blacksundae

Interactive Video Object Manipulation from Dan Goldman on Vimeo.

“Existing approaches to interaction with digital video are complex, and some operations lack the immediacy of interactive feedback. Our research in video annotation, visualization, and interaction harnesses computer vision to aid users in understanding and communicating with digital video. We are developing new approaches for computing the motion of points and objects in a video clip, and interactive systems that utilize this data to visually annotate independently moving objects in the video. We have applied this interface to construct visualizations of a short video clip in a single static image, using the visual language of storyboards. The principal advantage of the storyboard representation over standard representations of video is that it requires only a moment to observe and comprehend but at the same time retains much of the detail of the source video. The layout of the storyboard can be optimized to place the elements in a configuration that maximizes the clarity of presentation. We also explore novel interaction techniques for random video frame access using the natural spatial dimensions of a storyboard representation or an individual video frame.”

Read on.

I think what really makes this adorable video is the audience that is revealed at the end. Also, these seem to be two very posh kitties. In addition to a theremin, they appear to have a penthouse, a hammock and a little throne. Some cats have all the luck. [via Laughing Squid]

Danger Room has footage of the Navy destroying that spy satellite. It blows up real pretty like. [via MetaFilter, where limon says, "Pay close attention, China! Three cheers for the militarization of space!"]

I dreamed last night that I came across a new internet meme involving the television show Jeopardy! Essentially, YouTube was chock full of clumsily edited montages of the show, highlighting bizarre and seemingly instantaneous off-camera costume changes on the part of Alex Trebek. No one had noticed these changes until recently, but now everyone was combing through the Jeopardy! archives and finding these costume changes.

The highest rated clips involved completely over the top changes. For instance, in one clip, we cut from a normally dressed Trebek to a contestant. When we cut back to Trebek, he’s wearing a floor-length, fur, pimp coat with no shirt underneath. His bare chest resembles that of Ricardo Montalban in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

However, the ones that really interested me, and made me wonder what sort of agenda was behind them, were really subtle. In one shot, Trebek would be sporting a blue tie. A few seconds later, his tie would be red.

Ken Jennings could not be reached for comment.

…if there really is a veil.

DRAMATIC CHORD

Today I posted a link to MetaFilter about JAXA’s new HD footage of the Moon. In the resulting comment thread, MeFite hattifattener linked to a startling, and illuminating, page regarding the true nature, or lack thereof, of our so-called “Moon.” Startling, startling stuff.