Microsoft today unveiled a “surface computer” capable of interacting with objects placed upon it - an advance that the firm says will revolutionize the way we interact with technology. Yes it should look somewhat familiar … you have seen this interaction before. This is very much like the interfaces in Minority Report.

The Microsoft Surface - a 30-inch display embedded in a gloss-covered table - will eventually replace the mouse and keyboard, and opens the prospect of a computer in every surface of the home.

Check out this videos …

Links:

• The Surface
• Microsoft Mystery Solved: It’s Surface
• Gates reveals where ‘Milan’ is headed
• Microsoft Announces Surface Computer
• Microsoft surface computer ‘table’ impresses

This rocks!

So after all that time and effort, hundreds of dollars spent on cram sessions, it all boils down to how long my finger is to figure out what my scores on the SAT test.

So fast forward to the future, the next generation of kids to go to college, all they need is to send in their finger measurement for admission. Let home there is a little more than that.

A quick look at the lengths of children’s index and ring fingers can be used to predict how well students will perform on SATs, new research claims.

Kids with longer ring fingers compared to index fingers are likely to have higher math scores than literacy or verbal scores on the college entrance exam, while children with the reverse finger-length ratio are likely to have higher reading and writing, or verbal, scores versus math scores.

The researchers then looked at boys’ and girls’ test performances separately and compared them to finger-length ratio measurements. They found a clear link between high prenatal testosterone exposure, indicated by the longer index finger compared to the ring finger, and higher scores on the math SAT.

Similarly, they found higher literacy SAT scores for the girls among those who had lower prenatal testosterone exposure, as indicated by a shorter ring finger compared with the index finger.

The researchers also compared the finger-lengths ratios to all the children’s SAT scores and found that a relatively longer ring finger-indicating greater prenatal exposure to testosterone-meant a wider gap in scores for math versus literacy.

Finger Length Predicts SAT Performance

Thanks Lynn

I have found the perfect house for us (that is myself and the love of my life, Lynn). The cool thing is that it is a “green” house. Not in color but in building and in operation. It is a near zero energy home.

In St. Louis, there is a cool green ecofriendly company, Sage Homebuilders who builds green. This is a brief summary of some of the guiding principles we employ when designing a new home.

• Incorporate green design elements
  A few examples - passive solar (orientation to sun, roof overhangs, better daylighting, use of shade trees), eco-friendly siting considerations, higher density developments, specify green framing techniques and green products, etc.

• Tasteful Exteriors
  This is, perhaps, one of the most difficult things to achieve; something that you know when you see it, but have a hard time saying why. Need to avoid flat facades (vary depths), incorporate a porch, substantial trim, create an interesting focal point (nice door, bay window, etc.) use quality materials (no vinyl siding and trim), don’t mix design styles in awkward ways, pay attention to proportionality, make the main entry something special, do substantial, but not crowded landscaping, reduce impact of garage door, etc.

• Efficient Use of Space
  Eliminate spaces that are rarely used (such as a separate formal dining and living room), use multi-purpose rooms, combine rooms, use as much space as is needed to be comfortable. In general, the smaller the house, the more functional, the more easily maintained/kept clean, and the more energy efficient. Although we will build any size home for a custom client, we believe the ideal size to be 1500 – 3500 square feet.

• Rooms that are open to each other, but are still distinct spaces
  Use of varied ceiling and floor heights, half walls, columns, “floating” fireplace, etc. to create division without closing off space; create long site-lines, or the ability to see through to other rooms (french doors between rooms). Open-feeling, but not cavernous; free flowing, but still cozy.

• Connection to Outdoors
  Create outdoor alcoves or rooms, take advantage of views fully, lots of double door exits, windows that “frame” in the view, back and front covered porches, courtyards, etc. Limits on this item must be considered, though, since windows and doors are the least energy efficient part of the building envelope.

• Careful Attention to Good Lighting
  Maximize use of natural light (use of skylights, larger windows, upper wall light transfer, tube lights, hallway/stairwell windows, open floorplan, etc.). Maximize use of indirect lighting (under cabinet, alcove, sconces, lit ceiling spaces). Avoid harsh lighting, and offer the ability to adjust light level.

• Use of Alcoves
  Most people are attracted to the smaller, cozy, safe spaces. Examples are a reading nook, a smaller hearth room, a window seat, etc.

• High End Finishes
  Take the savings from using less square footage and put it into using higher end flooring, plumbing fixtures, lighting fixtures, paints/wallpaper, kitchen cabinets/counters, appliances, doors/trim, closet systems, etc. These days, you do not necessarily need to spend a fortune to achieve an above average outcome. For custom and pre-sale clients, we offer assistance in choosing finishes.

• Character in Interior Design
  Avoid having all square spaces, avoid sliding closet doors, use: angled entry to rooms, wider trim, arched room transitions, barrel and cove ceilings, etc. Make each home unique by adding a few creative flourishes that are particular to that home.

• Be Aware of Context
  Blend with neighboring homes, in terms of size, style, colors, etc., without looking too much like the house next door.

Has Apple done it again? The buzz seems to think they have. Their stock went up 4% the day after the iPhone was unleashed at MacWorld.

Two Words:

Really Cool

My friend Matt who is new blogger told me about this. This is so cool !

I came across this during a random stumble and am very excited. Jeff Han, a research scientist at NYU has been working with new forms of human-machine interaction models, and the multitouch Interaction platform is the result…it’s an amazing interface..no menus or mousing..it’s all done by touch. Zooming, rotating, selecting, moving, you name it, every way you can imagine manipulating data objects is probably possible with this thing.

(Via Matt)

I am not one to get on a soap box, but I think the issue of global warming is important and I want to share a few things about it.

Recently I saw a movie that opened my eyes and I suggest that everyone that lives on planet Earth go and see it. You may or may not agree with everything that is presented, but that does not matter because it does a very good job of getting you the fact. These facts will compel you, like it did me, to learn more about this and what can be done. The movie is “An Inconvenient Truth”.

There are times when information is presented to you and you come away not agreeing or disagree with it, but it give you a moment of pause. That pause enabled you to go to a place that make you think and ask questions. It is the same place that those really good ideas are made.

Questions are a way that we as people learn things. The issue of global warming creates lots and lots of questions. Some are so large in scale we cannot fathom who to ask let along what the answers are. Why does it happen? Who has done it? It is so large, can we solve the problem? All of these seem to be so far out of reach, we seem to get lost in the scale of the issue. After all, we are talking about the Earth.

But there are things we can do. There in fact ten things that are simple and you, me, everyone can do right now to help stop global warming.

Change a Light

replacing one regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb will save 50 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) a year

Drive Less

Walk, bike or take mass tranist more often. You will save one pound of CO2 for every mile that you do not drive

Recycle More

You can save 2,400 pounds of CO2 per year if you recycle just half of your household waste

Check your Tires

Keeping tires inflated properly improves gas mileage by more than 3%. Every gallon saved keeps 20 pounds of CO2 from warming the Earth

Use Less Hot Water

Use less hot water. Turn down your hot water heater a few degrees. Use a low flow showerhead, that will save 350 pounds of C02 per year, wash your clothes in cold water ( that is the only way I learn out to wash from my Mom — she was saving 500 pounds of CO2 per year )

Avoid Products with a lot of packaging

You can save 1,200 pounds of CO2 just by reducing your garbage by 10%

Adjust your thermostat

Move your thermostat down 2 degrees in the winter and up 2 degrees in the summer. This could save 2,000 pounds of CO2 a year

Plant a tree

A single tree will absorb one ton, that is 2,000 pounds, of CO2 over the its lifefime. So you should plant two or three

Be part of the solution not the problem

Educate yourself. Become aware of the issue. Do your part, it is really easy and will not impact your life but could impact the lives of future generations

There are lots of places that you can learn more about global warming. Visit Climite Crisis to learn more. The “ten things to do” above came from them. Read about global warming at EcoWorld. Read this story, Global Warming — IS IT REAL, ARE HUMANS THE CAUSE, AND CAN ANYTHING BE DONE?.

Learn about other ideas and technology. Use your mind, think of the impact of your actions and use the moment of pause — I know what I can do help and I will do it!

Some are good some are not. But you have to admit that it is really cool. And to make it even better, some of the future gadgets and goodies are coming really soon and not just stuck in someone’s head.

TechEBlog » Top 10 Strangest Gadgets of the Future