I want bionic eyes so bad I can taste it.......or maybe see it would be more appropriate. The idea of features like zoom capability, low light vision, thermal vision, ultraviolet vision, and many more, I could go on and on. Who wouldn't want these options? It's the better eye, EYE 2.0 (that's for Laz) The ability to see the vast layers of the visual spectrum that we are currently blind to without the help of equipment. Sounds like the beginnings of super powers to me. But will it happen? I don't think so.
Bionics or Cybernetics or Prosthetic or artificial body parts if you prefer, have made huge strides in the last few years. The seemingly latest and greatest in robotic arms comes from Segway inventor Dean Kamen. This arm is worlds ahead of the metal hook that seems to grace the shoulders of most amputees. And artificial legs have been even more impressive recently. So as is the case with all technology, these fantastic first steps should keep getting better and better. I bet in five years, they are more efficient and vastly more affordable. But at the end of the day, they both have the same problem, they are technology.
Let's be clear, I love technology. There are few things in life more exciting or facinating. This is even before the robotic girlfriends start rolling off the shelves. So why do I think technology as part of the human body is a problem? Well in the case of these prosthetic limbs, there are two huge issues, power and durability.
Like all machines, they need juice. Now I love the idea of a cold fusion reactor in my robo limbs, with a half-life of ten thousand years, but I think we are a few decades off on that. These limbs will have a limited battery of some kind that needs recharging. They will also occasionally have software glitches and mechanical breakdowns. We can build them stronger and more reliable over time. But every machine breaks down. For a mechanical leg this means you fall over, or hit the wrong car pedal, or kick your annoying neighbor. Something to that effect. There is a potential for very serious harm to yourself or others, but probably avoidable in most instances. Now lets think about eyes. If you have two mechanical eyes, when there is a software glitch, you could go blind. Obviously this can be a much more severe problem. Not to mention, the smaller storage area for batteries and computer chips. Every year we make batteries better and computer chips smaller. I have no doubt we can get the technology to the right size and reliability eventually. I even think we will perfect the brain-technology communication barrier making the eyes, arms, legs, and everything else mechanical, receive information and transmit information directly to our brain.
So what is the problem you ask if I see all these immediate hurdles being overcome? Well its simple, time is working against us. I think making artificial limbs and eyes "just as good" or better than the real thing is years, perhaps decades, away. Before we reach that hurdle, it seems way more likely that we will master stem cells and start regrowing missing parts. Guess what communicates perfectly with the brain, never needs a battery recharge, and aside from a severe physical trauma, works for the life of the product? Your natural eyes.
Robo limbs are great, but I bet if you polled every amputee you could find, they would overwhelmingly prefer to have their own arm back. This day is not far away. Humans regenerate in the womb. Most people are unaware of that, but its true. The abundance of unspecified stem cells means that anything the body needs, it has the raw material to create. As we age our body starts giving cells specific functions and they lose their universal abilities. So every day while we advance in genetic research and DNA manipulation, we are perfecting the art of turning back-on the regeneration. This day is already here is many laboratories. We should start seeing the benefits in the real world very very soon.
So my bionic eyes will probably be late to the party. But don't lose all hope just yet. There are many creatures in the animal kingdom with visual capabilities that we do not possess. Maybe we will get our biological zoom lense or perfect night vision anyway. It will just arrive via some awesome genetic manipulation. No fancy machines, just biological enhancement. Ah, I can see the crime fighting super power possibilities already. I just wonder if it will cost less than six million dollars?
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Self-Healing Materials
You read that right. Self-Healing Materials is the science of materials that will self repair. June 28th thru July 1st is the second international conference on Self-Healing Materials. That means we already missed one, wow. Let's take a moment to think about how cool this prospect truly is.
Your outside playing football with your friends. After a particularly brutal tackle, you rip a hole in your jeans. Of course, you play on. At the end of the day you throw your jeans into your laundry bin. A few days later, when it's time to do the wash, you pull out the jeans to find that the hole has repaired itself. Oh yeah, that's were we are heading.(this is me ignoring the potentially unbreakable nano materials and cloths that might show up and ruin the fun of tearing your jeans)
They already had a huge breakthru in self repairing concrete. Unlike traditional concrete, this version only takes damage in the form of microscopic cracks. These cracks are so small, that when water and air hit the exposed internal portion of the concrete, the cracks are filled in via calcium carbonate. Thereby returning the concrete to almost, if not exactly, as strong as it was before the fracture. Think of all the money that will be saved on road and sidewalk repairs. Instead of hiring expensive work crews and causing huge traffic jams, you just hose it down every once in a while. Or just let the rain do the work. In Los Angeles, the desert I live in, we will need a sprinkler system for our highways.
So what you say? Who cares about self repairing jeans and sidewalks? A fair question. But let me ask you this. How do you feel about those little nicks and dents in your car? I know they piss me off. Or a scratch in the paint? So annoying. What if you just had to wait a few weeks or even days, and the dents and scratches would disappear? I don't know about you, but that would make me happy. Those rocks that like to crack your windshield. So long vision distortion lines. Also, this could potentially lower the price of auto insurance in this country. To heck with paying those deductibles. Just add water.
The possibilities are endless.
Tree branch fell on your house.....it'll heal.
I dropped and dented my cell phone....give it a week.
I lost my arm in a shredder....that will heal too, but that's another technology.
The idea of self repairing, almost biological materials, is fascinating. Just think about how you would respond to your neighbor next time they comment on your cracked driveway. "Your right Jim, I guess it needs a little water."
The Future, coming soon to a planet near you.
Your outside playing football with your friends. After a particularly brutal tackle, you rip a hole in your jeans. Of course, you play on. At the end of the day you throw your jeans into your laundry bin. A few days later, when it's time to do the wash, you pull out the jeans to find that the hole has repaired itself. Oh yeah, that's were we are heading.(this is me ignoring the potentially unbreakable nano materials and cloths that might show up and ruin the fun of tearing your jeans)
They already had a huge breakthru in self repairing concrete. Unlike traditional concrete, this version only takes damage in the form of microscopic cracks. These cracks are so small, that when water and air hit the exposed internal portion of the concrete, the cracks are filled in via calcium carbonate. Thereby returning the concrete to almost, if not exactly, as strong as it was before the fracture. Think of all the money that will be saved on road and sidewalk repairs. Instead of hiring expensive work crews and causing huge traffic jams, you just hose it down every once in a while. Or just let the rain do the work. In Los Angeles, the desert I live in, we will need a sprinkler system for our highways.
So what you say? Who cares about self repairing jeans and sidewalks? A fair question. But let me ask you this. How do you feel about those little nicks and dents in your car? I know they piss me off. Or a scratch in the paint? So annoying. What if you just had to wait a few weeks or even days, and the dents and scratches would disappear? I don't know about you, but that would make me happy. Those rocks that like to crack your windshield. So long vision distortion lines. Also, this could potentially lower the price of auto insurance in this country. To heck with paying those deductibles. Just add water.
The possibilities are endless.
Tree branch fell on your house.....it'll heal.
I dropped and dented my cell phone....give it a week.
I lost my arm in a shredder....that will heal too, but that's another technology.
The idea of self repairing, almost biological materials, is fascinating. Just think about how you would respond to your neighbor next time they comment on your cracked driveway. "Your right Jim, I guess it needs a little water."
The Future, coming soon to a planet near you.
Monday, April 20, 2009
High Speed Trains
So a couple of days ago President Obama reiterated the countries need for High Speed Trains. I would love to have some high speed trains in this country. Well, besides the sad one from Boston to DC. Something that zips from coast to coast. Anything to avoid getting on another airplane. While I think the future of high speed trains will eventually progress on to maglev technology, it seems that the near future will be in electric bullet trains. Both eco friendly and fast. Trains have one huge flaw in our current system however, they are used like a Metro system.
In order for us to get the most out of our high speed trains, two things need to happen. First, we need to start using trains like airplanes. I don't mean making them fly, although maglev sort of does that. I mean limiting their stops. When you fly from New York to DC, your flight doesn't land in Scranton, and then in Pittsburgh, and then in Baltimore, before reaching DC. Because that would be insane, and waste a crap load of time. It goes directly from NY to DC. Trains need to have less stops. If it has to slow down every few miles to pick people up, it won't matter how fast it is, because it won't have time to reach those speeds. This is where trains and metros need to work together.
Every major city does, and or should, have a metro system. A subway system to get people about the metropolitan area. This system should be used to gather everyone from all over the origin city. Then have one stop for the high speed rail station. Then, everybody gets on the train, at one single stop, and it goes until the next major city. Guess what happens at the next major city? Same thing. So now a train can travel across the country stopping as few as a dozen total times. That means way more time maintaining speeds of 300mph (482kph) or faster. Suddenly your travel times between Los Angeles and DC are in the 8 hour range. Much more competitive with planes. But there is a second crucial step to this project, new track.
Are most of you aware that the majority of the train tracks in this country were laid out in the 1800s? Yes kids, some of those tracks have been there for over a hundred years. Even if we assume they are well maintained and replaced when needed, there is still the problem of 1800's direction sense. I can't blame them completely. If all I had was some dynamite and a pick ax, I would probably go around obstacles more often then I would go thru or over them. As such, our rail system makes many turns and curves that hinder high speed movement. So we need some new tracks. And frankly, as much as we all love stopping for a train, this track should be in a tunnel or over bridges. Trains going that fast should not be coming too close to cars. People are just stupid enough to get in the way.
So we get new track and minimize the stops. Run express trains in the early morning and trains that stop more frequently after. I am sure some out of work mathematician could figure out the optimal pattern.
Now hurry it up. I am damn tired of flying and dealing with security. Lets just hope the TSA isn't in charge of safeguarding our trains.
In order for us to get the most out of our high speed trains, two things need to happen. First, we need to start using trains like airplanes. I don't mean making them fly, although maglev sort of does that. I mean limiting their stops. When you fly from New York to DC, your flight doesn't land in Scranton, and then in Pittsburgh, and then in Baltimore, before reaching DC. Because that would be insane, and waste a crap load of time. It goes directly from NY to DC. Trains need to have less stops. If it has to slow down every few miles to pick people up, it won't matter how fast it is, because it won't have time to reach those speeds. This is where trains and metros need to work together.
Every major city does, and or should, have a metro system. A subway system to get people about the metropolitan area. This system should be used to gather everyone from all over the origin city. Then have one stop for the high speed rail station. Then, everybody gets on the train, at one single stop, and it goes until the next major city. Guess what happens at the next major city? Same thing. So now a train can travel across the country stopping as few as a dozen total times. That means way more time maintaining speeds of 300mph (482kph) or faster. Suddenly your travel times between Los Angeles and DC are in the 8 hour range. Much more competitive with planes. But there is a second crucial step to this project, new track.
Are most of you aware that the majority of the train tracks in this country were laid out in the 1800s? Yes kids, some of those tracks have been there for over a hundred years. Even if we assume they are well maintained and replaced when needed, there is still the problem of 1800's direction sense. I can't blame them completely. If all I had was some dynamite and a pick ax, I would probably go around obstacles more often then I would go thru or over them. As such, our rail system makes many turns and curves that hinder high speed movement. So we need some new tracks. And frankly, as much as we all love stopping for a train, this track should be in a tunnel or over bridges. Trains going that fast should not be coming too close to cars. People are just stupid enough to get in the way.
So we get new track and minimize the stops. Run express trains in the early morning and trains that stop more frequently after. I am sure some out of work mathematician could figure out the optimal pattern.
Now hurry it up. I am damn tired of flying and dealing with security. Lets just hope the TSA isn't in charge of safeguarding our trains.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Saving Newspaper
Okay, let us start with what should be obvious, newspaper is dead. It is the most inefficient means of getting information that I can think of. That includes your neighbor yelling down the street by the way. At least the yelling neighbors will be current. Your newspaper consists of stories which were written, edited, and printed hours before it shows up on your door. Maybe hours doesn't seem like much time to you, but if you happened to look at a calendar lately, you would realize it's 2009. In the information age, hours can be a lifetime. It's just like translating human years to dog years, only you have to put www in front of it.
So let's talk about why people are stuck on newspapers and the saving of this archaic industry. The biggest reason I can find is that to an older generation, newspaper is your information comfort food. It's that simple. It feels like an old friend. I can understand that. We all like the comfort of things we have grown accustomed too. But enough is enough. It's time to let efficiency take over and make your lives easier. This started with the invention of the television.
For decades now, more and more people have strayed from their newspaper reading ways into the wonderful world of TV news. When I say wonderful, I mean the exact opposite of wonderful. TV news is up to date (mostly), simple enough for even the laziest American to receive (press power on remote without leaving couch), and covers all the topics you care about (this fact truly scares me). So what's the problem? The two provide a slightly different type of news.
A newspaper has long, relatively well thought out, complete stories. They are normally so complex that they require you to flip to a completely random page to finish them (stupidest thing ever. I got your cover story). Whereas the TV gives me snazzy looking anchors, with pearly white teeth, reading off of cue cards and almost convincing me that they have any idea what they are saying. It's way easier than that pesky reading thing we all heard about in school. So as newspapers have declined over the years, TV new channels seemed to multiply on a daily basis. That was until recently, when we got this new fangled thingamajig they call the internet.
The internet, that funny matrix that is letting me run my mouth right now, provided a ton of content, some of it well written like a newspaper article, but instantly updated and available 24/7. Unfortunately, the majority of it is written in what I like to call, Bobby English. That would be the English language I learned by drawing cartoon characters in my notebook and staring at Monica Odell during English class. In other words, grammar light. So we fixed one problem and created another. The solution seems simple, put the quality newspaper articles online.
It was as if there were a light at the end of the tunnel. Solid content, instantly updated, availible at the click of a button. But the newspapers were not smart enough to find revenue with this model, so they are now grasping for a way to save themselves. They are turning to organizations like Journalism Online. They want to implement a subscription model for your online content. That's right, you can pay for what you get now for free. That would be the wrong business direction.
You want to save your newspaper, its simple. First off, stop printing paper. That's right. Stop the actual newsprint. Around 75% of the cost of maintaining a newspaper is the materials, printing, and delivery. So by eliminating that I can cut my costs by 75%. I'm no mathematician, but that sounds like a lot. Then copy your slightly successful cousin, the kindle.
I know people love the feel of a real book in their hand. Hell, I have a whole library. I love the tactile joy that comes with flipping thru a books pages. But even I can admit that a superior reading experience can be attained with a kindle. First off, it's a heck of a lot easier to carry 1500 books in a kindle than it is in a duffel bag. Also, whenever I need to put down a book and look up a word, it takes away from my story. The kindle allows instant look up of any word I need defined. A fantastic feature. Also provides the ability to gain books anywhere I can get a wireless signal and without a subscription fee. (I don't work for Amazon, honest.) So new books where ever I am, and I can carry as many as I could want with me at all times. So how does that help newspaper? Newspapindle (wow, don't let me name it).
Newspapers need an electronic reading device. Something larger and with a color screen. After all, my Sunday comics are in color darn it. Also, this device should be free. Let people continue to pay their subscription fees in exchange for a free device. I would also go door to door and teach every technologically challenged person how to use one. Don't worry, you won't really have to teach everyone. Once you get a few in each neighborhood, they will be running to teach and impress their neighbors. With current touch screen technology, you could make the interface easy enough for even the most severe Luddites among us. Now I can get my newspaper quality articles, updated to the second via the same cellular network the kindle uses, and sell color ads to help cover costs. You could also offer streaming video to provide that TV news experience some of us love so much. Plus, with a technological interface, side bar ads can be optimized to the type of article being written. Ads revenue jumps because you give a better experience to the companies paying to advertise.
So I cut your costs by 75% (minus paying for a device), I increased your revenue with targeted ads (it works for Google), and I increased the efficiency and timeliness of your newspaper articles. Everybody wins.
Now get to it. And stop wasting our time with your stupid ideas on how to make us subscribe to your internet site. If people can find free online porn, they sure as hell aren't going to pay for the Washington Post .com.
So let's talk about why people are stuck on newspapers and the saving of this archaic industry. The biggest reason I can find is that to an older generation, newspaper is your information comfort food. It's that simple. It feels like an old friend. I can understand that. We all like the comfort of things we have grown accustomed too. But enough is enough. It's time to let efficiency take over and make your lives easier. This started with the invention of the television.
For decades now, more and more people have strayed from their newspaper reading ways into the wonderful world of TV news. When I say wonderful, I mean the exact opposite of wonderful. TV news is up to date (mostly), simple enough for even the laziest American to receive (press power on remote without leaving couch), and covers all the topics you care about (this fact truly scares me). So what's the problem? The two provide a slightly different type of news.
A newspaper has long, relatively well thought out, complete stories. They are normally so complex that they require you to flip to a completely random page to finish them (stupidest thing ever. I got your cover story). Whereas the TV gives me snazzy looking anchors, with pearly white teeth, reading off of cue cards and almost convincing me that they have any idea what they are saying. It's way easier than that pesky reading thing we all heard about in school. So as newspapers have declined over the years, TV new channels seemed to multiply on a daily basis. That was until recently, when we got this new fangled thingamajig they call the internet.
The internet, that funny matrix that is letting me run my mouth right now, provided a ton of content, some of it well written like a newspaper article, but instantly updated and available 24/7. Unfortunately, the majority of it is written in what I like to call, Bobby English. That would be the English language I learned by drawing cartoon characters in my notebook and staring at Monica Odell during English class. In other words, grammar light. So we fixed one problem and created another. The solution seems simple, put the quality newspaper articles online.
It was as if there were a light at the end of the tunnel. Solid content, instantly updated, availible at the click of a button. But the newspapers were not smart enough to find revenue with this model, so they are now grasping for a way to save themselves. They are turning to organizations like Journalism Online. They want to implement a subscription model for your online content. That's right, you can pay for what you get now for free. That would be the wrong business direction.
You want to save your newspaper, its simple. First off, stop printing paper. That's right. Stop the actual newsprint. Around 75% of the cost of maintaining a newspaper is the materials, printing, and delivery. So by eliminating that I can cut my costs by 75%. I'm no mathematician, but that sounds like a lot. Then copy your slightly successful cousin, the kindle.
I know people love the feel of a real book in their hand. Hell, I have a whole library. I love the tactile joy that comes with flipping thru a books pages. But even I can admit that a superior reading experience can be attained with a kindle. First off, it's a heck of a lot easier to carry 1500 books in a kindle than it is in a duffel bag. Also, whenever I need to put down a book and look up a word, it takes away from my story. The kindle allows instant look up of any word I need defined. A fantastic feature. Also provides the ability to gain books anywhere I can get a wireless signal and without a subscription fee. (I don't work for Amazon, honest.) So new books where ever I am, and I can carry as many as I could want with me at all times. So how does that help newspaper? Newspapindle (wow, don't let me name it).
Newspapers need an electronic reading device. Something larger and with a color screen. After all, my Sunday comics are in color darn it. Also, this device should be free. Let people continue to pay their subscription fees in exchange for a free device. I would also go door to door and teach every technologically challenged person how to use one. Don't worry, you won't really have to teach everyone. Once you get a few in each neighborhood, they will be running to teach and impress their neighbors. With current touch screen technology, you could make the interface easy enough for even the most severe Luddites among us. Now I can get my newspaper quality articles, updated to the second via the same cellular network the kindle uses, and sell color ads to help cover costs. You could also offer streaming video to provide that TV news experience some of us love so much. Plus, with a technological interface, side bar ads can be optimized to the type of article being written. Ads revenue jumps because you give a better experience to the companies paying to advertise.
So I cut your costs by 75% (minus paying for a device), I increased your revenue with targeted ads (it works for Google), and I increased the efficiency and timeliness of your newspaper articles. Everybody wins.
Now get to it. And stop wasting our time with your stupid ideas on how to make us subscribe to your internet site. If people can find free online porn, they sure as hell aren't going to pay for the Washington Post .com.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Form Vs Function
Okay, I guess I couldn't hide it for long. There is only one thing I enjoy as much as future technology and science. That would be complaining about current technology and science. Why has form become more important than function? When did we start down that backwards path? Who cares how cool something looks if it doesn't work as intended? I know I don't.
I started this angry thought today while I was using my bluetooth headset. Bluetooth, in principle, is a fantastic idea. A short range frequency that transmits between my device and a headset. They removed the wire, the death cord that managed to wrap itself around every single thing around me. I like the direction technology was heading with this. But there is one huge problem with this entire industry. Their main concern, in every single headset they create, is size.
If this conversation was taking place between two ladies, then we could safely state that size does matter. Although in most technological examples smaller is the ultimate goal. But this is a technology conversation. Size is important, but it's a secondary consideration. Can you make the smallest bluetooth headset ever? Hell yes you can. Will anyone be able to hear anything you say? Well no, but its really small. Who gives a crap how small it is if it doesn't work?
Now I understand that a lot of people care how cool they look while wearing their headset. I also understand another important factor about those people, they're retarded. No matter how flashy and fancy your headset looks. No matter how small and sleek. Everyone looks the part of an idiot when they're walking in circles saying "hello? hello? sorry, what did you say? come again? sphincter says what?" Don't look at me that way. I have heard you say it. Back on topic.
The lack of function in your device cost you any cool points you received for its sleekness. Not to mention, if your primary concern for attracting the opposite sex is the cool factor in your bluetooth, you are in way more trouble than you realize. Better you just join the convent already and declare celibacy. Good news, I hear the nuns play softball every Wednesday.
So this is our problem. We don't start with function. I don't care if my bluetooth is the size of NFL headsets worn by coaches on the sidelines. They are that big because those ear muff sized speakers make everything easy to hear. And the large foam covered mic in front of your mouth blocks the wind and picks up the closest sounds, those being your voice.
Now you can all start whining. "I don't want to wear that huge headset". Yeah, yeah, I hear ya, you babies. But you wouldn't be wearing that huge headset today. Because bluetooth has been around for years. So that would have been the first model. Every year becoming smaller and sleeker. By this time it would be much smaller. Something like this. Although without the fancy foam, I hear this model sucks in the wind or if you breath out, ever. And the retractable boom mic is super fragile. But that was because the size was the secondary consideration. They made this backwards. If we started with a solid foundation, it would improve rapidly over time. So at the end, you would have your cool headset with crystal clear sound. The best of both worlds. You just have to start with a solid foundation.
At the end of the day, this falls on us, the consumer. You gotta support the technology that meets your needs. Everyone I know buys a small bluetooth and then complains it doesn't work. If we all started buying the bigger ones that do work, perhaps the manufacturers would get the hint.
Remember what Captain Planet says, "the power is yours". Although to be fair, I don't think he even owns a cell phone.
I started this angry thought today while I was using my bluetooth headset. Bluetooth, in principle, is a fantastic idea. A short range frequency that transmits between my device and a headset. They removed the wire, the death cord that managed to wrap itself around every single thing around me. I like the direction technology was heading with this. But there is one huge problem with this entire industry. Their main concern, in every single headset they create, is size.
If this conversation was taking place between two ladies, then we could safely state that size does matter. Although in most technological examples smaller is the ultimate goal. But this is a technology conversation. Size is important, but it's a secondary consideration. Can you make the smallest bluetooth headset ever? Hell yes you can. Will anyone be able to hear anything you say? Well no, but its really small. Who gives a crap how small it is if it doesn't work?
Now I understand that a lot of people care how cool they look while wearing their headset. I also understand another important factor about those people, they're retarded. No matter how flashy and fancy your headset looks. No matter how small and sleek. Everyone looks the part of an idiot when they're walking in circles saying "hello? hello? sorry, what did you say? come again? sphincter says what?" Don't look at me that way. I have heard you say it. Back on topic.
The lack of function in your device cost you any cool points you received for its sleekness. Not to mention, if your primary concern for attracting the opposite sex is the cool factor in your bluetooth, you are in way more trouble than you realize. Better you just join the convent already and declare celibacy. Good news, I hear the nuns play softball every Wednesday.
So this is our problem. We don't start with function. I don't care if my bluetooth is the size of NFL headsets worn by coaches on the sidelines. They are that big because those ear muff sized speakers make everything easy to hear. And the large foam covered mic in front of your mouth blocks the wind and picks up the closest sounds, those being your voice.
Now you can all start whining. "I don't want to wear that huge headset". Yeah, yeah, I hear ya, you babies. But you wouldn't be wearing that huge headset today. Because bluetooth has been around for years. So that would have been the first model. Every year becoming smaller and sleeker. By this time it would be much smaller. Something like this. Although without the fancy foam, I hear this model sucks in the wind or if you breath out, ever. And the retractable boom mic is super fragile. But that was because the size was the secondary consideration. They made this backwards. If we started with a solid foundation, it would improve rapidly over time. So at the end, you would have your cool headset with crystal clear sound. The best of both worlds. You just have to start with a solid foundation.
At the end of the day, this falls on us, the consumer. You gotta support the technology that meets your needs. Everyone I know buys a small bluetooth and then complains it doesn't work. If we all started buying the bigger ones that do work, perhaps the manufacturers would get the hint.
Remember what Captain Planet says, "the power is yours". Although to be fair, I don't think he even owns a cell phone.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
The Future
To steal, paraphrase, and completely alter, a line from some horribly written Marvel comics, I think I am a little bit of a futurist. That ability was attributed to Tony Stark (Iron Man) as the reason he can create such amazing high-tech gear. It was intended as the explanation for someone who can see the future of technology and understand where we are going. So while I read various science articles and blogs, I occasionally get flashes of the future. I am starting to understand what certain parts of that future will contain. Technology has a pulse, and I am copping a feel.
First, let me start with something fantastic. Robots are looking good. Especially the hot female ones that seem to keep cropping up all over Japan. We have made huge strides in the architecture and operating systems of robots. When you consider industrial robots, its safe to say Robots have been part of our life for decades, and will remain part of it for a long time. I know there is a big difference between a Roomba or a welding robot and Star Trek's Data. But with Japan pushing to create service robots in order to care for their elderly, and the constant drive to make our lives easier, androids are coming soon to a planet near you.
But no matter how advanced robotic limbs and implants get. No matter how much progress we are making in human brain and computer connectivity. I don't see any cool cyberparts in our future. It kind of makes me sad. I know I dreamed of a horrible accident befalling me so that I could be turned into the Six Billion Dollar Man (price adjusted for inflation). So why am I being deprived of my bionic eyes? I think stem cells and gene therapy are already better solutions. The whole field of regenerative medicine seems to have made artificial limbs obsolete. Now, due to the over religious wackjobs, we are a little behind with our stem cell technology. But make no mistake. We are ready to start growing new parts for people. And once the concepts of gene therapy and genetic manipulation are perfected. I expect the ability to make body parts superior to the original. Personally, sign me up for some eagle eyes. I'll even keep the yellow color, just to show them off. From what I have read, they possess five times our resolution and a three times zoom. Sold.
I am also ready for my Electric car. I know people are excited about Hydrogen, Ethanol, Air, and even Hybrids. But in the end, electric is going to win out. It has too many advantages. Battery and storage capacity have increased to the point of two hundred plus mile ranges. Not to mention recent breakthroughs that have created batteries which can be charged in under ten minutes. That's about the same time it takes to fill up my current gas tank. All this fun before we start rolling out the 3-D, ultraviolet-light collecting, solar panels. Throw one of those bad boys on the roof and you won't have to plug in to charge very often anyway. Electric cars also require less maintenance and are incredibly more efficient with their power. Plus they are quiet. I don't know about the rest of you, but I am tired of all the noise cars create. Lets make Earth a little quieter. Some of us are sleeping.
That's about it for now. Future posts will be more specific to a technology or concept that I am excited about. I just wanted to start off more general. Thanks for reading.
Let the future begin.
First, let me start with something fantastic. Robots are looking good. Especially the hot female ones that seem to keep cropping up all over Japan. We have made huge strides in the architecture and operating systems of robots. When you consider industrial robots, its safe to say Robots have been part of our life for decades, and will remain part of it for a long time. I know there is a big difference between a Roomba or a welding robot and Star Trek's Data. But with Japan pushing to create service robots in order to care for their elderly, and the constant drive to make our lives easier, androids are coming soon to a planet near you.
But no matter how advanced robotic limbs and implants get. No matter how much progress we are making in human brain and computer connectivity. I don't see any cool cyberparts in our future. It kind of makes me sad. I know I dreamed of a horrible accident befalling me so that I could be turned into the Six Billion Dollar Man (price adjusted for inflation). So why am I being deprived of my bionic eyes? I think stem cells and gene therapy are already better solutions. The whole field of regenerative medicine seems to have made artificial limbs obsolete. Now, due to the over religious wackjobs, we are a little behind with our stem cell technology. But make no mistake. We are ready to start growing new parts for people. And once the concepts of gene therapy and genetic manipulation are perfected. I expect the ability to make body parts superior to the original. Personally, sign me up for some eagle eyes. I'll even keep the yellow color, just to show them off. From what I have read, they possess five times our resolution and a three times zoom. Sold.
I am also ready for my Electric car. I know people are excited about Hydrogen, Ethanol, Air, and even Hybrids. But in the end, electric is going to win out. It has too many advantages. Battery and storage capacity have increased to the point of two hundred plus mile ranges. Not to mention recent breakthroughs that have created batteries which can be charged in under ten minutes. That's about the same time it takes to fill up my current gas tank. All this fun before we start rolling out the 3-D, ultraviolet-light collecting, solar panels. Throw one of those bad boys on the roof and you won't have to plug in to charge very often anyway. Electric cars also require less maintenance and are incredibly more efficient with their power. Plus they are quiet. I don't know about the rest of you, but I am tired of all the noise cars create. Lets make Earth a little quieter. Some of us are sleeping.
That's about it for now. Future posts will be more specific to a technology or concept that I am excited about. I just wanted to start off more general. Thanks for reading.
Let the future begin.
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