powdermonkey

Ipod Nano & Flexible Screens

I was presenting at a conference recently and one presenter was talking about a University/DOD/US Army research program about making flexible screens. Screens that could be attached to a soldiers arm, etc. Also read the same day about a problem with the iPod Nano (see Apple responds to iPod nano screen concerns) and the screens breaking when they are dropped.

Screens don't need to be hugely flexible, just flexible enough so that if dropped they bend rather than break. After all what would you do if you could wrap a screen around your finger?

[Technorati tags: iPodNano, Screen]

O'Reilly Article, Katrina and Maps

Great article about soem friends of mine who have been able to pull off some great stuff using open-source GIS for Katrina relief effort:
Katrina maps and photos via open source tools

by Tyler Mitchel @ O'Reilly Net

NASA Remix to the Moon

The one very cool thing about the proposed new NASA program is that they are not trying to invent much new. Instead, they are remixing existing and older technology. For example the shuttle launch rockets combined with an updated mission capsule. And of course with updated electronics. If this keeps us NASA may have a winner

Link to NASA website: NASA

Link to WashPo article: NASA Back to the Moon

[Technorati tags: NASA, Moon, Remix,]

Java Math Tools Site

Great site with Java visualizations of math, physics and engineering concepts: link

A little part game, part learning.

[Technorati tags: JavaTools, Science,]

Great Book on Warfighting and Technology Dispruption

I highly recomend this book on how disruptive technology and practice in the military:

Warfighting and Disruptive Technologies: Disguising Innovation by Terry C. Pierce link

[Technorati tags: Technology, Military, innovation]

O'Reilly Etech Call for Proposals Ending Sept 19

The O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference (ETech) will be held March 6-9, 2006 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, California, U.S. The call for proposals is ending soon, Sept 19.
http://conferences.oreillynet.com/etech/

Web Services, Billing and the Gov.

Q: Business models for web services within the Gov/DOD - how do separate organizations pay for the use of web services, when notionally the same org (DOD/Gov) is footing the bill.

It seems like there would be a policy problem with 'pay-as-you-go' systems, since missions require quick access to services, regardless of what's left in the budget. Correctly forecasting use (since web services will be cobbled together in unforeseen ways) seems like a gap within DOD, particularly for contingency operations. Private industry has contracts, QOS, etc. to measure and pay against.

How to solve the lead-lag problem of budget and acquisitions for web services? Is there a policy for reallocation of funds from one org to another, one budget cycle to another. Or is this even an issue? I.e. does DISA create an umbrella provider for web services, regardless of who needs or uses them?

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