Dorkbot SoCal 25 - Dave Bullock, Rama Hoetzlein, Barry Hertz Sr. :: December 1, 2007; 1:00 pm :: Machine Project, 1200 D North Alvarado Street, Los Angeles, CA.

Dave Bullock: HDR Photography - Today’s digital cameras have a limited dynamic range compared to film. If you shoot a photo of a landscape with a beautiful cloudy sky, your landscape will be properly exposed, but your clouds will be washed out or vice-versa. High-Dynamic Range photography allows you to circumvent your sensor’s limitations by taking multiple photos with different exposures and combining them on your computer. All you need is a camera capable of manual exposure settings, a tripod and a computer and you’ll be on your way to HDR mastery.

Dave Bullock (eecue) is the offspring of a photographer and a programmer. He has been sifting through bits on the internet since he was young and along the way has taught himself programming, unix and photography. Dave is a frequent contributor to WIRED News and a member of the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team. When he’s not shooting photo of geeky stuff around Los Angeles, you can usually find him crawling through a cave, out in the desert or rescuing a wayward hiker.

Rama Hoetzlein: Intelligent Things: Ideas and Forms - Rama will present a range of projects, including videos of mechnical and robotic sculptures, self-organizing systems and systems for knowledge organization. Themes will include the relationship between physical (embodied) and non-physical (mental) activity, knowledge representation, and systems of belief. The relationship of these projects to the interdisciplinary questions raised by intelligent systems will be introduced with the intention of engaging in an open discussion.

Rama Hoetzlein completed a BA in Computer Science, a BFA in Fine Arts from Cornell University in 2001 with thesis works in robotic sculpture. From 2002 to 2004, he co-founded the Game Design Initiative at Cornell University (GDIAC) in 2001, with David Schwartz, to support interdisciplinary education among artists and engineers. In 2007, Rama completed an MS with the Media Arts & Technology Program (MAT) at UC Santa Barbara in the area of knowledge organization, and is currently doing research in artificial intelligence and computer graphics.

Professor Barry Hertz: Saskatchewan Supermileage Vehicles - Barry Hertz will be presenting on the development of ultra-fuel-efficient vehicles developed from 1980 to 1988 at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. The distinctions held by the U of S engineers include winning every SAE Supermileage event entered during nine successive years, breaking three amateur world records, and shattering the absolute world fuel economy record on May 29, 1986 with a vehicle that got 4,738 miles per US gallon (5691 MPIG, 49.6 mL/100 km).

Barry Hertz specializes in Vehicle Research, Machine Design, Manufacturing, and Mechanical Tribology, with current and past projects including: 1. Vehicular transportation efficiency, 2. Vehicle aerodynamics, 3. Wind tunnel testing, 4. Machine Design: Automotive Vehicles, 5. Mechanical Tribology: Friction, Lubrication, & Wear, 6. Alternative Fuels and Lubricants, 7. Bio-Diesel Engine Wear Research.

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Yahoo! Map of Machine Project or a Google Map of Machine Project.

After the event, you may also be interested in going to Chris Csikszentihayli and Edmund Ming-Yipkwong’s reception at Fringe Exhibitions from 6 to 8pm.

Contact Garnet Hertz if you are interested in giving a presentation at an upcoming Dorkbot SoCal event.