IEEE Spectrum Editor Erico Guizzo writes:
Last month I posted a video of Bruno Maisonnier, founder and CEO of Aldebaran Robotics, showing off the newly enhanced Nao humanoid robot. Then several people asked me to see the full sequence of Nao doing its Star Wars act, with hilarious impressions of Darth Vader and R2-D2.
WATCH VIDEO: Nao Robot Does Star Wars
More info here:
Nao Robot Does Star Wars – via IEEE Spectrum
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Tags: Robots, Science & Tech
Around the Web | 
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In the recent partial solar eclipse, astrophotographer Thierry Legault took an epic snapshot of all the action. But wait, what is that tiny little thing to the left….?
Here’s a closer look:
Yup. Clearly a TIE fighter.
Read more here:
INSANELY awesome solar eclipse picture – via Discover magazine
27 Comments » | Tags: Science & Tech
Around the Web | Permalink
Cambridge University head librarian for the university’s Judge Business School Andy Priestner recently blogged about his perspective on Jocasta Nu and the Jedi Archives.
It’s entertaining and informative, to say the least, to read a real librarian’s take on what it would be like to run the Jedi Archives.
Priestner writes:
I was fascinated by its incredibly old-fashioned approach to the electronic library with shelves upon shelves of what appeared to be e-books and very few computer terminals.
Apparently they were known as the Stacks and they are ‘holobook’ shelves (thought so) each containing ‘trillions of datatapes and datacards, carefully sorted and arranged into categories and subcategories’. So yes, Jocasta Nu in her infinite Jedi wisdom bought trillions of ebooks and decided that the best thing to do is to file them away on physical shelves (presumably cases with datachips in them?). Which is precisely what I think some librarians would love to do now if they had the chance!
I’m assuming that the lack of terminals is is to do with the proliferation of hand-held Jedi devices, but Wookiepedia is silent on this, although we are told that the few computer terminals that are there are linked to the main index catalog. Which leads me on to muse that it would be a very brave LAS vendor who would take on the huge Jedi Archives! Apparently the Library catalogue is touchscreen, so I hope there are plenty of monitor-wiping droids about.
Read more here:
Jedi Librarian
No Comments » | Fans and Community, The Clone Wars | Permalink
French dance music duo Daft Punk (Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter) have been doing a lot of press lately for their work on the soundtrack for the Tron sequel. This interview with Los Angeles Times caught our attention mainly for their awesome shout out to Star Wars and how it influenced their iconic helmet costumes.
Of course, we knew of Daft Punk’s love of Star Wars thanks to their cameo in last year’s Force-tastic adidas Originals commercial.
So it had to be asked: Are those robot helmets (without which Daft Punk is never photographed) an implicit homage to Tron?
“It’s closer to a Star Wars vibe,” said De Homem-Christo. “It’s very ’70s, but very relevant to me. We are robots, because we think it fits.”
Bangalter added: “We liked the idea of these robot personas — the concept that robots, that technology can connect people or help you integrate on a daily basis but also scare people. That’s what we created instead of showing us. We find it more stimulating and entertaining.”
Read the full interview here:
Daft Punk discusses the inspiration behind the robot helmets: More ‘Star Wars’ than ‘Tron’ — via LA Times
4 Comments » | Tags: Celebrities, Daft Punk
In Pop Culture | Permalink
Collectors and fans who’d like to add something a little different to their Star Wars art collection should check out this new series of art prints from Mondo.
Mondo is the Alamo Drafthouse’s collectible art boutique, featuring designs from world famous artists based on licenses for popular TV and movie properties including Star Wars, Star Trek and Universal Monsters.
These prints are VERY limited in run and are snatched up by collectors quickly, selling out in mere minutes. So if you want to know which prints are on sale and when, follow MondoNews on Twitter!
Here’s the last set of prints from Mondo — Star Wars Posters by Tyler Stout — 24″x36″ screen print. Hand numbered. Printed by D&L Screen Printing. Each has an edition of 850.
Mondo writes of its Star Wars-themed print series:
A project over a year and a half in the making ends today. We are very proud of the series and are thrilled to have worked with so many talented artists. We also want to thank all of the fans that supported us and made the series such a success. We couldn’t think of a better way to end the series than releasing Tyler Stout’s truly epic Original Trilogy poster set.
2 Comments » | Tags: Art, Mondo
Collecting, Creativity | Permalink
Collectors and fans who’d like to add something a little different to their Star Wars art collection should check out this new series of art prints from Mondo.
Mondo is the Alamo Drafthouse’s collectible art boutique, featuring designs from world famous artists based on licenses for popular TV and movie properties including Star Wars, Star Trek and Universal Monsters.
These prints are VERY limited in run and are snatched up by collectors quickly, selling out in mere minutes. So if you want to know which prints are on sale and when, follow MondoNews on Twitter!
Here’s the most recent print King’s Lead Hat by Rob Jones — 24″x36″ screen print. Hand numbered. Printed by D&L Screen Printing. Edition of 255.
Here is what Rob had to say about the poster:
“There’s a scene in Star Wars where Grand Moff Tarkin strides into his council room on the Death Star announcing the dissolution of the Imperial Senate. His officers express concern over the Emperor’s ability to maintain control of star systems without this governing body. To this Tarkin retorts, ‘Fear will keep the local systems in line. Fear of this battle station.’
This exchange made me consider the motivation behind the Emperor’s construction of Darth Vader. I’m not referring to just the cybernetic bits maintaining Vader’s body but also the active manipulation of his mind to bring him to the dark side. The Emperor created in Vader a weapon no different from the Death Star in its ultimate purpose, a means of generating fear amongst the vast populace he ruled. An administrative tool that became the executor of the Emperor’s cruel commands. With that in mind, I decided to depict Vader as a facility harnessing and directing his immense natural power towards malicious ends.”
1 Comment » | Tags: Art, Mondo
Collecting, Creativity | Permalink
Sweet dreams are yours in this impressive Jedi Starfighter Bed!
More info here:
Deep Space Fighter Bed and Galaxy Mural
Collectors and fans who’d like to add something a little different to their Star Wars art collection should check out this new series of art prints from Mondo.
Mondo is the Alamo Drafthouse’s collectible art boutique, featuring designs from world famous artists based on licenses for popular TV and movie properties including Star Wars, Star Trek and Universal Monsters.
These prints are VERY limited in run and are snatched up by collectors quickly, selling out in mere minutes. So if you want to know which prints are on sale and when, follow MondoNews on Twitter!
Here’s the most recent print Original Trilogy Prints by Olly Moss — 24″x36″ screen print. Hand numbered. Printed by D&L Screen Printing. Each has an edition of 400. These prints go on sale Monday, Dec. 20, 2010.
Olly Moss tells Wired:
“It was so intimidating! There is such a wealth of great Star Wars art out there already, from paid professionals and from enthusiastic fans. I suppose my main aim was to make a set of Star Wars posters that were a little different from what people are used to seeing from the franchise, but still retained that essential Star Wars feel. I started by re-watching the original movies with a sketchbook on my lap, and just sort of went from there.”
4 Comments » | Tags: Art, Mondo
Collecting, Creativity | Permalink
Last week fans flocked to digital theaters for a very exclusive screening on the big screen of an all-new Clone Wars villain –- the monstrous Savage Opress!
The Clone Wars screenings began in Los Angeles at the Egyptian Theatre with the voice actors, director Dave Filoni and writer Katie Lucas in attendance, along with celeb Clone Wars fans.
Screenings continued in Seattle, NYC, Philly, Dallas, Chicago, Boston, Phoenix, Atlanta, Washington D.C. and San Francisco, among others.
Cast, crew and fans alike came out in full Force at Lucasfilm’s Presidio headquarters in the San Francisco to watch this epic screening of The Clone Wars introducing Savage Opress.
StarWars.com was there to report and live tweet the event. Check out the article below for quotes from Clone Wars actor Daniel Logan, CG/FX/Lighting Supervisor Joel Aron, and more!
Why is this story arc amazing to see on a big screen?
Joel Aron: We work on it cinematically. When you’re watching it on television you’re actually seeing just a crop of what we’re doing. Every little inch of the screen we think about — the lighting, the composition, the balance, the shapes, etc. To see it on a big screen you actually feel the cinematic pulse of the show. It’s very different when you watch it at home.
Why do you think fans will get a kick out of this story arc in particular?
Joel Aron: We’re introducing a character that hasn’t been seen on the show before, and it’s a direct tie to the feature films. When that happens people automatically start to associate. There’s something connecting us to Star Wars here. And you’re seeing a long thread. In the past on the show, we’ve had just little segments, but now we’re getting an entire story arc. We have three episodes that are so seamless, you don’t even realize they’re separate episodes.
Why is it important for you to watch something like this with the fans?
Joel Aron: You get to hear what they really like, and what they react to. What Dave [Filoni] and I both do is we listen to what everybody tells us and we put it back into the show. Everything that happened at Celebration V — all the conversations — the fans really drive us to do more.
13 Comments » | Tags: Dave Filoni
Events, Lucasfilm, The Clone Wars | Permalink
This week fans flocked to digital theaters for a very exclusive screening on the big screen of an all-new Clone Wars villain –- the monstrous Savage Opress!
The Clone Wars screenings began in Los Angeles at the Egyptian Theatre with the voice actors, director Dave Filoni and writer Katie Lucas in attendance, along with celeb Clone Wars fans.
Screenings continued in Seattle, NYC, Philadelphia, Dallas, Chicago, Boston, Phoenix, Washington D.C., Atlanta, and San Francisco, among others.
Here’s a selection of some of our favorite fan-submitted photos from the Phoenix and Atlanta screenings!
..and with the ladies in Atlanta.
