Interesting take on using gaming elements to motivate…
As North Korea cannot produce enough chemical fertilizer, citizens are urged to collect kitchen waste and even human excrement to produce compost. Competitions are held between neighbourhood units in order to step up compost production. The photo shows the “compost production competition chart of district no. 13”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kernbeisser/2420680926/in/set-72157604582048816/
According to the EPA, 50% of the oil spilled in our waterways every year comes from motor oil runoff. Natural waste fibers such as hair clippings are really good at socking up oil. But when BP spilled all that oil a while back they insisted on using synthetic fiber to clean it up. Even though natural fibers are a free and abundant resource…
Researchers are the first to have made an artificial neural network out of DNA, creating a circuit of interacting molecules that can recall memories based on incomplete patterns, just as a brain can.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110720142501.htm
“Postcards is an award-winning large format feature motion picture that explores our future in space - seen through the eyes of an engineer working to build a base on the moon, and who occasionally sends video postcards back to his wife and family on Earth.”
useful resources by Futurists at museums. http://www.multibriefs.com/briefs/aam/ (archived articles on right side)
Researchers from North Carolina State University have created a new type of memory device that’s soft, flexible, works well in well environments and, most importantly, has the consistency of jelly. And this new memory could theoretically interface electronics with cells and biological systems.
Hollywood issues a cease and decist order to citizen for printing movie props with 3D printer.
VR environment allows people to do their grocery shopping during the morning commute, then have the food delivered when they get home from work.
Zeo is a device for tracking quantity and quality of sleep. It is one device commonly used by Quantified Self, a group of people who keep detailed records of sleeping, eating, exercise etc. There is a very interesting/long writeup on this technology and the people using it here.
Batphone app recognizes the ambient acoustic fingerprint of a room.
http://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/news/articles/article_935.html
Halmark greeting cards step into the realm of virtual reality. When the card is held up to a webcam+appropriate Halmark website the greeting card comes to life. Don’t you want one?
