Ever received an email from your toaster? Neither have I, but in a future featuring the Internet of Things, it could become commonplace. What is the Internet of Things? Like the internet itself, it’s about connections. Way back in the ’70’s, ARPANET connected a handful of university mainframes. The internet it grew into connected individual … Continue reading
Automated systems grow more sophisticated every day. They’re now poised to take on many tasks that we would’ve considered “human-only” just a few years ago. We’ve discussed that trend here several times, from robot nurses and lawyers to robots that drive your car. While these developments are fascinating on their own, today I want to … Continue reading
Last week, I mentioned some research that has the potential to turn any window into a solar panel. It turns out that’s just a side benefit – the original aim of the research is actually even more innovative, in its own way. The technology features thin, transparent layers of material that absorb infrared light (heat) … Continue reading
Three times a week, I go to the gym on my way home from work. And three times a week, I ask myself the same question: isn’t this a waste? I don’t mean the exercise. A longer lifespan, plus reduced risk of Alzheimer‘s and cancer, is all the justification I need. No, I’m talking about … Continue reading
Of all the branches of modern philosophy, ethics is both the most practical and the most baffling. For every clear-cut moral choice, there are a thousand what-ifs that cloud the picture. And as the future dawns and automated systems become more common, things will get murkier than ever. I’ll give you an example. Take Google’s … Continue reading
Step aside, Sherlock: there’s another big brain on the scene. He’s got deep knowledge, pieces together abstract concepts on the fly, and shares a name with your erstwhile partner. Meet Watson. If you watched Jeopardy last February, you got to witness the unusual intersection of cutting-edge intelligence research and popular game shows. In a handful … Continue reading
Every new year, IBM puts forth their “5-in-5”: a set of predictions about the state of technology half a decade into the future. This year, the prediction that’s attracting the most controversy is that by 2017, you can ditch those 50+ passwords and PINs you need to remember, and biometric identification will step up to … Continue reading
We’ve come a long way since the turn of the millennium, no doubt about it, and our technology is the niftiest it’s ever been. But there are some stubborn vestiges of the previous century that have overstayed their welcome. They stick around like your in-laws after Christmas, using up money, resources or time, and just … Continue reading
‘Tis the season for doing things that make us warm and happy inside, whether that means giving to charity, spiking the eggnog, or lingering just a little longer beneath the mistletoe. In that spirit, I think Cosmic Revolutions is overdue for a post on the lighter side. Here are three quick links, all courtesy of … Continue reading
Oil is a finite and non-renewable resource. This is not a political position, nor a scientific theory, but a straightforward fact. “Peak Oil” is the time at which worldwide extraction begins to slow. Wells won’t run dry overnight, but beyond peak oil, dwindling supply will make oil ever more difficult and expensive to produce. The … Continue reading
Cosmic Revolutions 