It is a busy time as I get ready for the big secret project which, I hope, will launch later this week. In the meantime, here is something that took my fancy on You Tube….a gyroscopic pool table on a ship…..thus allowing keen pool players to have a game on the roughest of seas. It looks soooo weird! This would also have the added bonus of sea-sick passengers being able to sit on it and feel fine (I think!).
Finally, we did this in the lab yesterday simply because it made us laugh…
Advertisement
July 28, 2009 at 7:51 am |
On the sea-sickness comment: sea sickness is caused by the “horizon” of the room disagreeing with your inner ear. If you sat on the table, there would still be confusion between your senses and so you’d still be sick.
July 28, 2009 at 8:42 am |
That looks really weird.. why aren’t the balls running up and down when the board is tilting?
July 28, 2009 at 9:09 am |
William, they’re the balls are not moving because the table is flat, it’s the camera and the walls that are moving, that is why the gyro is needed.
Also Richard, if you sat on it i think you may feel just as sick as the walls and floor all move around you.
July 28, 2009 at 9:23 am |
“the balls” not “they’re balls”
and the movement thing, they have rides like that where the base doesn’t move much but the walls spin like mad.
July 28, 2009 at 9:53 am |
That’s so odd to watch! You know the table is staying still but your eyes tell you differently because of where the camera is positioned. And you fully expect the pool balls to be rolling all over the place! Very cool.
July 28, 2009 at 10:57 am |
That is amazing! And really weird to watch – I really did expect the balls to roll away!
July 28, 2009 at 12:23 pm |
Very weird pool playing! great example of the what you see (or feel) is not always what’s actually happening. (“Wait a minute, who’s tipsy here.”) One would suspect that, were you not looking at the pool table, you’d be fine – as your mind or body would adjust to the high seas – but, looking at the table creates this rolling feeling that might make you feel seasick. Reminds me of what you often describe in your new book. (The book is fantastic! full of revealing and useful information presented both succinctly and often amusingly.)
The photo creates a fun illusion too.
July 28, 2009 at 1:19 pm |
Gosh isn’t perception a funny thing…it does NOT like to be confused !!! Love the photo…but in true “skeptic” tradition, How can we be sure that’s you behind the mag Richard ?
July 28, 2009 at 6:06 pm
You know because you can see his face looking through the magazine, LIKE MAGIC!!
July 28, 2009 at 2:04 pm |
I wonder how the pool table reacts to weight on the surface. I tend to lean pretty hard on my forward hand when shooting pool. And would the stationary surface throw you off since you would be moving around? Very trick to play on the high seas, I expect.
July 28, 2009 at 11:26 pm |
That illusion of you and the magazine is great. Do you always wear the same t-shirt and smile?
July 29, 2009 at 12:52 am |
I feel ill just watching that video…
July 29, 2009 at 12:56 am |
ps your head looks a liitle bit small maybe? pretty cool though
July 29, 2009 at 3:31 am |
Your photo looks very effective!
Did you take an “after” shot with the magazine lowered as a comparison?
July 29, 2009 at 9:15 am |
Cool table – but since the players are moving like the ship, doesn’t that still make playing difficult?
Love the picture!
July 31, 2009 at 9:12 pm |
Love it! I’m so glad I found your blog, dude. My workplace really needs cheering up! So much unhappiness here. I have been having enough trouble of my own, not to mention the overall lack of morale among the staff troops. And when faculty get back, they will be demanding as all get out, wanting this and that.
Anyway, good blog!
August 2, 2009 at 9:02 pm |
The gyro table doesn’t mitigate heaving. In any significant sea state the balls will still not behave the way they “should”. But it’s a worthy try and gets points for geek cred.
August 7, 2009 at 9:46 am |
Did you find this on Killer Weblog by any chance? Any chance of a link?
http://www.killerdirectory.com/blog/engineering/gyroscopic-pool.html
January 15, 2010 at 6:09 am |
Amazing, Quality pool tables are level to thousandths of an inch tolerance along their playing surface.
March 12, 2010 at 4:15 am |
That is the coolest pool table, and believe me I’ve seen a few. I’ll be looking for that option the next time I book a cruise!!
Family Leisure
March 19, 2010 at 8:56 am |
I like the picture, it looks really cool and fun to watch. The video looks weird but it’s still cool for me.
July 2, 2010 at 5:25 am |
I played on one of these tables last week, it was weird, the balls stayed still while the boat moved….
The boat was pretty big, Serenade of the Seas, and we were in about 6′ swells.
September 28, 2010 at 2:03 pm |
haha the magazine pictures looks awesome!
Simon