Computer technology: robotic milking and interactive mirrors - for iPod/iPhone: Recent Episodes

The Open University

What have computers got to do with cows? Can a wooden mirror help us understand the computing behind digital image capture? Neil Rowse is the first dairy farmer in the UK to use a computerised system that gives cows control over when they are milked, and allows him to remotely monitor the welfare of individual animals. Daniel Rozin has created an computer operated mirror made from 835 tilting wooden tiles. With the help of a digital camera and a computer programme, the wooden tiles mimic the digital pixel information and tilt themselves into a ‘reflection’. This material is taken from The Open University course T224 Computers and processors.

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A short introduction to this album.

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Transcript -- A short introduction to this album.

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The automatic milking robot that gives cows control over when they are milked.

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Transcript -- The automatic milking robot that gives cows control over when they are milked.

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How the robotic milking system works.

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Transcript -- How the robotic milking system works.

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From the robot milker to the robot feeder in the calf nursery.

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Regular monitoring and emergency alerts.

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Transcript -- From the robot milker to the robot feeder in the calf nursery.

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Transcript -- Regular monitoring and emergency alerts.

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Benefits for the cows, the farmer and his family.

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Transcript -- Benefits for the cows, the farmer and his family.

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Daniel Rozin’s wooden mirror and how it works.

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Transcript -- Daniel Rozin’s wooden mirror and how it works.

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The technology that drives the mirror.

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Transcript -- The technology that drives the mirror.

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Creating the mirror's building blocks.

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Transcript -- Creating the mirror's building blocks.

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How information from the camera is turned into a ‘reflection’ on the mirror.

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Transcript -- How information from the camera is turned into a ‘reflection’ on the mirror.

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Open University lecturer Bernie Clark, explains why the two examples were chosen for the T224 course.

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Transcript -- Open University lecturer Bernie Clark, explains why the two examples were chosen for the T224 course.