Tag Archives: Google

Saturday Morning Chit Chat – Invisibility Cloak, Magic or Mayhem?

invisibility

So I haven’t done one of these in a while and I wasn’t really planning on this one either but how could I resist an invisibility cloak? Yes, that’s right, researchers are getting closer to perfecting the invisibility cloak. I mean, come on, an invisibility cloak AND Google glasses during my lifetime?  I could be Hermione Granger, it’s clearly just a question of time before they hand me a magic wand and a message owl.

For those of you in the know, those clever few who knew that they had tested this technology back in 2006, you could have said something.  If you’re like me and only came across this story in November, WOW!!

Imagine, an invisibility cloak of your very own. Where would you go, what would you see? Imagine the possibilities. Hmm…kinda creepy come to think of it. I mean, where would you go?  What would you want to see that you didn’t want other people seeing you see?  Imagine the disturbing possibilities.

Maybe the invisibility cloak would be better for hiding valuables and not people. Perhaps that should be it’s primary purpose, but you know there’s bound to be someone who wants to slip it on and go somewhere they are not allowed to go and hear, see or learn something they would never be allowed to otherwise. An invisibility cloak would have endless possibilities in military application. It would also be useful for domestic policing. Strangely as I consider the possibilities I’m feeling less like Hermione.

I suppose at this point I should explain how the technology works, but that would completely defeat the purpose. A magic cloak should be…well-magical. There’s also that small detail that they haven’t managed to perfect the technology.  They are exploring it from different angles, but complete invisibility continues to elude researchers. At this stage invisible is really a question of the angle you are standing at and maybe that’s a good thing.

What would you do with an invisibility cloak?

Share

Saturday Morning Chit Chat – When Did We Catch Up With The Future?

When Did We Catch Up With The Future?
When Did We Catch Up With The Future?

I am so stupidly excited about Google Glass I can barely believe it’s a real thing. If you had told me twenty years ago that it would exist now, I would have thought you’d spent too much time in the sun …or reading sci-fi.  In fairness, twenty years ago, faxes were cutting edge technology.

Initially I thought I was the world’s biggest geek about Google Glass (and maybe I am) but come on, even the techiest (I’m sure that’s a word …somewhere) tech person would have to admit it’s pretty cool. It also dawned on me that one of the reasons I was feeling geeky was because no one around me was really talking about it. Turns out, not everyone knew about it. I was chatting with my sister-in-law about Google Glass, essentially telling her what I’m telling you, that I am a total goof on this topic,when I realized she was looking at me as though she thought maybe I had spent too much time in the sun.  What I was saying didn’t make sense to her.  How could that exist? I have to admit, I hesitated. I wondered for a brief moment if perhaps I’d gotten it wrong.

112 of 365 - Google's Project Glasses
112 of 365 – Google’s Project Glasses (Photo credit: Yogesh Mhatre)

What if I had mistaken the enthusiastic reports on Google Glass I’d read months ago?  What if the more recent articles were about what it might be able to do in some future perfect world.  BUT no, the future perfect world is now and I love it.

I’ve always been a glutton about information.  I remember feeling sad that I didn’t have the internet when I was in high school or that it had not emerged fully when I was finishing off university.  The fact that I had full access to the Library of Parliament when I was completing my degree should make it clear I was not hurting for information or resources, I’m just greedy about all that wonderful data. Google glass means that not only is all that amazing information on hand when I want it, it’s interactive.  I can generate data while I’m experiencing it. Wow!

My husband, (always the voice of reason) asked me how I thought I’d be able to process all that stimuli. I suffer from, “Oh look shiny” so not an unreasonable question, but besides the point. Who needs to process yet?  Right now all I want to do is soak in it.

Now I know there will be naysayers, there always are when something new comes along. There will be chat about the potential for an invasion of privacy (not an unreasonable concern),  and I’m sure a long list of stupid or bad things people will do with the glass, but that’s not the point.  People will do stupid or dumb things with just about anything. Should we stop using photocopiers because there’s always someone in the office that wants to photocopy their bum? What about the amazing things people can do? What about educational opportunities or information sharing. What does the surgeon see when they operate? Where does the mountain climber look? A “day in the life” takes on a whole new meaning when you’re looking through each others eyes in real time. So, where do I get my Google Glasses and does anyone have an extra $1500 I can borrow?

If you haven’t completely geeked out about this yet, take a look at this video and say hello to the future.Google Glass

Last weeks poll results: 1oo% thought buddy glasses were a bad idea. Note: You could not find a less scientific poll. 🙂

[polldaddy poll=7263120]

Share