Adaptive Path have taken things pretty far with their new initiative for designing the new browsing experience for the users of tomorrow. Aurora is indeed a magnicent site on the web horizon. The whole thing is still just a concept, being developed in association with Mozilla Labs, but the video they released, the first in a series dealing with Aurora, is quite an interesting vision of the future. The movie “Johnny Mnemonic” comes to mind, when Keanu Reeves searches for the sent fax from Japan, on a VR terminal in a computer shop in New York (okay, I like SciFi, what can I do).

Basically, Aurora allows for a browsing experience where information is organized according to time and usage. The less you use something or the older it is, the farther “downwards” it lives on the Z axis (perpendicular to screen). The words “out of sight, out of mind” truly have a literal meaning here. The interface looks very interesting, and I especially like the little touch device in the end, which helps you take the information you need or like with you.

Anyway, here’s the video:

Key components of Aurora project (from official site):

- Natural interaction: Spatial, visual, and physical engagement with the Web
- Continuity: Seamless, consistent Web and browser experience across devices
- Multi-user applications: The Web as a space for collaboration, sharing, and remixing
- Context awareness: Products that know where you are and what you’re doing, both physically and virtually

Who knows what it will eventually be like, when the time comes to introduce it as a product, but so far it’s looking very interesting.

[Via: TechCrunch]

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I’ve been sitting on this for a while, because I didn’t have time, but it’s quite current as the product has not yet been launched.

It’s a new kind of gaming platform that will allow players to participate in F1 racing side-by-side with the real drivers, while the race is happening at the circuit. Basically, through a mix of GPS, web technologies and gaming, the game will allow enthusiasts to dive into the exciting world of Formula 1 racing. Players will be able to race against real professionals during the actual race.

Game play goes even further allowing for interaction (virtual) with participants - if you crash your car into a professional driver’s car in a live race, AI especially developed for this purpose, shows a simulated crash, but after only a few seconds the real-time data from the actual driver is updated so you can continue the race.

Naturally, game players are able to compete with each other, as well as against professional drivers in the race. Formula 1 has a very large fan base, so this game should attract plenty of attention and create more web properties on the Web such as race forums, blogs, fan portals where players will be able to share their experiences, results, tips and tricks.

iOpener, the developers behind “Real-Time Racing” are using the technology used in other “Real-Time Games” products which all make use of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems).

There is plenty more going of with this, so visit their site for more details. According to their site, the game is to launch sometime in the latter part of 2008.

Being a Formula 1 fan, I’d be very interested in playing this game. Judging from what is available so far about it, it should be very exciting, if for no other reason, then because I’ll be able to overtake Kimi Raikkonen, while Lewis Hamilton is already behind me eating my dust .

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Just watched the videos showing how Microsoft’s latest, the Touch Wall, works in real conditions. I am very impressed with the whole thing, especially since it can be up and running for a few hundred dollars worth of hardware (and software naturally), although I doubt it will be available for so small an amount once officially released. Basically, the panel which is used as a projection area is scanned by small cameras found at the bottom of it facing upwards. Every time a user approaches the screen, they know it, and begin tracking movements and execute appropriate actions withing the interface.

Here’s a video featuring Bill Gates using the Touch Wall at their annual CEO Summit (you’ll need Silverlight to view this), and here’s another video of Michael Arrington who got a chance to test Touch Wall first hand. I’ll embed this video here, although it wouldn’t hurt to see the post on TechCrunch.

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It seems Apple is working hard on developing a new generation input interface. The new patent pertains to something called “multi-touch input surface” and is a step forward (or a few steps forward) from the existing solutions, implemented on iPhone for example.

There’s a lot of technical details involved, but basically it comes down to improved ergonomics. The new interface will allow multiple ways for users to use it - finger touch and stylus (pen) - but without having to make all the excess hand, arm and body movement that inherently leads to fatigue injuries over time. It will “provide tactile key or hand position feedback without impeding hand resting on the surface or smooth, accurate sliding across the surface.”

See in more detail on Apple Insider.

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Google announced a new strategic inititaive for development of electricity from renewable energy sources. Electricity produced this way would be cheaper than electricity produced from coal. The initiative, refered to as RE<C, is to be focused on advanced solar power, wind power, enhanced geothermal systems and other breakthrough technologies. Engineers are getting hired as well as energy experts to lead research and development work for the RE<C. In 2008 Google expects to spend tens of millions on research and development in renewable energy resources. They are also contemplating investing hundreds of millions in renewable energy projects that will generate positive returns.

Larry Page, Google co-founder, said:

There has been tremendous work already on renewable energy. Technologies have been developed that can mature into industries capable of providing electricity cheaper than coal. Solar thermal technology, for example, provides a very plausible path to providing renewable energy cheaper than coal. We are also very interested in further developing other technologies that have potential to be cost-competitive and green. We are aware of several promising technologies, and believe there are many more out there.

Read more about this on Google Press Center.

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This is different, I must admit. A self powered dynamic architecture building. The video is catchy enough by itself, but the technology explained, if indeed it comes to life, will be a breakthrough. I especially like the energy supply solution - wind turbines embedded between floors in horizontal planes. The power generators will be able to output about a minimum of 40 MW of power, enough to power several buildings. The first, in a series of buildings to be built around the world, will be erected in Dubai (refered to by some as the “city of the future”). Well, they’ve certainly got the cash to make it happen.

The dynamic architecture concept was introduced by David Fisher, a Florentine (Florence, Italy) architect.

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It has been a while since e-book readers have appeared on the market. There are several models available, such as the Sony PRS 500. What makes this one different is the fact that it’s only 3mm thin. The model is not available on the market yet, it’s more like a prototype of something that will appear in the future.

Here are some technical details: view dimensions (180×120mm), thickness (3mm), weight (57g), contrast ratio (8:1), reflectivity (43%), redrawing time (0.7s), battery (one CR1220 button cell; good for 1400 screen redraws). And here’s a picture of the new e-ink reader concept:

I like the design very much, although the edges and corners could be made a bit rounder which would add to the already pretty sophisticated look. I don’t know how the display would behave on a sunny day, but I suppose you will always find a shady spot for reading anyway, so that may prove to be less of a problem than it would seem. See more pictures of the Seiko Epson e-ink ebook reader on Engadget.

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Have you seen the movie Gattaca? People can easily check someone’s DNA information by going to a public service terminal and requesting that information. Well, it seems that kind of future is almost upon us. At the Web 2.0 Summit, Craig Venter, a biologist working on projects having to do with gene sequencing, said it won’t be long before DNA sequencing becomes part of a standard medical test. What was a biologist doing at a Web 2.0 conference? Well, he was interviewed by Tim O’Reilly on stage, in the effort to show how close biology and information science are tied together, and have been for some time. Mr. Venter supports genetic transparency and predicts a future in which someone can easily find your DNA information on search engines or “Google a date’s DNA”. People will be able to see whether someone they are thinking about getting involved with has a hereditary disease or other genetically induced health anomaly that may have a negative impact on offspring.

Is this the kind of future we are aiming for as a global society? I am not sure this is the right way to go, although movies are usually pretty good in showing things that will come to pass in the future, so this may actually become reality. On one side, it may be useful to know your potential partner is carrying DNA code that may cause health or other problems for offspring, but on the other hand there are other factors in survival, especially in the human society.

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Lakshminarayan Srinivasan
Image credit: MIT

MIT research has found a way to help brain signals be converted into actions. In other words, a persons wish to move a part of their body (replaced by prosthetics) can be converted into the actual movement through a complex system of signal conversion. Although there has been research done in this field usually by working on a particular part of the brain, this is the first time that a common framework has been introduced.

Lakshminarayan “Ram” Srinivasan (S.M., Ph.D. 2006), lead author of the paper, said “The work represents an important advance in our understanding of how to construct algorithms in neural prosthetic devices for people who cannot move to act or speak.”

Neural prosthetic devices represent an engineer’s approach to paralysis treatment and amputation. Electronics are used to monitor the neural signals which reflect the individual’s intentions for the prosthesis or computer. Algorithms form the link between neural signals that are recorded, while user’s intentions are decoded to drive the prosthetic device in the intended manner.

See in more detail here.

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And we have a first sign-up for the Google Lunar X Prize competition. It’s Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute! Red Whittaker, roboticist at the institute decided to enter the competition that is to be completed by 2012.

Planetary exploration is a dream we pursue and a technology we create…
We have spent decades building and testing robotic technologies for just this purpose.

Whittaker is assembling a Carnegie Mellon team that will work on the project for the competition. Although he advocated privately funded lunar landing for more than a decade, he views the task quite daunting.

It’s inevitable that someone will find a way to win it. Regardless of who takes home the cash, this achievement will enrich us all.

Well, good luck to them!

See in more detail in this press-release.

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