Tauba Auerbach’s RGB Colorspace Atlas Depicts Every Color Imaginable

The RGB Colorspace Atlas by New York-based artist Tauba Auerbach is a massive tome containing digital offset prints of every variation of RGB color possible. For you designers, think of it as a three-dimensional version of a Photoshop color picker. At 8in. x 8in x 8in. the perfectly cube book was co-designed by Daniel E. Kelm and bound with assistance from Leah Hughes. What a beautiful sculptural object. (via designboom)

Source:http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2012/09/tauba-auerbachs-rgb-colorspace-atlas-depicts-every-color-imaginable/

271 Years Before Pantone, an Artist Mixed and Described Every Color Imaginable in an 800-Page Book

In 1692 an artist known only as “A. Boogert” sat down to write a book in Dutch about mixing watercolors. Not only would he begin the book with a bit about the use of color in painting, but would go on to explain how to create certain hues and change the tone by adding one, two, or three parts of water. The premise sounds simple enough, but the final product is almost unfathomable in its detail and scope.

Spanning nearly 800 completely handwritten (and painted) pages, Traité des couleurs servant à la peinture à l’eau, was probably the most comprehensive guide to paint and color of its time. According to Medieval book historianErik Kwakkel who translated part of the introduction, the color book was intended as an educational guide. The irony being there was only a single copy that was probably seen by very few eyes.

It’s hard not to compare the hundreds of pages of color to its contemporary equivalent, the Pantone Color Guide, which wouldn’t be published for the first time until 1963.

The entire book is viewable in high resolution here, and you can read a description of it here (it appears E-Corpus might have crashed for the moment). The book is currently kept at the Bibliothèque Méjanes in Aix-en-Provence, France. (via Erik Kwakkel)

Source: http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/05/color-book/

Fantastic Fungi: The Startling Visual Diversity of Mushrooms Photographed by Steve Axford

Mycena chlorophos

Leratiomyces sp. / Found in Booyong Reserve, Booyong, NSW

Panus fasciatus

Marasmius haematocephalus

Cyptotrama aspratum or Gold tuft

Schizophyllum commune

Hairy mycena

White Mycena

Mauve splitting waxcap

Marasmius sp. / Marasmius haematocephalus

panus lecomtei

To think any one of these lifeforms exists in our galaxy, let alone on our planet, simply boggles the mind. Photographer Steve Axford lives and works in the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales in Australia where he spends his time documenting the living world around him, often traveling to remote locations to seek out rare animals, plants, and even people. But it’s his work tracking down some of the world’s strangest and brilliantly diverse mushrooms and other fungi that has resulted in an audience of online followers who stalk his work onFlickr and SmugMug to see what he’s captured next.

Axford shares via email that most of the mushrooms seen here were photographed around his home and are sub-tropical fungi, but many were also taken in Victoria and Tasmania and are classified as temperate fungi. The temperate fungi are well-known and documented, but the tropical species are much less known and some may have never been photographed before. Mushrooms like the Hairy Mycena and the blue leratiomyces have most likely never been found on the Australian mainland before, and have certainly never been photographed in an artistic way as you’re seeing here.

It was painfully difficult not to include more of Axford’s photography here, so I urge you to explore further. All photos courtesy the photographer. (via Awkward Situationist)

Source: http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/05/fantastic-fungi-steve-axford/

10 Amazing Ways People Are Using The Oculus Rift Today

Kyle Russell/Business Insider

When the Oculus Rift made its Kickstarter debut in 2012, gamers were convinced that this could finally be the gadget that would make virtual reality take off.

Now, two years and a $2 billion acquisition later, the device is being used for much more than video games.

The Oculus Rift, created by Oculus VR, is a virtual reality  3-D headset that uses 360-degree head tracking to make it feel like you’re inside a different world.

For example, looking to the left or right will automatically pan the scene in either direction, making it feel as natural as looking around in reality. The eyewear also provides  parallel images for each eye, which is the same way your eyes perceive images in the real world. 

The company already generated a ton of buzz after its Kickstarter campaign was successfully funded, but the startup really broke into the public eye when Facebook acquired it for $2 billion in March. 

Palmer Luckey, the 21-year-old Oculus VR founder, said that the Oculus Rift was made specifically for gaming when it was initially introduced. Today, however, people are using the  headset to drive tanks in the military and explore the human body, among other fascinating applications. 

To help a dying grandmother walk outside again

Roberta Firstenberg had been battling cancer in April when her granddaughter Priscilla used the Oculus Rift to ease her pain. Firstenberg loved being outside, especially gardening, but her condition restricted her from doing so. After writing a letter to Oculus VR relating the situation, the company sent Priscilla a developer version of the Rift, which allowed Firstenberg to roam around a Tuscan villa.

To fly like a bird

A machine developed by the Zurich University of the Arts uses the Oculus Rift to create a realistic flying experience. The device, called Birdly, uses its motor to translate hand movements from a simulator into the flapping of virtual wings. The Oculus Rift headset provides a virtual bird’s-eye view that makes it feel like you’re actually soaring. 

To see through the eyes of a robot

Researchers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab created a device that would allow the user tosee through the eyes of a robot avatar. The device also uses a Kinect to pick up the Oculus wearer’s movements, while the goggles provide a first-person perspective from a remote robot’s point of view. In the image above, a user is moving his arm while wearing the Oculus Rift to move the robot’s arm. 

To see your brain activity in real time

A group of scientists at UCSD and UCSF have collaborated with a video game developer to create a platform that can show your brain’s reaction to stimuli in real time. The project, called Glass Brain, was unveiled by “Second Life” creator Philip Rosedale and a team of researchers at this year’s SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. The system uses MRI scans and EEE electrodes to record brain activity, which can be observed by a third party through the Oculus Rift. 

To pilot military tanks

The Norwegian military is testing a new system that utilize the Oculus Rift to get a full view of the battlefield from inside the tank. According to Norwegian TV station TuTV, tanks are equipped with a series of cameras that offer a 185-degree view of their surroundings. Soldiers inside the tank can then view their environment without having to pop their heads above the hatch. 

To see from a drone’s point of view

Parrot’s newest quadcopter drone, the Bebop, is compatible with the Oculus Rift. This means you’ll be able to see exactly what you’re drone sees through its 180-degree fish-eye lens. The person in the image above is piloting the drone using the controller in his hand and the Oculus Rift.

To create a virtual version of yourself

If you’ve ever wondered what you might look like in a video game, one expert may have just figured out how to do it. 3-D enthusiast Oliver Kreylos created a virtual rendering of himselfusing the Oculus Rift and three Kinect cameras. Video feeds from three Kinects are combined to generate a 3-D version of Kreylos as he moves around in a virtual environment.

To help architects create buildings

Arch Virtual, an architecture-focused firm that creates augmented reality apps for the Oculus Rift, has a handful of apps that help designers and architects create buildings virtually. In this particular River Home project in Europe, a client provided Arch Virtual with a virtual model of the building, which is then converted to be compatible with a gaming engine called Unity3D. Using the Rift, designers, architects and contractors can explore the virtual home to get a more immersive feel for the space. 

To take a roller coaster ride around your living room

An Oculus developer with the username Teddy0k is working on an app for the Rift that creates a virtual roller coaster in your living room. The roller coaster simulator shrinks you down to the size of a mouse and takes you on a mock roller coaster ride. 

Source:

Flipboard Online Magazine

http://www.businessinsider.co.id/best-oculus-rift-experiences-2014-5/#.U3YhPvmSxVc

Etika Internet

Sejak terbentuknya ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network) pada tahun 1969, jaringan komputer di dunia tumbuh sangat cepat membentuk internet sehingga membuat batas-batas negara seakan-akan menghilang. Sekarang dengan sebuah komputer yang terhubung dengan internet, seseorang dapat belajar jarak jauh (e-learning), perdagangan jarak jauh (e-commerce), menemukan berbagai informasi yang tersimpan di dalam jutaan komputer di dunia!
Bayangkan! Hanya dengan sentuhan tangan, seorang peselancar internet dapat menyimpan ensiklopedi berbagai pengetahuan yang jumlah halamannya ratusan bahkan ribuan halaman! Tentu dengan adanya teknologi internet ini memudahkan kita mendapatkan berbagai informasi yang dibutuhkan.
Internet atau International Network, merupakan jaringan komputer sejagat bumi. Bila suatu komputer terhubung dengan internet dan mempunyai hak akses, maka komputer tersebut dapat berkelana seantero komputer-komputer yang terhubung dengannya.
Internet bagaikan sebuah kota elektronik yang sangat besar dimana setiap penduduk yang memiliki alamat (Internet Address) dapat untuk berkirim surat atau informasi. Jika penduduk itu ingin berkeliling kota, cukup dengan menggunakan komputer sebagai kendaraan. Jaringan jalannya bertumpu di atas sarana atau media telekomunikasi. Jalur lambatnya menggunakan line telepon, dan jalur cepatnya bisa menggunakan wireless.
Berinternet atau kegiatan “berselancar” di jaringan komputer internasional ini merupakan salah satu aktifitas yang dilakukan oleh sekitar 1,3 Milyarmanusia di bumi ini. Berinternet sudah hampir menjadi suatu kegiatan interaksi sosial.
Tulisan berikut merupakan artikel Etika Ber-InterNet #1:
Saling Menghormati dan Berperilaku Baik. Ini adalah istilah umum yang biasa dipakai ketika orang saling berkomunikasi. Apalagi sebagai umat Islam, semuanya ini termasuk sebagai bagian dari Ibadah.
Tidak ada bedanya ketika kita berkomunikasi juga secara online di dunia maya (Berinternet). Bagaimana kita akan dianggap, tipe orang seperti apakah kita, kredibilitas kita, profesionalisme dan etika (akhlak) kita akan dinilai dengan bagaimana kita berkomunikasi dengan orang line secara online.
Untuk itu, ada beberapa etika yang perlu diketahui ketika kita berkomunikasi dengan orang. Berikut ini adalah beberapa hal dasar yang perlu diketahui (Common Courtesies):

1. Jangan menulis dengan huruf besar
   Menulis dengan huruf besar sama dengan berteriak. Orang tidak suka berkomunikasi dengan orang yang berteriak-teriak, seolah-olah dia tidak mendengarkan.
2. Menahan diri dari menggunakan huruf berwarna dan gambar/warna background.
   Pilihan warna akan mempersulit pemrosesan email, dan bisa mengakibatkan sulit dibaca, sehingga isi yang ingin disampaikan tidak sampai.
3. Pada saat dimana kita perlu mengirimkan email ke beberapa orang atau group, gunakan fasilitas BCC (Blind Carbon Copy), sehingga email orang lain yang menerima email kita tidak bisa dilihat oleh penerima yang lain. Daftar email yang panjang di field Cc: menunjukkan bahwa si pengirim masih belajar ber-email atau tidak menghargai “privacy” orang lain.
4. Untuk orang yang baru ber-email, ingat hal berikut:
• Jangan mem-forward “dumb joke”, “chain letter”, atau “unimportant email” tanpa permisi orang lain
• Mem-forward email bisa membuat penuh “mailbox” orang lain, menghabiskan “resources” orang lain, dan bisa menyebabkan email mental
• Mereka mungkin sudah pernah lihat email tsb dan tidak menyukainya
• Mem-forward “humorous email” bisa menyinggung perasaan orang atau merasa bosan dengan mendapatkan email yang sama dari seseorang yang baru belajar online
5. Jangan pernah memberikan nomor telepon atau personal information
6. Gunakan Internet untuk mencari informasi yang diperlukan. Gunakan search engine yang tepat
7. Jangan gunakan “Return Receipt” untuk setiap email yang dikirim. Seolah-olah kita ingin tahu apakah mereka membuka email yang kita kirim
8. Setiap orang masih belajar.
   Internet berubah setiap hari, dan kita semua harus mempelajari perubahan yang ada
9. Kalau menerima “nasty” email, jangan langsung membalas
10. Ingat bahwa email pribadi adalah hak cipta si penulis.
    Jika ingin memforward email pribadi, sempatkan meminta izin dari penulis
11. Selalu minimize atau kompress file menjadi “zip” file dengan attachment.
    Tidak semua orang mempunyai hi-speed internet access, dan tidak semua orang mempunyai kapasitas email yang tidak terbatas
12. Jangan memforward “virus warnings”.
    Kebanyakan email “virus warning” adalah “hoax” atau “tipuan”. Periksa dulu di http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html sebelum mengirim email.

Referensi:
“Etika Ber-InterNet #1″,
diakses pada 20 Februari 2008 pukul 14.50.

sumber : 
http://zulkarnaen.wordpress.com/2008/02/20/etika-berinternet

Etika dalam Berprofesi

Landasan proses pembelajaran etika profesi adalah agar mampu menerapkan etika-etika yang semestinya dilakukan dalam berprofesi sehari-hari, secara umum tujuan pembelajaran etika profesi adalah sebagai berikut :

a. Menjunjung tinggi martabat profesi dengan mempelajari etika profesi, diharapkan para pelaku profesi lebih bersikap arif dalam menjaga nama baik profesinya.

b. Menjaga dan memelihara kesejahteraan para anggota pemahaman tentang etika profesi diharapkan mampu menjaga kesejahteraan para anggota profesinya dengan cara tidak sewenang-wenang dalam bertindak.

c. Meningkatkan pengabdian para anggota profesi; pengabdian bukanlah hal yang dipaksakan, melainkan dilakukan dengan penuh kesadaran, oleh sebab itu bila sudah mempelajari dan memahami etika profesinya, diharapkan para pelaku profesi dapat mengabdi dengan baik pada profesinya masing-masing.

d. Meningkatkan mutu profesi; jika setiap pelaku profesi menjalankan profesinya dalam koridor etika profesi yang semestinya, maka mutu profesi juga otomatis akan meningkat.

e. Mempunyai organisasi profesional yang kuat dan terjalin erat; pemahaman dan pengamalan etika profesi akan mendukung terciptanya organisasi profesional yang kuat.

Kode etik berfungsi sebagai perlindungan dan pengembangan bagi profesi itu, dan sebagai pelindung bagi masyarakat pengguna jasa pelayanan suatu profesi. Kode etik juga berperan sebagai pedoman bagi masyarakat dalam meminta pertanggungjawaban jika mengalami tindakan yang di luar kewajaran atau kesalahan dari para pelaku profesi. Terdapat 3 hal penting mengenai kode etik, yaitu:

a. Kode etik profesi memberikan pedoman bagi setiap anggota profesi tentang prinsip profesionalitas yang digariskan.

b. Kode etik profesi merupakan sarana pengendalian sosial bagi masyarakat atas profesi yang bersangkutan.

c. Kode etik profesi mencegah campur tangan pihak di luar organisasi profesi tentang hubungan etika dalam keanggotaan profesi.

Kode etik dapat diartikan sebagai “aturan main”, tata cara, pedoman etis yang menjadi standar dalam melakukan suatu kegiatan atau pekerjaan (profesi). Kode etik menunjukkan nilai-nilai profesional yang diterapkan oleh setiap anggotanya.

Kode etik insinyur menurut ABET pada awalnya memulai dengan pengenalan umum yang berisikan pernyataan tentang 4 (empat) prinsip etika dasar profesi keinsinyuran sebagai berikut :

a. Insinyur harus selalu menggunakan pengetahuan dan keterampilan untuk peningkatan kesejahteraan manusia.

b. Insinyur dituntut untuk bersikap jujur dan tidak memihak, serta melayani masyarakat, pengusaha dan klien dengan kesetiaan.

c. Insinyur selalu berusaha untuk meningkatkan kompetensi dan prestise dari profesi teknik.
d. Insinyur mendukung kaum profesional dan teknis dari disiplin ilmu mereka masing-masing.

Sumber: http://etika-berprofesi.blogspot.com/

8 of Google's Craziest Offices

GOOGLE IS KNOWN FOR ITS ZANY OFFICE DESIGNS, FROM STROOPWAFEL CEILINGS TO SLIDES TO SCOOTERS. AND YOU THOUGHT YOUR OFFICE'S FOOSBALL TABLE WAS COOL.

While most of us 9-to-5ers hunch over in boxy, fluorescent-lit cubicles, feeling lucky if our office has a snack machine, the Google employees of the world are zooming around on scooters, slipping down tube slides, playing on their indoor putting greens, and gloating about the awesomeness of their offices. If they can even be called offices--the designs of these nerd playgrounds so outclass your average corral of homogenous desks that we had to round them all up in a grand, jealousy (and sometimes eye-roll)-inducing slide show, on the occasion of Google unveiling its new Mexico headquarters. As one Google spokesperson told the New York Times, designers of Google offices have but one goal: “to create the happiest, most productive workplace in the world.” Marvel at the most over-the-top workspaces of Google’s big happy techie family and lament not being better at computer science.

NEW YORK CITY

Occupying an entire city block, the New York-themed amusement park of Google’s Chelsea-based headquarters has hallways decorated with subway grates and fire hydrants, graffiti’d conference room doors, and chandeliers made of meat hooks, a nod to the nearby Meatpacking District. One conference room is set up like a tiny Seinfeldian New York apartment--think exposed brick, an electronic drum set, and awkward family photos on the wall. Victorian-style portraits of Star Wars characters decorate the library. Scooters provide its 3,000 employees transportation around the 2.9-million-square-foot building, which welcomes dogs.

AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS

Designed by local studio D/DOCK, Google’s Amsterdam office designs also take inspiration from their location’s cultural history and visual flavor, capturing the playfulness inherent in so much Dutch design. The ceiling panels are designed to look like stroopwafels--that quintessentially Dutch gooey waffle-cookie. Maybe Googlers draw inspiration from sugar cravings? 1960s caravans serve as meeting rooms, complete with lawn chairs and fake grills.

DUBLIN, IRELAND

Office foosball tables are old '90s startup news, but an office putting green? Top that with veritable jungles decorating workspaces, and Google's Dr. Seussian Dublin campus is possibly the most playground-like in the whole family.

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL

Occupying eight floors of the Electra Tower in Tel Aviv, these offices look like what elves and fairies might build if they held board meetings. Designed by Camenzind Evolution in collaboration with Setter Architects and Studio Yaron Tal, the office features Space-Age egg chairs, ivy and flower-covered walls, shag carpeting, a Lego room, a tube slide between floors, and a view of the Mediterranean sea from the rooftop deck.

LONDON, ENGLAND

The trifecta of Google offices in London range from a space station-like space that seems straight out of a Stanley Kubrick movie to this happy kiddie funhouse to a decidedly homey anglophilic dreamhouse fit for Mr. Bean himself.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA

The original global headquarters in Mountain View, California, the heart of Silicon Valley, is a sprawling, sun-drenched campus known as the Googleplex. “It’s easy to feel like we’re back in college,” Googlers brag in their career page's description of the campus. Here’s why: hundreds of bikes and scooters provide transportation from the conference rooms to the bowling alley, the climbing wall, beach volleyball, and weekly “TGIF” celebrations. Whether hacky sacks are involved in those celebrations, we don't want to know.

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA

Google toned down the Google for its Pittsburgh headquarters, opting for exposed pipes and peeled paint to channel the Steel City's rough-and-tumble vibe.

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND

Zurich Google employees are called Zooglers. And ther;re virtually required to contact Peter Pan Syndrome in this fireman pole, slide, videogame and hammock-filled workspace.

Source:http://www.fastcodesign.com/3028909/8-of-googles-craziest-offices?partner=rss