WE are back to our regular posting, after taking the day off yesterday, and we came back to find some news. NASA on their website has announced that on Wednesday, May 14, at 1 p.m. EDT they will give details of a discovery in space of a object in our galaxy astronomers have been looking for more that 50 years.

Now this discovery was made using data obtained from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, and usually that observatory is used to find x-ray’s from celestial bodies undetectable by telescopes and the naked eye. Most commonly the observatory is used to find Black Holes in deep space, but it has long been thought that supermassive black holes are at the center of every galaxy including ours the Milky Way.

We cant wait to hear about this discovery which is producing some buzz in the Astronomy and Science fields. You can also listen to a live audio feed of the press conference and also watch it on NASA TV.

Source: NASA

Overview

Now here at Daily Tech Impressions, as we have said before “We like Robots”. We have seen many kinds of robots, from toys to lifelike and industrial robots. Here is a cleaning robot, no not what you think, like the i-Robots roombas of today, but another kind of cleaning robot for your pet. Your cat will love this new litter robot that cleans up after your cat has done its business

Technology behind the Litter Robot

The Litter Robot uses a Patented sifting process that cleans litter automatically after each use. A cool feature is that it Deposits waste in large-capacity drawer lined with kitchen garbage bag so you wont have to buy those wimpy cat liners. The Litter Robot is also Reliable and safe; works without rakes or wires that could jam, clog, or break. Now the dimensions are 24 by 22 by 29 inches, so you can be safe assured there is plenty of room for your cat in there, and you wont have to clean up any mess from litter coming out onto your floor

Impressions of the Litter Robot

First thing comes to mind is its a Automatic self-cleaning cat-litter box that saves you time and money. Second is you don’t have to sit there and scoop out the cat feces. Third is I like the design, it is an actual robot that performs cleaning functions and is cool to look at unlike those other self cleaning litter boxes.

If you would like to purchase here is the source:
Litter Robot Lrii-Biege Automatic Self-Cleaning Litter Box Beige

This is a cool gadget, if your an art enthusiast. What the Art-O-Meter does is measure the amount of time that people stand looking at a art piece. The Art-O-Meter has a built in sensor that detects people in front of the art piece and has a separate time recorder that measures that time, as well as a another timer that keeps track of the total time the exhibit is open. Thus giving the quality and possibly giving the idea of how valuable the art piece may be. The measurements are graphically represented by comments and a 5 star rating system.

Source: Art-O-Meter

Art-O-Meter Movie

Overview

Why be satisfied with a bicycle built for two? The unique and easy-to-maneuver Conference Bike & trade; comfortably seats up to seven people, sitting in a circle and biking together for an unforgettable riding experience. Originally commissioned exclusively for Hammacher Schlemmer, American artist and inventor Eric Staller has created what he calls “a symbol for community, a tool for bringing people together.” Almost anyone can ride on this distinctive trike, so you can use it for family reunions, summer gatherings, corporate retreats, outdoor education programs, or taking the neighborhood along for a ride.

Technology Behind The Seven-Person Conference Bicycle

The frame has an ergonomic design making it easy to get on and off, and has seven sets of pedals that propel the trike forward via a patented transmission system. One person steers, while all seven riders are free to pedal, or not, as the bike moves along. The vehicle is easy to operate, with Porsche™-engineered steering, hydraulic brakes, parking brake and lights. Hand-crafted in Germany, and built to last, The ConferenceBike safely transports a combined weight of 1,400 lbs. Red paint finish is a durable baked-on powder-coat; drive-train is completely covered for protection against dust and rain. Easy-to-access maintenance points. Best for riding on hard level surfaces. Maximum speed of 15 mph. Seat heights are adjustable. 4′H x 6′W x 8′ L. (400 lbs.)

Impressions of The Seven-Person Conference Bicycle

Pretty damb nifty and goofy at the same time, Would you take this for a ride? Maybe just to see for the fun of it, anyways, this is an affiliate post for now. If you are interested in purchasing it i left a link below.

The Seven-Person Conference Bicycle

Overview

Raytheon was founded in 1922 by college roommates, since then the company has lead the way in technological advancements for our military to commercial applications. Here are some of the technologies advancements Raytheon produced: Magnetron Tubes, Shipboard Radar, Microwave Cooking, Guided Missiles, NASA Communications Systems, Patriot Missile System and Transistors. Raytheon which employs some 72,000 people worldwide and last year generated revenues of around $21.3 billion is currently developing new innovative technologies that are changing the face of surveillance systems for our nations defense.

ARTEMIS or Advanced Responsive Tactically Effective Military Imaging Spectrometer

Built for the U.S Air Forces TacSat-3 mission, the Artemis is a sophisticated hyperspectral imaging sensor with an objective of to obtain surveillance photos of otherwise hidden objects and materials, therefore commanders can make tactical moves reducing the risk of life loss by assessing a tactical battle strategy. ARTEMIS is low cost and uses off-the-shelf commercial components which is designed to be assembled and deployed within 7 days in earths low orbit at a fraction of the cost of traditional space launches.

Technology Behind ARTEMIS

The ARTEMIS hyperspectral imaging sensor uses the short-wave infrared spectrum. Its components include a high-resolution panchromatic imagery, telescope, optics, focal plane array, and control/readout electronics. (Excerpt) In addition to sensor development and delivery, Raytheon’s TacSat3 responsibilities include integration support and assistance during in-flight calibration verification.

Benefits of ARTEMIS

Quick-reaction optical payload spots hidden targets
Provides real-time intelligence data to field commanders
Can be launched as needed
Designed to be mounted on a satellite, launched, and in orbit within days
Significantly reduces overall space mission costs

Impressions of Raytheons ARTEMIS

With the Military’s exorbitantly large budget, cutting costs and providing efficient ways to deploy new technology is a plus. When cutting costs you don’t want to risk life of our soldiers in combat and I feel Raytheon’s ARTEMIS greatly reduces the risk of soldier injury or death by providing detailed surveillance of hidden objects such as IED’s buried along roadsides. The future of space based surveillance systems are here with the TacSat-3 and Artemis satellites cause of the affordability to make them for specific missions. Together with advanced surveillance, reconnaissance, and communications capabilities battlefield commanders will be able to make strategic decisions in a timely manner more effectively and quickly than in any previous missions.

Source: Raytheon

V-8 Powered Predator Chainsaw

Harley V-Twin Chainsaw

Chainsaw Motorcycle

Overview

We know Boston Dynamics for the incredible robots they developed like the RHex a land and submersible all terrain robot and the cool wall climbing robot called RISE, but they have developed a new software application that gives a new light onto the advancements in Human Simulation Software. What is neat about the software is the ease of painting crowds into a scenario, and immediately they have the intelligence to recognize objects, moving vehicles, and respond to other actions like a bomb explosion where they flee in the opposite direction.

Technology behind DI Guy

Di-Guy actual movements are lifelike, the reason for that is using a process called Live Motion capture where humans wear suits with sensors, then computers track those movements recording all information and applying it to animation. Using the SDK (Software Development Toolkit) you can customize characters and comes with, policemen, soldiers, insurgents that can carry weapons and wear different uniforms. Animals are included as well to complete scenarios. DI-Guy also uses motion animation that keeps in sync with WAV files to portray talking by moving the mouth and lips.

Impressions of DI-Guy Human Simulation Software

The fact that you can easily paint crowds with artificial intelligence into scenarios is a plus, but what we like is being able to customize specific movements like arms and joints to make certain poses using the DI-Guy Motion Editor and a feature called Kinematic Control. i would like to see more of this kind of Artificial Intelligence in Sim based games and others as well like Syphon Filter and other first person shooters.

Source: Boston Dynamics

Source: DI-Guy

I used to manage wireless shops for T-mobile, Cingular, and AT&T in Las Vegas Nevada for about 5 years. AT&T used to be strictly (TDMA) Time Division Multiple Access then they switched over to (GSM) Global System for Mobile Communications. The first company to implement GSM was Bellsouth which then became Cingular Wireless .

GSM

Now with the GSM system established here in the United States came freedom to choose handsets and readily switch to a different cell phone without calling up customer care and registering a new (IMEI) International Mobile Equipment Identity number. All you would have to do was take out the small (SIM) Subscriber Identity Module card and transfer it to your new handset. One problem with that though, since there are a few carriers now carrying GSM handsets service providers would order handsets locked to their service, for the reason that when you upgraded to a new cell phone you would have to purchase the handset through them, and thats how they also extended their contracts for their customers keeping them with their service for an additional 1 to 2 years.

Unlocked Cell Phones

GSM Cell Phones have lock codes you can put into the phones by pressing a certain sequence of numbers on the key pad. These codes can be used to Unlock phones as well, and now there are ways to do it tethering your phone to your computer. Being able to unlock GSM phones gave you the flexibility to buy handsets from retail outlets and other carriers without their service and continue to carry your current service with-out signing a new contract which came in handy when you did not have handset insurance, lost or stolen phone, your 1 year upgrade was a few months away or you just simply wanted a new handset. I always proffered the later as I loved the Sony Ericsson P800 Smartphone when it came out and the all so cool windows IPAQ made by HP. As administrator to Wireless Internet Education back in 2002 it was my job to teach sales staff, and customers how to use their wireless internet ready Handsets.

Impressions of Unlocked Cell Phones

GSM is a Global Communications standard and the benefits of using GSM handsets are that you can use them in many nations. Most handsets are either Tri-band or Quad band and work in many frequencies most commonly in the wireless spectrum range from 800-1900 MHz. I traveled to Canada and Mexico and was able to to put a pre-paid SIM card into my phone for calls in those countries without incurring roaming fees and international calling rates. I have had water damage that insurance would not cover and of course new handsets came out that I must have and as a teacher of wireless internet services it came in handy when I switched out my SIM card to test out a new handset or demonstrate features of a phone, unlocked cell phones came in handy. So my advice is to always buy unlocked cell-phones, if you have a great handset and you want to trade, sell or upgrade to a new one they hold their value more with their flexibility to be used on other GSM carriers.

Here is a great place to purchase unlocked Cell phones, Smartphones, Pocket PC’s, Blacberry and accessories at a discount, visit link below.

Save up to 70% on Unlocked Cell Phones – Motorola, Nokia, Sony Ericsson at Cellular-Blowout.com!

Overview

Our moon effects many things here on earth. The moon, effects tides, volcanoes and even life on Earth. How is this possible? well it is actually simple and using science we can determine how these moon effects, help shape our very world we live in. Gravity is the cause and produces the effects of the moon has on our world.

Tides

As the moon orbits our earth the gravitational pull tugs at everything on the Earth, fortunately our earth is able to hang on to us and our surroundings. The only thing that is loose is our oceans. Twice a day as the moons gravitational pull tugs at our oceans it creates tides pulling in the direction of the moon, of course there are other factors, like the Earths rotation and gravitational pull on the water, storms that displace large amounts of water and the suns gravitational effect as well pulls on the Earth so you get a bulge with the largest of tides occurring on full moons as these are called spring tides.

Volcanoes

Until recently predicting volcano eruptions were extremely hard, but with new technology, instruments and science we are able to put together a past time frame of eruptions with exact dates and be able to predict future eruptions. as the moon passes over a volcano scientists have been able to predict when a volcano may erupt but it is more likely to happen on a full moon and when the tides are the highest. Think about it, gravity pulls at the ocean, why not magma below the earths surface. Earth tides are when the gravitational effect from the moon pulls at the surface of our earth thus pulling the magma which is melted rock and is not attached to the earth, like water. So if a volcano is ready to blow its top the moons gravitational pull can push it along till the eruption occurs then internal pressure takes over and the flow continues in normal fashion.

Life

all life on earth is effected by the moon one way or another. Since we as humans are biologically made up of water around 60% i believe it is, although this varies depending on your weight and if you are a child. There have been many studies but nothing real conclusive to show the moon effects on humans and animals. If you brake it down though you can see why they say strange things happen and people have mood changes. The part of our brain that effects our moods is called the limbic system which contains the limbic lobe and cingulate. The brain is a spongy matter composed of liquid and semi-solid material and so much more. on full moons the gravitational effect on the mind may disrupt the normal flow of fluids in our brain, which in return could have a effect on our limbic system that controls our moods. This is why they say it must be a full moon out when crime rate jumps, animals bite and people act differently, however there is no significant scientific facts to prove this, only statistics that can go both ways in proving it to be true or not.

impressions of the Effects of the Moon

While I do agree with the tides and the moons gravitational effect of the moon on volcanoes I’m not to sure about how the effects of the moons gravitational pull on the human body works. We are made up of mostly water which of course is not attached to earth and it is a fluid that flows and like the oceans it is susceptible to gravitational pull, so there could be something behind it. With science and technology I believe all things are possible, we don’t fully know how the mind works but we do understand parts of the brain and its biological properties this including the limbic system and its control of our moods. The moon may turn out to have allot more mysteries and benefits as well as other effects that science will discover . I’m getting a change of mood now after this article and the moon is no where in sight.

Daily Tech Impressions today is taking a break from reporting on Technology, but we would like to show support for another issue at hand. We feel as a democracy here in the united states our voices should be heard and not governed by an outdated voting system set-up to reverse our decisions on who should become president of the United States.

Serj Tankian the voice from System Of A Down and his self titled band Serj Tankian and the F.C.C has set up a new website called Elect The Dead where he is capturing signatures to help abolish the Electoral College and do away with a system our forefathers created to deal with immigrant settlers voting cause they felt many immigrants could not be trusted. Serj Tankian gives key points of issues that need to be addressed for a fair voting system to work.

1. GET RID OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE
2. EQUALIZE CORPORATE FUNDING IN ELECTIONS
3. TAXATION BY MULTIPLE CHOICE INSTANT RUNOFF VOTING IN OUR ELECTORAL PROCESS
4. ABOLISH ALL PAID AND PROFESSIONAL LOBBY FIRMS

These key points listed above will restore our nation to what a democracy should be. Visit the site and sign the form to show your support. Big companies, foreign nations and lobbyists with deep pockets should not influence our morals and help their investments and agendas. (IRV) Instant Runoff Voting as he explains and which we think is a great reform of the voting process is a great system designed to cut cost, and wasted votes.

To know more about SERJ TANKIAN visit his website. He is a great activist, a phenomenal singer who I have been listening to for many years and if you have listened to his lyrics, you might want to listen to a little more closely, behind the music there is messages of great importance that convey his view on political issues and social causes.

lets all help Serj Tankian out and restore America to what a democracy should be, for the people and by the people. please sign his form and help abolish the Electoral College. We all have a little activism in us, now its time to show it. Rock The Vote

Source: Elect The Dead

SERJ TANKIAN