‘Worldwide Leader in Sports,’ ESPN, is about to bring further truth to its name by merging video games with real life sports anchors.
The Walt Disney owned network has spent the last year working on a new technology with video game giant Electronic Arts, which allows commentators to interact with virtual-players on the field.
The technology will make its debut this Sunday on ESPN’s NFL Countdown program, using a form of EA’s Madden NFL 09 along side with specialized digital camera equipment. Both the video game players and news anchor will move around the screen demonstrating plays.
ESPN and EA plan to take the technology (called EA Sports Virtual Playbook) even further, using it in reverse to play as the quarterback. Using information from a Sunday afternoon game, ESPN anchors could replay a game sequence or play, and show what would have happened if the quarterback threw right as opposed to left.
For further news on this topic, check out this NY Times article. Make sure you tune in to ESPN this Sunday to check out the new technology.
Do you feel that your wall-mounted TV in the bathroom is just not cutting it? Well now you can take it a step further by bringing it in the tub with you – without fearing electrocution.
Sony has unveiled the water-resistant XDV-W600 TV, which can be safely used underwater for up to 30 minutes. Beyond that, you got me. However, if your place of sleep happens to be the tub, I would stay away from this product.
On the technical side, the XDV has a 4 inch screen and 2 gigs of internal memory. The TV can run for approximately 23 hours on two AA batteries. The device debuts in Japan on October 30, and will retail for $368.
The browser wars are about to get fierce; watch out Microsoft, Google Chrome is on its way.
This week on the Google Blog, it was announced that they will be launching a beta version of ‘Google Chrome’ for Windows, with versions for Mac and Linux to come in the next few weeks. Apparently the browser is streamlined and simple to use, while running clean and fast (like the classic Google page we’re used to). This release will definitely raise tension between Microsoft and Google, as Gates’ crew now has another product to compete with.
I find it interesting that after the past few years of pushing Mozilla Firefox, Google has decided to develop a browser. Google must obviously feel they offer something unique, and it will be interesting to see how everything turns out.
A company named M2E Power claimed last year that electronic gadgets could be charged by human motion. M2E has now reported back that this concept actually works, and expects to release a charger next year that can gather enough motion from walking to charge cell phones and GPS devices.
Apparently 6 hours of motion - I hope you have a long walk to work – can add 30 – 60 minutes of talk time to your phone. The device works by placing it in a purse (or a backpack for us guys) and letting it charge in the background.
The device is composed of a lithium ion battery with a set of coils and magnets. While you are walking the magnets move, causing an electromagnetic field around the coils, thus generating electricity. This technology has been developed by Boise State University and is the beginning of a new trend toward capturing energy from human movement.
In the future, cell phones will have batteries such as these built in, thus making the phone itself self chargeable. The technology could also be used in hybrid cars. Placing a self charging system on the windshield wipers or door locks could help to significantly extend the cars driving range.
I came across this product while surfing the web and did not believe it to be real. It turns out not only is it real, it’s on sale for 30 bucks. Computer nerds, let me present to you - the CrazyPC 5.25 inch bay toaster – yes I said toaster.
Apparently gamers love their toast; so much so that they can now satisfy this craving by installing a toaster into any 5.25 inch drive bay on their PC. Just slide in a slice of bread and you have toast in a matter of minutes. The drive even has a crumb tray for easy clean up.
Installation is claimed to only take minutes, and comes with Windows software for adjusting heat and time settings. The drive requires a USB port, 4 pin Molex power connector, and a free PCI slot. A Mac version has yet to be released.
Microsoft has scheduled an event for September 9, upon which a new product line is going to be revealed. One of the products in this line is going to be a mouse - a mouse that is neither optical nor laser. Microsoft also launched a video teaser for the new product, using the tag line ‘ Say Goodbye To Laser’. They did not release any other information.
After researching further, I came across another article on the topic. A new Microsoft mouse with ‘Blue Track Technology’ has been recently spotted on Amazon. Blue Track apparently utilizes a blue LED and a wide angled lens that is supposed to work on more surfaces than optical and laser. Microsoft seems to only be targeting portable computers (laptops), so I am sure we will continue to see laser mice for PC’s.
For all those who use Windows Vista, I am sure you are familiar with the constant alerts about needing permission to continue when installing software or changing settings. A few days ago I installed some programs on my sister’s new laptop and was introduced to this annoying alert rather quickly.
To deactivate this alert is very simple and will save you a lot of hassle. Click on Start, then proceed to the control panel, then to user accounts, and remove the check on the box next to ‘Use User Account Control (UAC) to help protect your computer.’
NOTE: Make sure your computers security software is up to date before you do this.
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One’s ability to become invisible draws nearer; scientists may be a step closer to creating materials that redirect light around 3D objects (including humans) using metamaterials.
The materials are artificially engineered structures created at nano scale that contain optical properties not found in nature. Specifically, the materials are composed of various metals and circuit board materials, including ceramic and Teflon. They are used to bend visible light in a way ordinal materials are unable to, in order to eliminate shadows and reflections.
Our dream of becoming a real life Harry Potter draws nearer; all that is needed now is a wand and a flying broomstick.
Check out the video below to see this amazing stuff.
The SPEED-VEST is a bicycle safety device which displays the rider’s current speed on their back. The vest was designed by Brady Clark and engineered by Mykle Hansen, and has just won the Hub Bike Shop’s Bike Gadget contest in Minneapolis, MN.
The vest functions via a wheel sensor, a numeric display, and a small computer to do the processing. The device can run for 6 hours on a 9 volt battery (I suggest rechargeables if you intend on buying one). The numeric display is composed of electro-luminescent wire – by CoolLight dot com – that glows brightly with a very low voltage.
To read more on how the vest was designed, check out this article at mykle dot com.
