First Desire...Now The One

It's been almost three years since we first met.

Before I knew it our daily dalliance had given way to deep devotion, a devotion that has captured everything from my morning musings through to the most fervent ramblings of my heart. Commuting gems have been shared, plans have been made and connections forged and re-forged across London's transport network and indeed, the world.

But today something has changed. There has been a shift. A letting go.

As happens so often in life, I was faced with relinquishing one thing in return for another.

So with heavy heart I approached, hoping I could still keep a part of the wonderfulness whilst opening myself up to something more. I pushed open the door, waited for my moment and uttered the words I had avoided saying for so long...

'I need to upgrade my phone.'

A mere 40 minutes later, the job was done and my Desire had been replaced...

...by the One...

...and I'm in love all over again.

Driving Our Future...

Could you imagine driving your car along roads that adapt to the traffic and the conditions around you?

Sounds like something out of a futuristic sci-fi flick doesn't it? But in fact, it could be closer than we think.

In my itinerant innovation meanderings last week, I came across a cracker of an idea from a couple of literal clever clogs. Dutch design firm Studio Roosegarde have partnered up with Heijmans to develop Smart Highway, their vision for roads...

...which are more sustainable and interactive by using light, energy and road signs that automatically adapt to the traffic situation.

This looks like it responds to the weather conditions - we have many changes in weather here in the UK. Perhaps a highly lucrative market may not be so far away...once our road taxes have paid for all of the tearing up and re-laying of asphalt, the filling in of potholes as well as visibility jackets, hard hats and shovels...

Looking at this, I think the car is actually charged up when you drive in the 'induction' lane...what a fantastic idea! Now that might just give the oil companies a run for their money.

I love this idea of having lighting that is triggered by the traffic flow. Bit like turning the lights on and off as you enter and leave the room. No nagging required...and energy saving too.

During Dutch Design Week in October, this brilliant idea won a Best Future Concept award and Studio Roosegaarde claim that the first Smart Highway will be a reality in The Netherlands mid 2013.

What an amazing use of technology - concepts like this really do inspire me. What do you think? Could you see yourself driving on these highways of the future?

NB: All images sourced from: www.studioroosegaarde.net

People In Glass Houses...

I am someone who loves technology.

Not in a really techno-geek, have to have the 'latest and greatest' kind of way. 

I love the clever ways that technology provides access to new ways of day to day working, convenient shortcuts for the most mind-numbing of tasks and some fascinating and alternatives views of the world.

 

On top of that, I'm lucky enough to work in the kind of job that's all about exploring new ideas so there's not a week that goes past where I don't find something that makes me go 'wow' or 'that's amazing'.

And recently I was reminded of a real 'techno-wow' moment I experienced earlier this year.

Global glass and ceramic manufacturer Corning has been beavering away to create their very own vision of the future. Each time I watch this, I feel absolutely amazed that this world, that not so long ago would have seemed completely unbelievable, could be possible in my lifetime. 

So strap yourself in, open your mind and check this out:

It's amazing right? And before any of you starts saying it's all a long way off, evidence suggests that the next generation - not Gen Y but the ones born in the last decade or so - are closer to this futuristic world than we think.

Watch this one year old work an iPad...and then watch her wonder why her motor skills aren't transferable. Keep an eye on her hands as she tries to 'activate' the magazine...

 
I remember when the film Minority Report was released (only 10 years ago) - it was lauded as visionary and yet so far-fetched. But it would appear that this future is heading our way and much sooner than we think, whether we Gen X-ers and our forebears like it or not.

An unstoppable wave of change is sweeping across the world we live in.

I think I'm ready...

Commuting Gems...Recycling's Foot Soldiers

Sometimes inspiration come from the most unlikely places.

Tucked into my seat on the train earlier this week, flicking through The Metro with the patter of raindrops on the window in the background, I came across this...

No it's not a version of MJ's Bille Jean video souped up for the cyber generation. It's actually the latest and greatest in the harvesting of natural energy sources.

Pavegen is the brainchild of Laurence Kemball-Cook, a young British entrepreneur who has combined a recycled rubber and polymer mix with a hybrid kinetic energy-harvesting system. Stepping onto the 'tile' generates between 5 and 8 joules of electricity - a small percentage of this is used to the light the tile while the majority is either stored in a battery or powers the surrounding area.

It might sound like small potatoes but Kemball-Cook took a Pavegen dancefloor to Bestival last year where the grooves of 50,000 festival-goers charged 1,000 mobile phones. They have been installed (Pavegen that is, not the festival-goers) permanently at a school and more recently at Westfield Stratford City.

It's extraordinary and exciting stuff. Imagine...our 'energy output' collected and tranformed into a unique - and boundless when you think about it - source of electricity. 

Brings a whole new meaning to the term recycling, doesn't it?

Google Ad(Non)Sense...

I am perturbed.

A little while ago I decided to give Google Adsense a try and dutifully loaded that little box of Google mystery onto my blog page.

As I added new blog posts, I started to notice that the ads changed depending on what I blogged about (particularly in relation to my tags).  'This is quite exciting', I thought to myself. 'I am obviously getting the hang of this!'

But recently I have noticed that there seems to be a theme that I don't understand.  Something that I don't think I have actually blogged about.  And I am a bit reticent to mention the word in case it gets stuck in my little Google box forever...but here goes....

Dogs.

Yes dogs...or more specifically products for dogs - dog biscuits, dog leads, dog walking even dog vitamins...

I'm confused...

There has also been little progress on my attempts at bus-blogging (see my last post by clicking here)...my mobile email seems to have developed an intermittent allergy to various parts of the journey home...maybe it's confused too...

Technology...sigh!

A Leap Of Technological Faith...

My blogger account tells me that I can update my blog posts by email. I am wondering whether I can really do this because if I could, I could post more often like say on the bus/train to and from work... ...which is quite ironic given my last post (I Am Blogger...Hear Me Now??) Anyway, I am giving this a try so if things look a little awry of the next few posts (and those of you who get auto-emails of my blog get three versions of the same one), that'll be why... The technological relationship between me and my phone usually requires a bit of a leap of faith for me to try stuff...so your support and patience over this difficult time will be appreciated. Pressing SEND now....