A Brief History of Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels have powered human growth and ingenuity for centuries. Now that we're reaching the end of cheap and abundant oil and coal supplies, we're in for an exciting ride. While there's a real risk that we'll fall off a cliff, there's still time to control our transition to a post-carbon future.

Mark Roth: Suspended animation is within our grasp

Mark Roth studies suspended animation: the art of shutting down life processes and then starting them up again. It's wild stuff, but it's not science fiction. Induced by careful use of an otherwise toxic gas, suspended animation can potentially help trauma and heart attack victims survive long enough to be treated.

Microsoft Products Still Lead the Pack: 10 Reasons Why - Enterprise Applications

eWeek reports: "Microsoft gets raked over the coals by critics quite a bit in the IT industry. Those folks say that the company is too big, it has lost its way and it’s failing to deliver the products that today’s consumers and even enterprise customers are really searching for. When it’s all said and done, those critics contend that Microsoft will lose its place as one of the dominant companies in the industry and become yet another big firm that has failed to evolve with changing times. In some cases, those critics might be right. The tablet space has been one market that has consistently hurt Microsoft. And as it attempts to transition its operation from a software-focused company to one that sees more value in the Web and advertising, it’s going through some growing pains. But aside from those issues, Microsoft is still a huge success. Recently, the company announced its first-quarter earnings and revealed that its revenue grew 51 percent during that period. Microsoft Office itself saw a 15 percent gain year-over-year, while the company’s Xbox 360 also enjoyed strong revenue growth. The company netted a profit of $5.41 billion on the quarter. Such success might throw some holes in the argument that Microsoft is on the way out. In fact, that success might more effectively show that the company is still very much the company to beat in the tech space. For as successful as Google, Apple and others have been, they have yet to take down Microsoft."

Dell Inspiron duo coming soon

A sneak peek at the new Inspiron duo, Dell's first convertible tablet, from touch to type in seconds. It should be available on Dell.com before the end of the year.

Star Wars Augmented Reality: TIE Fighters Attack NYC!

Test footage from an early version of Star Wars Arcade: Falcon Gunner, the first augmented reality Star Wars game. Coming out in mid-November for iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch 4th Gen. Developed by Vertigore Games and published by THQ Wireless.

The Urbee hybrid: the world’s first 3D printed car

gizmag reports: "In the early 20th century Henry Ford revolutionized automobile production with the introduction of the assembly line for the iconic Ford Model T. Now, almost a century later, a car has been produced using a process that could prove just as revolutionary – 3D printing. Code-named, Urbee, the streamlined vehicle is the first ever to have its entire body, including its glass panel prototypes, 3D printed with an additive manufacturing process."

Wow, 3D printing is getting sophisticated.

High-Tech Holograms: 3-D With No Glasses Required

NPR reports: "This week, scientists in Arizona announced they've taken another step toward bringing a sci-fi mainstay to life: the hologram movie. ... Unlike the Oscar-winning movie Avatar or animations from Pixar, a hologram movie would be truly three-dimensional. Viewers could actually walk around the image, as if it were a solid object."

I am waiting to this technology, just like I am waiting for fully autonomous robots.

Michael Specter: The danger of science denial

Vaccine-autism claims, "Frankenfood" bans, the herbal cure craze: All point to the public's growing fear (and, often, outright denial) of science and reason, says Michael Specter. He warns the trend spells disaster for human progress.

The Commuter

Directed by the McHenry Brothers, was shot in just four days with the Nokia N8 using no back up cameras, with the streets of London and St Albans providing the backdrop to Nokia's story about one commuter's eventful journey to work.

Eleven

Operative 4511 is a space marine on his own and outnumbered. Sometimes the voice you reach at the other end of the comm can mean the difference between life and death!

Joseph Nye on global power shifts

Historian and diplomat Joseph Nye gives us the 30,000-foot view of the shifts in power between China and the US, and the global implications as economic, political and "soft" power shifts and moves around the globe.

R.A. Mashelkar: Breakthrough designs for ultra-low-cost products

Engineer RA Mashelkar shares three stories of ultra-low-cost design from India that use bottom-up rethinking, and some clever engineering, to bring expensive products (cars, prosthetics) into the realm of the possible for everyone.

Ripley`s Does Technology

Baseline Magazine: "When you think of Ripley’s Believe It or Not, you think of old-school oddities like abnormally large or small people, or a two-legged lamb, or even, to choose a fresher example, a bust of Kevin Bacon made out of real bacon. Such is the legacy of weirdness associated with the iconic creation of Robert Ripley, “the explorer, reporter, adventurer, illustrator, collector and seeker of the odd and unusual.” The modern-day incarnation of Ripley’s—though still interested in enormous bugs, shrunken heads, and monster sinkholes--also scours the world of technology for the oddball discovery. In its new book, Enter If You Dare!, Ripley’s features a number of tales of wild technology. A certain amount of wonderment makes sense, given Arthur C. Clarke’s famous line about sufficiently advanced technology seeming like magic, but some of it seems weird for the sake of weird, and the useful stuff will seem mundane in about five minutes. Nothing in there about big software projects done on time, though – that would simply be too much to believe."

The world's coolest data centers

InfoWorld reports: "Data centers need to be secure, temperature controlled, spacious, redundant, reliable -- nothing sexy. But that doesn't mean they can't be. Here are a few that rise above the crowd and take advantage of the possibilities."

Star Trek Technologies: Modern Day Equivalents

Geeks for generations have been inspired by the science-fiction technology from the Star Trek TV series and movies. So over the last forty plus years, they have been converting these technologies into real life practical devices and theories. Some of these technologies are used every day, others are in their infancy and others are in a theoretical stage.

Here is a brief update on where we stand today.

• Communicators [Status: Practical]
• Description: A personal communication device that worked over great distances
• Closest modern technology: Cellphone
• Tablet Computers [Status: Practical]
• Description: A PADD (Personal Access Display Device) was a handheld tablet computer.
• Closest modern technology: Tablet Computers
• Warp Drives [Status: Theoretical]
• Description: An engine with the ability to travel faster than the speed of light.
• Closest modern technology:  Faster-Than-Light Travel
• Transporters [Status: Infancy/Theoretical]
• Description: Converting matter into energy, moving it to a new location, and reassembling it.
• Closest modern technology: Quantum Teleportation
• Shields (aka force fields) [Status: Infancy/Theoretical]
• Description: An energy barrier for protecting equipment and personnel.
• Closest modern technology: Plasma window
• Cloaking device [Status: Infancy]
• Description: The ability to render an object invisible to optical and electromagnetic spectrum.
• Closest modern technology: Metamaterial or Active camouflage
• Holodeck [Status: Infancy]
• Description: An enclosed room that used a mix of 3D holographic images and force fields to create an immersive virtual-reality experience, which included sounds and smells.
• Closest modern technology: Virtual Reality
• Phasers [Status: Infancy/Practical]
• Description: A direct energy weapon using a concentrated beam.
• Closest modern technology: Personnel Halting and Stimulation Response (PHASR)
• Replicator [Status: Infancy/Theoretical]
• Description: A machine capable of creating (and recycling) objects.
• Closest modern technology: 3D Printing
• Tractor Beam [Status: Theoretical]
• Description: An energy beam with the ability to attract one object to another from a distance.
• Closest modern technology: n/a
  
• Tricorder [Status: Infancy/Theoretical]
• Description: A portable scientific device with a detachable hand-held scanner.
• Closest modern technology:See the following real-life examples.
• Dilithium Crystals [Status: Doesn't Exist]
• Description: A fictional crystalline mineral that is used to regulate the anti-matter-powered warp drives that allow star-ships to travel faster than light.
• Closest modern technology: n/a
• Universal Translator [Status: Practical]
• Description: Converts one spoken language to another.
• Closest modern technology: Phraselator
• Scalpel-Free Surgery [Status: Infancy/Theoretical]
• Description: Noninvasive medical surgical techniques and protocols
• Closest modern technology: Bloodless Surgery
• Prosthetic Vision Attachment [Status: Infancy]
• Description:  a device used by the blind to artificially provide them with a sense of sight
• Closest modern technology:  VISOR (Visual Instrument and Sensory Organ Replacement)
• Communications Earpiece [Status: Practical]
• Description: A wireless earpiece used the ship's communications officer.
• Closest modern technology: Bluetooth Earpiece

Diminished Reality: Real Time Object Removal From Video

For an object to be remove from video, an enclosed loop is drawn around it. The software, works by first reducing the resolution of the object, removes the image (using a technique that's similar to the smudge tool in Photoshop), improves the result, then increases the resolution incrementally until this image is restored.

Multiple Apple iPad Killer Tablet Computers Loom

Channel Insider: "Apple has enjoyed nine months or so of a relatively uncrowded marketplace for tablet computers. The company’s iPad tablet computer has dominated for much of 2010 as consumers and business users have snapped up the iPad for both personal and business use. But Apple’s iPad has its limitations as well. What about cameras? And USB ports? Can this ARM-based machine really be considered seriously for business? Or do companies from SMBs to enterprises need something more – something that has actually been designed for business users and IT organizations. Indeed, some of these new tablets planned by computer vendors will be sold through the channel under the tighter control of IT. There’s no shortage of options for business that is looking to make its users more mobile and productive while they are on the go. IT organizations are recognizing that mobility is a growing trend. Now is the time to standardize on a tablet. Take a look. Here’s what’s coming on the business side for tablet computers."

Are you looking for a tablet computer? There are now several choices available for you to choose from.

So If you're looking for 'tablet tech' for the holidays, this article is a good place to start to see what is available.

Inside DHS' Classified Cyber Coordination Headquarters

InformationWeek reports: "The Department of Homeland Security recently brought its classified National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center down to an unclassified level for one day only, and InformationWeek Government was there to take photos. The facility looks and functions like a state-of-the-art network operations center and much more. The NCCIC, as it's called, is the locus of DHS-led inter-agency cybersecurity work in the federal government. That includes providing an integrated response to cyber threats against government networks, monitoring network sensors across the government and coordinating any requested government aid and response to cyber attacks against private industry networks like power plants or communications networks."

MovieReshape: Tracking and Reshaping of Humans in Videos

Here is how they can now 'Photoshop' movies. Below is the excerpt from video: "We present a system for quick and easy manipulation of the body shape and proportions of a human actor in arbitrary video footage. The approach is based on a morphable model of 3D human shape and pose that was learned from laser scans of real people. The algorithm commences by spatio-temporally fitting the pose and shape of this model to the actor in either single-view or multi-view video footage. Once the model has been fitted, semantically meaningful attributes of body shape, such as height, weight or waist girth, can be interactively modified by the user. The changed proportions of the virtual human model are then applied to the actor in all video frames by performing an image-based warping. By this means, we can now conveniently perform spatio-temporal reshaping of human actors in video footage which we show on a variety of video sequences."

Comcast to Protect Customer's Computers From Malware

NYTimes.com reports: "Comcast is expanding a test of a service that will monitor for signs of botnets, a particularly threatening form of malware that can invade its customer’s computers. It appears to be the first provider in the United States to do this.

The service, called Constant Guard, monitors traffic over its system anonymously, looking for activity that indicates the presence of a bot, without looking into individual hard drives."

It's good see that ISPs are now starting to take a more proactive approach to the botnet problem.

Google Experimental Self-driving Cars Logged 140K Miles

eWeek reports: "Google is using Toyota Priuses that drive themselves in an ambitious experiment to save peoples' lives, time and pare strain on the environment.

Google Oct. 9 said it has built technology to make cars drive themselves, an exercise to help reduce traffic accidents, free up motorists' time and ultimately curb carbon emissions."

Self-driving cars are nothing new. The DARPA Grand Challenge in 2005 was one of the earliest successful fully autonomous car type 'races' I have seen. Although there were more primitive fully autonomous cars that existed before that. Although, I consider the DARPA Grand Challenge a critical milestone in this field because of the complexity of the course.

Seven Years of Cool YouTube Video (2003-2010).

A compilation of some of the best YouTube videos from 2003 to 2010.

In order of appearance

• JumpTeigen (Bispen Flybys)
• James May + ASIMO
• Tom Lowe (Mountain Light)
• University of Pennsylvania (Quadrotor Flight)
• Guillaume Nery (Deans Blue Hole)
• PBS (Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air)
• Boston Dynamics (PETMAN Prototype)
• EngineeredArts (RoboThespian)
• NNSANews (Cooling Tower Demolition)
• funfunfunfunfunfive (A Space Suit Ahead of Its Time)
• ALMA Observatory (First move of antenna)
• NASA (Westar VI trapping)
• National Geographic (Frog Jumps Caught in Slow-Motion)
• HIPPO (Research Flight 03)
• DLR (Human-Robot Collision Study)
• NovacaineFix (Swimming Pool Earthquake)
• University of Alaska Fairbanks (Arctic methane)
• TED Talks (James Randi)
• Odissey (Kim Peek)
• Arkive (Last Tasmanian Tiger, 1933)
• Flyinglineman (Lineman bonding to helicopter)
• Wainwrightlab (Suction feeding by Petenia splendida)
• Sonicbomb (The Blitz)
• Richard Wiseman, Qurikology (Top 10 quirky science tricks)
• NASA (VTOL flights)
• Wired (Toucan Bill Regulates Body Temperature)
• Odissey (Caltech Fly Tests)
• National Geographioc (Volcano Lava)
• Kowch737 (Gemini Observatory)
• FirstAscent (The end of the Rainbow)
• Les Chavaliers du Ciel  
• Geoff Mackley (Most incredible volcano footage ever)
• NASA (Beautiful timelapse from the ISS)
• BBC (El Sótano de las Golondrinas)
• Luis Caldevilla (Tormenta en Madrid)
• NASA (Joseph Kittinger jump)

The Atomic Cannon, Largest Nuclear Artillery

The Atomic Cannon, at 280 mm, was the largest nuclear capable mobile artillery piece manufactured by the United States. On May 25, 1953, a 280 mm cannon fired an atomic projectile a distance of 7 miles at the Nevada Test Site. Twenty 280 mm cannons were manufactured. None were used in battle.

Dynamics Card 2.0 : The Future Of Credit Cards

Dynamics Credit Card 2.0 is the next logical step in personal banking. Half credit card, half futuristic gadget, the cards are as versatile as they are secure. You can tie multiple accounts to the same card or completely hide certain digits of your card number at the push of a button — buttons which are embedded in the card and are as thin as the card itself.

Macs Don`t Matter So Much to Apple Anymore: 10 Reasons Why

eWeek reports: "When Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak first started their company, they called it Apple Computer. It was a name that lived on through decades. But a few years ago, Apple officially dropped “Computer” from its name. And now, the company is known as, simply, Apple. Although some called the name change symbolic, today, it seems to be quite fitting. Apple is no longer a computer company that focuses its efforts on delivering the best machines users can buy. The company is now an electronics maker. And it wants to be the world’s top hardware maker going forward. But in order to achieve that goal, Apple has forgotten about Macs. And although those computers are still somewhat important to the company, they aren’t nearly as important to Steve Jobs and Company as they were years ago. Read on to find out why Macs don’t matter to Apple as much as they once did."

I wonder if this is true? Time will tell.

Google, Facebook Tout Serendipity Engines, Personalized Media

eWeek reports: "Google CEO Eric Schmidt touted autonomous search while Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg said the future of media will be personalized. The circle of machines is drawing closer.

One day after Google CEO Eric Schmidt touted autonomous search as a serendipity engine where information comes to users instead of tracking them down, Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg said the future of media will be personalized."

Mozilla Seabird Experiment Provides 3D Projection for Smartphone Interface

eWeek reports: "Mozilla Sept. 23 took the covers off Seabird, an experimental 'Open Web' mobile phone concept created by product designer and Mozilla Labs community developer Billy May. Here's Mozilla's teaser: 'Drawing on insights culled from the Mozilla community through the project's blog, a focus quickly developed around frustrating physical interactions. While mobile CPUs, connectivity and development platforms begin approaching that of desktops, the lagging ability to efficiently input information has grown ever more pronounced.' In other words, get ready to stop text input and leverage innovation around motion capture and projector software used by mobile phone makers such as HTC, Motorola and Samsung. Maybe text input won't completely go away yet, but these new technologies will help users more efficiently access small mobile devices by projecting keyboards and applications on a range of surfaces. In this slide show, eWEEK runs through Mozilla Seabird."

• Read about the project at http://www.MozillaLabs.com/seabird
• Designed by Billy May: http://www.Billy-May.com

Why CIOs Are Right to Worry About Security

CIO Insight reports: "Security continues to be one of the biggest issues facing CIOs today. Attacks come in via smartphones, E-mail, or the desktop, and there is a constant concern in the workplace that malicious hackers will compromise sensitive information. It would be nice to tell you that you shouldn’t worry. It would be nice to say that the threats enterprises face today aren’t as troublesome as those of years past. Providing such reassurance would mask the truth: enterprises face an inordinate number of threats that put entire operations at risk. Symantec’s MessageLabs Intelligence report for September 2010 illustrates that point. With spam, viruses, phishing scams, and malicious Web sites wreaking havoc on companies around the world, the latest report from the security solutions vendor shows that CIOs must do everything they can to try and stay ahead of malicious hackers. Read on to see some of the highlights from Symantec’s most recent security report, and learn about the issues you will face going forward."

Biggest insider threat? Sys admin gone rogue

NetworkWorld reports: "What's one of the biggest insider threats to the corporate network? The high-tech folks that put it together, make changes to it, and know more about what's on it and how it works than anybody else.

When the database, network or systems administrator goes rogue -- stealing data, setting up secret access for themselves, even in anger planting logic bombs to destroy data , or just peeking at sensitive information they know is off limits -- they become the very insider threat that the IT department is supposed to be guarding against."

Jesse Schell: Visions of the Gamepocalypse

This is one of the best talks I have heard about the future of gaming and how it will effect our lives. Even if you don't like games or play them, you might be surprised how they can potentially be integrated in to future products. Jesse Schell is very entertaining to watch, but the video is long (almost two hours).

Summary:
Games perpetually revolutionize computer use toward denser interaction with the human mind. To do that, they perpetually revolutionize themselves. Understanding the next frontiers of the genre is one way to understand where society is going.

In this talk Jesse Schell explores the social, cognitive, and technological trends in computer game design and use.

Jesse Schell is the CEO of Schell Games, the author of the authoritative text, The Art of Game Design: A book of lenses, and a Professor of Entertainment Technology at Carnegie Mellon, specializing in Game Design. At Walt Disney, he was Creative Director of the Imagineering VR Studio.

Google Searches for Staffing Answers

WSJ.com reports: "The Internet search giant recently began crunching data from employee reviews and promotion and pay histories in a mathematical formula Google says can identify which of its 20,000 employees are most likely to quit."

Its interesting and scary that anyone can make these assumptions based on data that was mined. Although, I am sure it has to include other internal company data sources (such as: emails, IMs, etc.). And I am pretty sure the software scans for keywords like "quit" or "hate", then arrogates them, and performs some statistical analysis.

Building a Flying RC Towel

Want to build you're own RC airplane from extra "stuff" you might have lying around (plus some other parts sold separately). Check out the "towel", here is an excerpt from the site: "The best way to build a Towel is to do it with Brooklyn Aerodrome. The process is for you to get the radio gear/plane parts and we provide a parts kit for $20. The Towel takes around 3 hours to build if you have help from someone who has all the tools/parts and knows how to make the parts. The plane flies well and easy to repair. It's major parts are the deck, the towel airframe and optional lighting for night flying."

Flying with the fastest birds on the planet: Peregrine Falcon & Gos Hawk...

Tiny spy cameras allow you to see some of the world's most magnificent birds in flight. Watch this video to learn how the fastest bird on the planet, the peregrine falcon, keeps control at mind-numbing speeds, and take a flight with the master of manoeuvrability, the Gos Hawk, as it flies through dense woodland.

Internet Scams and Phishing: A Look Inside the Business

eWeek reports: "From the fake IRS e-mails that hit in-boxes during tax season to the phony banking sites that look to trick users into entering sensitive information, phishers are still up to their old tricks. Just how much was underscored recently by a three-month investigation by Panda Security that found scammers are creating 57,000 fake Websites a week to exploit 375 popular brand names, such as eBay and Western Union."

Gymkhana: Ultimate Playground; l'Autodrome, France

Shot just south of Paris, France in Linas at l'Autodrome de Linas --Montlhéry, this 1.58 mile oval track, built in 1924, features banks as steep as 51 degrees, which is more than double the standard incline of most NASCAR ovals. Chosen by Ken for this specific reason, the ramp-like banking proved to be a unique and exciting challenge. The driving physics for the stunts performed were totally unknown until Ken attempted the maneuvers during filming.

Edison 2: Race for the $10 Million X Prize

Edison 2 uses the latest technology to make a fast, lightweight vehicle. Here's a look at the car on the track at the X Prize competition. Learn more about the X Prize and alternative-fuel vehicles on Consumer Reports's website

Superbus First Ride - 17 Sep 2010

Wubbo Ockels , inventor, made the first ride of the Superbus Vehicle designed by Antonia Terzi. Superbus drives 250 km/h on a special track and drives also on hignways and secondary roads. The propulsion is electric. Superbus is and innovative new pubic transport and a project of the Delft University of Technology.

Criminals 'go cloud' with attacks-as-a-service

InfoWorld reports: "Just like legitimate businesses, criminals are turning to the cloud as a way to generate new services and simplify their infrastructure. While some sites offer botnets for lease or sale, and other sites offer aid with cheating on games, the latest crop of criminal enterprises is serving up attacks as a service."

It is interesting to see how "cloud" based technologies are now being used. Everyone seem to be getting into the game, including criminals.

I heard a new acronym today, its called AaaS (Attacks as a Service) in reference to the article above.

Object-Oriented Storage: 14 Things You May Not Know

eWeek reports: "Reducing storage costs is becoming a high agenda item for IT organizations, yet data and efficient access to it is an organization's most valuable asset. Struggling with the performance, scalability and management complexity required to maintain conventional file-based storage systems is a losing battle if data needs to be stored more than 90 days. One way to approach this is to use an object-oriented storage system, which simplifies the process. Object-oriented storage differs from unstructured file storage in that the objects filed are not housed in volumes or attached to a directory. Objects are simply assigned an ID number or name with detailed metadata and can be retrieved at any time."

I wonder if this might be the next generation of mass storage. It sounds like it has several advantages according to the slide-show, but what I would like to know are the disadvantages to this technology. That is what I am trying to research now.

If you want more information on this technology, check out the following resources:

• Caringo's CAStor YouTube Channel - Includes video demos of the technology
• Caringo's web site

TerraPower’s Travelling Wave Reactor – why not use an IFR?

BraveNewClimate reports: "There has been a lot of hype recently about the “Travelling Wave Reactor” (TWR), thanks largely to a very popular TED talk given recently by none other than Microsoft founder and multi-billionaire Bill Gates. In the 20 min talk, he describes the urgent need for cheap, abundant, low-CO2 energy, if we are to successfully mitigate climate change (a problem he takes very seriously). One key focus of Gates’ talk is nuclear power… new nukes."

A very interesting article comparing TWR and IFR (Integral Fast Reactor) technologies.

Bank robber hires decoys on Craigslist, fools cops

CNET News reports: "In an elaborate robbery scheme that's one part The Thomas Crowne Affair and one part Pineapple Express, a crook robbed an armored truck outside a Bank of America branch in Monroe, Wash., by hiring decoys through Craigslist to deter authorities."

The Rockfish

A futurist SCI-FI story about a man and his little buddy fishing for a rockfish on an alien planet.

Oktapodi (Animated Short Film)

Oktapodi from oscardodo on Vimeo.

Epic failures: 11 infamous software bugs

Computerworld reports: "It all began with a log entry from 1947 by Harvard University's Mark II technical team. The now-classic entry features a moth taped to the page, time-stamped 15:45, with the caption 'Relay #70 Panel F (moth) in relay' and the proud boast, 'First actual case of bug being found.'"

It's a really good article, and provides more information then I have seen anyone write on the subject. It's technical, but worth reading.

Next Generation User Interfaces (From Switches to Augmented Reality)

Its interesting how the computer user interface has evolved over the decades. Here is a very brief history: First there was nothing more then switches and light and you had to enter and read information in binary, this evolved to punch cards and tape, later keyboards and printers, and eventually terminals with keyboard and monitors. For decades, the text user interface was the status-quo.

In the 1960s, Doug Engelbart introduced the concept of the mouse and graphical user interface (GUI). In the 1970s - 1980s, Xerox took the concept and made it a reality. In the 1980s Apple popularize the GUI with the Lisa and Macintosh lines of computers. Then again for decades, the graphical user interface was the status-quo.

In the 1980's Jaron Lanier, introduced the 'virtual reality' (VR) concept. The first generation of this technology was crude by today's standards, but advanced drastically since.  I remember seeing some early VR prototypes of future GUI in the 1990s, and being blown away about the concepts.

In 1993, Apple released an early natural speech recognition feature as part of their OS for the Quadra.  Microsoft first included this feature with their release of the Windows Vista OS.

Touch screens are passe, but when this technology is enhanced by advancements like a 'multi-touch gestures' interface.  Then combined with other technology advancements, you get a GUI that begins to become on-par with some of the user interface concepts introduced in the movie 2002 movie Minority report (excerpt of the scenes I am referring to).  Microsoft now includes a 'multi-touch gestures' interface feature as part of the Windows 7 OS.

In 2006, Nintendo introduced the 3D wireless controllers.  In 2007 Apple introduced the iPhone, and popularize the multi-touch gestures interface for this device.  In 2009, Yelp help popularize the augmented reality concept (computer generated information laid over real world video), by introducing an Easter egg on the iPhone called Monocle. 

In 2009 Microsoft introduced Project Natal, now called 'Kinect' (proof of concept video).  In 2009 at TEDIndia, Pranav Mistry demoed technology concepts from a company called SixthSense, that shows how they are overlaying computer data on the physical world and making it interactive.  In 2010,  Intel is also working on hard on advancing the user interface, see the following article.

From here you begin to see other emerging technologies, like camspace which is a computer vision platform.  Basically it allows you use a web cam, and just about any real world object as a game controller (or input device).

All the technologies I mentioned above might seem little disjointed in how I presented them, although the all share a few things in common.  All of them are popularized concepts based around advancements in user interface technologies.

As mobile devices become more powerful, and get more features (such as the motion sensor and gyroscope already built into the iPhone 4).  I personally believe that software developers will build on these features and concepts, to bring about next generation user interface enhancements that I believe will include location aware social networking concepts (such as Gowalla and foursquare, and now Facebook Places), augmented reality, object and speech recognition.

From a technological standpoint, I don't see developers limited by hardware anymore. I see greatest the limitation, is the imagination needed to integrate all these technologies together into a killer application that gains mass adaption.  Although, with all these advancements comes greater concern about privacy and security.  I hope these issues will be addressed before they become a problem.

FCC White Space Plan Isn't Exactly WiFi on Steroids

eWeek reports: "The announcement that the Federal Communications Commission was prepared to approve unlicensed digital operations in slices of frequency spectrum occupied by television guard bands is being greeted eagerly by many, including Google and Microsoft."

One of the best articles I have read on the subject. It has a great technical explanation on how the technology works.

Chris Anderson: How web video powers global innovation

TED's Chris Anderson says the rise of web video is driving a worldwide phenomenon he calls Crowd Accelerated Innovation -- a self-fueling cycle of learning that could be as significant as the invention of print. But to tap into its power, organizations will need to embrace radical openness.

Resources for Find a New Job

If you're trying to find a job in today's market you have to be as savvy as you can.  You have to do more then post your resume on a few job boards, you have to create a "personal brand" to distinguish yourself from the other available candidates.

There are a lot of free tools and resources out there to help you write a resume, research a company, get interview tips, and a great deal more.  Below are links to videos, articles, web sites and other tools that I have found that can help you in your job search.

• General Tips
• Network with everyone you know and let them know you're looking.
• If you don't know anyone to talk to try finding recruiters in your field.
• Leverage social networking site (Linkedin, and Twitter) tools to help you find a job.
• Use them to build a personal brand and find jobs
• Make sure you're resume is perfect.
• Have several people review it.
• Make sure your resume contains relevant keywords to help it get found.
  
• Post your resume on the job boards (such as: Monster, Dice, etc.)
• Search the job boards for positions, also target specific companies that you want to work for and search their job postings.
• Research a company before you interview.
• Use the Google, and the companies web site.
• Be ready with questions to ask about the company/job that you're applying for.
• Dress appropriately for the job interview.
• Avoid wearing any fragrances (like cologne or perfume).
• Some people may be allergic to them.
• Be to the interview about 10-15 minutes ahead of time
• Plan for traffic and know the route.
• Have a list of references ready.
• Send out a thank you letter after a personal interview.
• Articles
• 10 Tips for an Online Job Search
• Videos
• Using Twitter to Find a Job
• Using Linkedin - Free vs. Premium Service
• Web Sites
• Job Search Engines
• Monster
• General job search engine.
• Indeed
• General job search engine.
• Dice
• Technology professional job search engine
• Craigslist
• Some large and small companies do post jobs here
• USAJobs.gov
• Government job search engine.
• Job Social Network Sites
• Linkedin
• Professional/business social networking site.  Keep your resume up-to-date on this site and join groups.  Also do what you can find to build your network.
• Twitter
• General purpose social networking site. It can be a great resource if leveraged correctly.
• Job Search Resources
• Dice.com's Career News and Advice section
• Monster.com's Career Advice section
• Tools
• JibberJobber.com 
• This site allows you organizer your job search prospects and contacts.
• VisualCV 
• Create professional looking resume that people can view online.  If you don't have you're own web site to help brand yourself, this might be a good solution for you.

Google at 12: 10 IT Lessons the Search Engine Giant Has Taught Us

eWeek reports: "Google is now 12-years-old and over that period, the search engine company has taught the tech space quite a bit about what Google is all about."

Midichlorian Rhapsody

Star Wars themed parody of Bohemian Rhapsody.

The Solo Adventures 3D

This fan film explains the story behind Han Solo ditching the cargo that caused Jabba to put a bounty on him.

Note: 3D glasses are required to view it all of its glory.

JibberJobber.com - Job Search Organizer

Are you looking for a job, and getting overwhelmed with all the contact information from talking to the different people in your job search? JibberJobber.com promotes itself as a Job Search Tool, Personal Relationship Manager, and a Job Search Organizer. Watch the video below to get more information.

Apple TV vs. Google TV: How do they differ?

digitaltrends.com reports: "The smartphone brawl between Apple and Google just crashed through a fence and onto your television set. But is Apple TV vs. Google TV a fair fight? Here’s why Apple TV and Google TV are significantly different approaches to digital entertainment."

10 Tips for an Online Job Search

Baseline magazine reports: "Searching for a job, but don’t know where to begin? Need specific advice for Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter? Check out these ideas from the book The Online Job Search Survival Guide, by Sherrie A. Madia, Ph.D., director of communications at The Wharton School, and Paul Borgese, a managing partner at strategy and marketing company EyeCatcher Digital. Noting that 75% of companies expect recruiters to do online research on job candidates, the authors stress the importance of keeping your own online presence clean and current, and of finding ways to make yourself visible and attractive to the right people. A key is what Madia calls “reverse-engineering” the job search. “Rather than sending resumes en masse, social networking enables job seekers to plant content seeds strategically in places where human resources will likely be. Establish yourself as a thought leader, and give your expertise freely.” Using social media effectively also develops and showcases your marketable communication skills and online savvy."

Its a slide show of about 18 slides giving you some basic social networking job tips. It tells you how you can use Twitter, Facebook, and Linkenin to find a new job.

Article: Google TV on Track for Fall, Schmidt Says - Web Services Web 20 and SOA

eWeek reports: "Google TV is an ambitious effort to let users turn their televisions into computers. The service, based on Google's Android operating system, will let users navigate between channels, Websites and Web applications through Google's Chrome Web browser.

Schmidt, speaking at the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin Sept. 7, said the service will soak up consumers' time in the evening. He also said the service will launch worldwide in 2011."

Bill Gates: The End of Textbooks as We Know Them

I totally agree with a lot of what Bill Gates has to say in this video about text books. I think having electronic text books that can help you do self-assessments tests to make sure you understand the material is absolutely genius. Most modern ebook readers all they do is take a real world experience and digitize it.

Putting some intelligence in to these ebook, can expand the experience and make it more interactive. That is one way to take this technology to the next level. Personally what I would like to see in the next generation ebooks, is embedded media (i.e.: video, hyperlinks, maybe even flash), self-assessments test, and an open portable standard to move books between reader and platforms.

The fact that there is no open portable standard that allows this I see as a hindrance to mass adaption because most publishers and consumers don't want to lock themselves into a proprietary technology. I also believe that this standard should include some type of open DRM (which is copy-protection) standard to help the publishers to want to adapt it.

Finding a Technology Job (Tip #2): Using Twitter to Find a Job

If you're a technology worker who is looking for employment. You might find that you now have to leverage social networking sites like Twitter as part of your job search.

Although, you may ask yourself "how to do it effectively?" Here is a video with some great tips on how to use Twitter in your job search.



Please note, this blog post is not an endorsement of the business or its services that created the video. The video creator is responsible for all its content. It is being reposted for educational purposes in order to assist people in their job search.

Finding a Technology Job (Tip #1): Using Linkedin - Free vs. Premium Service

If you're a technology worker who is looking for employment. You might find that you now have to leverage social networking sites like Linkedin as part of your job search. Although, you may ask yourself "how to do it effectively?"

Here is a video with some great tips on how to use Linkedin to find a new job. For more information about the person who created this video and some more information on the techniques discussed in it, see the following web site.

Video title: Getting LinkedIn Premium Paid Account for FREE ($600 Value)


Please note, this blog post is not an endorsement of the business or its services that created the video. The video creator is responsible for all its content. It is being reposted for educational purposes in order to assist people in their job search.

Researchers Find Quantum Encryption Hack

eWeek reports: "A team of researchers has uncovered a new way to crack the security of quantum cryptography (using bright light)." Read the rest of the article.

2012 may bring the "perfect storm" - solar flares, systems collapse

The Seattle Examiner reports: "Long scorned as “mysticism” and “parascience,” concern about the year 2012 has now surfaced in a mainstream NASA report on the potential impacts on human society of solar flares anticipated to peak in 2012." Read the rest of the article.

Peter Molyneux demos Milo, the virtual boy

Peter Molyneux demos Milo, a hotly anticipated video game for Microsoft's Kinect controller. Perceptive and impressionable like a real 11-year-old, the virtual boy watches, listens and learns -- recognizing and responding to you.

2 stage cluster water rocket to 810' (246m)

OW2.0:Plastic to Oil Fantastic

From the video description: "The Japanese company Blest has developed one of the smallest and safest oil-to-plastic conversion machines out on the market today. It's founder and CEO, Akinori Ito is passionate about using this machine to change the way people around the world think about their plastic trash. From solving our landfill and garbage disposal issues to reducing our oil dependancy on the Middle East, his machine may one day be in every household across Japan.

While holding up a bag of trash, he states, "It's a waste to throw away, isn't it? This is a treasure.""

Prototype Solar Roadways

The Solar Roadways project is working to pave roads with solar panels that you can drive on. Co-founder Scott Brusaw has made some major steps forward since our first visit back in 2007, so we visited him again earlier this year for an exclusive update on the project, including the first ever video recorded of the Solar Roadways prototype! For more information visit http://www.solarroadways.com . This Solar Roadway project will be featured in the upcoming feature film by YERT - Your Environmental Road Trip. To learn more about YERT, visit http://yert.com.

Super Slow Motion

Filmed using a Photron SA1.1 high-speed camera. This camera is able to record 5,000 fps (frames per second) at high resolution and 650,000 fps in low resolution.

Star Trek: How It Should Have Ended

Space...the Final Frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise, and this is how Star Trek should have ended!

Space Saving Transformable Furniture from CLEI (Italy)

Butterflies: Science On The Wing

What do butterflies, fiber optics and gyroids have in common. Its hard to explain, but it has the potential to makes better fiber optics cable. Listen to this except from an NPR podcast.

Toshiba libretto W100

Features of the Toshiba libretto W100:

• Run Windows 7 Home Premium
• Dual 7” diagonal multi-touch screens
• Weighs under two pounds
• Wireless-N and Bluetooth® v2.1
• Webcam

Six Easy Steps to Avert the Collapse of Civilization

Fora.TV Summary"Neuroscientist and fiction writer David Eagleman presents "Six Steps to Avert the Collapse of Civilization." Civilizations always think they're immortal, Eagleman says, but they nearly always perish, leaving "nothing but ruins and scattered genetics." It takes luck and new technology to survive. We may be particularly lucky to have Internet technology to help manage the six requirements of a durable civilization"

Margaret Gould Stewart: How YouTube thinks about copyright

Margaret Gould Stewart, YouTube's head of user experience, talks about how the ubiquitous video site works with copyright holders and creators to foster (at the best of times) a creative ecosystem where everybody wins.

Adam Walden: The Evolution of Gaming

TedTalk: William Li: Can we eat to starve cancer?

From TED.com: "William Li presents a new way to think about treating cancer and other diseases: anti-angiogenesis, preventing the growth of blood vessels that feed a tumor. The crucial first (and best) step: Eating cancer-fighting foods that cut off the supply lines and beat cancer at its own game."

John Underkoffler points to the future of UI

Minority Report science adviser and inventor John Underkoffler demos g-speak -- the real-life version of the film's eye-popping, tai chi-meets-cyberspace computer interface. Is this how tomorrow's computers will be controlled?

Iron Baby (Iron Man Parody)

AVP Redemption (Fan Film Alien vs. Predator)

AVP:Redemption fan film made by me Alex A. Popov for the purpose of entertaining the fans of both , Alien and Predator franchises, and also to share my vision of what Alien VS Predator film should be. The total budget for this film was about $500 and over 2 years

Tesla Coils - Arc Attack - Doctor Who Theme Song (Makers Faire 2010 - San Mateo)

ArcAttack employs a unique DJ set up of their own creation to generate an 'electrifying' audio visual performance. The HVDJ pumps music through a PA system while two specially designed DRSSTC's (Dual-Resonant Solid State Tesla Coils) act as separate synchronized instruments. These high tech machines produce an electrical arc similar to a continuous lightning bolt and put out a crisply distorted square wave sound reminiscent of the early days of synthesizers

LOST Re-enacted by Cats in 1 Minute.

Fly...

Its a pretty funny video if you like slapstick.

Social Media Revolution 2 (Refresh)

About the video: "Social Media Revolution 2 is a refresh of the original video with new and updated social media & mobile statistics that are hard to ignore. Based on the book Socialnomics by Erik Qualman."

This video is nothing more then a social marketing tool itself, and I just another voice that is perpetuating it. Although if I didn't find it interesting, I would not post it. I am pretty sure that the statistics in it are inflated, but overall I still think it makes valid points even if they are sensationalized.

Article: The Geek Alphabet

"As a geek, you definitely know your ABCs, but do you know these? From A to Z, “away team” to “zork,” here is [GAS]’s take on the Geek Alphabet." (article)

This is pretty funny from a geek's prospective.

The Monkey Business Illusion

The Monkey Business Illusion by Daniel Simons. This video was one of the 10 finalists for the Best Illusion of the Year competition in May 2010. It was created as part of an undergraduate seminar course in the spring of 2009.

Only True Networking Geeks Will Get This...

Copy Machines, a Security Risk?

Since 2002 almost every copier now contains a hard drive, which stores a copy of every document the machine scans, prints, copies, or faxes. I don't believe that most people are aware of the significant security risks posed by modern office copiers.

Winscape virtual windows are cheaper than relocating [Video]

SlashGear reports: "Look out of your window: does what you see make you happy? If not, and if you’ve $2,500 to $3,000 to spare, Winscape have the solution. They take two 46-inch Full HD plasma HDTVs, dress them up to look like windows, and then using a hacked Wiimote controller and some nifty software have the on-screen virtual view follow you around as if you really are looking out a real window. Step to the left and you can see more of the vista previously hidden by the frame; step closer and everything gets bigger." (article)

I want one of these.

America's Broadband Policy

On April 12, 2010 Lawrence Lessig gave a talk at SNW 2010 about broadband, cybersecurity, and copyright policy, and the corruption in the policy making process affecting each. Hear/watch the pressenation.

The new $100 Note Unveiling Video

On April 21, 2010 Officials from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, unveiled the new design for the $100 note. Complete with advanced technology to combat counterfeiting, while still retaining the traditional look of U.S. currency.

Tenth Doctor: The Musical

The Raven

Summary: Chris Black possesses a power that could lead to the destruction of the current regime, and they will stop at nothing to destroy him.

PIXELS by Patrick Jean

New York invasion by 8-bits creatures!

OMG Cat - It's the iPad!

Will It Blend? - iPad

I like these "Will it Blend". They're irreverent towards the product, but fascinating to watch (kind of like an accident on the side of the road).

TRON 1982 Trailer (Updated)

Halo Movie Series - Bollywood Trailer (April Fools)

Trololo Cat

DIY: In-car Entertainment System for $30

I love things that allow you to leverage existing products you already own in new ways. The CradleVue is a device designed to securely suspend your notebook computer between the front seats of your vehicle, positioning it for unobstructed backseat viewing.

Personally I don't see myself spending an extra few thousand bucks to add an in-car entertainment systems to any new car I want to buy. But I have taken a long trip with my son across country and I would have loved to have one of these with me.

Article: Facebook Surpasses Google Search as Most Visited Web Site

Channel Insider reports: "Facebook's new lead over Google search points to the undeniable influence of social networking."

This is pretty amazing to see this happen. I am guessing Google and many other companies are probably very concern for several reasons (marketing, information distribution, and more).

Three Questions for Polly Pearson, VP at EMC

Dice.com reports: "Polly Pearson, vice president of employment brand and strategy engagement at EMC, understands that all too well. She has worked closely with executives there to help build the company's employment brand, and writes extensively on her blog about what you can do to build your own reputation, stay relevant, and make yourself more attractive to employers"

If you're looking for an IT related job, I would suggest watching these videos they contain good information about how to promote yourself. In the past you only had to post your resume, now you have to do a lot more.

(Back to) The Future of Communication

Here is a video I found online recently, it dated back to June 2007. Its amazing how outdated the predictions were off (I know most of these were never serious), but there is an essences of truth in a few of them.

Skinput: Appropriating the Body as an Input Surface

I have been seeing a lot of buzz recently about Skinput (watch the video if you want to understand it), but basically it sensors that listen for acoustic transmission from gestures (i.e.: tapping, snapping, etc.) you can make on your arm. From this information, you can navigate portable electronic devices (such as: smart phone/PDA, MP3 player, etc).

This technology is similar, but totally different from another technology from SixthSense. see the following TED Talk for more information.