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Fiction Inspired Technology

Posted by on July 31, 2011
Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk, in a promoti...

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Science fiction is the dream world where innovation comes out to play. Futuristic worlds are imagined and take shape without limits. Fans of the television series Star Trek will well remember the technology that made galactic travel seem completely plausible. ho doesn’t remember the trademark phrase “beam me up, Scotty” Besides being able to travel to planets in minutes, Captain Kirk routinely walked through unmanned doors that opened as if sensing his presence, the tri-corder was the world’s first flip phone, and computers that responded by voice commands was common place. Even Star Trek The Next Generation inspired technology with Dr. Crusher’s vital sign scanner. Just one swipe of her medical wand and she received a full report of her patient’s condition. Not completely there today but we do have the next best thing. Forehead thermometers that take temperatures non-evasively even when a child is sleeping. These thermometerswork by reading energy that comes from the forehead which is captured by a lens and converted to the proper temperature value. The device also performs a function check when it is enabled to make sure proper readings are produced.  Remarkably this convenient invention can be purchased for as little as $30. Technological advances and society goes on unphased by the amazing leaps that are accomplished. Today we effortlessly live in the future great writers of the past dreamed of. They didn’t always get it right but their foresight inspired a whole host of scientists who are now making their dreams reality.

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Get the most from your devices

Posted by on June 30, 2011
Mobile Phone 

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Almost everyone today has at least a mobile phone, most of us have computers and many of the gadgets in our houses use computer software to run, but are we getting the most out of those devices?

The variety

The mobile phone can easily be doubled up as a music center, or even a mini computer to send and receive emails. The laptop can also do the same as well as doubling as your TV (But unfortunately it doesn’t cook a good meal! You’ll still need the microwave or cooker). There’s a danger with some of the older machines that we overload them causing them to slow down dramatically at critical times.

The problem

Ever got frustrated because your computer seems to be taking ages to open a program up? It’s probably overloading the computer and the machine is having a problem running it.

The cure

There are basically two ways to cure the problem

  1. Get some good advice on what programs you really need. Advice is free, but good advice is worth it’s weight in Gold. Streamlining the programs on your old machine might give it the new lease of life you need for it.
  2. Buy a new device. A good alternative, but even here it really pays to get good advice, not just the advice of the salesperson at the local computer store.

The results

The results will be more productivity and more enjoyment out of the devices you have. Getting the right advice and the right software to run the devices is key to truly enjoying them well into the future.

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Something Different This Way Has Come

Posted by on April 24, 2011
EckieGlass

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Gaming whether by console or computer had a variety of game types in the beginning. About the year 2000, new 3D graphics platforms appeared and almost overnight the variety disappeared.

The balance of gaming went towards action, mayhem games, or fast vehicle racing. Interesting puzzle, logic, and innovative nonviolent games dwindled. Once in a while the beta type game pops up and becomes popular, but it has mostly been relegated to the realm of children. There are game designers and artists out in cyberspace creating innovative, mind enhancing game formats.

Micheal Samyn and Auriea Harvey are digital graphics artists who have created games that are not about gaming, but about having an experience. Their collaboration together has resulted in several formats which if one keeps an open mind, and has patience a player will have an emotional experience while playing. The experiences cannot be defined because for each person depending on their mood, background, and their life issues their gaming sensations are different. The games have been recognized and awarded by numerous entities.The Endless Forest is their MMORPG game and you become a fawn residing in a living artistic portrait of a forest. No rules. No talk. Fatale is a cryptic tale of Salome where every move a player makes slowly results in an illumination. A creation called The Path is found on the STEAM platform and many other venues. In the game the player answers the question of “Which path will you take the path of needles or the path of pins?”

It is a different mindset one needs to experience.

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Calm Entanglements

Posted by on April 17, 2011
Hexagon as a truncated triangle (bicolored edges)

Image via Wikipedia

Entanglements in the dictionary world means something that confuses or ensnares. In Google Chrome there are numerous apps that can be downloaded for work or enjoyment. In the games applications section there is a game called Entanglement. The game play is exactly opposite of what is expected. Instead of confusion and ensnarement there is clarity and freedom that produces a sense of calmness and peace.

When one first opens the game, very calming pentatonic scale music plays in the background. There is an immediate reaction in oneself to slow down and calm down. The game interface displays a simple hexagonal board filled with hexagons around a central hub. Inside the hexagons are ropes of curving directions. Clicking on a hexagon next to the presented hexagon starts game play. If the entangled ropes connect they will fill with a dull red. A player can rotate hexagons to maximize game play. Play is intuitive and easy to learn. There are additional maps to use, music available, and a how to play on YouTube.There is a feature that lets a person play on mobile, and they are working on providing their service for Android phones.

Entanglement is created by Gopherwood Studios. Gopherwood Studios is a small business by two guys. Derek Detweiler and Todd Lewis.  They create games in their spare time in the basement of Derek’s home. The game has become successful, and so the boys are learning all the ins and out of game development such as translating Entanglement into several languages. Gopherwood Studios has a blog and is on Facebook and Twitter. The boys welcome any and all feedback about their games.

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Use a Survey Wisely

Posted by on April 6, 2011

Using surveys on your website is a great way to get feedback from the people that see your site the most. As a blogger, your readers are the prime reason you created a blog to begin with. So, it would make sense to find out they do and don’t want to see on your blog. Whether you are just starting your blog or are a seasoned blogger, and you want to try to make money doing it, you will want to find out what people want to read.

There are numerous free online surveys that can aid in finding out what your readers want. As you begin the process for monetizing your posts, you will want the most cost effective way to give your readers a quality blog. Most people are looking to give their opinion, and would be happy to tell you what they think of your blog, but you should still be creative with it. Ask your readers different questions that don’t just ask what they think. Find out what they want to see, let people know about future plans for your website, or to just gain insight into your readers.

Make sure to make your surveys interesting. Use various types of interactive tools such as flash or javascript to make it more appealing and easier to complete. You don’t want to make your surveys too flashy, but you don’t want to put participants to sleep either. Many of these tools are free to use and there is also plenty of help available in case you get stuck.

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Speeding Up Your Internet

Posted by on April 4, 2011

It can get quite frustrating when your Internet is acting slowly. Restarting your computer several times and failing to make the Internet speed up tends to become quite annoying. When you’re having difficulties making your Internet faster, you may be missing out on a few simple tips that can help speed it up.

When you’re online chatting with friends or playing your favorite online casino games and the Internet just isn’t cooperating, the first thing you may want to check is your Internet router. Your router should be in a central place in your home so its signal can reach to all rooms in the house. Try to move the router away from the wall, as this can block the signal.

If you can’t move the router, there are several other options that can help strengthen your Internet connection such as replacing the router’s antenna. Most antennas are designed to send a signal in all directions, but if your router is against a wall, you may not need to send the signal in all directions. Try replacing your antenna with a hi-gain model that will only send the signal in one direction.

Avoid setting your router next to devices that can interfere with the signal such as baby monitors, microwaves, or cordless phones. Several other options that can improve the speed of your Internet include changing your wireless channel, investing in a wireless repeater, or upgrading to a PC-card wireless adapter.

Experimenting with different techniques can help make your Internet faster which will save you time while downloading and playing games.

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