There’s a reason why at airports you hear “The moving walkway is ending…” repeating again and again. Walking on moving surfaces isn’t the most natural thing. It’s easy to trip and fall or just make a wrong step and be off balance. That’s exactly the situation developers working with HTML5 currently have to deal with. [...]
Our favorite number is 1 (or 0)
Knock, knock? Hiding JS Functionality With a Secret Knock
Recently Automata was tasked with building software for an iPad-based installation. It featured 24 iPads arranged in an 8 x 3 grid secured into a cabinet. Due to many factors, including a very short deadline, we quickly determined that HTML5 + a kiosk app was the way to go. The problem was the iPads were very firmly secured into the cabinet with no easy way of resetting them or pushing the home button. We needed a way to reload the app in case any issues popped up in the field.
Automata gives IBM’s Watson a Face
Starting Monday, February 14th 2011 IBM’s Watson supercomputer will compete on the game show Jeopardy!. Automata Studios was proud to collaborate with Joshua Davis to create Watson’s on-screen avatar. Automata took Josh’s designs and programmed both the avatar and a collection of tools. We defined easily editable configuration files and a special supercomputer simulator to [...]
The Automata Black Box
Recently one of our developers, Joel, had to move his family to Germany (His wife is in the military and she was reassigned). Joel is going to continue to work for Automata, but we all really wanted to show him how much we appreciated his hard work and how much he had advanced since joining our team.
Signing AIR Applications with PVK/SPC Pair
We’ve built our fair share of AIR applications over the last few years and being responsible developers we’ve always suggested that our clients properly sign their applications.Usually we get a P12 file, though sometimes we get a PFX file which we can either use directly or convert to a P12 file using Firefox (see the [...]
The Endless Mural Toolbox
I’m currently working on an in-depth technical review of how we at Automata Studios, in collaboration with Joshua Davis Studios (lead agency, design & concept) and Eric Fickes (back end) took The Endless Mural from concept to fully realized execution in five short weeks (!) for Microsoft’s launch of the Internet Explorer 9 Beta. That [...]
Tools We Like: Python
Like many small business owners I find I need to wear many different hats. One day I’m a developer, the next day I’m a system administrator, and back when we were based out of my garage I had to play the role of landscaper every few weeks. I actually enjoy the fact that I do [...]
GOOOAAAAAAL!
Yeah, Keenan got a little excited.
Flash on the Beach 2010
Our buddy John Davey is at it again – Flash on the Beach is back in Brighton Beach, UK this year and Branden will be there with bells on (well, not really, but he will be sporting some mighty nifty vectors!). Branden will be talking about his oh-so-fun-and-productive HYPE Framework so be sure to be [...]
FITC San Francisco 2010
The great folks at FITC are bringing their conference to one of our favorite places and our very own Branden Hall will be there to talk about his seriously bad ass HYPE Framework. If you’re going, be sure to check out his session – you’re sure to learn something and have a lot of fun. [...]