Using Waste to Power Car

Two Spanish engineers created an R/C car that runs on aluminum (soda tabs) and sodium hydroxide. This little car zips around at 20 mph and lasts about 40 minutes. This creation just goes to show that our waste can be put to better use than being dumped into a landfill. There are so many possibilities that go along with this re-use of waste products. This could ultimately lead to waste-powered vehicles, alternative fuels. I waited to post because I was looking for a video to show but the video engadget provides is perfect.

R/C car runs on soda tabs

Mandated Data Roaming

This is right up my alley... The Federal Communications Commission recently decided to mandate data roaming. Now the big cellular companies will have to allow their users to access their e-mails and such, despite that they pay their dues to a regional carrier.

I have a dumb phone so I was not aware that roaming charges were even being applied to those with data plans so I was a bit surprised roaming charges still existed. I definitely can see why the FCC decided to include data roaming. It was inconsistent with the dismissal of roaming charges for voice calls and messaging. I think that this change will definitely be something most cell phone users are grateful for, especially those without dumb phones like mine.

FCC Mandate

Nanogenerators

I was perusing through engadget as usual and there is a recently posted article about nanogenerators. Nanogenerators are extremely small fibers that when flexed or strained will emit an electrical charge. If these fibers are woven into your clothing, you could charge your phone in your pocket! How convenient would that be? They took a bunch of the fibers and placed them into a stamp size chip and found that flexing and straining the fibers within this small chip emitted the power of two AA batteries. I think nanogenerators will lead to some definite good in the future... until we find out they cause cancer or some sort of bodily damage.
Info here: Nanogenerators

Interact with Advertisements

I found an article on engadget.com discussing augmented reality advertising in London. Basically, travelers in a train station would be walking through and reach the advertisement area where there were on camera with a large screen up above. Those walking into the advertising square would look up to see themselves accompanied by a fallen angel featured in the advertisement of their product. I think this is definitely a great marketing strategy because not only are consumers paying attention to their advertising, they are interacting with it as you can see in the video I have included. The original post is located here: Augmented Reality Advertisement

Creepy Phone

Alright, so this was not necessarily interesting but it definitely caught my eye. The article I found discusses the Elfoid which is a lot like the Telenoid R1, if anyone knows what that is. Elfoid is basically a small, human-shaped cell phone meant to be carried around in your pocket just as the average cell phone. Not only is the human-like design creepy, but this phone is designed to tickle you when it rings. You talk into the devices "belly" and Elfoid streams the voice of the person you are talking to through its face, which seems normal but wait, it only gets weirder... The device is also designed to make similar gestures as the person to whom you are speaking with. It is supposed to resemble an in-person conversation, I suppose, but I find this to be weird and a bit creepy. The idea is pretty nifty but I am not sure how I would handle sitting face to face with a devices like these.

I found a video of the Telenoid R1 just to demonstrate the gesturing of these devices. Let me know how you feel about it. Information received from: Elfoid .

VR Technology

Virtual Reality Technology caught my attention lately in a few of my different classes so I found an article discussing it. This particular technology is not new, however, it proves very useful and I previously did not know about it. Basically, VR technology is a web-based interactive simulation that is currently used in many ways. These simulations are used to train military personnel, first responders, and even medical personnel. Those going through training interact with the simulation that demonstrates real-life situations designated to the profession in order to habituate, you could say, the trainee to the environment in which they will be immersed. For example, military personnel train in combat simulations, police officers interact with a virtual crime scene, and medical personnel perform surgery on a virtual patient.

 A different use for VR technology is that for treatment of psychological disorders such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety disorders, and/or phobic disorders. Many psychologists utilize this technology to desensitize a patient to the stimulus which provokes the symptoms of his/her disorder. I watched a video in my Abnormal Psychology class in which an individual suffering from a phobia of spiders underwent treatment via VR technology. The individual was slowly introduced to more and more anxiety producing stimuli involving spiders in order to overcome the phobia. You will be glad to know, the patient can now happily hold a tarantula and no longer suffers from the phobia.

I think that Virtual Reality technology has really come a long way and proves itself very useful. I, personally, believe there are more pros than cons (probably because I cannot think of any cons without more research being done). If you are interested the site is here: Virtual Reality

I have also included a video in which an individual has a panic disorder and the treatment is exposure therapy via, you guessed it, Virtual Reality technology:

New Biopsy Methods

I found a neat article discussing a device that a University of Rochester professor created. This device is used in order to take high-resolution 3D images below the skin, which could possibly eliminate biopsies. The prototype that this professor created apparently has a liquid lens, kind of crazy, that takes thousands of images below the epidermis and creates a 3D image of what is underneath the skin. Apparently, the lens is made of water instead of the typical glass lens. I thought that was pretty interesting... I mean, how reliable is a water lens? Probably easy to replace but how does it keep it's shape? I just can't even imagine how it works. This device has been tested but they do not forsee its day-to-day use in the near future.

This article is located here: Biopsy replacement device

Tablets for kids

I'm sure everyone has at least heard of the iPad and other tablets that are out there, especially those of you who will read this. I was on engadget.com the other day and an article caught my eye in regards to tablets. VTech has created a new tablet called the Innopad which is targeted for children. It is basically an updated Leap Frog type of technology, however, has many more uses than just a game for learning. This tablet is built to take beating (we all know how kids are) and could probably be beneficial to some clumsy adults, like me. I think it's a great way to keep kids utilizing new technology and prepared for the next new thing to come out. However, if this is your child's primary way of learning... I would question your parenting skills. Don't get me wrong, I do think that games for learning are a wonderful idea. Some kids do not have older siblings to learn from, for example I was writing my name by age 3 because my sister taught me how whereas someone else the same age might just be watching Baby Einstein videos which, if I remember correctly, do not have much of an effect. Don't quote me on that though. I believe that these types ideas are worthwhile and beneficial, however, I do not think that parents should rely on technology and school systems for their children to learn. There is much more to gain from social learning, experience, and general knowledge sharing between peers, relatives, etc. Plus, children crave attention, love, and new knowledge from their parents and without that attention there can be psychological impacts. Now that I've noticed my ranting, let's get back to basics here... VTech's new Innopad is a great way to incorporate learning into technology use, however, in my opinion it should not be your child's primary learning source.

The article about the VTech Innopad is here: VTech Innopad

Nanotechnology & Nanomedicine

We all read about nanotechnolgy which is "engineering of functional systems at the molecular scale." The research for this began by looking at the physical and chemical properties of carbon-based materials.They have already laid down the basics for this technology and have implemented it in many different ways. Nanotechnology is already used to eliminate odors, which I found pretty cool for a common use. In order to eliminate odors, a silica nanoparticle is covered with copper and placed in a shoe, for example, and the reaction from the copper eliminates odors. Something I thought was interesting. Nanotechnology has also led to another field of nanomedicine. Nanomedicine is a very "specific medical intervention at the molecular scale" for curing diseases. This uses biological structures in order to cure a disease, such as Alzheimer's which is projected to be possible within a decade. I believe that nanotechnology and nanomedicine could lead to great possibilities within the field of criminal justice. If nanomedicine can cure a disease such as Alzheimer's, maybe with continued research it can cure other psychological disorders such as personality disorders, mood disorders, or anxiety disorders, many of which are seen in criminal offenders. That's not to say that all offenders have a psychological disorder, though. I also believe that nanotechnology could lead to better evidence collection and improved methods for making a connection between crime and offender with that evidence. I hope to see this develop and be used in a positive manner.
All of the information referred to can be found here: http://commonfund.nih.gov/nanomedicine/overview.aspx
and here: http://www.gizmag.com/nanoparticles-eliminate-odors-better-than-carbon/17722/ 

Social Shoes

The article is located here:
http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/29/wesc-karmatech-concept-makes-your-shoes-more-social-with-rfid/

Students in Sweden have come up with the idea of implanting RFID chips in your shoes. These chips will be used to automatically "check-in" at locations via Facebook status and other social networking tools. They will also allow you to receive exclusive deals at the place you are visiting.

The idea is pretty cool, especially if you are really into updating your statuses and whatnot. However, I view these to be a dangerous idea if utilized to automatically give away your whereabouts. From a law enforcement perspective, it would be great to know where the criminals are but what about if they always know where you are? For example, statistics repeatedly say that sexual assault is most likely committed by someone you know. Well if this acquaintance always knows your whereabouts, you are very vulnerable. Think about it. How many of your facebook friends do you REALLY know? Those few who are acquaintances... what if they knew you were out of town for a month? They could break into your house knowing you won't be inside to defend your property. Just a few thoughts. Would you like everyone on your friends list to always know where you are?

Illegal Recordings?

Today I stumbled upon an article posted on TechCrunch regarding cell phone use in Illinois. I am from St. Charles, not too far from the Illinois border compared to Warrensburg, so I was pretty interested in the content . The article I found was titled "Using Your Blackberry in Illinois Could Send You to Prison" which is located here: http://techcrunch.com/2011/01/22/using-your-blackberry-in-illinois-could-send-you-to-prison/

According to the article, two civilians are being charged with illegal eavesdropping, a statute rarely enforced. These two people used their electronic device or Blackberry cell phone to record conversations with law enforcement officials. The statute,  "The Illinois Eavesdropping Act, states that one may not record any audio without the consent of all parties involved." However, it is okay for law enforcement officials to do so due to a clause within the statute from what I understand. How is this fair?

I personally disagree with the prosecution of one offender, Moore, who is listed in the article. Law enforcement officials were trying to persuade her to drop the charges/complaint she had and she recorded the conversation for proof. Moore was apparently a stripper making a sexual harrassment complaint and due to society, without proof, I feel that many people would disregard her claims against the individual who sexually harrassed her or even her complaint regarding the officials if she were to make one. I would have done the same in order to have proof of attempted persuasion.I feel this subject needs further research. Just something to think about... What would you do?