Author Archives: DigiDave

At least they might make it more expensive. That’s because Microsoft just got a new patent filed the other day directly related to time-shifting technology. Don’t see the connection gumshoe?

The patent is capable of creating a system where viewers are charged extra for skipping commercials or replaying sports highlights.

I hate commercials as much as the next guy, but I also hate throwing money away. If this thing goes big, all it means is that I’ll have to re-learn the ancient art of making snacks in the short period provided by commercial breaks.

I’ll be keeping my eye out for this one, hopefully I won’t miss a thing! …….. ohhahahaha…. damm I’m funny.

My first confession, I do not even own an iPod in the traditional sense. All I have been able to acquire in the several-odd years since the pod people landed, was a measly shuffle pod.

But man do I love that shuffle pod. I put it in my pocket and bike to work or take the subway, and I’m rocking out the whole time. So I don’t know what song is coming up next, that’s the thrill of life man! So you can imagine how bummed I was when my inadequately sized shuffle pod ceased to work.

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A robot that can scan 50 meters deep into the earth may have discovered the 18th-Century buried treasure on the Juan Fernadez island, home to Alexander Selkirk, who we all know as Robinson Crusoe. Selkirk, a Scottish adventurer inspired Daniel Defoe to write Robinson Crusoe in 1729.

This little robot, named Arturito, which bears an odd sounding resemblance to R2D2, may be responsible for finding up to 10 billion dollars worth of booty (if the legends of Selkirk are true).

But what I really like about this story is the fact that it was a little robot that found it. Step aside Indian Jones, the next blockbuster movie about an adventurer is going to be about little Arturito, the robot that scanned the ground for treasure. It sure is an advancement from the $20 metal detector I ordered on Ebay when I was a kid.

I have been following John Battelle’s blog Searchblog for almost a year now. He helped start the Industry Standard and definitly knows what’s going on in the world of search engines. Long story short, the blog is a great resource. But that’s not what turned me into a loyal reader of his blog.

What really did it for me was the fact that he gave updates on the book that he has been researching and writing the last couple years. Every now and then he would even ask for advice from his readers, or suggestions on a possible chapter title.

I feel like I have been a part of the process for this book to come into fruition. It has been out now for less than a month and I think it’s been accepted well into the wide world of reading on paper (something I gave up long ago).

If there is an interesting story to be told about the IT world of the last four years I think it lies in Search Engines. So this should be an interesting read.

I think the board game “C-jump” is worth taking note of. It’s a board game like any other. You roll some die, you move some pieces and somebody wins. What’s different about this one, that makes it worthy of inclusion in the LD world; the rules consist of computer codes like Java or C++.

The games creator, Igor, was a computer programmer who wanted to teach his son about what he did. So after several years he developed the game C-jump, which he says is fun and helps kids learn the basics of computer programing.

I think it’s interesting to see where computer related culture spreads. Here we have a board game based on teaching kids computer programing. What’s next, a square night light which gives off the glow of an ever changing screen saver?

I hate losing my remote control. I’ll end up looking everywhere. Under the couch, in the bathroom, sometimes I’ll even check the fridge. But if my TV remote was my hand, I’d never be without it. Researchers at Australasian CRC for Interaction Design are working on doing just that.
They are creating a glove that when placed on your hand will control the TV using specific gestures. The TV will wirelessly recognize hand motions for on, off, channel up etc, you get the idea.

Hopefully they could integrate it with other household items like the lights, microwave, robotic maid and we will never have to leave the couch again.

Finally a show for us and by us. PBS is launching NerdTV hosted by Robert X. Cringely. While Cringely probably couldn’t get a job working for MTV he does have the chops to interview the likes of Bill Joy the father of UNIX and Sun Microsystems. The show will feature top knotch geeks in shows that can be downloaded on your PC.

Think of it as a talk show that we too can finally enjoy.

It has been some time since I have written. But now that I’m settled on the east coast, with somewhat reliable Internet, I’ll try and keep in touch more often. In light of recent disaster news I thought I’d make my first return post a little more light and fuzzy.

I came across a good discussion of online dating as the third sexual revolution in America and the notion sparked interest and discussion in my new house.

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The computer chip seems to follow a certain law. Simply put, the capacity of the computer chip doubles every 12 months or so. This is called “Moore’s” law, named after some old dude who was president of Intel at the time he said it.

While that rule has held (more or less) another area of the modern computer has been left sorely behind. The mouse and keyboard interface. I’m 23 and I feel carpel tunnel coming in already. What gives? Where is the doubling of efficiency every year or so of that stuff? Cells improve every 6 weeks, would it really kill people to find a better way to make a keyboard (and I don’t feel that mid-way arch design either).

Computer techies should really look into doubling their efforts in developing touch-pads like the one below called the Tactapad. First off, they look pretty cool, a mix of Matrix, Johny Mnemonic and other sci-fi films staring Keanu Reeves, but also because it looks like (with improvement) it could prove to be more comfortable than a rounded object named after a small mammal.

I have done many crazy things looking for WiFi spots. I’ve slowly walked through the streets, computer in hand, despratly seeking a neighbor who didn’t lock me out. No longer I say!

Popular Science wrote an excellent “How To” article on producing your own portable WiFi spot out of a backpack. Follow the simple instructions (with McGuyver music playing in thebackground) and you got yourself a solar powered backpack that will get you connected to the net. A true hackers dream.

It is a do-it-yourself endeavor, but it aint exactly cheap. Expect to spend a little over $1,000, or what I like to call a “G.”

Mobiado does not make phones for cretins like you or I. No, they make only the finest of dialing devices for those who sip on champagne and at night have caviar dreams. The phone you see below combines a hardwood cover with stainless steel buttons to create the Grey Poupon of cell phones.

Despite being made of wood the technology is up-to-date. It isn’t anything amazing, but I guess it’s a little bit more classy than the phones with the flashing blue raver lights.