Image via Flickr
While some people were concerned with the Mayan apocalypse and while others were focused on an impending zombie infestation, there’s been only one time bomb that’s been ticking in my mind: what if the Internet crashed?
Well, Scientist Danny Hillis confirmed my worst nightmare in a TED Talk: “There’s a lot of bad guys on the Internet these days,” he says. “We’re setting ourselves up for a kind of disaster…we’ve expanded it way beyond the limits of how it’s meant to operate.” We depend on the Internet constantly. We can’t fly a plane without it. We need it when we pump gas. The police department can’t call the fire department if the Internet is down.
We need a plan B, says Hillis, because right now there isn’t one. And that’s scary.
Image via Flickr
I’ve complained plenty about smartphone etiquette, from how to stop texting during dinner to why you shouldn’t post that pic. But these ideas are more than just opinions. When some of these rules are broken, the law is broken and other times people might get broken.
That’s where ORIGOSafe comes in. It’s a device that prevents drivers from texting while driving. The car won’t even start until drivers insert their smartphone into a slot that looks somewhat like a cassette player. It charges the phone and accepts calls via Bluetooth. Drivers who remove their phone from the slot will be faced with an alarm, but that’s not all; a notification will be sent to the administrator, most likely a parent. Uh oh.
It’s not long before texting while driving becomes illegal everywhere. Do you agree? Read more at Mashable.
The future is roaring back to life. Markets, industries, innovation—all are rebounding from one of the worst recessions in history. But the optimism is cautious. We know we are not invincible. We know things need fixing. Now is not the time for small advances and gradual improvements.
Now is the time for big ideas—ideas that can change the world.
Such breakthroughs rarely happen incrementally. They come all at once, often from the least likely places. They are the very definition of disruptive innovation. It takes vision to see them, to participate in them, to harness their potential. It requires a willingness to blow up established products, markets, and companies.
This year’s WIRED Business Conference is about hunting big game. It’s about sparking revolutionary change. It’s about people who are trying to reinvent the building blocks of business and culture. Luckily, new technologies are making this easier than ever. From major corporations to driven individuals, anyone can make a huge difference. Come see how people with wild ambition—and the tenacity to back it up— are changing everything. It’s a day guaranteed to make you think bigger.
This year’s speakers include:
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Executive Editor, The New York Times
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Cofounder & Co-CEO, Warby Parker
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Chairman & CEO, Qualcomm
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Corporate VP for Windows, Microsoft
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President & CEO, Yahoo!
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Founder & CEO, BuzzFeed
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Cofounder, Medium & Twitter
Are you a part of Cornell NYC? If yes, you qualify for the discounted rate: $1,595 ($600 savings). To register, visit wiredbusinessconference.com/register.html
CLICK: “REGISTER NOW”
USE: “THINK13” as your Invitation Code and choose “Invited Guest” as your Registration Type. When you reach the payment step, use “CNYCGUEST” as your Discount Code.
We hope to see you there!
A razor is an essential part of a gentleman’s arsenal, however, not all blades are created—or designed—equal. And, being a Digital Gentleman is all about honing in on the details. With this in mind, you need to choose your tools wisely, and in my case, I always take leads from the pros—especially when it comes to a blade I’ll be using on my face. After all, here’s something no one has said ever, “Razor burn is hot” (or cool, for that matter).
For one, there’s nothing unmanly about a gentle shave: It’s like being chivalrous to your sensitive skin. It’s also about looking sharp, without looking like you’re trying too hard, which is why I like the award-winning Gillette® Fusion® ProGlide™ Power Razor. Its advanced low-resistance coating reduces tug-and-pull drastically, and its micro-thin blades are thinner than a surgeon’s scalpel—which is probably why it’s the #1 razor recommended by dermatologists.
But, of course, I also have to admit I like the super-sexy design. This sleek silver-colored handle with an ergonomic grip stands out from the primary-school-colored razors on the shelf at my local drugstore. Sure it looks like the race-cars of razors, but it also performs like a step up, providing great control, and a deft balance of weight that makes it easy to handle. Gillette® Fusion® ProGlide™ Power Razor is one smooth operator for my sensitive skin.
Image via Uncrate
Our phones have no problem getting us to bars. Tap an app, ask Siri, Google Map it, and let the libations flow. Hell, even after you get there, there’s plenty of apps to help keep the good time going.
But what about after the lights come on, the music stops, and you’ve got to get back (and your trusty DD ditched your sorry butt)? Should you really be driving after that second mimosa, big boy?
Breathometer is more than an app. A little keychain-sized box plugs into your phone and interacts with a discerning app to determine whether you’re good to drive or whether it’s time to call a cab. Just blow into it and Breathometer becomes like a state trooper in your pocket. Be smart. Or at least smartphone.
Now about that lady friend you just picked up — you’re on your own.
Image via Kottke
New York City has a Kickstarter. OK, not really—but hear me out. Filmmaker Samuel Orr’s got an amazing film that captures the majesty that is a Big Apple day in three minutes. Using time-lapse, tilt-shift, and a taute audiotrack, Orr’s short film pays tribute to major New York spots: Manhattan Bridge, Times Square, and Grand Central, amongst others. All in just a bit over 180 seconds.
The film spans just one day, but Orr has plans to shoot a New York year. Jump on it and help kick start the big city.
Image via Sun Sentinel
I’ve somewhat established myself as the resident social media skeptic. And while that seems impossible to imagine given the power of social, there are still brands that just aren’t on Facebook or Twitter.
There are some obvious ones like Viagra or Marlboro. It would be hard to picture a Marlboro Facebook page that wasn’t almost entirely trolls. And major FDA rules keep pharma off social media.
But probably the biggest absence is Apple. It seems weird, but actually, it makes perfect sense. The brand is so disciplined and manicured that having a Twitter account would just mess with it’s super-clean aesthetic.
Read more at Mashable.
Image via Instagram
Here’s something: last week Justin Bieber turned Instagram into a blogging platform.
On Thursday afternoon the world’s most famous YouTube discovery posted a black and white photo of himself in front of some adoring fans. Nothing out of the ordinary there, until you hover over the picture and reveal the caption: a 300+ word message denying rumors of rehab and thanking fans for their support. As of yesterday this “caption” had 65,000 comments.
It’s a blog post, wrapped in an image, embedded in a tweet.That same Instagram link, shared on Bieber’s Facebook page (almost 52 million Likes), generated just 3,500 comments in comparison. Perhaps the price Facebook paid for Instagram wasn’t all that outrageous after all.
Image via Instructables
I’ve fallen in love with more than a few retro bubblegum machines while browsing antique stores. But I could never come up with a good enough reason to buy one. What would I use it for? Now I know – swap the gum for fish. Genius!
Instructables user aloew transformed a Craigslist find into awesome aquarium. You’ll need a round glass gumball machine, glass cutters (or a good glass shop), and a drill to make a hole for your power cord. The project begins to take shape with a small aquarium filter, silicone aquarium sealant, and an LED Betta light for your new fish friend.
Read the full tutorial here.
Image via Kickstarter
The guys at Party Robotics first turned water into wine. Now that they’ve master that holy act, they’ve moved onto another saintly cause: automating alcoholic beverages.
Bartendro is an open-source cocktail dispensing robot that is very near its goal on Kickstarter. It’s like the Keurig of cocktails and it brings professional quality drinks into your home. It can easily make 200 drinks per night, it takes ten seconds per drink, and the machine is lightweight enough to be transportable.
In the future, bars could automate ordering and paying, and even regulate how many drinks are allowed per hour. If I were a bartender, I’d be shaking my cocktails a little faster right now.
