Posts Tagged ‘technology’

Fund Scientific Research at 3AM

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

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(photo credit: Mark Ramsay)

Heard of Kickstarter? That new site where anyone with an idea and a plan to make it happen can raise money from the unwashed masses? Well until now it’s mostly been used to help bands record their breakout albums, help designers raise capital to manufacture life-improving products, and help slightly off do-gooders pay for various swing-installation projects.

But now scientists are getting in on the action. From the Kickstarter-funded Mexican quail research expedition to the new academics-only crowdfunding site Open Genius, the doors are open for promising researchers to avoid the pain of securing traditional government and foundation funding.

Which means that you have a unique opportunity to directly impact research you care about. It’s one thing to donate to a cancer research fund (which is a totally awesome thing to do, by the way), but it’s another thing entirely to choose the lab you want to support.

This is also a great opportunity to exercise your advocacy muscles. With just a little prodding and a link to a well-designed website, you can double, triple, or quadruple your donation by talking to friends or posting your pitch online.

Never underestimate the power of peer pressure and one-click donations.

Online Shopping Gets Smarter [Than You]

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011


(credit: Unhindered by Talent)

Guess what? Retailers are getting smarter and smarter when it comes to separating you and your cash (or credit card info, to be more precise).

First there was members-only designer discount site Gilt Groupe, with time limits for checking out with your items. Then we saw the daily deals companies like Groupon and LivingSocial. There’s Rent the Runway, where you can rent a hot little piece of couture for an event for under $200.

And now, for a mere $30 monthly subscription fee, online shops like JewelMint will get to know your tastes and offer up pieces it’s sure you’ll like. All based on an algorithm. This is in some ways even cooler than the computer from Star Trek: The Next Generation that made Captain Picard all those cups of tea with a simple voice command.

The online shopping world will surely continue to evolve, getting cooler, more convenient, and quite a bit more manipulative in the process. So don’t forget to bring your brain when you go on your next online shopping spree.

Think you’re a conscious consumer? Take our Where Does the Money Go? challenge!

Sharing the Stuff That Drives Electric Cars

Wednesday, March 9th, 2011

“Xatori, a Silicon Valley software start-up, aims to create a network of electric car enthusiasts who make their household power outlets and home chargers available for drivers who need to top off their battery or who find themselves out of range of the few public-charging stations currently available.”

What do you think?

Would you ever pay for a total stranger’s gas? What about letting them charge their phone in your garage?

Are electric car owners just more generous?

As Seen on the Web… Even Hipster Photo-Sharing Apps Get Nervous Sometimes

Thursday, February 24th, 2011

Ever hear of a little app called Instagram? How about a website called Hunch? Well apparently they were both created by real people, and in this video those real people are in the same room.

Chris Dixon talks about the long, weird journey from college to Instagram fame, and the terrible moments after the app launched for the first time. He’s interviewed by Kevin Systrom, the creator of Hunch and current darling of the tech start-up world.

Old people and robots

Wednesday, February 9th, 2011


Terrifying. John B. Carnett

Japan has a rapidly aging population, but not enough home care workers to help elderly folks with daily tasks. So Japanese engineers, true to form, began building robotic home care workers.

Only problem is… old folks don’t want to be cared for by robots. It’s… kind of creepy. While cute animal-themed robots are selling reasonably well, the creepy humanoid models are being put on the shelf. (Until they’re reactivated in the Great Robot Wars begin in 2033, of course.)

Now the helper robot industry is shifting focus from fake people to smart furniture – like a wheelchair that can transform itself into a bed.

Technology has always been blamed for eliminating jobs – why pay a person to do what a machine can do faster, better, and cheaper? But Japan’s situation is a little different. It’s not eliminating jobs for willing workers; it’s creating workers to fill necessary jobs.

Hmm… wonder what kind of career track can an entry-level home healthcare worker can look forward to?

Other Countries Outpacing U.S. in Internet Tomfoolery

Monday, December 27th, 2010

Check this out. It’s a crazy interactive site showing you how different countries/ regions around the world compare when it comes to digital adventures.

Which country do you think does the most online shopping?

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Fun facts!

  • Hong Kong is totally beating everyone at Angry Birds
  • South Korea and Vietnam are shopping online when the boss isn’t looking
  • Residents of China and Singapore all have a part-time job, and that job is surfing the Internet
  • Everyone in Brazil and Malaysia has more Facebook friends than you

A Business From A Buck

Monday, August 16th, 2010

In an economy like this one, it seems unlikely that any bright business idea could be realized without a significant amount of startup cash. However, a few savvy entrepreneurs are making it work.

  • Small businesses are getting their start from very little money.
  • The Wall Street Journal found three booming businesses that were launched on only a couple of hundred dollars.
  • Technology plays a large part in helping new businesses because professional looking websites and automated phone systems are widely accessible.

Facts & Figures

  • About half of all start-ups close within five years, usually due to lack of capital.
  • Babson College estimates that it costs up to $65,000 to start a business.

Best Quote

“It’s gotten so much easier to reach mass markets and test out ideas. This is something that’s becoming accessible to anyone with an idea.” – Bo Fishback, Vice President of Entrepreneurship, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

Cool Electronics Move Ahead Of Clothes And Appliances

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

Second-quarter reports indicate that Americans have changed their spending priorities from appliances to new and improved electronics.

  • Rather than purchasing appliances and clothing, Americans now tend to put their money toward new electronics and in their savings.
  • Electronics are constantly evolving to become newer, cooler and better–causing an incentive to buy the latest items.
  • Some clothing retailers, such as American Eagle Outfitters and Macy’s, are giving consumers electronic incentives to buy apparel (like giving away smartphones).

Facts & Figures

  • Sales of televisions, computers, video and telephone equipment grew 1.8% in the first six months of 2010.
  • Spending on appliances decreased 3.6% and spending on furniture decreased 11%.
  • The U.S. savings rate increased to 6.4% from May to June.
  • In the first 6 months of 2010, Americans spent $534 billion on durable goods, up 5.9% from last year.

Best Quote

“But who needs to buy more ties? I mean, come on, I have a great computer.” -Spence Witten, 27-year-old consumer

On Amazon, E-Book Sales Surpass Hardcovers

Monday, July 26th, 2010

The convenience of the skinny Kindle sways more customers.

  • Sales of the Kindle, Amazon.com’s digital book reader, have skyrocketed and Amazon reports that it is now selling more electronic books than hardcover editions.
  • In order to compete with other e-readers made by Apple and Sony, Amazon slashed the price of the Kindle almost in half - a move that increased sales even further.
  • The growing popularity of the e-book boosted Amazon stock, reversing a steady decline since the recession.

Facts & Figures

  • Amazon has sold 143 Kindle books for every 100 hardcover books
  • Amazon will probably sell 3.7 million Kindles this year

Best Quote

“We’ve reached a tipping point with the new price of Kindle. Amazon.com customers now purchase more Kindle books than hardcover books — astonishing when you consider that we’ve been selling hardcover books for 15 years, and Kindle books for 33 months.” – Jeff Bezos, Chief Executive of Amazon.com

Solar Powered Plane Spends More Than A Day In The Air

Friday, July 9th, 2010

Solar power supporters are jumping for joy as a solar powered plane accomplishes the impossible…

  • On July 8, an experimental solar powered plane completed its first flight lasting more than 24 hours, marking a huge milestone in solar energy technology.
  • The plane, called the Solar Impulse, was piloted by André Borschberg. The plane gets its power from thousands of solar cells that absorb energy projected by the sun and store it so that the plane can continue its flight after dark.
  • The initial goal of the project was to prove that a plane of airliner-size could successfully stay aloft indefinitely by recharging its batteries each night. With the success of the Solar Impulse, the project’s founders hope to eventually create a plane that can circumnavigate the world using solar power.

Facts & Figures

  • The Solar Impulse weighs 3,500 pounds.
  • Total flight time was 26 hours and 9 minutes.
  • During the flight, the Solar Impulse reached a maximum speed of 78 miles per hour.

Best Quote

“I’ve been a pilot for 40 years now, but this flight has been the most incredible one of my flying career. Just sitting there and watching the battery charge level rise and rise thanks to the sun. I have just flown more than 26 hours without using a drop of fuel and without causing any pollution.” – André Bourschberg, Pilot