The Wall-E Builder's Group http://www.wall-ebuilders.com A community of builder's who are dedicated to building a full size working Wall-E Robot from the Disney / Pixar movie Wall-E. en Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:40:05 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/aquateen/misc/rss.jpg <![CDATA[WALL·E Builder's Group Build your own WALL·E]]> http://www.wall-ebuilders.com 44.335904-83.485161 Park View Eagles are #1 in robotics - Yucaipa/Calimesa News Mirror http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2962 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:11:30 GMT <img alt="" height="1" width="1" /> *Park View Eagles are #1 in *robotics**...

Park View Eagles are #1 in robotics
Yucaipa/Calimesa News Mirror
Park View Middle School's Robotics Team (Team Lego Eagles, which is taught by Science and Anatomy teacher Stephanie Sharp and Math teacher ...






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]]> Robotics in the News Lunk http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2962 Robotics show at Steinert tomorrow - The Trentonian http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2961 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:23:54 GMT <img alt="" height="1" width="1" /> **Robotics* show at Steinert tomorrow*...

Robotics show at Steinert tomorrow
The Trentonian
HAMILTON â?? Tomorrow is all about technology at Steinert High as the school hosts a robotics competition between area elementary and ...






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]]> Robotics in the News Lunk http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2961 Dylan Brown Presents Pixar Canada http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2960 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:20:57 GMT Image: http://pixarplanet.com/blog/images/893.jpg (http://pixarplanet.com/blog/images/893.jpg)Details about Pixar&#8217;s upcoming studio have been on the... Click the image to open in full size.Details about Pixar’s upcoming studio have been on the down low since its surprise announcement back in May.

Dubbed Pixar Canada (logo to the right), the new production facility will release short films based on Pixar’s "legacy franchises" like Toy Story and Cars. The Vancouver, BC satellite, headed by Ratatouille supervising animator Dylan Brown, has just started hiring and will reportedly launch next fall! But besides the names of a few other execs, that’s all we’ve got so far…

Brown, now known as Creative Director of Pixar Canada, took the stage for Vancouver Film School staff and students as an introduction to the new studio for potential employees. We’re still pending details on exactly what he had to say but for now you can see pictures from the event on VFS’s Flickr. I’m sure we’ll get some exciting information on the future of Pixar short films starring your favorite established characters soon enough. Stay tuned for updates!

Here’s looking forward to the unique productions possibilities this expansion to the world of Pixar will offer! What do you think?

(via The Pixar Blog)





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]]> Lunk http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2960 Fishbowl for Facebook Using the Windows 7 Taskbar for Extra Spice http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2959 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:57:31 GMT During Wednesday’s keynote, Brian Golgarb resented SilverFace, a Silverlight client application for Facebook. Beyond its amazing looks, SilverFace... During Wednesday’s keynote, Brian Golgarb resented SilverFace, a Silverlight client application for Facebook. Beyond its amazing looks, SilverFace provides a full and complete desktop client application for Windows (and Mac). SilverFace is built on top of Silverlight 4 – also announced during the keynote. However, if you want a cool Facebook client application to work on from your Windows desktop today, your only real option is going with Fishbowl for Facebook Preview.

In today's world, the client’s experience is more important than ever before. Your application doesn’t just have to be fun and interesting; it has to be good looking, polished, and functional, providing a “natural” user experience that just works. As a developer, you need to push the envelope and use any available technical tool that the OS provides or any other available means (if installed on mobile devices) to provide a superior user experience, or users will switch to the next guy. In such a competitive scenario, using the Windows 7 Taskbar to shave a few seconds from day-to-day tasks looks like a very obvious choice.

The SilverFace and Fishbowl applications each provide a great UX and enhance user productivity. Scott Guthrie also announced the Facebook SDK for managed code applications that combines the latest in Web and Client platform innovations with leading Social technologies (services) to help developers plug into Facebook. But, beside the new Facebook SDK and beside the great looks, the Fishbowl application is a great WPF (3.5) example that demonstrates how to write applications that produce amazing experiences on Windows 7.

As a WPF application, Fishbowl runs on multiple Windows versions, including Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7, and it integrates with the Windows 7 Taskbar and Multitouch. One of the main ideas behind the Taskbar is to provide users with quick and easy access to their content and help them accomplish tasks and navigate between windows easier and with more confidence. For example, JumpList provides a great tool for surfacing common work items and tasks. If you have a task that you perform once or twice a day, taking two or three clicks to perform the task is not that bad. However, if you have a task that you perform 10, 20, or even 30 more times, using JumpList tasks or items in the recent category list goes a long way. Facebook users often check their wall, write notifications and messages, view friends' pictures, and so on. Therefore, in some scenarios, the Taskbar JumpList tasks, icon notification, thumbnail buttons, and other functionality become major tools in the application.

Fishbowl uses the taskbar to provide a quick, easy, and seamless integration with Facebook functionality directly from your Taskbar. Let’s review some of the user functionality before jumping into code behind.

The Fishbowl taskbar offers a few tasks even before you start your application. You can go to Facebook.com, or you can actually “jump” directly and see your wall, friend's picture, and more, as the following image shows.
One of the amazing things in Fishbowl for Facebook is that it changes it functionality between the different modes of the application. Being able to use the taskbar differently for Click the image to open in full size. different scenarios provides an amazing user experience in heavily used application like Fishbowl.

When Fishbowl runs in normal mode, the Taskbar JumpList reflects items and tasks that you can actually perform in the context of a running application, like viewing the last few notifications and messages that you received without opening the application, as shown by the following image.

Click the image to open in full size. If you hover with the mouse above the Fishbowl control, you see the thumbnail preview provided by Windows 7 taskbar. However, Fishbowl uses the thumbnail button again allowing you to both view a preview of the application and act immediately upon the thumbnail preview as shown in the following image. If you hover with the mouse above the Fishbowl control, you see the thumbnail preview provided by Windows 7 taskbar. However, Fishbowl uses the thumbnail button again allowing you to both view a preview of the application and act immediately upon the thumbnail preview as shown in the following image.

Click the image to open in full size.

(And thank you Raman for writing so many PDC tweets J)

Fishbowl also has a mini-mode operation mode. This mode shows just one message in a small window. As you can see in the following image, a small arrow allows you to switch between messages. When you hover over Fishbowl taskbar icon, you can see the preview but you can also control the message, again using the taskbar thumbnail preview.

 Click the image to open in full size.

Besides great Taskbar integration, Fishbowl offers a great Multitouch experience, allowing you to scroll between messages using your finger to touch the touch screen. It is a little hard to illustrate Multitouch with screen capture so you will have to trust me on this one.

We've covered most of the Fishbowl features unique to Windows 7, and in the next post I will dive into the API that enabled these Taskbar and Multitouch features. If you are interested, you can download the source code for Fishbowl.


Click the image to open in full size.



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]]> Windows Lunk http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2959 About QuickTime 7.6.5 http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2958 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:57:31 GMT Release date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:22:00 GMT More... (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3524) Release date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:22:00 GMT



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]]> OSX Lunk http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2958 iDVD: Setting Encoding preferences http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2957 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:13:42 GMT Release date: Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:36:00 GMT More... (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1645) Release date: Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:36:00 GMT



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]]> OSX Lunk http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2957 Consciousness May Not Require Big Brain http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2956 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:59:01 GMT Image: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3190/2845146996_da0051be64.jpg In an appropriate follow up to yesterday's article on IBM's largescale... Click the image to open in full size.
In an appropriate follow up to yesterday's article on IBM's largescale cortical simulation, comes newsfrom brain researchers at Queen Mary, University of London andCambridge University. LarsChittka and other researchers, who have been studying both computersimulations and animal brains, now believe that brain size is not assignificant as previously believed with respect to general intelligenceand consciousness. "Noone would seriously suggest that a bigger computer is automatically abetter computer", say the researchers.
We know that body size is the single best way to predict ananimal's brain size. However, contrary to popular belief, we can't saythat brain size predicts their capacity for intelligent behaviour. Inbigger brains we often don'tfind more complexity, just an endless repetition of the same neuralcircuits over and over.
The larger amount of IO needed in larger animals for things such as moremuscles and higher resolutions sensors may be the main driving factorfor needing larger brains. The researchers say it's possible significantintelligence and consciousness could be present even in insect brains.This fits in with other recent research showing that, despite their tinybrain size, bees couldmatch the best machine-based face recognition algorithms. For more,see the full text the researchers report, AreBigger Brains Better (PDF format), or listen to the BBC Radiointerview of Professor Lars Chittka on BBC Radio 4. CC-licensed imageof honeybee by flickr user Agent Opie



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]]> Robotics in the News Lunk http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2956 <![CDATA[Health Robotics Launches 'iv Room of the Future' Concept - TMCnet]]> http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2955 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:27:55 GMT <img alt="" height="1" width="1" /> *Health *Robotics* Launches 'iv Room of the Future' Concept*...

Health Robotics Launches 'iv Room of the Future' Concept
TMCnet
Health Robotics, a global supplier of life-critical intra-venous medication preparation, compounding and dispensing robots, ...






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]]> Robotics in the News Lunk http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2955 High school to host LEGO robotics event - Monroe Evening News http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2954 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:04:46 GMT <img alt="" height="1" width="1" /> *High school to host LEGO *robotics* event*...

High school to host LEGO robotics event
Monroe Evening News
Monroe High School's FIRST Robotics team, the iPirates, will be at the tournament to assist. High school students and adult volunteers will serve as ...
Best of the weekConcord Monitor

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]]> Robotics in the News Lunk http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2954 BIC Robotics wins BEST Award - Northeast Arkansas Town Crier http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2953 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:03:03 GMT <img alt="" height="1" width="1" /> *BIC *Robotics* wins BEST Award*...

BIC Robotics wins BEST Award
Northeast Arkansas Town Crier
Buffalo Island Central Robotics team joined 19 other teams from across Arkansas and Tennessee to compete at Arkansas State University in the BEST (Boosting ...






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]]> Robotics in the News Lunk http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2953 Texas Invests $1 Million In Robotics Education Programs - Gov Monitor http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2952 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:32:27 GMT <img alt="" height="1" width="1" /> *Texas Invests $1 Million In *Robotics* Education Programs*...

Texas Invests $1 Million In Robotics Education Programs
Gov Monitor
The FIRST Robotics Competition and FIRST Tech Challenge are supported by businesses throughout Texas, and immerse students in science and technology through ...






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]]> Robotics in the News Lunk http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2952 Aussies map robotic future - Stuff.co.nz http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2951 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:32:27 GMT <img alt="" height="1" width="1" /> *Aussies map *robotic* future*...

Aussies map robotic future
Stuff.co.nz
Scientists in Brisbane are blurring the line between biology and technology and creating a new generation of robot "helpers" more in tune with human needs. ...






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]]> Robotics in the News Lunk http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2951 Pandemic Dawn - Part 14 - Slaves for Sale http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2950 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:01:50 GMT She stepped back away from the airconditioner. It was quiet as they all looked intently on each other, not knowing what to say or do. Sarah spoke,... She stepped back away from the airconditioner. It was quiet as they all looked intently on each other, not knowing what to say or do. Sarah spoke, not because she had anything interesting to say, but she...

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]]> Latest Features Lunk http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2950 Pandemic Dawn - Part 15 - The Abandoned Schoolhouse http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2949 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:01:50 GMT As they approached the school Miley thought back to her last days before the cleansing. How her mother and her fought that morning before she left to... As they approached the school Miley thought back to her last days before the cleansing. How her mother and her fought that morning before she left to school, how she was still angry because her father had...

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]]> Latest Features Lunk http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2949 Pandemic Dawn - Part 16 - She Blinded me with Science http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2948 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:01:50 GMT After they ate Lunk pulled Sam around to open him up.Â- He placed the empty bottles back in with the others.Â- He thought to himself for a moment,... After they ate Lunk pulled Sam around to open him up.Â- He placed the empty bottles back in with the others.Â- He thought to himself for a moment, then spoke, "You know, schools have drinking fountains...

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]]> Latest Features Lunk http://www.wall-ebuilders.com/showthread.php?t=2948