Meta Quest Pro may have a competitor with the unnamed HTC product.

Meta Quest Pro may have a competitor with the unnamed HTC product.

As much as I want clear glass AR, pass thru (camera) AR may be the standard for a while.

https://gizmodo.com/htc-meta-quest-pro-render-design-price-release-vr-ces-1849904437

One of the best compliments I get from Co-workers is being told, “my code is simple”. It means it is easy to understand, maintain, modify and work with!

 One of the best compliments I get from Co-workers is being told, “my code is simple”. It means it is easy to understand, maintain, modify and work with!

If Simple offends you, use the term “Elegant”. Unfortunately, complicated sells better.

https://eugeneyan.com/writing/simplicity/

Thank you to Mark Lucking for the incredibly well-done article on using RealityKit!

Thank you to Mark Lucking for the incredibly well-done article on using RealityKit!

Mark shows us how to move from SceneKit into Augmented Reality.

https://betterprogramming.pub/build-a-3d-chess-with-swiftui-and-realitykit-43d84095e46

Many people think Augmented Reality devices are coming and will be impressive, but it may take longer than you wish.

Many people think Augmented Reality devices are coming and will be impressive, but it may take longer than you wish.

Sadly, Magic Leap may be right. We may have suitable AR capabilities within five years, but we may not have socially acceptable AR by then.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/immersive-ar-for-consumers-is-five-or-so-years-away-says-magic-leap-ceo/

Christmas Tech Humor

Christmas Tech Humor

He’s making a Database.

He’s sorting it twice.

SELECT * from contacts WHERE

behavior = ‘nice’

SQL Clause is coming to town!

The hot topic of the month is ChatGPT, so let’s hear Jean-Louis Gassée's take on this.

The hot topic of the month is ChatGPT, so let’s hear Jean-Louis Gassée's take on this.

You have to admire watching ChatGPT being used to write a serious argument against ChatGPT. Yes, there is a fallacy in that logic. 

https://mondaynote.com/chatgpt-its-nothing-you-dont-need-it-and-we-ll-have-it-in-six-months-b26c20f1669b

For those interested, I will be giving two advanced laser classes at NovaLabs in January.

For those interested, I will be giving two advanced laser classes at NovaLabs in January.

On the 26th, I will be teaching a hands-on class on engraving Ceramics, Glass, Mirrors & Tiles.

https://portal.nova-labs.org/event-5080247

For those interested, I will be teaching two advanced laser classes at NovaLabs in January.

For those interested, I will be teaching two advanced laser classes at NovaLabs in January.

On the 18th, I will be giving a Lecture on advanced techniques, with an overview of exotic materials.

https://portal.nova-labs.org/event-5082103

The family and I wish everyone a wonderful Christmas!

 The family and I wish everyone a wonderful Christmas!

Here is a gift from my creative wife to enjoy.

Tech & Tea Humor

Did you know there is actually an IEEE Standards document on how to brew the perfect cup of tea? Look up ISO 3103. Yes, Techies take our tea seriously.

Q: What do teapots eat on their snack break?

A: Kettle chips, of course.

For the first time since COVID, I will be giving one of my historical beverage talks on the History of Tea at NovaLabs makers group in February.

 For the first time since COVID, I will be giving one of my historical beverage talks on the History of Tea at NovaLabs makers group in February.

For those who never tried Tea, this is a great way to try out different types. For those who already love Tea, come learn more. For a coffee drinker, come over to the other side, and try the most popular drink in the world. And for anyone who loves history, please join us and have fun!

https://portal.nova-labs.org/event-5077633

Once electric cars were a valid option, then things changed.

Once electric cars were a valid option, then things changed.

This article explains how the use of electric cars in 1900 disappeared, and it is too simple to say gas cars used unfair business practices.

https://ethical.net/transport/we-had-electric-cars-in-1900-then-this-happened/

I wish Apple would release more videos like this, showing how tech can be used now and in the future to improve one's life.

I wish Apple would release more videos like this, showing how tech can be used now and in the future to improve one's life.

Many people, including myself, were inspired by the original “Knowledge Navigator” videos of 1987.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenaquino/2022/11/30/apple-releases-accessibility-centric--short-film-the-greatest-highlighting-disability-in-tech/

The Greatest Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sX9IEHWRJ8

Youtube Channel “Data is Beautiful” gives us a, well, a beautifully animated timeline of the most popular messaging apps for the past 20+ years.

Youtube Channel “Data is Beautiful” gives us a, well, a beautifully animated timeline of the most popular messaging apps for the past 20+ years.

It is interesting to see old friends arrive and then disappear into the dust of digital history. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg06i23MXss

Saturday Tech Humor

Q: Why was the Swift code unhappy?

A: Because it didn’t have any Closure.

Apple announced its pick for best app of the year, and #1 is a photo-sharing app for friends.

Apple announced its pick for best app of the year, and #1 is a photo-sharing app for friends.

Look at the list; these are all good Apps with great, refined features, but not new ideas. Innovation in design is good, but we need innovation in use too.

https://apps.apple.com/us/story/id1647007359

This new software algorithm can now play Stratego, previously Human only game.

This new software algorithm can now play Stratego, previously Human only game.

This is significant because Stratego is different; the game involves partial knowledge (fog of war), which was previously difficult to compute.

https://www.popsci.com/technology/ai-stratego/

They are not moving production back to the US, but Apple may move it out of China to other Asian countries.

They are not moving production back to the US, but Apple may move it out of China to other Asian countries.

Reliability in manufacturing is more important than cost, and having only one source is always bad.

https://apple.slashdot.org/story/22/12/04/0130214/apple-makes-plans-to-move-production-out-of-china

UI Guru Don Norman’s think tank has released a study on mobile usability testing of Augmented Reality.

UI Guru Don Norman’s think tank has released a study on mobile usability testing of Augmented Reality.

One of the takeaways, testers consistently “shared their excitement about immersive educational AR stories.”

https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ar-ux-guidelines/

Tesla 18-wheel cab is shipping (limited).

Tesla 18-wheel cab is shipping (limited). 

Do they have recharge infrastructure yet? You can’t park it at a normal Tesla spot. I am sure this thing has massive video camera/sensors, so central seating sort of make sense,

https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/01/business/tesla-semi-pepsi/index.html

Saturday Tech Humor

 <sign outside computer lab>

Please Do Not Eat In the Computer Lab

The ants will get in, and learn HTML, and get too smart, and knowledge is power, but power corrupts to they; turn evil and start hacking people.

(I have seen this movie!)

Thanks to this article by Mark Lucking on coding SwiftUI to generate ASCII art.

Thanks to this article by Mark Lucking on coding SwiftUI to generate ASCII art.

Years before Desktop publishing was available, the main form of computer art was strictly ASCII images. The Mr. Spock image was on the computer lab wall for years!

https://betterprogramming.pub/code-your-own-ascii-art-with-swiftui-bf76bb8cfe83

Of these 11 programming languages, I can say I actively programmed in 5. No, I won’t say which ones.

Of these 11 programming languages, I can say I actively programmed in 5. No, I won’t say which ones.

Yes, it is time to retire some of them, but they should also be noted for their advantages and use.

https://medium.com/@SiliconJelly/are-these-11-programming-languages-still-alive-a51a2f280591

Can it feel both ridiculous and exciting at the same time?

Can it feel both ridiculous and exciting at the same time?

Yeah, I will go to see it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KPHYPImcmE