Welcome to the future

These are a pretty novel idea; rather than using up ground-space to build parks, build huge towers and build them on top of those. They were designed with places like Tokyo in mind, where they don’t have the land to rip down buildings for a park or a greenbelt. The towers would feature grass, fountains, benches… everything you could want in a park, except for that non-terror inducing “being at ground level” thing that usual parks have. To be honest, I don’t think I will be playing catch 10 stories off the ground, I would most likely lay spread eagle in the grass, praying a strong gust of wind doesn’t dash my body on the streets below. Also keep in mind that these were built with Tokyo in mind, a giant city in a country notorious for earthquakes.

On the other hand, the towers are also meant to provide shade and collect rainwater, so they aren’t all terror-games and terrified tourists. Time will tell if this or any of the other bear fruit, but the world will be a cooler place if they do.

Okay, so this is less of a city and more of a societal restructuring. The Venus project is an attempt to get the world to start thinking green and sustainable. It is also built on the philosophy that we as a species would progress more efficiently if we weren’t so profit minded; if technology progressed independent of profit, we would see more and more profound leaps forward. There is definitely logic in this way of thinking; plenty of superior technologies have been stifled due to companies with more money squashing smaller but more capable competition. Unfortunately, those that have power like to keep it, so that does not bode well for this concept. It sure does sound a lot like Starfleet from Star Trek, where there is no money and everyone lives in a happy world, except we would be lacking Klingons and green alien women who want to sleep with captains and eat everyone in a red shirt. On the other hand, we had a similar concept take hold after the Bolshevik Revolution, and it didn’t work out so well.

Of course, the USSR didn’t have city boats so maybe all will be well this time around.

Here’s what they want to do with this thing, in no particular order:

• two five-star hotels • performing arts centre • retail complex • two office towers • residential properties • convention centre • observatory tower • parking space • monorail transportation • public arena

That is ambitious to say the least. The entire thing is designed to cover 860 square kilometers (534 square miles), which has managed to piss off a large number of locals. Unfortunately, the folks in charge of the project were “undemocratic” in their decision making process, so the angry public blocked their efforts to get started. As for now, nothing has been started, but there is some back and forth going on, with the people who want to build it being a bit more forthcoming with their information about what is going on, and a media blackout against those who oppose it. In the end, let’s hope that if they do manage to build it, no one gets hurt and everyone benefits. (Sparkles and sunshine for everyone!)

This is the brainchild of significantly more grounded and forward thinking people. Building has actually begun, and the concept is a lot less ridiculous than a floating nation. There are 10 main buildings, referred to as “tall ships” that are actually apartment buildings, and an eleventh called the “lighthouse” that is a hotel. The whole thing is located near the sea, with great views, and follows a nautical theme. The apartment buildings are named after major port cities (Dubai, Monte Carlo and Miami, for example) and are built facing the direction of the city they are named after.

It’s nice to see that someone in the world not only has a crazy idea, but that it is a smart idea and is actually going through with it. Of course, with my luck, someone will screw up, they’ll pull the plug and I will look like an idiot. (However, I beat them to that years ago)

The original idea here is inspired; a giant mile long ship that contains everything people might need to survive, apartments, commercial space, docks, an airstrip. The idea was for Freedom ship to be an independent nation and reside out in international waters, circumnavigating the globe every 3 years. Communication with the outside world would be limited to boat trips and small aircraft flights. Unfortunately, Freedom Ship never really got going. The people who conceived it had a hard time raising the billions of dollars needed to build a 1 mile long boat, and the cost only continues to rise with each passing year thanks to inflation.

Then there is the fact that the company trying to put it together has been mired with controversy. As of March of this year, they still haven’t begun building anything, despite the fact that they have been accepting down payments from people who were interested in living on it. They also have released very little information about how they actually expect to accomplish their goals, leading many to believe the whole thing is just a big scam. Press like that makes it hard to raise a few billion, especially when these days people are reluctant to throw down a few grand on even a “sure thing”.

Designed to go up in Seoul South Korea, these things are being developed as a communal park/living space/commercial space. It is being referred to as “sustainable” implying that the people who live here will have little need for the outside world and will only have to come out if they want to. Given the fact that South Korea is about the most video-game crazy nation on earth, it stands to reason that if the community here has an internet connection, they may begin to evolve into a separate species. The project is also being called “Seoul Commune 2006″, implying that they have 16 years to get it put together.

The buildings as you can see are being designed to use lattice-like geometric shapes to allow airflow as well as maximum strength while using a minimum of materials. And yes, they are green because they will be covered in plants. Let’s just hope for their sake that they don’t experience any swarms of Japanese beetles, otherwise they could be the world’s first community wiped out by a garden pest.

The sometimes annoying, but frankly indispensable computer aid has spared billions of typographical blushes.

Now, an ingenious prototype pen developed by a German start-up is promising to give our longhand writing a similar sort of safety net.

Lernstift (German for "learning pen") is a digital pen with a difference, carrying not only ink inside its casing but also a tiny computer that alerts users to spelling errors.

Daniel Kaesmacher, co-founder of Lernstift told CNN: "Basically there are two functions. The calligraphy mode which helps you correct individual letters, and the orthography mode which vibrates when a word is misspelled."

The AAA battery-powered Linux computer includes a vibration module and a patent pending non-optical motion sensor which recognizes specific movements and shapes of letters and words.

The pen employs a menagerie of sensors, including a gyroscope (for measuring orientation), accelerometer (for calculating propulsion) and magnetometer (a device that measures the strength and direction of magnetic fields) --all to calculate the pen's 3-D movements.

Interactive: The future of 3D printing

Lernstift recognizes all writing movements, the company says, written on paper or in the air and built-in Wi-Fi allows scribblers to connect with smartphones, computers or other pens in a network.

The pen was invented by software developer and Lernstift founder Falk Wolsky after seeing his wife's frustrations at watching their son struggle with his homework. Why can't pens give instant feedback on mistakes? she asked.

His imagination fired, Wolsky set about constructing a prototype before assembling a team of hardware and software experts late last year.

"We are at the stage where the individual components do their job. We haven't put it together yet, but the response to the idea though has been overwhelming," Kaesmacher said.

The pen has been designed primarily as an educational tool and the Munich-based company are hopeful that dyslexic children will find the new pen particularly useful.

Greg Brooks, Professor Emeritus of Education at the UK's University of Sheffield gave the pen a cautious welcome.

"It's a neat idea in principle, but as ever the proof will be in the using of it," Brooks said via email.

"Will it learn individuals' quirks of handwriting, or insist on one style? I can see how it might be programmed to spot obvious spelling errors (non-words), just as the spellcheckers in word processors do -- but none of those can yet cope with real-word errors."



A Kickstarter campaign recently got underway looking to raise £120,000 ($180,000) and tests in schools will begin later this year.

The first pens will initially recognize only English and German spellings, but other languages will follow, says Kaesmacher.

"Learning your native language is one thing, but it's also the perfect tool to adapt for foreign language students," he says.

"From a cultural point of view, the pen is a wonderful bridge between cursive and technological worlds."

Eventually, the company plan to offer pencil, fountain and ballpoint pen options with a launch price between €120-150 ($160-200) falling to under €50 ($60) depending on how fast the company grows.

CUPERTINO, California—July 16, 2013—Apple®  unveiled Logic® Pro X, the most advanced version of Logic Pro to date, featuring a new interface designed for pros, powerful new creative tools for musicians, and an expanded collection of instruments and effects. Logic Pro X includes Drummer, a revolutionary new feature that provides a virtual session player that automatically plays along with your song in a wide variety of drumming styles and techniques, and Flex Pitch, which provides integrated pitch editing for audio recordings. Apple also introduced Logic Remote, an innovative new way to play and control Logic Pro X from your iPad®, giving musicians the flexibility to create and mix their music from anywhere in the room.

“Logic Pro X is our most powerful version yet, with advanced tools and a modern new interface designed to streamline the process of creating professional quality music,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “Musicians are going to love creative new features like Drummer, Flex Pitch, Track Stacks and the Arpeggiator.”

“Logic Pro was critical to writing and recording our debut album Night Visions, so we couldn’t wait to get our hands on Logic Pro X,” said Wayne Sermon, guitarist of the Platinum-selling band Imagine Dragons. “We love the new design, and the creative features of Logic Pro X have already been inspiring us to write new material while we’re on tour.”

Logic Pro X has been designed with a modern new look while preserving and expanding the power and features that professional users rely on. The streamlined interface provides access to advanced tools and functionality for more technical tasks, or can be hidden to allow musicians to focus on being creative. Flex Pitch helps users fix out-of-tune vocals and even change the melodies of recorded audio by manipulating individual notes within an audio waveform. Track Stacks lets you organize and collapse multiple tracks into one, or can be used to create rich, layered instruments. Smart Controls allow you to manipulate multiple plug-ins and parameters with a single move for quick and powerful sound design. An improved Mixer helps manage mix sessions more efficiently, with increased visibility into signal flow and dynamics and faster ways to manipulate channel inserts.

Logic Pro X provides a collection of new creative tools for songwriting and music production. Drummer delivers professionally produced, realistic drum tracks that respond to your direction and can perform millions of unique grooves in rock, alternative, songwriter and R&B genres. Drummer is powered by the performances and sounds of some of the industry’s top session players and recording engineers, including legendary mixer/producer Bob Clearmountain, who has worked with the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and David Bowie. Designed to work with Drummer, the new Drum Kit Designer plug-in lets you build your own custom kit using a diverse collection of professionally recorded snare drums, toms, hi-hats and cymbals that you can mix, match and fine tune to get the right drum sound for your song.

Logic Pro X expands Logic Pro’s rich collection of synthesizers and keyboards with more new instruments. The Arpeggiator is one of nine new MIDI plug-ins and can transform a simple keyboard chord into an elaborate performance. The new Retro Synth emulates some of the most popular classic synthesizer tones from the 70s and 80s, and Vintage Keyboards offer realistic models of electric pianos, B3 organs and clavs, with sophisticated tone-shaping controls. Bass Amp Designer allows bass players to play and record using vintage and modern bass amps, with cabinets and microphones that can be configured to build a custom bass rig. Logic Pro X also features an entirely new Sound Library with an updated loop collection and over 1,500 instrument and effect Patches that make creative use of Track Stacks, Smart Controls, the Arpeggiator and other new plug-ins.

Logic Remote is an innovative new way to extend the creative power of Logic by using your iPad. Designed to take full advantage of the iPad Multi-Touch™ display, Logic Remote gives users new ways to record, mix and even perform instruments in Logic Pro X from anywhere in the room, turning their iPad into a keyboard, drum pad, guitar fretboard, mixing board or transport control.

MainStage® 3, a major update to MainStage, is the live performance companion app for Logic Pro X, turning the Mac® into a live rig that makes it easy to bring sounds from the studio to the concert stage. MainStage 3 features a new user interface and maintains compatibility with the new Logic Pro X plug-ins, Patches and Smart Controls.

Pricing & Availability Logic Pro X and MainStage 3 are available today from the Mac App Store for $199.99 (US) and $29.99 (US), respectively. Logic Remote is available today as a free download from the App Store. For a complete list of system requirements and compatible systems, please visit: www.apple.com/logic-pro.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App
Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.

ome estimates say over 3 billion emails are sent every single day. That’s over 3,000,000 emails per second! Email has become the backbone of any successful business in 2013 and it’s no longer acceptable to do everything “offline.” Whether you’re in sales, business-to-business, or a client-facing position, sending endless unanswered emails can be a frustrating endeavor.

Here are 8 ways to ensure your emails get opened, read, and replied to.

8. Keep it short.

There’s no better way to be sure you won’t get a response than to ramble on endlessly. Remember that many people check emails on their phones, so keep your email as short and mobile-friendly as possible. Depending on your relationship with the recipient, forgo things like an intro/salutation so they feel free to shoot off a casual response back.

7. Put a question in the subject line.

Particularly if you’re emailing someone who may not be expecting to hear from you, asking a question in the subject line can encourage opening. Think, “What time works for you?” rather than, “What does your business need?” The more specific the better.

6. Send it at the right time.

Don’t blindly sent out emails at 3:00am on Sunday…they’ll get buried at the bottom of the inbox. Try and plan your email when you know the recipient will be in front of their computer – Tuesday at 2:00pm or maybe mornings before the day gets busy.

5. Copy someone senior.

This rule is a bit tricky but works well when used correctly. If you need a response from someone regarding something specific, copy other people on the email (the best case is someone you both know already.) You’ll have instant credibility and the recipient won’t want to look lazy by not replying, but be sure to address the body of the email directly to the person you want to respond.

4. Offer an incentive.

Whether it’s a newsletter, a coupon, or a free consultation, offer a reason to reply! Make sure it’s something the recipient wants and be clear in the very first sentence or two what you’re offering. Skimming is going to happen regardless of what you write, so plan ahead for it.

3. Say you’ll follow up.

The threat of an unwanted phone call or an endless stream of emails is enough to make many people respond. Mention something specific in your email (i.e. “I will call you at 11:00 tomorrow if I haven’t heard from you”) and make sure your follow up is another form of communication, if possible.

2. Actually follow up.

When you say you’re going to follow up, do it! Put it on your calendar and don’t let it slide. Not only does this show persistence but it proves you’ll keep checking in without a response. Some or two voicemails is enough to make most people respond back.

Do you have a website that you use to make money?

Are you trying to find a way to get more people to come to your blog?

Blog comments are the best way to get people to come to your website, and more people mean more traffic, which translates into more money for you! If you are looking to generate a good traffic while your site is still not ready for ranking well in SEO, here are some great ways to get traffic to your site by commenting.

Quality Comments

The worst kind of comment that a person can post are the boring kind of comments that just saying something generic like, “that was a nice post.” You want to make sure the comments will add quality to the post and encourage more people to contribute.

Have an Avatar

People who do not have an Avatar on their posts tend to arouse suspicion. Default Avatars or people who just have a blank one usually are spammers, and people without an avatar will also get the attention of the administrator and could end up being banned from posting. You don’t even have to have a fancy Avatar, just a simple picture will do or a picture of something you like will make a good Avatar.

Stay on Topic

Please remember that comments are supposed to relate to the article you had just read. So, read carefully before you respond just to make sure your comment is relevant to whatever topic is being discussed.

Communication

It is very important that you interact and engage with other people on the blog. You should reply to posts and when you do be sure you use the person’s name. Communication with your fellow bloggers will build relationships, and this will help increase the number of people that come to the blog.

Always have respect

No matter what the discussion is, you have to be respectful of what other people have to say. Treat people the way you want to be treated.Refrain from the use of abusive and demeaning language when commenting on forum posts. The last thing you want is to have people start personally attacking one another and then your blog turns into a huge warzone that no one will visit.

Do not kiss butt

Just be yourself and even if people have different opinions. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and they also have the right to express them no matter what the circumstances. Even if you do agree with one person’s opinion, there is no need to be overly complimentary to anyone, and it will leave a bad impression if you do. Also, kissing someone’s butt will also make the other bloggers on your website feel left out and bad. Do you really want to make people feel bad?

There are many ways to have blogging commenting success. As long as you do it right, you can have a lot of traffic coming to your blog.

Imaginations knows no boundaries. And this one can tell by looking at the MercuryHouseOne mobile lounge. Created by Architecture and Vision, this modern unit reflects a very pragmatic approach to an extremely unconventional design. It is a self sufficient mobile unit that can fit in both urban as well as rural environment.

At first instance the pod resembles an alien headgear. But the unit is highly futuristic and compact in dimension. The exterior covering is made using curved light marble pieces, white Carrara marble to be precise, thereby providing required toughness. The interior is flexible and can be configured as per ones taste thereby putting it to diverse usage. Light fitments, TV panel, and sound systems are in-built to fashion an out of the world experience inside.

The in between seams are of chrome, with acrylic windows and door. The outer cover is backlit, which gives a gripping view at night. The material used makes it light weight yet sturdy. Solar panels, in black, on the top, give a distinct look and also suffice for power requirements. So the unit is eco-friendly and functional in a non-powered area also.

Does booking a hotel in space sound like science fiction? Not according to Galactic Suite

Reuters report,

“Galactic Suite,” the first hotel planned in space, expects to open for business in 2012 and would allow guests to travel around the world in 80 minutes.

Guest would be able to “see the sun rise 15 times a day and use Velcro suits to crawl around their rooms by sticking themselves to the walls,” But what about the price? Yep, truly out of the world: $4 million each for a three-day stay!

The proposed Infosys building in Kuwaits reminds us of DNA strands interlocked togethor. We are told the building would keep rotating.

The Longaberger Company is an American manufacturer of handcrafted maple wood baskets and offers other home and lifestyle products, including pottery, wrought iron, fabric accessories and specialty foods. Dave Longaberger believed the idea of shaping the office in the form of a bag would draw attention to the company, while simultaneously helping to build our brand.

The hotel uses geothermal energy for electricity and heat, a green roof, and natural cooling properties of the quarry itself and yeah, Bungee jumping for guests!

You got to say Atkins did an awesome job. In case you are rubbing your chin thinking that the name does sound familiar, these are the guys who built the Burj Al Arab.

You might have read about Burj Dubai Tower which currently is the tallest man made structure in the world and is expected to be of 818m height on completion but even that would be dwarfed when the Nakheel Tower (formerly called Al Burj) comes into being with a staggering height of 1.4 km (1400m)!

Bored with seeing the same scenery everytime you look out of the window? Check out the Rotating Tower by David Fischer which is a building in which each floor has the capability to rotate on its axis and face a different direction according to the resident’s preferences. In addition the building is able to produce its own energy from wind.

This may fall in the first category we mentioned above, but the sheer audacity in dreaming up such a project needs to be applauded. Architects like Vincent Callebaut really push imagination and creativity.

NEXT-GENE20 is a project involving 20 famous architects from around the world to design villas along the Northeast Coast National Scenic Area, Taiwan. The aim of the project was to explore solutions for residences that are in harmony with the natural beauty of the coast.

Chosen designers include Yung Ho Chang, Ray Chen, Hsueh-Yi Chien, Jay Wen-Chieh Chiu, Julien De Smedt, GRAFT, , Sheng-Yuan Huang, IaN+, Yu-Tung Liu, Kengo Kuma, Shu-Chang Kung, Fernando Menis, Toshiko Mori, MVRDV, Hailim Suh, David Chun-Tei Tseng, Irving Hung-Hui Huang, Kyle Chia-kai Yang, Kris Yao, Akihisa Hirata,.

Here are some of the ideas that they came up with:

This could give the Iron Man’s house a run for its money. Approximately 40 miles north of Auckland, New Zealand is the perfect perch for a proposed dream house. Though only an architectural visualization at this point, this is the kind of house you would normally expect a Bond movie villain to own!

Mahina, Maori for moon, designed by Weber Consulting was originally slated to be placed on the relatively uninhabited Kawau Island. However the island’s residents are torn over whether or not to allow it to be built. The controversy has led to international interest, and according to the New Zealand Herald News, the official website for the Mahina says that the moon-shaped house can be built anywhere on the planet.

The website literature states, “A predominantly modern residence with a ‘Bondesque’ suggestion of times past; the glamorous age of martinis and tuxedos.”

“Dispel the misconception that white is starck (sic) or austere. Here it is lavish, sumptuous, opulent.”

The house is 827 square meters and is set to have a plant room, deck, swimming pool and “thermal mass” to regulate internal temperatures.

Sometime back in 2008, the CG Society organized a contest that invited digital artists from around the globe to present their most imaginative and grandest futuristic vision for the new world through architecture and landscape design. The end results were amazingly impressive and immeasurable to what we normally see on a daily basis. Though it’s been a while since this competition has ended, we wanted to acknowledge the winners, as well as show our viewers what the creative process can do in conceptually building innovative and inspiring structures and civilizations with the future of design in mind!