Hi-Sci-Fi

This week we feature Brian Code from Koolu, people behind Open Moko release for developers in Canada and beyond!

We are all cranky consumers who pay through their nose to have devices that do very little. Even iPhone, the touted new messianic technology, falls short of expectations.

Open Moko, on the other hand, offers some more interesting solutions for problems that plague us. For one, as an open source software wi-fi phone, it is a far more customisable device that can be tailored to individual’s needs.

Brian tells all, so tune in. Send us questions because we want to probe his mind, like…every week.

If you are a developer, check out the Open Moko, and Koolu.

by Irma Arkus

Now that Codex Sinaiticus has proven that religious scribbles are good for one thing, and one thing only - recycling - we also got this amazing report via Slashdot, of (wait for it!) paper-based transistors!

In essence, the Portugese researchers use paper as an interstrate layer, instead of commonly used silicone or glass substrate.

The technology is so successful that tests indicate “hybrid FETs’ performance outpace those of amorphous silicon TFTs, and rival with the actual state of the art of oxide thin film transistors.”

The research was conducted at CENIMAT and led by Elvira Maria Fortunato and Rodrigo Martins.

For more information, visit Roland Piquepaille’s blog.

This image was uploaded with the post Hydrogen Pump @ Home?.

by Irma Arkus

On the heels of announcement by Mercedes to cease manufacturing petroleum-powered cars by 2010, ITM Power, a small UK-based outfit released its first household hydrogen fueling station.

Unusual, fridge-size gadget, meant to be stored in periphery of an average domicile, is to contain an electrolyser producing hydrogen directly on the premise. The fuel can then be transferred into your vehicle at home, as well as used for alternate applications, including cooking.

Some taut the benfits of a household hydrogen-producing appliance as a solution to an existing problem with hydrogen fuel - namely, that traditional large-scale manufacturing and mass distribution processes are complex, expensive and even dangerous. Appliance such as this would introduce hydrogen-powered cars to greater number of individuals, and create accessible fueling stations.

Of course, having a fridge-size hydrogen generator is not necessarily all that great. For one, traditional pumps eliminate the need for everyone to invest in a personal appliance, instead spreading the cost across an entire region. Costs of developing fueling station technology would be directly transferred onto each and every household, and yes, it would be very expensive.

Also to consider is that such fueling stations would be great for home owners far removed from urban centres. Condo owners in high density areas do not have the resources or the space for individual ownership of such an appliance, quickly having to deal with a communal fueling station or a “mini-pumping station” for their hydrogen needs. If communal fueling stations would function well, then why have individual ones at all?

The questions of safety and handling procedures are aplenty. Hydrogen is considered highly flammable, and unstable. To be manufacturing hydrogen on the spot is a valid solution for a next generation of hydrogen-fueled cars. As for the individual ownership of such appliances, the costs seem high, unreasonable, and less than suitable for populations in urban areas.

This image was uploaded with the post Robots: All-Terrain Big Dog, Quadruped.

by Irma Arkus

Watching Boston Dynamics’ Big Dog, a quadruped robot resembling only bottom half of a mule, as it struggles to maintain its balance (and succeds!) on an icy ground is nothing short of amazing.

Big Dog runs, walks and climbs on rough terrain, as its slender legs, similar to that of a dog or a deer (or something alive and organic) allow it to carry heavy loads while absorbing shocks. It maintains its balance in situations that not even yours truly, an average biped could.

The loads it can carry go up to 340lb, and it can succesfully climb inclined terrain of up to 35 degrees.

The really amazing part of Big Dog is its leg structure. Meant to copy what works best in nature, Big Dog’s legs combine multiplicity of joints regulated by an intricate sensor network, allowing it to maintain balance and navigate across variety of terrain including ice and rubble.

See for yourself: Big Dog walks on ice, hillside, and navigates through rubble.

by Irma Arkus

When having Mr. Gluckman a few weeks back for an appearance on HiSciFi, he suggested that military has been developing devices that would use radio frequencies to make subjects more “suggestive” than usual. Initially, I dismissed it, but as it happens, today, an announced military Medusa project was splashed all over the New Scientist pages.

Not quite same as what Gluckman suggested earlier, but nontheless, a frightening invention, use of microwaves for crowd control and manipulation seems to be growing in applications. Medusa, the newest mass weapon, uses microwave signals to produce a “noise” that reverberates through one’s head, loud enough to cause subjects incapacitation.

Medusa’s microwave frequencies can also be used to generate recognisable sounds (aka. speech patterns) in subjects, the kind that cannot be technically “blocked out” by subjects.

There is a great concern of using microwaves for purposes of crowd control, as microwaves induce great deal of damage to tissue, increasing possibility of producing a large-scale weapon rather than a crowd dispersment tool. Tissue trauma such as neural damage are a possibility, as pointed out by James Lin of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Illinois in Chicago.

For more information, see New Scientist article HERE.

by Irma Arkus

I too have a dream, that some day, I will not have the choice between bulky and heavy, but a lightweight mobile device that is akin to a notebook yet some 60% smaller.

Let’s face it, since the days of watching Captain Pickard in action, we’ve been dreaming of devices size of a small notebook (and no, that weighty 14” behemoth does not count) that we can pull out in transit and really have fun with.

Introducing new Kohjinsha ATOM Powered SX and SC Series. SX features a remarkable 8.9” screen, 1.33GHz processor, 1GB RAM, 60GB harddrive, WiFi b/g and numerous other bells and whistles. Whereas SC-Series has a 7” touch screen, a 1.33GHz CPU, 1GB RAM, 60GB harddrive and other bells and whistles.

What are the extras? From GPS to 1.3 Mpix camera, USB, DVD and etc.

That’s something to think about.

This image was uploaded with the post Dreaming of Hardware: Kohjinsha ATOM Powered SX & SC Series.

This image was uploaded with the post Japan Mobile Phones: Now Featuring Comics.

by Irma Arkus

Unveiling of additional mobile services in Japan has brought on some Marvel superheroes onto the mini-screens opening up North American comic books to transit viewers in Japan.

Japanese market is estimated to garner up to 22 billion yen during this year, making 3G applications such as video streaming, and reading novels and comic books, a major market.

Japanese audiences already have access to multi-media content on their cell phones, but introduction of few new user-friendly services is expected to increase comic book audiences and gain a great deal of profits.

Current screens are up to 3.3” and combined with 3G services are expected to bring on a whole new generation of comic book fans.

This image was uploaded with the post Finally! A Solution Against Global Warming: Strapless G-String.

The most absurd piece of “technology” just crossed my desk - I introduce you to the Shibue Strapless G-String. If you are as puzzled as I was, here is the info: it is a glorified menstrual pad.

Presumably, you use double sided sticky tape, except instead of attaching the object to the interior of your panties, you just kind of glue it onto your nether regions. This of course is based on assumption that your crotch is as bald as baby’s bottom, which means that this new piece of AMAZING TECHNOLOGY is only applicable to brazilian wax victims and porn stars.

This is apparently, going to solve the timeless dilemma of panty lines. Another piece of insane shit that you can buy. And guess what? It actually costs $25-30 a pop. Crazy? You be the judge.

This image was uploaded with the post We Can Do It With LASERS!.

by Irma Arkus

Sun Microsystems is working on a new computing chip that would use Silicon Photonics. The proposed technology would create wafers that using laser light signals, communicate billions of bits of data per second. Lasers! They are using lasers!
This means significant increase in efficiency, as some of currently required wiring and circuitry would be eliminated.

Speaking of lasers, Gizmodo reported on Wicked Lasers- new high-tech Jedi toys - Now with 30% more Laser! Oh yeah. This laser will not only make you glow in the dark, but will also “scare away birds and animals.” The *powers* of the wicked laser are listed, and include: sting skin, open-cut healing power, pop balloon, fabric stain, and numerous other cool things. To conclude: we all want more lasers.

Next time you log into second life and come across a 4 year old, you may be talking to a supercomputer rather than an actual player. AI in gaming is improving all the time, but thanks to an uber powerful University based Supercomputer, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have created an online presence in Second Life of a character that runs completely off the computer and reasons at the level of a 4 year old boy. They have called him Eddie, and set him loose on the Metaverse in order to test how effectively he interacts with players. I can’t wait until the griefers get after this one. Check out more info about this including some of the concepts they have put behind Eddie, including a “theory of mind” that he was given HERE.

Toshiba, one of the last major makers behind HD-DVD has apparently thrown in the towel on the format. The NY Times has an article on it if you are interested. All this news comes on the heals of Walmart dropping the format. I don’t think I need to tell you how influential Walmart is even if you hate their guts. It will be interesting to see how actual sales go for Blu-Ray now that is going to be pretty much the standard. It will nevertheless, have a long way to go to outfox the dvd, which is still very much the standard.

Since SpaceShipOne won the X-Prize, few things became clear: we can do a lot more than we tend to, and we need a lot of capital to pull it off. So, the question came up - what is it that we CAN DO? And more importantly, HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST?

Wired, with their staff spectaculaire figured it all out. Want your own robot? Find the price tag HERE.

This image was uploaded with the post You Can Have The Tech…At a Cost.

Lego turned 50 today. To mark the big day, Google has thrown up a nifty Lego themed logo, but more important thousands of enthusiasts all over the world are celebrating by creating huge monstrosities with the connectible little coloured blocks including yours truly. However, I will not be doing anything like the World Record Attempt being undertaken in the UK. Maybe just a cool spaceship with my old space logo. Nevertheless, HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEGO!!!