The Curious Case of John Titor - Time Traveller

Early one morning, a man who identified himself as John Titor posted a message on the forums of the Time Travel Institute, a website "dedicated to research and exploration of the temporal sciences." Titor said he had returned from the year 2036, and that he was a survivor of a civil war and nuclear attack. He had been sent back in time to retrieve an IBM 5100. That computer, a primordial desktop PC released in 1975, supposedly had some key to solving a future crisis.

Titor methodically listed the parts required for what he called "gravity distortion system." His grandfather, he claimed, had worked on such a machine, and he was on his way back to 1975 to find him. Titor’s messages from continued for a few months, then he claimed he had to return to 2036 for good. That was weird. But then something even weirder happened. The followers online couldn't let Titor go. Now this is the Sasquatch of Generation Net. It's a real-life version of a new kind of game - the alternate reality game, which sends surfers down reality-blurring rabbit holes.

Geeks began unearthing strange facts about the IBM 5100s. Obsessives launched Titor sites, stitching together his postings. They created timelines, charts...they even held conventions. It was cited many times by Art Bell, the host of the paranormal radio show Coast to Coast. Ultimately, an Italian TV show hired a private eye to go on Titor's trail. The gumshoe ended up at the doorstep of a flashy entertainment lawyer living in the Disney utopia of Celebration, Florida. The lawyer claims to be merely "representing" Titor, but some online think that he or his teenage hacker son made up the whole thing. No matter. Titor has legs. There are now Titor books, websites, fan clubs, merchandise... even a stage play. The most compelling question of all isn't whether Titor exists. It's why a story so ludicrous would seize the imaginations of so many people online.


for more info look in
http://www.johntitor.com/

Imagine Being Able To Touch and Feel a Holographic Image - It's Now a Reality

Holographic technology has been around for a while now - and the moment anyone mentions the word 'holograph' it may conjure up images and memories from your favorite star trek, or other sci-fi movie.

However, holographic technology seems to be taking on a life of is own now - Imagine being able to not only see a hologram, but also being able to touch it. Yes you read it correctly - touch it.

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have recently a few technologies which not only make it possible to 'feel' a hologram, but also to interact with it. Imagine having a ball in your hand. Now imagine bouncing that ball up and down in your hand. Roughly the same can now be done with this new holographic technology.

By combining a series of movement tracking and visual technologies, as well as what is now known as the 'Airborne Ultrasound Tactile Display' holographic images can now be 'felt' by humans.

The hand tracking part of the technology makes use of existing technology found in the Nintendo Wiimote, by using its infrared camera and a retroflective marker placed on a users hand or finger.

This is then combined with the previously mentioned 'Airborne Ultrasound Tactile Display' - which is something a little more new. It works by using what is known as 'acoustic radiation pressure' - a technology that allows force to be generated by emitting ultrasound from the tactile display, and then felt physically at the focal point - wherever that may be. In the case of holographic projections, the focal point would obviously follow the exact position of the holographic image - thereby creating a sense of interaction with the image.

For instance - using this technology, they are able to simulate and project falling raindrops, which, if you hold your hand below the holographic raindrops, you would feel the actual point of impact on your hand, and not only that - the raindrop would also 'bounce' or splatter on your hand, just like a normal raindrop would behave in similar conditions.

Applications for this technology will most likely take us to where our imaginations can stretch, and possibly even further - but it certainly is an exciting next step in holographic technology. We won't even try to list the possible applications here, because at this point the possibilities seem almost endless for this type of application.

Interesting stuff, and we'll certainly keep an eye on it as it develops and eventually finds its way into consumer products. Pardon the pun but - watch this space :)

New Technology To Create Unbreakable Glass - (Almost)

The glass now is used as also security

Ever wished your glassware could be stronger? Less breakable?
Even unbreakable?
At some point in time everybody hears the unmistakable 'cling-clang' of glass falling and breaking, sometimes shattering into thousands of little pieces, or simply splitting into two or more chunks. It happens.
However, the familiar sound of breaking glass may eventually become something of a less familiar sound in the near future. The reason for this: an Alfred University researcher...

Dr. William LacCourse, a professor of Glass Science at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University has developed a process which produces the highest strength glassware available today. Now the question is: is it affordable? Apparently, yes.
Dr LacCourse has been researching glass strengthening processes for more than 30 years.
He was quoted as saying: “No glass is unbreakable, but our process produces the highest strength glassware available today, and at price that makes it affordable. It has the potential to save restaurants, catering services and families up to 80 percent, and perhaps more, on their glassware costs. We have dropped glass bottles from 10 feet high onto a concrete floor, and the glass simply bounces.”
The strengthened-glass products can be poduced at a cost that will be competitive with other non-strengthened glass products.
Despite advances in new technology and materials, glass seem to have an endearing quality. Glass seems to remain a popular choice for many applications, and now that strengthened glass is becoming more accessable due to more cost effective manufacturing processes, mankind's love-affair with glass products seems likely to continue.
source: click the link