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Leslie Porterfield
www.myteklife.com | SPRING/SUMMER 2010
The World’s Fastest Woman
The Martin Jetpack
EXCLUSIVE Interview with producer William Fay The 2,000Year-Old Computer
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Recycling CO2 Into Fuel
SXSW Highlights
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Whenever our troops have gone to war, orthopaedic surgeons have been there to serve with them. While treating horrific extremity war injuries, these physicians pioneered a long list of resourceful procedures now standard in trauma care. We salute America’s combat troops, and our own orthopaedic surgeons, so dedicated to bringing them back home safely. For more on wartime surgical advancements, visit aaos.org/warinjuries.
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May-July
22 Contents
22 The World’s Fastest Woman Leslie Porterfield started riding motorcycles at the age of 16. She now holds the world record as the fastest female and, among many other accomplishments, has become the first woman to earn inclusion in the prestigious Bonneville 200 mph Club.
8 The Flight of the Sentimental Journey It’s one of just a handful of B-17 bombers still flying today —from an era in our history that has not been forgotten. We went aboard the most completely restored B-17 in the world and talked with pilots Sam Korth and Pete Scholl.
20 Recycling CO2 Emissions Into Fuel A breakthrough technology to recycle carbon dioxide emissions into gasoline and other types of fuel is being developed and could soon be produced on an industrial scale.
13 Has the 2,000-Year-Old Computer Revealed Its Secrets? Scientists have labeled the Antikythera Mechanism the world’s first mechanical computer. It has taken researchers more than 100 years to unravel its mysteries—but did they?
30 Water as a Useful Energy Source Jules Verne wrote about it in 1874, but can water really be used as a reliable energy source? A new innovation allows hydrogen to be extracted from water and converted into fuel.
14 SXSW Highlights South by Southwest, or SXSW, attracts thousands of music performers, the most creative filmmakers and emerging new talent, as well as top innovative Web creators and entrepreneurs.
18 Using Plant Material to Make Solar Energy More Cost Effective BioSolar is hoping to reduce the up-front cost of solar cell manufacturing by 50 percent by using plant materials.
36 A Postcard from Your Phone A new mobile phone application allows you to take pictures, personalize them with a message and then send them as postcards.
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32 Arm Chair Detectives Find out how ordinary citizens are fighting crime from the comfort of their own home.
16 A Conversation with Hollywood Producer William Fay We interviewed the renowned Hollywood producer William Fay to discuss some of the emerging technologies in Hollywood and how they are changing the landscape. Fay also shares with us exclusive news about one of his upcoming projects.
39 Airport Scanners
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The number of full-body scanners at U.S. airports is expected to skyrocket because of growing security concerns. How do they work?
34 Bandwidth Crisis: A Unique Opportunity Has the FCC created the next big technology gold rush? Find out how you can own a piece of the airways.
28 A Childhood Dream Takes Flight In the ‘80s, Glenn Martin began developing a concept for a jet pack and spent the next 27 years managing a research and development program to bring his dream to reality.
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40 Technology News Virgin’s Deep Sea Rides Bringing Your Walls to Life with Sleek, Beautiful Design Porsche’s New Hybrids Solar-Powered Luggage NASA’s First Human-Like Robots BlackBerry Tip: Quick Navigation That Will Save You Time
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t from the editor
my teklife EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Ed Martinez DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
Mary Ann Donahue
TECHNOLOGY FROM A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE The economy is still struggling and, as a result, life in the magazine world has been challenging. It’s no secret that the media industry has felt the effects of the recession. So, when you can hold on, you feel pretty grateful. I am thankful to the colleagues and contributors who have helped our magazine grow since our first issue premiered last fall. Our passion for bringing optimism to our readers isn’t slowing down. Over the past several months, we have brought amazing stories of people affected by technology in unique ways. We have also featured many prominent people and celebrities who are engaging with life in some pretty extraordinary ways. Technology continues to influence virtually all aspects of our lives. Throughout the 2oth century, we witnessed a rapid evolution of technology. We saw the birth of electricity and took to the stars as we began the exploration of space. Technology is now more crucial than ever, as we look for ways to become energy-independent and improve our lives. At MyTekLife, our mission to educate, entertain and inspire by sharing the humanity behind the technology remains a constant for us. Our motto continues to be, ‘Behind each innovation, there is a personal story to be told.’ This marks our third issue, and we’re delighted to bring you excellence in journalism. Inside this issue, we capture personal connections and experiences in film, music, aviation, automotive, science, history and discovery. Our cover story, “The World’s Fastest Woman,” features Leslie Porterfield, who shares with us her experiences and journey to world-record fame. She holds the world record as the fastest female on a motorcycle and, among many other accomplishments, has become the first woman to earn inclusion in the prestigious Bonneville 200 mph Club. To our subscribers, thank you for your continuing support. If you have not yet subscribed to MyTekLife Magazine, we invite you to do so today and start experiencing a wide range of interesting articles that are engaging and informative. The best is yet to come.
SXSW FEATURE EDITOR
Scott Kelly ART DIRECTOR
Nel Gonzalez PHOTOGRAPHER
Michael Lopez CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Craig Taylor Lisa Wilhelm Julia Davis INTERNS
Shamekia Walker Lindsay Moore PRINTER
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MAY-JUL 2010 - VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3 MyTekLife Magazine is published quarterly. For more information, visit MyTekLife Magazine Web site at www.myteklife.com. The MyTekLife logo and slogan are registered trademarks, which are part of MyTekLife Intellectual Property and are protected by applicable copyright, trademark and proprietary rights. Any use or duplication is prohibited without expressed written permission. Other third-party trademarks and trade names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners. Contact the editor via editor@myteklife.com or via
Ed Martinez Editor-in-Chief MyTekLife Magazine
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AVIATION
The Flight of the Sentimental Journey THE SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY IS THE MOST COMPLETELY RESTORED B-17 IN THE WORLD TODAY.
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BY ED MARTINEZ
t is one of just a handful of B-17 bombers that are still flying today— from an era in our history that has not been forgotten and won’t be for many generations to come. The Boeing B-17 was a four-engine heavy bomber developed for the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1935.
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The bomber was primarily used in the daylight precision strategic bombing campaign of World War II against German targets in Europe between 1941 and 1945. The Sentimental Journey, a B-17G, is a reminder of the many sacrifices
our men and women in uniform made to defend our freedom and liberty during the Second World War. “This is the flagship of our Wing,” Rick Senffner proudly noted. Senffner is the Wing leader for the
Arizona unit of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF), an allvolunteer organization that maintains and operates vintage aircraft. “You don’t have to be a pilot or mechanic to be part of the Wing. People that are interested in keeping history alive can be part of it as well.” I asked Senffner how he became involved with the CAF and learned that his uncle was a navigator aboard a B-17 during the war. His uncle was killed in action with his crew in December 1944. “As a kid, I remember seeing his picture with this flight suit on. I kept on reading more and more about aviation. One day, I just started showing up, and one of the older guys asked me if I wanted to come in on the weekends to help out,” he said. The CAF also has a museum with a wide range of aircraft in excellent condition. One of the exhibits includes a P-51D Mustang that has the markings of Maj. George Preddy, a top ace during the Second World War. Preddy was killed during a mission in support of the Battle of the Bulge. You can also find an F4N Phantom II, a B-25J Mitchell bomber, an A-26 Invader and a P-47 Thunderbolt at the museum, along with other vintage aircraft. The Sentimental Journey rolled off the Douglas assembly line in the latter part of 1944 and went into service on March 13, 1945. Manufactured too late to see service in the European theater, the aircraft was assigned to the Pacific theater for the duration of the war. In the years following the war, it was used for various purposes, including photo mapping and nuclear testing, and it eventually became a civilian aircraft—flying thousands of sorties to combat forest fires throughout the United States. In 1978, Col. Mike Clark donated the Sentimental Journey to the CAF. “It was totally stripped down when we got it ... there were no gun turrets, and it had to be all restored,” said Senffner. The CAF spent several years restoring the bomber. The CAF overcame a number of obstacles throughout the restoration process. For example, the plane suffered extensive body damage when a brake failure occurred during a landing in 1988. The volunteers of the CAF have done an incredible job in restoring this B-17 bomber. The plane looks like it just rolled off the assembly line. You can clearly see the love and passion that has been poured into the restoration of this technological marvel. The team has even managed to install fully operational gun turrets, bomb bay doors, navigator and radio stations, a Norden bombsight computer and machine guns. The Sentimental Journey has made appearances at hundreds of air shows and exhibits over the years. “It is the most completely
restored B-17 flying today,” Senffner said proudly. I had the privilege of flying aboard the Sentimental Journey with pilot Sam Korth and copilot Pete Scholl. It was a truly amazing and unforgettable experience. Korth has been flying the B-17 since 1979 and was the fifth pilot to fly the aircraft after the CAF acquired it. “I have flown almost 1,000 hours in the plane,” Korth told me. “It’s an easy and honest airplane to fly—and a lot of fun. Boeing built a simple plane that was easy to get off the ground and land. When these guys [meaning World War II pilots] returned from missions, they had a total sense of relief to be alive,” Korth noted. An average mission for a B-17 during the war was about 12 hours for a round trip from England to Germany. During travel, the planes encountered heavy fire from enemy aircraft and flak. Bomber crews had more than a 70 percent chance of being killed or wounded or going missing. Korth was a radar mechanic in the U.S. Air Force. “A general named Curtis LeMay enlisted some people to do some good,” Korth continued. “He started flying clubs like the one in Fort Worth, Texas. It was called Carswell Strategic Air Command. I was able to learn to fly the B-17 there,” he added. The base was used to train and support heavy strategic bombing groups and wings from 1951 to 1988. Scholl, who spent 12 years in the Air Force and is now a pilot with Southwest Airlines, has been flying the Sentimental Journey for about a year and a half. He flies the bomber once a month and is happy to volunteer at the CAF. “It’s a real neat airplane,” he remarked. “It’s very old technology, but it still flies. They designed it very well,” he noted. “It’s so important to have this thing flying. A lot of people don’t realize what it was like to be in one of these planes. Until you go through it, you don’t have a concept.” The B-17 was manned by 10 crew members. Each member was specially trained for his position. While onboard the B-17, I couldn’t help but notice how difficult it was to navigate across the plane. It’s a tight fit! I cannot imagine the horror the crew endured during the war when B-17s were suddenly struck by enemy fire at such high altitudes and in such limited space. On a typical bombing run, the B-17 could go from about 10,000 to about 30,000 feet. “The crew had to be on oxygen the whole flight—once they m y t e k l i f e may-jul 2010
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AVIATION
got in formation—because the plane wasn’t pressurized, and the plane might be in temperatures of 60 below zero,” Senffner noted. The crew wore oxygen masks and had electronically heated suits with heavy gloves that provided some protection against the freezing temperatures. “If the plane got into a spin at that altitude, a lot of crew members weren’t able to bail out,” he added. “The G’s would make it so you were not even able to raise your hand,” Senffner said. “A lot of crewmen also ended up dying from lack of oxygen. The crew would do a lot of checks to make sure everyone was okay. If they had to take a glove off to render first aid, or a gun was jammed—at that altitude their hands would stick to the metal because of the temperature.” The B-17 had the Norden bombsight analog computer, which, according to Senffner, “was very
advanced for World War II.” “The crew would input the air temperature outside and speed of the plane and the wind angle,” he explained. “Once they were on their IP [the point at which the bombing run on the target began], the bombardier would line up the target and the Norden bombsight would calculate the air temperature outside, how fast the airplane was moving, wind correction … and once that was plugged into the computer, the bombardier had control of the airplane.” The CAF proudly offers flights aboard the Sentimental Journey to the general public. Proceeds from the rides contribute to the cost of maintaining the aircraft. In addition, each year in March the CAF hosts an annual hangar dance event called A Night in the ‘40s. The event features a World War II musical show, followed by a big band orchestra that plays sounds from that era. Guests come from all over the world for this event, and some even dress in ‘40s attire.
“This is a great opportunity to recapture one of the most important and nostalgic times in our history,” Senffner commented. “Events like these pay special tribute to all those who fought for freedom during World War II and allow us to look back on that piece of our past,” he said. In February 1945, U.S. bombing reached its high point, with a 1,000bomber raid on Berlin. Many major cities in Germany were left in ruins, and Germany lost the war largely in part because of strategic bombing performed by planes like the B-17. Most of the crew members on these flights were only in their late teens or early twenties. They were all living at a time in our history when our nation encountered great peril, and they rose up to meet the challenge. As long as such a marvel of technology as the Sentimental Journey continues to fly, it will help preserve and share the memories of a generation that demonstrated unparalleled courage and sacrifice. m y t e k l i f e may-jul 2010
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HISTORY & DISCOVERY
Has the 2,000-Year-Old Computer Revealed Its Secrets?
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PHOTO BY Rien van de Weijgaert (Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, Groningen, the Netherlands
he Antikythera Mechanism is one of the most important archeological artifacts ever found. Researchers have labeled it the world’s first mechanical computer. It is thought to have been used for tracking the cycles of the solar system and to prevent sailors from losing their way during travel from Alexandria to Athens. It dates to the 2nd century B.C. It has taken researchers more than 100 years, with the help of a high-end digital imaging system, to unravel
By Craig Taylor
the mysteries of the Antikythera—but did they? A Greek diver first discovered it in the Mediterranean around 1900. The Antikythera was found among the remains of an ancient shipwreck. In 2006, it was confirmed to be the remains of a fully functional mechanical computer. The 2,000-year-old computer was re-created by some modern-day scientists. They have revealed what they consider to be the true workings of of the device. The mechanism is a geared device consisting of 30 gears in
a highly complex arrangement. Some scientists also refer to the Antikythera as the “moon computer,” as it was possibly used to calculate the astronomical cycles of heavenly bodies—in other words, to calculate the movement of stars and planets. Not all scientists agree with this, however, pointing out that the law of gravity had not yet been discovered in the 2nd century. Humans at that time did not yet understand how and why the heavenly bodies moved. This device is currently on exhibit at the Greek National Archaeological Museum in Athens. Researchers from the Antikythera Mechanism Research Project have collected more than one terabyte of data, which include digital photographs, surface imaging and 2/3D X-rays. Last year, the Antikythera Mechanism Research Project held a major symposium and discussed the mechanism and its place in the history of science, technology and ideas. The team has also been able to decipher more inscriptions, revealing that the ancient civilization that constructed the mechanism had a great deal of knowledge about the solar system. The device also stands witness to the extraordinary mathematical and engineering capabilities of the ancient Greeks. Scientists note that their research is far from complete, and the consensus is that the Antikythera Mechanism has not revealed all of its secrets yet. Only time will tell. Antikythera on the Web To view more high-resolution images of the Antikythera Mechanism, visit www.astro.rug.nl/~weygaert/antikytheramechanism.html.
ENTERTAINMENT
SXSW HIGHLIGHTS A PREMIER DESTINATION FOR DISCOVERY
LIONSGATE
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very spring, one of the largest music festivals and premier film and interactive conferences takes place in Austin, Texas. South by Southwest, or SXSW, attracts thousands of music performers, the most creative filmmakers and emerging new talent, as well as top innovative Web creators and entrepreneurs. It’s no wonder that SXSW has earned a reputation as a catalyst for the exchange of ideas and developing technologies. In 2007, Twitter was officially launched at this very venue. In March, we covered this hotspot for innovation and provided live coverage via our SXSW blog. We witnessed the fostering of creative and professional growth among the industry’s best. During the film conference, we had the opportunity to sit down with Kent Rees, senior vice president of marketing, and Craig Parks, vice president of digital media, of the Independent Film Channel (IFC) and IFC Crossroads House. This was IFC’s third year at SXSW. IFC debuted its network rebranding slogan, “Always On. Slightly Off.” Additionally, IFC broadcast SXSW daily features via IFC.com and aired nightly coverage on the network, which brought the live conferences directly to anyone who could not attend. Both Rees and Parks were pleased with attendance at the film and interactive conferences, and with good reason. For the first time since the film and interactive components were added in 1994, attendance for these two events was as large as for the music event. “We averaged over 1,000 attendees each film stars (from left) Ryan Phillippe, Kristen Wiig and Will Forte being interviewed at IFC Cross day at the IFC Crossroads House and produced over roads House studio. two hours of original content from the interviews and performances that took place at the House for performances on IFC.com were very the network. Our audience loved the live interviews successful, particularly Drive-By Truckers and from the House, especially the casts of the new films Broken Social Scene,” Rees noted. ‘Kick-Ass,’ ‘MacGruber’ and ‘Leaves of Grass,’ and The film “Kick-Ass” received the most praise watching them on IFC.com. Live streams of band from Rees and Parks. “It fits with IFC’s attitude of being slightly off,” Rees remarked. IFC also “Kick-Ass” is a film about commented on the great synergy between the self-made superheroes. music, interactive and film conferences. The documentary “American: The Bill Hicks Story” garnered a lot of buzz at SXSW as well. The documentary combines Hick’s righteous performance as a comedian with vivid animation and interviews with his friends and admirers. Hicks’ bold and belligerent take on drugs, politics, religion and philosophy remains relevant more than a decade after his death.
In the interactive conference, we visited with Leapfish, a Web technology company making its debut. Leapfish provides an innovative way to search and share information on the Web. It can access relevant data from other portals such as search engines, blogs, Twitter, Facebook, videos, images, etc., and allows the data to be shared through popular social networks. The privately funded company expects more than 20 million searches this year. When asked about her experience at the conference, Lena Shaw, manager of public relations and social media at Leapfish, said, “SXSW is an open space, and very social. I have had the opportunity to meet folks like Pete Cashmore from Mashable, and they are all open and friendly.” Mashable is one of the largest blogs on the Internet, with more than seven million monthly page views. The blog features articles about YouTube, Facebook, Google, Twitter, MySpace, Apple and startups, but it also reports on less high-profile social networking and social media sites. Scott Leese, the company’s vice president of sales, shared his love for surfing. It turns out that Leapfish sends custom surfboards to celebrities such as Jimmy Fallon and Pete Cashmore to help promote the company and provide “good karma,” as Leese put it. The fiberglass surfboards have the person’s name imprinted alongside the title “Super Geek.” In fact, one recipient of a surfboard, Chris Pirillo, the well-known, self-proclaimed geek who produces technology videos for CNN.com Live, was so impressed with the gift, he filmed a five-minute YouTube video titled “How to Surf.” The video has received more than 15,000 views online. One of the more colorful people we caught up with at SXSW was Matt Curtin, co-founder and CEO of Social
“MacGruber” is ABOUT A FORMER special operative BEING called back into action to stop his archenemy from destroying Washington D.C., with a nuclear weapon.
Smack.” This new approach to reviewing brand-name products provides excellent opportunities for Web advertisers and market research analysis. In addition to his passion for Social Smack, Curtin crusades against child abuse. Inspired to create a movement, he began the non-profit Superhero Foundation two years ago. The group focuses on breaking the chains of abuse by offering educational programs, creating awareness campaigns, pushing for stricter abuse laws and providing support for those who fight abuse and help rehabilitate the victims of abuse. The Superhero Foundation’s hallmark awareness campaign is the “Superhero Run,” held annually in Austin, Pittsburgh and Richmond. Although Curtin has been in Austin for seven years, this was his first time at SXSW. According to him, “it’s the people that make SXSW, and the networking is the best value of the conference.” His biggest “Prop” at SXSW was the VIP party sponsored by the popular blog Mashable. The “Drops” were the long lines to get into events and the $3.50 bottled water. —SCOTT KELLY AND ED MARTINEZ
For more SXSW coverage, visit www.sxsw.myteklife.com.
MICHAELS-GOLDWYN
Smack. Social Smack is a platform that allows consumers to give voice to their passions for purchases. Through the use of “Props” and “Drops” as ratings, Social Smackers provide reviews of brands they use. Unlike other review sites, Social Smack provides a unique social gaming component to the review process. Users earn points by posting their “Props or “Drops,” thereby adding new brands to the network and enabling them to vote on other ratings. This system helps create a social hierarchy of industry or geographic influencers. The top influencers at Social Smack are crowned “Sultan of
T
he remake of the cult film “Clash of the Titans” smashed opening weekend records, bringing in an estimated $61.4 million in sales over three days. The film kept its No. 1 spot at the box office two weekends in a row, bringing in a total of $110.5 million. “We’re very proud of the film and its success, domestically and worldwide,” said William Fay, executive producer of “Clash of the Titans” and president of production at Legendary Pictures. We had the opportunity to sit down for lunch with the renowned Hollywood producer, to discuss some of the emerging technologies in Hollywood and how they are changing the landscape. During our visit with Fay, he confirmed that there would be a sequel to “Clash of the Titans.” “Legendary Pictures has multiple titles in various stages of production and development,” he told us. “Currently, a sequel is in the works for ‘Clash Of The Titans’ and is planned for a release date in April 2012. We’re not planning on slowing down anytime soon,” he said. For Fay, success seems to come with every release he’s involved with. Over the years, he has produced blockbusters such as “300,” “Independence Day,” “Superman Returns,” and “The Patriot,” to name a few. “‘Independence Day’” was, without a doubt, an unforgettable experience,” Fay commented. “We produced it with a group of friends and colleagues, working as a team through trial and error. The film was made for $65 million and had a box office return of $815 million dollars worldwide.” We asked Fay about the advantages and disadvantages of filming using green screens. Some actors have described their use as somewhat isolating and lonely. “‘Clash of the Titans’ and ‘300’ set new trends in filmmaking. ‘300’ was done almost exclusively in a warehouse in Montreal, with only one scene—the messenger’s arrival on a horse— filmed as an exterior shot outside of the warehouse. Green technology is challenging to actors. They have to create images in their mind with only a prop to suggest the presence of a figure or physical threat to react or respond to. They have to adapt, as this is the new trend and way of the future. In the process, new ways have been developed to help actors in fully visualizing the scene on a display that shows the storyboard and its actual [and fictitious] participants. This process is making it more realistic and easier for actors to adapt to,” he responded. Unlike “300,” “Clash of the Titans” had a lot of on-location shooting on the island of Tenerife, which is part of the Canary Islands and is south of Morocco. Other locations included Ethiopia and Wales. As we continue to follow Fay’s projects with great interest and anticipation, we’ll look forward to his continued success at the box office. —JULIA DAVIS AND ED MARTINEZ
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m y t e k l i f e may-jul 2010
The Man
Behind “300” and “Clash of the Titans”
The snake-headed Medusa and actor Sam Worthington as Perseus, from a scene in “Clash of the Titans.”
Warner Bros. Pictures
A CONVERSATION WITH HOLLYWOOD PRODUCER WILLIAM FAY
Using Plant Material to Make Solar Energy More Cost Effective By Craig Taylor
T
he American inventor Charles Fritts constructed the first solar cell in the 1880s. Although the prototype he built converted less than 1% of light into electricity, it was an important discovery that now, 130 years later, is paving the way for replacing other sources of energy generation. Today’s solar power technology has an incredible potential to deliver large amounts of energy to the world; however, some of the biggest barriers in the adoption of solar power have been high manufacturing costs and insufficient government support. It’s no wonder that today it accounts for less than 1% of the world’s total energy supply. BioSolar is hoping to reduce the up-front cost of manufacturing by 50% by using plant materials. “The solar panel demand has been increasing in leaps and bounds over the past 5 years. The U.S. has been a little behind in comparison to the rest of the world, mainly due to the lack of incentives when you compare us to other countries, such as Germany,” said David Lee, president and CEO of BioSolar. Lee tells us that he believes the United States is going to change and become a leader again. He has seen a trend among companies making more affordable solar panels. His company is one of them. BioSolar’s technology could replace petroleum-based plastics found in photovoltaic (“PV,” or solar cell) components such as the Backsheet, by using castor beans and recycled cotton. Lee said he started looking into an area that could help the industry, and at the same time become commercially successful. “We looked at existing Backsheets and looked at their specifications. What testing do they have to go through? What durability do they need to pass? And then
“
we looked at existing materials in nature and how some of them had been used for different applications.” For example, BioSolar looked at nylon 11, a bioplastic that is derived from castor oil and has been used in constructing underwater cables, which are very durable. The company also looked at cotton, which has been used as electrical insulation and has been proven to withstand high temperatures. “We married the two,” Lee explained. “We developed a technology to process them and combine them to make a better and more durable product. Our intellectual property is on how to process those materials,” he added. BioSolar is gearing up for production soon, according to Lee. “Anytime there is a new component for a photovoltaic module to come out, it has a certain adoption cycle,” he noted. “PV manufacturers already have all the certifications on the required PV modules. … If they decided to replace one of their petroleum-based components with ours, which would be the fastest scenario for us, it will probably take a month before they can ramp up their production—in other words, create a demand for our product.” BioSolar’s technology could be delayed by more than a year if a brand-new PV module technology is introduced to the market. This is because of the testing and certification that new photovoltaic modules have to go through. Lee hopes to accelerate the adoption of solar energy in the United States and believes that it will eventually compete with fossil fuels. His goal is “to make it greener and make it cheaper.” This could become a reality in the near future. New government incentives are now equal to or exceed those that have existed for years in other nations.
As the global demand for solar energy continues to increase, BioSolar is uniquely positioned to replace conventional petroleum-based Backsheets with c-Si PV modules, which represent more than 70 percent of the PV module market. —DAVID LEE, president and CEO of BioSolar.
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PHOTO BY JAMES T. EASTON
m y t e k l i f e may-jul 2010
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PHOTO BY Alfred Palmer
RECYCLING C02
CARBON SCIENCES SAYS IT HAS THE TECHNOLOGY TO RECYCLE CO2 EMISSIONS INTO FUEL.
commercially unviable,” he added. Elton’s team of researchers, led by Dr. Naveed Aslam, began looking into ways to dramatically reduce the reaction time so it could become industrially viable. He also looked into the enzyme-based biocatalyst process—how to take the carbon from the carbon dioxide and the hydrogen from the water and through the biocatalyst process, to get the enzyme molecules to produce hydrocarbon quickly and efficiently. “The issue has always been that while [enzymes] are good at what they do, they don’t last very long. And they have to be replenished after a few cycles,” Elton explained. “They become depleted or exhausted, and it becomes a very expensive process. Dr. Aslam was able to connect the dots on reaction time and the life of the enzyme molecules. His invention, a nano-scale reactor called Smart Particle Technology introduces a low-energy, enzyme-based biocatalyst process, and a proprietary enzyme encapsulation technology increases the life of key enzymes to reduce the cost of fuel production. “This is a data-generation stage. We will be putting a pilot together sometime by next September,” Dr. Aslam noted. The pilot will attempt to prove that not only can this be done in a laboratory setting, but also on a larger scale. Because of the impact of this technology, Carbon Sciences has met with prominent companies from around the world to potentially form partnerships, Elton told MyTekLife. “These are people that have significant facilities around the world ... large CO2 emitters, in some cases coal plants and refineries. They are very interested in being a partner in the full-scale pilot.” Carbon Sciences’ technology is ambitious, and its timetable is aggressive. Elton hopes that by the end of the year a partnership will be announced and a commercial package will be available to a partner. He estimated that by the end of 2011 a completed facility could be fully operational and producing fuel. —CRAIG TAYLOR
A breakthrough technology to recycle carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into gasoline and other types of fuel is being developed and could soon be produced on an industrial scale. In the first quarter of 2009, Carbon Sciences unveiled a prototype facility in Santa Barbara, Calif. “We took the carbon dioxide as a feedstock and, through a biocatalyst process, we turned it into methanol,” said Byron Elton, Carbon Sciences’ CEO, in an interview with MyTekLife. This was a starting point for Carbon Sciences, but it was not a new concept. Elton’s team reproduced the process in a laboratory, taking carbon dioxide in a low-pressure, low-temperature environment and turning it into methanol. “When we did it initially, it presented one of the first challenges that anybody that pursues this path of creating fuel encounters—the kinetics ... the time that it takes,” Elton said. He quickly found For a video explanation of the CO2 recycling process, visit us on the Web at Byron Elton that the reaction could take anywhere from Carbon Sciences eight to 10 hours. “At that point, it becomes www.myteklife.com/videos/carbonsciences.html. 20
m y t e k l i f e may-jul 2010
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m y t e k l i f e may-jul 2010
THE WORLD’S FASTEST WOMAN Leslie Porterfield started riding motorcycles at the age of 16. She now holds the world record as the fastest female and, among many other accomplishments, has become the first woman to earn inclusion in the prestigious Bonneville 200 mph Club.
By Ed Martinez
People with a fascination for speed have assembled at the Bonneville Salt Flats in the deserts of northwest Utah for decades, to watch and to race high-speed vehicles of all types. Numerous world land speed records have been set at Bonneville, where the smooth salt surface is ideal for racing. In 2008, Leslie Porterfield made history at the Salt Flats of Bonneville by becoming the fastest woman on two wheels. She did this by recording a land speed record of 232.52 miles per hour on her 2000cc modified turbocharged Suzuki Hayabusa. In March, Guinness World Records named Porterfield the fastest woman in the world on a motorcycle, a title previously held by Marcia Holley, a motocross rider and stuntwoman who recorded a speed of 229.36 mph in 1978. Porterfield is no stranger to the limelight. In 2008, she was named the American Motorcyclist Association’s Racing Female Rider of the Year. She also holds two other land speed records, clocking in at 240 mph at the 2009 BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials and garnering accolades as the first woman on a conventional motorcycle to enter the prestigious Bonneville 200 mph Club. She was also featured in a Discovery Channel documentary, “Speed Capital of the World: Bonneville.” While her crew began prepping for the next round of speed trials in El Mirage, Calif., Porterfield took some time to talk to MyTekLife about how she got started in the sport, as well as her experiences and her goals for the future. Porterfield said she started riding motorcycles when she was 16 years old because it was “a cheap way to get around,” adding that she “fell in love with it immediately.” She also learned to work on motorcycles and became equally passionate about that. “The passion came from having an old, beat-up motorcycle that I had to fix all the time,” she said with a smile. She began racing at the age of 19 and developed a keen interest in the performance side of motorcycles. It was surprising to learn that Porterfield was shy as a teenager. “I really attribute a big change in my life to motorcycling,” she confided. “It’s something that I instantly clicked with and absolutely loved. Motorcycles are so unique, because of the people. If you ride up to a gas station and someone else is on a motorcycle, it’s such an icebreaker. People are really Leslie Porterfield at the Bonneville Salt Flats in THE friendly in the motorcycle community, and I’ve met so many people.” deserts of northwest Utah. 24
m y t e k l i f e may-jul 2010
Four years ago, Porterfield opened a motorcycle dealership in Dallas called High Five Cycles. “Now that I have my own dealership, I can work in any department. It’s great! At times, I could be changing tires, looking up head gaskets for someone at the parts counter, or giving someone specs on a showroom motorcycle they’re interested in purchasing,” she said. When asked if she has found it difficult to excel in motorcycle racing because she’s a female, Porterfield said there are advantages and disadvantages to being a female racer. “Having a smaller frame helps me tuck in on the motorcycle and be more aerodynamic,” she said. “Unfortunately, I have less upper body strength, which is a disadvantage.” Porterfield also noted that perception is changing and that women are becoming much more accepted in the world of racing these days. “It’s no longer just burly, tattooed men that ride motorcycles,” she joked. Before setting her records at Bonneville, Porterfield was involved in a serious crash in 2007, in which she broke seven ribs, punctured a lung and suffered a concussion. But, she was determined to make history. “I got back on
I don’t just want to be the fastest “ woman in the world, I want to be the fastest person in the world. That’s what’s next.
”
the motorcycle as soon as the doctor gave me clearance,” she said with conviction. “It was something that I was very passionate about and determined to do. It was great coming back in 2008 for the next event after my wreck and go from a bad accident to being really successful.” Since the accident, she has studied the setup of her motorcycle, making subtle changes to suit her riding style and handling. She has also become more focused on the surface she rides on. “The conditions weren’t optimal in 2007 when I crashed, which was a big contributing factor,” she explained. “I’ve also learned to be more patient and not push the limits when there is an unnecessary risk.” So, what’s next for the resolute racer and record breaker? “I don’t just want to be the fastest woman in the world,” she said emphatically. “I want to be the fastest person in the world. That’s what’s next. It’s a very high goal. I’m looking at that 250 mph mark.”
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She just might attain her goal. Porterfield is building a
great, inspirational stories of kids facing challenges and
brand-new motorcycle to race at Bonneville in September.
overcoming them. In my time as a volunteer, every teenager
“I’m really excited about it,” she said. “I’m hoping that it’ll
that I met has a touching story and unique challenge,” she
be the perfect fit for me. It’s a lot of work. It does take a lot
said. In June, Porterfield and StandUp for Kids will raffle
to build a really good and fit machine for Bonneville.”
off a Honda CBR1000 motorcycle, and the proceeds of the
Given her many accomplishments in a world that is still
raffle will benefit the charity.
heavily dominated by men, it’s easy to see how Porterfield
Porterfield said she feels fortunate and blessed that she
has become a role model for young women. “It’s amazing
can make a living at something she’s so passionate about.
how many e-mails and phone calls I get from young female
With her attitude of determination and her expertise, it’s
riders that are just now getting into the sport, wanting to
clear that Porterfield’s goal of becoming the world’s fastest
start racing and needing advice, or some wanting to be-
person on a motorcycle is within reach. As she continues to
come instructors,” she noted. Porterfield admitted that she
achieve new milestones in her career, she will undoubtedly
never expected to become a role model and inspiration to
continue to serve as a role model for aspiring motorcycle
these women, but she feels it’s one of the greatest rewards
racers and others with a serious fascination for speed.
to come of her success so far. “It’s really nice to be able to give them advice and give them inspiration to follow their dreams.” Off the bike, Porterfield has a strong commitment to helping a charity called StandUp for Kids, a nonprofit organization that helps homeless children in America. “I met the founder of the program, Rick Koca, who shared
Porterfield on the Web For a video interview with Leslie Porterfield at the Bonneville Salt Flats, visit www.myteklife.com/videos/porterfield.html.
many stories with me. Some were tragic, and many were m y t e k l i f e may-jul 2010
27
INNOVATIVE MIND
A CHILDHOOD DREAM TAKES FLIGHT The Martin Jetpack cAN fly 100 times longer than the famous Bell Rocket Belt device BY CRAIG TAYLOR
At the age of five, Glenn Martin first envisioned a flying machine while waiting to cross a busy intersection. His imagination was already hard at work. It was the ‘60s, and Martin’s spirit of innovation was surfacing. Even as a young child, Martin enjoyed tinkering with home appliances, taking them apart and putting them back together. One time, he set out to fix his mother’s broken vacuum cleaner. After spending hours disassembling it and putting it back together, he plugged it in and ended up taking down the entire electrical grid in his small town.
While other kids were busy thinking about building tree houses and watching television shows like Dennis the Menace, Martin, at seven years old, built his first invention. It was a hang glider constructed from a bed sheet and planks of wood. Fortunately, as Martin prepared to take his first flight from the roof of the house, his father arrived home in time to stop him from jumping. Otherwise, he’d have landed on the ground below—on a solid slab of concrete. In the ‘80s, Martin began developing a concept for a jet
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has been developing “highways in the sky,” and the new technologies involved in this process will revolutionize the way aircraft navigate our skies by creating three-dimensional highways based on automated GPS tracks.
pack and spent the next 27 years managing a research and development program to bring his dream to reality. Eventually, he formed the Martin Aircraft Company, and in July 2008 the world’s first personal flight with the Martin Jetpack took place. His childhood dream had become a reality. For Martin, it was a moment when a lifetime of research, development and, as he says, “the sheer bloody-minded persistence of a group of people who refused to believe it couldn’t be done,” came together. With an impressive group of avionic, technical and production designers, Martin Aircraft’s Jetpack could fly 100 times longer than the famous Bell Rocket Belt device. The Bell Rocket Belt was the most successful jet pack developed for the U.S. Army during the Cold War. The device made it possible for an individual to travel safely over short distances—for about 30 seconds. It was powered using hydrogen peroxide as fuel. Even though development of the Bell Rocket Belt continued, a flying time beyond 30 seconds could not be accomplished. Still, the Bell Rocket Belt was used commercially at Disneyland events and in the 1984 and 1996 Summer Olympic Games, and it even made an appearance in the 1965 James Bond film, Thunderball. The Martin Jetpack has a patented fan jet technology, which uses regular gasoline, just like an automobile. You may be thinking, what happens if the engine were to stop in midair? No problem! The Martin Jetpack is equipped with a ballistic parachute. All the pilot has to do is pull a toggle and a small propellant is fired, similar to the one used in an automobile airbag, rapidly deploying a parachute. The pilot, Jetpack and parachute descend as one. Martin Aircraft Company recently signed a $12 million joint venture deal to initiate production of the Martin Jetpack, which is expected to go on sale late in 2010. According to Martin, the new Jetpack is capable of reaching heights of about 2,400 meters and can travel as fast as 100 kilometers per hour. Martin envisions a world, sometime in the next 10
years, in which the average person can use his invention to get to work. When Martin was a child, The Jetsons was a popular TV cartoon series. On the show, George Jetson and his family traveled by air as part of their daily routine. Now, thanks in large part to the imagination, dedication and determination of Glenn Martin and others like him, the concept of commuting to and from work with a jet pack could become a reality in the not-too-distant future.
The Martin Jetpack Takes Flight To watch a video of the Martin Jetpack taking flight, visit us on the Web at www.myteklife.com/videos/jetpack.html.
m y t e k l i f e may-jul 2010
29
PHOTO BY Danylchenko Iaroslav
WATER AS A USEFUL ENERGY SOURCE In the 1874 novel The Mysterious Island, the lost-at-sea protagonist, Cyrus Smith, confidently predicts to his shipmates that water is the coal of the future and will be used to power everything. The idea of something as simple and mundane as water becoming a reliable energy source has been conceptualized for many years. Up until now, it was seen as a possibility in the distant future. That was until engineer Ronny Bar-Gadda had an idea. Bar-Gadda, the president and CEO of Genesys LLC, has produced a breakthrough technology that allows the efficient and economical production of hydrogen from any water source. This means that hydrogen extracted from water can be converted into fuel-grade hydrogen. The technology, called RET, or radiant energy transfer, relies on the unique properties of the oxygen-hydrogen (OH) bond. By using electromagnetic radiation tuned to the OH bond energy, it is possible to break the bond with a minimum amount of energy. RET, a continuous process technology that operates at room temperature, is modular, easily scalable and carbon neutral. As a consequence of this revolutionary approach, RET modules can be added or subtracted very quickly to respond to changes in hydrogen demand. “What thrills me about this is that we have the potential to eliminate global warming,” Bar-Gadda remarked. He hopes that through producing hydrogen economically, this unique technology will eventually eliminate the need for fossil fuels. Bar-Gadda also hopes that his company, Genesys, will be a supplier of radiant energy. He realizes, though, that breakthrough technologies can take a long time to become widely adopted. “I suspect it will take 10-12 years from now,” he added. “I know it won’t happen overnight.” Bar-Gadda said the journey that led him to this point certainly didn’t happen overnight. “The unique blend of experiences working with energy at Exxon and high-tech labs for Phillips Research gave me what I needed to get here today,” he explained.
BY SHAMEKIA WALKER
A graduate of Cooper Union and the University of Pennsylvania, Bar-Gadda noted that the inspiration behind RET was to make a better tomorrow. Fortunately, many others share that same goal, with RET leading the way. During a live demonstration of RET, Darren Cordova, the mayor of Taos, N.M., said, “I foresee great success in the future of your technology. I also predict that it will reduce global warming, generate new jobs and increase our energy security.” As the event drew to an end, Cordova closed by saying, “We look forward to making the town of Taos and the state of New Mexico the first to benefit from your revolutionary invention.” RET technology is also on the radar of the California Energy Commission. B.B. Blevins, former executive director of the commission and a member of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s first Climate Action Team, stated, “Geothermal energy and heat from abandoned oil wells represent a substantial resource that the RET technology can tap to produce commercial quantities of hydrogen. This can have a major impact on California’s clean energy needs for the future.” Bar-Gadda exudes not just vision but passion for a greener, more sustainable future. “In an age of global warming and peak oil consumption, it is important to find a renewable resource that is plentiful and economical without damaging the environment. Water fits that criterion. Water, like oil and coal, needs to be refined in order to convert it to a useful energy source. RET has established that,” he asserted.
Technology at its Best ARM CHAIR DETECTIVES:
How ordinary citizens are fighting crime from their own home through Comcast On Demand technology On Demand cable service is mostly associated WITH
become. “People, without getting off their couch, using
providing viewers the programming they want, when they want
their remote control, have been able to play a role in giv-
it. From classic movies to yoga demonstrations, with a click
ing back to their community in providing leads that have
of the remote virtually any kind of program is available. Now,
helped these local authorities capture 90 fugitives, so it has
thanks to Comcast On Demand, subscribers in 23 national
been a phenomena and success story for us,” he said. “It’s
markets can fight crime using their remote control. Police Blotter On Demand is the name of an innovative public service initiative through which even the most leisure-minded, channel-surfing cable TV watcher can help law enforcement personnel track and apprehend local fugitives. More than 18 million Comcast Digital cable subscribers can go to their on demand menu for access to Police Blotter’s ever-expanding library of videos profiling fugitives in their area. Full-motion mug shots provide details on the
Matt Strauss, creator of Police Blotter
only been encouraging and fueling our passion for continuing to deploy this and other local services across our footprint.” Strauss said Comcast is passionate about Police Blotter because of the unique partnership between local law enforcement and viewers. “We do not charge for this. We fund it as a public service back to the community we service,” he explained. “It fosters an unspoken partnership that we’ve never experienced before. What I mean by that
fugitives’ past, their crimes and their possible whereabouts.
is, when a person watches Police Blotter, they are partner-
Sometimes surveillance footage is available, along with inter-
ing with the police and are helping solve the crime. They’re
views from witnesses and investigators assigned to the cases.
trying to make our streets a little bit safer.”
In the 23 markets where this content is currently being of-
According to Strauss, Police Blotter is a natural
fered, profiles are posted regularly in partnership with local and
progression for Comcast On Demand. “The innovation re-
national law enforcement agencies. Since its launch in 2006,
ally is an extension of the way we just approach the On
Police Blotter has posted profiles of more than 700 fugitives.
Demand platform in general.”
Upwards of 90 fugitives have been caught as a result of tips
When On Demand service started in 2003, it virtually
from Police Blotter watchers and On Demand customers. Re-
revolutionized the way people watched television. “We’ve
cently, a New Jersey woman who absconded from the New Jer-
been big believers that the future of television is offering
sey Intensive Supervision Program after being charged with ag-
customers the ability to watch what they want, when they
gravated assault and resisting arrest turned herself in after her
want it,” Strauss remarked. Early digital programming
own family saw her on Police Blotter On Demand, called her
reflected that need through offering programming such
and told her to turn herself in. Benjamin Moore, a Pittsburgh
as Pet Adoptions, Dating On Demand, Baby Boost and
fugitive, was arrested while standing in line to order lunch. An
Activity TV.
anonymous caller reported having seen Moore’s mug shot on Comcast.
Once programming with local ties became popular, it was only a matter of time before the idea of a local version
Matt Strauss, senior vice president of new media for Comcast
of America’s Most Wanted came into play. The first city to
Cable, is not surprised how successful cable crime fighting has
offer Police Blotter was Philadelphia, in 2008. Of the 90
32
m y t e k l i f e may-jul 2010
corporate social responsibility confirmed Comcast-related fugitive captures nationwide, 79 fugitives were taken into custody in the Pittsburgh area, according to Comcast and local police. Sheriff William Mullen of the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Department said he thinks Police Blotter has been so successful because it empowers people to fight crime in their community without fear of retaliation from suspected criminals. “Tipsters don’t have to testify,” he noted. “There is no reward. They are completely anonymous.’’ Delaware law enforcement officials are also optimistic about the new tool they have in fighting crime. Senior Cpl. Jeff Whitmarsh of the Delaware State Police said Police Blotter is especially helpful for victims. “From my own perspective, the other benefit that’s rarely talked about is what
we’re able to do for victims now with this technology. When someone is victimized, officers work very hard to apprehend the suspect; however, what’s been difficult is to keep the victims in the loop as to the steps you’re taking to do that.” Comcast’s Police Blotter offers us a way. They can directly see by going over to their television what we’re doing to apprehend the person that victimized them. It adds a degree of empowerment for the victim. When I’m at home, I’m the one that likes to hold the remote control, because there’s a little bit of power that goes along with that, so we think when someone’s victimized and they put that remote control in their hands … it’s just a little bit of power back, and makes them feel a little bit less of a victim than maybe they once were.” —SHAMEKIA WALKER
“It adds a degree of empowerment for the victim.”
1/3 pg mytek
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Commemorative Air Force Aviation Museum
B-17 Sentimental Journey
2017 North Greenfield Road, Mesa, AZ Phone 480-924-1940
www.azcaf.org
Museum Warbird Rides Gift Shop WWII Memorabilia Guided Tours
Where history flies again m y t e k l i f e may-jul 2010
33
DID YOU KNOW?
BANDWIDTH CRISIS: A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY
BY ED MARTINEZ AND SHAMEKIA WALKER licenses is increasing astronomically be-
W
e’ve all experienced it before—the arrival of the dreaded cell phone bill, as thick as a phone book, wrapped ominously in a large envelope. Whether the charges are the result of excessive text messages or Web usage, the common denominator is the bandwidth used to make many of our smartphones function. Simply put, our growing demand for bandwidth is causing an increasing shortage, which in turn increases the rate cell phone companies charge for services such as streaming video. Communications experts see this shortage as an impending crisis thanks to the public’s increasing appetite for smartphones. So, what does this mean for consumers and cell phone providers? For companies like Verizon, Sprint and AT&T, the biggest challenge will be to upgrade the infrastructure and invest in developing ways to expand from 3G to
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m y t e k l i f e may-jul 2010
4G coverage to keep up with consumer demand. For average bandwidth users, this predicament presents a unique opportunity. Companies like SmartComm aid the average consumer in purchasing a license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). According to SmartComm’s CEO, Carole Downs, this will be a viable option in the future of the industry. “Wireless spectrum is something foreign to most people. So, when we realized that we had something we could offer folks, we didn’t want them to just say ‘that sounds good’ and write a check … because there’s an obligation after you get your license. And that is to construct it, operate it. You become a small-business owner, in other words,” she explained. For those who are interested in obtaining an FCC license, the outcome could be lucrative; the value of these
cause of the growing demand for the spectrum supporting all of the wireless devices. “We found a niche that wasn’t being offered to the general public,” Downs said. “Most people didn’t know that individuals could own an FCC license.” SmartComm has put together Webinars and seminars to present and explain this opportunity to interested individuals. The Webinars also help to connect the license holders with each other so they can collaborate and build an infrastructure. To some, obtaining a personal FCC license may seem daunting, but Downs said it’s not that different from other business ventures. She noted that SmartComm encourages its clients to hold on to their license and to build it out, “because the income is forever.” Downs recounted a particular success story. “We have clients over in California who, through a lottery, won a license … and it’s one of the examples we use, because they are still getting a check today, after 20 years. They’re still all getting an annual check for around $175,000 each, for a very small percentage of ownership that they have. Because they retained their license, they receive a check from that carrier every year. How much did they invest initially? About $700.” This may seem too good to be true to some, but Downs offered some advice. “You have to be patient. You have to be prepared to spend the money to build it out. That cost may be anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000. So, you want to have those funds set aside. And that’s why we take the time to really educate people, because it really is a small business opportunity.” It is unlikely that our appetite for bandwidth will abate anytime soon, but now that the FCC has created the next big technology gold rush, literally out of thin air, it’s a business opportunity worth exploring.
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A Postcard from Your Phone Shoot it! LLC has developed a new mobile phone application that allows you to take pictures, personalize them with a message and then send them as postcards. Tom McDermott, the founder of Shoot it! LLC, recalls how he first came up with the idea of sending postcards from a phone. He worked in the IT industry and often traveled overseas, and he was always looking for ways to stay in touch with friends and family. While he was in Europe several years ago, he was introduced to camera phones. One day, he thought, “Wouldn’t it be cool if you could somehow mail a picture from a phone?” At the time, he realized that camera phones were not capable of doing this. Back then, they did not produce very good pictures, and most phones could not connect to the Internet. So, McDermott pondered the idea for several years. When smartphones were introduced, he felt that the timing was right and began working on turning his idea into a reality. “You now have 3.2
megapixel phones in the U.S., and phones that can do over 10 megapixels in Europe,” McDermott observed. Shoot it! is easy to use, and the postcard can be sent by regular mail anywhere in the world on the next business day. The application works on the iPhone and BlackBerry Curve 8900, Bold and Tour, and McDermott plans on making it available for all new smartphones later this year. To use the service, you first need to set up an account on the Shoot it! Web site. You can then buy credits and refill your account as you wish. The cost for mailing a postcard to recipients with a U.S. address is 99 cents. For European addresses, the cost is $1.50. McDermott hopes that his application will bring a smile to those who receive the postcards. He believes that a picture in your hands has a more meaningful impact than, say, receiving it by e-mail. “Somebody took the time to send you a nice note. To say ‘we’re having fun, wish you were here.’ That person will put the picture on their fridge, or their computer monitor … they keep it because someone took the time.” —ED MARTINEZ
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Airport Scanners
How Do They Work?
Advanced imaging technology is revolutionizing airport security screening procedures
A
irport screening technology has advanced by leaps and bounds since the tragic events of 9/11. In 2005, the Department of Homeland Security ordered the very first batch of five scanners from Rapiscan Systems. Earlier this year, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) awarded L-3 Communications a $164.7 million contract to supply the federal government with the firm’s ProVision millimeter wave (MMW) checkpoint screening system, which uses advanced imaging technology (AIT) to screen for explosives, weapons and other possible threats. The ProVision screening system has been in use at U.S. airports since 2007. Formerly known as the Whole Body Imager, it uses radio waves to detect potentially dangerous items hidden beneath passengers’ clothing, including a variety of metallic and non-metallic substances. The number of full-body scanners at the nation’s airports is expected to skyrocket because of growing security concerns. Last summer, the TSA purchased 150 more machines from Rapiscan using $25 million in funding established through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. After receiving its new contract in February, L-3 Communications is working on software upgrades and enhancements to the company’s
By Julia Davis screening technology that will enable it to detect additional threats to aviation security. ProVision is a sophisticated system that boasts multiple customized levels of privacy protection, unlike other scanners currently in use at American airports. It’s designed to project a three-dimensional, black and white silhouette, making the identity of the screened individual virtually impossible to discern. Additional privacy safeguards include an option for the blurring of facial features and remote viewing of the images away from the passenger area. More than 200 ProVision systems are already in use throughout the world, protecting embassies, airports, government facilities, prisons, courthouses, commercial enterprises and border crossings. AIT has revolutionized airport security screening procedures. Systems that implement this technology can detect a variety of objects, including weapons, explosives, narcotics, money, liquids, gels, plastics, metals and ceramics, and they can produce results in as little as 2 to 10 seconds, screening an average of 200 to 400 people per hour. The technology doesn’t use X-rays or ionizing radiation, instead
operating through MMW radio frequency signals that are 10,000 times lower than those produced by commercial radio frequency devices. The TSA expects to acquire and deploy 1,800 AIT units in American airports by 2014. The technology is rapidly expanding, both in its use and its capabilities, but it still has some shortcomings, including privacy concerns, high costs and an inability to detect low-density substances or objects concealed in body cavities. To meet those needs, at some point in time we might see the Body Orifice Security Scanner, or the B.O.S.S. chair, being used for enhanced airport screening procedures. That device is currently used in corrections facilities for detecting contraband that inmates have swallowed or inserted into body cavities. Business has boomed for manufacturers of security imaging products, thanks to the shift toward using high-tech screening devices. The increasing demand for global security clearly demonstrates that whole-body scanning technology is here to stay— seeing through you, to help see you safely through. m y t e k l i f e may-jul 2010
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BlackBerry Tip: Quick Navigation That Will Save You Time Virgin Limited Edition
Use these BlackBerry navigation shortcuts the next time you’re racing against the clock.
Virgin’s Deep Sea Rides Sir Richard Branson’s latest toy, the Necker Nymph, is a small electric submarine built to offer deep sea tours at depths as great as 130 feet. The Necker Nymph was designed by renowned engineer Graham Hawkes of Ocean Technologies. The submarine is lightweight and has been compared to an aircraft because it moves in the water like an airplane on a runway. If you are staying at Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands, you can rent the submarine for a weekly rate of $25,000. The Necker Nymph can accommodate three passengers, including a certified pilot to accompany and train the guests on board.
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To switch applications quickly, hold down the menu button.
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Press T to scroll to the top of a message, your inbox or a Web site.
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Press B to go to the bottom of a message, your inbox or a Web site.
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To reprogram the buttons on the side of your BlackBerry, click the Options icon on the home screen, and then select Screen/Keyboard.
You can also navigate through your inbox while a message is open, with these speedy tricks. •
Press N to open the next message in your inbox.
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Press P to open the previous message in your inbox.
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Press R to reply to a message.
So, be a BlackBerry speed demon! Maximize your time and enhance your productivity with a single keystroke. For more technology tips, visit us on the Web at www.myteklife.com.
Bringing YOUR walls to life with sleek, beautiful design Bang & Olufsen’s BeoVision 10 was designed to hang on your wall with your other artwork. The design language of this LCD flat screen is candid and straightforward. The entire TV is covered by an elegant front glass with a sophisticated anti-reflective coating and is framed by a high-gloss polished aluminum profile on both the front and rear. BeoVision 10 will be available this summer—$6,248 (MSRP). WALL BRACKETS LET YOU SWING OUT THE SCREEN AT AN ANGLE UP TO 45 DEGREES, FOR VIEWING FROM DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. 40
m y t e k l i f e may-jul 2010
PHOTO CREDIT: NASA
Solar-Powered Luggage NASA will launch the first human-like robot into space later this year to become a permanent resident of the International Space Station. Robonaut 2, or R2, was developed jointly by NASA and General Motors through a cooperative agreement to develop a robotic assistant that can work alongside humans. The 300-pound R2 consists of a head and a torso with two arms and two hands. It will launch on the space shuttle Discovery as part of the STS-133 mission planned for next fall. Once it is aboard the station, engineers will monitor how the robot functions in weightlessness.
Are you tired of your mobile phone’s battery always running out? Maybe you need a new bag! Luggage-maker Samsonite has partnered with Ascent Solar to integrate solar panels into its carrying case products. The Messenger bag can charge mobile phones, GPS navigators, media players and other compact devices using energy from the sun. It charges when exposed to direct sunlight for about 4.5 hours using a 12-volt car charger adapter in the bag, which can connect to a phone’s standard car charger.
PORSCHE’S NEW HYBRIDS The 918 Spyder with a new plug-in hybrid technology can achieve 78 miles per gallon and can reach 60 mph in less than 3.2 seconds. The 911 GT3 R Hybrid uses two electric motors on the front axle to supplement the 480-horsepower engine driving the rear wheels. Instead of the heavy batteries usually found in most hybrids, an electrical fly wheel power generator is installed next to the driver, delivering energy to the motors. The Cayenne S Hybrid combines the power of a 333-horsepower V6 with a 47-horse power electric motor, offering 380 horsepower—essentially the high performance of a V8 with the fuel efficiency of a V6.
The bag can also accommodate a 15-inch notebook, but it cannot charge notebook batteries. The Messenger is expected to be available this summer—$100 (MSRP).
m y t e k l i f e may-jul 2010
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Carbon Neutral Cab Company
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Can new uses for phaser data measurements prevent blackouts?
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