Good Fact

Google Earth Saves

- Adam Clare 3 Comments

Two men used Google Earth for disaster release according to Ahmedabad News. I think this is an absolutely wonderful use of technology, I wonder if anyone predicted that Google Earth could be used in this way. It shows how a complex technological tool can be used to solve some really basic problems.

“Using Google Earth maps of Surat city, the duo passed on exact locations of societies, houses and apartments in need of rescue and relief, to airport authorities.

The co-ordinates were then relayed to helicopter captains to be logged on to their GPS devices and locate the homes. By Friday evening, they had managed 47 targeted air drops.”

As a quick aside, if you google earth you get Google Earth (kinda spooky).

MIT Goes Crazy for Green Energy

- Adam Clare

MIT researchers are looking into perhaps the most ambitious energy programs. Right now they would like you to use solar panels that are so green they use spinach. Why use an alternator in your car when light is more efficient?

Wired news has more information on MIT’s green electricity project.

“David Jhirad, a former deputy assistant secretary of energy and current VP for science and research at the World Resources Institute, said no other institution or government anywhere has taken on such an intensive, creative, broad-based, and wide-ranging energy research initiative.”

Green Wifi

- Adam Clare

green wifi logoGreen Wifi is a non-profit organization that wants to bring free wifi access to the internet using solar power. They are using off the shelf products installed with linux to keep costs as low as possible. The reasoning behind providing internet access is that development require easy access to information, and what better way to disseminate mass amounts of information than the internet?

This is the essential question though:
“Why Green WiFi? A number of non profit entities focus on addressing the digital divide by providing internet access to developing areas. Green WiFi addresses one of the biggest barriers to success: the lack of reliable electricity in developing areas required to power the network.”

Power, Water, and Refrigeration From One Source

- Adam Clare 1 Comment

A product of American military research is something that can actually help people. The army wants it to save money, but aid organizations can use it to save people. A new system that can fit on a truck can provide drinking water, electricity, and even refrigeration. The device is clever because it reuses energy that would otherwise be waster, making it more useful and efficient.

“The engineering researchers’ solution: a small system that ties a novel gas turbine power plant to a heat-operated refrigeration system. The refrigeration makes the gas turbine more efficient, while also producing cool air and potable water. The turbine can run on conventional fossil fuels as well as biomass-produced fuels or hydrogen.”

This would be amazing to have in disaster relief situations.

TXT MSG not :( for ppl

- Adam Clare 1 Comment

A Canadian research team have concluded that text messaging does not negatively impact the grammar of Canadian teens. It looks like people are just getting more creative with their use of language, which ultimately proves a better understanding of words as a whole.

“New research from linguists at the University of Toronto suggests that instant messaging doesn’t deserve its reputation for spoiling syntax. In a study of 71 teenagers, researchers found that the teens showed a strong command of the language.
When chatting with friends, the teens cleverly fused different features of the language: written and spoken, formal and informal.”

Now, if only I can fix my use of the English language…

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