Robolert v1.0
Robolert v1.0 is finally the complete version of this high-tech intrusion-detecting line of robots. The robot is relatively tiny at 35 cm in height, and only 2.5 kg in weight. Being that portable, it has become very popular with shifting guards. They bring it with them to the location, switch it on, and then let it wander around. It makes their job so much easier.
Technically speaking, the robot carries two very sensitive optical cameras located in its eyes. It detects the slightest changes in the environment. Its feet are also padded with very sensitive devices that detect sound waves transmitted through the ground. When a verified intrusion is detected, the robot produces ear-blowing alerting sounds from 6 loud speakers set on its antennas (2), ears (2) and legs (2). Moreover, 2 extra speakers that work wirelessly are projected from both of its arms into different directions of space to extend the range of its alerts as far as possible.
It comes with a remote control that controls the unit, and also shows where the unit is situated.
Robolert v1.0 was designed by TripleH Labs with portability and effectiveness in mind.
More pixel art is on my DeviantART page.
Wikipedia in Masri? No, Thanks!
Well, just by chance today I came across the Egyptian version of Wikipedia. I was surprised. All the articles are in common modern Egyptian dialect of Arabic, known as Masri. I’m not against the idea, but I’m still not supporting it.
Firstly, the current language spoken in Egypt (Masri) is not a standalone language. It’s just a dialect of Arabic. In Wikipedia it’s called Egyptian Arabic. So, it’s as humorous as creating a Wikipedia written in the southern dialect of American English. P.S. Egypt had a different language long ago called Egyptian, that evoluted into Coptic; it is not related to Arabic or to Masri. It was being spoken in Egypt until the 17th century. It’s not spoken at present. Just so that it’s not to be confused with Masri.
Secondly, in Egypt, the official language by which all formal, scientific, and educational affairs are managed is Arabic. Masri is not recognized by the government, and thus does not have any role in education or scientific research, or in applying knowledge for the benefit of people. You can’t write a scientific paper in Masri, for instance, but you can write it in Arabic. So, how can this Masri wikipedia be useful?
Pixel Art — the Essence of Retro Electronic Entertainment
• Having recently talked about Studio Pixel’s Cave Story, I thought: why not talk about pixel art?
• From Wikipedia ,
Pixel art is a form of digital art, created through the use of raster graphics software, where images are edited on the pixel level. Graphics in most old (or relatively limited) computer and video games, graphing calculator games, and many mobile phone games are mostly pixel art. Pixel art is distinguished from other forms of digital art by an insistence upon manual, pixel-level editing of an image (without the application of image filters, automatic anti-aliasing or special rendering modes), often at close magnification. In this form, it is commonly said that “each pixel was placed carefully” to achieve a desired result.
• Pixel art, while not aware of it at the time, constituted a major part of the art I perceived as a child. Evident in retro video games, graphics drawn in such way was to me instantly related to high technology. It looked unique and inspired. The precision put behind each tiny image is more than that of a large modern image, which is amazing. Today, as an adult, pixel art is still interesting to me. Video games with retro-style, in which pixel art is heavily utilized, still bring a warm nostalgia to time passed. I think only those who have witnessed pixel art as children grow up to appreciate it.
Read on for examples of this type of art and how to create it yourself.
Cave Story (Doukutsu Monogatari) // PSP version
Cave Story (洞窟物語, Doukutsu Monogatari) is a freeware action-adventure video game released in 2004 for PC, designed and created over five years by Daisuke Amaya, art-name: Pixel. It has been translated by fans to English by Aeon Genesis.
The game has been highly received by both critics and gamers. In the July 2006 issue of Swedish game magazine Super PLAY, Cave Story was given 1st place on their list of the 50 best freeware games of all time.
A PSP port was developed by a fan, -Z. It supports PSP’s native screen format, and is overall emulated almost perfectly. Only a few text glitches here and there. It also come with Japanese text in addition to the English text.
DigiPet — Virtual Pet for your Palm Electronic Device
Do you remember Tamagotchi? That little electronic toy we used to play with all the time when we were kids. An egg or whatever hatches, and a newborn comes to life. You then have to take care of the poor little creature, feed it, and play with it, or else it will die. Tamagotchi was very popular with school kids that some schools banned having them in class. I also was fascinated with that artificially intelligent toy. It was very exciting to take care of a creature which could react to your actions and see it grow in the palm of your hand.
Ironically, my fascination with that toy as a kid did not fade away as an adult. I still find the idea very creative. So, not owning a Tamagotchi, I thought I’d make one myself. And that’s how DigiPet came to life; a PalmOS application that is inspired by Tamagotchi.
After the break, I’ll talk about this application in detail. So please keep reading.
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