Asymmetrical - World-of-Newave.info http://answers.world-of-newave.info/asymmetrical.htm Latest news and articles about Asymmetrical en-us Copyright (c)2004-2008.ยง/Newave SARL. All rights reserved. webmaster@world-of-newave.com (Webmaster) Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:16:37 GMT Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:16:37 GMT Newave Lisa XML Engine v1.0 - http://www.world-of-newave.info/about.htm 60 http://www.world-of-newave.info/images/wi8831.gif World-of-Newave.info - Knowledge and Informational Database http://www.world-of-newave.info/ 88 31 {LITERATURE > RSS FEEDS} - Heart Re-Imagines Guerrillas http://articles.world-of-newave.info/arts/literature/genres/science-fiction/rss-feeds/heart-re-imagines-guerrillas-20080814911.htm http://articles.world-of-newave.info/arts/literature/genres/science-fiction/rss-feeds/heart-re-imagines-guerrillas-20080814911.htm Wed, 13 Aug 2008 06:00:00 GMT Alternate-history author Harry Turtledove told SCI FI Wire that his latest novel, The Man With the Iron Heart, originated with his wondering how America would have reacted to asymmetrical warfare had we encountered it in the aftermath of World War II--a generation before Vietnam and two generations before Iraq. Scifi.Com Heart Re-Imagines Guerrillas {new window}   Www.Scifi.Com - Alternate-history author Harry Turtledove told SCI FI Wire that his latest novel, The Man With the Iron Heart, originated with his wondering how America would have reacted to asymmetrical warfare had we encountered it in the aftermath of World War II--a generation before Vietnam and two generations before Iraq.
Published: August 13, 2008, 6:00 am - Indexed: August 13, 2008, 1:15 pm - Page Size: 42KB
Category: Arts > Literature > Genres > Science Fiction > RSS Feeds

]]> Arts > Literature > Genres > Science Fiction > RSS Feeds {NEWS > BREAKING NEWS} - Gallery: Gadgets Boost Olympic Performance -- Legally http://articles.world-of-newave.info/news/breaking-news/gallery-gadgets-boost-olympic-performance-legally-2008082825.htm http://articles.world-of-newave.info/news/breaking-news/gallery-gadgets-boost-olympic-performance-legally-2008082825.htm Sat, 09 Aug 2008 05:00:00 GMT : Photo: Associated Press/Kathy Willens Technology has helped push the boundaries of athletic achievement since the first time a caveman selected a lightweight birch branch for his spear instead of the usual heavy oaken staff. This year's Olympic Games will be no different, with swimmers, cyclists and even gymnasts making the most of tech -- and legal -- performance enhancements. While many of the items on this list will be limited to Olympic athletes only, many others will be available for purchase by anyone, even if you don't have the cutting-edge training of Dara Torres. Just as NASA's space program led to Tang and other wonders, the innovations created for these Olympics may eventually end up somewhere in your house. Left: Humans are too flawed for perfect swimming (not even Michael Phelps could beat a Great White in a sprint), but Speedo's LZR suit is the closest we'll get to swimming like the fishes. Designed in conjunction with NASA scientists, the suit uses ultrasonically bonded seams (instead of stitches), low-drag panels and a mix of polyurethane layers to create the fastest suit ever, reaching previously unattainable levels of buoyancy and slipperiness. But according to the top U.S. swimmers, the key lies in the groin. It has a rigid, girdle-style structure that positions the swimmer's body in an optimal position. That means no more hip/leg misalignments and less lower-body fatigue. It's estimated to give its wearers a two to five percent advantage, more than enough to make the difference between a bronze medal and a gold one. Rival suit companies protested the LZR's innovations, but they couldn't come up with an adequate replacement. Even Nike is allowing its sponsored swimmers to wear it in Beijing. : Photo: Lee Vaccaro Jennie Longo is the French equivalent of Lance Armstrong -- and at 49 years old, she is still smoking the competition. Now she has two new aces in the hole: the ultra-light 8-spoke wheel (the previous lowest number of spokes was 10) and a disc wheel called the Disc Cranked Arrow. Designed by Paul Lew Racing for ultimate flight, the 8-spoke wheel is not the most durable of wheels. It?s only designed to last the length of the course, just like Michael Johnson?s famous Nikes in the 1996 Games. The Disc Cranked Arrow features a rim with carbon/boron fairing, and it is the world's most aerodynamic bicycle wheel, as well as the lightest, at 730 grams. : Photo: Respro Smog levels are rising in Beijing, but athletes won?t let that stand in their way. Many are planning on using air-filtering masks throughout their stay, and some are expected to use them in the events themselves. One of the masks we'll see is the Respro Sportsta, which allows high volumes of clean air to move through the openings, and includes HEPA-type filtration (like that found in your vacuum cleaner) to strip out Beijing air's high levels of particulates, including exhaust emissions. It also comes with Powa valves (for improved airflow). Undoubtedly, though, the best thing about it is that it will make everyone look like Sub Zero from Mortal Kombat. Fight! : Photo: Hypoxico Hypoxic tents like Altitude Training's CAT-150 push low-oxygen (hypoxic) air into the tent while an athlete rests, displacing more oxygen-rich air as well as the CO2 he or she exhales. In so doing, it stimulates the athlete's body to increase red blood cell production and pump up the delivery of oxygen to muscles. Some have compared the feeling of running after a hypoxic session to being unleashed physically, like a controlled human helium balloon. Although they?ve been used in previous Olympics, the poor air quality of the city will likely inspire many more athletes to use these tents. Some consider hypoxic tents to be a form of doping, primarily because not every athlete has access to them. But until the IOC disallows them -- an unlikely eventuality -- we'll continue to see athletes legally improve their blood cell counts by spending time inside tents like this one. During these Olympics, expect top cyclists David Zabriske, Mike Friedman and Kashi Leuchs to use the CAT-150 between their races. : Photo: Nike Nike's MaxSight contact lenses filter out reflections caused by the sun and enhance contrast -- details appear a bit clearer and colors pop more. Their red tint relaxes the eyes and lets them focus for longer periods of time. The British women's field hockey team is expected to wear the lenses in order to see the field better. Because this tint is especially made for fast-moving sports with variable light conditions, the field hockey players will also pick up the rotation of a ball with greater accuracy. Also, the intimidating look that a pair of demonic pupils has on the opposition is hard to overlook. Sadly for non-Olympians, the manufacturers recently discontinued these lenses. : Photo: Edis Jurcys It's gotta be the shoes. Or at least that?s what Nike and Adidas want you to believe. Still, the tech used in these kicks is serious business. Nike?s 3.19-ounce Flywire Zoom Victory Spikes use a lightweight thread called Vectran, a substance used in the balloons that helped the Lunar Rover land safely. This thread, which is tougher than Kevlar, allowed the designers to design the whole shoe without the extra padding normally needed to keep it from breaking down in a run. Since the tough Vectran ensured reliable durability all by itself, Nike removed materials that were used previously to prevent ruptures, like the inner sock liner, enabling them to make the shoe lighter. The Flywire also sports a hole in the heel, which grips the runner's heel tightly, preventing movement. The Adidas Lone Stars are also as light as a breeze, but with a twist: They're "bent" at an angle to take care of the long-sprint curves of the 400-meter event. The shoes, designed with input from runner Jeremy Wariner, are the first to be made with asymmetrical carbon nanotube plates and progressive-compression spikes. They're asymmetrical because in a sprint around a circular track, the left foot is used more to stabilize the body, and the right is used more for propulsion. The carbon nanotube construction is key because it allowed Adidas to create a single-piece shoe, getting rid of the regular three-piece seams and leading to a lighter weight -- 50 percent lighter than any other shoe. : Photo: Nike These are not bulletproof vests, but if you're an athlete looking for the smallest edge, they might save your life. As an athlete warms up to loosen the muscles, his or her core temperature also goes up. This leads to the possible danger of overheating, especially given the high temperatures expected in Beijing in August. The answer: Lightweight vests that help keep athletes cool. They are so effective that doctors have used them for long surgery sessions, and U.S. marathoner Deena Kastor credits Nike's vest with keeping her cool in the '04 Games and helping her land a medal. Its principle is simple: Fill with water, freeze, then put it on. The new Precool vest not only improves on the 2004 model by covering a larger surface area, it also has a flexible aluminum coating that deflects the sun's rays. The Game Ready Active Cooling Vest works a little differently, but cools down the body just the same. After it's filled with water, a cooling unit is connected into the vest, which regulates the pressure level, temperature and treatment time settings of the vest. It combines this cold water circulation with low-level compression for a specific temperature fit. : Photo: Mizuno Bat innovations are nothing new, but it seems that they're always on the verge of causing a controversy. Maple bats were the recent rage in the Major Leagues, but their thin handles caused them to break easily and fly dangerously into the stands. The Mizuno softball bat is not causing a controversy yet, but it has reached a new standard of lightness that's destined to hurt the opposition. The Black Onyx carbon fiber RB500 has a larger-than-usual sweet spot that dominates the barrel (very nice), but it's the redesigned coiled end cap that makes it special. It allows for a lighter weight without sacrificing control and balance, helping a batter swing harder and make better last minute wrist-snapping adjustments on the ball. Since this is expected to be the last year of softball competition in the Olympics, expect players using this bat to make an explosive statement on the field to try and bring their sport back by 2016. : Photo: Nike Dainty, yet aggressive. Minimalist, but full of technological innovations. The Nike Pidima gymnastic shoes are a contradiction in many ways, but by the end of the games, everyone will agree that that they're the next step in high-performance technology. Why are we so high on this shoe? First consider the size. It's the smallest and lightest shoe ever at 0.35 ounces. When an athlete is sprinting into the horse (on the front part of the foot, Kerri Strug-style) that lightness will allow for better traction, faster speed and bigger jumps. Then look at the thin aesthetic appearance and the grippy sole. The rubber is the color of flesh, so it won't stand out. That's more than a mere style point, because scoring in gymnastics is based on the way the foot is positioned relative to the body. Call attention to your foot, and you run the risk of the judges taking points away. Also, the casing of the sole helps with pliability between the first and second metatarsals (where the foot impacts the floor), making it more comfortable than ever. Finally, the spike patterns on the sole are multidirectional so that an athlete can switch the positions of the leg quickly while maintaining ground contact. : Photo: Newgy The Robo-Pong 2040 will play at any skill level you desire. It will play at any time you feel the need for a game. And while it cannot qualify for the Olympics, at least until organizers permit robotic contestants, it can be a valuable training partner. This training robot is used by some of the top players to improve their games and technique, but it's also helpful for up-and-coming players. A few Chinese table tennis pros have been known to use the 2040 when they can't get to the famous Sun Park in Beijing. Trainers can adjust the difficulty level and the speed of the ball, as well the amount of oscillation and spin that the robot puts on the ball. It even has a remote control so coaches can torture their players from afar. : Photo: Mikasa The Mikasa's designers abandoned the standard 18-panel volleyball design in favor of eight panels arranged in a petal-like formation. When combined with the new double-layered construction (of polyurethane foam and a woven inner layer made of soft micro-fiber), this new design will give players improved control by limiting the amount of sweat that seeps into the ball from their palms. That's gross, yes, but useful. The embossing process is also supposed to lower the amount of air disturbance around the ball for a more aerodynamic trajectory. This should lead to the hardest balls ever hit this summer, though the sound may be disappointing: A few players who tested the ball complained that the Mikasa doesn't have the same satisfying pop as a traditional volleyball. : Photo: Courtesy Inition In order to make perfect strokes during training, the U.S. crew team members watch their progress on a VR-style goggle set that receives a live feed of their movements as they row. With this feed, they are able to see instantly if their torsos are misaligned. By evaluating themselves in real time, the rowers learn to perfect their form. Once the race starts, however, they'll ditch the glasses. Originally the invention of an Australian crew team, the instantaneous video analysis system is also used to build statistical databases. The next versions will wirelessly transmit rowers' previous performances straight into their sightlines, enabling them to virtually travel into the past and race against themselves. Wired.Com Gallery: Gadgets Boost Olympic Performance -- Legally {new window}   Www.Wired.Com - : Photo: Associated Press/Kathy Willens Technology has helped push the boundaries of athletic achievement since the first time a caveman selected a lightweight birch branch for his spear instead of the usual heavy oaken staff. This year's Olympic Games will be no different, with swimmers, cyclists and even gymnasts making the most of tech -- and legal -- performance enhancements. While many of the items on this list will be limited to Olympic athletes only, many others will be available for purchase by anyone, even if you don't have the cutting-edge training of Dara Torres. Just as NASA's space program led to Tang and other wonders, the innovations created for these Olympics may eventually end up somewhere in your house. Left: Humans are too flawed for perfect swimming (not even Michael Phelps could beat a Great White in a sprint), but Speedo's LZR suit is the closest we'll get to swimming like the fishes. Designed in conjunction with NASA scientists, the suit uses ultrasonically bonded seams (instead of stitches), low-drag panels and a mix of polyurethane layers to create the fastest suit ever, reaching previously unattainable levels of buoyancy and slipperiness. But according to the top U.S. swimmers, the key lies in the groin. It has a rigid, girdle-style structure that positions the swimmer's body in an optimal position. That means no more hip/leg misalignments and less lower-body fatigue. It's estimated to give its wearers a two to five percent advantage, more than enough to make the difference between a bronze medal and a gold one. Rival suit companies protested the LZR's innovations, but they couldn't come up with an adequate replacement. Even Nike is allowing its sponsored swimmers to wear it in Beijing. : Photo: Lee Vaccaro Jennie Longo is the French equivalent of Lance Armstrong -- and at 49 years old, she is still smoking the competition. Now she has two new aces in the hole: the ultra-light 8-spoke wheel (the previous lowest number of spokes was 10) and a disc wheel called the Disc Cranked Arrow. Designed by Paul Lew Racing for ultimate flight, the 8-spoke wheel is not the most durable of wheels. It?s only designed to last the length of the course, just like Michael Johnson?s famous Nikes in the 1996 Games. The Disc Cranked Arrow features a rim with carbon/boron fairing, and it is the world's most aerodynamic bicycle wheel, as well as the lightest, at 730 grams. : Photo: Respro Smog levels are rising in Beijing, but athletes won?t let that stand in their way. Many are planning on using air-filtering masks throughout their stay, and some are expected to use them in the events themselves. One of the masks we'll see is the Respro Sportsta, which allows high volumes of clean air to move through the openings, and includes HEPA-type filtration (like that found in your vacuum cleaner) to strip out Beijing air's high levels of particulates, including exhaust emissions. It also comes with Powa valves (for improved airflow). Undoubtedly, though, the best thing about it is that it will make everyone look like Sub Zero from Mortal Kombat. Fight! : Photo: Hypoxico Hypoxic tents like Altitude Training's CAT-150 push low-oxygen (hypoxic) air into the tent while an athlete rests, displacing more oxygen-rich air as well as the CO2 he or she exhales. In so doing, it stimulates the athlete's body to increase red blood cell production and pump up the delivery of oxygen to muscles. Some have compared the feeling of running after a hypoxic session to being unleashed physically, like a controlled human helium balloon. Although they?ve been used in previous Olympics, the poor air quality of the city will likely inspire many more athletes to use these tents. Some consider hypoxic tents to be a form of doping, primarily because not every athlete has access to them. But until the IOC disallows them -- an unlikely eventuality -- we'll continue to see athletes legally improve their blood cell counts by spending time inside tents like this one. During these Olympics, expect top cyclists David Zabriske, Mike Friedman and Kashi Leuchs to use the CAT-150 between their races. : Photo: Nike Nike's MaxSight contact lenses filter out reflections caused by the sun and enhance contrast -- details appear a bit clearer and colors pop more. Their red tint relaxes the eyes and lets them focus for longer periods of time. The British women's field hockey team is expected to wear the lenses in order to see the field better. Because this tint is especially made for fast-moving sports with variable light conditions, the field hockey players will also pick up the rotation of a ball with greater accuracy. Also, the intimidating look that a pair of demonic pupils has on the opposition is hard to overlook. Sadly for non-Olympians, the manufacturers recently discontinued these lenses. : Photo: Edis Jurcys It's gotta be the shoes. Or at least that?s what Nike and Adidas want you to believe. Still, the tech used in these kicks is serious business. Nike?s 3.19-ounce Flywire Zoom Victory Spikes use a lightweight thread called Vectran, a substance used in the balloons that helped the Lunar Rover land safely. This thread, which is tougher than Kevlar, allowed the designers to design the whole shoe without the extra padding normally needed to keep it from breaking down in a run. Since the tough Vectran ensured reliable durability all by itself, Nike removed materials that were used previously to prevent ruptures, like the inner sock liner, enabling them to make the shoe lighter. The Flywire also sports a hole in the heel, which grips the runner's heel tightly, preventing movement. The Adidas Lone Stars are also as light as a breeze, but with a twist: They're "bent" at an angle to take care of the long-sprint curves of the 400-meter event. The shoes, designed with input from runner Jeremy Wariner, are the first to be made with asymmetrical carbon nanotube plates and progressive-compression spikes. They're asymmetrical because in a sprint around a circular track, the left foot is used more to stabilize the body, and the right is used more for propulsion. The carbon nanotube construction is key because it allowed Adidas to create a single-piece shoe, getting rid of the regular three-piece seams and leading to a lighter weight -- 50 percent lighter than any other shoe. : Photo: Nike These are not bulletproof vests, but if you're an athlete looking for the smallest edge, they might save your life. As an athlete warms up to loosen the muscles, his or her core temperature also goes up. This leads to the possible danger of overheating, especially given the high temperatures expected in Beijing in August. The answer: Lightweight vests that help keep athletes cool. They are so effective that doctors have used them for long surgery sessions, and U.S. marathoner Deena Kastor credits Nike's vest with keeping her cool in the '04 Games and helping her land a medal. Its principle is simple: Fill with water, freeze, then put it on. The new Precool vest not only improves on the 2004 model by covering a larger surface area, it also has a flexible aluminum coating that deflects the sun's rays. The Game Ready Active Cooling Vest works a little differently, but cools down the body just the same. After it's filled with water, a cooling unit is connected into the vest, which regulates the pressure level, temperature and treatment time settings of the vest. It combines this cold water circulation with low-level compression for a specific temperature fit. : Photo: Mizuno Bat innovations are nothing new, but it seems that they're always on the verge of causing a controversy. Maple bats were the recent rage in the Major Leagues, but their thin handles caused them to break easily and fly dangerously into the stands. The Mizuno softball bat is not causing a controversy yet, but it has reached a new standard of lightness that's destined to hurt the opposition. The Black Onyx carbon fiber RB500 has a larger-than-usual sweet spot that dominates the barrel (very nice), but it's the redesigned coiled end cap that makes it special. It allows for a lighter weight without sacrificing control and balance, helping a batter swing harder and make better last minute wrist-snapping adjustments on the ball. Since this is expected to be the last year of softball competition in the Olympics, expect players using this bat to make an explosive statement on the field to try and bring their sport back by 2016. : Photo: Nike Dainty, yet aggressive. Minimalist, but full of technological innovations. The Nike Pidima gymnastic shoes are a contradiction in many ways, but by the end of the games, everyone will agree that that they're the next step in high-performance technology. Why are we so high on this shoe? First consider the size. It's the smallest and lightest shoe ever at 0.35 ounces. When an athlete is sprinting into the horse (on the front part of the foot, Kerri Strug-style) that lightness will allow for better traction, faster speed and bigger jumps. Then look at the thin aesthetic appearance and the grippy sole. The rubber is the color of flesh, so it won't stand out. That's more than a mere style point, because scoring in gymnastics is based on the way the foot is positioned relative to the body. Call attention to your foot, and you run the risk of the judges taking points away. Also, the casing of the sole helps with pliability between the first and second metatarsals (where the foot impacts the floor), making it more comfortable than ever. Finally, the spike patterns on the sole are multidirectional so that an athlete can switch the positions of the leg quickly while maintaining ground contact. : Photo: Newgy The Robo-Pong 2040 will play at any skill level you desire. It will play at any time you feel the need for a game. And while it cannot qualify for the Olympics, at least until organizers permit robotic contestants, it can be a valuable training partner. This training robot is used by some of the top players to improve their games and technique, but it's also helpful for up-and-coming players. A few Chinese table tennis pros have been known to use the 2040 when they can't get to the famous Sun Park in Beijing. Trainers can adjust the difficulty level and the speed of the ball, as well the amount of oscillation and spin that the robot puts on the ball. It even has a remote control so coaches can torture their players from afar. : Photo: Mikasa The Mikasa's designers abandoned the standard 18-panel volleyball design in favor of eight panels arranged in a petal-like formation. When combined with the new double-layered construction (of polyurethane foam and a woven inner layer made of soft micro-fiber), this new design will give players improved control by limiting the amount of sweat that seeps into the ball from their palms. That's gross, yes, but useful. The embossing process is also supposed to lower the amount of air disturbance around the ball for a more aerodynamic trajectory. This should lead to the hardest balls ever hit this summer, though the sound may be disappointing: A few players who tested the ball complained that the Mikasa doesn't have the same satisfying pop as a traditional volleyball. : Photo: Courtesy Inition In order to make perfect strokes during training, the U.S. crew team members watch their progress on a VR-style goggle set that receives a live feed of their movements as they row. With this feed, they are able to see instantly if their torsos are misaligned. By evaluating themselves in real time, the rowers learn to perfect their form. Once the race starts, however, they'll ditch the glasses. Originally the invention of an Australian crew team, the instantaneous video analysis system is also used to build statistical databases. The next versions will wirelessly transmit rowers' previous performances straight into their sightlines, enabling them to virtually travel into the past and race against themselves.
See the latest multimedia and applications including videos, animations, podcasts, photos, and slideshows on Wired.com {...}
Published: August 9, 2008, 5:00 am - Indexed: August 11, 2008, 3:24 pm - Page Size: 35KB
Category: News > Breaking News

]]> News > Breaking News {NEWS > BREAKING NEWS} - Gallery: 10 Green Concept Cars That Are Waaaaay Out There http://articles.world-of-newave.info/news/breaking-news/gallery-10-green-concept-cars-that-are-waaaaay-out-2008089281.htm http://articles.world-of-newave.info/news/breaking-news/gallery-10-green-concept-cars-that-are-waaaaay-out-2008089281.htm Wed, 06 Aug 2008 05:00:00 GMT : Image courtesy Royal College of ArtPracticality is the last thing anyone considers when designing concept cars. A car made of glass? Windows like gun slits? An automakers' lawyers would kill those ideas faster than General Motors is killing Hummer. But practicality isn't the point. Concept cars are flights of fantasy carrying auto design into the future. Since our future will be a place where a gallon of gas costs more than a gallon of Scotch, the students at Royal College of Art designed their cars that run on things like electricity and algal fuel. These outlandish designs will influence the cars you drive tomorrow. RCA has been teaching vehicle design since 1967 and its alumni include big-name designers at Ford, Mazda, Volvo and other companies. An RCA grad has probably worked on the car you're driving now, even if it isn't made of glass. Left: The Airflow by Pierre Sabas of France has wheel-mounted electric motors and is made entirely of glass. "I?ve tried to wrap it around like fabric. It allows for a new driving sensation and it gives the occupants a new perception of the outside world," he says. The car won the Best Design Interpretation Award at the Pilkington Automotive Vehicle Design Awards. : Image courtesy Royal College of Art Jon Radbrink of Sweden also has a thing for glass. He used a whole lot of it on "Lexus Nuaero," his gas-electric hybrid. "I was inspired by architecture and used glass in conjunction with other materials to create a layered effect that gives the feeling of transparency for the occupants," he says. The Pilkington judges liked it enough to give it the Best Use of Glazing -- that means glass -- award. : Image courtesy Royal College of Art None of the technology Spanish designer Arturo Peralta Nogueras has planned for his vehicle exists yet, but if you're gonna dream, dream big. "Senses" runs on algae and features an exterior made of "solid hologram technology," whatever that is. It's also got artificial intelligence, and the interior "evolves and adapts to its environment, passengers and scenarios," though we're not sure how. No matter. It sure looks cool. : Image courtesy Royal College of Art Dong Kyu Kim of South Korea was influenced by fashion design, and "Chameleon" takes its styling cues from shirt collars, blowing scarves and women's eyeliner. The car is asymmetrical because, "like a good dress, it will never be perfect," and paramagnetic technology allows it to change colors so it'll always match your outfit. : Image courtesy Royal College of Art "I'm thinking about a new way of consuming cars," says Italian designer Ilaria Sacco, by allowing a high level of personalization. She calls the car "My Lounge," and it takes an Ikea approach to design by allowing buyers to pick everything that goes into it, "like how you would design your living room." (Hex wrench not included.) : Image courtesy Royal College of ArtJoonas Vartola's "Iomega" isn't so much a car as a "relaxation capsule" with a chauffeur. Vartola says the shape of a swan inspired the exterior. Driver and passengers sit in separate compartments, which "fosters the idea of this being a passenger car rather than the usual driver's car architecture," the Finnish designer says. : Image courtesy Royal College of Art Paul Howse wanted to offer a new definition of luxury and exclusivity with "Enigma." It's an electric vehicle that ideally would get its power from the sun, and the passenger compartment uses magnetic levitation to isolate it from the rest of the car. : Image courtesy Royal College of ArtRaquel Aparicio Lopez's "Soft Vehicle" is made of foam. You stash your stuff in a boot, er, trunk that opens with a zipper and you climb in through "a sensual slit" and sit in a seat surrounded by impact absorbing "jelly balls." The Spanish designer believes softer cars are safer cars. "I would like to extrapolate rubber, textile and other soft materials into vehicle design," she says. : Image courtesy Royal College of ArtSergio Loureiro Da Silva designed "Phoenix" for maximum efficiency. There's a turbine up front, a kinetic axis -- whatever that is -- and electric motors at the back. The Spanish designer likens the vehicle to a motorcycle with a sidecar, but it looks to us like something you'd see in a pod race on Tattooine. : Image courtesy Royal College of ArtYun Woo Jeong's "Transform" might be the offspring of an unholy marriage between Optimus Prime and a Morgan. It has a transparent elastic top that can be stretched to any shape to suit the driver's needs and mood. "I've been interested in 'transformables' since I was a boy," says Jeong. "It is common to boys across the world. How many transformable robots have passed over our memories? Why do they generate so much enthusiasm? Some say it's childish. But I assume it is human instinct." Wired.Com Gallery: 10 Green Concept Cars That Are Waaaaay Out There {new window}   Www.Wired.Com - : Image courtesy Royal College of ArtPracticality is the last thing anyone considers when designing concept cars. A car made of glass? Windows like gun slits? An automakers' lawyers would kill those ideas faster than General Motors is killing Hummer. But practicality isn't the point. Concept cars are flights of fantasy carrying auto design into the future. Since our future will be a place where a gallon of gas costs more than a gallon of Scotch, the students at Royal College of Art designed their cars that run on things like electricity and algal fuel. These outlandish designs will influence the cars you drive tomorrow. RCA has been teaching vehicle design since 1967 and its alumni include big-name designers at Ford, Mazda, Volvo and other companies. An RCA grad has probably worked on the car you're driving now, even if it isn't made of glass. Left: The Airflow by Pierre Sabas of France has wheel-mounted electric motors and is made entirely of glass. "I?ve tried to wrap it around like fabric. It allows for a new driving sensation and it gives the occupants a new perception of the outside world," he says. The car won the Best Design Interpretation Award at the Pilkington Automotive Vehicle Design Awards. : Image courtesy Royal College of Art Jon Radbrink of Sweden also has a thing for glass. He used a whole lot of it on "Lexus Nuaero," his gas-electric hybrid. "I was inspired by architecture and used glass in conjunction with other materials to create a layered effect that gives the feeling of transparency for the occupants," he says. The Pilkington judges liked it enough to give it the Best Use of Glazing -- that means glass -- award. : Image courtesy Royal College of Art None of the technology Spanish designer Arturo Peralta Nogueras has planned for his vehicle exists yet, but if you're gonna dream, dream big. "Senses" runs on algae and features an exterior made of "solid hologram technology," whatever that is. It's also got artificial intelligence, and the interior "evolves and adapts to its environment, passengers and scenarios," though we're not sure how. No matter. It sure looks cool. : Image courtesy Royal College of Art Dong Kyu Kim of South Korea was influenced by fashion design, and "Chameleon" takes its styling cues from shirt collars, blowing scarves and women's eyeliner. The car is asymmetrical because, "like a good dress, it will never be perfect," and paramagnetic technology allows it to change colors so it'll always match your outfit. : Image courtesy Royal College of Art "I'm thinking about a new way of consuming cars," says Italian designer Ilaria Sacco, by allowing a high level of personalization. She calls the car "My Lounge," and it takes an Ikea approach to design by allowing buyers to pick everything that goes into it, "like how you would design your living room." (Hex wrench not included.) : Image courtesy Royal College of ArtJoonas Vartola's "Iomega" isn't so much a car as a "relaxation capsule" with a chauffeur. Vartola says the shape of a swan inspired the exterior. Driver and passengers sit in separate compartments, which "fosters the idea of this being a passenger car rather than the usual driver's car architecture," the Finnish designer says. : Image courtesy Royal College of Art Paul Howse wanted to offer a new definition of luxury and exclusivity with "Enigma." It's an electric vehicle that ideally would get its power from the sun, and the passenger compartment uses magnetic levitation to isolate it from the rest of the car. : Image courtesy Royal College of ArtRaquel Aparicio Lopez's "Soft Vehicle" is made of foam. You stash your stuff in a boot, er, trunk that opens with a zipper and you climb in through "a sensual slit" and sit in a seat surrounded by impact absorbing "jelly balls." The Spanish designer believes softer cars are safer cars. "I would like to extrapolate rubber, textile and other soft materials into vehicle design," she says. : Image courtesy Royal College of ArtSergio Loureiro Da Silva designed "Phoenix" for maximum efficiency. There's a turbine up front, a kinetic axis -- whatever that is -- and electric motors at the back. The Spanish designer likens the vehicle to a motorcycle with a sidecar, but it looks to us like something you'd see in a pod race on Tattooine. : Image courtesy Royal College of ArtYun Woo Jeong's "Transform" might be the offspring of an unholy marriage between Optimus Prime and a Morgan. It has a transparent elastic top that can be stretched to any shape to suit the driver's needs and mood. "I've been interested in 'transformables' since I was a boy," says Jeong. "It is common to boys across the world. How many transformable robots have passed over our memories? Why do they generate so much enthusiasm? Some say it's childish. But I assume it is human instinct."
See the latest multimedia and applications including videos, animations, podcasts, photos, and slideshows on Wired.com {...}
Published: August 6, 2008, 5:00 am - Indexed: August 6, 2008, 11:04 pm - Page Size: 35KB
Category: News > Breaking News

]]> News > Breaking News {LITERATURE > CYBERPUNK} - Some douche steals Ian Curtis' (of Joy Division) headstone http://articles.world-of-newave.info/arts/literature/genres/cyberpunk/some-douche-steals-ian-curtis-of-joy-division-headstone-2008075957.htm http://articles.world-of-newave.info/arts/literature/genres/cyberpunk/some-douche-steals-ian-curtis-of-joy-division-headstone-2008075957.htm Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:53:51 GMT The headstone marking the final resting place of deceased Joy Division singer Ian Curtis is suddenly missing. Whoever stole it is a total douche, and deserves a special place in hell where screaming emo demons torture them with burns from a thousand clove cigarettes, poke them with a million blunt eyeliner applicators, and blind their eyes with painfully asymmetrical hair extensions for all eternity. The grave marker, wherever it is now, reads: "Ian Curtis 18 - 5 - 80" and the words "Love Will Tear Us Apart". Here is a story in the Times UK, and above is a music video by Jonathan Beamish for the earliest recorded version of "Love Will Tear us Apart," produced as a John Peel Session for the BBC in 1979 (jesus! 30 years ago, wow).... Boingboing.Net Some douche steals Ian Curtis' (of Joy Division) headstone {new window}   Www.Boingboing.Net - The headstone marking the final resting place of deceased Joy Division singer Ian Curtis is suddenly missing. Whoever stole it is a total douche, and deserves a special place in hell where screaming emo demons torture them with burns from a thousand clove cigarettes, poke them with a million blunt eyeliner applicators, and blind their eyes with painfully asymmetrical hair extensions for all eternity. The grave marker, wherever it is now, reads: "Ian Curtis 18 - 5 - 80" and the words "Love Will Tear Us Apart". Here is a story in the Times UK, and above is a music video by Jonathan Beamish for the earliest recorded version of "Love Will Tear us Apart," produced as a John Peel Session for the BBC in 1979 (jesus! 30 years ago, wow)....
Some douche steals Ian Curtis' (of Joy Division) headstone - Boing Boing {...}
Published: July 5, 2008, 2:53 am - Indexed: July 6, 2008, 10:07 pm - Page Size: 53KB
Category: Arts > Literature > Genres > Cyberpunk

]]> Arts > Literature > Genres > Cyberpunk {LITERATURE > CYBERPUNK} - Political sex scandals: the phenomenon of the "centipede" http://articles.world-of-newave.info/arts/literature/genres/cyberpunk/political-sex-scandals-the-phenomenon-of-the-centipede-20080564513.htm http://articles.world-of-newave.info/arts/literature/genres/cyberpunk/political-sex-scandals-the-phenomenon-of-the-centipede-20080564513.htm Fri, 30 May 2008 09:26:38 GMT For years, Bruce Sterling has been blogging about political sex scandals around the world, calling them "centipedes" -- today, he's defined the term in a little essay explaining why they're so darned interesting, speaking sociopoliticotechnically. Centipedes are new phenomena because the barriers-to-entry in media have crashed. This means that subversive efforts formerly isolated and punished as libel, slander and whispering campaigns can swiftly take on avalanche proportions. While pretending to be about spontaneous indignation and moral values, centipedes are coolly calculated and all about power. The asymmetrical advantage that enables a "centipede" is that the conspirators themselves are never outed. They plot, they find a sexual weakness, they accumulate data about it, they launch a scandal from out of the woodwork, and while exposing private deeds to the public glare, the conspirators themselves remain unseen. My blog lists a host of these political events that have recently taken place in societies all over the world: India, Greece, Poland, Indonesia, South Africa, Britain, USA. (((And Canada.))) I named them "centipedes" because they are segmented, covert, and poisonous. They seem to have a remarkable commonality as a species. Link... Boingboing.Net Political sex scandals: the phenomenon of the "centipede" {new window}   Www.Boingboing.Net - For years, Bruce Sterling has been blogging about political sex scandals around the world, calling them "centipedes" -- today, he's defined the term in a little essay explaining why they're so darned interesting, speaking sociopoliticotechnically. Centipedes are new phenomena because the barriers-to-entry in media have crashed. This means that subversive efforts formerly isolated and punished as libel, slander and whispering campaigns can swiftly take on avalanche proportions. While pretending to be about spontaneous indignation and moral values, centipedes are coolly calculated and all about power. The asymmetrical advantage that enables a "centipede" is that the conspirators themselves are never outed. They plot, they find a sexual weakness, they accumulate data about it, they launch a scandal from out of the woodwork, and while exposing private deeds to the public glare, the conspirators themselves remain unseen. My blog lists a host of these political events that have recently taken place in societies all over the world: India, Greece, Poland, Indonesia, South Africa, Britain, USA. (((And Canada.))) I named them "centipedes" because they are segmented, covert, and poisonous. They seem to have a remarkable commonality as a species. Link...
Political sex scandals: the phenomenon of the "centipede" - Boing Boing {...}
Published: May 30, 2008, 9:26 am - Indexed: June 2, 2008, 9:35 am - Page Size: 50KB
Category: Arts > Literature > Genres > Cyberpunk

]]> Arts > Literature > Genres > Cyberpunk