New Security Scanner Can See -=>ALL<=-

I just saw a story about this new security system being used in a trial run at the Phoenix airport and in spite of what the story says, I don't think most people are going to like the idea of a scanner that can see through their clothing.

Another thing about this is that they went out of their way to mention that it does not have any way to save or transmit the images, but I'll just bet where there's a will, there's a way. Look for images from this thing to show up online within a year.

In the meantime, if this thing gets used at more airports, there might just be a market for lead lined underwear.

Utility Belts Anyone?

You know the gadget filled, compartmentalized belt made famous by Batman? Well, one of the tools it had was something that allowed the caped crusader to climb the side of a building at a pretty good pace. Up until now it's just been one of many parts of science fiction and comic book stories.

MIT student Nate Ball, and three other MIT students worked together on the "Powered Rope Ascender". It was an award winning entry in an MIT sponsored design competition. Apparently this little gem can climb at 10 feet per second.

While I don't doub't that would-be superheroes will be all over the thing, it's going to be marketed as a tool for firefighters, rescue workers, police and so forth.


Technorati Tags: technology, design+competition, rescue

Green Lights?

I just saw a headling on ABC News, "Legislator Wants Green Lights in California" and right away I wondered why green lights? Wouldn't that cause eyestrain? As it turns out, these days when somebody calls something "green" they may not be talking about the color. In this case it's another way to say 'environmentally friendly' or somesuch. Wouldn't it be nice if people would just speak plainly?

In any event, the 'green' lights being talked about are those curly little 'Compact fluorescent lights'. This legislator wants to ban the use of traditional incandesent light bulbs by 2012. This may even be worth doing. The things are said to last ten times longer and put out the same amount of light, generate 70% less heat and save $30 or more in energy costs over the bulb's ten year lifetime.

In the end however, the only thing on my mind is the fact that I cannot resist asking:

How many legislators does it take to change a light bulb?

Folks in California may be among the first to find out.

Bionic Eyes?

Steve Austin, where are you?

I'm sure that a lot of people in my generation remember him from 1970's television. The victim of a horrific crash, he lost both legs, one arm and one eye. All of which were replaced by nuclear powered Bionic replacement parts.

Well, technology is catching up with the science fiction of yesteryear. I just saw a story about the development of a new bionic eye it's a far cry from the techno wonder Austin had, his had 20 to 1 zoom, this one is far less than that, but it's a start, who knows what'll be available ten years from now?

Time Change 'Baby Y2k'?

Microsoft is now warning people who use it's various calendar programs that they need to double check any appointments, schedules etc. because of a possible problem with the time change this spring.

While it's a far cry from all the rumors and FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt) that went with the anticipation of midnight 12/31/00, it's still a possible problem. Not only that, but it isn't even Microsoft's fault. It's Congress' fault.

This is happening because Congress decided that it would be better to have an more early evening daylight. Apparently they think that this will translate into more energy savings.

So, as a result, calendar software written before this 2005 law was passed that changed daylight-saving time so that it would start three weeks earlier and end one week later starting this year.

This is going to have people being an hour late for a good three weeks this spring and an hour early for a week next fall. Myself, I just wish they'd pick a way to have time and quit changing it. The changeovers from standard time to daylight-savings and back have always been a pain that I'd just as soon not have.

VT College says wikipedia is not authoritative source

I ran across this because somebody decided that it belonged in the Technology News section on iwon.com, probably because it used the word 'online' or some sillyness.

Anywho, it seems that this college in Vermont has decided that Wikipedia cannot be used as an authoritative source in papers written by students. Next thing you know they'll decide that the only way to find information is in their brick and mortar library.

Teraflops? Cool!

I just saw something interesting. It seems that Intel has come up with a chip that can actually do a shade over 1 teraflop. The chip that does it runs at 3.16 ghz and only used 62 watts of power in the process.

The first thing I can't help wondering is how much this thing cost and secondly, when (if ever) will we see home desktop pc's with teraflop cpu's?

Somehow I think we shouln't be running down to Circuit City just yet.

Anna Nicole Tech?!??

I have to say right of the bat that without reservation or doubt, there has been and continues to be entirely too much press and public attention on Anna Nicole Smith, her death, the death of her son, and anything else to do with her life.

But I think somebody has gone over the edge when they put one of this never ending flood of Anna Nicole stories in the Technology News section on iwon.com

Ok, granted, that's not exactly what I'd call a "mainstream media" news outlet, but still somebody there decided that just because the headline of the AP story they scraped had the word "online" in it, that it belonged in Technology news. Sorry folks, that's assinine. It's like putting a story in the 'plumbing daily' just because it contains the word 'toilet'.

Not only is it not Technology news, It shouldn't even be news at this point. When does that woman's family get to be done with all this crap and go on with ther lives??