Wireless ELECTRICITY is HERE…. seriously!

As the article states “The world is about to be cured of its attachment disorder”. Ever since 1890 scientists have been attempting to transmit electricity wirelessly, now it finally happening. Within months these technologies will be put into affect with companies already working on enabling portable devices in several different wireless electricity transfer methods.

As soon as April Inductive coupling will be available in portable devices such as flashlights, cell phones, and blackberry’s will be outfitted with a small coil. When the portable device outfitted with the coil is place on a mouse-pad looking device that can send electricity over a few inches. A tiny powered coil inside the pad creates a magnetic field that induces power to flow through to the secondary coil in the portable device when the device is lying on the pad. Making this technology even greater is that the pad is smart, no electricity will stray. For instance if you were to set you keys on it would not charge your keys due to the integrated circuits that drive the built in coils.

Also available in April is Radio-Frequency Harvesting, which is electricity, transformed into radio waves, which are transmitted across a room, then received by so-called power harvesters and translated back into low-voltage direct current. It is slightly less efficient but can cross up to 85 ft. The department of defense is already using this technology.

Next is an invention by MIT’s Soljacic called Magnetically Coupled Resonance that he has dubbed WiTrisicty. This is the most advanced of all the new wireless electricity technologies. It can power an entire room. This device uses two coils — one powered, one not, the coils don’t have to be close to each other to transfer energy. Instead, they depend on so-called magnetic resonance. What is great about this electricity is that it doesn’t require line of sight. A powered coil in the basement could power the whole house wirelessly. And it is safe according to Soljacic, “Biological organisms are invisible to, and unaffected by, a magnetic field.” You should expect to see this technology being used within the next 12 to 18 months.

This article relates to informatics because of all the opportunities that it opens up for mobile technology to truly become mobile and not rely on plugging in every few hours.

I find this concept truly fascinating and extremely useful if it can become efficient and safe as well as environmentally safe. I’m very excited to see this technology come to market and see how companies find ways to take advantage of it.

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/132/brilliant.html

Byung Hoon’s Post

Porsche especially “Cayman” model import their own technology for their communication system which is called Porsche Communication Management (PCM). The main feature is the 6.5-inch colour touchscreen with a durable, easy-to-clean coating. People can operate the unit quickly and safely. Also The GPS navigation system included with the optional PCM has an internal hard drive containing maps for most European countries, A touchscreen enables rapid destination input and instant viewing of traffic information and points of interest (POIs) by simply allowing you to touch the symbols on the map.

This article demonstrate how technology has been developed. Informatic is the science of information and also engineering of information systems. GPS navigation and PCM is equipped with engineering of information systems.

When i read this article, i was very impressed by Porsche’s technology. Even though technology which porsche input on their system is not their own one, it is amazing that Porsche can imput new technology on their communication system.

Tabletop technology

Microsoft is developing a new tool that recognizes touching a surface. This technology is suspected to be released in three to four years. This advance in technology can make the world extremely efficient, especially if it is used in retail stores and restaurants like the movie suggests. It maximizes the human to computer interaction. I think that this technology will be very helpful, but only if it is easy to learn. It might be too advanced for the general public at this time.

Windows 7 upgrade

Windows 7 is coming probably sooner this year than later. I did not actually download and use the Windows Vista in my computer; however, I used it at the library and it seemed difficult to me. They say Windows 7  is easier than Vista. Plus, you cannot download the Windows 7.  On the last part of the article, they indicate that Windows 7 will be the better version in day’s word and in the business. “Some hope that with about a day’s work and a lot of patience, Windows XP users will be able to escape the fate of their software setups being rendered outmoded should Windows 7 indeed live up to Microsoft’s many promises.” After read the article: http://www.betanews.com/article/Windows_XP_to_Windows_7_upgrades_Difficult_but_not_impossible/1235440384

Hillarious Interview about Technology

This video was filmed on Conan O’briens Late Nite Show. It says so many things about my thoughts on human behavior with regards to technology. It has led me to the conclusion that no matter how far we advance in the technological world, there will always be people who complain about how terrible people are doing to satisfy their consumers. Will people’s general thirst for the unattainable satisfaction continue to spur us to better our technology?

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the person Conan is interviewing. He is interviewing a comedian named Louis C.K. He’s a very hillarious guy who’s general style is to make fun of people who complain. This video I’m posting is a prime example of his comedic style.

The user who posted requested this video not be embedded so I will post a link. It is definitely worth viewing. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoGYx35ypus

Jon Russell
cajrusse@indiana.edu

The Pirate Bay Trial: Day 7

As the case against the notorious swedish BitTorrent tracker The Pirate
Bay (TPB) reaches its seventh day, the outcome is starting to look like
a landslide for TPB. The prosecutor, Hakan Roswall, continued to
introduce evidence not previously submitted, for which the judge
promptly reprimanded him. The charges have been further reduced (after
having 50% dropped on the first day). A key witness, police officer
Jim Keyzer, cannot be accounted for. And to top it off, the
prosecutions “experts” admitted they could not prove that TPB had even
been used when they had downloaded copyrighted material for the
investigation. It is becoming so clear that the prosecution, and the
media industries in general, have absolutely no idea what they’re
doing. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not a supporter of piracy. As a
staunch capitalist, I believe intellectual property rights are
essential in a free market. However, I also believe they should be
used for innovation. The music and movie industries (RIAA & MPAA) have
failed to adapt to new technologies and have continued to rely on a
business model in which they control every aspect. Instead of
embracing the Internet and the digital era and developing ways to
monetize it, they have fought it every chance they had. And this is
why I don’t support them. These industries are clinging to a business
model that is outdated and should be illegal. They extort artists and
line their own pockets. At heart, they are cartels that collude to
manipulate and industry. They have failed to realize that they have a
product the is clearly in HUGE demand. Yet they want to charge
exorbitant amounts of money and then expect nobody to pirate their
content. And better yet, piracy actually boosts music sales. The only
people it hurts is the record industry because it helps artists realize
that they can bypass the labels, go straight to the Internet, and have
their music heard by hundreds of millions of people. As it is, artists
make little money from CD sales. Almost all the money goes to the
labels. I think artists need to wise up, offer their music online
extremely cheap or even free, build up a fan base and make a killing
performing live (which is something people are willing to break the
bank for). Just my .02

Source: http://torrentfreak.com/pirate-bay-trial-day-7-screenshots-for-evidence-090224/

The future of robotics

Shane Dorsey

Informatics

 

                                                            The Future of Robots

This popular science article is discussing how robots have progressed over the years. This article presents the reader with a brief history on robots and how the term “robot” was coined. The article discusses how the Greeks where the first ones to build machines that resemble human intelligence and movement. The article goes on to discuss the challenges of trying to build an robot that closely resembles human intelligence, “The aspiration to build human-level androids can be regarded as the ultimate challenge in artificial intelligence. To do it, we need to understand not just human cognition but also our physical skill-it is, after all, a critical part of what the brain does.” Also the article gives detail information about how advancements are occurring in understanding the brain and how it operates.

This Popular Science article titled “The Future of Robots” by John B. Carnett, is related to informatics because it show how techonology shapes our world and how we as human shape techonology. Robotics is a great example of how humans shape technology inorder to make it work for us. Also the challenges that are being presented in devloping robotic intelleigence that matches the human brain  represents the problelm soloving aspect of informatics. I feel that robotics still have a long way to go before it can match human intelleigence. I think more funding needs to be put into the development of technology that is involed in robotics.

http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2006-09/future-robots

 

Embracing a Life Without the Roller Bag

Videoconferencing over royalty

William A. Allen III, a 61-year-old consultant has finally stopped spending half of his life on the airplane. He had spent “five nights a week on the road, 50 weeks a year for 31 years.” All he earned for spending such time on the road was a royal treatment from the hotel manager. Spending the huge amount of time that we cannot even imagine did not do a special good to him. Instead, he did not get to spend time with his family. But now, Mr. Allen is not flying 5 days a week like before. He plays with his two children at a playground now and has his meetings through videoconferencing technology. For the last decade, people were trying to invent the videoconferencing. Now all the conferences are held and enabled by the social networking tools like Skype. There is a problem. The hotels and airlines are taking their downfalls in business. As videoconferencing demand grows, the demand for traveling businesses decreases. The problem gets bigger; the services are getting poorer.
This article is related to informatics because it relates with the information technology which deals with the art, science and human dimension sides of informatics: videoconferencing. As the number videoconferencing users are growing, they are trying to evangelize the system to all their customers and “a small group of other road-weary consultants.” These videoconferencing networking tools are very cheap and easy to find. It is even free sometimes. This new technology should be a big part of people’s life because it saves time and money at the same time. I am personally a big fan of videoconferencing tools. I use it almost every day to talk to my girlfriend in Korea. It does not cost any money and the tool is all free to use. Only about 5 years ago, the videoconferencing tools were only on their way to be invented; they were not so big back then. The tool is helping many people’s lives, but there is another defecting consequence; the sagging demand for traveling businesses. This could be the next big assignment to accomplish.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/business/24road.html?_r=2&ref=technology

Android is coming for Apple via G1!!!

The T-mobile G1 is the first mobile phone to run on Google’s Android software. Android is an open source community type software that allows developers to create apps free of charge unlike Apple and Nokia. A Google spokesman said that, these days, using phones “does not just mean a phone call, but rather access to the world’s information” and that mobiles will be one of the most important ways to connect to the internet in future. The t-mobile g1 is the first attempt from Google in the cell phone software industry. Though the G1 is not comparable to the I-phone in terms of style and touchscreen capabilities, it is a promising introduction for one of the cell phones industries new big dogs.

I feel that this article relates to informatics because cell phones are a part of almost every humans lives. The day-to day interaction is really important to how informatics graduates or students need to look at solving problems. The interface deals with solving problems such as:finding contacts, updating email, etc. Many of these problems can be related back to lecture and the varying problem types.

Since Android is so open I my self can make an app for the G1 . The fact that it is so easy shows much more creativity can be put into these apps for the users experience. The type of innovation Android will bring to the cell phone community is huge and I look forward to see how it works in the future.

http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article4810954.ece

Electronic Shifting on a Bicycle

In this article/blog on wired.com, the author talks about Shimano’s new electronic Dura-Ace bicycle components.  Electronic Dura-Ace or “Di2” is brand new for 2009.  It has prototype tested over the past few years.  The author writes about how much smoother the shifting is, as well as how much more precise the shifting is compared to standard “mechanical” shifting with stainless steel cables, (if you own a bike it more than likely has “mechanical” shifting).

I picked this article because I enjoy cycling and I find the technology in cycling to be very interesting.  I would say this relates to informatics in several ways.  First, the problem solving aspect of informatics, specifically why making electronic shifting better than mechanical shifting.  Electronic shifting on bicycles is nothing new.  Mavic had Zap (mid-90s)  and Mektronic (late ’90s-early ’00s) electronic shifting, the latter of which was wireless.  Campagnolo has shown prototypes of electronic shifting as well.  Some of the problems with electronic shifting have been the mechanics of the derailleurs.  Specifically a mechanical derailleur operates by a cable from the shifter pulling it and then the derailleur moves the chain.  With electronic transmissions, the derailleurs have to be completely redesigned because a mechanical derailleur operates on cable actuation, whereas an electric derailleur has to almost use computer operated gears to move the chain. The next problem with electronic shifting is durability.  Typically electronics don’t do too well with water, mud, etc.  The third problem electronic shifting suffers from is a battery or battery pack.  There are several issues with a battery or battery pack.  First, you have to make sure the battery is charged, and lasts.  Some professional cycling races cover 150+ miles per day.  Pro or amateur, you aren’t going to be too happy if you bike stops shifting while your still riding.  The second problem with a battery or battery pack is that it has weight…and when you have professionals and enthusiasts who are obsessed with having the absolute lightest bike, this is an issue.  The second way this applies to informatics is that like information technology, cycling technology is constantly evolving.

Shimano has solved the issues of the derailleur design, as shown in the gallery at the bottom.  Shimano has also tested the durability with the elements, and supposedly solved that problem.  Finally Shimano has solved the issue of the battery pack, with its new Di2 as well.  Now, I can’t explain everything about the design, but you can see how the design of an electric Dura-Ace derailleur vs. a mechanical one differs.  Unfortunately I couldn’t find a picture of the internals of the derailleurs but you can see some of the other changes.  Shimano tested the protype Di2 in some of the most prestigious races in the world such as Paris-Roubaix, the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France, the Vuelta a Espana, and in extreme conditions of Belgian cyclocross.  Shimano conquered the battery life/weight problem as well.  I think the are using an Li-ion battery pack, which is fairly small, and it supposedly will last for 5,000 miles of riding on one charge.  Also the Di2 (7970) is only like 60 grams or so heavier than the mechanical Dura-Ace 7900.

I personally test rode a bike with Shimano’s Di2 last fall in Las Vegas at an industry-only tradeshow (Interbike).  I agree with the author that it shifts great, especially on the front.  I don’t think he correctly described the shifting for a mechanical transmission though.  I personally don’t think mechanical shifting is that bad, if you have your bike set up correctly.  I will say the Di2 was extremely crisp and precise.  I also liked that if you crash and bang up your rear derailleur, it will automatically reset itself, provided you haven’t destroyed it.  Di2 offers lots of benefits, especially in muddy conditions, where mud and grit can slow or prevent shifting–Di2 doesn’t suffer from that.  All in all I think Di2 is great, but as the author said, it is very expensive right now.  I personally will be sticking with my mechanical Dura-Ace 7800 which works great for me and how much I ride.  If I was pro or had lots of money I’d definitely get Di2, but right now the cost-benefits aren’t enough for me.