I recently set-up a completely ridiculous guppy cam in my office. Web cam software has come a loooong way from when I first used it. From start to finish it literally took 15 minutes to get set-up (including the 5 minutes to purchase and register the shareware). It feeds the web server a new image every few minutes - for complete, up to date guppy excitement! I could stream video via the included Java applet, but that seemed a little too far over the top (even for me).

I used Active Webcam from PY Software which I found on Downloads.com. It cost $29 and seems to be extremely full featured. I can definitely vouch for its ease of use.

Anyway - wanna see the guppies?

Next up? Evidently it should be a new camera.

I just read an article that literally (and metaphorically) blew me away.

Scientists have uncovered a source of clean power that could generate enough energy to provide over 100 times the current global demand. The jet stream. Duh - rather obvious if you think about it - a massive swath of 310 mile per hour winds blowing day and night…

There are currently several start-ups looking to tap into the jet streams power - there is some hope!

Perhaps for use during a Wonderfile campaign….

Rob Bryanton has a great little Flash tutorial that supports his book Imagining the Tenth Dimension.

A great example of using tech to simplify the complex - the Flash tutorial quickly and clearly explains how to imagine the 4th through 10th dimension. Kid stuff really….

The site won a W3 gold award in 2006.

http://www.tenthdimension.com/medialinks.php

Ran across this quote this AM….

The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he’s working or playing. To him he’s always doing both.

- James Michener

To me it seems pretty close to one of the keys to happiness - if you can be totally engaged in the present, doing the best you can do at the time (pursuing excellence), you lose the baggage of the past and are freed from fear / fantasies of the future.

During those moments when we are engaged and doing our best - aren’t we happy?

I know you’re wondering - ArcStonians and visitors alike - why bother?

If we are going to translate technology for our clients, we have to do more than just speak the language. The best translators understand the nuances of the culture they translate. They know about the best places to visit. They tell stories to help you understand the history and context of what you’re experiencing. They’ll also tell where you shouldn’t order the shellfish.

Bottom line - good translators understand the language so well because they actively participate in the culture - they live it.

At ArcStone we have been translating technology for the past ten years. We help our clients, friends and families profit and enjoy using the Internet and related technologies.

With this blog we’re expanding our circle - collectively shining some light on the tech we use and the culture we (for the most part) love here in South Minneapolis.

This blog is our public forum for shining that light and spreading the word.

Welcome to Technology Translated.