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Google Chrome for Linux and Mac is Out (for Fun)
September 17, 2008 · Comments
While Google was getting down and dirty to release their version of Google Chrome for Linux and Mac users, CrossOver Chromium got into the scene. This new browser uses a similar codebase with Google Chrome.
I haven’t tried CrossOver Chromium yet as I’ve always been a Windows person, but the screencaps show that Google Chrome and CrossOver Chromium are very much alike:
CrossOver Chromium on Ubuntu Linux
Earth Aims for 100% Solar Power Energy
September 13, 2008 · Comments
Imagine being transported 20 years into the future. You might get surprised that everything looks a lot similar to the present. You get to the first person that you see, and you make friends with that guy. You get to have good times. Then as you continue your futuristic adventure, you’d notice that every home, car and building are powered up using solar energy. Gasoline and electrical energy sources had become completely obsolete – no one uses these energy sources anymore.
Okay, I’m not sure that the world will use 100% solar energy within 20 years. But the good news is that scientists had finally turned their focus to make solar energy a great alternative to fossil fuel and electrical energy.
Solar energy had been around for decades but the world seemed not to use it to its full potential. The world suffers from energy problems. I think scientists should start working fast at the possibility of using space solar power. National Space Society lists down all the advantages of implementing solar power with only one drawback: the technology is too expensive. Perhaps this is why solar energy had not improved so much.
The first successful power transmission using solar power was done in the Mojave Desert in the 1970’s. This one is an improvement of that previous experiment. This time the scientists had picked Hawaii for this experiment. Solar panels are installed at the top of one of Maui’s mountains and the energy is beamed down 92 miles to Hawaii. This generated power this time is hundred times greater, estimated to be at 20 Watts which is enough to get a small flourescent light.
The full 120 Gigawatts power that the sun and the space beam up on the earth is more than enough to power up the whole earth. Present earthlings are using a fraction of this power coming from electrical energy and fossil fuels. Most of that space solar power is simply put to waste.
The scientists had begun climbing up the steps. I hope these brilliant scientists can also make a huge leap for mankind.
Filed under Electronics, News · Tags: earth, electrical energy, power, solar energy, space, sun, technologyThe Human Tongue Gets Useful in Another Way
September 2, 2008 · Comments
We do a lot of things with our tongue. Aside from using it to taste things and aid a lot in biting, chewing and swallowing food, the tongue is often used to do mischievous things. I can just stick my tongue out at you and you’ll be annoyed (and perhaps angry) at what I just did. Of course, the tongue is also absolutely great to use – for kissing.
Georgia tech researchers at Atlanta, Georgia have recently developed another very useful ability for the tongue: to act as a computer control pad. This discovery can help disabled persons who cannot voluntarily move a muscle from their neck down to their feet. The Tongue Drive System turns the tongue into a joystick which makes it now possible for the person to control everything around him. This includes moving around, doing housework, operate appliances and even controlling a computer.
The Tongue Drive System is composed of a magnet which is placed under the person’s tongue to monitor the movement. Sensors are placed beside each cheek to detect the magnet’s movement. The information is passed through a receiver, which is contained in the person’s headgear. A computer processes it to interpret the information and perform such necessary movements.
Maysam Ghovanloo, leader of these cool Georgia tech researchers, mentioned that their group is further looking into the possibility of using the neighboring parts of the tongue. They are trying to work out more commands that enable a person to use the teeth and cheek.
We’re talking of the whole mouth being turned into a computer console someday!
At this time, I don’t think the tongue, being the strongest muscle of the human body, would get tired moving around the mouth to do such commands.
Source: “Tongue Computing” could help disabled
Filed under Computers, Electronics, Robotics · Tags: computer, Electronics, hardware, technologyAmazon’s Revolutionary Wireless Kindle Reading Device
July 12, 2008 · Comments
Amazon Kindle is a wireless portable reading device with instant access to more than 130,000 books, blogs, newspaper and magazines.
Yes, you read it right. A revolutionary handheld kindle reading and wireless device from Amazon. Imagine the numbers of 130,000 digital reading materials easily viewed right at your own palm hands! What more, without flipping a page, lifting your elbow, or even bothering somebody’s space like reading newspapers inside a commercial plane. Comfort, convenience, portable technology and you get what you pay for.
At least, watch a live demo now, it’s free.
Filed under Handhelds, InfoTech, Wireless · Tags: gizmo, reading device, technology, WirelessPioneer Released 400 GB DVD
July 7, 2008 · 1 Comment
Soon there will be a phase out of those 3.5 GB DVD that you are always using when burning DVD movies.
Pioneer has released on what they claim as the world’s first 16-layer optical disc. With 400 GB Capacity [ An ordinary 3.5 GB DVD ) is only Single Layer.
Right now the technology is Read Only but I do believed that soon they will release the Re-write version of this DVD. But how much will the machine to rewrite this DVD cost?
Let us see what will happen next. Maybe I have to go back to this post after a year?
Anyway, it is really great that Technology is advancing. Just imagine if your regular DVD could hold about 4 movies, this DVD would hold about 200 + Movies.
Filed under Computers, Peripherals · Tags: CD, Optical Disc, Pioneer, Storage, technologyThe 8th ASEAN Science and Technology Week
July 4, 2008 · Comments
The Philippines through the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is hosting the 8th ASEAN Science and Technology Week (ASTW) celebration on July 1-11, 2008 in Manila. This event also coincides with the 50th anniversary of DOST and the country’s annual celebration of National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) with the theme “Making Science Work for You.”
It aims to promote science and technology (S&T) development in the region by creating greater awareness of S&T, developing an S&T culture, as well as providing a medium for participation and collaboration in regional S&T programs.
The series of activities for the 8th ASEAN Science and Technology Week has begun and today’s activity is a continuation of the S&T conferences that started yesterday. One of the topics to be tackled today is about Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and is outlined as follows:
- ICT for Education
- ICT for Health and Social Services
- ICT for Environment
- ICT for Governance
- ICT for Business and Commerce
Other topics to be discussed are listed here.
The conferences seek to disseminate information on S&T developments and offer opportunities for interaction and collaboration among various stakeholders of S&T such as scientists, technologists, researchers, academicians, government workers, industry practitioners and the general public.
The participants will be very busy these coming days. There are still a lot of activities in store for them such as the following:
- 2008 National Science and Technology Week , Philippines
- ASEAN S&T Awards – Awarding Ceremonies
- S&T Exhibition
- ASEAN Youth Science Summit
A detailed schedule of activities can be found at the 8th ASTW official website.
Filed under Announcements, Events · Tags: asean, dost, science, technology