We don’t have flying cars, but otherwise, it can be hard for science fiction to keep up with the pace of modern technology. Evan Hoovler of blastr has a list of eight technological wonders from science fiction now present in real life, such as the PADD from Star Trek, now available as the iPad…
Continue reading… “8 Once Amazing Sci Fi Technologies Now Inferior to Real Life Gadgets”
Somewhere between yesterday afternoon and last night, Instagram hit 3 million users after only six months of existence. To put that into perspective, that’s like 1% of the population of the US using a service that currently only fully exists on a iPhone…
Continue reading… “A New Entertainment Platform Called Instagram”
Scientists in Spain hope they have found the fuel of tomorrow: bio-oil produced with algae mixed with carbon dioxide from a factory.
In a forest of tubes eight metres high in eastern Spain scientists hope they have found the fuel of tomorrow: bio-oil produced with algae mixed with carbon dioxide from a factory.
Continue reading… “‘Blue Petroleum’ Fuel Could Be the Fuel of the Future”
The First Fuel Cell-Powered Black Cab
It may not look much different than your average black cab on the outside (decals aside), but it’s quite a different story under the hood of this taxi, which has just been deemed road legal in the UK. Developed by Intelligent Energy, the cab actually includes both a fuel cell with a 30 kW net output and a 14 kWh lithium polymer battery pack, which combined promise to provide enough juice for a full day of operation — along with a top speed of 81 MPH and acceleration from zero to sixty in fourteen seconds. Londoners won’t be seeing them everywhere just yet, however, as the company only expects the first fleet to be ready sometime next year in time for the 2012 Olympics.
Continue reading… “UK’s First Fuel Cell-Powered Black Cab Hits the Streets of London”
3D entertainment will never be the same again if one of the latest projects of researchers from the Osaka University, a 360 degree fog display, goes into mass production.
The 3D image is created with the help of 3 projectors that are focused on the fog display. One of the Japanese researchers got this idea after seeing a fog display in an entertainment park, so it is not a mistake to assume that inspiration may come in the strangest places. Each of the 3 projectors shows the object (in this particular case, a rabbit) from a different angle. As a result, the 3D effect is created and the imaged can be watched from multiple points of view. Directionality is the result of the fact that light gets dispersed by fog…
Continue reading… “360-Degree Fog Display”
The Memidex online dictionary and thesaurus is the Internet’s first combined index of external definitions, audio, and etymology. Memidex now has over 12.5 million detailed references making it a useful and unique English language reference tool for students, teachers, researchers, professional writers, and casual browsers alike…
Continue reading… “Memidex Free Online Dictionary And Thesaurus”
The steering wheel of the McLaren Mercedes MP4-26.
It wouldn’t be Formula 1 without some kind of constant friction between racers, team owners and organizers, and this year’s kerfuffle involves steering wheels that force drivers to push more buttons than a 747 pilot having a seizure. (video)
Continue reading… “The $50K Formula One Steering Wheel That Even Pours Drinks”
This crisis map, created using Ushahidi software, is keeping track of unfolding events in Libya.
From Libya to Japan, a Web-reporting platform called Ushahidi has helped human rights workers and others document and make sense of fast-moving crises. The platform allows reports from cell phones and Web-connected devices to be collected and displayed on Web-based maps.
Continue reading… “Ushahidi: Crisis Mapping Software Meets Check-in”
Protect your money with this Biometric Wallet.
Virtually indestructible, the Biometric Wallet will open only with the touch of your fingerprint. It can be linked via Bluetooth to the owner’s mobile phone – sounding an alarm if the two are separated by more than 5 metres!
No one keeps carbon nanotubes down — especially not these guys. The always popular allotropes have been enlisted by researchers at Rice University to create a composite material that gets stronger under pressure. When combined with polydimethylsiloxane, a rubbery polymer, the tubes form a nanocomposite that exhibits self-strengthening properties also exhibited in bones. During testing, the team found the material increased in stiffness by 12 percent after 3.5 million compressions…
Continue reading… “Self-Strengthening Polymer Nanocomposite Works Best Under Pressure”
Artist Chris Eckert uses the tattoo medium as a personal reaction against people being born into a religion rather than choosing one after research and reflection. This machine picks a religion at random and brands the willing subject with its symbol.
Auto Ink is a three axis numerically controlled sculpture. Once the main switch is triggered, the operator is assigned a religion and its corresponding symbol is tattooed onto the persons arm…
It’s nearly the weekend, which means that it’s nearly time to make bad decisions, likely with phone in hand. While the tech world can’t stop you from shamelessly making out with that girl in that dive bar, it can wipe away all graphic mentions of how you did so from your Twitter stream.
Enter Last Night Never Happened, a rather well-made novelty iPhone/iPad/iPod touch app from22seeds. The app’s purpose? It deletes posts, photos, comments, tweets and direct messages from your Facebook and Twitter accounts. Unfortunately, you can’t delete as much from Facebook as you might like — merely comments and photos…
Continue reading… “Erase Last Night’s Indiscretions From Facebook & Twitter”
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
Learn More about this exciting program.