#160 ArchaeoTech: Smart Gloves

It’s still winter time in much of the country (except the South where it hasn't been winter since the Younger Dryas - people sit around the swimming pool in January whispering, “winter is coming” to each other. Trust me. It’s true.). In this digital age there is a need for gloves to be much smarter than they ever have been before.

Ever been in the field recording a site in freezing temperatures with a high, cold, wind blowing everything around? What always happens right when you are at your coldest? The boss calls. You’ve got to, both, take off your gloves and then dig out your phone from where ever you have it stashed. Wouldn’t it be nice to leave them on? Or, maybe you’re working for one of those forward thinking companies that record with tablets and smart cameras in the field - ahem…- and you don’t want to take your gloves off to type on the screen. Good thing it’s 2013 and you have options.

In this post I’ll talk about just two of the many glove options out there for using your devices and staying warm at the same time. At the end of the post I’ll show you a product that will make ANY piece of clothing able to interact with your smart devices.

Conductive Screens

First, why do gloves need to be special to work with touch screen devices? There are several different ways to make a touchscreen but most tablets and smartphones use capacitive touchscreens. I’m not going to get into the science of it too much but I will touch on it a bit. Capacitive touchscreens are usually pieces of glass that are then coated with a conductive material. The human body is also conductive and when we touch the conductive surface we distort the screens electrostatic field which is interpreted by the device’s software. So, when you wear gloves you block the conductive properties of your skin. Smart gloves have conductive material in the finger tips so there is a constant connection between your finger and your glove. And, before anyone writes in, you can’t get shocked if you get the gloves wet. That’s just not how electricity works.

Geek Beat Video Review

Geek Beat is a great resource for all sorts of geeky tech and geeky gear reviews. They are in my regular video podcast feed that I watch everyday when I’m working out in the morning. The first part of the video below has the two pairs of gloves I’m going to talk about. You can watch the last half too but it’s not part of this post.

Moshi digits - Touchscreen Gloves, $30

Like I said at the top, there are lots of touchscreen gloves out there. However, many of them only have conductive surfaces on the thumb and first finger, or maybe even the middle finger too. Moshi gloves have conductive fiber on all ten fingers. Most tablets, and certainly the iPad, have the capability of having up to 10 fingers on the surface at one time. Most of the time you won’t need more than four but it’s nice to have options. 

The Moshi gloves also have a grip patter on the surface so you don’t drop your devices. There is a soft microfleece lining for keeping you warm too. The gloves are washable so you can wash the “field” out of them occaisionally.

One thing to remember with any touchscreen gloves is that they need to be snug on your fingers. If there isn’t solid contact from your finger to the inside of the glove to the surface of the device then they won’t work properly.

Hi-Call Bluetooth Talking Glove, $69.99 (Amazon)

These gloves are crazy! Remember when you were a kid (or, since you’re in CRM are likely STILL a kid, just kidding…) and you would pretend answer a phone with your hand? I don’t even have to describe the motion because everyone knows what it looks like. Well, these bluetooth gloves allow you to answer a phone like that except that your phone is still stashed away.

The left glove has a speaker sewn into the thumb and a microphone sewn into the pinkie finger. To answer a call you simple have to put your hand in the familiar configuration and put it up to your head. The call will answer automatically and you can talk while looking like a huge dork. Who am I kidding? I want them! My birthday IS coming up in just a month…

The gloves come in black or gray and have 20 hours of talk time with 10 days of standby time. Some devices even display the charge of the gloves on your screen. The gloves come with an instruction manual and a microUSB to USB cable for charging.

Well, now you can say you’ve seen it all.

Conductive Thread, $4.99 for 5 m (price varies with length)

One last thing. If you already have a pair of gloves you like you can go the cheap route and just buy conductive thread! This thread is hand sewn into any garment you want to make conductive. Just be sure it goes all the way through so it can touch your fingers and your device at the same time. You should be able to use this on the thickest of gloves, although, you’ll likely destroy any waterproofing with the small holes made by the thread.

So, stay warm, stay connected, and remember you only look like a geek. You’re warmer than everyone else!

Thanks for reading and I’ll see you in the field!

#159 CEQ & ACHP Handbook for Integrating NEPA and Section 106

On March 5, 2013 the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) issued a press release detailing their new handbook that was created with the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). The handbook was created assist interested parties in successfully managing NEPA and Section 106 requirements together.

According to the press release the two agencies came together to reduce the regulatory barriers and work more efficiently for the benefit of the American people. The document goes on to say, “This creates a means to ensure statutory requirements of two important laws are met while strengthening the coordination of two similar but separate processes that frequently should proceed in tandem.”

From the press release:

“For example, review of a project under NEPA would include consideration of the broad range of environmental impacts, ranging from wildlife to air and water quality and including historic and cultural resources. Section 106 of the NHPA would require consideration of how the project might affect the historic resources, such as historic buildings and districts, archaeological sites, and cultural landscapes. The handbook is designed to guide users in coordinating the two mandated reviews to improve efficiency and informed decision making.”

Here is a link to the PDF handbook.

Have you read the handbook? Is it helpful? Questions? Concerns? Let me know what you think in the comments.

​Thanks for reading and I'll see you in the field!

#158 The End of Google Reader

Google announced today that it will be retiring Google Reader on July 1, 2013. They listed Google Reader among other changes on their blog today:

We launched Google Reader in 2005 in an effort to make it easy for people to discover and keep tabs on their favorite websites. While the product has a loyal following, over the years usage has declined. So, on July 1, 2013, we will retire Google Reader. Users and developers interested in RSS alternatives can export their data, including their subscriptions, with Google Takeout over the course of the next four months.

For such a significant announcement it was fifth down on the list of eight things mentioned in the post. Google says the use of the service has declined, however, among the crowd I associate with, Google Reader is used every single day to keep up on blog posts. I have over 30 subscriptions in my GReader account and I always have plenty to read.

The end of Google Reader was reported just about everywhere. You can read about it on Wired, App Advice, Geek Beat, and CNET.

So, we have about three and a half months to figure out what to do with our RSS subscriptions. Personally, I’m going to wait until June to worry about it. My ideal RSS reader will be available on my phone, iPad, and on the Web and will sync across all those devices. It will also be able to send posts to Evernote, Dropbox, Twitter, and Facebook. The ability to email posts would be nice as well.

There are probably hundreds of RSS readers on the market right now. I use Feeddler Pro on my iPhone and iPad and it does all the things, and more, that I mentioned above. It has one flaw - it is linked with Google Reader. Most RSS readers are linked to Google Reader and on July 1st they will all stop working. That’s why I’m waiting. I need these app developers to come up with options. If you jump ship right now you might not get the best options for your situation.

I was considering providing you with current options at the end of this post but decided against it. Like I said above, best to wait a few months while the developers sort it out.

UPDATE: 

There is a petition on Change.org to keep Google Reader running. As of 10:05 AM PST on March 14, 2013, there were almost 60,000 signatures! Sign the petition here.​

Thanks for reading and I’ll see you in the field!

#157 ArchaeoTech: Field Data Storage Options

HyperDrive ColorSpace for iPad (120-750GB), $399

With the increasing use of tablets and smart phones in the field there is a growing need for field data storage. You might ask why you’d need field storage if you’re uploading data at the end of everyday and maybe in a few years you’d be right. However, today people are still a bit skittish about having all their data on a “fragile” tablet with no backup. Enter WiFi field storage devices and the HyperDrive ColorSpace for iPad.

Now, there are certainly comparable devices out there that don’t have all the bells and whistles of this one but this device has a few tricks up its sleeves that leave the others wanting.

Let’s get the details out of the way first. The basic model sells for $399 and has a 250GB capacity. That alone is more than enough storage for an entire several-field-crew unit to upload everything to. But, if that’s not enough you can slip in any 2.5 in SATA hard drive (120 to 1TB). You can also carry extra batteries, although, the battery it comes with can backup 250GB of data on a single charge. More than adequate for the typical field crew.

The unit is small at only about 5 in by 3 in by 1 in with a weight of 10.5 oz. The HyperDrive has a 3.2 in color LCD screen with a high resolution display. There are two memory card slots that support 12 different card formats ranging from Compact Flash to SD to xD and others. The data transfer to an iPad is 20MB/s which is pretty quick. Operating temperatures range from 41F to 104F so there might be a problem with use in the winter or in the South ANY time of the year.

The major selling point of this unit that makes it different from most others is the ability to see and manipulate all your files on the color LCD screen. At any point you can check and see what you have and what you need. It might be nice to have in the field at the end of a session when you weren’t sure if you took overviews at that one site several days ago. You can check the photo logs but you can also check the photos directly on the hard drive. That’s way easier than going back to the truck and getting the laptop out.

The other option from HyperDrive is the HyperDrive Hard Drive for iPad. It’s a small hard drive that connects to the iPad using the Apple Camera Connection kit. On the website you can buy up to a 1TB hard drive. It doesn’t have a screen so to see what’s on it you have to be connected to the iPad. That might be a hassle down the road, but, for most operations it’s probably OK.

The hard drive costs $199.95 for the 320GB version and goes up to $399.95 for the 1TB version. There is also a casing only option for $99.95. This allows you to have multiple hard drives that you can insert into the casing and use when you need.

The ColorSpace model would be best for a totally digital operation. You’d be able to plug in the tablets and transfer data anytime you want. You’d also be able to take the memory cards out of the cameras and upload the photos. It’s a full-service backup option for the entire field crew.

Have any other field storage options? Let me know in the comments or on the contact form to the right (if you’re actually on the webpage and not reading this on Feedler or Flipboard or something).

Thanks for reading and I’ll see you in the field!

#156 Pigments on Arrow and Dart Shafts in Southern NV

In a recent paper from Eerkens, et al. (2012) titled, "Chemical Composition, Mineralogy, and Physical Structure of Pigments on Arrow and Dart Fragments from Gypsum Cave, Nevada" the authors analyze pigments found on arrow and dart fragments to determine their chemical composition, mineralogy, and physical structure. They show that green, red, pink, brown, and black pigments were created using a variety of minerals:​

The combined analyses reveal that the pigments from Gypsum Cave were produced from a variety of different minerals. None of the five subjectively-defined colors was characterized by a homogenous/standardized compositional or mineralogical recipe. This indicates that the individuals who used Gypsum Cave exploited a wide range of minerals and blended them in varying amounts to create the palate of colors seen in the weaponry fragments recovered during the archaeological investigations.

…the study demonstrated that interesting patterning existed within colors and between color and substrate type, but produced more questions than it answered. For example, analyses revealed the presence of many other non-pigmenting minerals within the paint, such as quartz, feldspar, gypsum, and various alumina-silicate minerals. It is unclear whether these were contaminants from sediments within the cave or were intentionally added to the pigments.

The authors speculate on the reasons for the different chemical compositions for the same colors on wood and can shafts. They suggest several possibilities ranging from availability during seasonal rounds and religious or traditional beliefs.

Read the paper here.​

Thanks for reading and I'll see you in the field!​

References Cited​

Eerkens, Jelmer W., Amy J Gilreath, Brian Joy

        2012     Chemical Composition, Mineralogy, and Physical Structure of Pigments on Arrow and Dart Fragments from Gypsum Cave, Nevada. Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology​ 32(1):47-64.

#155 CRM Archaeology Podcast - CRM Wages

In case you don't know, I host a panel-style CRM Archaeology podcast. I've hosted a podcast for over a year now but this new format, and the reason for the re-numbering, is way better than the old one. ​

On this episode my panelists and I talk about a couple of news items and have a great conversation about the current state of CRM wages in the United States.​

I like to have a listening question section on the podcast so if you have questions leave them in the comments or use the contact form on the right side of this page. You can also Tweet questions using #CRMArchPodcast.​

Check out the episode by searching "CRM Archaeology" on iTunes or Stitcher Radio. ​

You can also click HERE to go to the podcast's website.​

​Thanks for reading, and listening, and I'll see you in the field!