The History Of Texting

It’s fairly common knowledge that the first ever text message was ‘Merry Christmas’. It was sent from one colleague to another at Vodafone in America. But did you know it was sent almost 21 years ago? The exact anniversary will be on 3rd December this year. We wonder whether you realise this message was sent from a computer not a mobile phone too?

• Back in 1992 mobile phones did not have keypads so there was no way of sending a text, hence the computer. Mobile phones with keypads weren’t developed until six years later

• It was another two years, in 1999, that mobile phone users could text to different networks

• Text messaging was first developed for paging people on the road

• We send about 150 billion text messages a year in the UK

• In the UK adults send an average of 50 texts a week

• Whereas 12 – 15 year olds send approximately 255 per week – that’s around 13,000 a year – and receive a similar number back

• This group check their phones on average 60 times every day

• A new language developed for texting; it is a mixture of abbreviations, numbers and letters (L8r) and using letters instead of whole words i.e. RU for ‘are you’

• LOL (Laugh out loud) must be one of the most used abbreviations

• Texting is believed by some to be addictive

• During the Arab Spring text messaging played a big role in helping to organise revolutions

• It also helped to raise money for the Tsunami caused by the Earthquake in the Indian Ocean on Boxing Day 2004

• Similarly it was used to raise funds for Haiti Earthquake victims

•  Famous texts include one from Julie Bremnes on the Norwegian island of Utoya “Tell the police to hurry. People are dying here.” It was sent to her mother during the rampage of gunman Anders Breivik in July 2011

• The message “It’s a deliberate attack – a second plane just flew into the second tower” was sent by a witness (unknown identity) during the 9/11 attack on the Twin Towers in New York

• Best friend Kristian Marr received a text from Amy Whinehouse at 3.10 a.m. on the night she died. It read “I’m gonna be here always xx”. By the time he read the message she was dead

• Tiger Woods is reported to have sent a last text message to porn star Joslyn James reading “You almost just ruined my whole life” just before his extra-marital activities became public knowledge

• Texts between Rebekah Brooks and David Cameron were revealed during the Leveson Inquiry in 2012. One from her read “Brilliant speech. I cried twice. Will love ‘working together’”.

Original text messages were only 140 characters long which may explain why this number of characters was also chosen by Twitter for messages. Today it is reported that Twitter and other social network platforms and instant messaging are gaining popularity over texting.
But no matter which is your favourite means of electronic communication, we bet you use your mobile phone. Which is why phone insurance to protect you from all those unexpected eventualities is still important.

About The Author

License: Image author owned 
Bill Turner is a free-lance writer and technology lover. He is a self-proclaimed texting addict...

How Does a Breathalyzer Work?

The History of the Breathalyzer

How many drinks have you had tonight? This is a question police officers ask motorists every day as license checks are set up across the nation. In addition to catching someone driving illegally, they are also checking for the smell of alcohol. Suspicious behavior or unstable movement can lead to a night in jail and one might find themselves standing on the side of the road blowing into a breathalyzer. When alcohol is consumed, it passes from the stomach to the small intestines, where it is absorbed into the blood stream and goes through the whole body. Alcohol goes through the body so fast that it affects the central nervous system even when it is ingested in small amounts.

History

As far back as 1874, researchers have suspected breath could be used for alcohol testing. They realized that trace amounts of alcohol were excreted in breath. In 1827, W.D. McNalley, a Chicago chemist, invented a breathalyzer in which the breath changed colors when it moved through
chemicals in water. Housewives came up with a useful use of the breathalyzer: to test for alcohol on their husband's breath before they would let
me in the house.

Drunkometer

The drunkometer, invented by Rolla Harger in 1938, was the first roadside breather-tester that was intended for the police to use. The machine collected a sample of the driver's breath directly into a balloon in the machine and pumped through a solution of acidified potassium. If there was
alcohol in the breath, the solution changed colors. The bigger the color change, the more alcohol that was in the sample.
In 1954, A police captain in Indiana, who later became a professor at a university in Indiana, Dr. Robert Borkenstein, is credited as the first person to invent a device that can measure a driver's blood alcohol level based on a sample of their breath. It provided the police with a test that would give them immediate results as to a driver's alcohol concentration in their breath.

How Do They Work?

Since the air in the deepest part in the lungs give the most accurate results, the person issuing the test will tell the driver to blow as hard as they can into the breathalyzer for about two to four seconds. The breath sample bubbles into a vial with potassium chromate. If there is any ethanol present it will react with the potassium chromate and cause the solution to switch to a golden yellow color as a result. This mixture is then compared to another vial that has potassium chromate but not ethanol which will make it a bright orange color. The color difference in these vials will give an the person issuing the test an indication of the amount of ethanol in the person's breath. The device then gives a readout that states the degree of color change and the level of alcohol in their breath.
Breathalyzers are not the only method for determining levels of intoxication. Intoxilyzers, and Alcosensers are two other devises to measure someone's intoxication.

About the Author - Gordon Weber is a guest blogger.  His interest in how Breathalyzers work led him to thesandiegoduiattorneys.com website of Chris P Sohovich.

Internet activity, live in action

Ever thought about how many facebook likes, twitter tweets, google searches happen around the web world? Well you have a nice site out there to just tell you that , updating each second. One Second on the Internet is a site where you can see for yourself how hot and happening the online world is, in terms of actual figures

Waterless Urinals; 'Ur-ine' For A Surprise!

Yes, it may sound odd that an unpleasant body fluid can be effortlessly disposed of in a urinal without the assistance of any water and, additionally, not leave behind any objectionable odor.  Well, thanks to the wonders of technology, waterless urinals are becoming increasingly popular; and the technology is astoundingly simple.

How Does It Work?

The simplicity of the workings of a waterless urinal is sheer genius.  ‘Simple’ and ‘genius’ at the same time?  It might sound like a paradox, but it’s really not.  The process goes like this:
1) Urine flows down the waterless bowl and goes through a special strainer.
2) The urine continues its flow through a special sealing liquid which is nothing more than an oil-based fluid.  In fact, even vegetable oil could serve as the oil component.
3) The urine collects in a waste pipe, below.
Now, here is where it gets quite interesting.  Since urine is denser than oil, your high-school science class would tell you that oil, then, would be the liquid that would produce the top layer or ‘floating’ layer. The  heavier-weight urine will remain below the lighter-weight oil; and once this happens, the urine is, in essence, trapped under the oil.  Then…
4) Any air bubbles will rise to the top and escape, which leaves the urine in a virtual oxygen-depleted environment.  The odor is trapped under the oil and has no way to escape out into the room.
5) Once the urine is trapped in the waste pipe, simple displacement sends it into the regular plumbing system. It’s important to note, also, that urine combined with water helps to heighten the natural odor of the urine.   With water lacking, the odors, yet again, are absolutely minimized.

Speed of Urine-Flow Is Key:

One might wonder why the urine hitting the oiled fluid doesn’t break the sealing liquid just enough and, therefore, allow odors to quickly escape.  That thought was taken into account and the potential for that problem was eliminated.  Due to the urinal’s design, the urine is slowed down just enough before it hits the oil; and, in addition, the flow speed is minimized due to no water being present in the bowl.

Two Types of Waterless Urinals:

There are two varieties of waterless urinals, cartridge based and non-cartridge based.  The cartridge based units use a replaceable, pre-filled cartridge that holds the sealing liquid.  Eventually, in any waterless urinal, the sealing liquid becomes ineffective and new cartridges are effortlessly inserted, within minutes, into the units.  Non-cartridge based urinals simply have new oil introduced into the drain hole of the unit.  The oil, on its own, settles as it should.

Water—It Needs To Be Conserved:

Here are some startling facts concerning water, which make the utilization of waterless urinals even more compelling:
Fact #1:  Global demand for water will outweigh supply by 40% once 2030 rolls around
Fact #2:  Americans flush away 5.7 billion gallons of clean drinking water every 24 hours
Fact #3:  A single flush, even from a low-flush toilet in the U.S., uses 6 liters of water which equates to 1.6 gallons of clean drinking water
Fact #4:  Less than 2% of the water on earth is the water humans and land animals need to survive
And a big pat on the back should go to the designers of the new Dodger’s Stadium that underwent a $100 Million renovation—an impressive transformation project that included all waterless urinals in the men’s restrooms—Now, THAT’s a homerun!
Many companies like Clearwater Plumbing are very savvy with this technology so finding a competent contractor these days is not too challenging.  Waterless urinals herald a major breakthrough in clean, efficient, waterless technology.  That technology saves money, saves water and saves the environment!

Karen spent her career on teaching and is now enjoying her retirement in Nebraska where she writes about Fort Worth plumbers and many other topics.

The best NASA images from 2012

August 31, 2012: A solar filament erupts out into space (Image: NASA/GSFC/SDO

2012 saw a number of significant milestones in star gazing and space exploration. NASA's Mars rover Curiosity touched down on the Red Planet in spectacular fashion, super-Earth's were discovered, the Moon pounded and Voyager 1 edged ever closer towards interstellar space and we saw more of the universe around us than ever before

As the calendar rolls over, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center has put together an album of its top images for 2012. We’ve also picked our NASA favorites, highlighting some of the fascinating discoveries and incredible imagery captured in the skies above during the last twelve months.

March 26, 2012: Hubble Space Telescope captures the spiral galaxy NGC 2683, seen almost edge-on (Image: ESA/Hubble & NASA)

August 31, 2012: A region to the northwest of Mercury's crater Magritte – the shadowing helps define the "Mickey Mouse" resemblance, created by the accumulation of craters (Image: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington)

High-resolution self-portrait by Curiosity Rover arm camera, used by NASA engineers to document the rover’s condition (Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Malin Space Science Systems)

April 18 - October 23, 2012: This new image of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East at night is a composite assembled from data acquired by the Suomi NPP satellite (Image: Suomi NPP - VIIRS)

You can watch more of these here
Source: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

"Virtual body technology" providing better virtual tour experience

Uptill now, "virtual travelling" was simply equivalent to staring at a screen with headphones on your ears. To make this a bit more of a realistic experience, Tokyo Metropolitan University Graduate School of System Design is developing what it calls “virtual body technology.” Unveiled at the Digital Contents Expo 2012 in Tokyo last October, the system claims to use all five senses to provide a virtual experience akin to inhabiting another person’s body.

The system is to provide preset stimuli to the passively navigating person, and that takes a tad more elaborative arrangement than a screen and headphones. Yes, more like those so called "4- D and 5- D" movie experiences. Ikei Laboratory’s system consists of a 3D monitor, headphones, a fan for breezes and odors, a chair that leans back and forth and vibrates, and foot pedals to provide a sensation of walking and running. How taste enters into the experience remains unclear.



And similar to the movie one, this is something that isnt at any rate going to appeal to most people seeking something better on hearing the word "Virtual Body", but it is being said to be designed mainly for the aged, so no complaints here i guess.

Here is little video of the system:

Source : Gizmag

Vertical gardens possible with "Biological Concrete"

No this is NOT ivy covering the walls... this is a newly designed biological concrete, as it is called, being developed at the Structural Technology Group, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, where a team led by Antonio Aguado for making vertical gardens, without the usual problems of roots penetrating the walls and weakening the structure.

Now what sets this concrete apart from normal one is that in it , the Portland Cement normally used is replaced with magnesium phosphate cement (which is normally used for repair work). This is more acidic than normal one, thus providing ideal substrate for growth of mosses, algae, lichens , etc in mediterranean climate. It can be adjusted in terms of porosity and roughness as desired

The panel consists of 3 layers- a waterproof innermost one, a middle water retentive one, and an outer layer which allows entry of water but prevents loss.This means that the panels can be used as vertical gardens without mechanical apparatus or constant maintenance.All this would help in growth of the mosses and algae etc, while preventing growth of higher plants and thus preventing root induced damage to the walls.



The purpose of the panels is mainly aesthetic, but the team also says that the growths on the panels can act as insulating material and a thermal regulator. They also say that the colonies help reduce carbon dioxide, though they don’t say by how much. Unless the colonies are amazingly heavy, it’s probably negligible.

Source :  UPC via Gizmag

Professor's algorithm writes technical reports, romance novels could be next

Philip M. Parker has created a computerized system to automatically compile data into book form (Image: Shutterstock)

Philip M. Parker, a marketing professor at INSEAD (the European Institute of Business Administration), has written and patented a system that uses an algorithm to automatically compile data into book form. Between his works and those of his research group (ICON Group International), he has over 900,000 books currently for sale on Amazon. More than a smart search engine, his system only requires a few minutes or a few hours to scan the databases relevant to any given topic and organize that data into a technical report. Next stop? Romance novels.

There are few things in life quite as boring as writing a technical report. You accumulate all available data on the topic, then categorize and prioritize the information. A general structure within with which to present the data is then chosen from a few common structures, whereupon the collected and sorted information is presented as a report. Such reports are formulaic – produced in accordance with a slavishly followed rule or style, and their generation is largely a process of intellectual drudgery requiring very little creativity. It's exactly the sort of task for which computers were developed.

Prof. Parker, an author of several conventionally written technical and business reports, realized one day that the process of writing such a report can be described in terms of a reasonably well defined algorithm. He then set out to program a computer to carry out this algorithm, for which he was issued US Patent 7,266,767 (Method and apparatus for automated authoring and marketing.).

Parker designed the algorithm to follow (hopefully closely) the path that an expert would take in writing a summary about a data-rich subject. There are similarities to IBM's Jeopardy grandmaster Watson, which also casts a wide data net, then organizes and summarizes the data so it can respond rapidly to questions.

Some examples of books written by Parker's program include:

• Satirists: Webster's Quotations, Facts and Phrases
• The 2007 Report on Little Cigarette-Size Cigars Weighing Less Than 3 Pounds Per 1,000 Cigars: World Market Segmentation by City
• Webster's English to Portuguese Brazilian Crossword Puzzles: Level 10 (Portuguese Edition)
• Webster's Hiligaynon - English Thesaurus Dictionary
• The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Blepharitis

While some of these titles seem difficult to believe, there is a (generally small) market for each of them. If a person or company needs in-depth data about a subject, however narrow, that data has value in organized form. Parker's program works especially well with modern distribution technologies, turning print-on-demand into written-on-demand.

Parker has also used an outgrowth of his algorithm to write a comprehensive set of poems about roughly 80,000 words in the English language. Totopoetry is a collection of algorithmically authored poetry that neatly illustrates the strengths and limitations of algorithmic writing. Poems are written in 17 styles (e.g., Haiku, limerick, sonnet) for each word in English.

Each poem is intended to illuminate the meaning of the word on which it is based. For example, the octosyllable poem for "poetry" reads:

         "Really instant and overt.
         But also distant and covert." – Totopoetry

And then there is the modern Haiku form, again on "poetry":

         "An executive,
         evokes many directions,
         numbers and manners" – Totopoetry

At present Parker's algorithm cannot judge its work against some intrinsic or personal measure of poetic merit.

The next area of formulaic writing to which Parker wants to adapt his algorithm is romance novels, which are widely (perhaps unfairly) denigrated as "cookie-cutter" literature. Parker believes their simplicity and limited plot structure suggest romances as the best target for an early attack on fiction writing. Regardless of his level of success, human authors are likely to face progressively more competition from algorithmic authors over the next decade or so. At this point it seems likely that the place of the best human writers is probably safe, but for how long? Time will tell.

Source: ExtremeTech.com , Gizmag

IGN's Top 007 Bond Gadgets , Internet searching without typing, Raspberry Pi, and lots more!!

Here is a collection of videos on some neat technologies of 2012 !!!
Enjoy the watch and feel free to comment and discuss these!!!
:D

Top 10 things you CAN have for Christmas 2012

Having dealt with all the things you are not getting for Christmas this year, it's time to turn our attention to what Santa's elves have really been hammering away at. So from consumer favorites to clever innovations to quirky surprises, here's our selection of the top 10 things you CAN have for Christmas 2012.

A new perspective

Digital Cameras is an area where the term "game-changer" is easily overused. Several cameras we've seen this year sit comfortably with this description though, and we found ourselves unable to single out just one Christmas gift recommendation for those photography buffs out there. Blackmagic Design's Digital Cine Camera definitely rates a mention with its giant-killing take on video capture (US$2,995).

The Lytro light field camera (US$399) brought something genuinely new to the consumer marketplace this year by giving users the ability to adjust a photo's focus after it's been taken. Actioncams also reached new heights with GoPro announcing the 4K/15 fps Hero3 Black Edition. And not forgetting the much maligned (but most often used) member of the camera fraternity – the standout smartphone camera of 2012 goes to Nokia's 41-megapixel 808 PureView.

Game on

Video games consoles always feature highly on Christmas wish lists and 2012 provided some tasty new pieces of hardware that will ensure this year is no different. While it was first launched in December of last year, it wasn’t until 2012 that the PlayStation Vita hit shelves outside Japan and impressed with its gorgeous 5-inch OLED touchscreen. Nintendo hit back by attempting to breathe new life into its struggling 3DS with the release of the 3DS XL (US$199.99) boasting a 4.88-inch 3D display and improved battery life.

This year also (finally) saw Nintendo join the HD gaming club with the release of the Wii U (US$299.99). Having ushered in the motion gaming revolution with the original Wii, Nintendo again went for something different with its successor. While the jury is still out on the Wii U’s 6.2-inch touchscreen-toting GamePad, hopes are high that some ambitious developers (or Ninty itself) will come up with a compelling use of the technology.

While talking gaming, it's worth noting that 2012 also saw both Sony’s and Nintendo’s dedicated handhelds continue to face increasing competition from smartphones and tablets, which have cemented themselves as a viable (and popular) gaming platform. And on the console front, with Sony and Microsoft expected to unveil the next generation PlayStation and Xboxnext year, there will be many gamers biding their time – possibly until Christmas 2013.

Downsized tablets

Ho hum you say, tablets are so 2010, but the landscape has changed considerably during 2012 and the sheer number of these things that will be unwrapped later this month makes this a space we can't ignore. The key trend this year has been the proliferation of tablets in the 7-inch vicinity, most notably the Google/Asus Nexus 7, the 7" Kindle Fire, the Nook HD (all priced at US$199) and of course, market leader Apple's slightly larger foray into this space – the 7.9 inch iPad Mini ($329).

Full-size tablets are of course far from dead in the water – alongside a refreshed iPad ($499), Google/Samsung have taken Apple head on with the Nexus 10 ($399) and Microsoft has thrown in its hat with the Surface RT ($99).

For a full run down of specs and pricing on the leading tablet contenders see our 2012 tablet guide.

A $25 computer

Another significant arrival in 2012 was the Raspberry Pi – a bare bones, low-priced, credit card-sized Linux computer that plugs into your TV and a keyboard. Designed for gaming, regular computing tasks like word processing and high-definition video playback, the top of the line (and we're still only talking US$35) Model B comes with 512 MB RAM, two USB ports and an Ethernet port. This is a fantastic project that will bring cheap, accessible, programmable computers to a much wider audience … and at that price point there's bound to be a Rasberry Pi or three gracing Christmas stockings this year.

A digital green thumb

An indoor plant makes a great Christmas gift. But if the giftee isn't up to the task of keeping it alive, you could be consigning said plant to a perilous battle for survival. The the ideal accompaniment to such a gift – for those happy to part with an extra €129 (US$168) – could be the Koubachi Wi-Fi Sensor.

The Koubachi acts as a digital sentry for the plant. It uses sensors to determine the level of moisture in the soil, the amount of light reaching the leaves and the temperature in the immediate surroundings. The data is analyzed in the cloud and feedback on your plant's health and guidance on how to care for it are sent to your device of choice.

Super-you

Self-portraits gained an extra dimension in 2012 with the arrival of the 3D printing photo booth, but if you are going to have yourself scanned, printed in plastic and gift-boxed, why not go the whole 9-yards and make yourself into a superhero action figure. Firebox offers such a service – upload some mug-shots to the company's website, hand over £79.99 (US$127) and your shrunken, 3D printed head will arrive back in the post with a superhero body to sit it atop.

More intrepid and technically minded narcissists could alternatively attempt to create their own using a 3D printer, which you can picked up these days for as little as $500.

A party machine

We've reached the festive season and, as we said when we first spied it back in August, nothing says "let's party" quite like Philips latest take on the boom box – the £300 (US$485) FWP3200D iPod dock. Featuring support for two iDevices at once, an integrated lighting system, basic deejaying tools and 300 W RMS output boostable to 540 W, the message here is clearly "get up and groove ... or else."

A waterless wipeout

Those shopping for fitness fanatics who've already got every flavor of exercise machine that late night television has to offer might just be able to spring a surprise this year with the RipSurfer X. Looking to mimic the upper body and core-strength workout that surfers get chasing tubes, the RipSurfer X consists of a board mounted on a tilting base and an optional set of elasticized resistance cords designed to simulate paddling.

While RipSurfer X is primarily aimed at the fitness studio market where certified instructors can train users in the art of psuedo-surfing, they can also be purchased for private homes for around US$450.

A Self Balancing Unicycle

Bruised knees, grazed palms and teary eyes ... learning to ride a bike is bad enough, but giving the gift of a unicycle seems like a recipe for disaster. Unless, that is, you can raise the US$1,795 for a one-wheeled conveyance of the self-balancing variety. Focus Designs' Self Balancing Unicycle (SBU) uses an array of sensors, gyros and accelerometers to keep you upright at speeds of up to 10 mph (16 km/h) over a range of 12 miles (20 km). It's compact enough to tote on public transport or throw into the trunk of your car ... and no one else on the neighborhood will have one.

A moment's peace

If the season is getting a little too silly and you just can't face the crowds clamoring for a last minute bargain at the mall, it could be time to find a quiet moment alone with the Ostrich Pillow. The concept is simple – insert head and hands, find a surface on which to rest and do your best to shut the world out.

Having been successfully funded via a Kickstarter campaign, the Ostrich Pillow can now be had for £65/€80/US$99. Those looking for a full body escape might find the HUSH armchair pod more to their liking (though you'll have to wait until next year to get your hands on one – first deliveries are expected in May).

And finally ...

The task of distilling all of the great gadgetry we've seen throughout the year into a top 10 list is of course an impossible one and there are no doubt items on your radar that we've neglected to mention – so please let us know your pick of 2012's most gift-worthy tech gear using the comments section below.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all our readers for supporting us, contributing to the debate and keeping us on our toes throughout the year. Have a fantastic holiday season! We look forward to bringing you more of the latest innovations throughout 2013.

World's largest indoor ski park planned for Denmark

The snowflake design will house six indoor and two outdoor slopes in its three intersecting arches (Photo: CEBRA)

Innovative Danish architecture firm CEBRA is working in collaboration with the travel company Danski on an alpine style ski dome to be situated in the city of Randers, Denmark. The ski park will provide over 3 km (1.86 miles) of indoor and outdoor slopes as well as a freestyle park, hotel, restaurant and all the modern facilities you would expect in a modern ski resort.

CEBRA has designed the ski dome based upon a six point snowflake and if built it will be the largest indoor ski park in the world at 100,000 square meters (1,076,000 sq.ft) in total, with 70,000 square meters (753,473 sq.ft) of skiing, taking over from SkiDubai with its current 22,500 square meter (242,187 sq.ft) indoor ski facility.

The snowflake will house six indoor and two outdoor slopes in its three intersecting arches, as well as spanning 700 meters (2297 ft) and rising 110 meters (361 ft) above the ground across the river Gudenå in Denmark’s sixth largest city. Each piste operates its own chair lift and an elevator is proposed for access between the arches and their slopes, color graded in the usual manner from beginner to experienced.

Whilst navigating the snow slopes, which are inspired by the resort of Alpe d’Huez in France, skiers will be able to view the surrounding scenery of the region through the perforated façade. One snowflake arch accommodates the black ski runs on its roof for all-year-round outdoor skiing while the other roofs house facilities are for skateboarding, BMX-ing and a landscaped park.

CEBRA's Mikkel Frost runs us through the proposed design in the Skidome Denmark video below (click the "Captions" button for English subtitles).

Sources: Skidome Denmark, CEBRA , GIzmag

Dogs hit the road in a specially modified MINI

A cute canine is something that shouldn't need much marketing – it pretty much sells itself. Or so you'd think. According to the ASPCA, around two million dogs are euthanized each year after finding their way into shelters. People simply don't adopt these abandoned and lost dogs at the same rate they find their way into shelters. For this reason, the SPCA in Auckland, New Zealand, which estimates it alone has anywhere from 50 to 100 dogs eagerly awaiting new owners each week, decided it was time to advertise with the launch of an advertising campaign that put the dogs back on the streets ... behind the wheel of a specially modified car.

Anyone that's ever owned a dog (at least an obedient one) knows that they're smart animals open to training. But most probably didn't think they could be trained to operate a vehicle.

To show it's possible, SPCA Auckland outfitted a MINI Countryman specially for canine drivers. It moved the accelerator and brake pedals up where the dog could reach them, added paw-friendly handles to the steering wheel, and made the ignition start button easier to activate.

Three dogs – Ginny, Monty and Porter – worked with four trainers over the course of two months to develop their driving skills. Similar to how some first-time human drivers learn on a simulator, the dogs learned the basics of the controls on a training set-up. Recently, Porter got behind the real wheel and became the world's first driving dog.

MINI wasn't simply chosen because of its small cars; the automaker made it happen. Simonne Mearns, MINI's New Zealand brand manager, asked its advertising agency DraftFCB to develop a campaign for the SPCA. DraftFCB responded in a big way, coming up with something that has turned the world's attention toward the topic of animal adoption – the YouTube video "Meet Porter. The World's First Driving Dog" received more than three million views in less than a week.

Seeing-eye dogs aren't likely to be replaced by driving-eye dogs anytime soon, but it sure is interesting to know that dogs can be trained to drive an automobile. It's also fun to watch – check out the videos below for some driving footage of the three dogs along with a video showing the modifications that were made to the vehicle to make it dog-friendly.

Source: MINI New Zealand , Gizmag

High-tech handcuffs can shock, inject prisoners

Today, handcuffs are just steel restraints. Tomorrow, however, they could be much more. According to U.S. Patent Application 20120298119, Scottsdale Inventions, LLC of Paradise Valley, Arizona has invented a pair of high-tech handcuffs that could deliver electric shocks to prisoners by means of an incorporated Taser-like system hooked to wireless controls and sophisticated sensors.

In some ways, the Scottsdale cuffs are like a combination of invisible fences and training collars used for dogs. Where the canine versions provide a mild joy buzzer of a shock, however, the cuffs could immobilize a prisoner. They're based on the principle of the Taser, which uses electrodes to administer high-voltage, low amperage shocks to disrupt a person’s voluntary nervous system. In this case, the system is part of a pair of handcuffs, though the company says that it could also be used in an ankle cuff, restraining belt, straitjacket, harness, facial restraint, helmet or neck collar.

Shock cuffs and accessories

The Scottsdale cuffs are more than just a shocking device. They are part of a system for exercising an almost frightening degree of control over single or multiple prisoners. The cuffs could not only shock, but also deliver warnings if the prisoner fails to follow instructions. These warnings might be an audible signal, a vibration, a flashing light or a mild electric shock as a prelude to a more severe jolt if not obeyed.

The cuffs are also programmable. They could be set to respond to radio transmitters so that prisoners must remain in a certain areas, avoid other areas or only move in a prescribed zone. They could also be triggered by RFID tags attached to weapons, vehicles or other items detainees aren't allowed near.

Exclusion zone option for the shock cuffs

In addition to radio proximity sensors, the cuffs could include an accelerometer, inclinometer, potentiometer, location sensing device, microphone, camera, a biometric sensor or a combination of devices. These could not only allow guards to keep track of prisoners, but also allow the cuffs to automatically deliver a shock if they detect violent or aggressive movements or even if the detainee shouts.

Aside from their deterrent functions, the Scottsdale cuffs could also keep track of prisoner movements, behavior and number of shocks administered, plus they include safety cutouts to prevent administration of an injurious or fatal jolt. In a truly Orwellian twist, the cuffs could also release gases, liquids, dyes and even inject the prisoner with sedative drugs.

Source: PatentBuddy via Patent Bolt 

Mathematical formula for the perfect Christmas tree

A tree that could benefit from the formulas devised by students at the University of Sheffield (Photo: Shutterstock)

For those who prefer something more traditional than the Treeasy, members of the University of Sheffield’s Maths society have devised a formula for the perfect Christmas tree in response to a challenge by U.K. department store Debenhams.

The formula, which was created by students Nicole Wrightman and Alex Craig, uses the height of a tree to calculate the ideal number of baubles, length of tinsel, length of lights and even the height of the star, fairy or angel sitting atop the tree required to give the tree that catalog-perfect look.

“The formulas took us about two hours to complete,” said Wrightman. “We hope the formulas will play a part in making Christmas that little bit easier for everyone.”

The "treegonometric" formulas are as follows:

• Number of baubles = √17 / 20 x (tree height in cms)
• Length of tinsel (cms) = 13 x π / 8 x (tree height in cms)
• Length of lights (cms) = π x (tree height in cms)
• Height of star/fairy/angel (cms) = height of tree in cms /10

For those without a calculator at hand, an online calculator can be found via the source link.

Source: University of Sheffield , Gizmag

Barcode Room: The Optimus Prime of apartments

People living in cities are increasingly being squeezed into smaller and smaller apartments, a reality that is driving a search for new living space designs that can adapt, transform, and evolve as the needs of those residing in them dictate. Barcode Room from Japanese design company Studio_01 is an attempt at doing just that. At present it's nothing more than a concept, but Barcode Room could prove to be a good strategy for maximizing space while also tending to the needs of multiple residents.

The basis of Barcode Room is a set of three sliding walls (or bars) that can be moved around to form multiple configurations. By moving the walls into different positions, residents can customize the space to suit their particular needs at any particular time.

The 12 different components that make up the walls of Barcode Room

There are 12 types of walls, with the three chosen by and for the residents dictating the configurations available to them. The walls are attached to a ceiling rail and mounted on wheels, which means they can not only be installed in new apartments but in existing apartments as well.

Both the storage and furniture components are actually slotted into the walls, ready to be taken out and used as needed. When the storage and furniture aren't being used at all, this system frees up living space, allowing for a blank canvas without the detritus associated with inner-city living. Essentially all the components needed to live are present, but presented in a way which means they don't dominate the apartment.

Barcode Room recently won the Grand Prix at Tokyo Designer's Week 2012. Studio_01 is committed to continuing work on Barcode Room, with plans to develop additional bars, and components within the bars. As well as the obvious potential in residential locales, Studio_01 sees potential for the Barcode Room to be used in other spaces such as offices, galleries, and restaurants.

The Studio_01 video below shows some of the transforming systems in operation.

Source: Studio_01 via Treehugger , Gizmag

Realflex wraps serve to warm and light riders' arms and legs

As if cyclists didn't have enough choices to illuminate themselves at night, we now have one more. Joining the lighted helmets, belts, backpacks,wheel lights, and plain old bike lights are Realflex arm and leg wraps.

Realflex wraps are designed to keep a cyclist's arms and legs warm and limber, while lighting the rider up for the surrounding traffic. In order to tackle this two-headed function, the wraps use a three-layer design that combines a nylon-spandex material with an aluminum foil mid-layer and a glass-bead coating. The glass beads on the exterior reflect light, creating a glowing effect that is highly visible at night.

Other companies offer arm warmers in bright neon colors, but the Realflex design appears to add some serious illumination over those more basic designs. Claims are that they can be seen from up to 100 meters (330 feet) in all directions.

Despite the glass-bead outer layer, Realflex wraps are designed to be highly stretchy and easy to slide onto the body. They wrap the arms tightly and don't appear to restrict movement.

While arm and leg warmers might seem odd and uncomfortable to those that have never used them, some cyclists, joggers and others like to wear them in cooler weather to keep the body warm and the joints flexible. A pair of leg warmers underneath bike shorts should certainly function more comfortably on the pedals than a pair of boot-cut jeans. The Realflex wraps are also a little more subtle and low profile than a bright orange vest, in terms of style.

Realflex makes several different wraps, including arm wraps, a scarf and an XL model that's suitable for the legs. They are made in Germany and available on Amazon for around 20 to 40 euros (about $26 to $52 as of publishing). They'll be making an appearance at the upcoming ISPO sports show in Munich.

You can analyze Realflex warmers a little more closely in the video below.

Source: Realflex

Cadbury Chocolates that won't melt at high temperatures

Cadbury is developing temperature tolerant chocolate for sale in tropical regions (Photo: Shutterstock)

One of life’s less pleasant surprises is discovering the chocolate bar that you forgot you had in your pocket on a hot day. Two scientists working at Cadbury’s research and development plant in Bourneville, U.K., are fighting that gooey surprise with the invention of chocolate that remains solid even when exposed to temperatures of 40º C (104º F) for more than three hours. Aimed at tropical markets, the “temperature tolerant chocolate” is described in a World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) patent application.

Chocolate tastes great, in part, because the cocoa butter and other fats in it melt quickly and smoothly in the mouth. Chocolate softens at about 28ºC (82ºF) and melts at 32 to 35ºC. (90 to 95ºF). That makes for a nice treat, but it also makes chocolate hard to transport and store – especially in tropical regions where climate-controlled vehicles and warehouses are scarce.

This isn't simply a matter of being able to have chocolate that doesn't turn into a mess in your glove box. Chocolate is very temperature sensitive and heat can easily cause it to sag and deform and the fats and sugars can “bloom” out if it's improperly stored, resulting in an unappetizing appearance.

Temperature tolerant chocolate isn't new. In fact, it’s been around since the 1930s. Just before World War II, the U.S. military commissioned companies, most notably Hershey’s, to develop and manufacture chocolate bars for soldiers that could be carried in a pocket or stored at tropical temperatures. Over the years, millions of these were issued as regular or emergency rations and some even went to the Moon on Apollo 15. The most recent version was the “Congo Bar” carried by U.S. forces during the Gulf War.

The problem was that making a chocolate bar that wouldn't melt wasn't hard. What was hard was to make one that people still wanted to eat. The military bars didn't melt and they were nutritious, but they were difficult to eat and they didn't taste very good. That’s because the usual way to keep chocolate from melting was to either add fillers like oat flour and swap the cocoa butter for other fats, which made it taste like a candle, or adding water or glycerol to encourage sugar crystal formation, which made it gritty.

Cadbury's approach is to modify part of the chocolate manufacturing process known as “conching.” Conching is a complex mixing process that causes a number of physical and chemical changes in the chocolate. It can take anywhere between 15 minutes to an entire day depending on the type and quality of the chocolate. The conching machine’s design depends on how much chocolate is being processed, the quality, and whether it's made in batches or by continuous flow, but it generally involves temperature-controlled troughs where the chocolate is constantly pushed about by rollers, rotors or louvres.

In the conch, the chocolate undergoes a number of changes. Conching thoroughly mixes the chocolate, allowing the flavors to come out as it's aerated and volatiles and moisture are allowed to escape. As the chocolate is repeatedly pressed against the trough by the rollers or rotors, the cocoa butter and other fats coat the sugar particles in the mix.

In conventional conching, the sugar particles are completely and evenly coated with fats so that they slip by one another easily, but Cadbury discovered that it could make chocolate more temperature tolerant by refining it after conching instead of just before.

In testing, the temperature tolerant chocolate was heated to 40º C (104º F) for three hours, yet when pressed with a finger it didn't stick or deform. According to the Cadbury patent, the chocolate has a similar texture to Cadbury Dairy Milk and the company sees it being used in chocolate bars, biscuits and snacks in hot regions.

Source: Sumobrain via Daily Mail , Gizmag