27
2004
Elevator:2010
The Spaceward Foundation has announced their Elevator:2010 challenge. Similar to the $10 million Ansari X Prize, the competition is intended to jump-start technologies critical to the creation of a space elevator, and is targeting student groups. The initial 3 competions are for climber prototypes to race up a 60-meter ribbon, developing better materials for the elevator ribbons, and construction of power-beaming systems.
On another front, I see that The Liftport Group has a counter on their website counting down the time until their space elevator is operational on April 12, 2018.
19
2004
Online Machine Shop
When I was a kid, I used to dream of having a machine that would enable me to create 3D objects of my own design. Well, now it’s available online at eMachineShop.com! Using their free design software, you create the item you want, then upload the design, select a material (aluminum, steel, brass, acrylic, etc.) and a finish, and they’ll create 1 to 1,000,000 copies for you.
20
2004
Moon Landing 35th Anniversay
Today marks the 35th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing – take a look at the incredible compilation information over at the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal and the Project Apollo Archive. Be sure to also check out the this fantastic QuickTime 3D panorama of the Apollo 11 landing site (as well as the one from Apollo 17 that shows how much bolder they became in terms of landing site selection).
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26
2004
For Michele
Happy anniversary – here’s a song for you!
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21
2004
5 Years of SETI@home
The SETI@home site lists May 17 as the 5 year anniversary of the project (although I’m listed as having registered on May 15, 1999). They’ve also just passed the 5,000,000 user mark.
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03
2004
A link for Dave
To help get him started with his Google listing, a link to The IRFgroup.
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14
2004
A9
Amazon‘s new search project, A9, is definitely intriguing. Apparently, it uses Google search results tied-in with related Amazon books and Google Adwords. But more than anything, I’m interested in some of the user interface goodies they’ve implemented, like the resizable columns and the site info pop-ups. Of course, the controversial feature will be the search history, where the information is stored on their servers. I would expect to see the same kind of privacy concerns that people had to Google’s Gmail service.
Filed Under Computing, Geek, Web | 1 Comment
08
2004
Still more QRIO clips
I found two more Sony QRIO clips – the first shows a QRIO balancing on a tilting platform, and the second shows a QRIO being knocked over and then getting back up.
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30
2004
QRIO Conducts an Orchestra
Sony has posted a short new QRIO movie clip – this one is a QRIO conducting the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra (here’s the direct link to the clip in Realmedia format).
Filed Under Geek | 8 Comments
25
2004
Free Shrimp Thanks to the Mars Rovers!
Remember when Taco Bell offered a free taco to everyone in America if the Mir spacestation crashed into a target floating in the South Pacific? (darn! It missed just to the left…..). Well, Long John Silvers has come through on their promise to give everyone a free Giant Shrimp if NASA found conclusive evidence of an ocean on Mars. Gets yours on Monday, May 10. Don’t ya just love it when science results in free food?
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