brothers’ vision of flight through World War I aircraft, to the World War II Gallery and the Korean and Vietnam Galleries, landing us in the Cold War Gallery, which houses the world’s only permanent public display of a B-2 stealth bomber.

This blast from the past culminated in the Missile and Space Gallery, a silo-like, 140-foot high structure that serves as a final resting place for Titan missiles and Apollo, Mercury and Gemini command modules and capsules. No Buzz Lightyear here.

Back Down to Earth

Like the two theatrical masks of tragedy and comedy the exhibits entitled, Prejudice and Memory: A Holocaust Exhibit and Bob Hope: 50 Years of Hope, ground visitors with a reminder of the losses endured and the hope retained and at times, laughter shared during times of war.

As Bob Hope used to say - thanks for the memories.                                                   And preserving the memories as well as these massive historic vehicles is no small feat. The restoration division of the museum relies on the talents of volunteers, whose skills range from machine and woodworking expertise to craftsmanship in sheet metal and painting. Their knowledge of aircraft spans years of technology – from World War I fabric covered aircraft to the elite fighters of today’s Air Force.

The Memphis Belle is one of their more recent restoration projects. A B-17F Flying Fortress, the Memphis Belle is one of the museum’s most famous aircraft, with its bomber crews having flown 25 missions against Nazi Germany in WWII. Visit the link below for a slide show of the restoration in progress.

Memphis Belle Restoration

For Museum Hours and Info visit the National Museum of the USAF.

Post written by Pamela J. Willits.

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Posted in Technology, Travel Photography

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3D Gems

Posted on January 6, 2011 by | 5 Comments

If the above image looks like a diamond encrusted road leading up to a modern day Emerald City, you’d be half right.  It’s actually one of master goldsmith William A. Weidinger’s latest jewelry creations.

With technology once reserved for the movie industry, 3D Matrix software has moved from the silver screen into all facets of design. And the technology that made snow scenes in The Polar Express sparkle like diamonds, the Cheshire Cat’s emerald eyes glow in Alice in Wonderland and brought children’s toys to life in Toy Story is anything but child’s play.

By designing virtual 3D jewelry on-screen, Andy Weidinger is helping his father craft a new niche in high end jewelry.  The design’s computer file is output to a CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) device like the Revo CNC Mill shown below. The 5 axis mill cuts horizontally and vertically, creating a dimensionally accurate model from a block of wax.

There is something to be said for precision in fabrication. “Achieving perfect symmetry is the goal,” says Weidinger.

3D technology may have cast a new light on an age old industry, but if you visit Bill at his store in Grandview, you’ll still find the master goldsmith seated at his bench examining recently acquired uncut gems, while dreaming of a stunning setting yet to come. Just don’t tell him he’s not in Kansas anymore.

To view more jewelry designs by William and Andy Weidinger please visit williamweidinger.com.

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Posted in Computer Design, Technology

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Winged Migration

Posted on August 12, 2010 by | 7 Comments

Having recently attended EAA AirVenture  in Oshkosh, WI, I thought I’d share some images. Originally known as the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Fly-In Convention, aircraft enthusiasts have been gathering in Oshkosh since 1953.

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, as it is now known, is one of the world’s premier aviation events, attracting government officials, corporate leaders and hundreds of thousands of aviation aficionados. It spans the spectrum of aviation and according to their website, attracts 10,000 airplanes annually. You might see anything from the Spirit of St. Louis to a Stealth fighter.

Over  500 forums were conducted by aviation leaders, NASA researchers, FAA personnel and aircraft designers. The exhibit buildings housed something for everyone, ranging from flight instruments and aircraft parts to insurance carriers.

And it’s not just the pilots that get a lift. With more than 500,000 attendees, the local and state economies land a 110 million dollar boost during the week-long event.

More about AirVenture Oshkosh

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Posted in Photography, Technology

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Information Security Magazine Receives Tabbie Award

Posted on July 23, 2009 by | 1 Comment
Carnegie Mellon's CyLab © Larry Hamill

Carnegie Mellon's CyLab © Larry Hamill

Kudos to Information Security Magazine for an honorable mention at this year’s Tabbie Awards. The Tabbies, awarded by Trade Association Business Publications International, recognize excellence in trade, association and business publications.

Maureen Joyce, creative director at IS Magazine, notified us of the honorable mention in the category of Front Cover – Digital Imagery. We produced the cover image of Marios Savvides, last fall at Carnegie Mellon University’s CyLab.

Through the use of algorithms, Savvides is developing facial and iris recognition software at CMU’s biometrics lab. In the article entitled, Think Tank, Michael Mimoso writes that “it’s no surprise that most of this work is earmarked for use by certain three-letter government agencies…since criminals and terrorists are experts at evading detection.”

The 2009 Tabbie Awards received 500 entries, with nominations coming from the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, France, China, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Germany and India. According to TABPI’s website, “judges were once again impressed by the quality of the submissions”.

Read more of Mimoso’s article on line.

Let us know what you think of this image and/or the growth of technology in monitoring society. Will Big Brother watching out for us come to be viewed as a positive influence on our quality of life?

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Posted in Awards, Photography, Technology

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Digital Technology Changes in a Flash

Posted on July 20, 2009 by | Leave a comment
New Camera

© Larry Hamill

Jonathan Putnam, an actor with CATCO Theatre, in awe over the technological transition from flash bulb photography to digital graphics.

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Posted in Computer Design, Photography, Technology

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The Death of Peripheral Vision

Posted on May 13, 2009 by | 2 Comments

P-VisionIt seems our visual focus continues to shrink on a daily basis. While video footage of accidents that take place while drivers are text messaging are startling, they may also well be the harbinger of a form of reverse evolution.

Daily survival, as since the beginning of time, depends on our awareness of what is happening around us on a 360 degree basis. Are we now shedding our survival instincts as our concentration shifts to ever increasingly available flat panels of hyper information?

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Posted in Technology

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