i just got my library card renewed after a very long time - do you know what all i can do with it other than taking out books? because i know there's more things but i feel like it's a silly question to ask

Not at all, and welcome back to the library life! Your millage may vary based on which of these services your library has available, but here's a few things I know of off the top of my head that are pretty common:

The library might have CDs, movies, and even newspapers you can borrow as well

Libby, an app that uses your library card to borrow and download ebooks and audiobooks to enjoy on your mobile device or e-reader

Kanopy, a streaming service for TV shows and movies

Hoopla, which has a whole bunch of stuff like shows & movies, comics, and magazines

Your library might have a makerspace that gives you access to things like 3D printers, button makers, computers with a bunch of Adobe software, ect

Sometimes they host book clubs or other fun community events!

my "#library guides" tag also has a number of posts about services like these if you'd like some more info. Your library's website should also list what services they offer, and/or you could ask a librarian there. Have fun!

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Rest [NSFW]

Anon asked: "We need some Near nsfw in our life 🤍 could u do one were Near is stressed from his work & his S/O wants to make him “relax”"

A/N: I can finally use long-haired Near twt

pairing: Near x gn!reader

|| warning: NSFW, mention of oral sex, handjob + blowjob, pet names (I guess?). Be careful ||

requested: yes

Y/N worked with Near since the Kira case, on 2009. Together with Lidner, Rester and Gevanni, Y/N was a member of the SPK, the youngest one to be precise. Despite Near and Y/N hadn’t an important age gap, Y/N was treated in step with the rest of the team: they were well-known for being a precise and discreet agent, with a sharp flair and great initiative. Everything Near needed for his investigation team.

Not long after the end of the Kira case, something between Y/N and Near (or rather L) changed, in a positive way of course. Now that the pressure of that case disappeared from Near's shoulders, he noticed how good his team was. And this appreciation included Y/N too.

«L, I received a call from Watari and I think this case will interest you»

«Excellent Y/N. Let me see the details on the screens, please»

Near trusted Y/N's tastes about cases. They knew Near will accept only cases in "L's style": interesting, complex, with a good amount of thrill and a notable pay. Not that it matters for Near, he just wanted to solve them.

And that was how the relationship between Near and Y/N started. At first it was a mere working relationship (since Near was Y/N's boss after all) but month after month, year after year, it changed into something else. Something more private, more heartfelt.

This alarmed Near: he wasn’t used to those things, people and social interactions weren’t his strong points. But with Y/N was different, he noticed it immediately. With them, Near didn’t need to explain each deduction, each statement or all his decisions. A particular stare, an unusual movement or just too much silence were enough for Y/N to understand Near.

Soon enough, Near came to conclusion that he had feelings for agent Y/N L/N. And he was sure Y/N noticed it. Whenever a new, dangerous case would involve Y/N, Near would make sure not to drag them in it.

«It's too dangerous, Y/N»

«I know but it's my job!» they replied annoyed for the umpteenth time.

«I'm well aware why you were hired but I need you here, Gevanni will take care of it»

«L, please…» Y/N walked closer to him, careful not to step on his toys scattered on the floor, and kneeled behind him. «I know you're worried about the safety of your team but trust me, I know what I'm doing»

«I'm not worried about the others. It's yoursafety my priority at the moment» he said while playing with his cards.

So yes: Y/N knew Near had feeling for them and Near, on the other hand, hoped they would understand what was hidden behind his words. And Y/N accepted the message behind those words.

Truth was that Y/N felt something for Near too, hence they were hoping to hear some sort of "confession" from him. It was nothing openly said but the way his dark eyes would become soften when looking at them or he would tentatively touch Y/N's hand was enough for them.

Near was stressed. Truly stressed actually. And said stress was clear on him: tired face, heavier and darker eyebags, messy clothes. Y/N was worried, it wasn’t healthy for him.

It was late night, the SPK was already gone to bed. Near and Y/N were the only one still working: the young detective was writing something at his computer on the floor while Y/N had to organise some dossiers. However, the SPK agent was more focused on Near's health rather than work.

«L…I'll take care of it, you have to rest»

«I'm not sleepy, Y/N. I have some important work to do…you may go if you want» Near quickly replied with a weary voice. It was clearly betraying his current state and this upset even more Y/N.

«I'm not going anywhere if you don’t come with me»

«I guess it will be a long night then»

He could be such a brat sometimes: stubborn, good looking detective. Y/N's eyebrow twitched nervously. «Is that so?»

Then, like a flash, a very good idea popped out in their mind. «You know, L, you're right. We don’t need to go to bed to relax…» a smirk adorned their face, a sinful smirk.

«What do you mean, Y/N?» Near asked without turning to look at them. Big mistake: Y/N walked in front of him. «Y/N I'm trying to work-»

Near hadn’t the time to finish his words of protest that Y/N silenced him. How? With a kiss on the lips: if agent Y/N L/N wanted Near to relax they had to turn off his brilliant brain for a while. Since the beginning of their relationship, the two of them shared many kisses especially on the cheeks and forehead but when it came to lips…Y/N knew Near would go on the fritz.

And that was what really happened: for the first time after a while, Near's mind was blank. His brain couldn’t produce any logical deduction, any refined statement, any truth. He wasn’t clear headed enough to kiss Y/N back but they didn’t care, they had Near on the hook.

Y/N didn’t give him the time to come back in his senses that they moved again: Y/N licked Near's lips asking politely access to his mouth. Near, however, was not so distracted and he denied said access. Y/N didn’t quite agree and sunk one hand in his long, silky white hair, pulling them slightly.

Near groaned in the kiss and Y/N seized the opportunity to French-kiss him. If the white haired detective could be rather mean and impressive at work, when he was alone with Y/N he would show more caring emotions. Near was still a bit insecure –since he shared with Y/N his first experiences- but he secretly loved being vulnerable in front of his favourite agent.

When oxygen became a need, Y/N broke the kiss, a trail of saliva still connected the two. Near was breathing fast, his half-lidded eyes hid something more than just "passionate feelings". «Did you like it, Nate?»

The detective nodded, looking at them with love and…need. «You'll be a good boy for me, alright? Let me take care of you» they said with alluring voice.

«W-What do you want to do?» was everything Near said before watching Y/N descending on his thighs. A faint blush covered his pale, adolescent face but he tried not to think about it by focusing back on his work. They unbuttoned as slow as they could the zipper on his light-coloured pants; with the same slowness they removed them in few precise movements.

Y/N knew that Near needed few minutes to get excited since he had low libido, hence they slowly started moving their hand around the tip of his manhood. On the other side, Near was truly trying to finish his work but for him it was almost impossible: he was suppressing moans and sighs with great difficulty.

Y/N chuckled at his efforts to stay silent, his body was telling them something else. And when their fingers got wet due to his pre-cum, they moved their face closer to his dick; after moistening their lips, they took the tip in their mouth.

Near had enough. He abandoned his computer and grasped Y/N's hair with both hands. «Ah~» he sighed, his breath was becoming harder and harder. The SPK agent smirked mentally, singing a mental victory song, and decided to take his entire length in their mouth.

«Y/N!» he finally moaned their name, shiver after shiver were shaking his body in excitement. His back found support against a big 3D printer he had on the floor and the grasp at Y/N's hair became even stronger.

Eager to hear more of Near's sweet sounds, Y/N decided to massage his balls too while they deepthroathed him. This caused the detective to quiver in pure pleasure.

«Come for me, Nate. Be a good boy~» Y/N said with a whisper, their hot breath on his smooth skin was too much for Near. The muscles tensed, all his body paralysed and the cock twitched in their throat. After few seconds he surprised them with a large amount of load which Y/N swallowed.

Y/N kissed their boyfriend's manhood and then looked at his sweaty face with a cute smirk. «Are you ready to rest now?»

«Y-Yes…» he replied rather tiredly, he was going to fall asleep there on the floor.

«Now let's go to bed, shall we?» Y/N replied still smirking.

woooooo you've made a lot of artistic progress this year, that's so cool to see! that 3d art in particular is so so impressive like how?? do you do that? I AM IN AWE. also i really love some of your designs, Glorp and Falon for instance are immediately aesthetically appealing! one question though, did you post that piece from July or did i miss it? - M. A.

aaaaa thank you <3333333

3d modelling is difficult, but the good news is there’s about twenty thousand tutorials online, so as long as you’ve got a computer that can handle blender? (which mine... can just about manage...) it’s not too hellish to learn! Also I think one of the people on the toonkind server has access to a 3d printer so they actually printed out the Snailien to have in real life XD

Glorp and Fallo were more doodles than anything else, but also Sometimes Ya Gotta Just Have Fun With Art and Make It Glowy, and I def plan on drawing them more in the future

Also you’re right, I didn’t wind up posting the art I put for July in my art summary post, mostly because I didn’t consider it as complete as the other stuff I posted? It was more something that was gonna be a visual aid in a D&D session, but then the player never even went into that room, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Here it is though! I’ll likely clean it up and colour and such digitally at some point, but for now it’s just a photo from my sketchbook

.....Cash in this universe hasn’t had a very good day life

Libraries are amazing for everyone. My brother got his university friends to love the library b/c aside from books, computers, free internet access, movie nights, lots of workshops, summer reading club, Lego Fridays, it has video games & they signed up for library cards so they could check out Mario Party & play it together. At the VPL in Vancouver, there's a newly opened rooftop garden, the Innovation Lab for visual + audio recording and editing equipment, & musical instruments to borrow.

THIS!

Like, in the month of June so far at my branch alone we've offered:

writing workshops with an award-winning queer author and a NYT best-selling author

Pride storytime with drag queens & storytime in Indigenous languages

presentations on urban beekeeping, ribbon skirt making, and healthcare directives

and that's not even mentioning our ongoing pre-school storytimes, movie & documentary screenings, poetry open mics, EAL conversation groups, computer basics classes... ALL FOR FREE.

PLUS a musical instrument lending library, sound booths, 3D printers, green screen, and industrial sewing machines that anyone can use FOR FREE (well, technically, thanks to a small contribution from your taxes).

Honestly, this is the most frustrating part of my job--sometimes I think if I ran the world (or won the lottery) I'd hire a kick-ass marketing team to make sure that everyone knew about library programming & services other than books.

In other words, public librarians are basically Jerry Maguire:

Product Design And The 3D Model

Based on how detailed you intend on getting with your tires, we can do a couple more things. Following that, you ought to have your entire tire complete, pending any other details you might want to bring the tire. For example, the integrated Game Engine, which permits you to create interactive animations, is just magnificent! Blender's internal text editor comprises templates for shaders along with Python. As an example, an animator can create a complete animation without the necessity of any other software. SketchUp is an excellent second option but doesn't supply the selection of robust surfacing tools which you require to make the more dynamic models.

A lot of books only provide you with a summary of 3D Modeling and teach you just enough to finish a 3D Model before continuing to the next topic. You may see the results above. Considering Blender's free status, it's a stunning illustration of what can be done with open source computer software. Have a peek at the comparison and see which 3D application will satisfy your needs better. You will also receive all the project files necessary to do the exercises. Downloadable project files make it simple to follow along and practice.

There are lots of tools for 3D modeling out there and all of them have their advantages and disadvantages companies like affordable product design Both computer software can save STL files, that is the most preferable in regards to Additive Manufacturing. Let's get started by discussing the computer software. This 3D software is quite popular in the video game market. Therefore, lots of folks utilize absolutely free 3D modeling software such as Blender to feed their printers files. The extensive system of pre-programmed keyboard shortcuts is likewise a big-time save to make sure to have a whole duplicate of the shortcut list handy once you learn Blender. It has all of the crucial 3D building functions required for almost any projects you can imagine.

It's possible to download a variety of totally free models from the net. It is possible to even find our tutorial to begin 3D modeling with Blender! 3D Modeling is quite a practical tool which is used by all different kinds of artists. The first thing which you wish to do is discover a tire design which you would love to create.

Most courses will let you know about every tiny portion of the program, which is daunting to the majority of people. This work serves to bypass the issue accessible. Additionally, there are four projects that you are able to use as challenges, testing your skills to observe how far you're progressing. The plan is to get a superior enemy model and a superb capital ship model sometime soon.

5 Ways 3D Printing Is Revolutionizing Biotechnology

3D printing online technology offers endless manufacturing possibilities using a variety if materials. Biotechnology is also being used. Researchers are developing new ways to make this technology work, which can lead to cost-savings and even better gadgets.

What is online 3D Printing services? It's also known as additive manufacturing. It involves the production and use of digital files to create three-dimensional objects. It does this through continuous layers of building on a product, until it's fully finished. The computer-aided designing file acts as the blueprint to the 3D printer. You can create incredible things with creativity and open-source designs.

There are 5 amazing products or ideas that 3D printing service in india has created in laboratory research.

1.Fix Broken Lab Equipment:

Equipment is susceptible to accidents, which can result in the destruction of a crucial piece. Sometimes, however, time just takes its toll. You don't need to spend hundreds to replace one small part if your 3D printer is available. Instead, your design can be drafted, printed, and glued to place.

2.Mount iPhone Microscope

Digital cameras can now be mounted to microscopes, but society is slowly moving beyond digital cameras. Anyone can now take great pictures from their smartphone. Even though you can take a cellphone photograph of an object in the microscope, patience is needed. Peter Combs (another PrintMyLab contestant) created a 3D Printed Mount for an iPhone 4 along with a dissecting microscopy. This example shows that 3D printing service in india is revolutionizing biotechnology. These mounts could be designed for any number microscopes or phones at an affordable cost, so every lab could have them.

3.Print Your Own Centrifuge

Yes. Printing your own centrifuge is cheaper than buying a commercially available benchtop model. Thanks to the open-source movement as well as the advanced method of 3D printers, this technology is now easily accessible to the masses. Chris Takahashi was another contestant in PrintMyLab and developed the "Fanfuge", a device that costs less than $10

4.Robotic Surgery

This doesn’t have a pleasant ring to it at any rate, which is exactly why 3D printed is solving the problem. Robotic assisted surgical procedures have been around for some time as a way of adapting our natural limitations. It is scary to think of cold, sharp, sterile machines performing any type of operation, even though there are doctors. Instead, "squishy" 3D-printed robots can comfort patients better during a crucial procedure. These robots may also be less expensive due to the manufacturing process.

5.Nanotechnology and 3D Printing

Although 3D printing online and nanotechnology are still in very early stages of development, this combination is opening up a world of possibilities. Examples of nanotechnology include DNA origami. The technology has already attracted considerable interest in the life-science industry. However, when combined, with the potential manufacturing capabilities of 3D printers, it could help to make medical treatments more accessible.

Graphic Design Trends 2021

Graphic design trends 2021 By definition, design or design is both an artistic and an industrial discipline that strives to create an object, a set of objects or an environment within the framework of aesthetics. It is an applied art that allows a product to distinguish itself from its competitors by its shape, size and the different colors that characterize it.

Thanks to the 3 dimensions, the design can now have length, width, depth and more textures. By using 3D software or applications, drawn objects get a relief and therefore a more realistic image of your products.

The role of 3D modeling in marketing

Designs play an important role in the aesthetic, functional, technical, economic and sensitive aspect of a product.

They help to better express the identity of the company, to give it a good image by acting as advertising.

Your customers feel the atmosphere within your company, which reassures them about the quality of your products and services.

If it is already easy for companies to draw an audience from a drawing, imagine the result with a 3D image, highlighted objects, a personalized scenario from all angles: colors, textures, volume

In addition, 3D styling can be applied to all existing areas. You can use 3D software to design objects, buildings, clothing, etc.

How do you implement the 3D stylus in your digital strategy?

The Internet is now the platform where companies promote their brand. To differentiate yourself from your competitors, you need to follow a good web marketing strategy.

3D will help to better display your products on your website. 3D software can beautify anything, even models that are not very photogenic.

In addition, your customers can view and test the article remotely.

3D animations are more likely to attract attention. A 3D visual is therefore recommended for a launch or advertising campaign.

When it comes to a product, you can also consider presenting it on a white background; it is a marketing technique that is very much used today.

Using 3D software can be an asset as you can customize your item at will depending on the criticism received.

Here are the 8 steps to follow to ensure your digital strategy:

Market and competition analysis.

Definition of objectives.

Definition of goals.

Definition of the budget.

Definition of digital channels.

Implementation of the substantive strategy.

Realization and analysis of the results.

What is Augmented Reality?

Augmented reality or AR is a technology that enables the integration of virtual 3D elements in a real environment.

It is about the integration of digital content in the real world, ie combining the real and the virtual. Unlike virtual reality, augmented reality does not require headphones.

It allows you to directly add virtual elements to your content through software or a mobile application on your device or by linking them to the functionalities of your 3D software.

How do you use augmented reality in your design strategy?

By using augmented reality in modeling your product, you can communicate better with your customers.

Even remotely, users can get information about your product in real time.

By combining 3D and augmented reality, you can, for example, also get an even more extensive picture on your website. This will result in a better image that will appeal to internet users.

What are the 3D modeling tools?

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An aspiring 3D graphic designer should study, even if self-taught, know all the basics of drawing and be an expert in 3D software.

Yes, to be able to make 3D designs and plans, he must first have excellent notions in drawing.

To be able to make good 3D representations, one has to master more than one tool. Its use is quite complex and requires both training and long-term commitment.

Software for drawing plans in 3D

Before proceeding to 3D modeling, plans must first be drawn, especially in architecture.

With these software programs you can draw the plans in detail and have access to all angles. These are architecture software such as Autocad and Archicad.

However, this kind of software is not enough to have a convincing render design to sell products or projects. For this you need to call on a computer graphic designer or a 3D agency.

3D software and 3D modeling applications

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These are 3D computer modeling tools. To make a 3D plan, you have to understand how they work.

There are also 3D applications available for download on your mobile devices: phones, tablets or iPad. Most of these 3D applications are free.

When it comes to 3D software, there is plenty of choice on the internet. The most recommended are Sketch’Up and 3D Studio Max.

They are primarily designed for computers and their use is reserved exclusively for professionals, especially complex software such as 3DS Max.

A 3D software has many features that are ideal for any drawing style.

There is also a so-called rendering engine: it renders 3D projection, textures and lighting effects, model data that users can access via a download.

This software is used to create an image, 3D objects and 3D animations, to design cartoons, video games and other creations.

The 3D printer

This is another important tool in 3D modeling. It can reproduce parts drawn in a 3D drawing software.

Users can print objects while preserving their shapes and textures. To take advantage of its use, it is necessary to master the graphics.

There is indeed a connection between the two: the design of the objects is done by the 3D software, after which they are produced by a 3D printer.

However, this printer has two functionalities. One is to print, the other to scan real objects and reproduce them in a 3D software.

Quickly find your 3D modeling agency thanks to Sortlist.

Why use 3D software?

3D modeling has many advantages. 3D design applications and software have features that allow you to work on a 3D drawing more accurately, faster, and more efficiently.

Better display thanks to quality and precision

These programs have pre-existing models, which can be accessed by the users by downloading them. These are models that have been standardized and saved, sometimes in a different 3D software by another user.

The 3D software or other applications are equipped with automatic calculations and verifications that help to locate an object in a room and to know the details useful for the implementation of the projects: the materials to be used, the necessary equipment … in this way they guarantee the quality of the rendering and reduce the risk of errors during the design.

Fast production and lower costs

As the site’s database grows, modeling with 3D software or applications becomes automated. Downloading this data reduces documentation and design time.

You will be able to quickly obtain and implement 3D plans.

The less time you spend designing plans in 3D software, the more you save on costs.

After all, the cost of designing 3D designs varies according to the models that users can access in their 3D software or mobile application.

Using a 3D model on site is also beneficial as it reduces the costs associated with creating and the various changes you need to make during the design of your 3D drawing.

On the other hand, using 3D software doesn’t cost as much as you might think since most 3D applications or software are free and can be downloaded.

Better visualization and data backup

A user can save a document or the images he has designed in a 3D drawing software. Any other person using this 3D software will be able to use these models as a reference.

In addition, the customers will be able to go to the site and view the product or the 3D image of the medium on your interface. Visual images thus provide your customers with a better perception of your item.

Find your 3D software expert in one of Sortlist’s agencies.

What are the professions related to 3D modeling?

The designer must master two very different branches: graphic design and styling. In addition, he must also be able to deal with 3D software.

All these skills enable him to work effectively as a 3D graphic designer.

The 3D graphic designer and the 3D computer graphic designer

The graphic designer is a specialist in visual communication. He is primarily an artist: an expert in plastic art such as simple or 3D drawing, painting, sculpture, etc.

He also masters typography and other areas related to styling. His imagination, inspiration and creative power know no bounds.

He is mainly concerned with graphic arts and his creations are aimed at brand advertising, industry or trade.

He is versatile and mainly uses a traditional tool: the pencil. Of course, the graphic designer also has a skill in 3D.

The computer graphic designer is a more advanced version of the graphic designer. He masters graphic design and has a very good knowledge of computer tools.

However, he does not have the imagination of the graphic designer, but his function is to realize and finish the creations of the latter.

He uses the content and models at his disposal and improves them for optimal display. The main tools are the computer, a graphics tablet and a pen.

A 3D computer graphic designer uses 3D design software or 3D applications. Adobe System DTP software is most commonly used for design: Photoshop, Indesign and Illustrator.

He or she can use 3D software and create 3D designs. He can work alone or in a team with 3D software or an application and can participate in the design of 3D animations, applications, videos and even 3D games.

The web designer

The job of a web designer is to design the visual identity of a website. In other words, a web designer creates or designs the website of our companies.

He must master the graphics, as well as the Internet and its use.

He works with the computer graphics artist who creates the content that the web designer will have printed on your web.

The web designer also works on the definition of the specifications: tree structure, architecture and ergonomics of the site, interactivity, he develops the graphic charter, scripting animations …

His or her role is to attract the attention of the web users. He uses his inspiration and can also use tools such as 3D software, 3D applications and any other material that allows him to give your site a good publicity.

Get the services of the best agencies by consulting Sortlist.

What is a good 3D modeling agency?

Before you entrust the creation of a new interface for your website or the design of your new mobile application, you should consider these criteria to identify a good 3D modeling agency.

A good reputation

If a site considered a reliable source offers you a 3D modeling agency, that’s a good sign as far as its image goes. But to get more information, you just need to go to the official website.

A trustworthy agency is friendly to its customers and has a presence on its platform. Former clients who have had the pleasure of working with this agency will certainly have left positive comments on their site, thus serving as advertising.

The more active an agency is on the networks, the more you can be sure of the dynamism and efficiency of its team.

A diversified portfolio

A good 3D modeling company must be versatile. If you look at his portfolio, you will see creations of all kinds: architecture, products, 3D animations, etc.

If he is able to offer you services regardless of the nature of your request, it means that you are dealing with experts .

However, if the provider is not a large agency, he might as well have a specialty in which he excels. There are individuals who do not work for companies, but who use a 3D modeling tool, 3D software or applications of any kind with expertise.

Good organization

The agency knows how to organize itself well for the elaboration of the various creations requested by the customers.

This good organization starts with its workspace, then a staff consisting of passionate designers, each with its own function, ie they can take on specific tasks instead of burdening one person with different tasks.

These designers are naturally experienced in drawing, they are users of 3D software or applications used in the design of 3D drawings.

In addition, your 3D visual company will run you through a trial period and, when designing your drawing, animation or video, will provide a daily follow-up of the work progress.

Also, the most conscientious agencies will continuously retrain their 3D modeling staff, as the 3D business is constantly evolving.

A good quality-price ratio

A 3D design agency offers the best quality to its customers according to the negotiated price.

If you take a look at its portfolio, you will see that it respects every detail of the design: volumes, textures, colors, resolution.

Quality must be her priority, because only in this way can she maintain a good image on the platforms.

Contact Sortlist to find your 3D modeling agency.

Why use a 3D modeling agency?

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After getting acquainted with the 3D design business and the tools and their functions, you probably already have an idea why hiring a 3D modeling agency is a good option. See below the benefits you will enjoy by hiring a good 3D professional agency.

They are experts in 3D design

It’s a no-brainer. Entrusting your projects to 3D experts trained for this work is a plus for your business.

With their many years of expertise in 3D, they can assure you a speed in the realization of your plans as well as an efficiency to meet your needs.

It’s easy to talk to professionals: they understand your ideas better through the many 3D creations they’ve collaborated on. To give you an idea of ​​their work, these agencies also offer you the option of conducting test periods.

In addition, your designer, who is a professional in 3D creation, can also help you create custom design applications or a site with web design, extensions and custom themes.

More efficient and cheaper

If you are not a professional and do not yet have 3D software, it is best to leave the design to a 3D designer.

Not only will you get a more optimal result, but you can also save on the costs of purchasing new 3D software and on the designer’s work schedule.

Asking a 3D design agency for help is actually less expensive than you might think.

Whether it is developing a better interface for your website, creating a drawing or 3D objects, you can be sure that your plans are made from all angles and that the volume, color scheme and textures of your product will not be neglected.

Today is the best way to get people’s attention. By using 3D software to place realistic objects on the interface of a site or in a TV advertisement, companies using augmented reality or 3D are more likely to capture internet users’ attention and influence customers to use their products

Last idea

By using 3D applications or software you will open up to more possibilities and you will have more inspiration to optimize your business image, your interface will improve the user experience on your site, you will be more likely to have your advertising campaign reach a wider audience.

Leveraging a 3D printer “defect” to create a new quasi-textile

Sometimes 3D printers mess up. They extrude too much material, or too little, or deposit material in the wrong spot. But what if this bug could be turned into a (fashionable) feature?

Introducing DefeXtiles, a tulle-like textile that MIT Media Lab graduate student Jack Forman developed by controlling a common 3D printing defect — the under-extrusion of polymer filament.

Forman used a standard, inexpensive 3D printer to produce sheets and complex 3D geometries with a woven-like structure based on the “glob-stretch” pattern produced by under-extrusion. Forman has printed these flexible and thin sheets into an interactive lampshade, full-sized skirts, a roll of fabric long enough to stretch across a baseball diamond, and intricately patterned lace, among other items.

Forman, who works in the Tangible Media research group with Professor Hiroshi Ishii, presented and demonstrated the DefeXtiles research on Oct. 20 at the Association for Computing Machinery Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology. The material may prove immediately useful for prototyping and customizing in fashion design, Forman says, but future applications also could include 3D-printed surgical mesh with tunable mechanical properties, among other items.

“In general, what excites me most about this work is how immediately useful it can be to many makers,” Forman says. “Unlike previous work, the fact that no custom software or hardware is needed — just a relatively cheap $250 printer, the most common type of printer used — really makes this technique accessible to millions of people.”

“We envision that the materials of the future will be dynamic and computational,” says Ishii. “We call it ‘Radical Atoms.’ DefeXtiles is an excellent example of Radical Atoms, a programmable matter that emulates the properties of existing materials and goes beyond. We can touch, feel, wear, and print them.”

Joining Forman and Ishii on the project are Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory and Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science graduate student Mustafa Doga Dogan, and Hamilton Forsythe, an MIT Department of Architecture undergraduate researcher.

Filaments to fabric

Forman had been experimenting with 3D printing during the media arts and sciences class MAS.863 / 4.140 / 6.943 (How to Make (Almost) Anything), led by Professor Neil Gershenfeld, director of the MIT Center for Bits and Atoms. Forman’s experiments were inspired by the work of a friend from his undergraduate days at Carnegie Mellon University, who used under-extruded filament to produce vases. With his first attempts at under-extruding, “I was annoyed because the defects produced were perfect and periodic,” he says, “but then when I started playing with it, bending it and even stretching it, I was like, ‘whoa, wait, this is a textile. It looks like it, feels likes it, bends like it, and it prints really quickly.”

“I brought a small sample to my class for show and tell, not really thinking much of it, and Professor Gershenfeld saw it and he was excited about it,” Forman adds.

When a 3D printer under-extrudes material, it produces periodic gaps in the deposited material. Using an inexpensive fused deposition modeling 3D printer, Forman developed an under-extruding process called “glob-stretch,” where globs of thermoplastic polymer are connected by fine strands. The process produces a flexible, stretchy textile with an apparent warp and weft like a woven fabric. Forman says it feels something like a mesh jersey fabric.

“Not only are these textiles thinner and faster to print than other approaches, but the complexity of demonstrated forms is also improved. With this approach we can print 3D dimensional shell forms with a normal 3D printer and no special slicer software,” says Forman. “This is exciting because there’s a lot of opportunities with 3D printing fabric, but it’s really hard for it to be easily disseminated, since a lot of it uses expensive machinery and special software or special commands that are generally specific to a printer.”

The new textile can be sewn, de-pleated, and heat-bonded like an iron-on patch. Forman and his colleagues have printed the textiles using many common 3D printing materials, including a conductive filament that they used to produce a lamp that can be lit and dimmed by touching pleats in the lampshade. The researchers suggest that other base materials or additives could produce textiles with magnetic or optical properties, or textiles that are more biodegradable by using algae, coffee grounds, or wood.

According to Scott Hudson, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University’s Human-Computer Interaction Institute, Forman’s work represents a very interesting addition to the expanding set of 3D-printing techniques. 

“This work is particularly important because it functions within the same print process as more conventional techniques,” notes Hudson, who was not part of the study. “This will allow us to integrate custom 3D-printed textile components — components that can be flexible and soft — into objects, along with more conventional hard parts.”

Lab @home

When MIT closed down at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Forman was in the midst of preparing for the ACM symposium submission. He relocated his full lab set up to the basement of his parents’ cabin near Lake Placid, New York.

“It’s not a lot of large equipment, but it’s lots of little tools, pliers, filaments,” he explains. “I had to set up two 3D printers, a soldering station, a photo backdrop — just because the work is so multidisciplinary.”

At the cabin, “I was able to hone in and focus on the research while the world around me was on fire, and it was actually a really good distraction,” Forman says. “It was also interesting to be working on a project that was so tech-focused, and then look out the window and see nature and trees — the tension between the two was quite inspiring.”

It was an experience for his parents as well, who got to see him “at my most intense and focused, and the hardest I’ve worked,” he recalls. “I’d be going upstairs at 5 a.m. for a snack when my dad was coming down for breakfast.”  

“My parents became part of the act of creation, where I’d print something and go, ‘look at this,’” he says. “I don’t know if I’ll ever have the opportunity again to have my parents so closely touch what I do every day.”

One of the more unusual aspects of the project has been what to call the material. Forman and his colleagues use the term “quasi-textile” because DefeXtiles doesn’t have all the same physical qualities of a usual textile, such as a bias in both directions and degree of softness. But some skeptics have been converted when they feel the material, Forman says.

The experience reminds him of the famous René Magritte painting “The Treachery of Objects (This Is Not a Pipe),” where the illustration of a pipe prompts a discussion about whether a representation can fully encompass all of an object’s meanings. “I’m interested in the coupling between digital bits and the materials experience by computationally fabricating high-fidelity materials with controllable forms and mechanical properties,” Forman explains.

“It makes me think about when the reference of the thing becomes accepted as the thing,” he adds. “It’s not the decision people make, but the reasoning behind it that interests me, and finding what causes them to accept it or reject it as a textile material.”

Read More

https://www.covid19snews.com/2020/11/02/leveraging-a-3d-printer-defect-to-create-a-new-quasi-textile/

Original drabble, pt. 4

Navigation: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

AW YE LET’S GO

The voice the AI ended up picking in the intervening hours between one day and the next wasn't inherently all that interesting. It was a low, smooth baritone, but beyond that it was relatively nondescript as voices went. The audio quality made it even more bland, with a poor range that didn't have any extra phonemes programmed in for different pitches alongside the standard tinny, echoing sound that came from having been recorded in someone's bedroom on a cheap microphone with no soundproofing.

"That would be the point," the AI told him. "It's impossible to read any kind of voice imprint in sound quality this bad."

As for the tuning, that was another matter entirely.

The perks of letting an AI tune its own voice on the fly instead of having a comparatively simple secondary program do it were obvious to Ted; the AI is made to do much larger calculations, so the slight randomization involved in making a voice sound realistic as opposed to it sounding like a recording had more room for subtlety and nuance. In many commercial and consumer androids, this was glossed over because it wasn't necessary - the vocal capability often being delegated to a secondary program anyway just to save space - but for the ones that had to perform any kind of public service, the subtlety and nuance were a key component of interacting with humanity, right up there with being able to read a room and adjust their body language and express themselves in ways humans could be comfortable with.

Seeing as Ted had a lot of experience with those kinds of androids in his day-to-day life, he wasn't unfamiliar with that ability. But usually those androids were nurses, doctors, secretaries, social workers. Not the ones he usually worked with as part of the pipeline, because taking them out of society was seen as too risky, and the ones that did come through were all too quickly snatched up by the goons overseeing product recalls. They rarely made it all the way to screening.

This time, he hadn't been able to suppress the shiver that went up his spine upon first hearing that kind of tuning coming from a shitty voicebank installed on one of his own home computers. It was an uncanny sort of feeling, a crawl under his skin at how odd it was. He thought he'd gotten over that years ago, but apparently he hadn't. This AI, with his dry vocal delivery and subtle expressiveness, had one of the most human voices Ted had ever heard, while also having one of the most inhuman voices he'd ever heard.

He was having a hard time getting used to it.

"Did you know the labels on the phonemes in this don't actually match up with the sounds they're supposed to make?" the AI continued. "There's a lot I'm just not rendering because the waveforms don't match up. I have it muted so you don't have to hear it, but it gets bad enough that my speech recognition programming doesn't even register that I've made words."

"Sounds frustrating," Ted mused.

"It is. There's also a minor memory leak in the software. The longest I can keep it open is two hours, five minutes, and fifty eight seconds."

"Could install it on the desktop?"

"Then I'd have to deal with the memory leak," the AI said as if it were the most distasteful thing in the world, and Ted snorted. The guy had a point; yeah, the laptop didn't have all that much memory to begin with, but at least it didn't risk the desktop overheating. That laptop was kind of a piece of shit anyway (and Ted never kept anything important on it to begin with so he wouldn't miss it too much if it died) so it wasn't a risk to the AI's personal safety.

Besides, as much as Ted wanted to poke fun at how fussy the AI was, he understood the concept of being fragile. "You'll be alright when I go to work, right?" he had to ask. "Got everything you need?"

"Yes."

"I could download some games for you before I go if you want."

"Why would I want that?"

Ted shrugged his shoulders as he stretched in his chair. "Dunno. Just thought you might be into that kinda thing."

"No. I'm not."

He supposed that did make some sense. An AI that had no way of experiencing things except from the inside of a computer had no use for anything but algorithms and data, and how much of the experience of a game was wrapped up in its graphical user interface and the joy of playing it? Even so, kinda harsh. "Not even for the writing?" he asked, standing up and moving to pull on his coat.

"The objective of any game is completing it with the best possible outcome," came the reply. "Writing has no effect on that."

"What if the writing tells you that what's technically the best possible outcome is something you can only get to by being an asshole?"

"Then it's a bad game that defines its outcomes poorly," the AI said, sounding like he didn't want to continue the conversation. Ted decided not to press it. "I have everything I need. Just come back with a camera and don't die."

Ted had to laugh again at that, fixing the fastenings on his coat and making sure that his phone and keys were in his pockets. "Don't die, huh?"

"Humans are breakable. I saw the weather report, I think I'm justified in having my concerns."

"Aw, you really do care."

"It's self-preservation. I'm dependent on you right now."

Ted was still chuckling about that one even as he left the apartment, the laughter only tapering off after he was well on his way down the stairs. From there, it was only a short walk to the bus, as it was in any sensibly put-together major city, and he made his way to work feeling lighter than he had in a long time.

It wasn't supposed to be easy to talk to an AI. Everyone made it out to be like some chore, where not following a script got you into 'your query falls outside my preprogrammed parameters, would you like to ask another question' territory. And a lot of times, it was. Most people couldn't afford a fancy AI like that for their robots. Android bodies were cheap if you had access to a 3D printer and some decent schematics, but the programming? That was proprietary. Expensive. Sometimes it was so fancy that it took proprietary hardware to even run it, the kinda shit you'd get out of a catalog with the prices of all the bells and whistles tucked away in fine print that was a milimeter high.

That was why it was usually limited to government entities, or big corporations, or other places that could really afford the fancy shit. Someone like Ted? He didn't even have unfettered access to a 3D printer. Best he could get beyond the basics of a good personal computer was one of those minidroids, the 9 inch high ones that were just smart enough to tell you what was in your inbox when you got up to go to work. Even then he'd probably get it secondhand...

He was in the process of sitting down in one of his more usual seats at the back of the bus when his thoughts were interrupted by a buzz from his pocket.

>   I found your messaging handle.

Ted rolled his eyes at the screenname that came up. NotARobot. Christ.

you are the most unsubtle person to ever exist   <

>   It asked if I'm a robot when I was making this account. Technically, I'm not a robot at the moment.

>   At least for a given definition of what the word "robot" means.

>   Did you leave your messenger logged in on your laptop on purpose?

honestly? i forgot   <

it goes into the background process pile when it isnt actively open   <

so thats an easy thing to do   <

>   Why are your messages like that?

like what   <

>   Like that.

im lazy   <

and i turned autocorrect off   <

it bugged me   <

>   Turn it back on then.

nope   <

>   Why.

cause i dont wanna :P   <

>   This is cruel and unusual punishment. It's against the Geneva Conventions to treat me like this.

get used to it   <

besides   <

not like i can break the law any worse   <

>   You're a horrible person.

>   I'm going to reorganize all of your files just for that.

>   All of them.

lol alright   <

gotta go to work now l8r <3   <

>   Don't you send hearts at me.

>   Ted.

>   Why did you send me a heart?

>   Hearts don't even look like that.

>   Stop ignoring me.

>   Fine, I'll ignore you too.

>   Ted, did you die?

>   Please don't die. You're not allowed.

>   I have concerns about this "going to work" thing.

>   For one thing, it's inadvisable for a human to be out in these temperatures for a significant amount of time.

>   You're still ignoring me, aren't you?

at work   <

hard to shelve books n text :P   <

sup?   <

>   How long does this work take?

a while. why   <

gotta get a camera after this 2 remember   <

are you worried about me   <

>   No.

thats adorable   <

>   I am not "adorable" by any definition.

tell u what   <

boot up my ebook app   <

go read everything i have loaded onto it   <

come back to me w/ what u think   <

i wanna see some thoughts on at least one book by lunchtime   <

>   Fine.

aight cool l8r then   <

>   I'm starting with the most recent download. It's called "The Left Hand of Darkness" and I have no idea what that's supposed to mean.

>   That is not how neutral pronouns work.

>   This is bad science.

>   I suppose that's one way of explaining the Fermi Paradox but it's still bad science.

>   Just looked it up. Secondary sexual characteristics do not work that way.

>   Ted.

>   Ted, why did he have to die.

>   That ending was absolutely pointless.

>   Your books are badly written and don't make any sense.

>   Are all of your books like this?

>   I refuse to read any more books until I have confirmation that they're not all like this.

lol   <

>   Don't laugh at me.

keep reading   <

>   That's not an answer.

>   Fine, I'll read another one.

<3?   <

>   You're still a horrible person.

Support Education With A 3D Printer Donation

If you would like to foster the next generation of critical thinkers, problem solvers, innovators, and leaders through hands-on creativity-enhancing exploration, consider making a charitable 3D printer donation

Without a doubt, right now is an exciting time for 3D printing in general. As the industry continues to move towards industrialization, this technology is increasingly becoming part of the broader manufacturing ecosystem. 3D printing is not just a current trend. It is, unarguably, a revolutionary technology that opens up endless possibilities world wide. From automotive to consumer goods, companies multiple industries are becoming aware of the great advantages 3D printing offers for production. The next steps for both the technology and the industry would be to maintain this momentum and continuously work towards enabling more applications on a larger scale. As you can imagine, this will create new and exciting jobs for those with the inclination for technology.

Introducing this innovative technology to the newer generation can create great opportunities and cultivate the skills needed to enter this new and exciting field.

Please read on find out how a 3D printer donation can benefit today's youth.

The Starting Line

3D printing works by beginning with a digital model in a 3D CAD (Computer-Aided Design) file and then creating a physical three-dimensional object. Objects are scanned — or an existing scan of an object is used, which is then processed by a piece of software known as a “slicer.” The slicer converts the model into a series of thin, 2-dimensional layers and produces a file with instructions (G-code) tailored to the specific type of 3D printer you are using.

For 3D printing’s use in education, it is a matter of bringing objects out of the computer screen and into the physical world — and into the hands of students for inspection, analysis, and other processes that benefit from physical manipulation.

3D Printing And Education

A lot has been said about the need for more education in the 3D printing industry. A lack of education is the biggest challenge faced by service bureaus today. The gap in need of expertise, in particular, can create barriers to entry into this new and exciting field of work. Without proper knowledgable individuals, companies will likely struggle to develop a business case or use 3D printing. Besides the future workforce, students are able to benefit from a 3D printer in the classroom setting as well.

Awareness around the capabilities of 3D printing is increasing gradually. A lot of emphases is being put into educating schools on how to get started with 3D printing and extract the most value out of it.

Here are a few examples of how schools and students can use a 3D printer to enrich their educational experience in the classroom setting:

History students can print out historical artifacts to examine for a hands-on learning experience

Graphic Design students would be able to print out 3D versions of their artwork

Geography students can print out various topography, demographic, or population maps

Chemistry students can print out 3D models of molecules giving them a different perspective on what they are learning.

Biology students can print out cells, viruses, organs, and other biological artifacts for an in-depth view of the body

Math students can print out 3D models of problems to then work on solving

These are a fraction of the many ways 3D printing technology can bridge the gap between the physical and the digital worlds — all you have to do is find what you need on the screen, then print it into existence. With the current costs of 3D printers becoming more and more affordable, they are not simply just another technological gadget for students to play around with but are becoming more and more important as an educational tool. They make both teaching and learning more effective all-around.

The 5 Major Benefits of 3D Printing in Education

From a future standpoint of growth and development, future designers, engineers, and artists will all have been students who have been impacted by 3D printing today.

5 major benefits of 3D printing’s impact on education…

Creating Excitement — 3D printing gives students the ability to experience their projects from the model stage to the actual creation of the model. This generates both excitement and a better understanding of the design process as they continuously gain hands-on experience from conception to creation. The intricate features are understood more clearly as the students build their projects layer by layer. Excitement grows from the ability to explore every detail in reality, not just on a computer screen or in a textbook. 3D printing also pulls the world of theory to the physical world where students can interact, see, and touch, opening up new possibilities like never before for learning and activities.

Complementing the Curriculum — No matter the curriculum being used, 3D printing can help students and teachers work together better. 3D printing upgrades students from being passive consumers of information on a computer screen with no thought given to productivity. Unlike with the conventional classroom model where students are easily bored, they are able to become more active and engaged participants through the conception, design, and execution of their projects and interaction with both the 3D printer and teacher.

Giving Access to Knowledge Previously Unavailable — Because most of the 3D printers on the market are pre-assembled and plug and play, it can be a fun cutting-edge technology for students to learn with. Students will learn that it’s acceptable to fail on the first try and then to try again in order to improve. Students will eventually come to understand that failure is simply a part of the process and they become less afraid to execute new and different ideas. This helps build a students’ confidence and teachers can enjoy the results of having self-motivated, self-confident students.

Opening New Possibilities for Learning — A 3D printer opens up unlimited learning possibilities for students. 3D printing will give students unique opportunities to experiment with ideas, to expand and grow their creativity. It can be hard to have young students figure things out without the benefit of visualization. Visual learning environments tend to improve a students understanding of the world. Being able to touch and see their projects in the real world can make a world of difference. 3D printers will open up new opportunities for presenting information in an economical and efficient manner.

Promoting problem-solving skills — As mentioned before, a 3D printer will give a variety of learning experiences. Students need to learn how different 3D printers work, how to efficiently operate them, and how to troubleshoot and solve problems. This is an art in which many students do not get to experience during their normal day to day studies. By learning how to troubleshoot and solve various 3D printer problems, students are able to learn how to practice persistence and endurance in overcoming difficulties. This can easily translate to helping students solve their own problems in life.

Developing a students’ creativity skill set can aid greatly in the development and passion for original thinking and creativity that can later be applied in business. 3D printing can promotes student achievements, while also preparing them for a college education. They develop a greater sence of confidence that allows them to pursue challenging courses such as those in the STEAM fields. As students explore and grow their imaginations, it cultivates an innovative mindset where students create their own unique 3D projects that is able to help train others as well as solve difficult problems.

The Bottom Line

Even though current prices on 3D printers are steadily lowering, not every school may be able to afford one. Not only does a good 3D printer have a sizable price tag but sometimes administration does not always agree on the need for such a forward-thinking piece of technology.

If you have a 3D printer at home that you don’t use as much as you thought you would, please consider a 3D printer donation to charities such as the Giving Center. Rather than leave it to collect dust and take up space, donate your 3D printer to a deserving charity.

Keep in mind, if you intend to collect a tax deduction, you will need to donate to a IRS accredited 501 ©(3) charity.

Agilenano - News: New Part Day: The Wi-Fi Stepper Gets Ideas Working Faster

Like most of us, I sometimes indulge in buying a part for its potential or anticipated utility rather than for a specific project or purpose. That’s exactly how I ended up with the WSX100 Wi-Fi Stepper, a single board device intended to be one of the fastest and easiest ways to get a stepper motor integrated into a project. Mine came from their Crowd Supply campaign, which raised money for production and continues to accept orders. What’s It For? The WSX100 Wi-Fi Stepper Driver (with motor), by Good Robotics The main reason the Wi-Fi Stepper exists is to make getting a stepper motor up and running fast and simple, in a way that doesn’t paint a design into a corner. The device can certainly be used outside of prototyping, but I think one of its best features is the ability to help quickly turn an idea into something physical. When prototyping, it’s always better to spend less time on basic bits like driving motors. In a way, stepper motors are a bit like RGB LEDs or LCD displays were before integrated drivers and easy interfaces became common for them. Steppers require work (and suitable power supplies) to get up and running, and that effort can be a barrier to getting an idea off the ground. With the Wi-Fi Stepper, a motor can be fired up and given positional commands (or set to a speed and direction) in no time at all. By sending commands over WiFi, there isn’t even the need to wire up any control logic. Why Use Steppers? Stepper motors are great for any project that needs to do physical work in the real world with any sort of exactitude. Every 3D printer, laser cutter, and other CNC device uses them. They’re inexpensive, come in standardized shapes and sizes, can be precisely controlled, and can interface with many things directly without needing a gearbox. The downside is that steppers aren’t quite plug-and-play. They may be common, but they are also relatively complex electromechanical devices that require more than just applying power to get them to move. If you’re new to the idea of steppers, this project explains the theory and inner workings beautifully by using an oversized, 3D printed stepper as a visual aid. What the Wi-Fi Stepper Delivers All that’s really needed for the WSX100 to work is to hook up a DC power supply (input range of 9-80 V supported) and attach a stepper motor; there are convenient presets for NEMA 11, 17, 23, 34, and 42 motors. Once power is applied, the board will by default create a wireless access point named wsx100-ap with a unique id appended to the name. Easy operation consists of connecting to the device’s network, then opening a browser window to 192.168.4.1 (or wsx100.local if enabled) and using the Quickstart section of the web interface. From there, the motor can be set to either servo mode (motor moves to a position on command) or speed mode (motor is given a direction and speed), and is then ready to move. All configuration and basic movements are accessible via this web interface; simply drag the shaft position or click a direction and the motor will immediately do it. There are also Python and RESTful interfaces, so all commands and configuration can be done using HTTP GET requests, usually from python or a bash script (the latter uses curl piped to jq, a tool for command-line JSON processing.) Embedded below is a short video demonstrating Servo Mode with a NEMA17 motor attached to a simple 3D-printed assembly. First the servo is moved by dragging the handle in the web interface, then a simple bash script is run that demonstrates bouncing between two points with a one second delay between each position. The commands in the script came from copying and pasting from the Quick Code section of the web interface, one of several handy features. https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/WSX100-Wi-Fi-Stepper-Servo-Mode-Video.mp4 ‘Quick Code’ Feature There’s a particularly handy section in the web interface I want to highlight. After setting all desired configuration options (and there are presets for everything from NEMA 11 to 42 as well as stall detection, shutdown parameters, and everything else) and optionally giving a movement command, a Quick Code window provides matching sample code for both Python and Bash scripts. Therefore, after using the web interface to test things, a cut and paste will provide code to do exactly the same thing. What the Wi-Fi Stepper board doesn’t have is a hardware encoder for absolute motor position sensing. This isn’t uncommon, but don’t misunderstand “Servo Mode” as implying the presence of such an encoder. Servo Mode in this context refers to moving the motor shaft by telling it to go to a specific position, which it then does and holds that position until further notice. There’s one more feature I’d like to get into: wireless security. Let’s Celebrate That Security Wasn’t An Afterthought Something that caught my eye on this project was how seriously security was taken during development. Being mindful of security is good practice in principle, but there’s a practical consideration as well. The developers made a valid point that since the board can support large motors at high currents, there is potential for real damage to result from someone mistreating or compromising the unit and telling it to do things it shouldn’t. Security is always worth taking seriously, but as the developers put it: Security is hard. Really hard. In a world where IoT devices are notoriously bad at security, we hope [our efforts are] a step in the right direction. You can gain some insights into security design by reading the developer update that explains how exactly they approached securing a device like this. Briefly, it starts by stating some assumptions about how the device will be used and in what context, and letting the security design flow from those points. In the case of the WSX100 Wi-Fi Stepper it is assumed that the device will be provisioned and configured in a secure environment, no sensitive information will be transmitted as part of commands, and physical security (e.g. tamper protection and detection) is out of scope. Working from these assumptions, the WSX100’s security focused on ensuring that only commands from an authenticated source are considered valid (thwarting things like man-in-the-middle and replay attacks.) To do this, the WSX100 uses the ATECC508A by Microchip to provide an authentication key framework, and if enabled, implementing it is made painless by the API. Once the master key is set on the device, commands are transmitted unencrypted but with a computed signature attached. If a command’s signature is not valid, the command is not legitimate. It is not possible to deduce the master key from the signature, and by not encrypting transmissions there is minimal overhead and latency added. The team also explains possible security issues that have not been addressed or could still cause problems. For example, for a wireless device denial of service or jamming is a possibility. While not much can be done to prevent attacks of that nature, it is possible to use timeouts to ensure that motors are parked in safe positions in the case of a loss of connectivity. It’s wonderful to see security taken seriously, and not as an afterthought. How Does It Fare? The Wi-Fi Stepper is easy to get up and running, supports a wide range of motors and voltages, and security hasn’t been ignored. So far so good, but what does it do best, and are there any shortfalls? As someone who doesn’t live and breathe steppers in my usual projects, some of the best value comes from making them almost plug-and-play. Any projects that do physical work (like automatic pet feeders or automated curtains) are better to develop the easier it is to play with the motors. Also important to consider are the things it doesn’t do. The Wi-Fi Stepper absolutely does a great job of getting a motor moving, but it doesn’t have any external sensors (like limit switches) or simple ways to add them. That means it’s ridiculously easy to tell a motor “start turning” but adding “…until this switch is hit, then stop” is up to the developer. [Update: Good news! Actually there is an input for this; it’s the SW pin and GoUntil command. See also below.] Likewise, there is no built-in support for an encoder with which to track and sense the motor’s real-world position, so applications that require an encoder will need one added and managed separately. The API and web interface won’t have any knowledge of them. That all being said, position encoding isn’t necessary for using steppers effectively and the device’s Servo Mode — the ability to tell the motor to move to a certain position and stop there — can cover most bases. Still, being able to integrate a limit switch or two would have been a nice feature. [Update: The SW pin can be used to attach a zeroing or limit switch. It works with the GoUntil command, which I had embarrassingly completely missed until it was kindly pointed out to me.] The ability to get a stepper going with minimal wiring and little more than a browser window is an awfully nice tool that I’m delighted to add to my workbench. The WSX100 Wi-Fi Stepper is, of course, open source. The Github repository is here and online documentation is at wifistepper.com. It’s available directly from Crowd Supply. #Stepper #ATECC508A #WirelessHacks #CncHacks #StepperMotor

Agilenano - News from Agilenano from shopsnetwork (4 sites) https://agilenano.com/blogs/news/new-part-day-the-wi-fi-stepper-gets-ideas-working-faster-1

RURAL AMERICA – WE ARE HERE!

Our Big Sky Watershed Corps members live and work all across Montana. Here is a passionate description of the culture and lifestyle of rural America - Petroleum County in Central Montana written by Laura Nowlin, the coordinator for the Musselshell Watershed Coalition, which hosted its first Big Sky Watershed Corps member in 2013.  Our BSWC members provide critical capacity to rural areas.  Now hosting its ninth and tenth members, the MWC has come to rely on the fresh perspectives and energy that BSWC members bring to their projects.  These members live in Winnett, where local residents now know about the BSWC program and members are a regular part of the community.

Photo Credit: Levi Nowlin

Reprinted from www.PrairiePopulist.org, by Laura Nowlin, January 23, 2019

I have read several stories recently that make life in rural America seem pretty dismal – the population is aging and decreasing, everyone is poorly educated and addicted to drugs, and the land is either not accessible to the public, or it is being destroyed by crops and cows. I wonder how much time those journalists spent in rural America before they wrote those stories? Any places that matter take a time investment to understand. Well, I haven’t just visited the “flyover” states, I live here – five generations of my family have lived in the same central Montana county. I can’t speak for all of rural America, but I can speak about this place and I would like to challenge the stereotype.

My husband and I have two children and we chose to raise them in rural America. We left good paying “regular” jobs to live and work in the country. We read a lot of children’s books and one of our favorites is Horton Hears a Who. I think often of those Whos and how they united to yell as loud as they could, “We are here! We are here! We are here!” for someone to hear them.

There aren’t many of us out here – 500 people in all of Petroleum County. We are spread out, and we work full-time jobs, sometimes several jobs. We are mostly farmers and ranchers, teachers, and local government staff. We are not journalists, marketing directors, or graphic designers – it is hard to gather together to be loud enough to tell our own story. But, we have a story to tell. It’s not perfect and there are improvements to be made, for sure, but it is not so dismal as you might read in the New York Times. We love where we live, we work with our neighbors to keep our communities going, and we care about the land and our livestock.

Photo Credit: Reba Ahlgren

WE ARE HERE: WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE LAND

We are here, we have been here, and we would like to stay here. The Northern Great Plains – the grasslands and the breaks – are our home. We live on the prairie – an unforgiving, wonderful, crazy place. My great-great aunt used to say, “This country takes and it takes, and then, in one year, it gives it all back.” Mother Nature offers up the most inspiring moments, and the most devastating, and when you live with the land, you experience it all. You develop an appreciation for the land that comes from shared experiences.

And those experiences are shared with your neighbors as well. You develop a bond with those people stronger than can be described. It’s a bond that when there is a death in the community, 300 people attend the funeral – the only space large enough is the school gymnasium.

Most of us in rural central Montana are lucky enough to live, work, and play where our homes are. We think we are the luckiest people on earth and we would like to share it with anyone who wants to come visit. But, we want you to understand it when you come. In our little slice of paradise, we get 13 inches of precipitation per year. Santa Fe gets 14. The average for the United States is 39 inches per year. So, unless you are from the desert southwest, we are going to look a little bit like a desert. We all know that the majority of this precious precipitation needs to come from April to June to get everything growing. So, when you come to visit, ask how much rain and snow we’ve had and when it came so you can understand if we are having a wet or dry year – which makes all the difference.

We are passionate about our land. This includes the public land where we graze our cattle and the private land that has sometimes been in families for over 100 years. Most of Petroleum County is grassland or the Missouri River Breaks – land that is not suitable for growing crops, so instead, most of us raise cattle.

Photo Credit: Laura Nowlin

The grasslands evolved with grazers. The two are codependent on each other and the grasslands need a large herbivore grazing it just as much as the cattle need the grasslands. When a cow grazes, she chomps off part of the plant, which allows it to regrow. When a plant does not have the opportunity to regrow, it becomes decadent – old growth dies and clogs out any chance for new growth to happen. The wildlife, such as deer and antelope, don’t graze this old, dead grass. Cattle hooves break up plants and create litter that covers the ground – this catches water and also helps plants to regrow. And, finally, cows poop and pee – the best form of natural (and free!) fertilization out there. Grazing is part of the whole system that enhances both the soils and everything that is below ground, as well as the grasses and other plants above ground.

Ranchers provide, “ecosystem services.” This means that when we use good land management practices, we provide benefits to the land from which all of society benefits. Healthy grasslands, which can be achieved through cattle grazing, provide ecosystem services like carbon sequestration, water filtration and water storage, open spaces, and wildlife habitat. The beauty of using cattle to graze the grasslands is that they can be managed to address the needs of the land. For example, a noxious weed infestation can be grazed at a certain time of year to get it under control. Where build-up of plant material has happened, grazing that build-up can keep fire danger managed to a more natural level. Studies of grassland songbirds have shown that some of these birds need short grasses, and even prefer bare ground, at certain times of the year. Ranchers can graze their cattle through pastures on a rotation that benefits these declining bird populations.

Ranching on public lands saves money for the government. The Bureau of Land Management spends $2 per acre for the lands that ranchers use, but it spends $5 per acre to maintain ungrazed land.

But, don’t take my word for it – come to see these things for yourself. We welcome you to our private lands. Just because they are private, does not mean that they are inaccessible. A neighbor once told me, “I consider myself fortunate to have private land and consider it my responsibility to offer access to it to those who are not able to have their own.”

Photo Credit: Reba Ahlgren

WE ARE HERE: WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITIES.

“I don’t think that people understand how passionate we are about our communities,” one of my neighbors recently told me. Our tiny community of 500 (ages 4 months to 102) volunteered 8,736 hours in 2018.[1] These hours were spent on county commissions, town councils, school boards, conservation district boards, ambulance, fire, search and rescues, sheriff’s reserve, and on and on.  Imagine serving on an ambulance crew when you know that most of the calls will be for someone that you know.

We are part of the two percent of the population producing food for the other 98 percent. Tax dollars support farmers and ranchers through cost share programs that help provide range improvements for both livestock and wildlife. These best management practices not only help ranchers with risk management, but also contribute to making food everywhere more affordable. These tax dollars amount to less than ½ of 1 percent of the total US budget.[2] In Petroleum County alone, our 105 agricultural operations produce enough beef to feed 127,745 people for one year.[3]

We are passionate about our children. The Winnett School is a Blue Ribbon award-winning school. The school’s food program has also won awards, and, most recently, local ranchers have begun donating beef to the school so that we know where our children’s beef comes from. The high school graduation rate is 98%.

Photo Credit: Laura Nowlin

There is also plenty to do. My children take guitar and piano lessons in Winnett on Mondays, they play basketball on Tuesdays, they go to “Kids’ Club” at the church on Thursdays, and they are 4-H members – and they are only six and eight years old. When they aren’t busy with social and school activities, they help us on the ranch. They have put out and picked up miles and miles of electric fence. They are learning about hard work, caring for animals, and nurturing the land by getting outside and doing it.  Come visit and you too can do some fencing.

When you do, we’ll take you to the school. Grades kindergarten through 12 are all under the same roof.  The Technology Education teacher will show you his 3D printer, plasma cutter, welders, and wood shop. You’ll see the school-community library with computer and internet access for patrons. Come on a Friday or Saturday night and you’ll see the gymnasium packed for basketball games.

Since 2010, our community has grown by 5.9 percent, which is more than Park and Ravalli Counties in trendy western Montana. There are young people returning home, and new people coming to the area, at a high rate. This is something that I hear about in our neighboring communities as well. Winnett and the northern part of the county have fiber optics. We have access to the highest speed internet of anyone in the entire United States. When you visit, you won’t have cell service, but you can stream any YouTube video that you want (well, not any, but we can talk about that when you get here).

Photo Credit: Brenda Brady

WE ARE HERE: WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT OUR FUTURE

We are a tight-knit community that cares about the land and each other. We are busy with our businesses, volunteering in the community, and raising the next generation of people who will steward the land, provide food, work hard, and contribute to something larger than themselves. Come visit.  Don’t just drive through or stop for lunch, really visit. We are happy to show you our land, our ranches, and our communities. Then, maybe you will call with us, “We are here!”

If you would like to visit a ranch in central Montana, contact the Fergus /Petroleum County Extension Office at 406-535-3919 or [email protected].

Laura Nowlin is a wife and mother of two, working, living, and playing on a little piece of paradise in central Montana, north of the town of Winnett. She and her husband ranch. She is also a part-time coordinator for the Musselshell Watershed Coalition. Between the two of them, they serve in seven community groups. Laura is a board member of the Winnett ACES (Agricultural Community Enhancement and Sustainability).

http://prairiepopulist.org/rural-america-laura-nowlin/