http://ift.tt/2lLk5wF
Video shows 10 tips to take your images ‘from basic to boss’ http://ift.tt/2lx2asS Photography is an art form, and as such much of it is subjective, but even so, there are some common things that professionals get right in most of their work that can really set it apart from the sea of amateur snapshots. Many of them are simple things that anyone can do if you just knew what they were. The team over at Mango Street Lab on YouTube just released another great video tutorial, and this time the topic was 10 ways to instantly take your photography from basic to boss. The tips are quick and painless, and as group notes, they can go a long way toward helping you set your shots apart from the rest. The Tips Are:
More: Boost your photography skills by studying the composition of the greats Some of these tips are fairly basic and obvious, but that is really the point here. The difference between a professional and an amateur is not (in most cases) huge, but rather that the professional took time to get all the little things right whereas the amateur just winged it. The saying, “It’s the little things” applies here. They may not seem like much on their own, but when you add them all together, the end result will be an image that resonates more with viewers. This is, in part anyway, thanks to the image containing fewer distractions because you took the time to get all the little details right. In the end, all of these are just the opinions of other photographers, you are the one who knows your own artistic vision. If you are accomplishing what you want while overlooking a few of these factors, no big deal. Next time you find yourself wondering how you could improve upon your work, though, you may want to take a look at this list and see what you may be overlooking during your shooting process.
Digital Trends via Digital Trends http://ift.tt/mG1NBn February 23, 2017 at 10:25AM
0 Comments
http://ift.tt/2leQPLE
Trippy VR self-portrait takes you inside its artist creator’s body http://ift.tt/2leXiWV The best artwork puts you inside its creator’s head. Los Angeles artist Theo Triantafyllidis’ latest creation, “Self Portrait (Interior)” doesn’t stop at his head, but also includes a bunch of his lower organs, as well — and all of it in stunning, slightly unnerving high definition virtual reality. The work in question is hailed as a “guided tour” of its creator, in which viewers aren’t just passive onlookers but get to make gamified decisions, courtesy of different path choices. You start off on an icy beach, before beginning your intrepid journey into Triantafyllidis’ giant, deceased-looking head, down his throat, and … well, wherever else you want. Imagine a more unnerving, artistic version of the classic 1966 sci-fi movie Fantastic Voyage, and you won’t be too far off! It’s pretty interesting stuff, and another example of how artists who, not all that long ago were going gaga over the possibilities of video, are now busy thinking up creative ways to use virtual reality. More: Google is helping artists work in virtual reality with new Tilt Brush tool On a philosophical level, the work explores not just its artist’s fears and desires, but also postmodern concepts about reality versus artifice and the nature of free will in simulations. On a technical level, it’s a nifty demonstration of what’s possible for one person to put together using modern VR game engines and some original ideas. “Self Portrait (Interior)” was commissioned by DiMoDa, a virtual institution that’s dedicated to spreading New Media Art. It was created as part of a VR group show titled Morphe Presence, which showcased four artists — including Triantafyllidis. You can download Triantafyllidis’ “Self Portrait (Interior)” in multiple formats here, or the complete DiMoDa group show here. While you can choose whichever VR viewing format you’ve got available, you’re best off experiencing it with an Oculus Rift headset and Xbox controller.
Digital Trends via Digital Trends http://ift.tt/mG1NBn February 23, 2017 at 10:25AM
http://ift.tt/2kSfHNd
Ambiotherm may look goofy, but it lets you feel the warmth of a virtual sun http://ift.tt/2leYBVR Virtual reality’s goal is to transport you to other worlds and make the illusion as convincing as possible. A bit like the early days of flight, when a wide range of weird flying machines were tried out, here in 2017 researchers are exploring all manner of off-the-wall ideas to make VR that bit more realistic. The latest? A virtual add-on called Ambiotherm, which mimics the feeling of the wind and sun on your face and neck by… well, blowing air and pumping heat in your direction. Created at the National University of Singapore, Ambiotherm is an accessory that clips on to the bottom of existing headsets. The front section boasts two fans mounted on servo-motors, while a temperature module attaches to the back of a user’s neck to create heat. Both thermal and wind effects are controlled via a microcontroller that receives commands from the headset via Bluetooth. More: Underwater virtual reality will give you anything but a sinking feeling Despite the two components only targeting specific body parts, the idea is that by utilizing thermal and wind cleverly in combination it’s possible to simulate complex environments, like walking through a desert, in a way that feels like it’s affecting the wearer’s entire body. “Traditionally, VR systems simulate physical presence in an environment through visual and auditory stimuli. By utilizing only two of the human senses, this approach to VR limits the number of modalities that are engaged, in turn having a negative effect on the user’s sense of immersion during the VR experience,” the Ambiotherm project description reads. “By providing the user with a combination of visual, auditory, thermal and wind sensations, Ambiotherm is able to increase users’ sense of presence in VR experiences by simulating real-world environmental factors such as ambient temperatures and wind patterns.” The system is due to be presented at the Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Colorado this May. Will it catch on in the long run? Almost certainly not in its present form factor. However, like the clever “brain hacks” that make you feel as though you’re walking forever in the virtual world, or the oddball haptic accessories that make it feel like you’re grasping things in VR, we suspect that all of these will one day find a place in fully-realized immersive virtual reality. In other words, as weird as this concept is, we’re a fan. Pun intended.
Digital Trends via Digital Trends http://ift.tt/mG1NBn February 23, 2017 at 09:50AM
http://ift.tt/2gHcNsO
Bionic Leaf project creates natural fish food out of thin air — sort of http://ift.tt/2kS9mRN Forget turning water into wine. A new project wants to turn air into food. It’s called the Bionic Leaf, and it’s a new, almost sci-fi technology that claims to employ the power of the sun and bacteria to make food out of carbon dioxide. So impressive is the concept that Bionic Leaf recently won a $100,000 Amazon Catalyst grant. The goal of the Bionic Leaf Bioreactor Development Kit is “to develop and disseminate a simple open-source kit using Microbial Electrolysis Carbon Capture technology to demonstrate the removal of excess CO2 from ambient air by converting it into methane fuel and food.” What does that mean? In essence, Bionic Leaf wants to take carbon dioxide, a main culprit in the increasingly concerning issue of climate change, and turn it into fuel for the body. Not our bodies, necessarily — not yet, at least. Rather, for the time being, the byproducts of Bionic Leaf can be used as fish food, though other end results may soon take shape. More: Feed your entire neighborhood with this new garden idea from Ikea The beauty of the Bionic Leaf, the team says, is that it might be able to mitigate or perhaps even “reverse the catastrophic buildup of CO2 in Earth’s atmosphere … by mining carbon directly from the sky and sequestering it into useful products.” While the technology behind this project has been in the works for a few years now, the point of the new Development Kits is to make the tech more widely accessible. Indeed, the Bionic Leaf team noted on its website, “The project is educational in nature and will be the basis for courses and collaborations with other inventors and tinkerers.” Mark Minie, an affiliate assistant professor in the University of Washington’s bioengineering department, and one of the masterminds behind the new project, told GeekWire that he hopes the kits will be similar to the computer building kits of the 1980s, and that they will “spark innovation and inspire young learners the way the originals did.” So if you’re looking for a new DIY project, consider DIY-ing your own fish food out of nothing but the air around you.
Digital Trends via Digital Trends http://ift.tt/mG1NBn February 23, 2017 at 09:50AM
http://ift.tt/2mi0VMu
Wix merges art and web design with its acquisition of DeviantArt http://ift.tt/2mqjhtW The social media network that survived the MySpace age with relatively few changes will soon be getting a makeover thanks to new ownership. On Wednesday, the web design platform Wix acquired DeviantArt, a social network for designers and artists. Despite turning 17 years old later this year and boasting 40 million registered members, DeviantArt co-founder and CEO Angelo Sotira said that the company lacked the resources to launch the features they wanted to bring to the art community. “With the addition of the resources, skill, innovation, and energy of Wix,” Sotira wrote in a statement, “our community can and will explode even faster than it has in the past, and we will become more inspired, magnetic, and audacious than ever before. The collective, universal understanding of what DeviantArt is and how it operates won’t be lost. We’ll just be able to do it a lot more efficiently, with the resources, staff, and data-driven know-how to best serve each and every member of our community like never before.” More: Photographer shares a behind-the-scenes look at a recent Vanity Fair cover Sotira says that the changes will include both ones already discussed within the community as well as a few “exciting ones you never expected.” Much of the DeviantArt’s design has stayed the same over the years, but the acquisition by a web design company is likely to change that. Wix says that new tools that help the platform’s creative community create and showcase their work online will be coming as a result of the acquisition. For Wix, the change bumps up the company’s expected revenue by about $8 million. The change will also give Wix users access to the community of artists — but DeviantArt clarifies that the copyright policy is not changing and that any future opportunity to license art through the Wix platform will be optional. Wix says that both platforms share a vision for giving designers and artists a platform to showcase their work. “Over its 16-year history, DeviantArt has built an impressive online community that is incredibly loyal, highly engaged, and regularly produces stunning art and design,” Avishai Abrahami, Co-founder and CEO of Wix, said in a press release. “The DeviantArt community is talented and robust and hungry for additional product expertise. We understand their passion, share their creative vision and are excited to offer the power of the Wix platform to their millions of artists.” Wix, which reached over 100 million users earlier this month, paid $36 million in cash for DeviantArt. While Wix plans to spend more to update both the desktop and mobile apps, the company is still expecting an increase in revenue. The plans also include integrating both programs. All DeviantArt staff will remain and Sotira will join the Wix management team.
Digital Trends via Digital Trends http://ift.tt/mG1NBn February 23, 2017 at 09:28AM
http://ift.tt/2lwSnmV
You are what you tweet: Researchers predict dieting success from social media traits http://ift.tt/2kSfoSj It’s obvious — your social media accounts say a lot about you. But it might not be so obvious just how much your use of sites like Twitter or Instagram reveals. In a new study, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have shown they can predict dieting success with 77 percent accuracy. More: Suggestic wants to use artificial intelligence to help you stick to your diet Amid the popularity of fitness and quantified self apps, lead researcher Munmun De Choudhury noticed that many people were sharing their results on social media. “Twitter is a general purpose social media platform, not specifically about health or diet,” she told Digital Trends. “Why is it then people are sharing these diet updates on Twitter? This led to our main research question – so are there certain types of content, language, and activities shared on Twitter that would predict somebody’s future diet compliance?” Choudhury and her team studied the words and phrases of more than 2 million tweets and over 100,000 daily fitness app entries from 700 Twitter users. They found that people who use more positive, future-focused, and self-reflective phrases were more likely to stick to their day-to-day diet plan. On the other hand, Choudhury said, “Unsuccessful dieters tend to talk less about health and fitness in their tweets, and their self-esteem seems to be low, because they do not talk about their achievements and accomplishments. They also have fewer support they can glean from their social networks on Twitter. Finally, these dieters express more negative emotion, anger, anxiety, and sadness in their Twitter posts.” The findings may not be revelatory, but they do suggest a way to improve dieting success, both for fitness apps and the people doing the dieting. “Despite the plethora of availability of various quantified self tools, people still struggle with maintaining good health and fitness,” Choudhury said. “Part of the problem stems from the fact that over extended periods of time, people lose their motivation of using these apps, and inability to conform to diet goals demoralizes people, leading to further abandonment. “Quantified self tools could incorporate this information to nudge people persuasively to continue to share their diet information, and adopt better health behavior practices that can reduce the likelihood of failing,” she added.
Digital Trends via Digital Trends http://ift.tt/mG1NBn February 23, 2017 at 09:28AM
http://ift.tt/2milwQN
YouPorn just launched a new (and obviously NSFW) virtual reality platform http://ift.tt/2mhZVYO Steamy streaming video website YouPorn has launched a new virtual reality platform, that is definitely Not Safe For Work (NSFW) this week. The service offers a range of 360-degree videos of assorted adult scenarios, which we assume includes things like filing tax returns and worrying about mortgage repayments. It can be accessed using any VR headset from Oculus Rift to Google Cardboard, although we’d suggest sticking with one of the higher-end, more liquid-resistant options. “[VR] provides the user with a whole new sensory experience and fundamentally alters the way we interact with the content,” YouPorn VP Brad Burns told Digital Trends. “The user is immersed in a unique POV setting that goes beyond simply viewing a video and gives them opportunity to truly interact with their virtual environment. We believe this is transformative not just for our industry but for digital media as a whole. We are excited to see how this progresses and continue to strive to be at the forefront of new entertainment technologies.” More: Ohroma’s ‘smell-o-vision’ VR wants to put your nose in a porn star’s room According to Burns, the site will add new VR videos daily. “At this rate, we believe that growth will outpace that of traditional videos as headsets become more readily available and this great new form of entertainment gains in momentum,” he continued. “VR is still in its infancy, but it shows great promise for 2017 and beyond, and we’ve secured some fantastic content partners to ensure that we have a constant and varying stream of content being added to the category regularly.” The porn industry has long been an early adopter of innovative technologies. According to Alice Bonasio, a researcher who follows VR porn, YouPorn is simply trying to keep up with the way the saucy entertainment industry is headed. “Any adult content provider now has to realize that they need to lay a stake in that space, so to speak,” she told Digital Trends. “They are pretty late to the game actually. It was only last year that Naughty America launched their offering, and PornHub soon followed, along with others, but a year is a long time in tech.” All in all, it’s just another reminder of how far virtual reality has come. And no, we’re not touching that pun!
Digital Trends via Digital Trends http://ift.tt/mG1NBn February 23, 2017 at 09:28AM
http://ift.tt/2lATxMc
Local split-screen multiplayer is making its way back to the Halo series http://ift.tt/2mcWfuJ It used to be that if a first-person shooter had multiplayer, it probably had a split-screen option as well. This was back before the internet was so readily available and you had to go to a friend’s house to play a game with them. These days, multiplayer has moved from the couch and onto the internet. Despite this move, the Halo series has always served as a pillar of local split-screen play. That is, until this mode was oddly missing from the latest entry Halo 5: Guardians. On Thursday, during a speech at the annual DICE Summit, Microsoft confirmed the Halo series will be bringing back split-screen modes in all future titles. More: ‘Halo Wars 2’ review “We will always have split-screen support going forward,” 343 Industries chief Bonnie Ross told the crowd. What has yet to be confirmed is whether this statement applies to cooperative or competitive modes. Additionally, there was no clarification on how split-screen modes might work with the Xbox Play Anywhere model. Will Windows 10 users be able to play with others on a console? When Halo 5 was released, fans were vocal about the absence of any local multiplayer options. Both the versus modes and the main campaign features four-player battling, yet this feature was strictly available online. What made this omission even more surprising was that 343 developers told fans during development that Halo 5 would include split-screen modes. It wasn’t until later in development that they walked back on that statement. During Ross’ speech, she admitted that fan outcry was significant. “It was incredibly painful for the community and for us.” She event went as far to say the removal of split-screen “eroded trust” with their fanbase. While Halo 6 has yet to be formally announced, it’s not surprising that 343 Industries is hard at work on another entry. The franchise stands as one of the biggest properties owned by Microsoft.
Digital Trends via Digital Trends http://ift.tt/mG1NBn February 23, 2017 at 08:52AM
http://ift.tt/2jxyiMh
PSVR tips and tricks for better gamplay http://ift.tt/2lPQt1u If you picked up or ordered a PlayStation VR headset, you probably can’t wait to pull it over your head and enter your favorite virtual world (be it mechanized sports arenas, horrific amusement parks, or the bustling streets of London). But hold up! Your experience will be more enjoyable and far less frustrating if you know your way around Sony’s first foray into virtual reality. Here’s what you should know, whether you’re looking for the quickest way to jump right in, or for tips on preventing unwanted eyestrain. More: PlayStation VR: Common problems and how to fix them Tips for setting upChoose and measure your space carefullyThe PSVR has cables — lots of cables. These include a direct line to the headset, a cord for your earphones, a cord for the outlet power, a connection to the hub, and hub cables that connect to your TV and PlayStation 4. The PSVR also needs plenty of room, including a 6-by-10-foot space to play in (and that’s when you’re sitting down). We haven’t even gotten to the camera yet, which needs to be about 6 feet away, in a high location that’s not prone to vibrations or light. Just for the record, we find it much easier to play standing up, which makes the in-VR movement seem more natural, so plan your space with standing room if possible. So, the bad news is that you may have to do some planning and rearranging to create the ideal spot for your PSVR. The good news is that you can this while waiting for your headset to arrive! Just remember, cords, people, pets, and walls can all be physical dangers. Practice your sixth sense, and devote at least a little attention to the real world no matter what you’re doing. Get important accessories early onYour PSVR experience can be easily improved with a few smart purchases. Your headset greatly benefits from a separate stand, and a microfiber cloth to use for regular cleaning. When putting the headset on, you may find that a new pair of headphones and a bandana for tying down errant hair are both very helpful. Even more traditional PlayStation accessories like a separate charging dock for your controllers can be an important asset. Consider accessories like these while you are buying the PSVR so you don’t have to worry about them later. Practice taking the headset on and offDo this before you try turning anything on. A tight fit is important, so this is the time to test the fit, make adjustments, and figure out how it should rest on your head. Thankfully, the round button on the underside of your device will allow you to quickly disengage the headset. When the fit is right, it should be comfortable and prevent any light coming inside — this is a tough goal, but get as close as you can. Stay away from Bluetooth devicesThe PSVR doesn’t play well with other Bluetooth devices. Yes, we found this to be an occasional problem with modern entertainment systems, which tend to involve at least a couple Bluetooth connections. But it’s a good idea to pick a spot without competing signals, or to at least turn off nearby Bluetooth devices before setting up your PSVR. Use the Adjust settingsThere is a customization segment during the setup process, but we suggest paying a visit to the Adjust settings once you’re officially out of the setup process. These options will help you position your Camera, adjust tracking lights, and adjust the lights on your headset and controllers. Go through all of these to create a more stable, reliable response. Additionally, keep all lights and reflections away from the camera’s “eye.” The PSVR camera can be particularly testy about light and other distractions. If you’re having a problem with tracking, then look to the camera first. Make sure it hasn’t fallen out of alignment, or isn’t facing a window or screen of any kind. Try turning off any nearby lights, too. If a particular game is giving you trouble, try making some very slight adjustments to the Camera, since the best angle/distance can differ from game to game. This is easier to do once you have a little experience in how the camera and general setup behave. Tips for better gameplayAlways charge your controllersThis helps greatly when it comes to ease of use. The Move controllers appear to lose their charge quickly while playing VR games, and it’s really annoying to have a controller go out on you while you’re in the midst of something, because you have to take everything off and find a charging solution. Always charging your controllers after you’ve finished your session, however, helps prevent this problem. If you have a PS4 Slim, which has a single charging solution, you’ll have to switch out controllers regularly. And don’t keep those USB cables lying around where you could trip! Turn the headset off before you switch back to console modeThe VR format and resolution is different from the traditional console version, and the PS4 handles this a little oddly. If you don’t shut down the PSVR before playing regular PS4 games on your TV, then the screen will mirror the PS VR resolution, which can mess things up. We know its tempting to just pull the headset off and forget about it, but take a few extra seconds to shut it down so that your PS4 knows what’s going on. Turn your PlayStation off (don’t put it in rest mode)Oddly enough, this seems to help with lag and other problems. Yes, the PSVR can work with your console shut down, and it often works better. Even if this doesn’t fix the supposed lag issue, restarting your PS4 can help solve other problems. So, what do you have to lose? Not sure what to do? Press the PS buttonWe found that this gets you out of a lot of trouble. The PlayStation button on your controller/Move acts as a back button. If you aren’t sure where you are or what you’re doing, back out. If something isn’t responding correctly, press the PlayStation button see if you can retreat: It usually works, and when it doesn’t, then you know something serious has gone wrong and you may need to reboot. When in doubt, waitIt’s a little confusing, but you’ll still need to download some parts of the VR experience, even if the game or experience in question has already been downloaded. Certain pieces are held back for memory reasons, and are only downloaded when you attempt to access them. One of the best things to do when your gameplay freezes or slows down is to wait for any necessary components to download. Waiting also works for another problem. If your image isn’t centering and stabilizing, you could be moving around too much. Take off the headset while it’s still on, and set it on a table so it can center itself before you move on. A little break is good for everything! Speaking of which… Take frequent breaksWe’d say every half hour or so. You’d be surprised how disoriented you can get playing some of the faster VR games. It’s also difficult to predict how your body will respond to long-term VR, so taking frequent breaks is better than sudden nausea and vomiting. This is, of course, more noticeable with some experiences than others. You can probably explore a normal mansion in VR for a lot longer than you could play a racing game without experiencing ill-effects upon entering the real world. But that’s not exactly something you want to test (and your friends probably feel the same way). Additional PSVR tricksChange the screen brightness to help with eyestrainBy default, the PSVR is set for maximum brightness. That’s not for everyone, however, as it can create eyestrain problems. We suggest reducing the brightness as soon as you get a chance. Look for a happy medium between visibility and “Ow, my eyes!” You can fine-tune the distance between your eyes (IPD)IPD stands for interpupillary distance, something that the PSVR allows you to adjust for. IPD is a mixed bag. Some people have found that trying to adjust it themselves makes everything worse, while others have found that it solves all of their problems. We didn’t notice too much of a difference with slight changes, but it’s easy to see how a little more or less width can have a big impact on image quality. If you’re suffering from vision problems or unnecessary blur, try some careful IPD adjustment. The second screen function can give you two TVsThe PSVR is essentially designed to work independently of the PS4’s operations, which means it’s possible to watch two different things at once. You can fire up your PS4 and watch some TV, for example, while playing a game on the PSVR using VR 2D mode. Of course, if you have other people in the room watching TV while you’re using the PSVR, you’ll need to be extra careful with the elbows. Try a demo before you purchase a gameMost PSVR games allow you to play a demo before you buy. It’s an excellent option, especially since it can be difficult to tell how a VR game plays unless it’s actually against your eyeballs. Always try before you buy. On the rare occasions where there isn’t a demo, it’s a good idea to check out reviews or ask a friend who has already bought the content. VR content is still new enough to sometimes struggle with quality control. The quick release button also acts as a peek mechanismThere are a dozen reasons as to why you’d glance away from your headset, from choosing controllers to making sure you don’t trip over the cat. But the PSVR is designed for a snug fit. The easy way to get around this is using the quick release button, which opens a crack in the bottom of the headset so you can peer out. Get used to it.
Digital Trends via Digital Trends http://ift.tt/mG1NBn February 23, 2017 at 08:52AM
http://ift.tt/2lAQyn3
Your next questions texted to an Airbnb host may be answered by chatbot http://ift.tt/2lwBp88 A new chatbot is aiming to help Airbnb visitors get immediate answers to their questions — and allow hosts to spend a little less time answering them. Announced on Tuesday, Hostbot is a tool that answers the most frequently asked questions for Airbnb, HomeAway, VRBO and other vacation rental marketplaces. The feature comes from Burner, an app from the start-up Ad Hoc that gives you another phone number to keep your actual number private while still receiving text and voice messages on the same phone. The app is popular for keeping work or project calls like rental properties separate from a private phone number. More: Pantone’s color of the year is now an actual Airbnb house you can stay in While Burner already offers a private number for hosts, setting up Hostbot within the Burner app creates an automatic response system. With Hostbot, when guests text one of the most frequently asked questions, the chatbot will respond for them, cutting back on the messages hosts need to send. The chatbot sends out replies that the hosts write during the initial setup — Hostbot currently uses a list of 16 of the most frequently asked questions. When there’s a question not among that list of 16, hosts can just respond as they normally would. The new chatbot is being added to Burner’s list of features, which includes turning off a certain number at certain times, setting unique answering machine messages or simply deleting a Burner number when you are finished with it. The company suggests using a separate Burner number for each rental property. The launch of Hostbot came on the same day Burner announced the launch of their API, which allows third-party companies access to use Burner for their own apps or to create plug-ins to expand Burner’s functionality. That means more add-ons and chatbots like Hostbot will likely be coming to the Burner platform. Burner is a free download for both iOS and Android, with in-app credits and subscriptions for the additional phone lines.
Digital Trends via Digital Trends http://ift.tt/mG1NBn February 23, 2017 at 08:52AM |
Categories
All
Archives
October 2020
|