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A Thousand Nerds is a place for ideas and knowledge sharing from the people of Kodak about technology. We love what we do, and we want to share our expertise about digital imaging's technologies and its power to influence our world. We invite you to join our conversation with stories and experiences of your own.

To add your voice to ours, please visit the User Guide.

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Top 5 Posts

Thoughts from Display Week 2009 Father's Day Gift Ideas



June 29, 2009

Eastman Business Park Monuments

David Stoklosa
Director of Eastman Business Park


The Eastman Business Park (EBP) continues to increase its own brand awareness with newly updated monument signs in two key locations - - on the corner of West Ridge Road and Lake Avenue, and at the entrance of what is known as Building 28, located at 200 West Ridge Road.  



This is just one example of our ongoing efforts to market the site as a viable and attractive opportunity for businesses looking to relocate and/or expand in the Rochester area.  We're working hard to ensure our message is received loud and clear....that the Eastman Business Park is unparalleled in its offerings and advantages to a wide variety of industrial and manufacturing tenants.



Visit us at eastmanbusinesspark.com for more information on what we have to offer.

Stay tuned for more exciting activities happening at Eastman Business Park, and be sure to share our story with others.

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June 23, 2009

Moon Mapping: The Original Series

Michael DeLuca
Marketing Geek

With last week's launch of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, NASA is taking the first steps to send a new generation of astronauts to the moon. This mission is designed to map out the terrain of the moon, identify resources on or near the surface, and better understand the radiation environment - all with the goal of aiding in the design of a future lunar outpost.

Just before the launch, I wrote about how Kodak CCD Image Sensors will play a key role in this mission. But you may not know that this isn't the first time Kodak technology has been involved in a space mission to map the moon.


1960's Lunar Orbiter

In the mid 1960's, NASA was in a situation similar to where they are today - looking to send astronauts to the moon, but needing high-resolution images of the surface to evaluate potential landing sites for the Apollo missions. To get those images, NASA knew they would need to send spacecraft to the moon to map the lunar surface, but since the technology didn't exist then to use high-resolution digital sensors (as NASA is doing today with the LRO mission), they needed a different approach.

One that Kodak developed.


Imaging Unit of Lunar Orbiter

Looking at it now, the solution that was devised for these missions was really amazing. As described on NASA's web page for these missions, the imaging unit in these Lunar Orbiters consisted of a dual-lens camera (to capture both high- and low-resolution pictures), a film processing unit, a readout scanner, and a film handling apparatus. Film passed through the camera as the unit orbited the moon, capturing images of the lunar surface as it flew by. The film was then processed and scanned, and the images were then transmitted back to Earth - basically, the entire unit was a combination camera, mini-lab, and TV station.

All operating while orbiting the moon, over 200,000 miles from Earth.


First view of Earth taken from the moon (from Lunar Orbiter 1)

The Lunar Orbiter missions were an unqualified success, collectively photographing 99% of the moon's surface with a resolution of 60 meters or better, and providing the information needed for the safe landing of the Apollo missions. Today, one of these imaging cameras - made for a Lunar Orbiter mission that never flew - is on display as a part of the Technology Collection at the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film. Todd Gustavson, curator of Technology from George Eastman House, has put together an excellent video podcast about this imaging system - be sure to check it out.

In 2004, the Kodak organization involved in this work was incorporated into the Space Systems Division of ITT, where they continue developing imaging systems for earth-orbiting satellites today. But through programs like the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (as well as other orbiters around Mars and Venus, plus the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station), Kodak still remains a key participant in the space program, providing world-class imaging technology that is used throughout the solar system.

Just as we have for over 40 years.

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June 12, 2009

Kodak W1020 Digital Frame review

Jennifer Cisney
Chief Blogger
The Washington Post featured a review of the Kodak W1020 Digital Frame by PCWorld.



"The Kodak W1020 frame ($160 as of 5/7/2009) stands out thanks to its ease of use (in most respects), with or without Kodak's proprietary software."

You can read the rest of the review here.

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