It’s a disputable date of birth, depending on how we interpret the term internet. One thing for sure, the internet has come a long way to become what it is today. Sharing an enlightening video, a brief history of the internet…

[video by Melih Bilgil, more history of the internet on Wiki]

As convenient as it is, I always wonder if our lives would be a bit more interesting without internet… it took away some excitement of learning and discovery, as information becomes a bit too accessible imo, almost effortless.

Internet’s 40th anniversary, a brief history from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Ramen-bot, robots make noodles in Tokyo restaurant from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Developed by Norway based Prox Dynamics, the spy-copter aims to become the world’s smallest and most capable Unmanned Aircraft System for close range surveillance and inspection.

And if the Black Hornet fails to live up to its expectation, the company can choose to reinvent the copter into an expensive toy instead… bet that it’s going to become a global hit.

Black Hornet – world’s smallest spy-copter from YeinJee's Asian Journal

If you have never read anything from Einstein or Hawking and could understand the video in one shot… congrats, you are probably a genius ;)

Wormhole, space travel, time travel from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Two-seated Segway concept car from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Singapore and Korea are second and third respectively on the chart, but significantly behind Japan in numbers [illustration by Mike Vella; more on IEEE]

Japan has highest industrial robot density from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Besides saving phone users some hassles, the specifications for the new device also include a 50% reduction in standby energy consumption.

The micro-USB connector (pic) will be used as the common charging interface.

Firms to back the plan include Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, LG, T-Mobile, Orange, 3, AT&T and Vodafone [more on BBC and Telegraph]

They should have done this long time ago; I guess it’s better late than never.

Mobile phone makers plan universal charger from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Looks kinda cool… question is, how much would it cost?

LG watch phone from YeinJee's Asian Journal

The 1968 wooden mouse (Image from Bootstrap Institute)

The basic fundamentals of the mouse we use today are about the same as the 1968 invention, but the usage of the mouse wasn’t popularised until more than a decade later since its first introduction. It seems like nobody is really sure though… on who came out with the nickname Mouse.

Personal thanks to Mr Engelbart and his team; computing experience wouldn’t be the same without these technology pioneers.

Computer mouse celebrates 40th birthday from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Developed by Suntory Flowers, the roses are genetically modified and implanted with a gene that simulates the synthesis of blue pigment in pansies.

The first blue rose was created in 2004, but further research was required to make them safe to grow in nature.

The Suntory rose made its public debut at the 5th International Flower Expo Tokyo (IFEX) over the weekend; and are expected to go on sale commercially next autumn.

Blue roses have been available in florists in recent years but are created by various dying techniques to stain the petals of naturally white roses. The Suntory roses are believed to be the first genetically-modified blue rose creations [more on Telegraph]

Roses are blue from YeinJee's Asian Journal

The first phase of the project cost about 9 million Euros and generates power using 3 Pelamis Wave Energy Converters (PWEC) which are semi-submerged, articulated structures composed of cylindrical sections linked by hinged joints and are located approximately 3 miles off the coast.

The second phase of the project will install a further 25 PWEC and bring the total capacity up to 21MW, which will be able to meet the average annual electricity demand for more than 15,000 Portuguese households while displacing more than 60,000 tonnes per year of carbon dioxide emissions from conventional power plants.

Video below shows how the PWEC works…

UK will be the next to embrace the wave power with the Orcadian Wave Farm in northern Scotland and the Westwave project in Cornwall, southwestern England.

Portugal launched world’s first wave farm from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Mental strength, health condition, body weight, climates and some other factors play their part in determining the survival length; under optimal circumstances a person could live without food for 6-8 weeks or even longer in extreme cases.

I am not sure if there’s any official record for the longest survival without food; the longest record that I managed to find is 73 days during the 1981 Irish hunger strike. A total of 10 prisoners had died after 46 to 73 days of starvation in the strike.

Laurence McKeown survived the strike for 70 days, which could be the record for the longest period for a person to live without food and still surviving.

How long can a person live without food? from YeinJee's Asian Journal

The LHC was built by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and lies underneath the Franco-Swiss border near Geneva, Switzerland. It is funded by and built in collaboration with more than 8000 physicists from over 85 countries as well as hundreds of universities and laboratories.

Read the rest of this post »

The Large Hadron Collider begins action from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Google claims that the new and free browser is more stable, faster, safer, simpler and more efficient (than Internet Explorer, although they didn’t mention the name). You can read more about the idea behind Google Chrome via Google’s comic books if you are into techie stuff.

Google said that the Chrome is meant to add value for users and is just another option that could help drive innovation on the web. While the statement is not untrue, the rivalry between Google and Microsoft for online dominance is heightened obviously.

Internet Explorer still dominates the web browser usage around the world; it’s estimated that 75% of the web surfers are using IE.

The BETA version of Chrome is available for download for Windows user only at the moment. I am testing the browser now… at first glance, it’s a bit too simple for my liking, although simplicity is one of its advantages that Google has stressed about.

Google released Chrome web browser from YeinJee's Asian Journal

I don’t have a Wii, I don’t have an iPod and my cellphone can’t take pictures… these top 5 gadgets seem a bit futuristic to me… I think I am getting old lol.

Top 5 best gadgets of 2008 from YeinJee's Asian Journal

The materials do not occur naturally but have been created on a nano scale, measured in billionths of a metre. The team says the principles could one day be scaled up to make invisibility cloaks large enough to hide people. [more on BBC]

Harry Potter’s fans must be so excited about the news. I am a bit worried on contrary, sometimes I just feel that the technology developments are a bit overwhelming to handle… I think I am getting old.

Invisible cloak is not just a dream from YeinJee's Asian Journal