23 1 / 2013
Nike opens access to customer data
Large companies are usually keen to keep their research about customers away from the public, but in a rare move, Nike has launched a portal allowing software developers to access live data from some of its customers.
The semi-private online portal allows authenticated developers to access “activity data” from users of the Nike+ Fuelband and Nike+ Running services, including their GPS location, distance run (or walked), pace, calories and goals achieved.
Nike says the information will be used by app developers to create new companies that offer exercise-related applications and services, such as the “Lose It!” website.
23 1 / 2013
Buy a swarm of 1000 Robots - for cheap
Researchers at Harvard’s Self Organizing Systems Research Group have announced the development of the Kilobot – a robot about the size of a quarter that’s capable of acting collectively with other robots of the same type. The kicker? Each individual robot only costs about $14 – meaning that you could have a swarm of thousands of Kilbots and spend less than you would on a new car.
23 1 / 2013
There was Planetary Resources…. now there’s Deep Space Industries. Is asteroid mining sounding more sci-fi than sci-fact? Or will it be the next big gold rush? We should have a partial answer by 2015…
Second Company Announces Plan to Mine Asteroids
Newly formed Deep Space Industries unveiled an ambitious plan on Tuesday to extract raw materials from nearby asteroids and turn it into fuel and spare parts for satellites. Read more…
23 1 / 2013
Robots serving food at a restaurant? It has begun. The end is nigh! Call Will Smith!
Photo via AmericanPhotoMag.com
23 1 / 2013
The gTar is a fully digital guitar that enables anybody to play music quickly and easily with the help of LEDs and a docked iPhone
The Kickstarter may have ended in June, this is an awesome learning tool none-the-less. I hope this sees the light of day!
Here is a real-live demo and review from Engadget.
23 1 / 2013
NASA Uses Lasers To Send The Mona Lisa To The Moon
Snip from Youtube:
As part of the first demonstration of laser communication with a satellite at the moon, scientists with NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) beamed an image of the Mona Lisa to the spacecraft from Earth.
The iconic image traveled nearly 240,000 miles in digital form from the Next Generation Satellite Laser Ranging (NGSLR) Station at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD, to the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) instrument on the spacecraft. By transmitting the image piggyback on laser pulses that are routinely sent to track LOLA’s position, the team achieved simultaneous laser communication and tracking.[via ScientificAmerican] [NASA]
23 1 / 2013
Australian firefighters test data-transmitting pills to monitor biometrics during work
A new swallowable pill has been trialled with 50 firefighters in Australia, aimed at monitoring body temperatures and other vital readings when working under extreme conditions. Using Equivital’s VitalSense Core Temperature capsules, they transmit readings to the companion EQ02 LifeMonitor, housed on the chest. This then sends data on skin temperature, heart rate and respiration rate to an external computer. If a firefighter’s core body temperature is increasing too quickly, they can then be moved from the frontline to a recovery area, hopefully reducing accidents and deaths caused by heat exhaustion.
23 1 / 2013
![futurescope:
Artificial and 3D-printed Meat from Modern Meadow
via bbc:
US start-up Modern Meadow believes it can do just that - by making artificial raw meat using a 3D bioprinter. Peter Thiel, one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent venture capitalists, Paypal co-founder and early Facebook investor, has just backed the company with $350,000 (£218,000). Set up by father-son team Gabor and Andras Forgacs, the start-up wants to take 3D printing to a whole new level. […]
[read more] [Modern Meadow]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/7dea88ef92aaecbb7fa40ec4ff75442f/tumblr_mh12w5tFY61r08k60o1_500.png)
Artificial and 3D-printed Meat from Modern Meadow
via bbc:
US start-up Modern Meadow believes it can do just that - by making artificial raw meat using a 3D bioprinter. Peter Thiel, one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent venture capitalists, Paypal co-founder and early Facebook investor, has just backed the company with $350,000 (£218,000). Set up by father-son team Gabor and Andras Forgacs, the start-up wants to take 3D printing to a whole new level. […]
25 9 / 2012
Dip Jar : The swipe-and-go tip jar
Ever wanted to tip, but had no change? Dip your card into the DipJar, and it will take a dollar for the staff, and waste no more than a few seconds of your time.
(Source: shotfromshoes)
24 9 / 2012
App let’s musicians control light & sound of crowd’s phone
Musician Dan Deacon is taking over his fans phones and making them part of the live show. Grab it here.
(Source: shotfromshoes)
