Year: 2013

Impact Lab > 2013
Analysis, Business, Great Videos, Internet, Money Talk, Science & Technology News

What is Bitcoin? This video explains it in less than 4 minutes

[vimeo]http://www.vimeo.com/63502573[/vimeo]

Bitcoin, launched in 2009 by an anonymous developer, is an intriguing technological and financial experiment. Quartz reports, there has been a recent spike in value (approximately 1,300% since the beginning of the 2013).  Starting your own currency is “not as complicated as it sounds. All you need is a system other people can understand and, most importantly, trust,” according to The Atlantic’s Derek Thompson.

 

 

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Analysis, Globalism, Great Videos, Science & Technology News

How advanced mapping technology can change the world

Advanced mapping technology has let one aid organization in Africa see more clearly the scope of the problems it’s trying to fix.

A good mapping app can be appreciated by everyone.  Look what happened to Apple when it failed at providing a good mapping application. Maps save us from getting lost, ensure that we get to locations on time, and guide us through complicated public transportation systems. And in some places, they can save lives. Just ask World Vision, a humanitarian organization focused on poverty and justice.

 

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Analysis, Culture, government, Historical Perspectives, People Making a Difference

Immigrants, ‘we are a nation of laws” – A perspective shared from a descendant of the Cherokee

Raymond Alvarez: “We are a nation of laws.”

There was a time when another nation found itself confronted with unwanted visitors who ignored their laws. The people fought these squatters and went on to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Cherokee Nation initially lost its case, but won on subsequent appeal.

 

 

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Great New Product, Nanotechnology, New Inventions, Science & Technology News

Electricity-creating fabric could be everywhere soon

David Carroll, nanotechnologist at Wake Forest University.

Nanotechnologist, David Carroll, is working on a simple material that he thinks will soon be a part of everything you own.  Carroll’s research group at Wake Forest University developed a flexible fabric that makes electricity from heat or movement. It could revolutionize cheap, renewable energy.

 

 

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Analysis, Internet, Latest Trend, Science & Technology News

300 percent increase in mobile video views in 2012

The Digital Video Benchmark for the U.S. for 2012 has been released by Adobe.  The Digital Index team shows what it learned monitoring video performance throughout the year across digital platforms. Data was compiled from a study from Adobe Marketing Cloud customers, scoring viewing habits and also monitoring ad performance.There was a massive increase in mobile viewership in 2012 according to Adobe’s numbers, though desktop still dominates when it comes to online video.

 

 

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Education, Great Videos, Internet, Science & Technology News, Video Games

CodeSpells – a video game that teaches how to program in Java

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TslR9CG6yKI[/youtube]

CodeSpells is an immersive, first-person player video game designed to teach students in elementary to high school how to program in the popular Java language. CodeSpells has been developed by University of California, San Diego computer scientists.

 

 

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Analysis, Business, Economy, Latest Trend

37 percent of working-age Americans aren’t working, but what are they doing?

American adults who have a job (or are looking for a job) has fallen to its lowest point since 1979, hovering around 63 percent. Thirty-seven percent of working-age Americans aren’t working.  But, what are they doing? Bloomberg Businessweek gives us a snapshot of 2013 with this amazing infographic above.

 

 

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Analysis, Business, Latest Trend, Science & Technology News

The future of innovation is in ideas, not products

The new generation of innovators knows that the greatest innovations are the ones you can’t see.

In Asia, there is a shift underway of self-made entrepreneurs.  In the past 50 years, Asian commerce was dominated by larger-than-life conglomerate builders gathering assets under unofficial government protection. But this is changing. A new generation of entrepreneurs is emerging, outthinking the old guard.

 

 

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Alternative Transportation, Latest Trend, Science & Technology News

Urbee II – 3D printed car drives toward mass production

Urbee

While major car manufacturers are exploring 3D printing for prototyping car parts, it’s inevitable that a road-worthy 3D printed car is not too far into the future.  Thanks to KOR EcoLogic the future of 3D printed cars could arrive soon. KorEcoLogic has teamed with Stratasys’s RedEye On Demand 3D printing business unit to fabricate a lightweight electric car that could take to the streets in about two years.

 

 

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Photo Perspectives, Robots, Science & Technology News

Wave Glider SV3 – world’s first wave and solar powered unmanned ocean robot

Wave Glider SV3

Liquid Robotics has announced the Wave Glider SV3, what it calls the worldʼs first hybrid wave and solar propelled unmanned ocean robot. These super-smart robots have been revamped with Wi-Fi and cellular communications and are primed to compete in a series of industries, and might eventually create a couple new ones while they’re at it. (Pics)

 

 

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Discover the Hidden Patterns of Tomorrow with Futurist Thomas Frey
Unlock Your Potential, Ignite Your Success.

By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.

Learn More about this exciting program.