2016 has been the year of virtual reality, and as the holiday season approaches and we begin to look back and reflect on the year, it's a good time to evaluate the promise of VR and whether we've anywhere near approached it.
The year saw the release of three major headsets in the VR market: the Oculus Rift, the HTC Vive and the brand new PlayStation VR.
While the first two are headsets specifically made for beefy, gamer-ready desktop PCs, the PlayStation VR is a headset made exclusively to connect to Sony's PlayStation 4. This means it specifically is skewed towards gamers and games, and less towards the social experiments, video watching experiences and early access playgrounds of the more expensive headsets.
This is a double-edged sword, as while games are great, focusing towards them exclusively keeps you limited in scope. Every game developer seems to be making a VR demo for the PS VR, but not too many are actually making full game experiences. Many people seem excited to play a Final Fantasy XV demo on the PlayStation, but how many are going to play a brand new, original title made for such a headset?
While the PS VR specializes, the Rift and the Vive are, even months after their release, blank slates. Tiltbrush VR allows creative and non-creative users alike to paint the skies around them with color and grace. Rec Room allows VR owners to come together and play games in a social environment like darts and ping pong. Adrift is a beautiful, incredible space adventure about the fearfulness of actually floating along in zero gravity amidst a station that is collapsing quickly.
At the end of the day, all these headsets are chasing something. They're looking for new kinds of experiences that people haven't had yet, that will make people crave more. The sort of blockbuster hit like Super Mario Bros. or Microsoft Word that opens eyes to the prospect of the platform and creates a need that sells more headsets and inspires more of those same experiences.
Whether this will happen remains to be seen. But in the meantime, the chase is fun to follow.
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Monday, November 21, 2016
The Microsoft Surface Studio
At the October 26th Surface event, Microsoft announced quite a few new products and accessories from their first-party line of elite computing devices. While Microsoft has always been in the software market with Windows, it wasn't until the past few years that they've become a behemoth in the hardware market as well.
One of the biggest announcements at this particular press conference, though, was the Microsoft Surface Studio PC, an all-in-one computer, the first one ever released by the company.
The heart of the Surface Studio is a vision: get a beautiful, colorful 28" display in front of you and make the rest of it as minimal as possible. Two simple metal spokes that allow you to pivot the screen at any angle and a stylus pen to draw on it like a canvas. A wireless keyboard and mouse with the same color scheme as the computer itself. A powerful computer that you won't want to walk away from.
The Surface Studio is yet another example of the flexibility of the PC market. A machine made for creative professionals, it really shows you the extreme ideal of what a computer could be for an architect or an artist.
Microsoft is showing up to do what Apple won't. The most beautiful screen on the market. A gigantic touchscreen with a bundled pen. A device to compete with an illustrator's Wacom Cintiq in the exact same price range. In terms of progress, I'd say Microsoft is showing quite a bit of competence.
One of the biggest announcements at this particular press conference, though, was the Microsoft Surface Studio PC, an all-in-one computer, the first one ever released by the company.
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| The Surface Studio / Courtesy of Microsoft |
The Surface Studio is yet another example of the flexibility of the PC market. A machine made for creative professionals, it really shows you the extreme ideal of what a computer could be for an architect or an artist.
Microsoft is showing up to do what Apple won't. The most beautiful screen on the market. A gigantic touchscreen with a bundled pen. A device to compete with an illustrator's Wacom Cintiq in the exact same price range. In terms of progress, I'd say Microsoft is showing quite a bit of competence.
What is Space-Based Solar Power?
Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP) is one of the most exciting promises of our near-future. It directly and supremely harnesses the eternal power of the sun by launching satellites with large panels out beyond the Earth's atmosphere and then beaming the full energy of sun rays down to the surface.
It sounds insane, I know. Absolutely crazy. But it's actually a lot closer than most think!
The basic premise of the SBSP concept is that the sun shines brighter and with more energy outside Earth's geosynchronous orbit than anywhere within or under the Earth's atmosphere.
The only reason that we have a breathable planet at all is because of immense gases that cling to the surface of the Earth. These gases also dilute the sun's energy in order to prevent active radiation damage like most plant and animal life would encounter in the vast emptiness of space.
When you put solar panels in space, whether on a satellite or on a cosmic body with no atmosphere then you can capture a much stronger and concentrated form of energy at a much higher rate than you can with even the best panels here on Earth.
As we reach towards the future, what is now currently a pipe-dream being researched by national space programs will eventually turn into a massively lucrative investment for the private sector. Coal, oil and natural gas will be forgotten about entirely as we look to the stars to solve many of humanity's biggest problems.
It sounds insane, I know. Absolutely crazy. But it's actually a lot closer than most think!
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| Concept Illustration of Suntower / Public Domain by NASA |
The basic premise of the SBSP concept is that the sun shines brighter and with more energy outside Earth's geosynchronous orbit than anywhere within or under the Earth's atmosphere.
The only reason that we have a breathable planet at all is because of immense gases that cling to the surface of the Earth. These gases also dilute the sun's energy in order to prevent active radiation damage like most plant and animal life would encounter in the vast emptiness of space.
When you put solar panels in space, whether on a satellite or on a cosmic body with no atmosphere then you can capture a much stronger and concentrated form of energy at a much higher rate than you can with even the best panels here on Earth.
As we reach towards the future, what is now currently a pipe-dream being researched by national space programs will eventually turn into a massively lucrative investment for the private sector. Coal, oil and natural gas will be forgotten about entirely as we look to the stars to solve many of humanity's biggest problems.
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Wind Energy and Its Incredible Improvements
Wind energy, at its core, is about using large, tall turbines with several protruding petals to harness the power of the air flow of wind, creating electricity mechanically. Other than the footprint of the turbines and the possible dangers of the moving petals to airborne wildlife, wind power has a very small environmental footprint and overall has an incredible potential to use nothing but the weather to help keep our grid running.
The real problem, though, is that it has always taken a lot of turbines to create a sustainable amount of energy. It's not exactly reasonable to cover significant portions of our land with humongous, poled machines if they're not going to create a required amount of energy to replace fossil fuels.
One of the biggest advancements in recent years in regards to wind turbines has been capacity per turbine. While many efforts in turbine technological evolution have been about maximizing the potential total energy output of the turbines themselves, recent advances have focused more on the maximizing the actual day-to-day output of individual turbines, lowering costs and creating the best return on investment that wind power has seen in years.
These sorts of breakthroughs are really important as the planet continues forward towards self-sustainability. The human race is going to find it very difficult to find itself eternally churning forward if we continue to rely on finite resources of any kind, especially ones that are actively harming our planet and making things actively worse for future generations.
This sort of imperative isn't just a moral one - moral imperatives are important, but in the end ineffective. This is a humanitarian imperative. Real change on renewable energy and its accompanying technology would be a seriously significant step forward for the human race, and that's an important factor to consider.
The real problem, though, is that it has always taken a lot of turbines to create a sustainable amount of energy. It's not exactly reasonable to cover significant portions of our land with humongous, poled machines if they're not going to create a required amount of energy to replace fossil fuels.
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| A wind turbine / CC by jonbgem |
One of the biggest advancements in recent years in regards to wind turbines has been capacity per turbine. While many efforts in turbine technological evolution have been about maximizing the potential total energy output of the turbines themselves, recent advances have focused more on the maximizing the actual day-to-day output of individual turbines, lowering costs and creating the best return on investment that wind power has seen in years.
These sorts of breakthroughs are really important as the planet continues forward towards self-sustainability. The human race is going to find it very difficult to find itself eternally churning forward if we continue to rely on finite resources of any kind, especially ones that are actively harming our planet and making things actively worse for future generations.
This sort of imperative isn't just a moral one - moral imperatives are important, but in the end ineffective. This is a humanitarian imperative. Real change on renewable energy and its accompanying technology would be a seriously significant step forward for the human race, and that's an important factor to consider.
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
How VoIP Closed the Gap of Personal Communication
When it comes to historical significance, most would contend that the peak of communications technology was the telegraph or the telephone. The telegraph was the very first machine that allowed us to think of information as instantly transferable. It no longer had to be tucked away elegantly in a parcel, strapped to the back of a horse. We could transform a thought into just a few fragments of energy and transfer it along phone lines.
While these paradigm shifts were of great importance, another huge shift happened over the past decade or so that it seems a lot of us didn't even notice. This is the rise of Voice over IP communication or VoIP. Ever heard of Skype? Then you know what I'm talking about.
Skype, and many of the identical services like it, provide a way to easily connect with and actually see the person you're talking to. Like the video phones in The Jetsons, they give you a window into the facial expressions and room of the other person, creating a face-to-face conversation over long distances. While conversations over just voice are fine and dandy and were clearly very important on a technological level, Skype allows for a recreation of local, immediate conversation. It's much more intimate.
This opens up a lot of possibilities! Long distance relationships are infinitely easier, whether you're a couple hours away or an entire hemisphere. Doing interviews with someone becomes easier as you can see their hand gestures as they explain an important concept or their facial expressions as they attempt to inflect a certain tone. Parents with newborn children can call up the grandparents, creating those early, important visual interactions with family members despite them being on the other side of the nation. So many social possibilities are entertained just by this simple technological shift.
These are the little things we so often forget about when we keep our heads strapped forward, always looking to the newest thing. Parts of our social lives have changed dramatically due to technology, but we barely give thought to it because it seems like such a natural change. Video calls fit so naturally into so many of our lives, we don't really have to stress the innovation. I think that's a mistake! It's just another example of progress as our world continues to turn.
While these paradigm shifts were of great importance, another huge shift happened over the past decade or so that it seems a lot of us didn't even notice. This is the rise of Voice over IP communication or VoIP. Ever heard of Skype? Then you know what I'm talking about.
Skype, and many of the identical services like it, provide a way to easily connect with and actually see the person you're talking to. Like the video phones in The Jetsons, they give you a window into the facial expressions and room of the other person, creating a face-to-face conversation over long distances. While conversations over just voice are fine and dandy and were clearly very important on a technological level, Skype allows for a recreation of local, immediate conversation. It's much more intimate.
This opens up a lot of possibilities! Long distance relationships are infinitely easier, whether you're a couple hours away or an entire hemisphere. Doing interviews with someone becomes easier as you can see their hand gestures as they explain an important concept or their facial expressions as they attempt to inflect a certain tone. Parents with newborn children can call up the grandparents, creating those early, important visual interactions with family members despite them being on the other side of the nation. So many social possibilities are entertained just by this simple technological shift.
These are the little things we so often forget about when we keep our heads strapped forward, always looking to the newest thing. Parts of our social lives have changed dramatically due to technology, but we barely give thought to it because it seems like such a natural change. Video calls fit so naturally into so many of our lives, we don't really have to stress the innovation. I think that's a mistake! It's just another example of progress as our world continues to turn.
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Preventing Maternal Hemorrhage & Shock in the Developing World
One of the biggest problems facing the developing world, and one that faced the entire world for centuries until modern times, is the serious injury and death that can result from complications during pregnancy. According to the World Health Organization, postpartum hemorrhage in developing countries is the single largest cause of maternal morbidity & mortality, accounting for 25% of maternal deaths globally.
These statistics lead to a great need for a solution, or at least some attempt to decrease the chance of serious complications in places where hospital care for a mother is by no means available or guaranteed. This is why the development of the Non-pneumatic Anti-Shock Garment (NASG) is so groundbreaking and important.
What is the NASG? It's a garment that is wrapped around a new mother's legs and pelvis and applies pressure to decrease the chance of pooling blood, increasing circulation and decreasing bleeding. The technology was developed by NASA in the 1970s, and it essentially mimics the lower half of a wetsuit, which is normally used to keep your body evenly compressed to prevent sicknesses such as the bends.
Not only does this decrease in potential bleeding lead to a decreased chance of hemorrhage, it also leads to a decreased chance of shock, which is where the greatest chance for serious injury or mortality arise. While the garment is a low-cost deployment that is more of a stop-gap than a full solution, it's still a very important part of the puzzle when it comes to preventing a horrendous injury until the mother can get more proper medical attention.
At a price of about 50$ and the ability to use it about 40 times, its cost-effectiveness is undeniable. It's just one way technology is making the world a better place for women.
These statistics lead to a great need for a solution, or at least some attempt to decrease the chance of serious complications in places where hospital care for a mother is by no means available or guaranteed. This is why the development of the Non-pneumatic Anti-Shock Garment (NASG) is so groundbreaking and important.
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| Courtesy of the World Health Organization |
What is the NASG? It's a garment that is wrapped around a new mother's legs and pelvis and applies pressure to decrease the chance of pooling blood, increasing circulation and decreasing bleeding. The technology was developed by NASA in the 1970s, and it essentially mimics the lower half of a wetsuit, which is normally used to keep your body evenly compressed to prevent sicknesses such as the bends.
Not only does this decrease in potential bleeding lead to a decreased chance of hemorrhage, it also leads to a decreased chance of shock, which is where the greatest chance for serious injury or mortality arise. While the garment is a low-cost deployment that is more of a stop-gap than a full solution, it's still a very important part of the puzzle when it comes to preventing a horrendous injury until the mother can get more proper medical attention.
At a price of about 50$ and the ability to use it about 40 times, its cost-effectiveness is undeniable. It's just one way technology is making the world a better place for women.
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