Sports Games Going Down the Tube?

I used to play video games a lot before I got to Ohio State, and still enjoy them when I have some free time. One genre of video games though that has become more and more disappointing each year is sports games. Granted, developers can only do so much before changing the rules of the game itself, but something needs to be done to innovate this genre.

Each franchise comes out with a yearly video game for its sport. The problem is, usually nothing has changed. Yeah the graphics are slightly better, the rosters are updated, and if you are lucky, maybe one or two new features. But other than that, the game stays the same. I don't know about you, but I don't think this is worth 60 bucks.

I think companies need to either start coming out with new features each year, lower the price significantly, or turn videogames into an every other year release style. I think the last idea would work the best. This way companies like EA Sports ( who makes a game each year for just about every sport you can imagine) can spend more developing time on each game.

Hybrids may not be the way to go

A new company called Transonic Combustion in California is attempting to show the world that hybrid cars may not be the way of the future after all. Using new technology and a 100% gas fueled engine, the company has been able to achieve up to 64 miles per gallon, quite a bit more than the Toyota Prius' 48.

The technology behind Transonic Combustion's breakthrough is getting the gasoline into a supercritical state before combustion. This is done by applying pressure and heat to the gas before igniting it. This enhances the energy harnessed, thus requiring less gasoline to travel from Point A to Point B.

Although these new engines are not currently in any cars available for purchase, I am excited about this. I personally could never see my self driving a Prius. They are weak and slow...not to mention just plain ugly I think. Who knows, maybe soon we will be able to get 100 miles per gallon the way things are going.

Flexible Display Screens

Flexible displays are a new breakthrough in technology expected to be seen commercially within the next 1-2 years. The possibilities with a flexible computer or tv screen are endless. The digital folding newspapers seen in the movie Minority Report could be a reality in a few years. Right now the focus of this technology is on computers, small display monitors, and cellphones. Personally I would like to see it used for television.

Could you imagine climbing into a small chamber wallpapered with flexible display screens? Coupled with surround sound, watching a movie becomes as real as it can possibly get without actually living the events yourself. I couldn't really fathom watching a movie where I have a full 360 degree view of everything that is happening. Im not even sure how something like that would be filmed.

This technology could also be used in video games. Although it wouldnt create a true virtual reality game, it would be a pretty close substitute and would definitely be sweet.

Technology Brings Safer Wars?

A new bomb called the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb is expected to play a huge role in future wars to come. Weighing in at 250 pounds, it is not only lighter than most aircraft bombs to date, but also delivers a smarter and more dangerous explosive charge. It is more deadly than most charges, while being contained in a much smaller radius. This greatly reduces collateral damage in a time where wars are being fought in the heart of cities.

You always hear people talking about how advances in technology are making wars more devastating. Its good to finally hear about an innovation that, although still using deadly force, uses it in such a way that reduces the possibility of innocent casualties.


http://www.futurefirepower.com/small-diameter-bomb-gbu-39

The Future of Video Games

In the online news article The Future of Video Game Input: Muscle Sensors, the author discusses a new technology utilizing Electromyography sensors hooked up to a person's forearms. These sensors detect the muscle movement and converts it to an electronic signal. These signals can be used for pretty much anything you could imagine. A video in the article shows a man playing Guitar Hero hooked up to the device. He is strumming the air with one hand and holding different fingers together to control the frets. Even though he does not have a guitar controller in his hand, his muscle movements are converted to a signal which the game is adapted to recognize, and his movements show up on the screen as he plays the song.
Although the article focuses on more novelty uses of the technology, it could have many far more important uses. A surgeon could control miniature tools using a hands free input. The muscle data could be used to design robotic implants and prosthetics. With Bluetooth are phones are already hands-free, but in the next ten years, with this technology, who knows what other daily tasks will be hands-free? I would enjoy a virtual tv remote that you can flip the channels with and not have to worry about losing under the couch.