Take your Mindstorms set to a local school, gather a group of geeks-in-training, and join the First Lego League. The challenges are complex and fun, and it sounds like the programming information and tips in the book would lead to some really great robots.
Best of all, you will be helping kids see that computers can be used for more than just video games and IM.
The gravity issue can be solved by attaching the crew module to a supply module by a long cable and "orbiting" them around each other, creating a simulated gravity. Mars Gravity is about 1/3 of Earth's and they would probably spin the modules fast enough to simulate Mars on the trip there, and faster on the trip back to get the astronauts ready for Earth.
Many of the technical questions being raised have proposed answers to them in Robert Zubrin's "Mars Direct" Plan. Many questions remain, but it is a good start, and interesting reading.
Lego sells a version of Mindstorms for schools (Called Robolab) along with curriculum, teacher training, etc... In my opinion, it is one of the best tools out there to actually get kids thinking, creating, and using technology for something other than processing worksheets and delivering standardized tests.
The activities that come with Robolab are OK to start with, but the real learning comes when kids come up with their own problems to solve and robots to create. I have seen kids make fax machines, robots that blow bubbles, machines that sort items based on their color or a bar code... there are limitless possibilities.
The software that comes with the set is ok also, but there are a bunch of free compiliers out there so code can be written in C, Logo, etc... and sent to the Lego "brick".
Now schools just need money to buy these and time to train the teachers!
Doesn't a hard drive come with the ethernet expansion kit that Sony will be selling this summer? The 40gig drive that they have hinted at (and sold with their Linux kit) should save a few items and expansions.
I think that they should sell a Windows version of it with a Windows version of iTunes and a Firewire card, but that's just me.
Apple won't do much to make this pc friendly, and here is why. This cool $400 toy is going to convince people to buy Macs. That is one of it's purposes. Even if Apple doesn't make a penny on the sale of iPods, they will sell more computers. The Apple Store is running under the same idea... offer cool gadgets (digital video cameras, etc...) and classes that show people how easy they are to use with Macs, and people will buy more Macs.
I'll wager that iPod is just the beginning... I would like to see an Apple device that uses 802.11 to connect my Mac to my AV system to share audio and video files as was rumored.
I have been using Freehand 10 on OSX for a few months now. It has matured in the last few revs and does just about everything Illustrator does. It runs great on 10.1. Now if Macromedia would just get the rest of their web suite on X...
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Take your Mindstorms set to a local school, gather a group of geeks-in-training, and join the First Lego League. The challenges are complex and fun, and it sounds like the programming information and tips in the book would lead to some really great robots.
Best of all, you will be helping kids see that computers can be used for more than just video games and IM.
The gravity issue can be solved by attaching the crew module to a supply module by a long cable and "orbiting" them around each other, creating a simulated gravity. Mars Gravity is about 1/3 of Earth's and they would probably spin the modules fast enough to simulate Mars on the trip there, and faster on the trip back to get the astronauts ready for Earth.
Many of the technical questions being raised have proposed answers to them in Robert Zubrin's "Mars Direct" Plan. Many questions remain, but it is a good start, and interesting reading.
Lego sells a version of Mindstorms for schools (Called
Robolab) along with curriculum, teacher training, etc... In my opinion, it is one of the best tools out there to actually get kids thinking, creating, and using technology for something other than processing worksheets and delivering standardized tests.
The activities that come with Robolab are OK to start with, but the real learning comes when kids come up with their own problems to solve and robots to create. I have seen kids make fax machines, robots that blow bubbles, machines that sort items based on their color or a bar code... there are limitless possibilities.
The software that comes with the set is ok also, but there are a bunch of free compiliers out there so code can be written in C, Logo, etc... and sent to the Lego "brick".
Now schools just need money to buy these and time to train the teachers!
You can also get them at Target, Toys R Us, FAO Schwartz, etc...
Doesn't a hard drive come with the ethernet expansion kit that Sony will be selling this summer? The 40gig drive that they have hinted at (and sold with their Linux kit) should save a few items and expansions.
Apple won't do much to make this pc friendly, and here is why. This cool $400 toy is going to convince people to buy Macs. That is one of it's purposes. Even if Apple doesn't make a penny on the sale of iPods, they will sell more computers. The Apple Store is running under the same idea... offer cool gadgets (digital video cameras, etc...) and classes that show people how easy they are to use with Macs, and people will buy more Macs.
I'll wager that iPod is just the beginning... I would like to see an Apple device that uses 802.11 to connect my Mac to my AV system to share audio and video files as was rumored.
I have been using Freehand 10 on OSX for a few months now. It has matured in the last few revs and does just about everything Illustrator does. It runs great on 10.1. Now if Macromedia would just get the rest of their web suite on X...