All posts by Scott Meisner

Halo: Reach screenshots, details leaked

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Major League Gaming forum member “ToM MoReLLo” claims to have leaked some screenshots from Bungie’s highly anticapted Halo: Reach, the next installment in the Halo first-person shooter series.  In the post MoReLLo shares information on new weapons and mission descriptions that relate to the events that happened in first Halo novel, Halo: The Fall of Reach.  Though these images could all be fakes they look pretty legitimate to me, especially with all the other details surfacing with them.  Bungie plans on unveiling the Halo: Reach beta to the masses (or everyone who purchased Halo 3: ODST and received an invite code) in 2010.

[Via Gamespot]

Wireless body monitoring system tracks vital signs, sends to phone

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Clinical trails have begun for Sensium, a wireless body monitoring system that “monitors multiple vital signs, including skin temperature, heart rate and respiration.”  Basically, Sensium is a “disposable digital plaster,” or Band-Aid-like patch, that is applied to a patient’s body.  The patch contains a power source and sensors inside it that track a patient’s health and sends the gathered data to the doctor’s PDA or smartphone.  Sensium is being described as cheap, disposable, long-lasting, intelligent, and efficient way for doctors to keep track of the patient’s health.  What differentiates this product from the current way of monitoring patients is that it allows patients to be much more mobile and free to move around the hospital (compared to the bulky, expensive, and wired methods of today).  Check out the full press release after the break.

[Via Engadget; SingularityHub]

Continue reading Wireless body monitoring system tracks vital signs, sends to phone →

Inflatable seat belts are coming

Cars, Technology, Video, , ,

Have you ever wondered how our protective friend the seat belt could get any safer (and more annoying)?  Ford is answering the call with the introduction of inflatable seat belts:

Ford Motor Company is bringing to market the worlds first automotive inflatable seat belts, combining attributes of traditional seat belts and air bags to provide an added level of crash safety protection for rear seat occupants.  The advanced restraint system is designed to help reduce head, neck and chest injuries for rear seat passengers, often children and older passengers who can be more vulnerable to such injuries.
Ford will introduce inflatable rear seat belts on the next-generation Ford Explorer, which goes into production next year for the North American market. Over time, Ford plans to offer the technology in vehicles globally.

[Via Engadget; YouTube]

The Dubai Fountain is world’s tallest, most expensive

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The Dubai Fountain, designed by WET Design.

It’s “illuminated by 6,600 lights and 50 colored projectors; 900 feet long; shoots water 490 feet into the air; and is synchronized with classical and contemporary Arabic and world music.  It’s located right by the Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest building.  Oh, and it cost $217 million to build.

[Via Gizmodo; Wiki]

Whale-inspired pavilion to unite us all

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“Fluid,” designed by Australian architects Peddle Thorp.

Fluid, a pavilion shaped like a whale, is currently under contruction and being built for World Expo 2012 in Yeosu, South Korea.

“The architects hope the design will draw attention to the preservation of oceans and ecosystems, and encourage greater collaboration between Asian and Pacific countries.”  It’s been reported that there is no information whether or not Fluid will make it to the US.  Because it can float from harbor to harbor around the world and hold various events inside it.

[Via Gizmodo; SoftSailor]

Jemaine Clement talks future of Flight of the Conchords (forecast: gloomy)

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Jemaine Clement of Flight of the Conchords fame has stated that his comedic duo (which also includes Bret McKenzie) “very likely might not” return to HBO for a third season of critically acclaimed and hilarious Flight of the Conchords.  The reason?  Family commitments.  Clement on the matter: “Bret and I are both fathers.  We know if we take on another season, that means we’re not gonna see our family for a year.”  Clement now stars in the movie Gentleman Broncos  and states that starring in a movie is a much different experience than making and starring in a TV series: “Films actually don’t take a lot of time, but TV shows are so fast-paced. Even though they’re both acting, they’re almost totally different jobs.  People think actors wanna move to film because it’s high profile, and I don’t think that’s the reason. I think it’s simply that they have more free time.”  He also adds: “We’ve got to write the series, but we’ve also got to write the songs, and just dividing your time into those two writing tasks is really tricky.”

Though Flight of the Conchords the series might be over, Clement added that “It could come back in a shorter season or like a special.”  It’s also good to know that HBO has left the door open for them to return; HBO spokeswoman Nancy Lesser: “We’ve left their future entirely in their hands. “We would love to have more…”

I’ll take FOTC in any form, whether it be a shorted season, a holiday special, or whatever.  For now, enjoy seasons one & two on DVD and their two studio albums, and let’s look forward to playing some FOTC tracks on Rock Band soon!

[Via NY Mag, here & here; Yahoo]