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The making of the Official 2010 Fifa World Cup Balls

The Cyber Revolution

Less than a quarter of a century ago, the Internet was an obscure network of large computers used only by a small community of researchers and hardly anyone imagined that the Internet would play such an important role in our lives as it does today. In fact, the very idea of a "personal computer," much less millions of them connected by a global network, seemed absurd to all but a handful of enthusiasts. Computer has created a revolution in the world not by itself as a standalone unit but also because of the penetration of Internet.

Today, the Internet is far from obscure--it's the center of attention for businesses, governments and individuals around the world. It has spawned entirely new industries, transformed existing ones, and become a global cultural phenomenon. Why is the Internet such a powerful and compelling technology? First and foremost, from its conception in the academic community to its subsequent development and commercialization by the private sector, the Internet has evolved into a uniquely independent information exchange that is able to grow organically and is built entirely on common standards. It is those common standards that helped make the Internet so successful.

The "killer application" that transformed the Internet into a global phenomenon was the World Wide Web. Developed in the late 1980s at the European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN) , the Web was initially created to share data on nuclear physics. By incorporating user friendly visual interface and graphical "browsing" technology, the Web greatly simplifies the process of searching for, accessing, and sharing information on the Internet, making it much more accessible to a non-technical audience.

The main advantage of any new technology is that it amplifies human potential. In the 20th century, electricity, the telephone, the automobile and the airplane all made the world more accessible to more people, transforming our economy and society in the process. The Internet has the same revolutionary impact as Bill Gates, one of the pioneers of cyber age, says “The Internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow.” Individuals and businesses can overcome geographical, cultural and logistical barriers and improve the way they live and work. It has made the world simpler, smaller and brought people closer together. It shrinks time and distance, simplifies complex business processes, and enables more effective communication and collaboration .

Although the Internet may have some great and significant impact on our lives and the way business is done, there are considerable consequences and drawbacks. On top of that list is the phenomenon of “Internet addiction disorder” which makes a person neglect his family, work and life in general. Then there is the risk of jeopardizing one’s personal privacy on the internet. The Internet has also given criminals a new media to exploit. While there are many types of Internet criminal activity, child pornography has quickly become a critical issue for the Internet.Piracy is another serious threat to any individual or business that wants to be compensated for the works they create.

Cyber revolution has left the human race with a dilemma whereby residing the power of decision to the user. Esther Dyson ,a profound journalist and commentator on emerging technology, explains this phenomenon as “The Internet is like alcohol in some sense. It accentuates what you would do anyway. If you want to be a loner, you can be more alone. If you want to connect, it makes it easier to connect. ’’

Some optimists view the Internet as humanity's greatest invention while on the other

extreme, pessimists think the Internet will result in economic and cultural exploitation, the death of privacy, and a decline in values and social standards.

Objectively, it is difficult to imagine today’s world without this vital tool. It has now become an integral part of human existence but it is still in its infancy. With new technologies we are bound to become more exposed to Internet. There are some key issues that need to be overcome to realize the Internet's full potential, but although they are challenging, they are definitely not insurmountable.

I wrote this as an assignment essay and thought I should share it :)

Data storage through time

Cool Lego TV Remote

I am not so sure if this cool Lego TV remote concept is practical,but it sure is cute and i want one.

via technabob

Hand Powered Penguin Eco-light

This adorable penguin eco flashlight is perfect for emergency purpose and very cute to boot.The torch's battery is charged using a kinetic pump which provides an hour of light for each minute spent pumping.It has the capability of being used either as a flashlight or nightlight.It is also a great way to teach growing up kids about renewable energy.This would surely make an excellent addition to any home.

Top Ten Amazing Car Designs

At present if we have a look around at the cars being designed there is an obvious feeling of "SAME OLD SAME OLD" and one has to wonder when would there be a car that would just blow your mind off.Engineers and automobile companies also realize the same thing and that is why there has been a lot of behind the scene work done on "Futuristic Car Designs" but it will take a lot of time before we can actually see those amzaing cars on our streets and showrooms around the world.
Here is a list of my pesonal favourite car concepts that would hopefully be turned into reality in the future.

Audi Shark
This Desire Design Competetion winning car is the brainchild of a turkish designer Kazim Doku.
It is actually a futuristic flying concept hovercraft with the streamlined design inspired by motorcycles and aeroplanes.




Cadillac Converj
This car was developed by General Motors and it was revealed for the first time at the 2009 North American International Auto Show.This concept car can do 40miles(64miles) on its electrically charged battery with a reasonable top speed of 160 km/h(100mph) .The company is planning to bring this one on the roads by 2012.



Lincoln C Concept
This new luxury car was showed off at Detroit Auto Show 2009 with the idea that luxury cars don't necessarily have to be big.The Ford designers describe this beauty as "Its big on the inside, not on the outside" and rightly so.



Maserati Chicane
This car was designed by a group of graduate students creating rumours of a smaller Maserati in the making due to its small dimensions.The Chicane is 4.4meters in lebgth and 1.85meters in width. This is a real wheel drive powered by a V8 engine.


Land Rover LRX
Winner of the "Concept Truck of The Year" at the North American Concept Vehicle of The year Awards , this is an ecofriendly hybrid with reduced CO2 emissions.The LRX is heading to productions and is believed to be out in 2011.




Saab Aero-X
This is a 4-wheel drive concept car revealed back in 2006 at the Salon internaionale de l'Auto.Powered with a 2.6 litre turbocharged V-6 engine it produces 400hp and does 0-60mph- in 4.9 secs with a top speed of 255km/h(156mph) .


Mazda Kazamai
The Kazamai is japanese for "Wind of Change" .This car uses Mazda's nextgen 2litre DISI petrol engine and possesses a 6 speed gearbox.


Mercedes F500
Revealed by Mercedes in 2003 this concept car is capable of nightvision using infrared headlights with a visual range of as long as 500feet.


Mazda Nagare
Also called "Flow" in Japanese this concept car was launched by mazda in 2006 at the LA Auto Show.This is how mazda plan their cars to look like in 2020.



RCA Concept Car
This concept car is regarded by many as the best in the world as it defines the way to our mobile futures.

Autonomobile - The Car That Drives Itself

If you are a bad driver and you think driving is not fun then the designers from San Francisco industrial Design Studio have come up with just the thing you want.They have named it "Autonomobile" and as the name suggests it is a vehicle that can drive itself.This is the same studio that collaborated with google to design the google phone.This new design if made practical could redefine the vehicular paradigm and would allow the human race to take a giant leap towards technological brilliance.




The Design
The Autonomobile or ATNMBL as its designers call it is all about being slow and steady and ofcourse autonomous.This is an environment friendly powered by separate electric motors
for each wheel which makes it an all-wheel drive vehicle.Additional power is provided solar panels mounted on top of the roof.Some of its other features are :

• Auto Navigation through GPS,Radar,Lidar,accelerometers,stereo camera.
• A wrap around seating arrangement with a couch, a side chair and a low table that creates a living room environment.
• Driverless navigation through voice recognition technology and touch screen remote.
  
• Electric galss sliding door placed at a standing-height entry way.
• All wheel Drive with motors on each wheel
• Densely packed and simplified mechanical components
• Internet connectivity and open source software architecture
• A centrally oriented large flat display provides live trip info,entertainment and maps.
• Large floor to ceiling panaromic windows and asytmetrical from every view.
• Accomodates seven passengers oriented towards each other
• Less accidents.

Key Benefits

• No need for driving license which is good news for childern and disabled
• Eco friendly- no emissions which is a big plusEnd of discomfort and hassle of driving
• The centrally placed display can slide to reveal a bar behind it which allows you to drink while driving.
• No searching for parking place - it can park itself.
• Saves precious time by reclaiming our commute time.
  
  
  
  
  This concept is not expected to take shape before 2040 but in my view this is too audacious for the near future.A radical cultural revolution and a whole new system of traffic will have to established before letting the autonomobiles drive us to our destination.Furthermore there are people who want to actually drive the car and enjoy a certain sense of power,control and freedom when driving which become void when a car drives by itslef.But then again it is one's own personal opinion and depends on whether you want to drive or like being driven.