i-eclectica.org

In “Taking the ‘Inter’ out of Internet: TiVo-Rhapsody deal just another nail in the Internet’s coffin?“, David Berlind looks at current trends that move away from on of the founding principles of the Internet: interoperability of network protocols. While we have web 2.0 or mashups that make net use more versatile, we also have companies like eBay or TiVo/Real Networks excluding competitors from participating in data exchange based on their protocol versions. David is concerned that net users in future will have to make more and more choice decisions, like using Skype and/or gTalk or interacting on marketplaces based on eBay and/or CheckOut protocols. I’m afraid he’s right - protecting profit margins and shareholder value will continue to be more important than consumer/customer convenience and ease-of-use. His vision of many Internets rather than just one is quite real.

Japan’s Nissan Motor Co. unveiled last week a new version of its egg-shaped Pivo concept car, which can drive sideways and has a small robot to assist with navigation or calm down angry drivers. Pivo 2 builds on the popularity of the first Pivo, which became a cult hit at shows from Beijing to Geneva.

The Pivo 2 three-seater car is powered by Nissan’s advanced Compact Lithium-ion batteries, and it utilises “by-wire” technologies that use electric signals for steering and braking. Like its predecessor, which was unveiled in 2005, the new Pivo incorporates revolutionary technologies. One allows the cabin to revolve 360 degrees thus eliminating the need to reverse. The other does away with axles (in difference to its predecessor) by powering each of the four wheels through separate electric “In-wheel 3D Motors”, a feat allowing the driver to turn the wheels 90 degrees for easy sideways and parallel parking.

To make urban driving not only functional and more sustainable but also fun, the Pivo 2 is equipped with a round-eyed robot head sitting on the dashboard. The bot has cameras that can tell when a driver is getting sleepy. “You look tired. There’s a coffee shop 500 metres ahead on the left,” it told a driver with drooping eyelids during a recent demonstration. It can also nod or shake its head, helping to improve the mood of irate or glum drivers. In addition, it provides a unique interface through which to communicate with Pivo 2 on everything from basic vehicle functions through to the nearest available parking. The robot is bi-lingual (English & Japanese).

The Pivo 2 will be on display at the Nissan Ginza Gallery in Tokyo for an exclusive public sneak preview ahead of the Tokyo Motor Show near the capital from October 27.

[see also Concept Carz]

On this date in 1887, Dorr Felt invented what became known as the comptometer, a mechanical or electro-mechanical adding machine. The comptometer was the first adding device to be driven solely by the action of pressing keys. Although the comptometer was designed primarily for adding, it could also subtract, multiply and divide simply by pressing keys. Special comptometers with varying key arrays (with from 30 to well over 100 keys) were produced for a variety of purposes, including calculating currencies, time and Imperial measures of weight.

In the hands of a skilled operator, comptometers can add numbers very rapidly, since all the digits of a number can be entered simultaneously using as many fingers as required, making them much faster to use than electronic calculators. Consequently, in specialist applications they remained in use in limited numbers into the 1990s, but with the exception of a handful of machines, have now all been superseded by computer software.

“You always admire what you really don’t understand.”

                                                                         Blaise Pascal