Project Natal: Microsoft Comes Out with a New "Controllerless" Gaming System

This "Project Natal" thingy looks way cooler than the Nintendo Wii. There is no chance of Wii remote flying though your $1500 TV. Well I guess there is always the possibility of someone getting way into the game and taking that flat panel out with their bare hands. Also there is no getting away with playing tennis sitting on the couch just flicking your wrist. You actually have to get up and move. It has a little camera that's watching you and a mic that is listening to every word you say so you can't cheat. It might just be that the government is buying stock in Microsoft to watch us, or maybe Microsoft is going to be the new government. If they are that might not be such a back thing.

From what I understand this Project Natal gaming system is not on track to come out this year, but hopefully it will be reaching a store near you soon. I would have thought that they would try to do a product launch sometime around Christmas this year if they are announcing it now for hype, but your guess is as good as mine. I wonder how much this gaming system/extension for the xbox 360 will cost. I say "extension" because it almost looks like its an addition of some sort to the xbox 360, but I really don't know. If that is the case then it might make it a bit more affordable. Any who, check out these video clips and let me know what you think or if any of you guys know any more about it.

Project Natal Video Clips

Creating something of value

It seems all to often that we has humans we tend to focus on the problems. We try to blame others or even ourselves for our problems. Anyone that watches or reads the news can see this negativity is deeply rooted in our society. Very rarely do you see them cover the solutions to these problems. Which is understandable. How do you stop the horrible acts of violence and injustice that happen every day. One may feel that they are hopeless and cannot make a different. While others will try to analysis the cause of these problems which usually only ends with finger pointing. I have been guilty of both.

I personally have tried more recently to focus on the solutions. I believe there are solutions. Sometimes the solutions exist but is not being implemented. Some solutions do not exist...right now. These must be created. It is time that we stop "taking a vacation from our problems" and start creating solutions. Creative solutions are needed for the problems in our personal lives and for the global problems that plague the lives of so many.

This video was created by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was taken from a an address given to the women of the church but the principle taught is for both male and female.

We have the power to create. Men and women together have the power to create life. With that we also have the power to improve our lives and others for the better.

Please leave your comments and thoughts below on how we can create solutions.

Virus Powered Cars

Sounds a little crazy to be flying down the highway in a vehicle powered by little tiny virus..... well that is not exactly how it works.

Some researchers at MIT are developing a battery they say is "grown" by a modified M13 virus. The virus grows proteins on carbon nanotubes which attracts amorphous iron phosphate. I guess you can make really small batteries. I wonder how much energy could be stored in these little things. One article I read said it is suppose to be comparable to lithium-ion batteries yet cheaper to make and more environmentally friendly.

It is only in the early stages of development. I wonder what problems they might face with this technology. For one, Carbon nanotubes are expensive to make. I can't imagine that those small nanotubes and proteins with iron phoshate are very robust as far as shock resistance or durability, but really I don't know. If they were that fragile my dream of virus powered car could not be realized. If you could make them really small and durable cell phones might be a good use. The sky is the limit.

In my opinion battery technology used today really has not advanced much in the last 100 years or so. If you compare progress made in other areas of science and engineering like electronics and genetics you will see that we are still in the stone age when it comes to storing and discharging electricity.

The question I have about this whole thing is who is the guy that thought of the idea to genetically engineer a virus to make a tiny battery. Either they stumbled upon it or some geeky MIT genetics engineer was high while he was brain storming for ideas to research.

Here is the link to the article- "Viruses used to Grow Greener Batteries"

Here is another link that explains how it works- "Viruses Used to Build Tiny Batteries"