The last time I wrote about Google’s Project Glass, I called it inspiring but probably more hype than commercial product. Well, the awesome-in-concept augmented reality glasses might be coming to a store near you sooner than I guessed. At least, if we can trust this first-hand account from a writer at the Gothamist (h/t Greg … Continue reading
It’s not exactly breaking news that freight trains produce enormous vibrations. But until now, it’s never occurred to me that it might be possible to capture that vibrational energy and convert it to electricity. From NBC News’ FutureTech, engineering professor Lei Zuo has invented a device to do just that. It attaches to the tracks … Continue reading
Yep, it’s true: Samsung is planning to release a phone that’s completely bendable. And rumor has it you can get your hands on it as early as next year! Flexible e-ink displays have been in development for nearly half a decade, but it’s only recently that researchers for companies like Samsung and Nokia have turned … Continue reading
Ever wanted to have cybernetic control over a computer, or communicate telepathically with others? Well, check out the following video of cybernetics professor Kevin Warwick and his “cyber” implant. The implant connects to nerves in his arm, allowing his brain to directly send and receive external signals. In the video he does so not only … Continue reading
NBC’s Future Tech series just picked up this amazing video of Nigel Ackland, who lost his arm in an accident and now uses a carbon-fiber mechanical limb in its place. The arm doesn’t contain a direct brain-computer interface – its movements are controlled by Nigel’s two forearm muscles and his other hand. Which makes it … Continue reading
Today’s Future Bites brings you the future of meat… maybe. Here’s Singularity Weblog with the latest on lab-grown animal tissue for human consumption. The motivation for growing meat flesh in-vitro, without the animal, is many-fold. After all, growing animals for consumption requires vast amounts of water, grain, fertilizer, land area and oil. Not to mention … Continue reading
This week, I’m putting the “bite” back into Future Bites with a look at cake trends. Believe it or not, there’s not a lot of prognostication out there about what the cake of the future might look like. Which I personally find shocking, considering how many people are affected by cake every day. But I … Continue reading
Wired is reporting the debut of a tracking bracelet called the Larklife. It’s a simple wristband with an accelerometer that can tell when you’re sleeping, exercising or neither. It comes with a connected iPhone app that allows you to add information about your meals, then crunches all the data for you and reports back. This … Continue reading
The music industry, as you’ve probably noticed, is in the midst of a cosmic shift. As with books and movies, the arrival of the digital era has demolished the old ways of doing business. MP3 sales recently beat CD sales for the first time ever, and it won’t be long ’til all music is digital. … Continue reading
Here’s some heartening sustainability news to file under this week’s Future Bites: Co.exist is reporting that grocery store giant Safeway is boosting the sustainable fishing industry in a big way. This is good because sustainable fishing (like sustainable agriculture) reduces pollution and resource depletion, ensuring that future generations will be able to access the same … Continue reading
Cosmic Revolutions 