Jeff Thompson | Blog

Following an interesting comment on the NYC Resistor blog, the above is a “programmer’s switch” for a 1984 Macintosh.  The plastic piece is inserted into the air vents in the side of the computer to make hitting the interrupt and reset switches easier, both used for debugging code.

Via: eBay

Following a lot of recent circular posts, here is some early “data visualization” from 1793.  The illustration is of from Danto’s Devina Commedia, designed by John Flaxman and engraved by Tommaso Piroli.  The inscription, mis-transcibed on Wikipedia, reads “Of the High Light appeared to me three circles, Of three colors and continence“.

Via: Wikipedia user Peacay

Learned about a new process today: continuous casting.  Above is a continuously cast copper crystal, 99.5% pure.

Via: Wikipedia user Alchemist-hp

More rope images: these from high-resolution cross-sections of braided polymer climbing rope made with CT scanning.

Via: Wikipedia author SecretDisc

Fluorescent light tubes being testing in the factory.

Via: “How It’s Made”, season 1, episode 2

Images of rope making machines, which twist individual strands separately (driven by a single crank), which are then combined into one thicker rope.

Also highly recommended are these videos on the Wikipedia page for Rope, which I sadly cannot seem to convert from OGV to anything usable :(

Via: MK Drafting and Lumenaris

Roller for cutting tortilla chips (via a now long lost string of “How It’s Made” videos on YouTube).

Little information to be found on this fantastic looking sculpture by architects Winy Maas and Rob Nijsse at The Why Factory save that they are made of LEGO and (I suspect) investigating both decay and possibly genetic algorithms.

Via: The Why Factory

The “Hexagon” spy satellite, deployed via Titan rocket in 1971.  According to this fascinating article in Wired this morning, the satellite was to return high-resolution film.  When the parachute failed to open, the module crashed into the Pacific Ocean and sunk 16,000 feet.  After a year-long recovery effort, the film succumbed to the elements and disintegrated when it reached the surface.

As I’ve posted before, I’m fascinated by the geometry and design of space equipment (and I think “Secret Hexagon” would be a great band name).

Via: Wired

A rendering of 150 penguins falling upon icicles, from a paper by Alec Rivers and Doug James on what they call Fast Lattice Shape Matching.