Tech Tuesday - Blood Cleaner

No bigger than a pen, this device filters smallpox, Ebola and other viruses from the blood

The Hemopurifier resembles a shrunken dialysis cartridge, the rolling-pin-size device that purifies the blood of patients whose kidneys have failed. Both use a filter to remove toxins from blood. But unlike traditional dialysis, the Hemo-purifier also includes plant-derived antibodies, such as cyanovirin, that bind to a variety of viruses and eliminates them from the bloodstream. The plant solution can be modified to weed out even genetically engineered germs.

You can read more on this --> here.

Tech Tuesday - Mar 21st

The main light source of the future will almost surely not be a bulb. It might be a table, a wall, or even a fork.
An accidental discovery announced this week has taken LED lighting to a new level, suggesting it could soon offer a cheaper, longer-lasting alternative to the traditional light bulb. The miniature breakthrough adds to a growing trend that is likely to eventually make Thomas Edison's bright invention obsolete.

Now I know this doesnt sound like much, but until recently LED's couldn't emit a white light. Now knowing that a LED runs for longer and brighter than a regular 60 watt lightbulb and also uses less power, this is a great advancement in lowering costs to lighting your home.

Not only that but because it can be developed as a reactive paint, just think of walking into your bathroom, and instead of flipping a light switch to turn on a little dim light above the sink, you could flip a switch and the entire cieling would glow a soft white with a gentle blue hue, AND COST LESS THAN A LIGHTBULB TO POWER!!! =D Read this article here and think about the possibilities.

Tech Tuesday - Cyberhand

Scientists invent the Cyberhand, a brain-controlled robotoic hand with fingers that can actually feel

Last October we reported on the first mind-controlled bionic limb, a multimillion-dollar prosthetic arm built by scientists at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago [“A Toast to the Bionic Man”]. Now a team of European scientists led by Paolo Dario, a professor of biomedical robotics at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Pisa, Italy, has unveiled the first brain-controlled prosthetic hand. The metal-clad prototype, dubbed the Cyberhand, combines unprecedented mechanical dexterity with a sophisticated computer system designed to harness brain signals from the wearer, allowing him to move and feel the hand as though it were his own.

You can read more on this here.

Also of note was this other article I didn't get to talk about, The Army's Robot Sherpa.

Meet BigDog, a mechanical mutt that does more than snare Frisbees and irrigate fire hydrants. It totes hundreds of pounds of gear so soldiers won’t have to, and it will never spook under fire. Developed by Boston Dynamics with funding from the U.S. military, the BigDog prototype is arguably the world’s most ambitious legged robot. Its stability and awareness of its own orientation make it the first robot that can handle the unknown challenges of the battlefield. The Great Dane–size ’bot can trot more than three miles an hour, climb inclines of up to 45 degrees, and carry up to 120 pounds—even in rough terrain impenetrable to wheeled or tracked vehicles. But this one is just a puppy; Boston Dynamics expects the next iteration, ready this summer, to be at least twice as fast and carry more than twice as much.

You can read up more on both of these articles at www.popsci.com

Both are very cool. I mean think of what both companies could do if they combined efforts. You could have a replacement robotic dog in your home that would feel like a real dog as well as help carry in your groceries, and my favorite, won't goto the bathroom on your floor.

Couple these with some of the other Tech Tuesdays I've posted, the xfinger, and the slime controlled robot, and we could easily replace our familyies with more likeables versions. =D

Hell I could replace myself and send it to work in my stead, as long as it could perform all the abilities my job required me to perform, while I was making soup. Mental Note: Make sure replacement me CAN'T replace me completely.

How-To: Embed video into your blog

Embeding video into your blog can be fairly simple given your blog host can support it. While I am still pretty new to blogging, I have an understanding of HTML.

It took me about 3 mins to google a fairly simple walkthrough on embeding video intoyour web site(s) and you can view that by clicking this link ---> HERE

To start you'll need a video file to embed, whether it is on your hard disk or hosted over the internet. Once you have that, you need to imbed it into your blog with a simple command like
"embed src=fielname.???""/embed" where the quotes are replaced by <> to start and close the command, also, "filename.???" is replaced by the name or URL of your file. If done right you should get results along the lines of this video.


You can also adjust the width and height of your embeded video but I suggest setting these parameters to the same specifications of the video itself or you'll get alot of unused space.
You, can set the video to loop or auto start, give it audio, forward and back controls, etc. If you would like to view the code I used to embed this video you can do so by clicking the "View" menu at the top of your web browser and choosing "Source" or "View Source" depending on your browser, and the browser will open a window with all the HTML used in the current web page you are viewing.

There are also many different types of video files, some including (but not limited to) .asf .mpg .avi .wma. .mov and many others. I have yet to embed a .mov file, but I'm sure its not much different that embeding other types as long as the correct call to a viewer that can play that file type is made. As an example, here is a flash video being played in its own viewer on my own private blog here at wayne-stgen12.blogspot.com/

test

Applications: RobotWorx has integrated robotic systems for a wide spectrum of applications. Consulting customers on projects from start to finish, we have built a reputation for delivering a quality product at an affordable price. Our expert engineers can help your company find the solution for any application. Many successful projects have been completed for the following applications: arc welding, plasma cutting, spot welding, material handling, grinding, drilling, thermal spray, bonding/sealing, robot assembly, laser welding, and many others. Let us help you find the right industrial robot system for your application.

HELP..

im still trying to get this video link runnin http://robolb.asx i have to get more time to really get this goin ...ok thats all ....damn is frustratin ....lol

Tech Tuesday - Hydrogen Powered Bike!

The ENV (Emissions Neutral Vehicle) bike was designed to Intelligent Energy's brief by a British team, led by multi-award-winning designers Seymourpowell. The ENV bike is fully-functioning and has been engineered and purpose-built (based around Intelligent Energy's CORE fuel cell) from the ground up, demonstrating the real, everyday applicability of fuel cell technology. The CORE, which is completely detachable from the bike, is a radically compact and efficient fuel cell, capable of powering anything from a motorboat to a small domestic property.

I found this while trying to hunt down specs on a wood fueled engine for a motorcycle, I read about a few months back. Let me tell you this blows that bike away... James Bond all over again.

If you would like more info on this Bike you can find it at... www.fuelcellsworks.com/Supppage2251.html

Didrick Medical Inc. is proud to introduce the X-Finger
The X-Finger® is the worlds first active-function artificial finger assembly designed specifically for partial finger amputees. The device allows users to regain complete control of the flexion and extension movements of an artificial finger in a self-contained device. It is designed to bend a silicone finger sheath in a realistic manner.

Wow... I think I want 8 of these, one for every finger I have. (I think I'll keep my thumbs) Think of what kind of things can be built off of this technology. Just imagine this type of finger with built in motors and/or powesupplieses, with memory locations for your keyboard, and an uplink to your brain. So instead of actually having to type all you have to do is think it. Much like the fingers of typists in Ghost In The Shell. Sounds better than buggy voice recognition software to me. Yes, Yes, I think I'll have 8 of those please. =D

Another Learning Experience

Another week has pass it seem like is only yesterday...I have learn a lot and studying hard >>>!!
Is scary what I'm goin to accomplish in a 6 months span....and knowing that I didn't know what I wanted a year ago.. Especially the GOAL SETTING it makes you think about your Dreams...and realistically can be reach if you want it that BAD...... Everyone who read this "remember that lecture with Mr BRYANT...........Here is a video link that just check out that new robot that's made in Japan http://video-link.com/jpn.htm

Tech Tuesday ~ Aston Shell

Aston is a new Desktop and Shell replacement for Windows 9X/ME/NT/2K/XP.It replaces the standard Windows Desktop and provides you with a host of new features, such as Sidebars, clock, weather monitor, animated buttons, transparency effects and much more.Aston also supports Themes, which allow you to change its appearance and functionality according to your mood and needs. No matter what visual style you like: XP, Aqua or something else; you can always download hundreds of Themes, created by professional designers or amateurs from Aston's homepage or one of numerous other skin sites.Aston features a powerful and user friendly interface, which lets you change your new desktop's appearance and behavior in few seconds. No need to learn complicated configuration files, everything can be configured in a simple graphical interface.A great balance between performance and appearance allows you to launch Aston even on out of the date PCs or its enjoy many advanced features on more modern computers. Aston is very stable and has a small memory footprint and low CPU usage, so you can free your processor time for other tasks.

(click to enlarge)

This Shell Replacement is fantastic, I use it myself on my home pc. Above is a screen shot of my desktop. Its completely customizable and many users create and upload thier own plugins to the aston shell website. However its not free. =( It has a 1 time setup fee. If you are interested in checking out Aston Shell go here --->Astonshell.com

great thanks

wow>>!!! im amazed how much I learn about computers and their important components I can truly tell you that street tech really works but it takes a patience and a determine individual
and just being in class with hyper energetic Mr Bryant really this man knows what his talking about.....But only a week off about 5 months and a half left.>>>>!!!!!

Today my class learned about blogging. They will post to this site. GGB

The FCC!

The FCC must be busy right now. The chairman of the FCC, Kevin Martin, wants subscribers of cable TV to be able to pick and choose the channels they subscribe to on TV, a la carte. Cable companies are mad, though, because it would be too expensive to offer less popular channels that are currently bundled with more popular channels. But parenting groups say the option is a must to prevent children from watching inappropriate content on TV because the channels are chosen from the cable company, not just blocked at the TV. Here's a link to this story on CNET: click here.

Also, the FCC has stopped Vonage from signing up new subscribers to its Voice over IP telephone service because the company has missed the deadline for implementing enhanced 911 services in its network. More here at USAToday.com.

Food for thought: Does anyone miss Michael Powell?

Windows Supercomputers

Microsoft is now making the move to put supercomputers into the mainstream, with Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003. For more info on this, read CNET's article here.

In other news, here at Street Tech, seven of us have passed the hardware portion of the A+ exam! Thank you for your support and wish us luck with the operating systems portion of the exam in one month.

Street Tech.org

Street Tech

Enjoying reading the Street Tech Divide blog? Wonder where we got our name? You can read the top of this page to know that Street Tech provides computer training to low-income and disadvantaged students in the San Francisco Bay Area. Want to know the website for Street Tech proper? Go to http://www.streettech.org/.

The A+ class at Street Tech is around the halfway point in progress to graduation and certification. Wish us luck with testing!

Free Opera! ... I Mean, Opera is Free!

The alternative web browser Opera is now free as of version 8.5. Previously, Opera was either ad-supported, or paid for. Now, the company that makes the browser, Opera Software AG, has listened to the demands of its people and gave us the one that enables mouse gestures, voice browsing, and complies to W3C standards.. (W3C=World Wide Web Consortium). Here is the link to your all and mighty web browser: http://www.opera.com/

Unfortunately, Blogger does not support Opera completely yet (Compose is limited to plain-text).

But while there are websites that choose to block Opera as it is, Opera can also spoof other web browsers, tricking the website into thinking that it is Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Internet Explorer. Please try it out despite this, as the more people that use it, the more websites will have to support it!

Neiman Marcus on Tuesday unveiled its 2005 Christmas catalog of "fantasy gifts," and once again, there's plenty there to make your jaw drop in astonis

Neiman Marcus fantasy gift guide also features Skycar prototype.September 27, 2005: 2:45 PM EDT By Parija Bhatnagar, CNN/Money staff writer
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NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Neiman Marcus on Tuesday unveiled its 2005 Christmas catalog of "fantasy gifts," and once again, there's plenty there to make your jaw drop in astonishment.
The 79th version of the famed Christmas Book from the luxury retailer promises to have "something for everyone," Brendan Hoffman, president and CEO of Neiman Marcus Direct, said in a statement.
That might be a little bit of a stretch given the five-to-six-figure pricetags featured, but the catalog does offer some truly unique ideas.

Skycar PrototypeYour very own piece of transportation history: the M400 Skycar prototype. It’s the world's first personal vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft.Developed by Moller International, this prototype of the flagship M400 Skycar is a three-wheeled, folding-wing craft designed to be as safe, affordable, and easy to use as an automobile. The M400 Skycar will travel 350+ miles per hour and boasts an environmentally friendly 21 miles per gallon on alcohol.
Price: $3.5 million Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog, Neiman Marcus Direct

how about a $3.5 million Skycar that promises ownership of a piece of transportation history when you buy the M400 Skycar prototype.
The catalog calls the M400 Skycar the world's first "personal vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft." The Skycar is a three-wheeled, folding-wing craft than can travel 350 miles per hour and boasts an "environmentally-friendly 21 miles per gallon on alcohol."

Skycars and Robots Riding Bikes, Oh My!

Reporting from the class of Street Tech, this is Geoffrey giving you the latest in Tech Tuesday discussions here to you.

Our top stories today:

The Moller Skycar, as mentioned by Gerald, is now being sold in limited quantities after successfully passing testing. Neiman Marcus is one of the companies selling this flying vehicle. The price tag for this very unique "car": around $3.5 million!

Also:

Japanese robots learn to ride bikes -- the link from BBC News here. The future is coming! And for some very old news relating to this, the here are some tidbits about the Segway, another item that uses gyroscope balancing technology, in this case the self-balancing two-wheeled vehicle that current U.S. President George W. Bush famously fell off in 2003.

Reporting "live", err three seconds ago now, which this now is 8:10 pm, (there's no such thing as "live" in written text) this is Geoffrey with your Tech to the Streets "minute" (... not again with the time issues).

Microsoft Treo!!! --- or Palm Windows...

Palm has turned from a closed fist into an open palm, so to speak. The company has recently made the move to support its rival Microsoft's Windows Mobile platform on its once exclusive Palm Treo smartphone line. For more details on the new Treo 700w, go to http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/index.blog?entry_id=1233838. Let's just hope this kind of openness does not backfire in the way of Microsoft shutting this open "window" on this welcome "hand".

Moving is a hassle--- if you have DSL

This is my experience in progress. If you have SBC Yahoo! DSL and you are moving, good luck. In order for you to keep your email account at sbcglobal.net, you have to maintain a dialup account at the very least, with a working phone number. The worst thing you would ever do is call SBC and explain your situation, especially if you have to move immediately because someone bought your old house already and your new house is still being built. My experience is that I went through the voice prompts, which was hard to navigate, then talk to customer service, where they sent me to a different number, and then another person sent me to yet another number, which I found out it was the first number that I just dialed, and the person already hung up by the time I found out I was back in voice prompt limbo. Fortunately, my aunt works at SBC, and worked out a way so that our DSL was to be on a third line installed in her house. (She has two already.) Maybe later on in the future, I'll just switch to broadband cable, you know, COMCAST.

Kudos to the folks at broadbandreports.com, who helped me with speeding up my DSL connection though. They sped it up from 1536 kbps down/384 kbps up to 3072 kbps down/512 kbps up. Dslreports.com/Broadbandreports.com (the same site) is one of the sites mentioned in the A+ Complete Guide book from Sybex, in the section about Internet connectivity. They even have technicians from Internet Service Providers to help you, so you don't have to go through the hassle of contacting the actual ISPs themselves, because being stuck on their level 1 support lines is not the way to go. (Who wants to deal with Tier 1 anyway?)