The Tech Gonzo Scrapbook

"Darpa recently issued a request for information about supplying “persistent broadband ground..."

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:29:00 +1100

“

Darpa recently issued a request for information about supplying “persistent broadband ground connectivity for spacecraft in low-Earth orbit.” The idea would be to give these satellites a near-constant feed of “100 kbps or higher” two-way connectivity, with end-to-end transmission latency of less than a second.

…part of this is trying to bring those internet concepts of automatic routing and network config to satellite constellations, and perhaps to make them extensions of the land-based internet infrastructure.”

”

- ..and more pr0n for the ISS

Darpa Looks To Send The Internet Into Orbit

"First lofted into orbit in the 1970s, the FLTSATCOM bird was at the time a major advance in military..."

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:09:51 +1100

“

First lofted into orbit in the 1970s, the FLTSATCOM bird was at the time a major advance in military communications. Their 23 channels were used by every branch of the U.S. armed forces and the White House for encrypted data and voice, typically from portable ground units that could be quickly unpacked and put to use on the battlefield.

As the original FLTSAT constellation of four satellites fell out of service, the Navy launched a more advanced UFO satellite (for Ultra High Frequency Follow-On) to replace them. Today, there are two FLTSAT and eight UFO birds in geosynchronous orbit. Navy contractors are working on a next-generation system called Mobile User Objective System beginning in September 2009.

Until then, the military is still using aging FLTSAT and UFO satellites — and so are a lot of Brazilians. While the technology on the transponders still dates from the 1970s, radio sets back on Earth have only improved and plummeted in cost — opening a cheap, efficient and illegal backdoor.

To use the satellite, pirates typically take an ordinary ham radio transmitter, which operates in the 144- to 148-MHZ range, and add a frequency doubler cobbled from coils and a varactor diode. That lets the radio stretch into the lower end of FLTSATCOM’s 292- to 317-MHz uplink range. All the gear can be bought near any truck stop for less than $500. Ads on specialized websites offer to perform the conversion for less than $100. Taught the ropes, even rough electricians can make Bolinha-ware.

“I saw it more than once in truck repair shops,” says amateur radio operator Adinei Brochi (PY2ADN) “Nearly illiterate men rigged a radio in less than one minute, rolling wire on a coil.”

”

- The Great Brazilian Sat-Hack Crackdown

"Toyota has created two flower species that absorb nitrogen oxides and take heat out of the..."

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:19:48 +1100

“

Toyota has created two flower species that absorb nitrogen oxides and take heat out of the atmosphere.

The flowers, derivatives of the cherry sage plant and the gardenia, were specially developed for the grounds of Toyota’s Prius plant in Toyota City, Japan.

The sage derivative’s leaves have unique characteristics that absorb harmful gases, while the gardenia’s leaves create water vapour in the air, reducing the surface temperature of the factory surrounds and, therefore, reducing the energy needed for cooling, in turn producing less carbon dioxide (CO2).

”

- Car maker develops its own flower species

October 30th

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:05:24 +1100

October 30th

Photo

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:58:22 +1100

Eyelids on Vimeo (via Vimeo)

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:10:32 +1100

Eyelids on Vimeo (via Vimeo)

via pictureisunrelated.com

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:48:15 +1100

via pictureisunrelated.com

mrghosty: analogiswarmer: jokc: (via emosloppy) truly...

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:56:58 +1100

mrghosty:

analogiswarmer:

jokc:

(via emosloppy)

truly outrageous~!

Many Kabuli residents looking for new mobile phone ringtones,...

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:25:14 +1100

Many Kabuli residents looking for new mobile phone ringtones, wallpapers and applications to spice up their mobile phone turn to their neighbourhood content kiosk - all that is needed to set up as a vendor is a PC; access to power; a DVD starter pack of pirated content and walk-by trade. Whilst the market today is dominated by stand-alone specialists this will change.

Expect to see three disruptions in this space: the prevalence of cheap net books will lower the cost of entry and enabled vendors without constant access to mains power and/or a backup generator to set up shop - currently most content sits on desktop PC’s, the mobility offered by net books make it feasible to perch a unit to the side of a shop counter and gives the vendor something to do (playing games) whilst waiting for the next customer; the global move towards Micro-USB for charging mobile phones will also lower the barriers to transfer data - currently there are numerous methods to move data from PC to mobile phone and the consumer experience is highly variable - a standardised service makes it more of a viable proposition, and the net book is also able to function as a charging hub, and whilst not ideal it enables drop-off/ transfer/pick-up type behaviours; a shorter distance to the nearest internet connected hub to download/obtain recent content for resale. (via Street Kiosk App Stores: 3 Disruptions to Watch - Jan Chipchase - Future Perfect)

"Misanthropes for Mars"

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:35:36 +1100

“Misanthropes for Mars”

via static.businessinsider.com

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:27:30 +1100

via static.businessinsider.com

datavis: SHNELLL we collect things

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:35:00 +1100

datavis:

SHNELLL we collect things

Collapse - an intelluctual horror movie

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:18:43 +1100

Collapse - an intelluctual horror movie:

the challenge being faced by the human race now is evolve or perish; grow up or die

That killer quote comes from the trailer for Collapse:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ3r93ELuB4

Petman - Big Dog’s little brother

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:18:43 +1100

Petman - Big Dog’s little brother:

Everyone is still freaked out by Big Dog, right?

Well brace yourself for this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67CUudkjEG4

Technology Review say it’s for “for military…

Photo

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:55:19 +1100

twink: Vintage Photographs - moon model; 1898.

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:16:46 +1100

twink:

Vintage Photographs - moon model; 1898.

robot-heart: allthingsalishan:reallykatie: well i think we can...

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:15:06 +1100

robot-heart:

allthingsalishan:reallykatie:

well i think we can all relate to that, no?

"Just after tomorrow, a spaceship filled with plucky adventurers will land on our planet’s..."

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:08:10 +1100

“

Just after tomorrow, a spaceship filled with plucky adventurers will land on our planet’s surface. They will see our species, residing in mobile hell-fortresses circled by tireless killer robot drones and rings of dead birds, their stomachs stuffed with plastic. After a suspenseful quest, they will find the bowels of these machines powered by a constant stream of cute, innocent-looking animals; with the occasional dissident tossed into the furnace for good measure.

Such a monstrous race of tyrants, they will conclude, must be stopped.

”

- The Breaking Time: The Rundown: First amendment threats, robot killers, and burning bunnies (for fuel)

Photo

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:55:31 +1100

Matt Webb on participatory culture and design

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:42:07 +1100

Matt Webb on participatory culture and design:

I was going to call this 50mins of pure mind candy, but that doesn’t quite capture it. Mind superfood might be a better description. Matt Webb’s opening keynote for Wedirections South is an mp3…