Would You Work For Exposure Alone?

According to this New York Times article, Google invited artists to design “skins” for customizable Google Chrome pages with no pay in exchange for massive exposure. Many artists are less than pleased by this offer. What are your thoughts? Feel free to post in the comments section.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/15/business/media/15illo.html?_r=2

Thanks Ian for this link.

UCSD and the EEG Cap

Last week, in San Diego, I visited the Swartz Center for Computational Neuroscience where two of my uncles work. This highly productive lab is balanced by a relaxing atmosphere, flexible work hours, and a daily afternoon tea time. I got a tour of the facilities and was introduced via slide shows and video clips on the latest EEG technology being developed by the lab. Years ago when I was a high school intern at the lab, I remember observing a technician scraping the subject’s scalp while setting up for an experiment. Earlier this month, while participating in an experiment at the University of Illinois, this cap is all I had to wear:

Above and Below: Myself wearing an EEG cap at the University of Illinois. It is apparent based on the picture below that movement is restricted.

Although much of the procedure was simplifed compared to a few years ago, the subject’s movement is still confined by the equipment and there is still a need for putting EEG gel into the electrode holder on the subject’s head to achieve good conductivity. Now, scientists at the Swartz Center for Computational Neuroscience are taking a step forward to facilitate the subject’s ability to move. Additionally, they are experimenting with dry electrodes to measure EEG signals without using conductive gel. I also witnessed the acquired EEG signals being sent wirelessly to a cell phone through Bluetooth (for additional information, see http://sccn.ucsd.edu/~jung/bci.html). It will be interesting to see where the technology goes in just a few more years.

The Getty

My first weekend vacationing in California, I went to The Getty Center with some friends. The Getty Center is an art museum in Los Angeles with an exquisite collection in Western Art. We only stayed a few hours, but I especially enjoyed the works on modern photography. Located on top of a mountain, its architecture and view is like no other. Absolutely breathtaking. Parking is $10 but admission is free. From the parking garage, you have the option to take a tram or a 15 minute hike up to the museum.

Above: Standing in front of the entrance.

Above: The back end of The Getty overlooking the city of Los Angeles.

Above: Lots of cacti, also at the back end of the museum.

If this is somewhere you would like to visit, plan at least a full day visit. Parking can be slow depending time of day or week.

1200 Getty Center Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90049
(310)440-7300

Sunday, Tuesday-Friday: 10am – 5:30pm
Saturday: 10am – 9pm

(There is no admission requirements for The Getty “Center.” The Getty “Villa” in Pacific Palisades, another must-see place, is also free but does require tickets.)