Is it the future yet?

Ahoyhoy,
On my eveningly scoot around the internet last night, I happened across this slightly exciting post on the New Scientist website.
As far as I can tell, they've taken the robot, 'Weebo' from the film, 'Flubber' (that can play you a clip of the tv show you're thinking of), and made it real. (I'm pretty sure that was the research brief at the University of California to start with).
But in all seriousness, this really is a bit of a big step forward, it'll be exciting (or worrying) to see how this technique and the clarity of the results develops

Sniff your books!

Marie sent me this rather interesting link. Apparently the smell of books indicates their state of preservation. It seems rather perverted, but sniffing your favourite antiquarian tomes is in their best interest. I'd better rush off and inhale Throsby then!

"The Africans who fought in WWII "

Here’s an interesting article from the BBC about African soldiers who fought in WWII. Over one million African troops from British, Belgian, Italian and French colonies fought in Europe, Burma and North Africa.

Historical fiction

This appeared in my inbox this afternoon from Caroline. It's meant for all the students doing HS1000, I think, but it might be of interest more generally. It's booker-winner Hilary Mantel talking about historical fiction.

Public signage typefaces

I'm reading Joe Moran's book On Roads at the moment, which contains a fascinating account of how the Transport typeface and mixed-case lettering came to be used on British road signs. Wikipedia maintains a very fine collection of functional sanserif fonts, with an interesting list of those that have been used on public signs.

Transport: British road signs




Rail Alphabet: also used in some hospitals!



Johnston: in 2008 TfL removed the serif from the number '1'



Frutiger: according to Wikipedia, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol uses Frutiger as its main font for house style and signage.



Clearview: the new typeface on the US road sign scene



All of these images are in the public domain apart from Rail Alphabet, which has attribution and copyright info here

Manchester proves popular

The trip to Manchester (see various postings, passim), has proved remarkably popular. So popular, our Chief Ticketing Clerk informs me, that there are no seats left! All fifty seats are now full. A reserve list is being prepared, and if you would still like to come, you should contact Lucy Byrne to have your name added.