Our Technological Future About upcoming technologies such as nanotechnology/molecular manufacturing, artificial intelligence, robotics, and biotechnology. All of these are accelerating exponentially. The implications are vast Statistics Unique Visitors: Total Unique Visitors: Outgoing: Total Outgoing: 14 0 4 5570

Articles from Our Technological Future

Are Flying Cars Close to Reality? 2007-02-04 11:44:00 Are we on the brink of the flying car?For 50 years, science fiction has been tantalizing us with visions of airborne roadways and quickly maneuvering, sports-car-like flying cars. And for 50 years, companies have been chasing the dream, releasing the occasional prototype to keep their investors investing. Now, an Israeli company names Urban Aeronautics has made a bold projection: A flying car on the market by 2012. ...

Nanotech Breakthroughs 2007-02-04 11:34:00 Breakthrough in nanodevice synthesis revolutionizes biological sensorsA novel approach to synthesizing nanowires (NWs) allows their direct integration with microelectronic systems for the first time, as well as their ability to act as highly sensitive biomolecule detectors that could revolutionize biological diagnostic applications, according to a report in Nature. "We electronically plugged into the biochemical system of cells," said senior author Mark Reed, Harold Hodgkinson Professor of Engineering & Applied Science. "These developments have profound implications both for application of nanoscience technologies and for the speed and sensitivity they bring to the future of diagnostics."In other words, we can turn our reactive healthcare system into a preventive healthcare system. That means we'll catch diseases in early developing stages and undertake measures to prevent them from happening. We'll be healthier and greatly curbing our healthcare costs.This is one of the reasons wh ...

Our Technological Future - Mixed Bag #12 2007-01-29 03:54:00 First off, something that struck me as really special.I was just surfing around and stumbled upon a video that demonstrated blind people receiving electrical signals to their tongues, which allowed them to see.Cameras are used as replacements for their eyes and electrical signals are sent to their tongues. Eventually, or so the video claims, the blind person will start processing this input with their visual cortex.This means they would actually see, just like you and me.I looked up an article to go with the video. The article I found is from 2003 so it's already pretty old stuff. The technology is called BrainPort.[update]I also found a newer article. The video shows the technology in its current state, not the 2003-state.[/update]BrainGate technology pulled off something similar. BrainGate is responsible for allowing Mathew Nagel to move a mousecursor with his thoughts.Also in this mixed bag, two lightly digestable, semi-scientific writings:8 technologies to save the worldThe scarie ...

Our Technological Future - Mixed Bag #11 2007-01-24 07:43:00 The breakthroughs just keep on coming and I just keep on piling'em up!I started this blog halfway through 2005 and back then, techno news wasn't coming in as quickly as it is now.The exponential acceleration in scientific breakthroughs is obvious to me.By reading this blog, it will become obvious to you as well.Enjoy:Scientists to attempt sending a signal into the past (yeah I know... it sounds whacked, but it's for real)First there was RoboDoc, now there is RoboNurseNeural extension cord developed for brain implantsBattery breakthroughPutting the brakes on light speedBionic cat eyes may help humansNano-wheels seen rolling at lastMicrobot to swim through arteries and digestive systemCan ageing be stopped?Japanese scientists cage lightBacteria turn toxins into plasticWind power growing rapidly in USAbout the latest cancer cureWhite House steps up push for ethanolHacking the human lifespanMilitary builds robotic insects ...

The Future of Cars 2007-01-22 06:46:00 The Perfect Electric Car?The Phoenix Motorcars SUV will be introduced in late 2007, having a range of 130 miles, and can be recharged in less than 10 minutes with an off-board charging unit or trickle-charged overnight when plugged into a 220V power source, similar to the SUT. The estimated cost to recharge the battery pack is a small fraction of equivalent gasoline costsMicrosoft Blue&Me in-car computing coming to US via Ford in 2007Remember Microsoft's Blue&Me project with Fiat, the one that equipped select models with an in-car computer system with all kinds of connectivity functionality? Well, we've learned from a source close to Microsoft's car-computer project that Microsoft and Ford are planning to announce the US availability of the system in 2007... ...

Our Technological Future - Mixed Bag #10 2007-01-22 05:15:00 Where can you read about next generation videogames, nanotechnology, stem cell research, cancer breakthroughs and mysterious physics-coolness all at once?Well, only at Our Technological Future ofcourse!I have here no less than twenty tech-links for your entertainment. Enjoy!Tests show 'artificial sun' is reliableEdge Annual 2007 Optimism Questions - Marvin Minsky on ImmortalityNext generation Ghostbusters videogame footage - looks very realCheap, safe drug kills almost all cancersSoundtrack of Spore (upcoming videogame) to be generated in real timeNext generation videogames coming in 2007Physicists closing in on mysterious missing particleCancer deaths drop for second yearResearch removes major obstacle from mass production of tiny chipsMach C? Scientists observe sound travelling faster than lightIntel builds 80-core chipIntel shows 45-nm processorsVirtual reality spreading in business worldFolic acid sets back brain aging effects by 5 yearsScientist finds MRSA cureQuantum computer d ...

Our Technological Future - Mixed Bag #9 2007-01-16 04:34:00 Top 10 Robots You Can BuyResearch Continues For Deep Space Travel PropulsionThe Hydrogen Gold Rush Is OnThe World's First Bionic WomanHundreds Will Test New Lung Cancer VaccineThe World's First Hydrogen Race Coming In 2009New Alzheimer Gene IdentifiedRobot House Builder Threatens Construction Worker JobsAnti Cancer Chicken Eggs Produced ...

Killing Cancer With Spicy Foods 2007-01-10 03:23:00 How spicy foods can kill cancerScientists have discovered the key to the ability of spicy foods to kill cancer cells.They found capsaicin, an ingredient of jalapeno peppers, triggers cancer cell death by attacking mitochondria - the cells' energy-generating boiler rooms.The research raises the possibility that other cancer drugs could be developed to target mitochondria....The study showed that the family of molecules to which capsaicin belongs, the vanilloids, bind to proteins in the cancer cell mitochondria to trigger apoptosis, or cell death, without harming surrounding healthy cells.Capsaicin was tested on cultures of human lung cancer cells and on pancreatic cancers.Lead researcher Dr Timothy Bates said: "As these compounds attack the very heart of the tumour cells, we believe that we have in effect discovered a fundamental 'Achilles heel' for all cancers....The fact that capsaicin and other vanilloids are already commonly found in the diet proves they are safe to eat.This coul ... Cancer

Our Technological Future - Mixed Bag #8 2007-01-09 14:31:00 Another collection of technolinks...Home Robots Grow in PopularityScots Inventor Cracks Centuries Old Puzzle (energy)Top 5 Robots of 2006Super Soldiers: Tomorrow's 'Army of One' TechnologyScientists Discover Gene Therapy for DepressionCancer Killing Invention Also Harvests Stem CellsPCs Get Set to Scream in 2007Gates Says Day of the Home-help Robot is NearStem Cells Regenerate Teeth in PigsGM's New Plug-in HybridGenetically Modified Spud Healthier ...

Cancer Cure Breakthrough Thanks to Genetic Technology 2007-01-04 13:47:00 British gene team are on the brink of cancer breakthroughBritish scientists are on the verge of producing a drug that could revolutionise cancer treatment.It shuts down the rogue genes that cause cancer and is due to be tested on humans for the first time in the next few months.If successful, the drug will be used to stop the disease spreading to other parts of the body, at the same time improving quality of life and life expectancy.The technique, known as RNA interference therapy, is still in its early stages of development but one day it could be extended to treat other conditions ranging from asthma to Aids.The drug works by preventing genes from making disease-causing proteins. Similar in structure to DNA, it should halt the disease in its tracks....The first human trials are due to start in the next few months and it could be on the market within three years. ... Cancer

Nanoparticles Destroy Cancer 2007-01-02 12:51:00 Remotely Activated Nanoparticles Destroy Cancer.The first in a new generation of nanotechnology-based cancer treatments will likely begin clinical trials in 2007, and if the promise of animal trials carries through to human trials, these treatments will transform cancer therapy. By replacing surgery and conventional chemotherapy with noninvasive treatments targeted at cancerous tumors, this nanotech approach could reduce or eliminate side effects by avoiding damage to healthy tissue. It could also make it possible to destroy tumors that are inoperable or won't respond to current treatment.One of these new approaches places gold-coated nanoparticles, called nanoshells, inside tumors and then heats them with infrared light until the cancer cells die. Because the nanoparticles also scatter light, they could be used to image tumors as well. Mauro Ferrari, a leader in the field of nanomedicine and professor of bioengineering at the University of Texas Health Science Center, says this is "v ... Cancer