SNOW FLOAT: 246.5 metres is the distance a Norwegian ski flier achieved recently after hurtling down the world's longest ski jump. He broke world records doing it. The Vikersundbakke ski flying hill, in southern Norway, is 135 metres tall, 225 metres long and breaks records itself. Jumpers take off at a 38 degree angle and achieve speeds of around 105 Kph on the downward run. It seems a more straightforward sport than ski jumping. More at Wired and video on YouTube.
DIY ULTRASOUND: Time for an ultrasound? Well, get the gear ready: wand, gel, smartphone. Mobisante's MobiUS ultrasound imaging system is low cost and portable. A wand captures the images and transmits them to a Windows Mobile cellphone that can send them on via WiFi or 3G. All that's needed now are the hashtags and Flickr sets. More at Medgadget.
SIMPLE PHONE: A new device from Softbank takes the cellphone idea and simplifies it down to essentials. The handset has a single button to call a programmed number. The call is followed automatically by an email with a GPS location. "Uh oh, granddad's gone walkabout again." Details at DVice.
WORLD WIDE WHERE: That GPS we're relying on now? It was only on 14 February 1989 that the first satellite in the Global Positioning System was sent into orbit. Since 1993 GPS has been available for the general public to use. That's about the same time the Web got underway. It's taken a surprisingly long time really to mesh the two together — almost 20 years. More at Wired.
FIZZY FUEL: Flat lemonade and stale beer don't usually top any list of useful products. In New Brunswick, Canada, though a new pilot processing plant is opening. It will take waste fizzy drinks and beer, usually poured into landfill, and convert them into nearly 200,000 litres of ethanol fuel. That's yet another opportunity to mine 'waste'. More at EthanolProducer.
- Miraz Jordan knowit.co.nz
Tech Universe: Thursday 17 February
246.5 metres is the distance a Norwegian ski flier achieved recently after hurtling down the world's longest ski jump. Photo / Supplied
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