Brilliant Stuff! » Science games

Wear Your Thinking Cap When Gambling Online

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:23:07 +0000

By: Ryan D.
I receive many emails each week from people who deposited money at an online casino, only to walk away empty handed merely minutes later. Most of them are quite upset and understandably so. When you have lost money you want to blame someone. It’s part of the human psyche and a natural reaction.

When I ask people if they were playing according to a strategy the answer is normally something like “Huh? What’s that?”. Enough said. Now don’t get me wrong. I am not suggesting we all go out and obtain science degrees and start crunching numbers in every playing session. I am however suggesting that you arm yourself with a few important tools before you deposit your hard earned money at an online casino.
These basic tools are not rocket science, but they require you to do some work before you spin the reels or lay a chip.

Money Management

This is by far one of the most important aspects of gambling at online casino but astonishingly one of the least discussed subjects. A sound money management strategy consists of three important elements: budget management, bankroll management and betting limits.

Budget management is simple enough. Set your monthly budget and stick to it. Only gamble with more if you are playing with winnings. In fact, I have a rule for myself where I don’t even do this. I cash my winnings in immediately. There’s an old belief in gambling that money you have won will go back faster to the casino than your own and I buy that.

A bankroll management strategy simply relates to how you are going to spread your budget across several playing sessions and across a variety of games. This will maximize your playing experience. It is no use dumping your entire session bankroll into an expensive slot machine if you are looking to get entertained for a couple of hours. Finally, manage your betting limits. Decide how high you are prepared to go and stick to it. Too many people get an adrenaline rush and cross their limits. Although you may win every now and then you’ll spend far more time in front of the TV over time.

Game Strategy

No matter which online casino game you prefer, following a basic strategy is a hundred times better than having no strategy at all. Online casino gambling strategies range from very simple to highly sophisticated. Take blackjack for example. Basic strategy involves a simple strategy card that will guide your decision to hit, fold, or stand on a given hand. More sophisticated strategies involve things like card counting. As far as slots go, a simple spin and hope strategy won’t get you far. There are simple strategies like machine selection to more expansive progressive loss betting systems. The net is littered with gaming strategies so you won’t have to search for too long.

Some basic but careful planning could make your experience a lot more worthwhile!

Top 10 Computer Games in 2007

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:03:47 +0000

By: Craig Rad

Computer games are creating an even bigger rave this year. Well, with such a wide range of online games, role playing games and innovative ones, it is no wonder that the kids and teens will spend most of their time in 2007 in front of the computer. But let’s find out which are the most popular computer games in 2007:

1. Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar

The game was released in February this year, yet it managed to gather an impressive number of fans already. Whet is it about? Actually, it is a since fiction game that is based on building strategies; but the surprising news is that is a one player game.

2. World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade

This game needs no introduction, since the statistics say that it already has 8 million players. It is one of those addictive online role playing games that promotes a captivating fantasy world.

3. Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars

Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars seems to get excellent ratings and seems to top the list of the science fiction rear time strategy games. Why? Well, it has excellent full motion videos, multiplayer options and impressive battling scenes.

4. Europa Universalis III

For a strategy games fan, Europa Universalis III should be a primer choice – but watch out, it can also be an addictive choice! The game is easy to use even by the beginners in the game field and has numerous multiplayer options.

5. Supreme Commander

Yet another science fiction real time strategy game that makes the list of the best computer games in 2007! In this case, we are dealing with a modern strategy, since the player has can use tanks, aircrafts, battleships and other types of modern fighting equipment.

6. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl

This one is a science fiction first person shooter type of game, the kind of game that offers a very impressive virtual world (that resembles the devastating reality), great horror features and action scenes.

7. The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles

The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles is a role playing game that offers a very large and expressive world, a world perfect for the player’s exploration, a multifaceted world that is also optimally designed.

8. Silent Hunter: Wolves of the Pacific

As the name of the game says, Silent Hunter: Wolves of the Pacific is part of the submarine warfare genre. What’s good about this game is the fact that it actually seems very real, like the player is a genuine submariner that needs to build strategies under water.

9. Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened

What kind of computer game could Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened be, if not an adventure game? A real detective story, with an expressive character and impressive 3d visuals.

10. The Ship

The Ship is a historic first person shooter game that is full of mystery, adventure and even black humor. Moreover, the characters use a wide range of innovative weapons and the dynamics are optimized.

Have fun playing one of the best computer games in 2007!

Educational Games and Resources for Kids

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:18:35 +0000

By: Steve Evans
learn eye hand coordination and mental strategy. Some are even educational and they can learn about history and culture as in the age of empire game. Children are blank slates. It is up to us as parents and family to fill them full of knowledge. Children will themselves work to develop their focus and skills as they develop and these learning games will help.

Children’s Magazines are great for a child’s education and extending their interest over a period of time. The Internet has long been the ultimate magazine index for elementary and middle-school students, but there are some great web sites which are brand new and extend this facility still further! Coverage of one top Children’s magazine indexes reportedly now includes 58 popular children’s magazines and every issue includes citations to carefully selected Web sites.

ChildTopia is a toy/game for children. They will enjoy taking out the chips, shuffling them and re-loading them. The track gives the games a magical quality where new letters appear in the windows by moving the chips.

Children love good educational computer games because they are interesting and fun. What they don’t usually realize is that they get smarter each time they play these games.

But do always ensure that there are plenty of good books available for them to read. Encourage children to read through the many books they have available and to can get help with words they are stuck on. One way is use to use fun gadget called a Tag Pen. Use a Tag Pen by touching the Tag pen to the book page. LeapFrog also has the LeapPad with books organized by experience and difficulty grades to teach reading, phonics, vocabulary, math, science, music, and more.

Childrens puzzles , interactive wooden toys , wooden puzzles, learning games for toddlers , elementary learning games and puzzles can all be found at educational stores.

When you are with children be sure to ask them leading questions about themselves, when they are receptive to discussion. Children love talking about themselves and this is a great way to talk to your child, and help them learn about their own capabilities.

Teachers are encouraged to make their own quizzes for students and get scores by email. Teachers should bring their students by for some online learning and fun. You can even download Funbrain games to your computer so the kids can access them anytime. Teachers are catered for by support material for the objectives of the national curriculum regarding speaking and listening. There is nothing like a good competition to get children motivated, so do dream one up and get them to enter. Some businesses provide monetary support, and one example is supermarket offers of educational grants for computers in schools based upon shop loyalty points schemes. You’ll also find details of the monetary awards which BT makes available to schools on their web site.

Online education that combines instruction with fun learning games for children creates interactive learning and enjoyment. Learning games can help students concentrate on language arts, math, science, and social studies skills through an entertaining online curriculum.

There are even some free online learning games which can be quite good. Search for ‘Great kids online games’ to find some. Free online painting games are also abundant these days, for example to play for fun at Jelideli. Install the program and/or register, and then just choose one of the pictures from the selection, pick a colour and away we go! Free online educational games are the easy way to make learning fun for your children.

The fat is that nowadays for preschool and kindergarten age children there are many free educational games that teach matching and analytical skills.

FunBrain is a site which always has new educational games to try, but their old ones are just as much fun. The free educational games are divided by grade level or by subject. FunBrain features 30 free online, educational games for kids of all ages. In Stay Afloat, kids play a game similar to Hangman by choosing between science, history, or music categories.

How to Choose the Best Online Tools to Achieve Fantasy Football Domination

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:53:46 +0000

By: Marcus Whittman

If you love fantasy football then you understand the thrill of strategizing to create an unbeatable team and watching your efforts come to fruition. Whether you play for fun or the excitement of the competition, winning is an incredible experience both on and off the field. Fantasy football allows sports enthusiasts and fantasy sports fanatics the chance to polish their skills, face a challenge and prove they deserve to be #1! So what online tools and web sites do the fantasy football pros use? Let’s review what many fantasy football diehards believe to be some of the most useful.

A Superior Fantasy Football Mock Draft: MockDraftCentral.com

2009 marks the 8th season MockDraftCentral.com has provided an excellent fantasy football mock draft. Recognized by the Fantasy Sports Trade Association (FSTA) in 2007 as the Best Fantasy Draft Tool and Best Specialty Service and again in 2008 for award winning Fantasy Draft Software and as the Best Draft Assistance Tool, MockDraftCentral.com continues to innovate. Since 2002 members have been able to utilize awesome online tools such as PPR mock drafts, IDP mock drafts, Traditional 12 person mock drafts, Competitive 14 & 16 team mocks, Custom draft creation, Private mock drafts, Keeper and fantasy football league drafts.

In addition to a variety of draft prep tools, MockDraftCentral.com also offers fantasy football draft analysis and expert projections. In addition, Average Draft Position (ADP) and player trend reports let you know what players are overrated and underrated so you are fully prepared for your real drafts.

Rotopass.com’s Top Notch Fantasy Football Draft Analyzer

The Rotopass.com Draft Analyzer (DA) helps experienced fantasy football members avoid disorganized spreadsheets and lists of rosters and salaries. The DA fantasy football software will track the following: The players you have drafted, your team needs, the most valuable player/position for your team, opposing owner’s rosters and the number of teams/owners in your fantasy league, your scoring rules.

This detailed information helps members easily strategize the right timing for drafting specific positions.

Trusted, Reliable, Quality Fantasy Football Web Sites

TheHuddle.com

TheHuddle.com offers fantasy football analysis, cheat sheets, draft tools, player rankings and mock drafts. NFL player updates are available 24 hours a day and experts provide reports on sleepers, busts, rookies and injuries.

FantasyGuru.com

FantasyGuru.com features the Guru database, a deep statistical database containing six years of fantasy football information. In addition, members get access to Projection, Roster Analyzer, Trade Analyzer, Points Allowed, Strength of Schedule and Matchup History tools.

FootballGuys.com

FootballGuys.com is an affordable subscription based website dedicated to providing the online tools you need to win. Football analysis tools, up to date news, member forums, depth charts and expert podcasts are all part of the FootballGuys.com season membership.

FantasyFootballSherpa.com

President & Chief Sherpa Scott Swanay, a Harvard graduate specializing in Applied Math, Computer Science and Statistical Analysis, developed FantasyFootballSherpa.com. This web site offers easy to use tools including Preseason Player Projections & Rankings and the upcoming In-season Updates to Player Projections & Rankings, Roster Analyzer and Trade/Free Agent Evaluator

Always Choose Credible Fantasy Sports News

If you are searching for the latest in fantasy sports and football news visit FSTA.org, the official web site of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association. The FSTA is instrumental in crafting industry standards and promotes continued innovation in the field of fantasy sports. FantasySportsBusiness.com is another excellent source of credible industry information. FantasySportsBusiness.com is managed and operated by fantasy sports veterans. This insures consistent updates on all of the topics you care about. ?

Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet Tips

When it comes to choosing a fantasy football cheat sheet the rule of thumb is to pick the one that mirrors your league’s scoring system. A cheat sheet is only valuable if it directly relates to you. For example, if you play in a league where passing touchdowns are worth only 3 points, a cheat sheet that is based on passing touchdowns being worth 6 points is worthless to you. If you want the competitive edge know your scoring system backwards and forwards. Most of your fellow league mates will not take the time to do this because they are lazy, stupid or don’t care about winning, but when you fully understand the scoring system, you will have a better idea of which positions are top priority and which ones can wait. ?

The Social Aspect of Fantasy Football

The majority of fantasy football fanatics enjoy playing with friends and family the most because giving your buddies the smack down is a great feeling! Competing with and against friends that love the game as much as you is one of the greatest aspects of fantasy football. Whether you play FOX, ESPN or Yahoo fantasy football, chose online tools that will benefit you the most and allow you to dominate this season!

Volunteer for Instituto Mariana De Jesus in Ecuador

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:07:23 +0000

By: Basecamp International Centers

Instituto Mariana de Jesus is a school for deaf and blind children in Quito. This school offers much needed attention and services to children with disabilities from all demographic backgrounds. Children are taught and educated in sign-language and braille. This school is a beautiful place with lots of space and green areas for children to learn and play. The school also has an intern dentist, psychologist and a speaking therapist on staff.

Volunteers must be of age 18 or above with minimum education of high school. This placement does not need any volunteers in the month of Jul and Aug. Volunteers with the following special skills are preferred for the placement:

-Emergency Medical Technician Psychologist Psychology Student Teacher – English Teacher – Math Teacher – Science Teacher – Geography Teacher – Environmental Science Teacher – Physical Education Computers – Web Design Football (American) Soccer Educational Games Teacher – Social Science Teacher – Commerce, Finance, Business Teacher – History

Volunteers can assist by doing following tasks:-

To teach blind and deaf children in the classrooms, to give speaking therapy and teach gymnastics. In the afternoons volunteers are needed to do creative activities with the children, go out with them to visit other places, play soccer with them and just to spend time with them. To play with the children, to give them the extra attention they need. And off course to learn to speak with their hands!

Basecamp International welcomes all the interested volunteers from around the world to volunteer and make a difference. If you are interested in this placement then please contact us for the details: Email: info@basecampcenters.com Website: www.basecampcenters.com Mailing Address 298 Bagot Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7K 3B4 Phone: 613.541.7862 Toll Free : 866.646.4693 Fax: 613.541.1604

Volunteer for Greenfields Nature Reserve in Nicaragua

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:44:29 +0000

By: Basecamp International Centers

Private Wildlife-Refuge GREENFIELDS” (242.4 ha) is characterized by its scenic beauty (diurnal nocturnal), silence and untamed pulsating nature. It comprises swamps ,”mangroves” ,lagoons,” yolillales” and lowland rainforest. GREENFIELDS is a paradise for orchids, mushrooms, butterflies, birds, and it gives refuge to a great number of officially protected animals like the jaguar, tapir, howler and spider monkeys, coati, Cayman etc. They are looking for people interested in preserving green areas as a refuge for animals and RAMSAR sites or low lands in the world and the flora within. Ramsar sites are becoming a world wide treasure due to the importance of preserving clear pure drinking water for next generations.Beside being the natural filter for clear water, also help prevents naturals desasters such as floods. Volunteers can assist by doing the following tasks: This depend on the volunteer skills, if we have a biologist, or marine biologist, or a botanical or scientific investigator they can talk to Räto and get a more especific task to work in their profession. For regular volunteers task might include: cleaning and maintenance of the creeks. Cleaning and maintenance of the trails. Make inventory of sick mangroves, take pics and look in internet for possible cure. Help maintain the preventive fire trail, that is a lot of work, they have saved the property many times due to such mesure. they can help in carpentry and maintance of the huts. If you want to you can use your teaching skills with your co-workers.

Volunteers must be of age 25 or above with minimum education of Undergraduation.This placement does not need any volunteers in the month of SEP- OCT- NOV- Volunteers with the following special skills are preferred for the placement:- Standard First-Aid Teacher – English Teacher – Math Metal Worker Carpenter Framer Forestry Environmental Science Biology Veterinary Science Data Collection Renewable Energy Organic Chemistry Organic Farming Practices Soil Science Composting Systems Swim Educational Games Kayaking Natural Medicine Hiking

Email: info@basecampcenters.com Website: www.basecampcenters.com Mailing Address 298 Bagot Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7K 3B4 Phone: 613.541.7862 Toll Free : 866.646.4693 Fax: 613.541.1604

Volunteer for Escuela Pedro Pablo Andrade [galapagos]

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:24:37 +0000

By: Basecamp International Centers
Learning English is a very important economic tool for the habitants of the islands in order to participate in the local and tourist economies and improve their quality of life. The school educates children and teenagers and prepares them to be savey protectors of their local environment which is the principal attraction of the islands. Community(s) this organization assist are Children and teenagers ages

This organisation requires volunteers because Unidad Educativa Pedro Pablo Andrade is looking for volunteers to help facilitate its educational programs. By hosting volunteers from other countries, UEPPA helps the young students of San Cristobal to gain a broader view of their world, and ours! Although the citizens on this Island are usually trying to make ends-meet, the children are full of life and keen to learn!

Volunteers can help by doing the following tasks:

Helping to educate children and young people in areas such as: general education, culture, sports, social studies, English. As well, one of the most important things for these people is a support program, to provide practical knowledge of flora and fauna conservation. Other tasks that you may be requested to preform outside of your core duties: Potentially organizing and facilitating leadership workshops and conferences. Volunteers are needed that are open minded, honest, and who are keen to teach and learn.

The specific skills that this placement is looking for are :

Teacher – English Teacher – Math Teacher – Science Teacher – Geography Teacher – Environmental Science Teacher – Physical Education TEFL Certificaiton / Training Handicraft Design Computers – MS Office Software Soccer Basketball Educational Games Guitar Piano Drums Other Musical Instruments Teacher – Social Science Teacher – History

Basecamp International Centers welcomes all the interested volunteers from around the world to volunteer and make a difference. If you are interested in this placement then please contact us for the details: Email: info@basecampcenters.com Website: www.basecampcenters.com Mailing Address 298 Bagot Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7K 3B4 Phone: 613.541.7862 Toll Free : 866.646.4693 Fax: 613.541.1604

Flight Pro Sim Review – Best Flight Simulator

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:40:46 +0000

By: Eilin Thomas

Flight simulation is a highly efficient and cost-effective way to train pilots. Flight simulation is used to train pilots as well as training flight crews. Flight simulation helps the pilots and the flight crew to go through some of the common risky situations of flying real aircrafts without the real time danger. Flight simulation is an art, not a science. When one flies a simulator, one is flying a concept of how the airplane flies; one is not flying in a terribly rigorously defined mathematical model. These are some of the many reasons for the escalating demand for “Flight Sim Pro”; one of the top PC-based flight simulators.

Click Here For Flight Pro Sim Instant Access Now!

Flight simulator training is an educational tool used to provide pilots with opportunities to explore potential aviation situations and emergencies without endangering themselves or the aircraft. Many aviation agencies recognize flight simulator training as part of the training which can qualify someone for a pilot’s license, as long as the training takes place on a simulator which has been approved by the agency. Well developed flight simulators, such as “Flight Sim Pro” provide for realistic flight experiences. Some of the many benefits provided are realistic control panels for thousands of different types of aircraft. It is also possible to simulate multiple flight conditions, and it also has realistic plans of up to 80000 airports.

Flight Pro Sim delivers on all its promises. The feeling of flying is realistic, and you will soon be familiar with the controls, will learn how to navigate your selected aircraft over any type of terrain, familiarize you with a vast number of airports. You will also learn how to deal with in-flight issues.

This means that if it is morning in New York and you locate to virtual New York, it will be morning in the Flight Pro Sim too. If this was not enough the sun, moon and all the planets would follow the same exact course as if in real life while you’re onboard in your virtual aircraft. All these features are made available to you while on board the simulator. In an attempt to deliver the full impact of flying, the designers have incorporated climatic and seasonal changes into the design too. It is now safe to say that this Flight simulator is the best in the market and you get every bit of your money’s worth with this airplane simulator game.

Click Here For Flight Pro Sim Instant Access Now!

The value of Flight Simulator software is closely associated with how realistic the flying experience is simulated. After all, if you are going to use a Flight Simulator to assist in training pilots, or preparing yourself for actually piloting an aircraft, or to simply provide you with an opportunity to experience the thrill of ‘flying’ a variety aircraft such as single propeller planes, military jets, passenger aircraft, helicopters, and so on… then you want a flight simulator that is realistic. In my experience “Flight Pro Sim” ticks all the right boxes. The attention to detail is remarkable. It brings users close to everything you can think of, terrain, airports, aircraft reactions to weather conditions, and so on.

Remember, flight simulators are also used to train flight crews for normal and emergency operating conditions. Some of these conditions, such as engine failure, or severe weather conditions, and so on… can’t be tested in flight. Flight simulators are therefore ideal for training for failures and malfunctions of the engine or systems, for example electrical systems, hydraulics, pressure, instruments, and so on.

One thing that was missing in many flight simulators was that they focus more on military and combat aircrafts. Flight Pro Sim on the other hand, comes together and forms a complete package of airplanes, almost every kind you could think of. Apart from high end military fighter jets and helicopters, you also get a chance to test your nerves on planes like the 747, the concord and even those small chartered jets with minimal seating. With the Flight Pro Sim the sky is really the limit and you should fasten your seat belts up to enjoy this wonderful package.

I am an aviation enthusiast. As long as I can remember I wanted to know how it would be to fly a passenger airliner, or a helicopter, or a fighter jet… How about landing a fighter jet on an aircraft carrier, or landing a passenger on JFK Airport in New York… All these experiences can now be experienced thanks to Flight Pro Sim… Man this is exiting!

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FutureWeb – The Net of Tomorrow

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:33:53 +0000

By: Jason Oconnor

A man switches on a tiny wireless chip that has been surgically implanted behind his ear, which then synchs up with the Web wherever he is in the world. The mere thought of logging in to the Internet triggers the system to turn on and connect to the Web. He could be on a bus or at the beach and from all outward appearances he is just staring off into space. But he sees a three dimensional artificial world before him that he can manipulate any way he chooses by thought alone.

By looking at the trends of today we can begin to develop a image of what the Web of the future will look like. I believe the Web will improve and grow in a way that will dwarf its present existence and will improve and enrich everyone’s lives way beyond what we can imagine today. The Net will become as integrated into everyone’s everyday lives as much as, and even more so, than the television or phone (in developed nations first, then everywhere). Television, communications and the Internet will merge.

The Web will become increasingly realistic, interactive, and three dimensional. Two dimensional displays will evolve into three dimensional displays. And the Web will probably incorporate more than just the two senses of seeing and hearing. It will first be incorporated into all other electronics found in household appliances, copy machines, automobiles, and anything else with a microchip. Then it will be integrated directly into our brains.

I also envisage this new Web creating an unimaginably sophisticated data sphere that surrounds and envelops the world like a warm electronic blanket, connecting everyone and everything. And it may some day become an autonomous and sentient entity in its own right that we may even come to depend on for life itself.

When a person switches on his wireless Web chip and connects with the Net, he’ll be looking at and interacting with the Web of the future. He’ll manipulate objects, click on links, download information, and communicate with anyone by simply thinking it. In fact, when he navigates to a grocery store to buy food, for instance, he’ll be able to “pick them up”, “feel them” and even “smell” the food he wants to buy just by thinking the appropriate thoughts.

In the future, Web-based software agents will constantly build dynamic lists and instructions to help people in personal and professional activities. These software agents are subroutines, or small programs, which may be part of a responsive ‘Internet Operating System’ that serves humanity, or possibly even destroy it. Programs may become responsible for doing some of the basic thinking that we get stuck routinely doing today. Additionally, it may be responsible for storing a percentage of our memories as well.

The Web has already become something we rely on for memory, and that reliance will only grow. We’d rather look something up on Google two or three times instead of trying to remember it initially. And eventually, we’ll come to rely on the Web for memories and immediate information so that it will seem like we are missing a part of our own brain when not “jacked in” to the Net, to borrow a phrase from science fiction writer William Gibson. The Net will be such a part of our existence that we may even feel profound separation and isolation when not connected.

The Evolution of the Web Display

Of course we’re not going to jump from flat screen LCD monitors of today to displays that exist only “in our minds”. Three dimensional displays may be the bridge. There is a device in existence today called a Heliodisplay(TM) that produces holograms which exist in three dimensions and are created with photographic projection using advanced laser technology. It’s possible that all displays will employ this technology in the future. The gaming industry ceaselessly works at making their artificial gaming experiences more realistic and is a powerful driving force in computer display technology.

The Web of our future will first be truly device independent where each piece of equipment is a different window that peers into the same global Web. From handheld devices not unlike the Star Trek Communicators, to cell phones, televisions, automobile dashboards, embedded refrigerator displays and MP3 players, all will be portals into the same World Wide Web.

And of course everything will be connected. Instead of applications running on individual personal computers and devices, applications will operate on the Net and be accessible to anyone, creating a loose Internet Operating System.

Ultimately, the Web of our future will most likely abandon standard two dimensional and even three dimensional displays and instead be projected right onto our corneas, skipping the middle man, so to speak.

FutureWeb is Closer Than We Think

Already demonstrated in the lab is the ability to cause a computer to react to thought alone. Duke University neuroscientist Miguel Nicolelis works in the field of BMI (brain-machine interface). In an experiment involving a monkey, a computer and a monitor, Nicolelis and his team successfully caused the monkey to communicate with and control a robotic arm through its brain’s neural signals alone.

The monkey’s brain activity and signals were first monitored with numerous electrodes inside its scalp while it manipulated a joystick. The scientists taught the monkey to move the joystick with its arms to accomplish movement on the monitor. Nicolelis’ team then took the joystick away, but continued everything else the same way. Since the monkey’s brain was hooked up to the computer, each time it had the thought of moving its arms, the desired affect actually happened anyway on the monitor, triggered by the monkey’s thoughts alone. In fact, the monkey was even able to control an artificial arm over the Web 600 miles away in the same manner.

There are two important applications for this technology that are driving its research: medicine and war, two constants in all of human history. Doctors will someday be able to attach a prosthetic arm to a patient, wire it up to her brain, and succeed in enabling her to control the prosthetic fingers by simply thinking it.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) manages the research for the U.S. Department of Defense. In 2003, DARPA invested $23 million in BMI programs, including the one at Duke University cited above. Their goal is to allow soldiers to control weapons of all kinds by thought only. These super soldiers will be able to stealthily navigate through a battlefield willing robotic gliders above to drop their payloads of smart bombs on the enemy over the next hill, without endangering their own lives.

Ethical questions aside, brain-machine interfacing will someday mature and become integrated into our lives. Since the Web is already such a part of our world, the marriage of the two is inevitable.

This technology can be utilized in the other direction as well. Just like a thought can produce computer behavior, the computer will someday be able to send back sensory data other than just sight and sound. If a computer is hooked directly up to the brain, then smell, taste and touch can be affected as well. The Web will literally come to life.

The Semantic Web, Web 2.0 and the Collaboration of Humanity

Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the Web, wrote an illuminating book called Weaving the Web that I recommend all Web professionals read. Among the many profound ideas expressed are two concepts relevant here. One is the Semantic Web, which is explained as “The Web of data with meaning in the sense that a computer program can learn enough about what the data means to process it.” Metadata is the term used for data about data. Most Web pages today have embedded in the html code metadata that gives information about the Web page. Eventually, this information will become much more robust, allowing more intelligent searches to become a reality.

The Semantic Web may have the potential to help make the Internet an entity in its own right. Parallel processing, the connecting of computers to make super computers, has been in existence for some time now. In fact, that’s how the human brain operates, by conducting many operations at the same time.

The other fascinating idea Berners-Lee expressed in this landmark book is that his original idea for the Web involved much more of a two-way exchange of information. His original vision for the Web was one of collaboration. He wanted people to be able to post information to the Web as easily as it was to view information. Unfortunately, the latter has been embraced more readily by the general population.

But now we see the emergence of “Web 2.0″, a fairly new term that describes an innovative type of website that is built on the participation of its users. Blogs, wikis Podcasts and social networks all fall under the Web 2.0 umbrella. Today we are finally achieving what Berners-Lee had in mind all along. With websites such as MySpace, YouTube, Flickr, Squidoo, and Digg, non-technical users can now post information and contribute to the Web as easily as they can access it. The Web of the future will embrace this concept even more, causing its speed of growth to eclipse today’s rate.

It’s not difficult to see that the Web could be a vast parallel processing farm, that given enough artificial intelligence programming, the infusion of Semantic Web systems, and the constant additions from billions of intelligent beings (namely humans), it could have the potential of becoming something of a unified intelligence, a data sphere that surrounds the planet and is more powerful that the sum of its parts.

This concept of technology’s exponential growth turning onto something we cannot even imagine with the possibility of the Web becoming sentient is not new. Vernor Vinge, a retired Professor of Mathematics at San Diego State University, a computer scientist and a science fiction author, wrote about the Singularity in a 1993 essay.

A super-intelligence emerging out of the Web was also written about by Kevin Kelly in Wired Magazine in August 2005 and also published on KurzweilAI.

“. . . we are on the edge of change comparable to the rise of human life on Earth. The precise cause of this change is the imminent creation by technology of entities with greater than human intelligence.

This planet-sized computer is comparable in complexity to a human brain. Both the brain and the Web have hundreds of billions of neurons (or Web pages). Each biological neuron sprouts synaptic links to thousands of other neurons, while each Web page branches into dozens of hyperlinks. That adds up to a trillion “synapses” between the static pages on the Web. The human brain has about 100 times that number, but brains are not doubling in size every few years. The Machine (the Web of the future) is.”

An online search will yield many examples of bizarre concepts that existed only in science fiction later becoming reality. The Web is something that Earth has never seen before. It not only has the potential to connect everyone, but it can also extend every brain and grow exponentially. It may take a lot longer than anyone thinks, but eventually the Web of our future will be immensely different and much more powerful than anyone can possibly imagine today.

Your next PC will be the TV ! – Ultra Thin LED TV Screens becomes WI-FI computers as well as Home Cinema Centers !

Tom — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:02:02 +0000

By: Stig Kristoffersen

The borderline between the PC and TV becomes greyer these days as the TV Screens becomes of better picture quality, design and functionalities built into them.

At the same time the Pc’s becomes more and more advanced and can utilize better screens as well.

Several of the TV producers offer screens with internet connections and wireless network options. This will provide the consumers with a huge amount of options.

Science Fiction movies from the 80s and 90s showed us the TV as the hub of information all from ordering food to look at the weather and become a knowledge center. This is today maybe not so far from the reality. The TV set has had a very strong position in the homes of the people, and has acted as the entertainment center for the family. Today this position has been challenged by better and better computers with larger and larger screens, and the option to connect to larger TV screens. The TV sets fights back and has become stronger in the home arena again as it can provide entertainment as well as useful information.

Wireless confusion

Terms like medialink, Internet-TV, Wireless and so on are words the producers are using in their marketing campaigns to reach you as a customer. These expressions can confuse even the most informed person and it is not easy to find out what are these functions provided.

There are today mainly two types of “wireless” screens in the market. The most common type is the screens which are using wireless transfer to connect to your home network and get access to internet and other services.

The other type is screens that use wireless technology for video transfer. It is also possible for a TV screen to have both options built in, both wireless network and wireless video transfer between the screen and the video unit.

The most advanced flat screens today have become so thin that there is hardly room for any contacts on them any longer. At the same time our demands for options to connect increases. The solution to this challenge is to move the TV receiver into a separate unit to enable a as thin as possible screen. You only need a signal cable between the unit and the screen and power to get going. Some producers like Phillips transfers the power and signal in the same cable even.

The most advanced screens from Sony and Panasonic use wireless signal transfer.

Wireless video transfer

A connection between the screen and the receiver is made and the screen on the wall is no more than a monitor with one simple video input.

The TV receiver and all control electronics are all in the separate unit. In some cases the screen will have IR (Infrared) receiver so it can transmit the remote control signals to the unit where all the commands are executed.

The purpose of the wireless transfer is first of all to make a visual elegant and discrete TV screen solution. A minimum of cords makes it easier to create an elegant installation in any type of room and setting. The wireless transmission makes it possible to place the TV receiver away from the screen, and you can have the TV receiver in a cabinet with the blue-ray player and other electronics somewhere as the super thin screen can be installed on the wall as an elegant installation.

To transfer wireless HD-video is no simple task as it requires a high bandwidth and transmission capacity. So far the producers have only succeeded in transferring video signals up to 1920 x 1080i (interlaced) resolution. This is good enough for HD resolution transmissions, but will produce a reduction in quality of pictures produced by a blue-ray player. Video signals from the blue-ray player will require a high bit rate and a resolution of 1920 x 1080p (progressive).

Today’s wireless models must be able to at least in theory to sacrifice some of the picture quality to achieve design and practical advantages.

Sony KDL-ZX1 is one of the first TV screens on the market with wireless video signal transmission in 1080i quality. The new top model from Panasonic in the Z1-series also use wireless transmission of video, so called WirelessHD.

TV with wireless network

The TV use Wi-Fi technology to connect to the local network. From this the TV can log into internet and offer a series of interactive services as news, weather forecasts and YouTube videos.

When the TV becomes part of your home network it can be used to show your photo collection, show home videos and play music which is stored on your computer.

TV sets with built-in internet has so far limited processing speed and can not be used for heavy duty software like computer games and so on. The functionality is also limited by the commands you can perform via the remote control unit, and that is in most cases say simple navigation through menus.

Some TV sets do not have built-in Wi-Fi though and only offers Ethernet cable connection. But these units usually have a separate USB connection which can be used to connect a USB unit that connects them to the wireless network.

The new 7-series LED TV’s from Samsung has apart from superb picture quality functionalities like Medi@2.0 which boosts internet services (widgets) and streaming of photos, video and music over the network.

PC-TV

Some producers have gone even further and integrated a more or less full blooded PC within the TV set itself. While the TV sets with built-in network limits itself to simple and TV oriented media functions, the PC-TV can be used as a regular PC. The TV will have a built-in operating system like a normal PC has like Windows or similar and is controlled by a mouse and keyboard like a normal PC.

A PC-TV is powerful enough to perform the same tasks as a stationary or laptop PC can do. The difference is that you can surf on the internet , perform document handling, gaming and watch video on a much larger and better screen than you can from the normal PC.

Panasonic offers the web function called CAST on several of its latest models. The CAST function gives access to Youtube, news, weather forecast and video services from online partners of Panasonic.

The PC-TV from Crea is one of the first TV sets on the market with an integrated PC in it. Crea Kronos has a built-in Intel Atom Processor, 80 Gb hard disk, 1GB RAM and Windows Vista Operating system which is controlled by mouse and keyboard. To ensure optimal picture quality the PC is connected through one of the HDMI inputs which eases video and movie transmissions.

Where does the border go?

The border between the PC and TV is not as clear as it was just some few years back. Both units begin to be capable of doing what the other is doing. Lots of the same tasks can be done in either one of them. The difference between the PC and TV is easiest described by the expressions “lean backward”. The PC is most suited to tasks that require you to lean forward like work, word processing, e-mail, and search for information. As when it comes to entertainment like movies and TV shows, you will most likely lean backwards in the coach or a good chair and rater use the remote control to seek the entertainment you wish to indulge yourself into.