So, I've recently found myself reading a lot of technical papers on Arxiv.org dealing with whatever subject that I'm fleetingly interested in at the time. As I currently have an office job, I am able to read intermittently throughout the day. However, if I haven't finished an article by the time I've finished the work day, I either have to put the pdf on my tiny mobile screen or plan ahead and print the entire article out over the course of the day. Even with a laser printer printing on both sides of the sheets, printing an article that's a few hundred pages takes quite some time.
Thus, I began searching for alternatives. Kindle-style readers are available with pdf compatibility, however the cheapest ones still top $250-300. While it's not exactly breaking the bank, paper still remains cheaper.
Today I found myself in the all-too-familiar predicament of wanting to discretely print out an article to read on my 2 hour train commute home, when I had an idea. What if I could somehow print all the sheets to one piece of paper? Sure, it may take some time getting the data from the computer to the printer, but the time-consuming mechanical process of feeding the sheets in and applying the toner would be taken out of the picture.
The idea I have is based on the party game "Outburst." The popular game had cards with a series of words that the clue-giver had to get people to guess. To avoid cheating, the cards were patterned such that they could only be read after they were placed inside of a "filter" container. It was basically like a giant version of those red and blue 3d glasses - a red plastic-wrap style filter would get rid of all the red camouflage, revealing the bluer words.
Expanding upon that idea, I would like to design an adjustable filter that would allow a user to insert their sheet of jumbled letters and reveal just one page of a book at a time. To accomplish this, each sheet would be either printed in a slightly different color (impractical), or would be broken up such that either rotating or sliding the high-resolution striated filter would reveal another sheet (more practical). This would have the ability to be applied to almost any printer. And as far as being efficient, at worst it would use the same amount of ink as printing all the sheets while using less pieces of paper.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
4. Saving the Economy, One Penny at a Time
Pennies these days are something like 95% Zinc with only 5% copper that makes up the shell. Pennies these days are only worth 0.4 cents (source) and cost 1.2 cents to make.
Pennies from before 1983 are something like 95% Copper with only 5% zinc.
Pennies from before 1983 are worth about 1.8 cents.
I propose that the government recalls ALL pre-1983 pennies and reimburses the donors with 1.2 cents per donated penny. Why?
First of all, it would appease all the "death-to-the-penny" groups out there and satisfy all their reasons for ending the penny.
Next, everyone would make out. First of all, the big brother'd be buying copper at a 33% ((1.8-1.2) / 1.8) discount, which they could either use to lower the cost of producing new pennies, or resell the material to remelting plants and/or their consumers - the ailing auto industry, for example - at a 10% discount. Secondly, they citizens selling them would be making 20% on their "investment" ((1.2-1)/1). Everyone would make money.
Anyway, this isn't really fleshed out, or even fully thought out yet but right now it seems like a halfway decent idea.
Pennies from before 1983 are something like 95% Copper with only 5% zinc.
Pennies from before 1983 are worth about 1.8 cents.
I propose that the government recalls ALL pre-1983 pennies and reimburses the donors with 1.2 cents per donated penny. Why?
First of all, it would appease all the "death-to-the-penny" groups out there and satisfy all their reasons for ending the penny.
Next, everyone would make out. First of all, the big brother'd be buying copper at a 33% ((1.8-1.2) / 1.8) discount, which they could either use to lower the cost of producing new pennies, or resell the material to remelting plants and/or their consumers - the ailing auto industry, for example - at a 10% discount. Secondly, they citizens selling them would be making 20% on their "investment" ((1.2-1)/1). Everyone would make money.
Anyway, this isn't really fleshed out, or even fully thought out yet but right now it seems like a halfway decent idea.
3. Thoughts on Time
Once again, I unfortunately found myself at work yesterday. Luckily my coworker Ozgur and I tend to have stimulating discussion on a regular basis, which helps to break up the day.
As I remember, this particular conversation started with me showing him a video of a holographic display for Google Earth that has recently been developed by Japanese engineers. This sparked a conversation about what a waste of time typing things into google is, and how once the human brain is modelled on a computer we will just be able to think of something and immediately "know" the results. We would be basically all interconnected as one being, similar to how at one point the mitochondria in our cells were individual biological entities, and now they form us.
This eventually led to us attempting to define what it means for an object to be alive. Ozgur was explaining to me the video he had recently seen online that made him think about this. The basis of this film is to contrast the perception of time for a rock versus what a human percieves. From our perspective, a rock is standing almost still and is only occasionally moved by an outside force. However, from the rock's perspective, we are only a quick, almost imperceptible flash, while the rock percieves itself as a flexible, self-propelling object.
As always, this got me wondering. If a person were able to move extremely fast, what would they see and what would we see? Now this question could probably be analyzed and answered from the perspective of special relativity, but for now I just wanted a quick qualitative view of this.
First, from the slow person's point of view. We figured that in order to see the fast person, the fast person would have to stop for some amount of time, possibly years from their frame of reference. But how long? This should have to do with the refresh rate of the slow person's eyes. But what is that? I figured that since a 60Hz AC source lights a flourescent lightbulb with barely noticeable flicker, the upper limit for a refresh rate threshold should be 120Hz (60Hz means the current goes to 0 twice per cycle). This guy seems to agree, but is unsure due to the impreciseness of the definition of "refresh rate."
Next, from the fast person's point of view. Now the simple assumption would be to think that the fast person would see the slow person as a "rock" of sorts. Not really moving. But does that also mean that the electrons in the slow person would appear slow, thereby exposing the relatively enormous space between the nuclei and electrons in the constituent atoms? Would the person appear translucent as a ghost, or even invisible? At that point we became distracted by work. I'll have to ponder this another time, whatever that means.
Some other interesting blogs on subjective time:
Theory of Subjective Timer Perception
How the Brain Controls Time
As I remember, this particular conversation started with me showing him a video of a holographic display for Google Earth that has recently been developed by Japanese engineers. This sparked a conversation about what a waste of time typing things into google is, and how once the human brain is modelled on a computer we will just be able to think of something and immediately "know" the results. We would be basically all interconnected as one being, similar to how at one point the mitochondria in our cells were individual biological entities, and now they form us.
This eventually led to us attempting to define what it means for an object to be alive. Ozgur was explaining to me the video he had recently seen online that made him think about this. The basis of this film is to contrast the perception of time for a rock versus what a human percieves. From our perspective, a rock is standing almost still and is only occasionally moved by an outside force. However, from the rock's perspective, we are only a quick, almost imperceptible flash, while the rock percieves itself as a flexible, self-propelling object.
As always, this got me wondering. If a person were able to move extremely fast, what would they see and what would we see? Now this question could probably be analyzed and answered from the perspective of special relativity, but for now I just wanted a quick qualitative view of this.
First, from the slow person's point of view. We figured that in order to see the fast person, the fast person would have to stop for some amount of time, possibly years from their frame of reference. But how long? This should have to do with the refresh rate of the slow person's eyes. But what is that? I figured that since a 60Hz AC source lights a flourescent lightbulb with barely noticeable flicker, the upper limit for a refresh rate threshold should be 120Hz (60Hz means the current goes to 0 twice per cycle). This guy seems to agree, but is unsure due to the impreciseness of the definition of "refresh rate."
Next, from the fast person's point of view. Now the simple assumption would be to think that the fast person would see the slow person as a "rock" of sorts. Not really moving. But does that also mean that the electrons in the slow person would appear slow, thereby exposing the relatively enormous space between the nuclei and electrons in the constituent atoms? Would the person appear translucent as a ghost, or even invisible? At that point we became distracted by work. I'll have to ponder this another time, whatever that means.
Some other interesting blogs on subjective time:
Theory of Subjective Timer Perception
How the Brain Controls Time
2.2 Wireless Energy Transfer and Fractal Antenna Practicality (WET FAP)
So as some of you may know, last year I was a bit obsessed with trying to figure out a practical method of "long-range" energy transfer. The design that piqued my interest was the copper coils developed by MIT under Prof. Marin Soljacic, which was dubbed WiTricity. The idea is fairly simple: to transfer electrical energy (from a sending coil connected to an AC power source to a recieving coil connected to a load) via loosely coupled magnetic resonance. In this case, "long range" is defined as several coil diameters.
Anyway, after watching the section of the fractal special that dealt with fractal antennas, it got me thinking. The properties of these antennas are now used to simultaneously send and receive information on different frequencies in cell phones. Could this be applied to wireless energy transfer? From what I understand, due to the infinite nature of what I will call "scale symmetry," a fractal has an infinite perimeter. This means that the area is also technically infinite? Since there are an infinite number of sharp corners, can this area/perimeter not be integrated? Something to think about, I suppose.
LOTD:
Yes! Skip to 2:44...
Anyway, after watching the section of the fractal special that dealt with fractal antennas, it got me thinking. The properties of these antennas are now used to simultaneously send and receive information on different frequencies in cell phones. Could this be applied to wireless energy transfer? From what I understand, due to the infinite nature of what I will call "scale symmetry," a fractal has an infinite perimeter. This means that the area is also technically infinite? Since there are an infinite number of sharp corners, can this area/perimeter not be integrated? Something to think about, I suppose.
LOTD:
Yes! Skip to 2:44...
2.1 Down at Fractal Rock
So back to the fractals.
I was wondering during the aforementioned Nova episode why these have only been expressed in an optical sense (or more generally in an EM wave sense if you include the antenna idea). Why not another sense? Smell and taste would be odd if even possible. Touch would be doable, but since I'm more familiar with music, I figured sound would be the best.
My concept is to start with a simple tune, such as the "NBC" chimes (first, fifth, major third) and expand upon it using the concept of fractals. The result would be as follows:
Start with:
Modify to:
Etc (keep applying to each note)...
I'd like to develop this concept in a program like Acid or even in java to see what this would sound like taken to it's limit. Definitely with other more complicated melodies too. It'll happen eventually, just wanted to get the idea down before I forget. Peace.
I was wondering during the aforementioned Nova episode why these have only been expressed in an optical sense (or more generally in an EM wave sense if you include the antenna idea). Why not another sense? Smell and taste would be odd if even possible. Touch would be doable, but since I'm more familiar with music, I figured sound would be the best.
My concept is to start with a simple tune, such as the "NBC" chimes (first, fifth, major third) and expand upon it using the concept of fractals. The result would be as follows:
Start with:
Modify to:
Etc (keep applying to each note)...
I'd like to develop this concept in a program like Acid or even in java to see what this would sound like taken to it's limit. Definitely with other more complicated melodies too. It'll happen eventually, just wanted to get the idea down before I forget. Peace.
Intermission
A little break from my thoughts to lay out some plans...
So I found this amazing physics phd program in the city. If you get in, it's free tuition, free health insurance, and a $24k annual stipend. That is the final nail in my engineering career coffin. I'm ditching the job to become a real scientist.
I'm tired of learning things on my own. Maybe it's just that it's more difficult to find the resources to allow me to fully grasp the concepts. Maybe it's that it's lonely trying to talk about this stuff in the real world. Or maybe it's just the 4hr roundtrip commute for work that's wearing me out. Either way, here is my plan:
1. Put in 2 weeks tomorrow, 8/21
2. Quit in 2 weeks
3. Take a nice break from everything, through September at the longest
4. Start studying for GRE
5. Rack up some web design gigs in the meantime to keep the cash levels up
6. Take GRE, ace it.
7. Apply for program by January 15th
8. Keep up the web design as a backup plan and a means of cash
9. Get in, start up Fall '10 semester
Not too shabby.
LOTD:
"Whaaat?"
Update, 8/21:
Columbia offers a similar program.
NYU also offers some nice fellowships.
So I found this amazing physics phd program in the city. If you get in, it's free tuition, free health insurance, and a $24k annual stipend. That is the final nail in my engineering career coffin. I'm ditching the job to become a real scientist.
I'm tired of learning things on my own. Maybe it's just that it's more difficult to find the resources to allow me to fully grasp the concepts. Maybe it's that it's lonely trying to talk about this stuff in the real world. Or maybe it's just the 4hr roundtrip commute for work that's wearing me out. Either way, here is my plan:
1. Put in 2 weeks tomorrow, 8/21
2. Quit in 2 weeks
3. Take a nice break from everything, through September at the longest
4. Start studying for GRE
5. Rack up some web design gigs in the meantime to keep the cash levels up
6. Take GRE, ace it.
7. Apply for program by January 15th
8. Keep up the web design as a backup plan and a means of cash
9. Get in, start up Fall '10 semester
Not too shabby.
LOTD:
"Whaaat?"
Update, 8/21:
Columbia offers a similar program.
NYU also offers some nice fellowships.
2. Fractal Ramblings
So I was watching some TV tonight and realized I was a bit bored with reality tv, ridiculous "death panel" propoganda, and how in order to have a bi-partisan support the Grand Ol' Party says we need 80 senate votes. Ok, so reality tv is tolerable, but the Constitution says a bill is to be passed with at least 51 votes, aka a majority of 100. Then as soon as the righty tighties became the minority party, the filibuster upped the magic number to 60. Now 80? Ha. I guess pro-life only applies to fetii.
Anyway, after regaining some sanity via Bill Maher and John Stuart, I noticed that Nova happened to be showing a history of fractals, entitled "Fractals, Hunting the Hidden Dimension." Pretty good summary. What I came away with is the concept that fractals are basically a geometric interpretation of an iterative mathematical process. Start with a function with input x0 and obtain output y0. Then plug y0 in for x1 to obtain y1, etc, etc...The result when graphed is a geometric form that appears the same at tiny levels and macroscopic levels.
This sprung a number of different concepts. The one that stuck with me the most was the invention of a fractal-based antenna. This antenna, bent to be shaped in the Koch Snowflake, demonstrated the ability to transmit larger amounts of data with a smaller antenna. It also allowed one antenna to transmit and receive multiple frequencies (bluetooth, wifi, cell signal, etc).
This lead to two of my own ideas, which I will sum up in blog posts "2.1" and "2.2" to follow.
Anyway, after regaining some sanity via Bill Maher and John Stuart, I noticed that Nova happened to be showing a history of fractals, entitled "Fractals, Hunting the Hidden Dimension." Pretty good summary. What I came away with is the concept that fractals are basically a geometric interpretation of an iterative mathematical process. Start with a function with input x0 and obtain output y0. Then plug y0 in for x1 to obtain y1, etc, etc...The result when graphed is a geometric form that appears the same at tiny levels and macroscopic levels.
This sprung a number of different concepts. The one that stuck with me the most was the invention of a fractal-based antenna. This antenna, bent to be shaped in the Koch Snowflake, demonstrated the ability to transmit larger amounts of data with a smaller antenna. It also allowed one antenna to transmit and receive multiple frequencies (bluetooth, wifi, cell signal, etc).
This lead to two of my own ideas, which I will sum up in blog posts "2.1" and "2.2" to follow.
1. Why the blog, Mr. Grasser?
First of all, it's Matt. Mr. Grasser's my grandfather who spent 50 years as a physics teacher.
Anyway, after 25 years I've realized that I have been spending a ridiculous amount of energy trying to hold onto old thoughts and half-developed ideas in my head and on scraps of paper around the apartment. As such, I've created this blog to keep track of them all in one place.
This increases the chance of my ability to recall concepts from hours, weeks, or months earlier without feeling like I'm filling up. Word.
link o' the day:
Anyway, after 25 years I've realized that I have been spending a ridiculous amount of energy trying to hold onto old thoughts and half-developed ideas in my head and on scraps of paper around the apartment. As such, I've created this blog to keep track of them all in one place.
This increases the chance of my ability to recall concepts from hours, weeks, or months earlier without feeling like I'm filling up. Word.
link o' the day:
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