Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology...

You ever wonder why there hasn't been an implantable bionic eye yet with today's nano-miniaturization of electronics and video cameras ? There's is this filmmaker that had one implanted in his eye socket. The implant has a miniature video camera with a transmitter. No, it hasn't been wired up to his brain yet, for that is very difficult to accomplish. For now, this guy can sport his glowing eye, look very cool when he blinks, and send video to nearby receivers.

LED eye bionic jumping, teaser footage of experimenting with eye-camera prototype, action! Rob Spence is a filmmaker who lost his eye and decided to replace it with a wireless video camera. Check out Kosta Grammatis glancing about nervously as Fox News guffaws about our bionic lab.- [eyeborg - Eyeborg Phase II]

Space Flight for the Non-Astronauts

Sir Arthur C. Clarke once predicted that in this century space flight would become available to the public. Seems that it might soon become a possibility. Although the Russian space program took very wealthy paying customers into space, there hasn't been any space transport organization that would take a group of less wealthy passengers above the atmosphere. until Sir Richard Bransen, of Virgin fame, formed a new space line company called Virgin Galactic. Virgin Galactic promises that soon the general public, for the modest price comparable to that of a luxury sports car, would be able to fly into space, experience microgravity, re-enter the atmosphere, and land safely to tell about the experience.

Virgin Galactic is the world's first spaceline. Giving you the groundbreaking opportunity to become one of the first ever non-professional astronauts. Virgin Galactic will own and operate its privately built spaceships, modelled on the remarkable, history-making SpaceShipOne.

Virgin's vast experience in aviation, adventure, luxury travel and cutting-edge design combined with the unique technology developed by Burt Rutan will ensure an unforgettable experience unlike any other available to mankind.

With safety at the forefront, our unique spacecraft is being designed at Rutan's base in Mojave, California alongside a concerted research and development programme.

"The deal with Mojave Aerospace Ventures is just the start of what we believe will be a new era in the history of mankind, one day making the affordable exploration of space by human beings a real possibility." Richard Branson.

It is these spaceships that will allow affordable sub-orbital space tourism for the first time in the history of the universe. --[Virgin Galactic]

Clarke's Predictions for the 21st Century

Sir Arthur C. Clarke was a famous science fiction writer and futurist, or to be more correct, a visionary, known for his works of, 2001: A Space Odyssey, 2010 Odyssey Two, and Rendezvous with Rama. He was also known for the invention of the geostationary satellite.

As a futurist, Sir Arthur along with inventor / futurist Ray Kurzweil met in November of 2001 via video teleconferencing from Sri Lanka to write a set of forecasts for the 21st century.

Here's a sample:

2009 All nuclear weapons are destroyed.
2010 A new form of space-based energy is adopted.
2010 Despite protests against "big brother," ubiquitous monitoring eliminates many forms of criminal activity.
2011 Space flights become available for the public.
2013 Prince Harry flies in space.
2015 Complete control of matter at the atomic level is achieved.
2016 All existing currencies are abolished. A universal currency is adopted based on the "megawatt hour."
2017 Arthur C. Clarke, on his one hundredth birthday, is a guest on the space orbiter.
2019 There is a meteorite impact on Earth.
2020 Artificial Intelligence reaches human levels. There are now two intelligent species on Earth, one biological and one non-biological.

For more please see the article, Arthur C. Clarke Offers His Vision of the Future by Sir Arthur C. Clarke and Ray Kurzweil.

The Six-Million Dollar...Penguin?

According to Wikipedia, "Bionics ... is the application of biological methods and systems found in nature to the study and design of engineering systems and modern technology."

Below is a video of several demonstrations provided by the Festo group, depicting organically moving robots that defies the imagination. You have to see it to believe it. My favorite demonstration is the one where penguins swim gracefully around each other in the air we breathe.

Who Says That Robots Can't Do Housework?

As you know, Japan is the leading country in robotics research. Well they are working hard in designing robots that can do housework:



[via] [IRT]

Can You See Me Now? Good !

Video phones have been predicted in classic science fiction films such as "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "Blade Runner". Well, the prediction came true, after a fashion. In this information age one would think that video phones should be a common appliance at home. However, that is not the case. They are in use today, but very sparingly in the form of internet-enabled personal computers equipped with a web cam, and in the office with video-conferencing systems. One of the reasons why video phones are not as common as the audio-only phones at home is because standard voice-telephone wiring is unable handle the information flow rate that is required to reproduce fluid video and audio. The best video quality one can hope for with standard wiring is choppy video with less than perfect audio. Many homes today have DSL or cable modem (broadband) which would be very capable to handle the bandwidth demand of the video phone, but not every home has broadband, and broadband is expensive. However, with time, once broadband becomes the minimum standard communication network for every home, one can predict that we will see an explosion of video phone appliances for sale.

Today there ARE some video phones for sale, but they are expensive compared to audio-only phones. Eventually with competition and ingenuity, the prices will be driven down.


Ojo 900 Personal Video Phone
The Ojo 900 is a low cost, high-quality video phone. The best video connection for your family. Its satin black finish works anywhere in your home.
High Quality Synchronized Voice and Video
Latest video technology
Smooth picture with no noticeable delay
Simple to Install and Easy to Use
Broadband connection required
No PC needed
Operates as easily as a regular telephone
Video Messaging
Customizable greeting for incoming messages
-- [OJO]

Beamer TV Videophone works with your television, home phone and home phone line, to instantly add video to your phone calls. Call your family and friends, and see them on your television screen.
Overview
With Beamer TV, families can experience the joys and benefits of videophone calls by seeing family and friends they are talking to displayed on their television screen. Beamer TV is easy to set up and easy to use - as easy as making a phone call.
* Works with any home phone (corded or cordless).
* Works with any standard (analog) phone line.
* Works with any television (NTSC* and PAL** formats) that has a RCA video jack.
* No special wiring or equipment.
* No service fees, contracts or subscriptions.
* No additional cost to your phone call.
-- [VIALTA]

Jet Packs Have Been Around For a While

Jet Packs have been around for a while made very popular in the 60's sci-fi series "Lost in Space", seen in a James Bond film, and flown in the opening ceremony of the Los Angeles 1984 summer Olympics.

The Rocket Belt is the most spectacular flying machine ever developed, period! It is a small personal propulsion device strapped to the back of an individual, enabling a man or woman to rapidly and safely fly or leap over short distances like small rivers or ravines , landing upright
- TAM

TAM is the first and only company in the world that produces a complete package of a custom designed Rocket Belt using the most advanced technology and aerospace materials and the special machine to produce your own rocket grade fuel - TAM (Techonologia Aerospacial Mexicana)

Project REEM: The Humanoid Robot

Robotics have gone a long way since the maze-solving mouse of the 70s and 80s. This humanoid robot or android is close to being the mechanized servant predicted in many science-fiction stories in 20th century.

REEM-B is the evolution of the first humanoid created by Pal Technology Robotics, the REEM-A. The first prototype was designed to play chess with the Hydra chess engine and to be used as development platform. With REEM-B, Pal Technology comes astonishingly close to its final goal; to create a humanoid service robot that will be able to help humans in the future with sophisticated tasks. Our robot can walk dynamically, recognize and grasp objects, lift heavy weights and go around by itself inside any building complex, avoiding obstacles.

It can speak with people and accept voice commands, recognize faces and remind appointments as a secretary. All these features, including the large battery autonomy, makes REEM-B unique in its type. Discover REEM-B, one of the most sophisticated humanoid robots in the world. Discover REEM-B, one of the most sophisticated humanoid robots in the world.
-- [REEM]

Dude, where is my flying car, really?

I'm pretty sure that I am not the only one who have asked the same question. In the 60s, 70s, and 80s, science fiction authors would have us flying around in the 21st century in flying cars congesting the airspace over already congested surface roads. I think that day will come, but it would be necessary for gravity to be conquered in a specific way so if the vehicle were to loose power, the anti-gravity device would stay active no matter what, otherwise these machines and humanity would plummet to the ground below on people and property. There are no commercially available flying vehicles that would satisfy that requirement. As far as I know, anti-gravity hasn't been invented yet, or has it? You just don't know with military R&D.

Recommended sites on the subject:
American Antigravity (broken site)
Wiki - Antigravity
Terrafugia Transition®
Moller Skycar