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So how about some alternate speaker technology? Like the Dead Tech The Bone Fone

But wait .. it doesn’t seem to be dead. Other occurences of similiar technology:

• AudioBones conduction
• Toshiba Musical Pillow. The Bone Conduction wake-up…

So this is starting to remind me of something I vaguely remember from Shadowrun RPG ( or was it a shadowrun novel) that there was a mobile phone that was kind of embedded into you. The idea was that your body had been modded with technology(phone) that only you could hear, and you could speak using subvocal communication inaudible to those around you. Weird and Freaky ? Well .. it may be closer nowadays to fact than cyberpunk fiction. Searching for “Subvocal Microphones” on google brings up plenty of cyberpunk related things. But for some serious style links try out:

• Sobvocal Microphones (NASA Tech)
• Non-acoustic sensors detect speech without sound (New Scientist)

There are some that say Cyberpunk is dead. I don’t think that’s the case at all, the dream of high technology 15 years ago are now just more of a reality, or not far from the truth.

“Company requires RFID injection“. Sounds like science fiction, and to my knowledge and searching, it seems true. Previously, I found articles relating to a guy who chipped himself in the name of science and access to his computer. Citywatcher.com now want some of their employees chipped to gain access to secure rooms and computers.

Most people nowadays carry an ID badge with some proximity access control. Chipping, however, takes identification and authorisation to the next level. RFIDetail has more details about this Company RFID injection.

Regardless of the security merits (or lack thereof, depending on where you look), it presents an interesting and invasive approach to identification. There is also mention that the id can be skimmed and cloned, raising concern over whether or not it provides much more security than a proximity security card. Although, obviously, you won’t lose or forget to bring your hand, when you have an implant.

Not only companies are using this for security and identification, some bars are using this for drink purchases. Other articles such as “Paying for drinks with wave of the hand” and “Implanted ID chip finds way into ERs, bars“. This seems amazing that people would submit themselves to this, but maybe it’s not that different to getting bodily parts pierced.

I always wondered about book stores like Borders and Collins, which have always seemed quite expensive. It is a rare day that I actually buy a book from one of these stores, because I know I can buy it cheaper online, new or second hand.

So why do I go ?

So I can see inside the book, at a quick glance see if I like it. This is exceptionally useful for textbooks, but I also do it for novels and cookbooks. Cookbooks tend to have a lot of pictures, which you don’t get the scope of when you view things online. Yes .. Amazon do give access to view pages within the book, but it’s not the same as holding it. I like walking the bookshelves, and experiencing the serendipity of finding something by accident, that small book that’s tucked in beside “Programming C” when it was put back in the wrong place.

The different concept:
Public Libraries (or even other libraries) could facilitate book sales. Using their own book search engine ( like Beta Book Search) and generate some profit off the referrals. This searching could be available within the library, and you could borrow the book until your copy arrives. Better still, they could scan your library card, and purchase it for you .This would extend the libraries usefulness. Furthermore, these purchases could feed back to the member, for example, knowing that 15 out of 20 people who looked at the book purchased it, would say something about a book.

Why do I think this is better?

Libraries are already performing a service, providing information to its members. That’s pretty much why I go to bookstores, to see what’s there and find other stuff “by accident”. This is just another way of providing value to its members, and generating some revenue. Book stores display what is available and saleable, and provide instant gratification should you wish to buy and use/read the book immediately.

I don’t think it’s a case of one or the other, I am suggesting a hybrid, and perhaps this is an avenue for the libraries to pursue. I am not sure, but I think libraries may already cater for those who a price sensitive (i.e. borrow instead of buy a book). This however, provides the ability for a member to purchase a book if the price is right, and borrow the libraries until they get theirs.

Recently, I have gotten nostalgic over game playing. Perhaps because I don’t do it anymore. With a title like RetroGaming with racketboy: Top 20 Games That Nobody Played - But You Should How could I not check it out ?

However, Greatest Games of All times hit the nostalgic nerve. Especially with titles like, Civilization, Neuromancer, Lode Runner and many others I wasted invested my time on.

Then for a bit more fun, the 5 Best Freeware games of 2005. There are two great looking games with flashy graphics. So I might be convinced to try some free games.

And lastly, 3D Realms Site: Master Download Page. They have “freewared” some of the old games from the early ’90s. Like Blake Stone, Duke Nukem 1 and a few other bits and bobs.