Microsoft to test Windows on '$100 laptop

This article caught my eye because it has to do with our first discussion board assignment. The "One Laptop per Child." Microsoft Corp will begin testing a version of Windows XP in January on the "$100 laptop." The XO uses flash memory instead of a hard drive and offers less storage space than most mainstream PCs.
I'm just excited that this is catching on. This will in a way change the world or at least the education in third world countries but I'm sure this computer will be used in classrooms In the US as well.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22135752/

Death goes digital: The electronic tombstone

This new technology is weird...it's basically an electronic tombstone. They are called Serenity Panels and they cost about 2000. The panel mounts to the front of the gravestone and pays tribute to the deceased in color pictures, words, music and even videos. It's weather proof and it gets its power by the sun.
I personally don't like this it's weird. It's one of those weird futuristic inventions that shouldn't be used for another 1000 years. I just think it's abnormal. But according to the article they airn't popular yet and sales are extremely low.


http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/12/10/video.tombstones.ap/index.html

Reality-check or rip off? People spending millions on virtual gifts

This article is mostly about Facebook and it's virtual gifts.
"computer-generated items given and displayed online -- are quickly becoming must-haves. And increasingly, people are willing to pay cold, hard, real-life cash to purchase them for friends, family and co-workers."
"For the person who gets the gift, it is like a badge of honor," says Dave Coffey, who tracks online trends for Sapient, a Florida-based marketing company."

Since they were introduced in February, Facebook says its users have purchased more than 24 million of these dollar items, which are sold in limited editions to generate more interest.

My personal opinion on all of this...STUPID face book has made millions of of this. The weirdest thing is people are actully paying for it. I have a face book and I though that they were interesting so I sent one to a friend (it was free) when i went to send one to another friend they were charging me $1 and asking for my credit card information (the first one was complimentry i guess) and I quit that real fast no way is facebook getting a buck from me I have better things to spend my money on even if it is just a dollar.


http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/12/04/virtual.gifts.ap/index.html

Killer Robots could replace soilders

Whoa!!!!! this is crazy according to this article a company called Robotex combines engineering skill and groundbreaking weaponry to create a new generation of soldiers. It's a robot that is two feet tall, travels ten miles an hour, and spins on a dime. Remote-controlled over an encrypted frequency that jams nearby radios and cellphones, it'll blow a ten-inch hole through a steel door with deadly accuracy from 400 meters. And a big plus about this robot is it uses investor money rather than [government] research money and it's about 30,000 tp 50,000.
I personally think that this is AMAZING!!! We have so many young soilders dying overseas this would cut down the deaths so much and we also wouldn't be spending government money to do so...I really hope this catches on in the future. They just have to make sure that they work and won't be killing the wrong people or become evil (IROBOT) haha!!!

http://money.cnn.com/2007/12/03/technology/robotex.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2007120403?cnn=yes

Dental software could ID disaster victims

This article was interesting but I don't think it'll work very well in the long run. Japaneses researchers developed a new automated system that can find dental matches in seconds. Dental records can be a useful tool for identifying victims of plane crashes, earthquakes and other mass-casualty disasters, but it's a tedious process that can take months. This system makes identifying people quicker when disasters happen and could cut workload up to 95%. Identifying people can take months but this system can make it take less than a week.
I personally think this is a great idea but it won't work. If a disaster happened in a poor country the victims most likely won't have any dental records and in order for this system to work you need to have your dental record in a database and most 3rd world countries airn't as technical as more modern countries. This is a good idea for places such as the us and europe but not places like africa and india.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/11/28/dental.technology/index.html

New 'SatLav' system tracks toilets

This article is crazy but in a weird way it makes since It's something that I have never thought about. Basically in London they have a new system called SatLav which is a toilet finding service for cell phone users in Londons West End. All you have to do is text the word "toilet" and you'll recieve the addresses for the closest toilets. The city started this service to stop people from going to the bathroom in the streets which is a problem there. I think that this would be a good idea for the US for places like NYC and Boston. Every time I go to those places I can never find a bathroom. I bet this service will come to the US within months!!!!!


http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/11/29/sat.lav.ap/index.html

Google jumps into cell phone world

An Apple Phone just came out but a Google phone? This article states that the internet search leader confirmed rumors that it's developing a free cell phone software package to allow advertisers to reach mobile customers. This phone will not have the word "Google" on it but Gooogle is working with four cell phone manufacturers who have agreed to use Google's programs in their handsets. Consumers will have to buy a new phone to get the Google software because the bundle wasn't made for existing handsets.
I find this to be extremely interesting. Since Googles new software is free the cool phones will most likely be cheaper since the manufacturers won't have to pay for the software like they have to now. I'm pretty excited about this since cell phones are so expensive. Maybe this will bring the price down a bit.

http://money.cnn.com/2007/11/05/technology/bc.apfn.googlemobile.ap/index.htm