2009.08.27
Real Heroes
I always admired the pilots of the two PZL M18B "Dromader" fire-fighting airplanes that were stationed in Cephallonia's airport.
Continue reading "Real Heroes"2009.05.07
Fixing the Orientation of JPEG Photographs
I used to fix the orientation of my photographs through an application that would transpose the compressed JPEG blocks. This had the advantage of avoiding the image degradation of a decompression and a subsequent compression.
Continue reading "Fixing the Orientation of JPEG Photographs"2007.04.21
Modularity and Troubleshooting
A residual current device trips leaving the house in the dark. How do I fix the problem?
Continue reading "Modularity and Troubleshooting"2007.03.25
One Traffic Light Per Child
The XO machine of the One Laptop Per Child initiative has a display with two remarkable properties: in reflective mode it can be read under sunlight, and it can also work in both laptop and tablet mode. Add a dozen-line EToys program and you have a real traffic light.
Continue reading "One Traffic Light Per Child"2006.07.11
Boot Lock
I first admired this ingenious method of locking a car in
Rowan Atkinson's
Mr. Bean series.
A few days ago I saw it in real life.
2006.02.22
Management Support Technologies
My academic title contains the words management support technologies. I therefore considered the new and efficient document management and dispatch system I saw in use at my health insurance provider a rare gem, worthy of inclusion in this blog.
Continue reading "Management Support Technologies"2006.01.03
Disappearing Hardware
Let's start the new year with a retrospective look at hardware advances. I've ordered some older and current hard disks that were lying around by date. We're taking for granted the increases in disk size, but also impressive is the reduction in size of the control electronics.
Continue reading "Disappearing Hardware"2005.09.15
Information Kiosk
The inclined panel is indeed a computer screen, and, of course, it is not working. Another, more reliable, technology has prevailed.
Continue reading "Information Kiosk"2005.09.05
Preparing for the Exams
The (retake) exam period has started. At the metro the passenger sitting opposite me is obviously a student frantically sorting the cards containing a 6%-reduced photocopy of her forensic psychology textbook.
Continue reading "Preparing for the Exams"2005.05.19
Cats and Cigarette Lighters
On April 14th, the US Transportation Security Administration started enforcing a new ban on cigarette lighters. A month later, I saw the corresponding announcement posted on a check-in desk at the Samos international airport. At the same airport I also saw a free-roaming cat getting its food delivered directly on the tarmac. I entered my flight feeling a lot safer.
Continue reading "Cats and Cigarette Lighters"2004.11.19
Poster Presentations
I've found myself twice in a period of six months giving a poster presentation at a conference. This has been a new experience for me, and, by looking at what others were doing, I realized I could do a lot better.
Continue reading "Poster Presentations"2004.10.16
A Toddler Discovers Globalization
A toddler decided to explore and uncover the production chain behind his touch-and-feel book.
Continue reading "A Toddler Discovers Globalization"2003.07.12
An Interesting Remote Control
The garage remote control at the place where I work is really interesting.
Continue reading "An Interesting Remote Control"
