Comments on: Science Friday: Emotional Machines, Holodeck Treadmill, Solar Sailing, Luminous Wallpaper + more

By: James Heaney - Wowbagger

James Heaney - Wowbagger — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 07:07:36 +0000

Can the radiation blockers stop antimatter radiation?

Man, I love that line. :P

By: Dierna

Dierna — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 06:17:22 +0000

The description of what a holodeck is (from Wikipedia):

“The holodeck is depicted as an enclosed room in which objects and people are simulated by a combination of replicated matter, tractor beams, and shaped force fields onto which holographic images are projected. Sounds and smells are simulated by speakers and fragranced fluid atomizers, respectively. The feel of a large environment is simulated by suspending the participants on force fields which move with their feet, keeping them from reaching the walls of the room (a virtual treadmill). Perspective is retained through use of sound damping fields and graviton lenses, which make objects, people, and sounds appear to be more distant. The effect is an ultra-realistic simulation of an environment, with which the user can interact.”

So now all we need is the fragrance fluid thingies!

By: Dr. Wh-at now?!

Dr. Wh-at now?! — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 04:28:02 +0000

The treadmill… WOW! Humans scare me!

By: Sebastian

Sebastian — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 14:02:34 +0000

#21. Well, if green animal women are present on Mars, sending Shatner to them might cause a “War of the Worlds!” As for Shatner’s “announcement,” I am increasingly scared by how many people really took him seriously! And by your very funny post, I take it you are NOT one of them? As for the Phoenix (space program nay-sayers probably quote Zefram Cochrane; “To hell with the Phoenix”), I think the most it can find is indirect evidence of past/present life. I’m not sure if its instruments can DIRECTLY observe any kind of Martian microscopic life. Would be quite a discovery, though. As long as they don’t wage war on us and call us, “ugly bags of mostly water!”

By: number 3

number 3 — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 09:35:33 +0000

crap…ah…1701D…yaknow what I meant.

By: number 3

number 3 — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 09:34:42 +0000

23…yeah sean caught that 1710D in BSG, thaught it was cool

By: sean

sean — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 05:46:25 +0000

dont know if anyone caught it or not tonight, but the new 4 skinjob cylons on BG tonight met up in room number 1701D….1701D……just thought that was cool and a nice nod to the next gen fans

By: Adrian

Adrian — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 05:13:23 +0000

Gee guys, thanks for the credit regarding the onculation and the treadmill :(

By: Xai

Xai — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 04:23:21 +0000

I am still waiting for William Shatner to announce to all of mankind the discovery of life on Mars.

“I… havebeengiven… the…. great honor toannouncethe …
EXISTENCE… of EXTRAterrestestrial life on Mars. It isgreen… with very full lips..LONG darkhair…
And Iwant her!

By: Stringfellow Hawke

Stringfellow Hawke — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 23:03:46 +0000

I like the idea of progression with the solar wind propulsion on the new frontier. It wasn’t that long ago that sea-faring vessels used the equivalent while earth-bound. It wasn’t that long again before technology sped those up. Nice bit of continuity coming full-circle.