Photo-Finsh finished?

A photo finish is always exciting in a race, but is the thousands of dollars spent on camera technology really necessary? Hopefully not anymore. Alien technology has come out with a more practical device that can determine the winner of a close race. It is called Hardcard. This paper thin stamp-size sticker is a transponder that is used to track the racers. At $800 it is definitely for cost efficient than photo finish cameras. It is still in the testing phase but even for elite levels where photo-finishes are bound to continue, Hardcard believes its RFID technology can replace existing transponders.

http://www.popsci.com/score/article/2008-04/tracking-racers-rfid

University of Central Florida students freak out when they go tech-free

For one week a class of college students was assigned to live a tech-free life. I am not sure if I could do that! I would be lost without my cell phone! When the week was finally over out of 26 students only 2 students were able to go through the entire week without cheating once. No surprise to me. Though the other students did cheat sometimes their lives still had a huge void from the lack of technology. Students ended up doing reading that they usually never did, took drives or naps, or just did anything to fill their time. I thought his was a funny article. Hope you enjoy it and appreciate the technology that you use every day.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/education/orl-techfree2108apr21,0,3686295.story

3-D Images -- Cordless And Any Time

A new 3D sensor is coming out that might revolutionize crime scene investigations, medical applications, or even research in production. A 3D sensor is able to scan 3D images (like a footprint in the mud) and relay the information to a computer. The information does not show the picture on a single plane like a camera, but allows the user to measure depth and length (like a plaster cast imprint of a footprint) or even interact with an object. Doctors can even use this tool to measure the faces of patients to make sleeping masks in the fraction of the time that it used to. Someday I think it would even be fun to have one for myself.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080416114413.htm

How to survive the switch to digital TV

There's going to be a new switch to digital TV. People are going to start installing converter boxes that will keep their older TV sets tuned in to over the air broadcasts , because most stations are going to switch from analog to digital transmission. The National Association of Broadcasters have tested two of these boxes and found that they produce a better picture quality than any analog channel. But, at the same time these boxes have a problem, people have to manually change settings from show to show or else the picture from many stations won't fill up the screen or some parts will be cut off.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/04/23/hd.converters.ap/index.html

The Quick View Valve

With gas prices sky rocketing everybody is looking for a way to beat the pump and this device will help. Proper tire pressure insures better gas mileage and if your tires are not at the pressure they are supposed to be at your cars gas mileage will suffer. This device makes it extremely quick and easy to check your tire pressure. With this new tire pressure gauge valve you can quickly view the pressure in all of your tires. The Quick View has a permanent, built-in tire pressure gauge. This product eliminates the need to squat down and remove dirty caps and apply a tire pressure gauge.
http://www.shop4patents.com/patents/tirevalve.shtml

Windows-based cash machines 'easily hacked'

Before reading this article I thought that computer viruses and worms only had to do with computers. I never really thought of an ATM as a computer as well. Security experts have hacked ATMs in the UK to show how easy it is to steal money and bank account details from modern cash machines. I would say that is scary! ATM’s that have the Microsoft- based cash machines were even easy to hack. Many things can be taken if an ATM is hacked. For example, card numbers, card expiration dates, transaction amounts, and account balances. These problems arise because of the lack of encryption in the ATM. Most of the information that the ATM stores are in plain text and are not encrypted. This makes it very vulnerable to hackers. I wonder how many of these same machines are in the United States. I would say that something really has to change and fast in order to keep us safe from identity theft

http://www.news.com/Windows-based-cash-machines-easily-hacked/2100-7349_3-6233030.html?tag=cd.top

The Better Marriage Blanket

Frank Bibbo is a science teacher who came up with the brilliant idea of an odor eating blanket. By bonding carbon with the fabric the blanket is able to fight horrible smells that the body creates. There is nothing worse then waking up next to your partner and getting a scent of their flatulence, but worry no more because the better marriage blanket has arrived. The purpose of this great invention is to eliminate bad smells caused by flatulence while lying in bed. No longer do you have to be embarrassed by the bad smell all of our bodies produce.
http://bettermarriageblanket.com/index.html