Category: Breakthrough Thinking

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Sanity Comes to Sexting Laws in New Jersey

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Where is the middle ground for sexting laws?

Salon’s Tracy Clark-Flory writes about a new bill in New Jersey that would prevent minors who engage in “sexting” (taking naked pictures of themselves and sharing them with boy- and girlfriends) from being prosecuted as child pornographers. As Clark-Flory explains, you don’t have to be in favor of kids sharing naked pictures of themselves to understand that child porn laws shouldn’t be used against them…

Continue reading… “Sanity Comes to Sexting Laws in New Jersey”

Analysis, Breakthrough Thinking, Historical Perspectives, Human Behavior, Internet, Latest News, Twitter

Is Twitter Dividing the Happy From the Unhappy?

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Anyone who thought that social media was going to usher in a utopian era of communication without borders is going to have their faith badly shaken by a new study from Cornell University. On Twitter, it seems, there are already at least two walled-off nations: happy people and unhappy people.

And never the twain shall tweet.

Continue reading… “Is Twitter Dividing the Happy From the Unhappy?”

Breakthrough Thinking, Globalism, Historical Perspectives, New Inventions, Science & Technology News, Space

First Space-Based Gas Station Set to Open in 2015

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Space gas to become a reality soon?

In space, no one can hear you scream — about the soaring prices at the pump, that is. For what will be the very first time, plans for a space-based satellite filling station have been announced, with a launch date set for 2015. It may sound like a bit of unnecessary convenience some 22,369 miles above our heads, but experts say that the gas station will do much more than make Earth a planetary truck-stop. “This is a first-time-ever, huge, huge, huge event,” says the director of the Space Protection Program — and it’s sure to make space a little cleaner, too.

Continue reading… “First Space-Based Gas Station Set to Open in 2015”

Breakthrough Thinking, Education, Internet, Latest News

Get Paid to Teach Anything With New Online Education Platform

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Name: Learnable

Quick Pitch: Learnable allows anyone to create and charge for online courses.

Genius Idea: Many schools have started to take online education seriously. By 2006, 66% of postsecondary learning institutions included in federal financial aid programs were already reporting that they offered some form of Internet learning, and a 2009 report from the U.S. Department of education found that those students who studied in online learning environments performed modelstly better than peers who were receiving face-to-face instruction.

This is very much along the lines of what Futurist Thomas Frey predicted in his 2007 paper on the Future of Education.

It’s great news for people who are looking to work toward a college degree, but there are few affordable parallels for people who just want to pick up a skill. Where does one go for affordable online lessons on homepage design? Javascript programming? Guitar? the Irish Whistle?

Continue reading… “Get Paid to Teach Anything With New Online Education Platform”

Alternative Transportation, Breakthrough Thinking, Ecological Products, Great New Product, Green Friendly, Historical Perspectives, New Viewpoints

Pedal Power Meets Photovoltaics via Solarbike

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Solarbike aims at having electric bikes powered by the sun.

Solarbike specialises in electric conversion kits for bicycles. But the business’s founders, both research scientists at the University of Western Australia, have been working on a way to easily have electric bikes powered by the sun. After some trial and error, which they transparently document, they’ve arrived at reasonably affordable photovoltaic systems that allow electric bike owners to ride like a solar wind…

Continue reading… “Pedal Power Meets Photovoltaics via Solarbike”

Breakthrough Thinking, Business, Entertainment, Historical Perspectives, Latest News, Music

RIP Zune Player, 2006-2011

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May all your Zunes come true.

Microsoft is not planning on releasing any further Zune devices. Instead, the company plans to focus on Zune software for smartphones.

Microsoft declined to comment on the future of the Zune players, but in a statement to Bloomberg noted that it remains “committed to supporting our devices in North America.”

Zune launched in November 2006 to much fanfare and hopes that it could beat Apple’s iPod. But sales never came close to reaching the levels of Apple’s best-selling and market changing music and media player…

Continue reading… “RIP Zune Player, 2006-2011”

Architecture, Art, Breakthrough Thinking, Great New Product, Historical Perspectives

Translucent Concrete

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Concrete with a special twist.

This special concrete tile allows light to pass through. The tile contains optical fibers that make up about 5% of its surface area. The fibers are distributed uniformly throughout the surface to allow an outline to be clearly visible on the other side. The tiles have the unique combination of being nearly unbreakable and translucent.

The material is made with a combination of optical fibers and fine concrete…

Continue reading… “Translucent Concrete”

Breakthrough Thinking, Ecological Products, Great New Product, Green Friendly, Latest Trend, New Viewpoints

Glue-Free “Creo Shoe Concept” Supports Local Shoemaker

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A new view with a no glue shoe.

From German designer Jennifer Rieker comes a glue-free shoe that challenges mass consumption, via Ecouterre.

Called the “Creo Shoe Concept,” the flat-pack footwear is mailed to you in a vegetable-tanned calf leather envelope — which becomes the inner shoe — with adaptable rubber soles; a pair of footbeds, made out of cork, latex and jute; a pair of shoelaces, and directions for you to put it all together, along with the help of a local shoemaker.

Continue reading… “Glue-Free “Creo Shoe Concept” Supports Local Shoemaker”

Animals, Breakthrough Thinking, Entertainment, Food, Health & Fitness, Historical Perspectives, Hot Issues, Human Behavior

‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ Becomes Focus of Anti-Obesity Campaign

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Anti-Obesity Campaign takes on a new shape.

On March 20, the first day of spring, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” the legendary children’s book written by Eric Carle in 1969, will be sent for free to more than 17,500 pediatricians’ offices around the country in order to promote the “Eating Healthy. Growing Strong.” campaign, a movement designed to combat childhood obesity. Created by the anti-obesity campaign, The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, the books will be sent with growth charts and reading guide handouts in order to encourage both parents and doctors to have discussions about healthy eating habits, including nutrition and portion control, with the younger generation.

Continue reading… “‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ Becomes Focus of Anti-Obesity Campaign”

Breakthrough Thinking, Culture, Current Events, Historical Perspectives, Hot Issues, Latest News

The Salton Sea: A ‘Dead’ Sea Ready to Rise?

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Half a century ago, the Salton Sea was called the “French Riviera of California” — and that claim really held water as celebrities and many others seeking a spectacular getaway escaped to the “mini-ocean” just past Palm Springs.

But today, the abandoned remains of this former tourist hot spot represent an eerie aftermath: a virtual ghost town where once the rich came to play.
Continue reading… “The Salton Sea: A ‘Dead’ Sea Ready to Rise?”

Breakthrough Thinking, Business, Internet, Latest News, Latest Trend, New Discoveries, New Inventions, New Viewpoints

How Foursquare & AmEx Are Putting a Fresh Twist on Loyalty Marketing

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New technology means new marketing.

In the summer of 2010, Foursquare’s Head of Business Development Tristan Walker and American Express’s Vice President of Global Marketing Capabilities David Wolf started talking about ways to work together to redefine loyalty for local merchants.

The fruit of their conversations is now on display in the city Austin, Texas where 60 merchants — including Whole Foods, Starwood Hotels and Stubb’s BBQ — are offering Foursquare users “spend $5, save $5″ rewards when they load the special and swipe their AmEx cards.

The pilot program started Friday and will run through Tuesday, March 15. Participating merchants have posted “Austin Unlocked” window clings to highlight their participation, and Foursquare users need only register their American Express cards to unlock this new type of special — the Loyalty Special…

Continue reading… “How Foursquare & AmEx Are Putting a Fresh Twist on Loyalty Marketing”

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.