In this podcast, Nora Young looks at the recent British ban on the violent video game Manhunt Two.
Meanwhile, Cathi Bond looks at the growing world of neuroenhancers. This fellow writing for Technology Review, tries out therapy that sends an electric current through your frontal lobe, and takes the alertness and memory drug, Provigil. Would you?
In this week’s trendwatching podcast, Cathi Bond and Nora Young look at the future of podcasting, on the road from their trip to Podcasters Across Borders in Kingston. On the way, they look at the Open Movement, dish about bathing suits, and get attacked by seagulls!
Cathi has the story on BEAR, a new robot (yes) medic under development to scoop up injured soldiers in the field (via BBC).
Nora talks about a new theory of deja vu, not nearly as much fun as that whole past lives thingy. (via The Guardian’s excellent technology blog)
Nora and Cathi talk about Apple’s moves to get into the movie rental download business. What do you think? BTW, since we recorded this story, reports have surfaced that the movie studios are cool to the whole idea…especially the price point. Still, I’d bet that we haven’t seen the last of this conversation.
Meanwhile, Cathi finds this wild buzz device: the neural impulse actuator is a prototype for a brain-controlled computer system! Here’s the YouTube video of it in action in use for controlling a first person shooter video game.
According to the Hindustan Times, at least one Indian firm which makes its money from jobs outsources from US companies, is itself outsourcing to Mexico. A happy kick for the Mexican economy or a sign of a race to the lowest wages? (via Techdirt). Here’s the Harper’s article Nora mentions.
Meanwhile, thinking of enjoying entertaining outdoors with friends? Why not take the TV outside for this inflatable experience, Gizmag asks?
Cathi returns from a swell trip to Barcelona, high on culture. We talk Gaudi, and about creating a city that runs on culture. Nora wonders why Toronto takes the safe route, and why we end up with more Libeskind crystals than Diamond opera houses.
Plus, Nora announces our new home on Facebook. Pay us a visit!
And in honour of Cathi’s return, Nora has a blah, blah, blah polymer story from Technology Review.
Nora and Cathi debate the validity of Truemors, the new digg-esque site where you post, essentially whatever you want….news, gossip…Since Cathi and Nora talked about this, it looks like the site has lots of people promoting their own sites/products/services. Worse than gossip, it’s the mall.
Plus BoKlok, the prefab housing development by IKEA that we first talked about on thesniffer a long time ago, has finally opened in the UK (via gizmag).
Or maybe just Nora is. She’s started a spot on Facebook for thesniffer. Pay us a visit!
Nora’s curious about Entropia Universe, a game-like virtual world with a fixed currency that’s starting to get more and more buzz. Could it be the next big thing? Read about it at techcrunch and wikipedia.
Meanwhile, as you probably know, Facebook has taken Canada by storm. Facebook itself is even blogging about the sudden pickup in the Great White Socially Awkward North. Cathi wonders if she could become an addict…and if it’s all right to spy on her relative!
Listener Tom Woodsworth tipped us off to this wild Second Life story at techcrunch, speaking of virtual worlds. Virtual riots and protests are taking off in SL as people join the Second Life Liberation Army, protesting things like the opening of chain clothing stores and the World Economic Forum. Thanks Tom!
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