simoncoles.org » Toys

Fun with Remote Control Tricopters

Simon Coles — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 09:58:45 +0000

I’ve been having fun flying the helicopters around the office when it is quiet, learning a lot about keeping them stable and avoiding air currents etc. Fun although probably not worth taking videos of!

Then via this post, I see there’s more fun to be had with the right tools…

Cool Unexpected Kindle Feature – Clippings

Simon Coles — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 15:11:10 +0000

Yes, I have an iPad and I love it. I also have a Kindle, and love it too – as a reading device it is much better than the iPad which is fine. As people are pointing out, it isn’t a question of “iPad or Kindle”. Get an iPad, and if you finding yourself reading a lot of eBooks then you’ll find a Kindle well worth it.

I’ve only just started to use the Kindle “Clippings” feature, but I am finding it unexpectedly useful for both work-related books and also (surprisingly) some fiction books. I knew I could get my Clippings file onto my Mac but what I didn’t realise (thanks to this post) is that there is a web site http://kindle.amazon.com where you can see the highlights you have made on your books. Which is pretty cool if you just want to go back and try to remember a particular passage.

They also have a nice feature that the front page ends up being a “Flashcard” where you can review passages you have highlighed. They seem to have thought about in detail too:

The periodic review of ideas makes it easier to remember them. This works better if you space the reviews over increasing time intervals, a “Spacing Effect” that was first identified by German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus. Using Default intervals, you will see a highlight or note again after 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and thereafter annually. Alternatively you can choose a fixed review interval.

As an aside, I’m loving the fact that GetAbstract will send summaries direct to my Kindle…

iPhone-controlled Drone

Simon Coles — Thu, 06 May 2010 08:53:39 +0000

I want one:

(here’s the original article on TechCrunch)

Siftables – I want them

Simon Coles — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:02:46 +0000

This is a TED talk on “Siftables” – little computers the size of building blocks which you can move around and they interact with each other.

Such a simple idea with massive potential. Love it. I want them and I want them now. (and I am sure my kids will go nuts over them).