Information On Future Concepts Articles: 2007

Saturday, December 29, 2007

The Future of Nanomaterials

The DC-based research and consulting firm Social Technologies recently released a series of 12 briefs that shed light on the top areas for technology innovation through 2025. The brief on “nanomaterials,” by futurist Peter von Stackelberg, is the fourth trend in the series.

“In the next 10 to 20 years, we’ll see major breakthroughs in nanomaterials and related processes used to produce many of our consumer and industrial products,” von Stackelberg forecasts. Here’s why.

TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW

Small is the key word that describes the world of nanotechnology. The concept centers on miniaturization, and involves the creation of particles, fibers, films, coatings, and other materials that are significantly smaller than the typical bacterium—between one and 100 nanometers in size.

Because these particles are so tiny, nano-objects can access previously impenetrable areas. That means they can make consumer products lighter, stronger, and more efficient—creating a significant competitive advantage for the companies incorporating them into their goods. In an era when consumers are demanding products that are more effective, protective, and assistive, nanomaterials provide the perfect fit.

Industries and consumers are also demanding more efficient use of resources and fewer waste streams. Again, nanomaterials fit the bill. Additionally, rising energy costs and the insecurity of petroleum supplies are driving research into nanomaterials that can boost production from alternative sources, or cut demand via greater energy efficiency.

CHALLENGES AHEAD

As nanotech emerges as a major technological force over the coming decades, it will face a variety of obstacles. These include:

Mastering nanoscale behavior. To date, the potential interactions of nanoscale matter are not understood, von Stackelberg explains. “As research progresses, we may find that nanomaterials do not act as expected, leading to unanticipated and potentially harmful consequences. Once understanding improves about how matter behaves at the nanoscale, researchers will be able to develop increasingly sophisticated applications of nanotech while avoiding human side effects.”

Public fears. The perception of the benefits vs. hazards of nanotech will have a significant impact on consumer acceptance of the technology. “A survey conducted in 2006 showed that although 42% of those polled had no awareness of nanotech, 20% had heard a little about it and 11% were quite familiar with it,” von Stackelberg says—noting that the majority of those in the know believed that the risks of nanotech outweigh the benefits (35%). Only 15% said they believe the benefits outweigh the risks, and 7% said the benefits and risks are about equal.

Nanotech risks. “Obviously, a rational assessment of the true risks of nanotechnology are needed to ensure that wildcards like ‘grey goo’ don’t dominate the discussions of risk while other, more realistic risks are ignored,” he points out. The potential for severe risk have been identified by the Center for Responsible Nanotechnology, and include:

Health and environmental risks. A growing body of scientific evidence reports that nanomaterials have the potential to pollute air, soil, and water and to damage human health. Some of the most interesting properties of nanomaterials—such as the ability of nanoparticles to penetrate human cells—also present health risks if these particles escape into the environment, where they can be absorbed into people’s bodies. “Our understanding of the potential health and environmental implications of nanotech are extremely limited,” adds von Stackelberg.

Proliferation of “nanolitter.” As more sophisticated nanomaterials become widely used, nano-byproducts will need to be dealt with. For instance, it isn’t currently known whether nanoparticles used to treat cancer can remain in a patient’s body or be excreted. “The reality is that nanomaterials which are useful and benign in one setting can actually be harmful in another,” von Stackelberg explains.

Criminal or terrorist use. Small, powerful weapons made from nanomaterials would be difficult for society to defend against.

FORECASTS

Although the underlying concepts of nanotechnology were thought up in 1959, only during the 1990s were the first tentative steps taken toward identifying and developing nanomaterials. “Between the end of the first decade of the 21st century and 2025, a number of gamechangers will need to occur if nanotech is to advance significantly,” von Stackelberg says. These gamechangers include:

A shift from “passive” to “active” nanotech. In the coming decades, nanotech will likely make the transition from simple nanomachines—particles, crystals, rods, tubes, and sheets of atoms—to more complex ones that contain valves, switches, pumps, and motors.

Nanoscale tools. To work at the nanoscale, new tools will be needed to allow researchers and technicians to see, measure, and manipulate individual atoms and molecules. “One promising approach uses dynamic light scattering, a technique that measures how much nanoparticles jiggle when hit with laser light,” von Stackelberg shares. “Many scientists agree that this method has the potential to do rapid, accurate measurement, and is expected to be operational by 2010.”
Nanofabrication. Currently, manufacturing processes for nanomaterials are extremely expensive, produce only small amounts of material, and generate a significant amount of impurities and waste, von Stackelberg says. “But consider this: Assembly of nanodevices today is at the same stage as the automobile industry was before Henry Ford developed the assembly line.”

LEARN MORE

To determine the relevance of these findings and forecasts for major business sectors, set up an interview with Peter von Stackelberg by sending an email to Hope Gibbs, leader of corporate communications, at hope.gibbs@socialtechnologies.com.

Peter von Stackelberg ) Futurist
Peter von Stackelberg, the leader of Social Technologies’ Futures Interactive program, brings more than a decade of experience as a futurist, strategic thinker, and writer. He also serves as an adjunct instructor in strategic management of technology and innovation at the State University of New York–Alfred, and as an advisor to the computer animation program at Alfred State. Peter has previously worked as a journalist, business analyst, university webmaster, e-commerce project manager, published poet, and computer artist. He is former editor-in-chief of Shaping Tomorrow and the founder of Applied Futures and FuturesWatch.org. He received a BA in journalism from Ryerson Polytechnical University in Toronto, Canada, and an MS in studies of the future from the University of Houston–Clear Lake, and has taken graduate courses in creative writing, computer art, and art history in pursuit of an MA in Humanities. Areas of expertise: Biotechnology, energy (green, renewable, oil), nanotechnology, future of technology, scenario planning.

http://www.expertclick.com/NewsReleaseWire/default.cfm?Action=ReleaseDetail&ID=19388

LEAKED:Mazda Furai Concept

"Zoom-Zoom" philosophy goes on race track with Mazda's new concept car. It is back to the future as Mazda wants to give a reminder of its overall win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991. Some official photos have leaked just two weeks before Detroit Motor Show 2008, where the Furai Concept is making first public appearance. The name Furai (pronounced foo-rye) means "sound of wind".

The Furai is not a typical non-functional concept as it is designed to really perform. The basis of the car is a 2005 Courage C65 chassis, which is an LMP2-class entry in the American Le Mans Series. The body resembles the style of the Nagare concept car. It's the fifth concept of the family – after Nagare, Ryuga, Hakaze and Taiki concepts, that clearly represent Mazda's exploration of a new design language for its future cars. So far the company has not confirmed if these design cues will finally take root in a production car.

The car is powered by a mid-mounted, three-rotor Mazda 20B rotary engine, that gives around 450 hp thanks to E100 ethanol fuel. Mazda's studio in Southern California led by North American design boss Franz Von Holzhausen is responsible for the design of the Furai, and further developed by the racecar specialists at Swift Engineering. As a result, the Furai is able to generate about 80 percent of the downforce of the original race-spec bodywork, which is phenomenal achievement given the fact that Furai has never seen a wind tunnel.

Mazda Furai actually made a couple of hot laps around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca piloted by ALMS ace Jamie Bach. Swift and Mazda worked closely to come up with an innovative intake configuration. Unlike a traditional F1-style snorkel, the Furai takes breath through a shallow, leaflike cup known informally as an "air fang." As the air flows through, twin vortices on either side of the device are generated, which then dump fresh air directly down the intake without incurring the efficiency losses of a traditional snorkel. Will we ever see this in a production car?

http://news.trend.az/index.shtml?show=news&newsid=1102718&lang=EN

Friday, November 16, 2007

Solar Panels - The Power of the Future is Now Here

Solar panels are basically a panel that uses the sun's energy to produce electricity. Solar panels harvest sunlight and convert it to electricity that can power lights and appliances just the ones that you use in your house. Solar Cells, or photovoltaic cells, are arranged in a grid-like pattern on the surface of the solar panel. These solar voltaic cells collect sunlight during the daylight hours and covert it into electricity. Solar panels in the past have been mostly with silicon, which is used in computers as well. More recently solar panels have used other materials and metals because the cost of silicon is starting to rise as competetion for this precious material is becoming fierce while supply is not increasing.

And still other solar panels are made with a different kind of silicon alloy in a rolling process. The solar cells created in this way can be more strong, produce more watts of electricity, and they are thinner which makes them weigh less. This can be very important for applications like solar cars. Finally, NASA and other goverment sponsored space programs use a very expensive solar panel made from gallium arsenide via a sophisticated and expensive procedure. Solar cells made this way produce alot of electricity for their size and weight, but they are much too expensive for anyone other than the government to buy.

Lately, a whole new type of solar panel is being made from plastic which are promising because they are much cheaper to produce. I'll be writing more on this as more is made available to the public about them. However, for now allow me to dream about the different ways this could be used. Suppose you want to power your laptop in a remote location, or use a GPS device while backpacking in the wilderness for an extended period of time. These plastic solar panels could power just about any appliance that you use in your home out in a remote location.

The amount of power solar panels produce is determined by the quality of the solar panel and the materials and technology used in making the solar panel. When buying solar panels, most people expect to pay about 4 or 5 dollars a watt. The price will slowly, but surely come down in price over time. More and more companies are starting to research and develop solar panels with exciting new discoveries and developments that are starting to shine light on the solar panel industry. If you pay attention to the stock market you will notice that there are many publically traded solar panel based companies now that you can invest in. To name a few there is Daystar DSTI, XSunX XSNX, WorldWater WWAT.

Currently, solar panels are very popular in remote locations and recreation vehicles, but this is changing. Solar Panels are now becoming popular in urban areas where clean energy advocates and law makers are creating incentives for this clean, safe, and quiet alnernative energy source. I can imagine a day where housetops will all be covered with mini powerplants in the form of solar panels. This will be a great and beautiful thing for a number of reasons. This will put power in the hands of the individual property owner. No longer will you be at the mercy of the power company to raise rates on you. Even if you don't choose to put solar panels on your house to zero your electricity bill, you will also benefit. Power companies will have to lower their rates due to the increased competetion from the home based mini solar panel powerplant. This will be good for national security and protect us from terrorists. If solar panels don't take off and replace nuclear power, our planet will become an easy target for terrorist who will then have thousands of nuclear power plants to target for their next attack. Also, we will be stuck with an untold amount of radioactive waste to dispose of. And, nobody wants this stuff stored in their backyard or even anywhere in their state. It reduces property value and creates anxiety over possible messy leaks and exposure.

There is much more to be written about this subject, so please visit my website for more information about solar panels: http://www.solarpanel.be

Noah Stephens is an expert on photovoltaic solar panels. Visit his website http://www.solarpanel.be

Resurrecting an Old Technology - VSR Motors

A 170 year old electrical technology, called variable switched reluctance (VSR) motors was resurrected in the 1980s with the advent of electronic controllers. The Texas based Le Tiurneau.inc has developed a wheeled front end loader for mining work which use large horsepower VSR motors for its wheel drives. Basically, a VSR motor comprises a rotor and a stator with a coil winding in the stator. The rotor, which consists of a laminated permeable material with teeth, is a passive device with no coil winding or permanent magnets.

The stator typically consists of slots containing a series of coil winding, the energization of which is electronically switched to generate a moving field. When one stator coil is set on, a magnetic flux path is generated around the coil and the rotor. The rotor experiences a torque and is moved in the line with the energized coils, minimizing the flux path. with the approximate switching and energization of the stator coils, the rotor can be encouraged to rotate at any desired torque and speed.

VSR Motors offers the following advantages: Since there are no brushes ringing, there is no requirement of commutator maintenance. the motor is more robust since there are no coils or moving parts. A VSR motor can maintain higher torque and efficiency over broader speed ranges than is possible with other advanced variable speed systems. In addition, as the commutation can be accurately controlled with respect to the rotor angle, the motor will operate at its predicted high efficiency. With VSR technology it is possible to design a low cost motor with over 90% system efficiency and variable speed.

VSR motors can be programmed to precisely match the loads the serve, and their simple rugged construction has no expensive magnets or squirrel cages like the induction motor. VSR motors are smaller than DC motors. VSR motor is inherently resistant to overload and immune to single point failure. They have a high level of fault tolerance and are immune to switching faults. According t a spokesman of Le Tourneau, While the initial cost of SR motor and control is a little more expensive than standard DC system, in the failure, there may be little or no difference in the manufacturing costs due to decreasing prices of electronic components. VSR motors are not without their drawbacks, however. The most significant downside is the acoustic noise and the large vibration caused by the motor's high pulsating magnetic flux. Another limitation is torque ripple. But while these drawbacks have an effect in small horsepower VSR motors, they are of no significance in large horsepower traction motors.

Praise is the Professor and Head of the Dept of Information Technology of Calicut University. with more than 25 years of Professional Experience in University of Calicut.

Ride on the Quiet Side

Sustainable technologies, those that walk gently on the earth, are gaining acceptance these days, prominent among them being the electric bike, a simple transportation alternative that is now viable, reliable and just plain fun.

An electric bike rider can travel along in whisper quiet serenity cruising with the wind, or against it, even while going uphill. Remember as a kid all the places you could go on a bike, and you were able to go and see places you never saw before even in your own neighborhood?

Since an electric bike can be ridden with or without power, they are also a great way to exercise at your own pace. More than anything, electric bikes are fun. Imagine the feeling of riding along at a respectable sight seeing pace, usually up to 20mph, where hills are no longer a strain and stopping for fuel is a thing of the past.

A built in solar panel on some ebikes aids in the charging process as long as they are out in the sunshine. A good ebike should travel from 20 to 40 miles on a fully charged battery, depending of course, on terrain and the amount of assist. A 4 to 8 hour charge from a regular electrical plugin will fill the tank and have you ready to go again, or you can carry a second battery for double the distance.

An electric bike is an exceptionally convenient form of transportation especially for commutes, errands around town or the neighborhood. Some ebikes can be quite sophisticated, but basically they are simple to maintain with very little to break down or go wrong. Although it won’t carry two kids and the family dog it will, with the added side baskets, carry two big bags of groceries or whatever else you want to load. An electric bike can easily carry a child-seat or tow a child trailer. An electric bike can save you stress and time too by eliminating the aggravation of looking for a parking space or waiting for the bus (and often is faster than the bus) and of course traffic problems can be easily avoided.

And, as for that exercise, you will actually look forward to getting on your ebike. You can do some straight pedaling if you feel the need for heavy breathing, or you can pace yourself with the adjustable motor assist. It will make you feel good without the ache. An electric bike can also be cheaper than a gym membership, car insurance, or car payments. Owning an electric bike can enable the astute individual to use a car significantly less or eliminate it altogether.

Ebikes, if charged from your local friendly utility, still costs only pennies a day, and there is always the optional carry along or stay at home solar chargers that get their energy directly from the sun. Recharging is easy, just plug it in! All chargers with ebikes are smart chargers allowing you to recharge at anytime and the unit will turn off automatically. You can recharge the battery at any discharge level. Built in LED's on many ebikes measures and shows the discharge rate and power availability.

Recently established US law regards electric bicycles with fully functioning pedals, no more than 750 watts motor output and 20 mph top speed as "bicycles", meaning that no operators license or mandatory insurance coverage is required. Ebikes entail a modest initial investment, anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand depending on options, but operating costs are equivalent to getting 500 miles per gallon or more with the fossil fuel machine.

Other than the built in onboard battery, ebikes look and feel like a regular bicycle. The drive mechanism can be located in the front or rear wheel hub, or sometimes as a friction drive on the rear tire (the least desireable configuration). The power, when activated by a switch on the handlebar (called power-on-demand), or in response to your pedaling (ped-elec), gives you an immediate, nearly silent push. When you release the switch (or stop pedaling), the motor coasts or "freewheels" like a regular bike. For most ebikes, standard bicycle hand brakes and gearing round out the controls.

Some interesting power control variations and new transmission designs are beginning to emerge which should increase overall ease and efficiency even more. The battery is something to take into consideration, however, particularly when buying new, by either getting a spare, or investing in the latest battery technology which provides for extended power reserves.

Electric bikes come in many configurations and styles, and maintaining them is usually simple and straightforward, most servicing falling within the purview of a bicycle mechanic.

Every day, more and more electric powered vehicles, from e-skateboards to e-scooters and even e-motorcycles, are finding their way to market. Fuel price increases along with an emerging ecological and health consciousness, is fostering a new look at alternative forms of transportation. Soon, ever growing numbers of people will accept and even embrace ebikes as a necessary and integral part of daily life. Furthermore, as society ages and just going to the store becomes a regular outing, tricycle ebikes will become a great assisted living tool enabling the elderly to travel back and forth with comfort and ease.

An electric bike is high-utility, low-impact transportation. Our choices have an impact on the future. An electric bike is healthy step in the right direction.

Article by: Henry Ramsey
http://www.MyEbikes.com

Henry Ramsey is a former national news correspondent who specializes in writing about sustainable communities and appropriate technologies. He is a former classic car colletor who now rides an electric bicycle. To learn more visit: http://www.HappyThoughtLifestyles.com

Holographic Tour of the Pyramids

Many people want to see the Pyramids during their lifetime. They are wondrous indeed, unfortunately traveling to that part of the world is not so easy and it does cost quite a bit. Recently some are fearful of visiting Egypt due to unrest in the world and perceived animosity towards Westerners. Additionally there are issues with diseases and polluted water supplies as well. That is not to say that you will be in danger if you attempt the visit but there are enough stories that perhaps one might consider the risk.

There are many companies, which offer virtual reality tours of such places and many are quite good, in fact some are very realistic. Generally these are used to spark interest to get you to want to actually see them and help spark interest in tourists to go see them in real life. Additionally it really helps in educational purposes.

http://www-vrl.umich.edu/project/pyramid/

http://www.casa.ucl.ac.uk/digital_egypt/hawara/

http://www.bergen.org/AAST/Projects/VirtualReality/

I propose that we fund those who wish to go one step further and wish to design a Virtual Reality Pyramid using Holographic Technologies in 3D, 4D and 5D. We will soon be enjoying Holographic Virtual Reality on our 360 X-Box in our own living rooms. Perhaps that technology maybe affordable in 5-8 years for the consumer market, but as HDHI or High Definition Holographic Imagining projection become available in the labs, we should be using it to help our populations see the Great Pyramids now.

The HDHI technologies allow for opaque images rather than translucent ghost like images and thus the experience is much more real than even Memorix, so think on this.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

Meaningfully Merging Man and Machine

Many people fear the day when humans will choose to merge with machines, as they believe that it will be the beginning of the end for humanity. They say that we will cease from being human and what it means to be human. They say it will be lead to death by robot, or by robotic replacement, where one day you are mostly human and then the next you will be mostly robotic and non-human. They say that there can be no meaningful way to merging man and machine. They say that if God wanted us to be non-organic he would have made a world of machines and humanoid robots, not human beings.

Well one day a member of the Think Tank ask me about making an artificial knee, as their current knee was shot and no longer any good even after many different surgeries. Since that day, I considered the opposite point of the view from the critics of artificial robotic parts. Today I have a steel rod in my leg from a motorcycle accident and you know it works pretty darn good.

When sitting down and looking at building an artificial knee I had considered using a piece of carbon nanotube foam over an artificial knee. The body would grow into foam, which is attached to the knee and the tendons. Then there would be a dual track “Y” split blood vessel that presoaked the flesh growing in the carbon nanotube foam and thru a membrane, which allowed nutrients into the foam piece. Although the technology to do this is not quite available yet it soon will be. In any case I have been thinking on this but nothing yet concrete enough to warrant a try. But I imagine very soon such technologies will be available.

So for the critics who say it is impossible to Meaningfully Merge Man and Machine, I would like to kick you in the knee and then the other knee. You see I am for advancing such technologies; Rah Rah Ree! Think on it.

Virtual Reality and Presidential Meeting in Holographic 3D

The President of The United States of America is a very busy person indeed. The President has to worry about, not only every single aspect of American Life, the giant government bureaucracy, but also what is going on around the world in 280 plus countries. God knows that isn’t easy.

Imagine the information over load, the teams of consultants, staff and all the dirty politics you have to worry about? Then there is the media always coming up with something, some skewed view or event totally blown out of proportion. How on Earth can one person be on top of all that? Well, the fact is they cannot, but luckily like a big corporation there is more than just one person running it all, as there are layers of people and administrative structures to help.

Yet even so, how does one over see all of this and still have time to visit all the other nations around the world and converse with their leaders as well? It is not easy minding the country, much less being the leader of the entire free world a job, which seems to be understood by those who look at the President of the United States. I propose a solution, which would allow the President to visit all the countries of the World via virtual reality and HDHI (High Definition Holographic Imaging).

High Definition Holographic Imaging is the next generation of Holographic Technologies, which would provide an opaque image rather than a translucent one in 3D. Imagine a Virtual Reality Holographic image on our 360 X-Box in our living room, because it will soon be here. You see eventually we will communicate in video conferencing with the image of the other people sitting next us, but not actually there. With emissaries around the world each day the President could line up 10 meetings with foreign heads of state, by having his team simply set up the holographic imaging equipment in their countries which would consist of a 2-foot in diameter floor projector which was about 6 inches high and two other smaller projectors on the side. The device would be brought into the room and set up and then linked to the satellite via the nearest window.

The head of state of that nation would be video taped and that image sent to the president in the Situation Room at the White House and converted to 3D, 4D image and displayed in front of him. He would converse with the image and that image would converse with him with a one-second satellite delay each way of course. That’s how it works and I hope you like. Think on this.

The Case for Military Research Expenditures

Some folks want to cut military research and development spending as they say it leads to war. Some believe that we should stop inventing ways to kill humans. Some believe that killing one’s own species is a terrible tragedy of the human endeavor and if we continue this tact we will do nothing more than be doomed to repeat our past follies.

Many of these condemnations of war and the lead up to war are well founded. Even Einstein had said; “You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war.” Yet we know from the cold war and the Reagan Era that we must always negotiate from a position of strength. And of course this means will must continue with our military research and development. And we must also realize that the discoveries we make in bettering of our offensive or defensive strategies, will assist in other discoveries which solve other problems of mankind.

Let us take Los Alamos Labs for instance, as it has always been on the cutting edge innovations, which span all studies of science. Many of the inventions, which have been used in protection of our nation and allies, have had significant transfer technologies to the private sector. You really cannot walk more than a few steps in your own house without seeing technology in normal house appliances, which was made possible thru such advances that are provided in stand out research centers like Los Alamos.

There is nothing wrong with funding such labs or paying scientists big buck to work in such places. There is nothing wrong with choosing a life's work, which protects the greatest nation ever created in the history of this species. If such labs were shut down like some of the critics want and every scientist lost their jobs, then the forward progress of mankind would stagnate and that would not be world worthy of hanging your life experience. Mankind must Press On. I am so proud of every one at Los Alamos. Have you hugged your military scientists today? Think about all they have given us.

Is Science Advancing too Fast for Humanity, Society, and Civilization?

Some say that science is moving way too fast. It is true that the fast pace of advances is in fact increasing and exponentially too. Human civilizations and society are already out pacing evolution by 100-fold. Can the human species handle the fast moving future? Many say that we are quickly approaching the replacing of God, where humans become god and modify ourselves and advance our evolution as we see fit? Many decry this and are afraid of change and point to biblical quotes to show why it is wrong.

Many say they want no part of it themselves and do not want anyone else to have the modern advances of science either. But anyone who says that they do not want to be more fulfilled, happier, healthier, smarter or stronger is not telling the truth or being honest with them selves. That is to say no one wants to be a human with Diabetes, Cancer, bad knees, fractured disk, Parkinson 's or living with the energy of an 80-90 year old taking Viagra, if you could be young again. Everyone would you prefer to be 30 something, happy healthy, energetic, fully engaged in mind, body and soul with a brain working at its peak with a multiple of 3 to 5 or 10, or 100, right?

If science can do this and you can remain human wouldn't you do it? And if later on you decided to trade out parts, because you reasoned with your smarter brain of 10-fold, maybe then you might change your mind and rather enjoy such modification. You might consider the comments about human modification rather shallow at that point. I see that scenario unfolding, a transition, but it maybe faster than we think. Not the 200-400 years Sci Fi Authors talk about, but 30-50 years and yes that will mean in our lifetime and we may all live forever or until we wish to no longer exist in this realm? Think on this.

Human Modification, Playing God with Humanity

With modern advances in body augmentation, DNA manipulation, BioTech, Robotics and computer human interfaces it appears we may soon be modifying humans in a very big way. Some see ethics issues in this as we modify ourselves, will we still be human? Will we be playing God and make mistakes, which are irreversible? If we screw up big time, will we have the ability to change back? Chances are there will be mistakes along such lines, hopefully they will be small ones and hopefully we will pay attention and be careful along the way.

You see soon we will be modifying human life to be better and it will be our choice. You can choose to remain all-human and live a much longer life if you wish. But being all or 100% human maybe considered inferior in the future. But if you are a purist you can make that choice and it should be no problem. And there is no doubt if you do that you will not be alone in your purest views, there will be a huge following, and that is a good thing, CHOICE is always a good thing.

Have you considered how you feel about these things personally? For instance do you want the worlds libraries hooked to a wireless chip mounted on your skull covered up by your scalp? You would be smarter, have instant communication and your brain would have all the world’s knowledge? What if you could be young again, say the body you had in your 20’s but with your same knowledge and experience base now? Would you take that super pill? Or do you prefer to be older with achy bones and lack of that high energy? Well, what say you now? You do not have to decide right now, but soon, one day in the not so distant future you will need to make up your mind. Think on it.

BioTech and the Future of What It is to be Human

Should scientists be allowed to play around with the human genome? Should we be screwing around with our own DNA? Is it right to experiment with stem cells? Should we allow robotic parts, computer human interfaces and artificial hearts, lungs and kidneys? What will the future bring and will it be an ethical future or will we cause irreversible evolution and forget what it is to be human?

Presently we see that the BioTech industry is attempting to use that which we already have to make us better. It is competing against the robotic field of medical implants. Which is better for humanity? Should we allow either, both or only one in our future, as many believe that the entire future of the species is at stake? That is to say what it is to be human in the first place you see?

Well in this argument we see real needs for instance as there are injured and maimed Soldiers coming back who are fighting the murderers and International Terrorists and they are happy to get artificial parts to enjoy their life without too much hardship. I myself have a steel rod in my Femur Bone from a motorcycle accident. Most would agree that there is nothing wrong with that right?

Yet where do we draw the line? Do we say no artificial brains, hearts or reproductive organs? Yet what about pieces of them to help the function when they are damaged or what if they are not damaged but one wants an enhancement? Think of implants people get to better their appearance are those really wrong if it helps someone feel better about themselves? Some say it is others argue it is choice. So when do you perceive that it will be wrong? Where would one draw that line? What is humanity anyway? There is no good definition. Will humans become our own Gods, re-designing ourselves? If not then should we continue? And if so, then when will we become God and once we do, will we still be human? Think on this.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Genetic Human Code Should We Tinker?

Should mankind be tinkering with his genetic code? Should we be messing with Mother Nature’s evolution? Should we be screwing with our DNA, extending life and messing around with stem cells? Ah, the great debate rages on. However maybe we should consider that evolution is changing us all the time anyway.

You see in 10,000 or 30,000 years we will advance without science anyway and so much will change, sure we may look similar but hardly be the same? Yes our DNA will still be within 1-2% even if we do nothing by that time. Those who argue for manipulation of the species remind us of these facts and say if we can make humans better, why wouldn’t we? Why shouldn’t we cure cancer, make ourselves smarter, wiser and stronger? Why not make our immune systems better, make us perform better with less food intake? After all the argue, we are increasing our human population on Earth and will not have enough food or water in the future if something is not done.

We will either have to modify our environment or ourselves or slow down our procreation, but if we do nothing, as scientists warn we are headed for a disaster. Few could argue that the present path of the human species is a dead end. But it does not have to be so. As we learn more we can begin the process of slowly bettering ourselves for life on this planet and beyond. Think on it.

The History Channel Moves into the Future

Many people spend hours watching and learning on Television. There is the Discovery Channel, Science Channel, History Channel, Wings, Animal Channel and a host of others and they are indeed very interesting to watch. Some say if you watched all the history channel programs that you might know more about history that most High School History Teachers. Since I like many others have, I concur that to be the case.

But why not take the History Channel and the other Discovery type channels to the next level in technology? You see Holographic Technologies are getting closer to becoming reality and soon we can see holographic projections in our living rooms via computers and in home systems, watch our shows in 3D, 4D and 5D.

We will enjoy Augmented and Virtual Reality on our 360 X-Box or Sony Play Stations in our own homes. We can watch home movies of weddings and graduations in 3D and perhaps great grandchildren will be about to meet their past ancestors and watch a holographic video. We will be communicating in business using full motion holographic video conferencing with the image of the other people sitting next us, but not actually there. All this is on its way and even more, as the applications are endless indeed.

Just imagine watching the history channel in the cockpit with Charles Lindbergh or sitting next to the historical notables during the signing of the Magna Carta; crossing the Delaware with George Washington or standing on the moon with Neil Armstrong as he utters those famous words; “one small step for man, one giant step for mankind!”

There is probably no better use of the technology than to educate our populations in their own homes and thus making a smarter and more intelligent set of voters to prevent us from repeating the past and dooming our future in a never ending cycle of our own follies. Think on this.

Holographic Church with God Like Images

Do you ever get up on Sunday Morning and just dread going to Church and listening to more of the same? You feel as if you have your own personal relationship with Jesus yet, somehow sitting in a room with 100’s if not 1000’s of others chanting and singing, just seems to be a silly waste of time? Sometimes you will turn on the TV Evangelists, but also worry that perhaps it just isn’t enough?

Well what if you could go to Church in your pajamas? That’s right just sit there with a cup of coffee and well bring the Church to you, right in your own living room; sounds to good to be true doesn’t it? You can sleep in and mosey on into the living room flip a couple of switches and instantly the church would come to you. How so you ask? Well using the latest leading edge and state-of-the-art Holographic Technologies, which are getting closer to becoming reality. Holographic projection systems hooked to computers to produce 3D, 4D and 5D images right in front of you. Why you may as well have that Sunday Morning cup of Java with Jesus himself? Or perhaps you want to have him join you for supper with a little red wine. Make a fire, get toasty, turn on the system and get drunk with Jesus. That might be fun, maybe he has a sense of humor too? Now that is what I call a personal relationship.

Soon we will enjoy Virtual Reality on our 360 X-Box in our living rooms. Great, great grandchildren will be about to meet their past ancestors and watch a holographic video. We will communicate in video conferencing with the image of the other people sitting next us, but not actually there. All this is on its way and even more, as the applications are endless indeed. But to me the best one will be inviting Jesus into our lives and homes. Think on this you God fearing human.

The Future of Sex

As sciences advances our species, much of how will live our lives in the present period will change. Many have asked what will sex be like in the future period or 100 years or 150 years from now? Will humans enjoy sex in the same way? Obviously evolution will not get rid of our sex organs even if we no longer use them for procreation, due to favoring a more safer and less inhibiting BioTech solution to childbirth.

Still we know that the human body has many nerve endings in our sexual organ region and since the brain and body enjoy the sensation of sex, surely it will continue in some fashion. What technologies will humans develop for these purposes? Will the robotics age provide humans with sexual partners for quickies to relieve stress? Some Japanese Robotic Professionals are counting on it as they work in the research and development lab to make it so.

Will Holographic Technologies be employed to improve our sexual desires? We are seeing an emergence of advances in this area of science right now, with more than enough potential applications; will sex be one of them? The research and development in holographic imaging and 3D virtual reality is getting closer to becoming reality. Soon we will enjoy Virtual Reality on our 360 X-Box in our living rooms. Great, great grandchildren will be about to meet their past ancestors and watch a holographic video. We will communicate in video conferencing with the image of the other people sitting next us, but not actually there. All this is on its way and even more, as the applications are endless indeed.

We know that most all cutting edge technology comes into being in such industries as military, exploration and entertainment. Why would Holographic Technologies be any different? Why would such technologies not follow similar paths with regards to the Human Innate needs and desires we know to exist? Surely there will be the use of holographic images in the use and applications of sexual desire; think on this.

Making Love in Virtual Reality

What will making love be like in the future? Will phone sex be totally out and 3D long distance love affairs totally in? What if you spouse is an astronaut on a space mission or over sees protecting freedom and democracy against evil dictators and International State Sponsored Murderous Terrorists; then what? What if you spouse dies, will you still be able to feel them close by using of virtual reality in 3D Holographic Full Motion Video in your bedroom?

What will these technologies bring us in the future? Will we welcome their gifts or will we condemn them as perverted, immoral or unacceptable pornography in the face of all that is holy with God almighty? Will we make laws against certain uses, with politicians telling us what we can and cannot view or will we simply let the judges decide since well, “they’ll know it when they see it?”

Those who have been following such research and development know that Holographic Technologies are getting closer to becoming reality and soon we can see the data on our computers in 3D, 4D and 5D. We will enjoy Virtual Reality on our 360 X-Box in our living rooms. Great, great grandchildren will be about to meet their past ancestors and watch a holographic video. We will communicate in video conferencing with the image of the other people sitting next us, but not actually there. All this is on its way and even more, as the applications are endless indeed.

It therefore stands to reason that these technologies will be used for intimate relationships and other innate characteristics of the human species, whether they are psychological need, humanly lustful desires or coping with the stress incurred when a loved on is away or has pasted on. Think on this.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Holographic People Watching Training for DHS Professionals

Looking for suspicious behavior is something every security professional must be come good at if they are to do their jobs properly. The security and safety of the public depends on it. Let’s take the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for instance; these folks must be able to spot the bad guys in the crowd when they see something, which is suspicious.

One security industry observer stated recently; “It would help to teach people that they can tell someone if they see something suspicious. It drives me crazy that most people are afraid to speak out when they see something that looks dangerous, suspicious or just plain wrong and out of place. I was thinking about the shoe bomber [Richard Reed], who was just plain ugly. I think that is part of the reason why he was caught as he is so strange looking. Had he been a handsome person with a bomb in his very expensive loafers, would anyone have even paid a lot of attention to him. I can't remember the circumstances of why he was picked out to get a more thorough screening, but this had to have been part of it.”

Can we use virtual reality and holographic imaging of real people and suspicious people with very minute clues of possible “evil behavior” anomalies to train our DHS and TSA personnel? A classroom setting with theatre seating of 5 rows with tracks down on the floor. Each track would have holographic people in full motion walking as 2-foot diameter holographic images passed by with subtle clues. There would be up to twenty of these moving at different speeds for ten-minutes and the security professional students would try to pick them out. There would also be distraction Holographic Images, which would be good people but draw attention away from the bad guys. After the ten minutes one by one the instructor would bring back each holographic bad guy and point out the clues and give aways. I believe such practice is essential so that we can dump the political correctness and view situations in a more realistic setting; that is to say; Augmented and Virtual Holographic Full Motion Reality. Think on this.

Aircraft Carrier Landing Training and Qualification

Landing a Fighter Plane onto a “postage stamp” in the middle of the ocean and that is exactly how the world’s best pilots, those in the United States Navy describe landing on an aircraft carrier. It is a dangerous but necessary skill to learn and not as easy as it looks as the pilot negotiates with death and chaos in a controlled crash onto the deck. Until a Navy Pilot has done it for a while their pulse and heart rates are redlined as they maneuvering the plane in attempting to get a hook hanging down off the aircraft to catch one of a few cables strung across the landing area. They come in under near full power, by establishing a sink rate at a high angle of attack and if they miss the arresting cables they are off at full power as they bounce back into the air to try again.

During this dangerous phase of carrier operations it is essential that the pilot muster his wits and use all his skill to get that 60 plus million dollars of taxpayer’s money on the deck unharmed. The pilot must wear that aircraft like a glove and precision is the key. But to get there requires lots of training and proficiency practice to stay in the groove. It is for this reason that I propose that holographic imagining be used for carrier qualification arresting landing training.

The Holographic image of a like aircraft will be used for the pilots to project the glide paths in front of them as they fly, actually watching their aircraft (full-size) in front of them. All they will have to do is follow the projection and match their aircraft to the angles and speeds of the holographic aircraft ahead. The projection will be set for safest glide path, avoid risk and be the most efficient decent. This will make flying easier and become a great training tool for new Navy Jet Pilots building hours and their skills.

This will insure a proper downwind to base and base to final approach, with perfect angles, no steep banks and help the pilot land at the perfect speed on the aircraft carrier deck. Additionally these Holographic Projections will be recorded and used for training of flight operations personnel and used by Navy flight instructors to watch to make sure the new Jet pilot is coming along fine.

The instructor will be able to reduce the scale of the aircraft to 1:24 or 1:48 scale and show student how they did. This can help in training new transport or fighter pilots in the USAF as well. This can add to the simulator experience.

The Holographic Technology is almost here and such advances in science has the potential of literally solving many safety and efficiency issues in US Naval aviation right here and now in the present period. Think on this.

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Red Flag Fighter Pilot Training with Holographic Projection

Red Flag is the United States Air Force’s airborne net-centric war game training. It resembles the United States Navy’s famous Top Gun School only with added components. As warfare training and simulation gets better and our SmartBombs and Smart Munitions get smarter the future of war will be fast, furious and permanent for the players. You live or die based on your ability to communicate and execute.

Each year United States Air Force personnel rotate thru the high-tech war games of red Flag to learn how all the new components of the blue force communication in a net-centric team to identify, evaluate and terminate the enemy with split second and pin-point accuracy. So precision that the missiles launched fly thru windows and the aircraft fire before they are seen, as there is little left to chance.

Indeed there is no other Air Force in this world with the capacity and capability of the United States of America. I believe we can do better and therefore, I propose that we use state of the art Holographic Technologies in full motion 3D, 4D and 5D right up in the sky to simulate real world air-to-air combat, anti-aircraft fire and surface to air incoming missiles.

Military strategists and war fighters can play out the battle in the virtual battlespace in advance on tabletops at command and control and then watch it un-fold in real time. Meanwhile the USAF pilots can watch holographic images in front of them as if it were real and it will appear to be so real, that once in a real live battle situation, it will be a cake walk, think on this.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

Holographic Traffic Cops of the Future

Have you ever seen a traffic cop standing in the center of the street when the power goes out directing traffic or after a big game directing traffic to keep the flow moving? Have you ever considered how dangerous this really is? Have you ever stopped to think that someone not paying attention or talking on their cell phone could at anytime mow over the traffic cop? Hey now be nice, as you probably deserved that last ticket, so don’t go there. You are evil I cannot believe you just thought that?

In any case my point is this, with the up and coming future advances in Holographic Technologies, which are getting closer to becoming reality we may soon be able to design a Holographic Police man to stand in the intersection so you can run him over all you want; no harm, no foul.

I propose we put holographic projectors in the police cars to display the 3D or 4D in Virtual Reality, just like what Microsoft is planning with the next generation of our 360 X-Box Video Games in our living rooms. The system will run off the police cars extra alternator for juice and will not need the power grid, so if the power is out after a severe thunderstorm, Hurricane or Earthquake, the police car can drive up point it, turn it on and restore the flow of traffic without risking his life. This will insure an end to the chaos and smooth traffic flows and prevent injuries. Because as a taxpayer the last thing we want it to pay for medical bills from a flattened policeman. Think on this.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Holographic Soldiers for Iraq Checkpoints

One of the most dangerous jobs right now in the United States Military is guarding the borders of Iraq. Your life expectancy if you do not stay ‘heads up’ is very low. It requires super human concentration and intuition, none of which is very easy when the weather is not cooperating, either too hot, too cold or dust storms. The soldier must be very alert at all times, follow protocol and you just never know when someone is out to do you in. Each day the soldiers live in fear that their number could be up in an instant, not knowing if it will happen to them, a friend of theirs or if today is that day.

I propose a new concept using the up and coming future advances in Holographic Technologies, which are getting closer to becoming reality we may soon be able to design a Holographic Soldier to stand at the check point so if someone tries to run him over, they can try all they want as you cannot kill a ghost or a mirage which is not there at all.

I propose we put holographic projectors in the Humvees to display the 3D or 4D image of the Soldier in Virtual Reality, just like what Microsoft is planning with the next generation of our 360 X-Box Video Games in our living rooms.

The system will run off the Humvee’s extra alternator for juice and will not need the power grid, the Humvee will can drive up point it away from the road, park the vehicle, turn it on and the Border Patrol Soldier will do its job, along with sensors and cameras without risking his life. If there is a problem the Soldiers away from the area will open fire from a short distance away out of any blast range in case there is a car bomb. Think on this.

Think Tank Items for This Week; Thinking Items

Have you considered starting a think tank? Have you ever considered joining one? Have you ever wondered what type of think tank you might wish to join? Have you ever submitted an application to a think tank? Do you ever wonder what sort of things think tanks are actually thinking on?

Well one think tank, the one I run is online and we think on all sorts of things and are unlimited in our thoughts. In fact if you would like to here some of the things we are working on this week, well we would be glad to get your input if you have any information or knowledge. Here are the items we are discussing this week and we can always use a few more, got any ideas? Anything for the agenda next week, meanwhile here is this week's topics:

1.) Natural Motion Hulls and materials

2.) Tornadoes on edges of hurricanes and the solar system and galaxy models correspondingly

3.) Organic Planet as a black hole

4.) Small business survival cycles in business cycles and bad economic policies as well as past, present future; good, bad and ugly

5.) Xenon Blast for Weather Control

6.) Hurricane Gamma formation possibilities

7.) Appeasement and Empathy trap for Muslim Radicals

8.) Uniting of hostile forces

9.) iRobot vacuum rage and programming- PETA and household cat interference.

10.) Gasoline tax windfalls and growth of local government, then lower prices means taxes will be raised during recession.

11.) Business Cycle downturn writing on walls

12.) Universal DNA, RNA, enzyme, pathogen hand held scanners for organic life and human healthcare.

13.) Tyson Foods and not coming clean when problem erupts and their political clout, workers at risk and families and towns.

14.) Identity Theft books and papers all wrong, government causes the creation of too many unsecured forms and data in too many places and they will cause the problem which will cripple millions in future.

15.) Inflation and artificial inflation, business cycle and small businesses.

16.) "Eminent Design" I made this term- meaning future of human hand on evolution, designing eco-systems, mitochondria dna, traveling space humaniods, insects, weather, etc. The future when man becomes God, I see this happening. A take off of "Intelligent Design"

17.) If Solar System Slows Down Less Energy or if less electromagnetic energy; We could fall in; Too far away we could slow down; Another system catching up; A shock wave of some type in our way causing us to bounce around a little

18.) Solar MAV techniques

19.) No Prosecutors Should Ever Hold Office, jaded view of the world and that system teaches you to cheat.

20.) Microwaves and RFID Tag system disruptions of enemies using such systems. Screw with their distribution systems. And ways to defeat microwave or EA attack on our distribution channels in business piracy, competition or military movements.

21.) Nasty Titles of articles get more page views on search engines as a sign of the times. Degradation of society

22.) Cyber Library Wars, Beta VS VHS. Showdown between Google and Microsoft each uses slightly different systems.

23.) GM Pension Obligations, Delphi Bankruptcy, Japanese Automaker Market Share, Downturn is business cycle, Airline losses, small business failures, Housing Crisis, Interest rates.

If you have any thoughts on any of these issues and you would like to join us we would love to here from you. Or if you already have a Think Tank you belong to you may use these topics for your group if you wish. All think tanks should from time to time come up with target topics to discuss, so think on this.

Friday, November 2, 2007

Inflatable Pancake For VSTOL Aircraft

Due to the need to take of and land aircraft in smaller spaces and also to provide more safety to air travel new technologies will be needed. Many scientists and aerospace engineers envision aircraft capable of anti-gravity with super ultra-light weight materials, which will enable them to take of vertically or near vertically.

VTOL or vertical take-off and Landing aircraft and STOL or short take-off and landing aircraft are the main focus for many visionaries in the aerospace sciences. Most accidents in aviation occur during the critical take off or landing phase of the flight. These include mid-air collisions, stall-spin accidents and low and slow emergencies.

I propose a new design for VTOL and STOL aircraft configurations. I was considering an expandable very large inflatable Frisbee shaped device to go under the aircraft and would be expanded before landing for a massive air cushion effect. Of course this concept would need to be tested in a wind tunnel with a workable model or cad cam hooked to a computer with the appropriate data sets to see if it would work. Although I have not written this up officially or completed any drawings and it is still in the thinking phase let me help you we visualization in your mind. Think of it as an "Inflatable Pancake For VSTOL Aircraft" and call it an "IPV" device.

Well it is my thought that I would expand the device slowly as the aircraft slowed and use the shape to provide air over the top and bottom for lift until it slowed enough to catch the air, as it transitioned to enjoy the benefits of the trapped air for deflection lift effect. It would be like a giant Frisbee inflating under the aircraft and the aircraft riding on top. Of course at first glance one might question this design and my concern is the wobbling could cause a crash or to turn on its side. But if the aircraft would still be under power on top it could provide the necessary flight control.

Then as it got close to the ground it would cup the air in an aircushion and then the engines would be used to blast low pressure under the inflated Frisbee shaped device at 6 PSI, 5 PSI, 4 PSI, 3 PSI, 2 PSI and land like a feather. But, really I am still thinking on this. But I went to sleep on it and dreamed about the design. I think I can do it actually, it is all with in the normal physics currently known to average humans. Think on this.

Are Humans a Bunch of Morons?

Are humans divine creatures endowed with the form of the creator? Or are humans like any other species on the Planet? Are humans as special as they make themselves out to be or do they have flaws like any other creature in the animal kingdom? Are Humans a Bunch of Morons so egocentric that they believe they, above all are beyond any other species?

From the outside looking in at the species one may feel that humans are hopeless indeed, perhaps bashing humans because they appear to all be a bunch of morons. Does this offend you human? Well, as for you personally well we are discussing this issue so perhaps you yourself may not be included in that grouping even if you are human. Maybe you are above the race, which so often sinks to the lowest common denominator when even something small is a miss? Rioting in the streets like there is no tomorrow.

Honestly now how many people do you actually know who have not surrendered their minds to the mass media hysteria, television and purported rhetoric? Unenlightened, wasteful, religious borderline cultish nut cases and blind to reality; how many people do you know who have already put their minds on a shelf and surrendered them.

With that said; would you say that the human species could use a little modification? Or would you say that we must remain human and pure, that God would not have wanted us to tinker with his creation, even though we find our species in decay, with IQ levels, falling in every civilization in the present period? Some find the argument against re-designing this species shallow at best. What if we could make ourselves smarter, more healthy and stronger thru advances in science? Should we? Do you believe that humans are currently de-evolving into a dummying down affect?

What if some wish to remain human and others wish to move forward and progress the species? Should fear of change hold us back, religious dogma or choosing not to choose, thus becoming a “no vote” for future technological advances? Can we perhaps divide the species and allow the choice. Unfortunately we know what happens when one group envies that of another, and if the species is divided by equal one will succeed the other, as that is a human trait too. Humans as they say are mostly harmless, but they can be a complete pain in the butt they way they carry on and one observing humans may come to a conclusion that yes they are a bunch of morons? Yet where do we go from here, as the time is coming near to make a decision on the matter. Think on this abstract thought for a moment.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Choosing to Die or Choosing Death by Robot

In the future thru life extension we will be able to choose when we die. There will be miracle drugs, Super Vitamin C and replacement parts such as artificial limbs, hearts, lungs and the latest and greatest robotics. Will be choose to remain 100% human or extend life thru robotic parts, merging with machines? One might choose to go natural, but as we may choose to replace parts and live to see our great, great, great, great grand children if the Earth does not fill up with too many people? Or we may choose for space colonies since there is estimated to be over 30 Billion humans on the planet by 2050.

Will death by robot become a reality? When we replace parts until we are more robot than human and at what point do we cease being human and become something else? Well it is true "choosing to die" does not currently have anything to do with robotics, but it will soon. And soon enough we will cure every disease and delete many of the accidents that happen to humans and be able to "fix them" and stop aging. Many have prophesized this and Ray Kurzweil has a number of followers of his “singularity” concept. If we stop aging thru BioTech and or changing parts that we cannot grow for some reason, then well it has everything to do with the future of robotics and the BioTech revolution merger.

Many a studier of humankind agree, that biological evolution has not kept up with the computer age and it is causing issues with our civilizations and societies, no doubt. At the same time the re-invention of society is not able to take the beast out of the human either, and we keep sweeping those innate characteristics under the carpet. Those negative aspects of the human species keep emerging over and over again. They keep popping up where we don't want them and then refuse to address them and we make new laws against them. Sweeping them under the carpet is a real problem as we move into the future period of hyper scientific discovery.

If you were given the choice of going completely 100% human, choosing to die or Choosing Death by Robot, which would you choose? What if being human was considered inferior in the future? Are you afraid of change, caught in religious dogma or are you looking forward to the future? Think on this, as it will not be long now.

UAV wih Tube Launched Expandable Wing

The United States Soldiers have a new useful tool in the battles space, one which allows them extended battlespace situational awareness. A bird’s eye view via robotic unmanned aerial vehicle or UAV, which are launched by hand and fly around like a little remote control model aircraft taking pictures of the ground below and the enemy too. They are almost impossible to shoot down and many can fly for hours protecting our troops.

I propose a new model of the UAV. A micro-air vehicle commonly called an MAV, which can be deployed faster, quicker and reach it surveillance area immediately and efficiently. How about a UAV, which is the size of a hand thrown UAV but the wing is folded along the fuselage while being launched and is shot into the air. The forward momentum keeps its wing from clicking at a 90-degree angle until it slows down.

The Wing is attached to the fuselage with a center bolt and is aligned with the fuselage for firing into the air. It is shot out of a tank almost straight up as it arches slow down and return to earth the relative wind slows down and the spring loaded wing pops into place and then it has altitude, and can glide trickle charging the battery and using solar to keep the motor going.

Instant altitude and distance at the speed of a round, then use the same guidance system for the mortar rounds we now have to steer it to a single mission target and home in on enemy? If you have great ideas which can help our troops in Iraq then let’s hear them, as my brother is a US Marine and we need to be thinking here.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Technology and Freedom; Good or Evil?

Many say that technology is evil in some way, they will tell us that technology limits us and takes away our freedoms. Those who oppose technology live in the fear of change, but will not address their fears, rather condemn our species forward advancement into the future. The demand a Utopia, but squash those who research and study to make it so. They will attack the entrepreneurs, engineers, scientists and those who cheer them on.

Yet if we look closely at the facts we find that technology can give you freedoms. It can also take them away. But mankind has been enslaving people anyway without technology and at times offered them their freedom either by decree, sword or guillotine. So let's also understand that too, just like money is not evil rather a unit of trade; so you see the other side?

When the first automobiles started moving the horse and buggies out of the way, everyone condemned them, until they bought one and saw the new freedoms and ease of travel. If everyone had a horse and buggy today we would have so much horse crap in the streets we would all die of disease and the number of flies would increase 1,000-fold.

Technology of today could not have been imagined in the wildest dreams of those living in the fourteenth century. Yet today we can image the future of technology in fact I would like technology to record my dreams for instance, so I can replay the good ones, or start the sequence to start where I left off. I would like to use technology to help me so I could do this and use this dream state to answer questions I have and work on complex thoughts. So, why not allow the technology to help me do what I do that much better?

Technology is no more evil than an airplane to help us travel, a radio to listen to the news or an ultra-thin iPod to allow us to listen to our favorite music while riding our mountain bike on the trails, roller-blading thru the park or standing in line at the department of motor vehicles. In fact if the Department of Motor Vehicles had their act together and made better use of technology, we would not have to wait in line at all. Think about it.

Fear of Change and the Technology Debate

So many humans fear change and the advances of science and they will claim that modern advances are evil. They will say that God wanted us this way and not to modify human life or better ourselves. But if so and if one submits that there is a God or Gods then why would he, she, it or them give us such a large brain if problem solving was not an intended attribute?

Many critics of technology will say such human sciences and advances lack integrity to what it is to be human and deny that God made us in his image and wants us to remain this way? Interesting comment and even more interesting would be the question that how would these detractors of science know that?

There is no lack of integrity to giving a soldier an artificial knee, a grandma a new hip or a fireman a new arm. You see, tere is nothing wrong with giving me a better brain or a system to use so I can accomplish more and be better at my work and research using all I have and bettering it. Whether it is an artificial piece of technology or a super vitamin C pill to allow us to be better, healthier and stronger; that is a good thing and it is not evil, not even close.

A combination for computerized technologies we can interface with and betting our own bio-system to work more efficient might be the right way to go, and we should find out. If we fail to advance our technologies, then we fail the species and our own future from catastrophe, calamity or potential eventuality, you see? Not to mention failing one’s god, by putting forth a meager effort to help people with injuries, ailment or brain decay disease. Think on this.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Does the Promotion of Technology Lead to De-evolution?

Is modern technology making the human species weaker? Some think it is and many have nearly lost their sense of smell, sense of taste and intuition, which is a common trait throughout the animal kingdom, which includes people. Technology and Change always comes under fire from those who fear change, yet are we failing to heed the warning this time? Are we really moving technology so fast that people are not people anymore?

Recently one humanist made a biting comment and said; “You see, the technology that many are promoting now has actually caused us to "devolve" yet is being promoted under the guise of progressive "evolution".

Well yes that is a valid point and worthy of consideration and I for one agree that is one good argument against the rapidly increasing technology. And the potential eventuality of a “Singularity” of Human Evolution as Ray Kurzweil the Famous Futurist often states. But have we really taken a good look at the human race lately? The average human being cannot even get out of their own way. I mean we have 80% of the African Continent at 85 IQ, rest of the world at barely over that. In the US we are doing about 100, with public servants not allowed to be over 105 or the police departments will not hire them?

Many believe that the future advances cannot go on without a total collapse of civilization and what it means to be human stating things like:

“This propaganda will never sustain itself because there are still human beings out there that can "feel" the lack of integrity in this marketing.”

Well wait a second now. We are about to solve all mankind’s problems and we are almost there. We will solve cancer issues, water crisis, weather control and so many problems which plague mankind through sciences of computers, biotech, new materials and robotics. And you see most humans really do not wish to work if they had their druthers, so why push them to do something they hate? Besides there really is no work ethic or integrity in most modern civilization anyway for that matter.

So if robotics as an example can solve these problems that is a good thing and the humans are free to have more leisure time to evolve and catch up, ponder ideas and move into the future undeterred. Take my industry for instance I am in the car wash business and no one really wants to work you see, so fine I will build robots to wash cars. And as we recently saw with the DARPA Grand Challenge we can build them and drive them selves too.

Additionally is technology causing humans to de-evolve or are humans sinking to the lowest common denominator? And is this modern technologies fault or is it a human problem? For instance, humans 30% would lie to you if they felt they might be able to make one dollar. Another 30% would lie to you to make $500 and 29% would for 1,000 to 10,000 dollars. So where is the lack of integrity that those who oppose technology are talking about here? It seems to me that de-evolution is happening in France with the riots lasting four weeks? Is that technologies fault? The warring tribes in Africa are killing each other and you do not see a lot of technology there? I hereby declare victory in the argument that modern advances in technology is de-evolving the human species and further wait for the next attack from those who fear change. Think on it.

Future Concepts and Modern Advances in Technology; Good or Bad?

Many Humanists and Scientists argue that our technology and civilization is out pacing evolution by a huge margin. They point to our tribalistic, band and small group human history that we survived with for hundreds of thousands of years is no longer anything similar to our modern societies. Indeed to argue against this fact would be futile as it is so. However we seem to for the most part done very well as out human populations swells around the planet.

Humanists will ask and one recently did; “Doesn't it make more sense to be who we are and develop our true, and in my view powerful abilities (i.e. to communicate with each other through the energy fields that connect us without technology, to create with our minds a reality that is truly self sustaining, to connect with each other and rid the entire human species of the negative beliefs that are undermining us all etc...)?”

Well indeed he sure has brought up a huge question worthy of discussion. However let me take a crack at this question as I answer in the negative to his assumptions;

“NO. Because why should you choose one or the other, why not both. Have the capability and develop lost skills, while simultaneously using our brains to invent better technologies to improve on the human design. We do not have time for evolution to take its sweet time. You know you are talking about talking the species back to the stoneage, yet who would that really serve. We need sewer treatment plants, fresh water and energy for things. Not that they are totally necessary, but they have certainly improved life from other civilization of the last let's say 5000 years anyway. Perhaps ancient cultures die previously have great advances and may have been extremely well adapted civilizations without all this fluff. Yet who is to say that was better and why should we make that decision for all humanity, as humanity has spoken and voted with their consumer dollar and well, they want all this stuff.”

As far as the observations of human civilizations in the present period and the dummying down of the population base; well now that they cannot function without all these modern technologies, they very much need it and cannot feel fulfilled without out it. Myself, well I could go without many of the modern amenities.

Humans need a challenge and advancement and forward progression of the species does provide that challenge. After all; why does someone climb a mountain? It is there and it is a challenge. Many including myself like challenges, creating stuff and inventing things, so why not? Using technology to help mankind along in his journey to create better, strong and better civilizations is wise. And as mankind reaches a place of heaven on Earth, with more leisure time and the Utopia we desire, who is anyone to say that technology is an evil to the human race? Think on that.

Monday, October 29, 2007

Electro Magnetic Fields and the Human Bio-System

Are we hurting our Human Bio-Systems with too many electronic gadgets around us? Cell phones, microwave ovens, radios, satellite TV, computers, WiFi, WiMax, radar detectors, automatic door openers, iPods, burglar alarms and electrical appliances are everywhere and all around us. And that is not all as we have Airports with radar, high-tension power lines and microwave repeaters.

All this technology is scrambling our natural evolution some may actually increase our cognitive abilities by hyper charging our brains, while the rest is really not very good for us at all. How bad is the problem? Well we seem to all still be here right? Although some types of cancer are on the rise and thus this frequency pollution is affecting our electro-magnetic fields and our human bio-systems.

Does this mean those of use who are into high-tech gadgets are hurting the world? Does this mean we should not promote more technology such as robotics, net-centric cars and better communication devices with future human interface capabilities? Well probably we should pay attention to what we are doing however we must also look at the benefits as well.

Personally I see benefits in having assistance from robotics, so people do not have to work in factories and can enjoy their time thinking and enjoying life. Most of us have been able to overcome distractions of technology such as cell phones or high tension power lines, although they do affect us a little whether we choose to address the issue or not. Additionally I concur with Plato's ideas that indeed people should do what they are best at, and be alleviated from that which they are not and when they are, "We" are all the better for it. So if we can use these tools to make human life easier we may find that the benefits and removal of stress in our life will be better for us in the long run than any detriment from the frequency pollution we create.

One most also consider that in the future we can use those energy fields too, as it is energy, so use it and convert it. I also believe we can cancel out negative frequency for instance:

http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?s=e276a9b3592c8b344f945cd8814c256f&showtopic=119

http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?s=e276a9b3592c8b344f945cd8814c256f&showtopic=65

http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?s=e276a9b3592c8b344f945cd8814c256f&showtopic=576

http://www.worldthinktank.net/art109.shtml

Also as human civilizations address these higher frequency ranges we should note that we can co-exist with technology using the higher frequency ranges without hurting our Bio-systems VLFs, ELFs and ULFs. For instance although they do affect human behavior somewhat we all experience solar flares, cosmic radiation, Earth Frequencies and we seem to be doing okay so far. The human bio-system can work without worry and it can actually take a whole lot of energy. Some believe it adversely affects human life in our world and has made everyone stupid and as an example they point to the French Riots? But the French are always up to something, so indeed, that is not proof positive either and so the debate goes on. Think on this.

Vaccinating Birds for Bird Flu with Food and Recycling Products

Currently there is a real problem with plastic water bottles, the litter and pollution they create. Many medical professionals are quite concerned that they can cause health issues if you drink your water out of them. It is a quite heated debate on both sides, but few can deny the problems they create in the environment. Currently plastic water bottles are made of very thin plastic which decays faster, but the UV light also causing them to decay before you drink them causing health issues as it enters the water itself, which you will soon be drinking.

These water bottles are also found to be filling up our landfills unnecessarily and also causing issues, as they become trash in parks, the beaches and athletic fields. Some teachers have fund ways to teach and use empty water bottles as materials for projects in the classroom. Recently in a press release a company named; BIOTA Spring Water came out with the World’s First Bottled Water or Beverage Packaged in a Bottle that is Made from 100% Renewable Resource, Corn not Oil. This means that it is bio-degradable and will decompose quickly.

Since it is made of corn, animals will eat these bottles and birds too. So I propose that we put Bird Flu vaccine into the bottles during manufacturing protecting our local and regional birds from traveling migrating birds, which might have bird flu in a strain that is dangerous to humans, such as the N5H1. The birds will eat the bottles, thus no pollution or litter and they will be safe and so will we? Think on this idea?

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Bullet Launched Micro-MAV

There is a move in the UAV or unmanned aerial vehicle sciences to make smaller and smaller flying units. Now we have MAVs, Micro-autonomous or Micro Air Vehicles, which are 1-foot or less wingspan and may or may not look like a bird and be about that size. Next the scientists are working to build very tiny insect or hummingbird size units which can fly thru windows, between buildings, under tree canopies or even into sewer tunnels, just like an insect.

There are problems when making these technologies very small, as many of the materials needed are cutting edge technologies and so are the sensors that are small enough. Sensors which will need to see walls, obstacles and sense the terrain below to keep them from crashing. Another issue is the need to keep them light and the power source will need to be very tiny and the total weight will be less than that of a tiny battery in a Casio wristwatch. This means the little gadget will need to buzz along with a large power to weight ratio.

I propose that we launch these vehicles inside of a gun, such as a gun they use to use for flares in WWII. The vehicle will be inside of a bullet and it will wind up a spring or material memory rubber band type motor. It will have a little wheel spinning as it rushes through the air and it will either deploy from the bullet or unfold using the bullets skin as its wings. Then it can buzz along for a while with the built up power and then a material memory polymer flapping wing spar will be trickle charging energy to a battery type system which the frame and wings will be made out of. Think on this concept.

Micro Solar UAV

Is it possible to build a plastic mini-unmanned solar powered micro-aircraft? An unmanned aerial vehicle or UAV with unlimited range and flying time, can you imagine that? So far scientists are getting there and have built bird sized MAVs Micro-Air Vehicles, which can fly for 9 hours or more. But what if they were very light and of thin plastic and if what if that plastic could collect energy through solar panels?

Well it just so happens there have been some recent breakthroughs in solar photovoltaics, as well as plastics that conduct electricity and solar cells can be made out of these things. All these new technologies could hold the keys to making smaller and smaller MAVs and UAVs. These new MAVs can be used to catch fleeing criminals running from the police without calling in the Helicopters using $700 per hour in jet fuel. These MAVs can also be used in the battlefield to protect troops.

Scientists believe they can make this material much cheaper than normal solar cells and ultra light, meaning they will make the perfect material for wings on a tiny flying surveillance plane. Some believe they can be made as inexpensive as $ .36 per watt. It is unknown yet if they will be able to generate enough to constantly power the little birds, but with a combination of material muscle wings to flap and a little gliding in between, it is a good possibility. Think on this.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Robotic Camels; Think Tank Discussion

Recently our Think Tank was discussing robotic camels and how cool they are. It is amazing that robotics has come so far. The Japanese have a robot, which can run without falling over and now a Swiss Firm is making a Camel Riders, which can be used to race camels which is a big thing in the Middle East. Isn’t that something?

One of our members Swift found after doing some research that the country of Qatar has enlisted the Swiss firm K-Team to create robotic camel jockeys. A human Camel Jockey like a Race Horse Jockey must be small and lightweight to give the Camel a competitive edge. But it is often hard to find skillful young people who can do this. There was some abuse as some of the racing groups have gone to South Asia and Africa to borrow children for use in this sport. It's angered some folks, so they have turned to 35 pound robotic child jockeys. This is just one way robots are helping the human race and preventing kidnapping and eventually they may have robotic camels, too.

This was getting to be a lively topic at our think tank as I always thought Robot Wars was a good way to stop cock fighting, that seems mean to animals. Kind of cruel thing and with bird flu coming the last thing you want is bleeding chickens all over the place. If all these birds are culled, maybe that sport might stop. Although you never know with robotics, some one might create robotic chickens to fight; maybe the size of Big Bird?

Of course in the Middle East with all the fighting going on, the last thing you would want is a robot on a camel. Swift said that could be used as a weapon to attack coalition troops or God forbid a Hotel or Bus full of innocent civilians in a murderous and senseless act.

I cannot imagine the problems with something like that; a camel bomb? Talk about cruelty to animals, that is disgusting; although in the Russians attempted to use dogs in wartime, but when they got close to their targets sometimes the gunfire would scare them and they would run back and blow up and kill their masters instead. Dolphins have been used in wartime, but just to plant the detonation device and swim safely away. Apparently the United States has more noble sentiments towards animals than other cultures?

Swift told the Think Tank, what if one of these raced into an Iraqi Complex or Hotel in the Middle East and take the place out--homicidal camels. No one would be suspicious if several hundred entered a city and just took the entire place out. They might just think it was a race they'd not heard about. Camels move in kind of a stiff manner, so that wouldn't be very difficult to replicate that kind of movement in a robotic version. People could be captured, then, or the jockey could yell "yahoo" and annihilate the place.

It appears to me that we may see more and more animals used in conjunction with robots. One recent researcher had figured out a way to put a surveillance camera on top of a turtle and if it went the wrong way the device vibrated and was unpleasant to the “Desert Turtle” causing it to go the intended direction and then take full motion video feed or digital pictures it would send wirelessly. Could even be used to search for Earthquake victims.

Swift indicated that there is a fish called the stargazer that would also make an interesting robotic survellience system. Which could be used in place of a fully robotic AUV Autonomous Underwater Vehicle. The fish It lies in the bottom of water sources and looks a lot like a death mask. It explodes vertically out of its lair and grabs fish, but might also rest on the bottom of a river and guard it and then come up for pictures if someone tried to cross or in wartime take out the infiltrating enemy, as it would be safer than landmines, which lay there for years after a war until some poor civilian trips the device and blows off a limb. The device would have a positioning GPS and could be detonated after the war or picked up. The robot could do the same thing as the evolved organic fish, but come out of the water and react like a heat seeking missile taking out warm blooded people as it moved parallel to the surface of the river.

I suppose like a flying MAV Micro-Air Vehicle “Pigeon” single mission bomb maybe used someday. Or maybe to fly in undetected as a fake robotic bird and take pictures. One problem with using robotic camels is they sound expensive to make and what about roadside bombs taking out your camel? Ah ha, A Trojan Camel indeed, maybe I read too much history, but it could work. The fish idea is totally interesting and could also be inflatable and blow up into a balloon and then go into the air for surveillance. I had designed a robotic manta ray like that or at least did some drawings and figured out the costs.

Swift said that there's also an eel called the snake ell that is found in the area of Indonesia. It burrows into the volcanic sands so that only it's head is sticking out of the water. Perhaps you might have seen it on the Science, Discovery or Animal Channel? This could be used to spy on China and Southeast Asia, because they have over 2000 industrial spies in our country already looking for military contractor secrets.

Since the eel is a predator, if someone saw one, they surely would not be approaching it, so it would be easy to keep it in an area without being disturbed. Both of these creatures are very primitive looking so would be easy to design. Both of these are found in the Lembeh Strait by Indonesia and live among the coral reefs there. There's also a mantis shrimp that have complex stalk eyes that offer an almost 360 degree view.

I thought this was an innovative idea and the eel idea is easy to build using polymer muscles and could be beneficial. The 360-vision is generally an attribute of a prey species, not a predator species. But if people were scared of it, it would keep them away, wouldn’t it? Maybe it could shock anyone who got close too? Robotic Animals, fish and birds are fast approaching us and the wildlife generally ignore them, but are often curious; wondering what is this thing anyway? Think on these robotic topics.