I've talked about the singularity before (here and here), but I guess this video explains it much better than I ever could. The most important thing I guess is learning to learn.
Via Alt1040.
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
The Space Elevator
We know that the world financial markets are still reeling from the China effect, but let's think a little bit longer term.
The first time I read about the concept of space elevators was in Kim Stanley Robinson's excellent and highly recommended Mars trilogy. I found them again while playing Civilization IV. So the question is, what is a space elevator and why do I mention it in this blog along the rest of my musings and ruminations?
A space elevator, as this article from Space.com might make clearer, is exactly what its name denotes: a lift between the surface of our planet (or any planet) and outer space. The physics of it are rather simple, as they follow similar patters as such for geosynchronous satellites. Technologically speaking it doesn't require the development of completely unknown technologies, but rather of areas currently on the works. Why does it matter? Simply because it makes the transport of payloads to space much more cost-effective (and furthermore, enjoys economies of scale), which basically means that once the huge initial invesment is made, space exploration (and potentially exploitation, such as asteroid mining) becomes cheap enough to be performed on a larger scale than currently.
Given that it can be argued that exploration ages spur economic growth, as was the case with the discovery of the Americas by European explorers in the 16th century, this project could be the key for humanity to regain theinitiative in its own development.
Daydreaming? Maybe. But so were the internet, automobiles and many, many other things that we now take for granted.
The first time I read about the concept of space elevators was in Kim Stanley Robinson's excellent and highly recommended Mars trilogy. I found them again while playing Civilization IV. So the question is, what is a space elevator and why do I mention it in this blog along the rest of my musings and ruminations?
A space elevator, as this article from Space.com might make clearer, is exactly what its name denotes: a lift between the surface of our planet (or any planet) and outer space. The physics of it are rather simple, as they follow similar patters as such for geosynchronous satellites. Technologically speaking it doesn't require the development of completely unknown technologies, but rather of areas currently on the works. Why does it matter? Simply because it makes the transport of payloads to space much more cost-effective (and furthermore, enjoys economies of scale), which basically means that once the huge initial invesment is made, space exploration (and potentially exploitation, such as asteroid mining) becomes cheap enough to be performed on a larger scale than currently.
Given that it can be argued that exploration ages spur economic growth, as was the case with the discovery of the Americas by European explorers in the 16th century, this project could be the key for humanity to regain theinitiative in its own development.
Daydreaming? Maybe. But so were the internet, automobiles and many, many other things that we now take for granted.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
News from 3GSM: Nokia and YouTube sign deal
3GSM, the largest mobile industry gathering, is taking place in Barcelona this week. I just read in the news that beside the usual product launches from device manufacturers, Nokia and YouTube have announced a deal in which YouTube's videos will be available for Nokia Nseries users. Being a heavy user of both a Nokia N93 and YouTube, I am really waiting for this.
For more news on 3GSM, you can check out the coverage from the FT, the Guardian, or The Register.
For more news on 3GSM, you can check out the coverage from the FT, the Guardian, or The Register.
3G and sign language
I couldn't help but notice in Babel the usage of 3G mobiles by deaf people: using video call to transmit sign language. I was very surprised to discover that this usage is not exclusive of Japan, as in Sweden the municipality of Örebrö gives customer service to its large population of deaf people using sign language (link in Swedish). That's the kind of uses of technology I like: simple and relevant.
Friday, February 09, 2007
New kind of video games: PeaceMaker and FoodForce
I like video games, especially those related to strategy. I've played games in the series of Age of Empires, Total War, Command and Conquer and Civilization, among others. However, a new kind of socially-responsible video games have caught my attention.
PeaceMaker is also a strategy game, but in this case you take control of one of the sides in the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the goal is to achieve peace and the Nobel Prize. Their usage of real news footage in the game seems particularly interesting.
FoodForce is a game developed for the UN World Food Programme targeted at pre-teens, where they are given the task to co-ordinate the food assistance operations of the UN in a fictional country. It has now been downloaded millions of times.
I don't know about you, but I feel these kind of gaming is worth trying. We can teach people that doing the right thing can also be fun.
PeaceMaker is also a strategy game, but in this case you take control of one of the sides in the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the goal is to achieve peace and the Nobel Prize. Their usage of real news footage in the game seems particularly interesting.
FoodForce is a game developed for the UN World Food Programme targeted at pre-teens, where they are given the task to co-ordinate the food assistance operations of the UN in a fictional country. It has now been downloaded millions of times.
I don't know about you, but I feel these kind of gaming is worth trying. We can teach people that doing the right thing can also be fun.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
The Machine is Us/ing Us
Best explanation I've ever seen of Web 2.0 below. Ties in quite well with what we've discussed on the singularity.
Via Noveno Colectivo and Ceronne.
Via Noveno Colectivo and Ceronne.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Human Rights for Robots
I read this in the Financial Times some time ago and it definitely caught my attention. Given that we would be approaching the singularity supposedly soon, it doesn't sound so out of touch with reality.
Talking about this with some people I know, they were decidedly spooked by this given that, they say, "robots don't have a soul". The issue of having it or not for me is irrelevant, for as long as something is self-aware and can express it they should have rights (this applies also to animals). I wanted to give them an introduction to this, but they dismissed it as a waste of time, and truth be told, our world has more pressing concerns.
I wonder if they will still think that way later on.
Talking about this with some people I know, they were decidedly spooked by this given that, they say, "robots don't have a soul". The issue of having it or not for me is irrelevant, for as long as something is self-aware and can express it they should have rights (this applies also to animals). I wanted to give them an introduction to this, but they dismissed it as a waste of time, and truth be told, our world has more pressing concerns.
I wonder if they will still think that way later on.
Hittail review
I'm using a search hits reporting tool called HitTail. This way, I now know that people searching the internet find my blog while looking for Mexican hand gestures (yes, I still have to post that video in YouTube) or Pan's Labrynth.
If you write a blog, I'm sure this utility will be useful.
If you write a blog, I'm sure this utility will be useful.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Demonstrator in the World Economic Forum Second Life room
As demonstrators can't go to Davos, one decided to express his opinions in the Second Life Reuters interview room.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Bloglines service review
I am using an RSS web reader service called bloglines to keep track of all the blogs and news sites I read. The big advantage is that it is very simple to use and add different feeds, besides not being tied to a single PC.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Preview: iPhone, a couple of days after the release
Now, if you follow technology news I'm sure you have heard about the launch of the iPhone, Apple Inc.'s first product that marries an iPod with a mobile phone.
After reading a couple of previews (here, here, here, here and here), and owning both a 60 GB iPod video and a Nokia N93 I've made up my mind.
On the plus side I think that the design is very, very nice (as expected from Apple), and I'm sure that the interface will be easy to use and "sexy". The browser also looks very nice (although those kind of browsers have been available before in other products). However, in my opinion this device has serious shortcomings. First in my mind is that it has no 3G connectivity. WLAN coverage is not ubiquitously available outside of San Francisco, so downloading music or browsing will not be as simple. Other issue that simply makes me literally scratch my head is the use of touchscreen. While in paper it sounds like a great idea, but given that the iPod is very scratch prone (I keep mine in a protecting case, as many people do) I truly wonder whether this will annoy users more than it will delight them. Also the fact of having Google maps without GPS or fast 3G connectivity kind of defeats the purpose of navigation (will you find a WLAN hotspot on the road?).
With my combo of N93 and iPod, I wouldn't have the incentive to switch to a device that doesn't hold as many songs on one hand, and doesn't do photos, video and internet as well either, but that's just me. Somebody who is an absolute fan of Apple's products (and there are many out there) will buy it immediately.
All in all, I think it will be a steep learning curve for Apple, but I'm sure that their entrance to the market hasn't been unnoticed by the SonyEricssons, Motorolas and Nokias of this world.
After reading a couple of previews (here, here, here, here and here), and owning both a 60 GB iPod video and a Nokia N93 I've made up my mind.
On the plus side I think that the design is very, very nice (as expected from Apple), and I'm sure that the interface will be easy to use and "sexy". The browser also looks very nice (although those kind of browsers have been available before in other products). However, in my opinion this device has serious shortcomings. First in my mind is that it has no 3G connectivity. WLAN coverage is not ubiquitously available outside of San Francisco, so downloading music or browsing will not be as simple. Other issue that simply makes me literally scratch my head is the use of touchscreen. While in paper it sounds like a great idea, but given that the iPod is very scratch prone (I keep mine in a protecting case, as many people do) I truly wonder whether this will annoy users more than it will delight them. Also the fact of having Google maps without GPS or fast 3G connectivity kind of defeats the purpose of navigation (will you find a WLAN hotspot on the road?).
With my combo of N93 and iPod, I wouldn't have the incentive to switch to a device that doesn't hold as many songs on one hand, and doesn't do photos, video and internet as well either, but that's just me. Somebody who is an absolute fan of Apple's products (and there are many out there) will buy it immediately.
All in all, I think it will be a steep learning curve for Apple, but I'm sure that their entrance to the market hasn't been unnoticed by the SonyEricssons, Motorolas and Nokias of this world.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Monday, December 25, 2006
Mandando mensajes de texto a México
No sé si la situación sea diferente con Movistar, pero al menos con Telcel no puedo mandar mensajes de celulares de otros países a números Telcel. Eso me parece muy raro ya que puedo mandar a números de otros países, e incluso haciendo roaming en México me llegó a pasar que recibía y podía mandar mensajes con mi número finlandés de un amigo con un número de Singapur tomando vacaciones en Nueva Zelanda, pero no podía recibir y mandar mensajes a mi papá con un Telcel en el cuarto de al lado.
¿Cuándo van a conectar su SMSC (la parte de la red de GSM que manipula los mensajes de texto) al mundo? ¿Realmente necesitan convencimiento sobre el modelo de negocio, dada la cantidad de mexicanos que vivimos fuera del país que podríamos causar una explosión en el uso de los mensajes de texto internacionales?
¿Cuándo van a conectar su SMSC (la parte de la red de GSM que manipula los mensajes de texto) al mundo? ¿Realmente necesitan convencimiento sobre el modelo de negocio, dada la cantidad de mexicanos que vivimos fuera del país que podríamos causar una explosión en el uso de los mensajes de texto internacionales?
Infraestructura telefónica en México
Esta mañana me dí de topes otra vez con la infraestructura telefónica mexicana. Dado que soy uno de los 20 millones de mexicanos que viven en el extranjero, quise hablarle a mi familia a las 00:00 del 25 de diciembre para desearles feliz navidad. Dado que en Finlandia eran las 08:00 a.m. del mismo 25, que mi llamada saliera no fue mayor problema... el problema fue que entrara. Intenté dos números de celular y uno fijo, y durante quince minutos no hubo ni cómo. Recibí mensajes de "Intente más tarde" en finés, inglés, sueco, español y uno hasta en chino. Cuando por fin mi llamada pudo entrar a alguno de los celulares, me mandó inmediatamente al buzón de voz ambas veces.
Con razón el país ha perdido negocios de call centers para América Latina, si la red no puede ni siquiera manejar las llamadas de navidad.
Con razón el país ha perdido negocios de call centers para América Latina, si la red no puede ni siquiera manejar las llamadas de navidad.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Useless technology
I'm usually a technology advocate, but this is stupid. I saw in a restaurant a plasma screen with video of a fireplace instead of a real fireplace. Is there any point?
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