Posted 05/04/09 at 04:54:18 PM by Andy Salisbury

While book scanning has become a pretty common process, one problem that still remains is that the scanned images are slightly distorted where the spine of the book meets the page. It looks like Google has done their very best to fix this error, with a pretty nifty camera setup.

Their book scanner, which was recently revealed in patent pictures, paints a book with infrared light, and then two infrared cameras generate a 3D model of the book, which can be used to correct scans. On top of this, Google has implemented camera technology that detects the three-dimensional shape and angle of the book’s pages when the book is in the scanner. This is then transmitted to the OCR software, which adjusts for any distortions, and allows the OCR software to read the text more accurately.

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Posted 01/09/09 at 11:00:00 AM by David Murphy

Did you know that more Wi-Fi networks are out there than what your computer can normally see?  It's true.  But depending on the security settings of the wireless network and its overall signal strength, you might not see these alternate options pop up in the standard Windows network settings dialogue.  That's where Wi-Fi scanning applications like NetStumbler or inSSIDer come into play.  That, and they're the best way you go about cataloging all the hotspots in your neighborhood from the passenger seat of your moving vehicle.

Click the link, and we'll show you how you can use inSSIDer to find out valuable information about the wireless networks floating around you right now!

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