Tech Tuesday: Water to Power?

So…the guy who invented the Segway has got a brain on his shoulders. No one can argue that. My wife and I first became aware of his talents when we got to see a demonstration of a wheelchair he developed that could stand on its own, balance itself without falling over even when pushed hard, and even climb stairs. For those keeping up, those same ideas and technology were eventually put into the aforementioned personal transportation device. Well, it seems the neurons were firing once again as Dean Kamen has now released a new invention that can convert ANY liquid (including wine) into clean drinking water (get the joke) and enough electricity to power 70 light bulbs. On top of that, Kamen claims it will only cost $1000-2000 when available.

So…how many churches are ready to line up and buy cargo holds full of these devices to help struggling people groups around the world? Check out the video of him on Colbert.

Tech Tuesday: New Superfast Interent Coming Soon?

Technology changes way to quickly. It is amazing to think about how 20 years ago, CDs were starting to make headway and now they are already on their way out. I heard from somewhere (sorry, I can’t remember and therefore have nothing to link to) that most of today’s kindergarteners will work in jobs that haven’t even been created yet. I’m not sure how accurate that is, but it sure sounds like it could be true. I just found out yesterday there are companies that will find someone to take your cell phone plan so you don’t have to pay the early termination fee. That job didn’t exist when I was in Kindergarten.

Well, what if I told you that in ten years, the internet as we know it will be obsolete? Crazy? Maybe not. The brains who gave life to original internet have come up with a new plan temporarily called “the grid” that will replace the current internet by being 10,000 times more powerful. Let’s do the math. The internet into my house clocks in at 15Mbps (which I have yet to actually see that kind of speed but…) so the new internet would crank that up to 150 GIGABITES PER SECOND!!! Do you know how much information that is? Blockbuster, if you’re reading this, you need to catch up with Netflix and iTunes on that whole downloading movies thing cause times, they are a changin’.

Tech Tuesday (on Thursday): The Surface Surfaces!

The potential for this new computer is amazing. AT&T gets first stab at this new technology in America with kiosks that allow visitors to place a phone on the surface of the Surface and then drag with their fingers music, ringtones, and other files directly into the phone. How it works, I can’t even begin to imagine but it looks like this little extravagance will be making waves real soon in all sorts of establishments if it can do half of what it promises.

Into the future, imagine having a couple Surface computers in your lobby where first time guests could come and with the touch of their finger, check in kids, print maps of the campus, read important information, or gather any other number of things on an easy to use table top interface. Forget about seeing these as TV tables in up and coming sports bars or finding them in shopping malls to help customize outfits and then give directions to the stores where the items can be located, could something like this be used in the modern church?

Tech Tuesday: Upgrade Your Laptop with a 500 GB 2.5″ HD

It is not available yet, but if you are looking for a very large compact hard drive to replace the puny one that came with your laptop, look no further. Other companies have successfully made 500 GB 2.5 HDs before but they would not fit in any standard case (including your laptop). Then Samsung came along and changed all that. And at $299, it is well worth the wait. Keep your eyes and ears open for this beauty to hit stores (or the internet) near you.

Jott – Never Forget Again To Remember

Ever wanted to send a text to several people at once but didn’t want to have to type in everyone’s name/number? Or have you ever been frantically searching the floor board of your car looking for a pen to try and write down the brilliant idea you just had. Well, this fun piece of technology might be just for you. Personally, I think it is annoying, but many of my friends love it. Maybe you will too. I just like the thrill and challenge of texting and driving at the same time.

I Don’t Like Coffee And I Don’t Have An iPhone But…

I do have AT&T broadband and this might just be reason enough not to switch to Comcast. For all the people in the world I meet with occasionally who do like coffee and choose Starbucks as their rendezvous of choice, this added little feature to my being a customer of AT&T is quite intriguing. In addition, there is another related story that suggests those with cellular service with AT&T (i.e. iPhone customers) might eventually getting the same love.

If that’s the case, it is going to be even harder for me not to succumb to my gadget weakness and pick one of those infamous phones I try so hard not to drool over every time I see (which is becoming more common everyday). That might give me just enough reason to head on over to the comcastic Triple Play deal and start watching me some Channel 1!

Tech Tuesday: F-150 for Gadget Freaks and the American Work Force

Putting all the controversy with Ford aside, this is one bad truck. This things got a computer built-in right in the dashboard with wireless keyboard, Bluetooth printer, 6.5-inch touch-screen, built-in Sprint Mobile Broadband, Garmin GPS, and RFID tagging capabilities so you can keep track of your tools (and maybe even people if it ever comes to that). All this available in the entire line of 2009 trucks. Click the picture to watch the videos or just close your eyes and wonder how long it will take for someone to figure out how to make it all work while driving and what you’d think if you pulled up next to someone juggling all that tech at once and talking on their cell phone while they finish off their Micky D’s breakfast at 85 mph on I-75. Nice!

Tech Tuesday: The New Guitar Pod?

When the Line 6 Pod came out back in the 90s, it revolutionized the way guitarists created bad tone. But the convenience of not having to carry around heavy amps or mounds of guitar pedals and “mimic” just about any guitar sound you wanted outweighed the obvious sound disadvantages to the real thing.

Technology has come a long way since then and some pretty big software companies have made some pretty good software that do a pretty decent job of replicating good guitar tone as plugins for recording software like ProTools and Logic. Until now, there haven’t been many options to effectively use those plugins via your computer in a live concert setting. Amplitube is hoping to change all that with their new integrated pedalboard. I’ll have to try it out and give it a good listen to see if it is all it is cracked up to be, but it is a promising alternative for those still wishing they didn’t have to lug around an amp and pedals.

Tech Tuesday: Keyboard Awesomeness

Keyboards aren’t normally a hot topic these days, but these new products from United Keys could be a pretty sweet addition to your computer rig. Check the link for more info, but the skinny and only interesting upgrade are the handful of hotkeys on that top row that have built in LEDs that allow you to change icons or images to represent what the buttons will do for you once they are sturck with your mighty finger. Of course, if you’ve got the cash you could always grab the Bentley of keyboards – the Optimus Maximus (that really is the name) – which has LEDs in every key.

As much as I think I would enjoy a new toy like this in front of my MBP, I think my wallet would hold a grudge. Lucky for us, it seems like this idea is catching on as more and more companies are experimenting with their own patents to do virtually the same thing inside their keyboards. As the market grows, the price will come down, even better products devices will be built, and just bout the time you can afford it, you ‘ll want this instead.