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A set of programmable, wireless, solar,
waterproof woodpeckers that alert you, in
Morse code, to various goings on.
Uses include:
Patio Bird can mark the cooking time while
you grill on the patio (controlled by the
woodpecker stopwatch).
Study Bird will lean over slightly, look at
you
with one eye and then tap on the glass
that on your window that the mail has
come. (controlled by the included break
beam sensor)
Parlor Bird taps on the eaves to alert you
that someone is in the driveway. (another
break beam)
Reminds you to take those library books,
movies, etc. back at a certain time.
(controlled by an online calendar).
Stock updates, emails from certain people,
weather warnings.
Next: Pink Flamingo Semaphores.
Telegraph clacks out RSS
http://steampunkwor...com/telegraph.shtml
robot-birds are kinda like telegraph sounders, i guess. [JordanG, Jun 06 2008]
[link]
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So you want a mechanical spouse with a very hard beak. |
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.._. .. ... .... _... _ _ _ _. . |
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cool [Brau]-so you, jutta, and global just cheated? |
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I didn't, and I can tell that globaltourniquet didn't - at least not with that webpage! |
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I did the best I could with my limited means. And I'm referring to available brain cells. And I fishboned it for a very self-centered reason; I couldn't manage morse code if a woodpecker were beating it onto my skull. Make it a monkey on a rock with semaphore flags, and I'll reconsider. |
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OK, I'll believe you both. I find it amazing that someone could actually remember that, but then again I guess it's just another language. (I'm still impressed.) |
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- .... .. ... .. -.. . .- --. .. ...- . ... -. . .-- -- . .- -. .. -. --. - --- - .... . .--. .... .-. .- ... . .-..-. .... . -. .--. . -.-. -.- . -.. .-..-. |
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-.-. .-. --- .. ... ... .- -. - |
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You would probably learn to recognize the rhythm of a few short messages without parsing all the code. I think the semaphore thing is going to be a bit more costly to maintain. |
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-.. .- .... -.. .. - -.. .. - -.. .. - -....- -.. .. - -.. .. - -.. .- .... -....- -.. .- .... -.. .. - |
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No fair, I've forgotten morse code. |
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[Lurch] Ooh, double morse. |
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Not to pick nits, but how one supposed to distinguish a dit (.) from a dash (-) pecked by a bird? Seems a dash would be confused easily with a letter "e" followed by a pause. |
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If you can't make "short" and "long" sounds, it is acceptable to make sounds of differing tone - the higher pitch, or sharper impact, being associated with the "dots". If different sounds cannot be generated, then the code is adapted through the use of the double-tap - two close together for the dot; with a pause denoting the dash. |
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The faux-bird device could use either - glass (dot) sash (dash) in the one instance, or just baboom boom-boom on the siding in the other. |
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Somewhat baked... The birds are basically just telegraph sounders, which have already been used for alerts, tapping out RSS feeds, etc. I'll try and re-find the link. |
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read the title, wondered if anybody's asked Mrs. Morse her feelings in the matter... |
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-.. .- -.. .- -.. .. - -.. .- -.. .- -.. .. - -.. .- -.. .- -.. .- -.. .- -.. .- -.. .- -.. .. - -.. .- -.. .. - -.. .. - -.. .. - -.. .. - |
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[-.. .- .... -.. .. - -.. .. - -.. .. - -....- -.. .. - -.. .. - -.. .- .... -....- -.. .- .... -.. .. -] //marked-for-tagline// |
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