MetaFilter posts tagged with scanners

The machines are making such a wonderful music, who would want to pull the plug?

filthy light thief — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:48:53 -0800

Computer music is relatively old, going back to the very early 1950s. In the following decades, people have been creative with programmable technology, leading to "She'll Be Comin' 'Round the Mountain" being played on an IBM chain printer back in 1966, and in more recent years, HP ScanJet 5100c included an Easter Egg. The HP ScanJet 4c's SCL (Scanner Control Language) unofficial PLAY TUNE command lead to these fine little ditties. Now over a decade ago, the duo known as [The User] enlisted three specialists to operate a computer program via a server that synchronized the dot-matrix printers and read complex ASCII text files in order to create musical compositions. The result was a techno-sounding piece that was performed by the administrators of the system, rather than one that was simply being played. Like a symphony of car horns, the coordination of these printers became Symphony #1 and #2 for Dot Matrix Printers (samples of Symphony #2, Symphony #2 Slashdot thread). [More computer music exploration inside] A track from Symphony #1 was used as the soundtrack to Radiohead - Skyscape [10], part of Radiohead TV, and another track was used for this short, odd juggling video. The Austraialian sound artist, Sue Harding is making music in the realm of [The User], but she's going it alone with her collection of printers. She has released a few tracks as part of experimental electronic compilations. Want to try your hand at this chaos? Hack A Day has some information, but mostly takes the chance to show off some videos. If you want to get into the software of printers, you may want to try fine-tuned printing. As is usually the case, you can find more odd computer music previously discussed on MetaFilter. Bonus videos: Younnat's "Dot Matrix Printer Etude", Mistabishi's drum'n'bass "Printer Jam" music video, Cornelius' "Toner," the mysterious "Star Wars floppy", and so much more.

Scanwiches

flashboy — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 06:09:33 -0800

Scanwiches.com is one of the strangest sites I've seen in some time. I have no idea how these people got their sandwiches wedged into their scanners, or why.

Face Your Pockets

Soup — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 17:12:08 -0800

Face Your Pockets. "Our goal is to not only bring all these objects into light but show the owner of them. During the scanning process it is recommended not to open your eyes."

Lost in the Static

boo_radley — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 11:45:46 -0800

Lost in the Static Lost in the Static is a simple little game that uses some surprising aspects of the human perceptual system to create a visible world out of animating static.
Please note that this display is not suitable for everyone! Some people find they get headaches or nausea, or their eyes get "all woggly". If you do not find the experience pleasant, stop playing!

Downloadable .exe. Hello Waxy!

Metafilter: Still smelling like cat pee

karmaville — Wed, 14 Jul 2004 00:00:29 -0800

Catscan.com is one of the strangest sites I've seen in some time. I have no idea how these people got their cats wedged into their scanners, or why.

grant — Wed, 24 Nov 1999 21:35:36 -0800

The Attorney General's Office just released the results of it's sixth annual holiday scanner accuracy survey (betcha didn't know you already missed five of these puppies, eh?) The survey unearthed an overall scanner error rate of 16.8 per cent, of which 85 per cent of the errors were overcharges. I always thought those cashiers at Sears looked shifty.