In the Clouds

The cloud is a metaphor referring to networks, specifically the Internet, that have been represented in engineering and network drawings for some time. In reality, the cloud is the latest iteration of a concept that has been called many things in the past including ASP (application service provider), on-demand, utility computing and as a service (Software as a Service, Infrastructure as a Service).

Cloud technologies are simply this:

A pool of computing resources (servers, storage, applications, and voice services) that is provided as-needed to businesses from a provider’s network, eliminating the need for on-site equipment, maintenance, and management. Cloud technology technologies enables IT departments to increase or add capabilities as needed without purchasing equipment and software, training employees to support it, and using office space, power, and cooling to house it.

They provide end users immediate access to new, always-on features from nearly any device in any location. They also provide the business a predictable, subscription-based, pay-per-use way to fund IT.

New coloring technique creates perfect spots on 3D-printed cat

Hydrographic printing looks like a magic trick. You print a pattern on a see-through film, place that sheet on a tub of water and spray it with a chemical potion. When you immerse a bland 3D object in the tub, it bonds with the film and comes back out covered in chosen colors. This technique is hugely popular for transferring patterns on simple surfaces. But, the system lacks precision. Complex textures that are now common with 3D printers, stretch the film, and sometimes even tear it. The final pattern is often distorted. According to Wired, a group of researchers from Zheijiang University and Columbia University have devised a quirky dip-kit that adds computational capabilities to conventional hydrographics.

The team created a new apparatus with off-the-shelf hardware: a couple of aluminum rods and tripods. The twist in their technique is a 3D vision system, a Microsoft Kinect, that maps the location of the object before immersion. It gives them the ability to virtually simulate the distortion so they can use that calculation to print a precise image. In their demo video, when one of the rods slowly and consistently dips the object into the tub, the film in the water wraps around it and aligns perfectly. This method accounts for complex textures so you can immerse the object multiples times at different angles for life-like replicas.

Content Creation Guidelines

This document is intended to serve as a guide to aid in the redesign and development of all new websites, with the end goal of helping your organization create informative and compelling content. This guide will focus on creating copy, producing quality images, developing a successful SEO plan, and learning how to use Gather Content.

We are confident that our recommendations will result in a fully defined and unified brand that will help educate users and promote your organization.

Basic Guidelines for Creating Content

While the following points will guide you in the proper direction, it is important to note a few general principles that are key to making a successful website:

  • Content must be compelling, easily skimable, and to the point.
  • If users do not find what they want, they will leave.
  • While off-page SEO is important, content creation is equally important to SEO. Google now “crawls” your whole site and keeps track of all the relevant content. Sites that have the best content will show up higher in the search results.