Tupac’s Resurrection Shows the Endless Possibilities Ahead for G.3

The ghostly resurrection of Tupac Shakur last weekend at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival was certainly not the first time hologram technology was used to blend the virtual and physical worlds together.

Even though, digitally creating people, characters and scenarios is not an entirely new frontier, I still couldn’t help but think, as virtual technologies become more immersive, how exciting the possibilities are for G.3 when merging the virtual and real worlds.

Some ideas for G.3 scenarios quickly came to mind:

• Former friends-turned-rivals Tupac and Biggie Smalls reconcile to perform on stage together; which brings us to the idea of bringing back any performer who has passed and can now perform live with any still living performer or group. At the top of my wish list would be Freddie Mercury.
• Safely and ethically integrate the domain of warfare (with armies, navies and so on from all eras) into G.3 competitions. Virtual technologies could also pit historically accurate and fictional military units against each other.
• Pitting the all-time teams (of all sports and eras) against each other to help settle questions of who and which teams are the best of all-time.
• Integrating past all-time teams and players into current G.3 play.
• Playing out alternate histories that affect the outcome of G.3 competitions.
• Enable the extension of video games into the physical world.

THE GAME Gear: Motorola ATRIX 4G

With dual-core 1 GHz NVIDIA Tegra processors and 1GB of DDR2 RAM on board, the Motorola ATRIX is the most powerful smartphone on the market. Taking advantage of all this processing power, Motorola has positioned the ATRIX, running on Android 2.2 Froyo, as a mobile device with PC power; integrating the functionalities of a PC and a smartphone seamlessly into one device.

The fun really begins when connecting the ATRIX to an optional docking station or a laptop dock powered by the phone itself. Via its Webtop app, the ATRIX can turn into a PC that runs a true desktop Firefox browser and Flash 10:

Motorola has been receiving a ton of positive buzz after it unveiled the ATRIX at the CES last week and rightly so. But, it is baffling to me that Motorola would release this beautiful device exclusively through AT&T, a carrier who has struggled with service and connection issues—real and perceived (ask anyone who has an iPhone or any phone on the AT&T network for that matter). Gadget geeks will likely flock to the stores, in spite of the carrier, in order to be one of the first to get their hands on an ATRIX (I’m already counting down the days until I see the first unboxing video on YouTube). Who knows if the joy found in the user experience will be overshadowed by the frustration that may come with using AT&T’s network. I would love to get my hands on an ATRIX on March 1, but at the cost of several hundred dollars and a two year contract, I think I’ll safely stand on the sidelines until I know AT&T has got their act together.

I hope they do.

THE GAME Gear: RIM Blackberry Torch 9800

In an effort to gain market share in the popular touch-screen smartphone market, RIM’s response to the market leader Apple iPhone and Motorola’s recent line of well-received Android phones is the Blackberry Torch.

Perhaps learning from the lackluster response received by the Blackberry Storm, RIM’s first foray into the touch-screen smartphone market, notable changes in the Blackberry Torch include the incorporation of RIM’s iconic QWERTY keyboard as a slide-out keyboard, the new Blackberry OS 6 and a WebKit browser. So how does the Torch’s features and performance stack up with the other phones in its class? PhoneArena presents a video review of the new RIM Blackberry Torch 9800.

THE GAME Gear: Motorola DROID X vs. Apple iPhone 4

PhoneArena presents a thorough video comparison of the new Motorola DROID X and Apple’s hot iPhone 4. For a comprehensive comparison and analysis of the hardware and the performance of the DROID X and iPhone 4 go here.

THE GAME Gear: HTC Evo 4G Review

Courtesy of PhoneArena.com, a review of the new HTC Evo 4G which features 4G connectivity, a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, HDMI out, HD video capture, dual cameras including an 8 megapixel main sensor and a giant 4.3-inch touchscreen. The Evo 4G runs Android 2.1 with HTC's Sense UI on top.

THE GAME Gear: Apple iPad Review

Courtesy of PhoneArena.com, a review of the new Apple iPad:

THE GAME: Node Links

image courtesy of Jared Tarbell

1. Vook. Adding a fresh spin on the centuries old medium of books, Vook is a multimedia hybrid that mashes up text, audio, video, photos and social media into a format  tailored for today’s internet browsers, e-readers and mobile devices.

2. Rhodes Scholar and NFL prospect, Myron Rolle’s upcoming NFL draft status is taking a hit because he may be considered too smart for his own good. The thinking goes that the NFL personnel people want players who are focused only on football. Unfortunately for Rolle, his aspirations to become a neurosurgeon if/when his NFL playing days are over may drag his draft value down. A neurosurgeon who plays elite level football? Rolle would be perfect fit for THE GAME.

3. The ultimate database of all the world’s stadiums. The worldstadiums.com database includes over 10,000 stadiums from over 223 countries.

4. Goal Line Blitz is an engrossing new online American football MMORPG that allows you to create and develop players as well as manage a team’s entire operations; from concessions to trading and signing players.

5. Life in the Multiverse. A fascinating article from the January 2010 issue of Scientific  American (paywall) examining the theory of a multiverse, multiple universes—each with their own laws of physics and perhaps each with their own forms of life—originating from the same primordial vacuum. Photo courtesy of jurvetson.

THE GAME Gear: Google Nexus One

Here is a video review (in two parts) of the new Google Nexus One smartphone courtesy of MobileTechReview.com.

The Nexus One is made by HTC, and runs the Android OS 2.1 (Eclair). It has US 3G on T-Mobile bands and HSDPA on Euro/Asia bands. The Nexus One runs on 1 GHz Snapdragon CPU, has 512 megs RAM and 512 megs flash storage. It also has a 5 megapixel camera, built-in Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth, GPS as well as a SDHC card slot with a 4 gig card included in the package.

 

THE GAME Gear: Makkar Pure Power Mouthguard

The Makkar Pure Power Mouthguard (PPM) is a custom-fitted mouthguard used to align the lower jaw in its most comfortable and stable position; increasing one’s strength, balance, flexibility and endurance. Based on decades of neuromuscular dental research, the Makkar PPM is based on the premise that the position of the lower jaw can have a tremendous effect on the lower body.

The PPM is different from the traditional mouthguard that can be purchased at sporting goods stores, and even from the custom-fitted ones dentists often make. In order to fabricate a PPM, a neuromuscular dentist will relax the muscles of the jaw (more on this later)/ to find a "verifiable position" that usually results in a joint socket position that's typically more down and forward. When worn, the PPM will position the lower jaw into this most relaxed position; allowing the brain to focus more on coordinating the lower body instead of coordinating the numerous facial and jaw muscles that are used to stabilize the jaw.

Neuromuscular dentist Dr. Shirley Cheong describes this concept:

Popular Science explains how the jaw position is determined for the PPM and discusses a recent blind crossover study:

“The optimal location [of the jaw] for each athlete is determined by delivering a low voltage through the jaw and monitoring the muscles in the face via EMG. The bite is captured at the point of a lowest resistance and the mouth guard is built to those specifications….

[A recent] blind crossover study took 22 male collegiate and professional athletes and tested their vertical jump, bench press and put the athletes through the Wingate Anaerobic Test. Each athlete sat through the detailed fitting procedure for a PPM. For the vertical jump (highest of three) there was a significant increase with the PPM of 67.6 vs 65.3 cm. Bench press showed no significant difference while the Wingate test showed a significant increase in peak power but no difference in average power.”

At a cost of approximately $2000, you need to find a neuromuscular dentist, who has the proper training and equipment, in your area to be fitted for a PPM.

Since it is not being widely used at the moment, the PPM could serve as a legal alternative to gaining a physical edge against your competition in THE GAME .

Etc.: An interview with the creator of the PPM, Dr. Anil Makkar where he explains how he came up with the idea for the PPM (the interview starts on page 17). Shaquille O’Neal, Terrell Owens and Scott McCarron give their video testimonials. Other PPM wearers: Wanderlei Silva (page 12) and the New Orleans Saints.

Finally!

After 28 months of delays, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner finally lifted off on its maiden voyage today. You can see the webcast takeoff, landing and flight highlights here.

Made mostly from composites instead of aluminum and steel, the 787 will cut the cost of flying long-range routes by 15-20%—an enormous leap in efficiency. As for the consumer, the 787 features a wider and taller fuselage and an advanced environmental control system; allowing the cabin pressure to be set lower and increasing passenger comfort.

A beautiful aircraft to behold!

THE GAME: Node Links

1. David Stern, commissioner of the NBA, thinks that a woman will break through the gender barrier and play in the NBA…within the next decade.

2. Get ready for a new way to window shop! In the coming weeks, Google is going to distribute over 100,000 QR code stickers to “popular” businesses based on search results from users interacting with local business listings on Google Maps. The idea is for small businesses to place these stickers on their storefront window; allowing customers to scan the 2-D barcode with their cell phone’s code reader and opening up new possibilities for businesses to reach their customers (special offers, customer reviews, photos, etc.). We talked about this concept of bridging the physical and digital worlds in a previous post.

3. An interesting analysis from Chris Brown of Smart Football on how the Oregon Ducks utilize the zone read of the defensive tackle, a nuance in the zone read option run game.

4. The world’s first commercial passenger spacecraft:

 More about the VSS Enterprise.

THE GAME Gear: Motorola DROID

Here is a review of the new Motorola DROID smartphone courtesy of phoneArena.com.

The Motorola DROID is an Android-powered smartphone for Verizon Wireless. It sports clean lines and a side-sliding design, which allows for a four-row QWERTY keyboard. The display is pretty big - 3.7 inches, while other features include a 5MP camera, microSDHC slot, GPS and Wi-Fi.

THE GAME Gear: Palm Pre

Here is a video review of the new Palm Pre courtesy of phoneArena.com.

The Pre features a 3.1" multi-touch screen and a sliding full QWERTY keyboard. It is a CDMA/EV-DO smart phone with Wi-Fi, GPS, 3-megapixel camera with flash, stereo Bluetooth, microUSB, and 8GB of internal memory.

Actualizing the Internet of Things

At the 2007 TED Conference, Kevin Kelly, the founding executive editor of Wired magazine and the former editor and publisher of the Whole Earth Catalog, predicted the "next 5,000 days of the web". During his talk, Kelly argued that the web will evolve towards the linkage of ideas or the semantic web and eventually the "Internet of Things".



We have discussed at various times the convergence of the digital and physical worlds. There are many ideas and products that currently exist that link the two worlds and can usefully integrate into THE GAME. Beginning this summer, a new product by the startup Fugoo will attempt to facilitate and accelerate, at a relatively low cost, an Internet of Things.

Fugoo co-founders John Hui, Chris Chung and Wayne Inouye started eMachines, the low-price PC maker, back in the day. These days, they are hoping to release a brick-size box, the Fugoo Block, that will plug into specially outfitted home appliances and connect them to the Internet, and one another, delivering information and content to "anywhere and everywhere". Fugoo has partnered with Microsoft, VIA Technologies and Foxconn Technology Group to form the Open Fugoo Alliance. The stated goal of the Alliance is to:

"Accelerate innovation by developing the first complete, open, and free hardware and software platform, the Fugoo Block. The Fugoo Block opens development for OEM manufacturers such as toy, furniture and appliance manufacturers to easily create new products that are 'smart' and Internet enabled. In addition, developers can easily design and build customized applications to engage all types of Fugoo users."

To spur innovation and content created for the Fugoo, the Alliance will soon offer a software development kit for application developers and a Fugoo connector for OEM manufacturers.

Cloud Gaming

Yesterday, a company called OnLive released a service that could break the cost barrier of game consoles and high-end PCs. After seven years in development, OnLive has developed a svelte set-top box that will allow users to access the "latest and most advanced games instantly, on any TV via a sleek, inexpensive MicroConsole, or on almost any PC or Mac" essentially utilizing a demand-based gaming model.

The advantage is OnLive virtually eliminates the upfront cost of buying a gaming console or PC and the upgrade costs that go with purchasing these gaming systems. The OnLive platform is currently supported by Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, Take-Two Interactive Software, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, THQ, Epic Games, Eidos, Atari Interactive and Codemasters. An obvious extension of the demand-based gaming platform is an eventual demand-based entertainment platform where one could also view and access movies, download and/or stream music, shop and interact online and so forth. However, Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony have struggled selling this vision of an online living room hub to gamers, specifically, and consumers, in general. Time will tell...but, clearly an interesting new entry into the gaming world.

Sid Shuman from GamePro and Darren Gladstone from PC World give their take on the OnLive gaming system.

The Metaverse: Virtual Worlds and Mirror Worlds

In previous posts, I've stated that virtual worlds and the convergence of the digital and physical worlds are essential pillars in the ever-expanding structure of THE GAME. Whether it is creating/augmenting supercompetitions in existing/evolving virtual worlds or in a real world context, or linking physical objects used and referenced in THE GAME with the digital world, technology is the one thing binding G.3 across all worlds. The technologies that are helping propel and shape THE GAME are simultaneously enabling the construction of an infinitely rich and diverse virtual reality-the Metaverse.

In the July/August 2007 issue of MIT's Technology Review, a fascinating article by Wade Roush entitled "Second Earth" (please note that access to the article requires registration) explains that "free-flowing and ungoverned" virtual worlds like Second Life, There, Entropia Universe, Moove, Habbo Hotel and Kaneva; and mirror worlds ("if they were books, virtual worlds would be fiction and mirror worlds would be nonfiction") such as Google Earth and Microsoft Virtual Earth represent the fundamental technologies that will be required to construct the Metaverse .

Roush proposes that, "what is coming is a larger digital environment combining elements of all these technologies-a "3-D Internet"....People will enter this environment using PC-based software similar to the programs that already grant access to Second Life and Google Earth. These "Metaverse browsers" will be to the 3-D Internet what Mosaic and Netscape were to the dot-com revolution-tools that both provide structure (by defining what's possible" and enable infinite experimentation."

"There will be a bunch of different worlds, owned, controlled, and operated by different organizations," predicts David Rolston, CEO of Forterra Systems. "They will be built on different platforms, and you will have community standards about how you can connect these worlds, and open-source software that carries you between them." The word "Metaverse" will refer to both the overarching collection of these worlds and the main port of entry to them, a sort of Grand Cyber Station that links to all other destinations. The central commons itself could be designed as a mirror world or a virtual world or some interleaving of the two: people logging in to the Metaverse might want it to look like Manhattan or the Emerald City of Oz, depending on the task at hand. But either way, partisans say, the full Metaverse will encompass thousands of individual virtual worlds and mirror worlds, each with its own special purpose. To borrow a trope from corporate networking, it will be an "interverse" connecting many local "intraverses."

G.3 and Google: Connecting Everything and Everyone

I entered the search term "everything to everyone" into Google the other day and on the second page of results, I found an interesting article from 2007 regarding Google's ambitions for the future of the internet. In his 2007 blog entry from Google Operating System, Alex Chitu analyzed The Sunday Times' fascinating article "Google. Who's Looking at You?".

According to the article, Google's dream of “organizing all the world’s information and making it universally accessible and useful” consists of three pillars: 

• universal search--bringing everything online and to make it searchable; including objects and people
• personalized search--indexing personal information about users 
• cloud computing--creating new things online using Google's web-based software

This would make Google the largest, most powerful super-computer ever; literally connecting everything to everyone and converging with our vision for THE GAME (creating an open, collaborative and evolving onmicompetition by referencing every conceivable idea, activity, etc. (nodes) from the past, present and future and exponentially/infinitely scaling THE GAME by merging it with existing nodes, newly created nodes and remixed/mashed up/recombined nodes).

Transformers 2: A Hollywood-Pentagon Production

Hollywood director Michael Bay is bringing the worlds of Hollywood and the Pentagon together for his latest project, a sequel to the 2007 epic Transformers. According to Bay's liaison officer from the army, Transformers 2 will have more military hardware on display than the original. Bay's liaison goes on to say, "As far as I know, this is the biggest joint military operation movie ever made."

Some of the hardware includes: 

two A-10 Thunderbolt II "Warthog" tank-killing jets; six F-16 Fighting Falcons; 10 armored Humvees; the Army's Golden Knights parachute team; two Abrams tanks; two Bradley tanks; two missile-launcher vehicles; two armored personnel carriers; and a quarter-mile of the missile testing range, cleared of unexploded ordinance ...

...and a new villain.

Originally posted by BlueTooth -- 12/30/2008 04:16:00 PM

Obscura VisionAire Interface

Originally posted by BlueTooth -- 12/07/2008 12:38:00 AM

Stringing 75 Monitors Together Makes For One Killer Display

The Texas Advanced Computing Center at the University of Texas just set up the world's highest resolution display, linking together 75 30-inch Dell monitors to make one extreme display

As our meta page continues to grow, having a similar, albeit more modest, setup of monitors will allow the user to efficient browse this page. At the moment, we recommend at least a dual monitor setup to view THEGAME-online.com, but would certainly love to see G.3 and its content across 75, 30-inch flatscreen monitors.

Originally posted by BlueTooth -- 11/29/2008 12:05:00 AM