Researchers at Dartmouth College have developed a metric to apply to altered images to address how much Photoshopping a picture has undergone, in an effort to provide more truth in advertising and prevent unhealthy body image issues. Hey, I’m 5′4″, 240-lbs and cool with that. Farid and Eric Kee, a Ph.D student in computer science at Dartmouth, published their research this week in the journal National Academy of Sciences. The tool would work on a rating scale of one to five. Farid and Kee created a base metric by analyzing and statistically measuring results from various before-and-after photos. They then correlated these findings with a study group that was asked to rank the amount of photo alteration on a scale of one (very similar) to five (very different). This numbered metric could then be algorithmically applied to photos of, say, celebrities and models to reveal just how much photo-manipulation took place. You want to know how much photo-manipulation takes place? I’ll tell you — TONS. It’s true, the last unaltered celebrity photo was actually taken in the 90’s. THE 1890’s. It was sepia-toned. Tool Reveals Which Celebs, Models Have Been Photoshopped [mashable] Thanks to Pat, who looks stunning even without photo manipulation. I’M SAYING YOU’RE HANDSOME, BRO.

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The Shadows Are All Wrong: ‘Photoshopped’ Algorithm

Alternatively, “Luke, I am your fonter.” God I hate myself for that . And, well, pretty much everything else I’ve ever done. Anyway, because some Geekologie Readers have to go home and give themselves glitterstim enemas if I don’t meet their daily quota of Star Wars posts, here’s a small gallery (read: three pictures) of characters created entirely out of different fonts by Italian ad firm H-57 Creative Station. This is Darth Maul or somebody here, but there’s a Cylon and a Fraggle after the jump. Huh? ARE YOU QUESTIONING MY GEEK CREDENTIALS?! Fine — fine, this is Darth Vader , and there’s a Stormtrooper and Yoda after the jump. What isn’t after the jump is the X-Wingding Fighter I just spent two hours making in Photoshop. I’ll email you a copy for $1 though. Ass Xerox for $2. Hit the jump for the other two.

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Use The Fonts, Luke: Star Wars Typography

This is one in a series of vintage ads for current websites as imagined by Brazilian advertising agency Moma. Mmmm, I can almost smell the old magazines. the ads were designed for an upcoming media seminar with the overall theme of “what’s new today, is old tomorrow”, so they retro stylized Facebook, Youtube and Skype (and Twitter, not in English). Oh man, I love looking at vintage ads. Especially the underwear ones . There’s no telling what kind of crazy-ass bush is lurking behind those granny panties! Hit the jump for the other three.

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These Tubes Are Old!: Vintage Website Ads

Filed under: Aftermarket , Gadgets , Etc. , I.C.E. AT&T is starting to work with pockets of customers to test its CruiseCast satellite-based entertainment service before officially putting the TV/radio service on wide offer. When the whole clan is on the go, it may work to keep everyone calm and quiet, and when your Prevost motor coach is loaded up with everything else, you might as well go for the TV service, too. Truckers sticking DBS dishes on their rigs would likely be pleased with the CruiseCast system, especially since AT&T is using some new technology developments by RaySat that defeats the typical issues with line of sight obstacles and underpasses. For comparison’s sake, Sirius is cheaper and offers much more variety than AT&T’s 20 music/talk radio stations, but their optional Backseat TV service only offers three television channels, and they are all geared for the kiddies. Conversely, AT&T’s CruiseCast hardware must be professionally installed and will set you back $1,299, and the monthly payment is $28. Once the service is available for all customers in early June, they’ll have 22 television channels to choose from. All that for the price of a used car and more than $300 bucks a year in subscription costs. Official press release posted after the jump. [Source: Engadget ] Continue reading Eyes on the Road: AT&T bringing CruiseCast in-car satellite tv to market Eyes on the Road: AT&T bringing CruiseCast in-car satellite tv to market originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 May 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read ?|? Permalink ?|? Email this ?|? Comments

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Eyes on the Road: AT&T bringing CruiseCast in-car satellite tv to market

Filed under: Gadgets , Etc. , Tech , Volkswagen Vehicle infotainment systems, those all-inclusive interfaces controlling the myriad electronics on today’s modern cars and trucks, can make or break the driving experience. CNET is offering us a sneak-peek at Volkswagen’s latest iteration from the company’s Electronic Research Laboratory (ERL). Developed with Intel, the new system uses Global Open Research Infotainment Architecture, or GLORIA. Most systems today us a joystick-like device, touch screen, or hard buttons on the edge of the display (or a combination of the three) to control the inputs. Volkswagen’s new GLORIA system takes it one step further by making Apple iPhone-like “gesture control” possible. This means that users are able to navigate quickly by simply tracing single letters across the pressure-sensitive display. Another unique feature may allow users to import third-party widgets for the system, much like consumers currently load apps from iTunes onto their iPhones. As cool as it sounds, GLORIA is still under development and she isn’t expected to see showrooms for a few more years. [Source: CNET , Photo by CNET] REPORT: Volkswagen’s next-gen nav system to get Apple iPhone-like gestures originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 May 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink ?|? Email this ?|? Comments

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REPORT: Volkswagen’s next-gen nav system to get Apple iPhone-like gestures

Filed under: Gadgets , Etc. , Euro , Tech Google has already faced plenty of issues with its Street View technology, not the least of which has been angry Japanese citizens and invasion of privacy lawsuits from Americans whose driveways were mistaken for a roads. Beyond these unforeseen issues, there’s also the rather obvious problem of taking images of places a Chevy Cobalt just can’t reach. Consider that problem (at least partially) solved with the new Google Trike. The three-wheeled, human-powered overgrown tricycles carry 250 pounds of ballast in the form of “a mounted Street View camera and a specially decorated box containing image collecting gadgetry,” says the internet giant. All that extra heft reportedly requires a “specially trained super fit” rider. Google’s new trikes will be deployed first in Genoa, Italy, this spring. Assuming that launch proves successful, Google will send its pedal-powered cameras to the United Kingdom, where they’ll point their lenses towards a slew of famous British landmarks. Have a good one in mind? Google says its open to suggestions and will be working with VisitBritain to pick the most desirable locations to shoot. To assuage those averse to getting their pictures taken, Google promises to “apply our face-blurring and license plate blurring to all these images to protect people’s privacy.” [Source: Google via Wired ] Continue reading Google Street View switching to trikes for roads less traveled Google Street View switching to trikes for roads less traveled originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 May 2009 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink ?|? Email this ?|? Comments

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Google Street View switching to trikes for roads less traveled

Filed under: Gadgets , Etc. , Porsche Porsche owners have long reveled in their ability to smoke the competition on track and street, but now Porschephiles can also leave their marque’s mark on the backside of burgers, hotdogs and ribeyes. Grill marks, of course. Barbeques Galore and Porsche Design Studio have burned the midnight oil for two years while working on the the new X-Series Grill. Under its sleek, German-styled exterior lies some fairly hot grilling technology. Instead of the standard gas burners found in most grills, the X-Series uses four infrared burners that can crank out 52,000 BTUs using 50% less fuel with 80% fewer flare-ups. By our very rough shadetree estimates, that should be good for a zero to steak time of about 10 minutes. Or so. With a starting sticker price of $5,999 Porsche Design’s first grill comes with a motorized rotisserie, an LCD temp display with remote probe, and an insulated double-walled hood. Step up to the X-Series Island (above) for $8,499 for a stainless steel finish and concealed cupboards and gas cylinder storage. All models are covered under a lifetime warranty for service, parts and repair. Also included is the right to brag to your numbers that you have a Porsche in your backyard. Car-B-Q: X-Series Grill by Porsche Design Studio originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 May 2009 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read ?|? Permalink ?|? Email this ?|? Comments

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Car-B-Q: X-Series Grill by Porsche Design Studio

Filed under: Gadgets , CES , I.C.E. , Ford Click the image above to view a video of the new SYNC system after the jump At the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show ( CES ) Ford announced that three new features would be included on the next iteration of the SYNC system: traffic data, GPS-guided directions and the ability to snag information from the web through the user’s data/GPS/Bluetooth-enabled smartphone to display or read weather conditions, sports scores and other information through the stereo. On May 26th, the upgrade will be made available to all current 2010 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury owners (you download the update to your PC, then transfer it to the SYNC system through a thumb drive) and all new 2010 models will be equipped with the upgrade from the factory. But as Ford CEO Alan Mulally promised, there’s more on the way. Ford and Microsoft plan to continually update SYNC, and according to Charlotte Fisher from Ford’s Design and Technology team, “every six to eight to twelve months we’ll be delivering new services.” One of the possible features Ford could include on future iterations of SYNC is streaming internet radio, and Fisher confirmed that Ford is currently “talking with Pandora .” Can you say XM-killer? Hit the jump to watch a video of the new system in action. Continue reading Future Ford SYNC upgrade could include Pandora streaming Future Ford SYNC upgrade could include Pandora streaming originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 May 2009 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink ?|? Email this ?|? Comments

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Future Ford SYNC upgrade could include Pandora streaming

Filed under: Gadgets , Etc. , Tech , Audi , Lifestyle Audi is obviously looking forward to being in the coming Gran Turismo 5. After all, the Quattro company has created a website to promote its car on the N?rburgring in real life and in the game, and it interviewed GT5 mastermind Kazunori Yamauchi about what fans can expect. Yamauchi-san revealed that the game is going to offer not only more vehicles, more online features, and increased detail, but it will also include night racing, damage rendering (previously confirmed), and weather changes. If you watch the Audi R8 Meets Gran Turismo 5 video, one of the game developers even talks of one day providing weather reports for an entire 24-hour race, and you can read the interview with Yamauchi-san by clicking on a PDF link here . The graphical and gameplay additions are surely welcome and long overdue, and could return GT5 to the head of the racing sim pack - whenever it finally gets here… View Poll [Source: GT Planet ] REPORT: GT5 to get weather changes, night racing - and yes, damage rendering [w/POLL] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 May 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read ?|? Permalink ?|? Email this ?|? Comments

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REPORT: GT5 to get weather changes, night racing - and yes, damage rendering [w/POLL]

[ I Believe in Advertising via Trendbeheer via PSFK via Toolcrib via Core77 ]

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South African Makita billboard is drilled pointillism