He suggested that certain nations would take advantage of the event and some may be obliterated completely.  “The Huge dog will howl at night, when the great pontiff will change lands.”  Many believe the huge dog to be the UK and the great pontiff is the Pope, indicating that both Britain and Italy will be destroyed (in which case it’s been nice knowing you all).  Finally he suggests that some nations will take advantage of the situation, prompting a new world war.

But predictions aside, and everybody will make up their own minds about what they choose to believe (for example the destruction of European countries, if even true, could be related to the current difficulties with the Euro and the collapse of the currency), what role would technology have if the world did face a cataclysmic event, and how might it help rescue mankind afterwards?

One thing is for certain, Nostradamus never saw the rise of the information age, nor the iPad, and technology is used everywhere on Earth for monitoring natural and man-made threats that are both terrestrial and extra-terrestrial in origin (by the latter I mean comets and meteors rather than little green men).

Our computing infrastructure is much more vulnerable than we might think, due to the interconnectedness of everything.  Even satellites in orbit are connected to computers on the ground, all of which require electricity that’s controlled and regulated by more computers.  A large electromagnetic blast from a massive solar flare or some type of explosion could completely cripple large parts of this infrastructure.

Would this cause the end of mankind?  Unlikely, but it would dramatically change our way of life and put us back to being a people that rely on the land and traditional tools overnight.  Also, without technology many millions of people would suddenly find themselves being unskilled and having to learn practical farming and survival techniques just to feed themselves, which would inevitably lead to millions of deaths.

Could technology save us from all this however?  It’s become clear in recent years that world governments haven’t done enough to shield critical technologies from electromagnetic interference, nor have they done enough to defend these vital systems from cyber-attack, which will probably be the weapon of choice in future conflicts.

I don’t want to be completely dour however because what technology has given us are new ways of being able to predict disasters and communicate effectively and instantaneously worldwide.  If there was a problem the planet was facing we’d be looking to technology for a way to avoid it, and if war were to break out then picking up the phone or sending an email is much more efficient than packing someone off on a horse.  We can see how lives have been saved by early warning systems for tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanoes.  We may not always get it right and haven’t been able to save as many lives as we’d like, but slowly we’re getting there.

In short our reliance on technology will no doubt prove to be far more of a blessing than a curse should the apocalypse occur in 366 days time (2012 is a leap year).  Your iPad might not survive for very long without a charge, but the advances that have brought that tablet to you may yet prove invaluable in saving millions of lives.  Governments may not be building enormous arks for us like they do in the movies, but they’ll be watching the skies, listening to the earth and talking to each other, and we all have technology to thank for that.

This is all great news but there are still some technologies that have got to change in 2012 and they need to do this very quickly or else the technology we use will move so far ahead of them that innovation itself will begin to suffer.  Those technologies are all concerned with the Internet itself or with Internet communications.

Let’s start with the ADSL or DSL broadband lines coming into our homes and offices.  Unless you’re lucky enough to live in a country such as Sweden which already enjoys 50Mb/sec lines or faster you’ll be lucky to get a stable connection on a tenth of that.  Indeed the old 2 miles from the telephone exchange line is wearing thin with many but telecoms companies and governments simply aren’t doing enough to rectify the problem.  Here in the UK we think that people who live in countryside villages and who still have to use dial up or get a 512k/sec broadband line have a bad deal.  In some countries where the distances are far further such as the USA, Canada and Australia the problems are 100 times worse.

It’s a similar story with mobile networks.  The USA was late to the 3G game but has forged ahead with 4G connections.  Many other countries however are still several years away from moving to 4G, but which time it’ll be time to move onto something else in all probability.  The mobile networks also need to sort out the mess that is unlimited data plans and manage their networks in such a way as to allow people to use mobile broadband properly.  The pricing for mobile broadband also has to drop by at least 50% next year.  There’s already more than enough money to be made and many people, especially those in isolated areas would love to move away from an ADSL line and onto a SIM contract.  At the moment though it’s still far too expensive to do this.

Many people think that a universal wireless solution like a full roll-out of 4G or WiMax will solve the problem and make traditional broadband lines obsolete.  Telecommunications companies need to protect their bottom lines however and, as such, a lot of innovation is being stifled for reasons of profit and share prices.

When we actually are able to get online though using our sexy new devices we find that the web is still looking as old and outdated as it was in 2003.  Back then we didn’t have the preponderance of smartphones, tablets and touch-screen PCs that we do now.  Even next year’s iMacs are rumoured to be multi-touch but almost none of the world’s largest websites have moved to a touch-friendly design yet.  I did this with my own website last month and firmly believe it’s absolutely essential.  Some companies are making a move in this direction with the BBC launching a part-touch-friendly website recently but the new YouTube redesign is traditional menus and mouse control only.

It’s one thing having new interfaces and new form factors that enable us to use the web in new and exciting ways, and new operating systems that are designed primarily around touch.  If we can’t get good, quick and stable connections to the web though, or properly and effectively use the websites we visit when we get there all this technology is going to waste.  Here’s hoping that 2012 brings us much more than just a move to IPv6 and some 4G radio spectrum auctions.  What technologies do you think really need to change in 2012 and do you agree with me here?  Why not tell us in the comments.

I wanted to get a debate going here though on capitalism in technology, with particular reference to the ongoing patent wars.  First some background.  Technology companies are different from other big business in that they were generally started by visionary people, like Steve Jobs and Clive Sinclair, who wanted to change the world for the better.  These people wanted to open up access to technology for everybody and largely they’ve done that.  This means that the entire basis for the big modern technology companies hasn’t been money and greed, it’s been helping people gain access to new opportunities.  This is something that sets technology companies apart from almost all of the rest of big business.

However the patent wars are getting in the way.  No better is this highlighted than with the ongoing battles between Apple and Samsung, with the cupertino giant trying to ban, worldwide, sales of any Samsung product that looks remotely like an iPhone or iPad.  These lawsuits, which cost money and therefore push up prices, also have the effect of limiting consumer choice.  The best thing about the modern computing market that we have now is that there is more choice than ever before.  There are more computing devices than ever before, more form-factors and more styles and colours than ever before.

Now it has emerged that some Windows 8 Metro app developers are concerned they may be targeted by a company called Lodsys for patent infringement of in-app billing.  The patent wars have now got to such an extreme state where small, independent software houses now have to worry about it.

These patents are a big problem now because there are so many of them out there, all being owned or traded by multinationals, and there’s no way to be sure that what you do hasn’t already been patented by someone else.   However, when you are creating a smartphone, a tablet or even an app, there are only so many ways to make it look, what size it will be or how certain features operate.  When you take into account operating systems like iOS, Windows Phone and Windows 8 though that are trying to encourage app developers to make apps that look and operate in the same way the situation can only get worse.

Personally, I believe the the patent wars have now gone too far and the big players involved need to back off, stop focusing on the money and allow the innovation not only that people want, but that we all genuinely need.  This can only create more competition, drive down prices and open technology up to more people, the way people like Steve Jobs originally intended for things to be.  If we really want to create access to technology, access to the Internet and access to new opportunities, especially for the developing countries, we need to take this focus away from money now and go back to basics.

I’m very curious what your comments are about this as I feel you’re all either going to agree strongly or you’ll be completely polarised on the issue.  Please leave your comments below, it’s free, it’s open and anybody can take part  ;)

Teach Parents Tech is a free website that you can use to send your parents or other users tech tutorial videos. The site is maintained by Google which may come as a surprise to some.

All you need to do is to fill out a form on the frontpage of the service. Here you select the recipient, a short introductory sentence, the tech tutorials that you want included and some closing lines.

Tech videos are sorted into categories such as The Basics, Media or World Wide Web. Each category lists about ten videos that you can check to be included in the letter.

The category The Basics for instance teaches how to copy and paste, take a screenshot or make text bigger or smaller. Finding Information, another category lists tutorials for getting driving instructions online, converting currency or checking the weather.

You can select one or multiple videos to send to a selected person. Once you have made the selection you get to preview the message and videos. You can actually preview each video before with a click on the small play icon to see if it teaches a concept that you want the person to learn more about.

You can go back and edit the message or enter your and the recipients email address to send it to them. The videos are included as links to YouTube in the email.

Here are two example videos from the selection:

The videos often recommend Google products but not all the time.The Change your default homepage video for instance demonstrates how it is done in Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. You can check out all videos and create your own message that you want to send to your parents or other people who need some tech lessons here.

What they’ve done is built a prosthetic chip that uses electrodes to expand and enhance the rat’s memory abilities. After studying chemical interactions that allow short-term learning and memorization they believed they had an idea how to make it work, and they’ve done it. The chip can receive and store neural signals. This allows rats to store what they learn in the devices and as a result, allows them to learn more and to remember it forever.

Dr. Bergers’s description of their success is exciting and, to be frank, maybe a little terrifying:
“Flip the switch on, and the rats remember. Flip it off, and the rats forget [...] These integrated experimental modeling studies show for the first time that with sufficient information about the neural coding of memories, a neural prosthesis capable of real-time identification and manipulation of the encoding process can restore and even enhance cognitive mnemonic processes.”

The implication of such technology is simply staggering. Imagine what this could mean for people with learning disabilities. Think of what it would mean for people affected by Alzheimer’s. The series of experiments being conducted by Dr. Berger’s team are, in a paper, being called “A Cortical Neural Prosthesis for Restoring and Enhancing Memory”. Currently the trials are working on the next step of development, reproducing the same results in monkeys.

It can’t be emphasized enough the astounding positive applications of technology such as this. On the other hand, humanity has a history of twisting profound discoveries into malicious applications (hello, Atom Bomb). If the potential in this technology could be realized for positive applications, the same must be said for its potential for abuse. Think about it, turn it on and it works, turn it off and they forget. I can see it now! Military applications alone would be a frightening thing.

Still, in a world where we see so much suffering, this development by Dr. Berger and his diligent team is surely something worth getting excited about. Treatments for malicious, memory fogging diseases, cognitive issues and more could be possible.
With refinement, it might even change the very face of education. Need to learn a language? No more DVD’s and headphones, folks, you can just download the Portuguese app and be on your way! Ah yes, the possibilities are endless and we’ve got stars in our eyes, waiting to see how this development progresses. You can read more at the source, or download the research paper until July 17 from here.

The online music streaming company stock opened at an impressive $20 per share, shooting up as high as $25 soon after trading began before quickly settling back down below open at $17.42. Pandora’s respectable $20 initial offering was much higher than expected in the months following the company’s announcement that it would begin trading on the stock exchange in February. Prices were initially set a paltry $9 per share, but increased last week to $10 to $12 each. The company priced its initial public offering at $16 per share the day before trading began.

As has been the case with other tech stocks, impressive early gains made by Pandora were quickly followed by decline to levels not far from opening prices. By the time of print, only one day after release, Pandora’s stocks were trading well below opening value at around $14.50 per share.

The release of Pandora stock into the market closely follows professional social marketing website LinkedIn’s initial public offering in May. Like Pandora, LinkedIn enjoyed considerable gains in early trading. Their stocks began with at an initial price of $45 per share before opening at a sky-high $86, closing the first day up 80% and wowing investors. Since then, however, prices have cooled considerably, falling to their current levels around $70 each.

Understanding what these numbers mean for the tech industry as a whole is a little more difficult. Rumblings have been growing pretty loud from technology news agencies and financial reporters alike about the possibility of a new tech bubble. The rapid incline of LinkedIn followed by gradual decline might be pointed to as evidence of such a bubble. Of course, others will simply brush such worries aside, labeling them as usual market fluctuations. Yet inflated valuations from Groupon and Twitter, both of which may be in the tens of billions, suggest that things may already be getting out of control.

What is clear, however, is that stock offerings are not a sure way for online companies to raise their valuation quickly. While larger, more powerful web-based companies have done extremely well in past years through such offerings, these latest releases show that such constant growth can no longer be taken for granted.

These events all ultimately build up to a hotly anticipated public release of Facebook stock… eventually. While the company has been expected to begin selling to the public sometime around April of 2012, when they will be forced to release financial information that makes an IPO more appealing, confusing showings from tech companies like Pandora may cause them to rethink any such plans. Additionally, new legislation may push back Facebook’s deadline to release those financial numbers, easing any pressure to preemptively offer public stock.

As more web companies enter the ring the viability of many tech companies may become more clear. If a bubble has indeed begun to grow, the attitudes of other companies will likely reflect the confidence of Pandora and Groupon in their public trading habits.

Moore’s Law states that the amount of transistors that can be placed on a circuit will double every two years. Intel’s announcement means they’re going to be able to keep developing technology that proves the law. Previously, transistors were placed on a circuit on a flat surface. This new technology means that is no longer the case. Therefore, there can be more transistors on each circuit.

Intel says that the costs should be minimal, both in terms of production and in terms of operation. The chips won’t cost much more to make than they currently do, and the heat production should not be all that much higher than it is with current chip technology.

The minimal costs in terms of production are outweighed by the benefits of this technology. The chips made using the new 22NM process and the 3d transistor technology will have lower voltage, lower leakage and more speed.

These chips will be used in desktops and laptops to begin with, probably in early 2012. They will increase performance even in larger data centers. But the real benefit of this technology will be in the mobile market. That is where Intel really needs to make strides if it wants to stay relevant. This technology will do it for them. It will mean a lot more power in the smaller footprint of mobile phones and tablets.

Seagate is also putting more power in a smaller package. They are now able to put one TB per platter in a 3.5 inch hard drive. This means that the hard drives have an impressive capacity of 625 GB per square inch. Within a few months you will be able to buy a 3.5” 3 TB hard drive. You can back up all of your data onto small hard drives that will fit just about anywhere.

You will be able to get the new drives in 1, 1.5, 2 and 3 TB sizes. Seagate has not yet released pricing on the drives.

Seagate and Intel are both thinking that smaller is better. This is because the trend to smaller and more mobile technologies is driving the industry as consumers become more likely to spend their money on laptops than desktops. Tablets and smartphones are becoming ever more commonplace. These two advancements show that companies are aware of the fact that people want to fit more power into smaller packages.

How have your computing habits changed in the last while? Are you going smaller? Do you find yourself using mobile devices to do tasks that you used to do on a desktop? Do you use a desktop or a laptop as your main computer?

The evolution of man was not enough to help him survive and thrive. He had to move out of his niche and metamorphose from a barbaric creature to a civilized one. He started to experiment with his immediate surroundings. The innate inquisitiveness of a human led him into knowing the mysteries surrounding nature. Gradually he learned to make use of them for his personal benefits. Fire provided him with warmth, water washed away his dirt, and animal hide protected him against the cold. He then moved from this primary ground knowledge to the more advanced level.

Creator’s creation – man became a creator himself. The invention of the wheel is one such invention that caused man’s pace of progress to dart towards ever soaring heights. Mankind was introduced to a new phenomenon of exhilarating comfort via the bullock cart, plow, and also the pulley wheel. The wheel made man free to move into a wider space of knowledge and resource. His energy came to be utilized then and he began to reap the rewards of his efforts.

This invention was conducive to growth and hence life began to be centered on it. It had many advantages. It proved to be a time saver and also reduced the mechanical effort by a large fraction. Also the output obtained had the best satisfaction level. The wheel made commuting short distances a pleasure and with this pleasure, mankind tried to seek more ways of getting benefit from it. Enter the joy of traveling. Traveling became a hassle free task. With the beginnings of primary globalization more and greater distances needed to be covered in the shortest time frame.

This resulted in the birth of a dimensionless pool of facts and their applications. It has since come to be known as Technology. It covers all the spheres of human development. The development that was a result of research, need and desire for progress.

Today we have innumerable options of employing technology in our travels. Each new gizmo or gadget tries to lure us with innumerable touts and examples of their respective benefits. The various offers do not seem to ever reach an endpoint. Each minute brings in a modified version of its half a minute elder sibling into the technical world. V1 leads to V2 and 1.0 leads to 2.5. And so it goes.

This makes traveling a well calculated affair. The race towards higher progress has been replaced by the race towards higher income. Hence the modern traveler is under both severe economic and time constraints. The best choice is for a a limited time only since it suffers constant competition from the others. The modern man is withering between his choices. To choose the best for all time is not possible because each has a built in obsolescence date which is a unique characteristic asset of its own.

The technology offered to travelers knows no bounds. To travel through air is equally convenient as compared to traveling through the gushing waters. Faster versus more comfortable. There can be no comparative grounds between a submarine and a Boeing. Of course submarine travel isn’t yet a commonplace situation, but perhaps it will be.Each has its own set of privilege and luxury. While one takes us into the heart of the ocean the other makes us fly through the vertical limits. Similarly the cost effectiveness of train travel has no meeting grounds with that of a cruise.

In a world such as ours it is important to give at least a semblance to maintaining the equilibrium level of income. Our democratic leaning world demands both more and higher public transport usage. Due to economic constraints we cannot afford to provide the entire population with equality of quality in the desired mode of travel. Hence the best technology for travelers is undoubtedly trains, trams, and buses. These offer the best combination of public accessibility, speed, and cost effectiveness.

Another very important factor is the geography of a place. This again narrows the spectrum of travel options. In Bhutan, for instance, the rocky terrain gives no way to the construction of railway tracks. Hence the best way to travel is via air or through government supported buses.

Traveling also offers the best means of recreation. Be it for a family tour or for business travel, there are an array of automobile options. The best technology available is private cars and private buses. The private sector has made a major contribution to each country’s aggregate transport system. To choose the best from the best travel deal is a tough choice.

In the present scenario, we hold witness of the fact that the world has awakened to global environmental concerns. There are many viable options of green automobiles that help us become agents of social change. The importance of renewable energy has been recognized. Finally, conventional fuel is starting to be replaced by energy efficient fuels that reduce poisonous emissions. Also we have an option of choosing from the solar cell operated vehicles. Thus less energy consuming technology becomes the best for travelers.

And as we come full circle, the bullock cart seems to be the best choice for reducing the rampant pollution level! Yet what was a boon for the ancient times does not fit into the modern lifestyle. The standard of life has risen. Life moves way ahead of the snail’s pace. Even a student today cannot travel without the school bus. We need to bring the most primary mode of travel into full swing. The multitude of traffic jams and the thronging crowd needs to be managed. The technology that best meets these demands is bicycle commuting.

Unlike the way a Mercedes pertains to the elite class, the use of bicycles is not confined to any such constraint. It has been used as a mode of travel by all classes. It is undoubtedly the best technology for travelers. The health benefit by cycling is icing on the cake. In addition, the low cost of its maintenance and easy handling makes it the best.

To choose the best technology for travelers means that we need to fulfill certain parameters. The personal choice of each individual plays a vital role. To choose one technology over the other does not necessarily make the chosen one the best. The rapid pace of advancement of technology itself offers tough competition to the existing tech. The human resources invested in industry is massive. As a result we constantly hear of new travel inventions each day. This holds good promise for the future. The world is looking forward to the ‘best’ technology with a universal appeal and practicality.

Man created a world of his own centered around the world’s creations. He found out the super formula of technology and continues to grow stronger by its use. Technology is all around us. It has a world of its own that is comfortable and offers a wide array of attractive options.

Technology made humans search new shores. The intensity of man’s travel has caused technology to prosper. This is of little significance as long as both are growing unhampered. The competition between the supremacy between technology and man does not hold any value until man’s intelligence continues to create an anti technology to curb its disastrous effects.

Naturally, the power to think and plan was imparted to human beings. This is the only factor that sets us apart from the other creatures of the living world. Vision, intelligence, organization and planning are hence the most fundamental essential for any long or short term plan. The journey of miles begins with a single step. Planning is the basic unit of a successful endeavor. Ferdinand Magellan didn’t go around the world just to quench his thirst of exploration and probably had a clear planned course of action. It is not possible in the current scenario.

With the earth being explored to its deepest cavern, there is no avenue left to be discovered. This helps us in making traveling a well calculated and planned event. This re –establishes the eminence of a thorough planning down to the minutest detail. Planning is an art acquired through experience and research. An effective plan is the one that gives ample space to each parameter offered in proportion to its importance quotient. A planned activity need not be conventional but is sure to be the most convenient one.

The planning done before traveling holds much value today, given the frequent business and family trips, under restrained time and money parameters. Technology that is known to make life easier for us makes the journey comfortable. We live in a technical world. So wherever we travel, planning and technology go together.

The technology that best suites the demands of travel should have the feature of being cost effective and handy. The smaller the gadget the higher its likeliness to be chosen as a travel partner. Mobile phones, iPods, mp3 players, video games, and laptops are the favorite companions of many. The planning that goes into taking them along does not require too much thinking. Travelers have learned to create extra space for them.

The long, rough, and unknown stretches can be easily crossed while listening to favorite tracks or while watching the favorite love classics for the nth time! This ensures that to have our favorite gadget is a must. Technology spins an individual’s home anywhere by surrounding him with his most used objects. This feeling of security escorts the traveler and makes him comfortable.

The mode of commuting is another subject of travel that requires effective planning. The chosen option should best suite an individual’s demands. Whether one wants to travel via air, train, or cruise has to be resolved before traveling. Technology cannot yet perceive the vague imaginations of a human mind; it is the slave of human actions. Hence its output will be satisfactory only when the best plan is applied to it.

Technology comes with a price tag. A hefty amount ensures a more self sufficient unit of technology. Traveling can become a dream come true experience only if the right situations are chosen. To be able to plan it all correctly means one can play the right cards at the right time. To travel with a costly airline that offers the best level of service to its customer is a boon for a lone traveler but can prove to be a problem if he chooses to travel with his entire family. He would rather plan to opt for an airline that offers cost effective family trips.

Similarly a tiny electric rod used for making tea and warming milk can help prevent travelers from suffering severe pangs of hunger. This is cost effective as well. The pain relief sprays, thermometer, and acupuncture gadgets for seniors, if carried on a travel junket can continue to provide them with comfort in every situation. Electrically heated blankets can protect against jaw dropping cold climates.

There are several life saving kits available today to be used in case of mishaps. A good travel plan should be able to provide benefit even in the worst situation. Also its effect should be aimed not only to aid an individual, but it should be such that fellow travelers are equally benefited by it.

Technology and planning both are raised to another level if one travels for adventure. Mountain cyclists have to be well equipped with the best time repair gadgets. Similarly the jungle safari traveler needs to have the best pair of binoculars to get the best views. Mountaineers require the best travel suits that protect them against altitude sickness.

Traveling at the fastest pace no longer is the demarcation between a winner and an average player. It is the perfection of planning and organization that finally bags the prize. Hence it can be concluded that the adoption of a certain technology can prove to be thoroughly useful only if the requisite planning is done effectively. Also this choice varies for every individual traveler. Yet the central idea of planned travel remains unchallenged. Make your plan and then stick to it.
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First of all, size. I mean the iPhone looks great (why they left 3G out of the first one is a mystery), it performs great, but personally, I have about as much use for it as my old Nokia 3310. Whatever people say, I can’t browse the web properly on a monitor the size of my palm. Sure, some apps are great, like Remember the Milk and whatnot, but I have no chance of working from an iPhone, the only thing it can be used for efficiently is some light browsing and movie playing on the go. For me the iPhone is an extremely cool phone, but just a phone.

Laptops have been getting smaller and smaller as well, with the new mini Notebooks. However, these aren’t really powerful, and the monitor is again, very small. I can’t help but look upon these notebooks as travel accessories, better they steal my $350 EEE PC, than my $1,500 Thinkpad. Don’t get me wrong, these notebooks are great as well, but they don’t serve such a general purpose as their bigger brothers.

So where is the industry going to go? People like me who work on their laptops and need at least 12″ – 14″ will be left wanting for a while. Short of wiring the thing into my brain (I’d love to type with my thoughts) I think the “easiest” way things will become smaller is they will be foldable. They’ve already made some advances, sheet thin monitors you can roll up and so on. I mean 50% or my laptop is the monitor, the other 30% is the keyboard. I’ve already seen projected keyboards, coupled with a foldable monitor you could put the thing in your coat pocket.

My other question is, how fast can the internet get? There is only such a speed at which speed actually matters. After internet bandwidth (and laptop speed) surpass human perception speeds the bandwidth won’t matter for the average user. However where will they take this next? Will we be using the internet to transport objects Start Trek style? Will we have holo-projectors instead of webcams? In the end you wouldn’t need a laptop, you can project the image of one (as small or as big as you want) and coupled with motion sensors, use it without it actually being there.

Also, where will Google be in 20 years? Will Sergey Brin and Larry Page be sitting on Mars in a throne dedicated to their wisdom? I doubt it, but how far can they expand? It seems like whatever they touch turns to gold, 90% of all their products are awesome, surpass any other commercial producer, and they give us all these things for free. Will they keep their position as the rulers of the search engine market, will someone come up with something better? With microtagging and web semantics building up, I think they just might face some opposition, although I think they’re working on their stuff all the time, and they don’t seem to be afraid of change, so they’ll be tough to crack.

What do you think about all this? In 20 years will I be typing on the head of a needle and looking at a monitor the size of my left kidney cell? Will I be teleporting out of an internet connection near you? And finally, will I be paying my bills to the all-ruling Google?

Words are chosen by probability and suggest alternatives which more often than not make more sense than the first word. This introduces a new technique to spy on users without having to actually access the computer at all, all that is needed is a good view of the hands and the measure of the keyboard.

The second spy tech could come right out of the latest James Bond movie. The researchers at Saarland University managed to write a computer algorithm that is capable of interpreting reflections of the computer screen on objects. The quality of the telescope plays an important role, a normal $500 telescope was able to read 12 point fonts of a reflection that was 5 meters away from the computer and 198 point fonts from a distance of ten meters.

A more powerful Dobson telescope for $27500 was able to yield the same results from a maximum distance of 30 meters. Other tests allowed the researchers to view the monitor from a white wall that was 2 meters away from the computer screen.

The best way to defeat the techniques ? Don’t access a computer in public, always close the curtains when working with your computer and make sure no cameras are installed in the room with a computer.

Newspond uses a sophisticated algorithm to compute news popularity which will determine if an article will make the frontpage or not. Popularity goes up and down and this is considered in the algorithm, each article has a popularity trend that goes either up, down or stagnates.

Users can comment on stories and the comment function looks a lot nicer than that of Digg. Comments are threaded and the comment section uses Ajax to display everything without reloading the page. Nice and clean.

Talking about design. This site does look fantastic and it uses the latest technologies to increase usability. I’m not that of a design freak because I think that content is far more important but this design sticks out.

A major feature that I wanted to see implemented at Digg for a long time is the bundling of sources for a news story. If something important happens in the world you see dozens of stories at Digg that are all related to the same subject. Newspond lists all those sources under one story headline which is far cleaner and better. Some stories have more than 50 sources and users can really read some or even all of them to inform themselves.

The only thing that I would criticize at the moment is the lack of information. The about page is not really revealing lots of information about the algorithm, how articles are found, how and which websites are used as sources and the like. More information would be crucial for success. Oh, and I was not able to register. It told me that I would receive a confirmation email but I did not receive on until now.

I’m however never satisfied until I know them all which is why I decided to make this post. I add five blogs to the list that I read on a daily basis and would like to receive hundreds of comments with tech blogs that you do read on a daily basis. This way we could create the ultimate collection of worthy tech blogs – would not that be fun..

Here we go, my top five technology blogs that I read: (in no particular order)

Connected Internet – one of my favorite blogs run by my friend Everton. He concentrates on Gadgets and Monetization but writes about other techy stuff as well.
Donation Coder – the blog is awesome with great topics mostly taken right from their well frequented forum. They do create applications as well.
Cybernet News – awesome blog with lots of great articles. Writes about the same stuff that I write about.
Download Squad – another great blog that concentrates on software, web services and general tips.
Digital Alchemy – a blog that is a little bit more on the dark side if you know what I mean. I love the dark side, hehe.