[Blogsfera] Localized WordPress-Mu

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After few months of wordpress-mu customization for BBVAblogs, we’re currently opening the code so you all can play with it.

Here are the links to follow the dev of this platform:

Project page: manual, feature requests and bugs

Source code: version control with git, clone it, fork it, enjoy it!

It includes wordpress-mu with various plugins, and some homemade templates to manage a blog community, feel free to leave your comments and feature requests and the project page.

Final version should be ready for the Campus Party at Valencia on the 28th of July.

Blinken-balloons: mashing Blinken-Lights and LED Throwies

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BlinkenI want my part of fun!
Among the greatest projects of last few years, Blinken-Light and LED Throwies are in my TOP 5.

Now that people are putting their LED into balloons, the next step could be to make an array of these ballons the have a quick-setup blinken-light wall. All we need is a way to figure out how to maintain this array – something light enough to be only supported by helium ballon drag – and an electronic way to control which balloon to light.

It’s simple enough to take a lot of time, and if it’s becoming too simple it could easily be complexified: laser+camera to point which ballon to switch on – aka L.A.S.E.R. Tag from GRL – or some internet/mobile input to send image to the ballon array.

Mood: Having Fun after a bad day on Feevy.com 😉

From weblog to geolog: virtual wall maps

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How to get a virtual world wall map similar to those you can find in most of students flat? with small pins on it to celebrate reminders of excellent moments abroad?

Using google map, it’s possible to add this pins (markers) on the map, and it’s possible to add lines between these markers, so everything is there to implement basic functionnalities.

Once the basics are done, the next steps could be more interesting: how wirtual maps can extend the experience?

  • Add a slider to navigate thought time, David‘s idea with his students about extending google maps with history layers (see google market sliders);
  • Have the possibility to add future markers, so your friends – or other people – can see your plans for coming weeks. Serious privacy issues, but all the tracklog concept lay on these issues;
  • Creating a multi-layer map with friends or other people on it, there we are really near a Global Surveillance concept;
  • Color change on path, depending on the transport – plane, foot, bicycle, … – or relate to the time slider with a nice gradient.

Interesting links around the same idea:

BEAM Robotics: electronic art life

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Vibrobot

From Wikipedia:

The word « beam » in BEAM robotics is an acronym for Biology, Electronics, Aesthetics, and Mechanics. This is a term that refers to a style of robotics that primarily uses simple analog circuits instead of a microprocessor in order to produce an unusually simple design (in comparison to traditional mobile robots) that trades flexibility for robustness and efficiency in performing the task for which it was designed. Exceptions to the convention of using only analog electronics do exist and these are often colloquially referred to as « mutants« .

Interesting links: