Medicine (health)

Building a better space suit

Submitted by Daryl Weade on Thu, 11/06/2014 - 14:03

MIT professor Dava Newman presents the design and possible uses for a new spacesuit design. In addition to providing a history of space suit design and an overview of current designs, she elaborates on additional uses for the research such as better protective suits for healthcare workers and eventually exoskeletons to solve many of today's limitations for those without the ability to walk or maintain their posture for long periods of time.

The rise of the quanitified self

Submitted by Daryl Weade on Thu, 11/06/2014 - 13:25

Two minute video providing a view into the idea behind the "quantified self" movement and the benefits for humanity by collecting a massive database of health data.

Soft Apocalypse

Submitted by Daryl Weade on Tue, 10/28/2014 - 10:53

As atmospheric carbon rises towards 450 units per million and the pitch of climatologists reach higher levels of alarm, Soft Apocalypse offers a worst-case scenario of what a slow collapse of society might look like from the inside. Where McIntosh's Bridesicle/Love Minus 80 revolved around a misuse of life-saving technology, Soft Apocalypse is an avalanche of Hell unleashed on our planet. It is futurehorror without a Freddy or Michael, where the bad guys numbered in billions around the globe. Many of them bad guys who live among us today, but who haven't been forced to show their true natures as long as the distractions of civilization keep them in check.

This story could easily be the world outside as everything unraveled in Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Watching the slow collapse of society through Jasper's narrative, we see humanity returning to its fierce roots as the veneer of civilization is slowly stripped away. Soft Apocalypse is a message you live through as you read it.

Can We Live Forever?

Submitted by Daryl Weade on Sat, 10/11/2014 - 21:12

A 6 minute film presenting the history, research, and expectations of life extension.

History of a Time to Come

Submitted by Daryl Weade on Sat, 10/11/2014 - 20:47

Dr. Michio Kaku gives us 15 minutes of insight on upcoming events set to change our world and gives his expectations of what will dominate the rest of this century.

CryptoDNA

Submitted by Daryl Weade on Mon, 08/18/2014 - 12:07

Microscopic view of a virus His alarm sounded, followed by three pings to let him know that many messages were waiting. Jack rolled over, grabbing his phone off the stand and heading for the toilet. Blinking, he palmed his right eye. It was hazy, like a filmy shower door.

Taking a seat, Jack's stomach rumbled and a tension headache was working up his neck. The flu? he wondered, but a quick review of his phone's health sensors didn't show anything of concern. They weren't infallible, but they'd catch any substantial temperature increase.

Jack thumbed up the first message and squinted. Rsrv @ Ice House 8:30. Dinner with his brother, Earl. He flipped it to his calendar and pulled up the next as his stomach made a fuss. Package printed, ready for shipping. Track via Y8DK848785984. He tapped the code and it shot offscreen to his tracking software. His stomach emptied so hard he shivered.

Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think

Submitted by Daryl Weade on Fri, 07/11/2014 - 11:15

In Abundance, Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotler present trends taking us towards a better future - one in which individual needs are met on a global scale. Using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs as a foundation, they explore technology will find ways to improve efficiency by fostering cooperation, providing access to clean water, producing enough food for a planet of nine billion, and even enabling equality as limitations dissipate.

Many projections offer a future half empty. Here, we get a lesson on how our biases enable close tracking of negative trends, whether serious, global issues or personal issues threatening a comfortable ideal we would not wish to give up. Yet, data show the world is improving. As an example, Bill Gates' annual letter from this past January presents how effective support of poor economies is stabilizing population, improving health, and helping develop economies capable of supporting human rights and freedom.

The point of Abundance is that we can both thrive as a race, free of draconian measures to tame our needs, and solve our problems going forward, using new methods and technologies to empower humanity. Why settle for half empty or half full, when the future can be filled to the brim?

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

Submitted by Daryl Weade on Tue, 07/01/2014 - 18:26

The original "Planet of the Apes" introduced us to a world where humans are secondary to our closest family species in the great apes. The film relaunch of "Planet of the Apes" set those events in our future. "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" explains why these species are uplifted to human-level intelligence and the resulting conflict when humans attempt to deal with "alien" emotions, attitudes, and actions.

The film focuses on the development of an uplifted chimpanzee named Caeser, who gains human-level (or greater) intelligence as a result of the pharmaceutical testing of a potential Alzheimer's cure on his pregnant mother. Raised by the scientist who developed the cure, the film presents Caeser's life from a newborn to his role as a leader of a group of uplifted animals.

The Gate (2011 short film)

Submitted by Daryl Weade on Mon, 06/30/2014 - 10:12

Screen capture from The Gate The Gate is a short film depicting a horrific event where humans are modified via unlicensed pharmaceuticals. Using a governmental review of the event as the structure, flashing back to images of mutants and conflict with authorities, it presents how the events came about and who was effected. A brief glance at what could happen if current pharmaceutical practices continue as the ability to manufacture designer drugs become the norm.

Minority Report (2002)

Submitted by Daryl Weade on Fri, 06/27/2014 - 10:14

Based on "The Minority Report," a short story by Philip K. Dick, this film explores the issue of preventing crime before it occurs. The PreCrime division, a special unit set in Washington, D.C., uses three individuals who possess the ability to foresee murders before they occur. When each case is identified, including the victim, the perpetrator, and the time, the PreCrime police use recorded visuals from the "precog's" visions to identify the location and foil the crime before it happens.

While the division has had great success and is considered perfect, the film focuses on what happens if these visions are not 100% reliable. Especially when the perpetrators are arrested and imprisoned when they were not allowed to actually commit the crime.