Check out The Gauntlet, a USB power glove by AGE.
It appears not to be in production yet. Be sure to e-mail AGE and let them know if you're interested.
(I developed a prototype of this glove for AGE a few years ago, as well as the original COP888 code for the Mattel Power Glove).
Websites are a means to get information to people. I think most website owners would like to get their information to as many people as possible. So why do site owners allow web designers to block out a significant percentage of potential readers?
Take a look at the following message I got from KFWB
when attempting to view a story. I was using Opera, my preferred browser.
Note the final insultingly ironic sentence. If they respect my browser preference, why won't they allow my browser to view their pages?
Thanks for visiting WWW.KFWB.COM Our site is best viewed with Netscape 6.2 and/or Internet Explorer 4.0 or greater. It appears you are using a different version or a different browser that our site is not currently designed for. Please refer to the links below: For a free download of Netscape 6.2, please click here. For a free download of Internet Explorer, please click here. We realize you may not choose to download or implement a new browser on your computer and we certainly respect that.
Abstract:
A continuous rotary lever device utilizing a "hub" with attached "rim", and an "axle" mechanism will
allow movement of heavy loads over horizontal and moderately inclined surfaces.
The rim is rigidly attached to the hub at a fixed radial distance, minimizing the problems apparent with earlier
3-sided and 4-sided implementations.
The hub contains an opening at its center which fits over the axle in such a way that the axle is "captured" and allowed to turn smoothly, as to allow free rotational movement of the hub, and in turn the rim.
The rim, being at a greater distance from the axle, suffers less frictional energy loss between itself and the the supporting surface than the hub, supported by the smaller axle.
This concept allows load movement with considerably less effort than previous methods of sliding loads directly on the supporting surface.
The radial distance from the hub to the rim, and rim width are determined
by the desired load carrying capacity, and support capability of the operating surface.
One or more of these rotary lever assemblies
are connected to a platform which bears the load in such a way as to provide balanced vertical support; a set of
three or more non-colinear rotary levers is the preferred configuration, although fewer may suffice, with
appropriate refinements.
The rotary lever assemblies are aligned in the direction of desired travel, and
horizontal force is applied to the platform to initiate motion.
Alternatively, motion may be induced by
repetitive application of force to a series of fixed levers attached at intervals radially at some distance from the hub, causing
the rim to rotate about the hub in step with the forces applied.
This has the effect of inducing horizontal motion without direct application of an external horizontal force.
Let's assume that we want our descendants a thousand years hence to enjoy a nice game of Quake. What will they need in order to play the game? I'll assume that all existing technology will be long gone, and will need to be recreated.
Let's see, they'll need:
The software and data files that make up the game. This is easy enough, just some numbers.
A computer, a display, and input devices to make the game work. This will be a little tougher. We'll need to tell them how to build it.
How to build a computer.
CPU, RAM and other integrated circuits
Grow some pure silicon crystals and cut them into thin wafers.
Construct masks for the various etching and doping processes.
Build a clean room and wafer processing equipment.
Perform the chemistry required to process a raw silicon wafer into a large scale integrated circuit.
Package and mount the ICs on a...
Printed circuit board.
Make from glass fibers and epoxy, copper sheets.
Use photographic etch resist process to etch away copper.
Solder components with tin/lead solder
Video, sound, networking, input/output logic, interrupt controller, timers, etc. More ICs. Resistors, capacitors, wire, connectors, switches -- all must be constructed.
Mass storage. This could be a hard disk, or more RAM or EPROM
Power supply. Generate electricity to make the whold thing work.
I think you get the idea. Today's computer technology is based on a huge amount of knowledge and experience. If we can somehow record all this knowledge in books or other long lasting human readable media, our descendants may be able to recreate what we have today. Maybe in as little as fifty years.
1.Being nothing more than what is specified: a mere child; a mere 50 cents an hour. 2.Considered apart from anything else: shocked by the mere idea. 3.Small; slight: could detect only the merest whisper.
How about naming your machines after single-named celebrities. No worries about remembering if there's an underscore or not between first and last names. Easy to remember. Madonna Prince Cher Oprah Liberace Meatloaf etc.
Doesn't really seem to be a problem. I'm sure people with NICs will find ways around this, putting in dummy or random numbers. Many people don't even have a NIC -- how will those bits be assigned when someone uses PPP thru a modem?
So Intel puts serial numbers in the processor. Your computer probably already has a unique serial number in it, in your hard disk drive. Why are people not outraged at this?
What could possibly make a serial number accessable to the outside world?
Software!
Don't be outraged at the hardware vendors, be outraged at the browser makers, operating system makers and other software makers who read your serial number(s) and send them out to the world without your knowledge.
Personally, I'm in favor of serializing CPUs. For the same reason I'm glad my automobile, VCR, etc. have serial numbers. As a record of ownership, and to help track down thieves.
Slashdot Mirror
Check out The Gauntlet, a USB power glove by AGE. It appears not to be in production yet. Be sure to e-mail AGE and let them know if you're interested. (I developed a prototype of this glove for AGE a few years ago, as well as the original COP888 code for the Mattel Power Glove).
According to a tag within the file, it was Adobe Photoshop 7.0 that was used.
What are websites for?
Websites are a means to get information to people. I think most website owners would like to get their information to as many people as possible. So why do site owners allow web designers to block out a significant percentage of potential readers?
Take a look at the following message I got from KFWB when attempting to view a story. I was using Opera, my preferred browser.
Note the final insultingly ironic sentence. If they respect my browser preference, why won't they allow my browser to view their pages?
All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson is a pretty good book, and contains an appearance by a firefighting / water-carrying airship.
Cool -- yes. Analog? No. A Nixie tube clock is as digital as they come.
Congratulations!
All the best to you and Kathleen.
Terrorism in any form is a cowardly, immoral act.
There are other, nondestructive, ways to express opinions.
If nobody bought SUVs anymore, Detroit would stop making them.
Let the changes begin at home.
Abstract:
A continuous rotary lever device utilizing a "hub" with attached "rim", and an "axle" mechanism will allow movement of heavy loads over horizontal and moderately inclined surfaces. The rim is rigidly attached to the hub at a fixed radial distance, minimizing the problems apparent with earlier 3-sided and 4-sided implementations. The hub contains an opening at its center which fits over the axle in such a way that the axle is "captured" and allowed to turn smoothly, as to allow free rotational movement of the hub, and in turn the rim. The rim, being at a greater distance from the axle, suffers less frictional energy loss between itself and the the supporting surface than the hub, supported by the smaller axle. This concept allows load movement with considerably less effort than previous methods of sliding loads directly on the supporting surface. The radial distance from the hub to the rim, and rim width are determined by the desired load carrying capacity, and support capability of the operating surface. One or more of these rotary lever assemblies are connected to a platform which bears the load in such a way as to provide balanced vertical support; a set of three or more non-colinear rotary levers is the preferred configuration, although fewer may suffice, with appropriate refinements. The rotary lever assemblies are aligned in the direction of desired travel, and horizontal force is applied to the platform to initiate motion. Alternatively, motion may be induced by repetitive application of force to a series of fixed levers attached at intervals radially at some distance from the hub, causing the rim to rotate about the hub in step with the forces applied. This has the effect of inducing horizontal motion without direct application of an external horizontal force.
Let's see, they'll need:
I think you get the idea. Today's computer technology is based on a huge amount of knowledge and experience. If we can somehow record all this knowledge in books or other long lasting human readable media, our descendants may be able to recreate what we have today. Maybe in as little as fifty years.
mere1 (mîr)
adj. Superlative merest.
1.Being nothing more than what is specified: a mere child; a mere 50 cents an hour.
2.Considered apart from anything else: shocked by the mere idea.
3.Small; slight: could detect only the merest whisper.
How about naming your machines after single-named celebrities. No worries about remembering if there's an underscore or not between first and last names. Easy to remember.
Madonna
Prince
Cher
Oprah
Liberace
Meatloaf
etc.
Doesn't really seem to be a problem. I'm sure people with NICs will find ways around this, putting in dummy or random numbers. Many people don't even have a NIC -- how will those bits be assigned when someone uses PPP thru a modem?
Check out Harry Shearer's story about how his $16 list book was displayed on Amazon.com for $55.
/ leshow/leshow.9902.html
RealAudio link:
http://www.timecast.com/channels/comedy/shearer
So Intel puts serial numbers in the processor. Your computer probably already has a unique serial number in it, in your hard disk drive. Why are people not outraged at this?
What could possibly make a serial number accessable to the outside world?
Software!
Don't be outraged at the hardware vendors, be outraged at the browser makers, operating system makers and other software makers who read your serial number(s) and send them out to the world without your knowledge.
Personally, I'm in favor of serializing CPUs. For the same reason I'm glad my automobile, VCR, etc. have serial numbers. As a record of ownership, and to help track down thieves.