Pillow
Do you use ambient sounds (music, nature sounds, chimes) to help fall asleep or mask other sounds to stay asleep? Check out this pillow with embedded speaker. Reputed to have no lumps and not disturb nearby sleepers.
[kudos Gizmodo]
Archive for December 2007
Celebration of Nature Sounds
The October 13, 2007 broadcast of the NPR comedy news quiz Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me presented this factoid about the Celebration, Florida master-planned community developed by the Walt Disney Company:
Peter Sagal: “… where among the many amenities Disney provides residents … B. Hidden speakers piping in bird songs, because the actual birds are not melodious enough. … Hidden speakers have bird song and Muzak, so not a single moment walking in the streets will be devoid of happiness.”
(We normally consider NPR an authoritative source, but can anyone provide a published citation for this info?)
Related posts: Cricket Audio Grafitti, Nature Sounds in the News
Original Theremin Patent Filed
On December 5, 1925, Léon Theremin filed the original USA patent for the instrument which now bears his name.
Related posts: Theremin Patent, Theremin Patents
Theremin Student Design Projects
Theremins are occasionally the target of college student design projects. Reports often include thoughtful mathematical analysis and circuit design. We present a sampling of student design documents found on the web:
The Theremin and Beyond, Mojica and Gutierrez, University of California Riverside, 2003.
Theremin with Onboard Effects, Tarantino and Cinnamon, PHYCS 398 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2001.
Theremin: A Kaleidoscope of Sound, Arredondo, Cuevas, and Mesina, University of California Riverside, 2003.
A Digital Theremin, Sel-Vin Kuik, COM3010 University of Sheffield UK, 2004.
Theremin, Beard, Caudle, Koay,and Wong, ECE 4522 Mississippi State University, 2001.
Bumbershoot Parabolic Microphone
We pine for a parabolic microphone to make nature recordings, supporting one of our programs. Jim Lee describes how to to build such a mike from items found at a dollar store, including a novelty umbrella hat.
One of my friends is obsessed with shopping at dollar stores. This project we have to try…
[kudos Make:]