Energy Crisis Management: New technology enables…

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Google Tech Talks
November 13, 2006

ABSTRACT
A new ultracapacitor technology from APCT (US-Ukrainian start-up) provides an efficient, low cost means of managing power delivery for applications ranging from hand held devices to hybrid vehicles and power generating systems of all types. When integrated into battery powered devices, the APCT technology can extend battery life by as much as 400%, lowering the cost of batteries and reducing hazardous waste streams. Fast charge/discharge cycling with 95% efficiency improves performance and lowers cost for fuel cell vehicles and hybrid electric automobiles. High energy density and hundreds of thousands of cycles provides critical load leveling…

Spiritual Computing

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Google Tech Talks
September 28, 2006

Craig Warren Smith, a Seattle native, is a former Harvard (Kennedy School) professor, a founder of the global movement to close the Digital Divide, and for 30 years a Buddhist teacher. In the mid-1990s as a consultant to Bill Gates, he led a strategic planning process that helped Microsoft and its founder find the distinct role of philanthropy in its corporate culture.

ABSTRACT
Can the next generation of technologies advance the spiritual development of individuals and communities? The speaker, director of the Spiritual Computing Research Group (www.spiritualcomputing.com), will argue that several trends — Web 2.0 innovations, neuroscience’s interactions…

How Would You Make “Miuro” The Ultimate Music Concierge??

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Google Tech Talks
October 20, 2006

ABSTRACT
ZMP INC, the japanese company that created the world famous humanoid PINO and nuvo, has anounced the development of its latest creation, a musical robot called “miuro.” miuro is a network music player that moves freely around a room. The user with the touch of a button, can record his favourite places for listening music and miuro is able to move to those places by itself and let its owner enjoy his/her favourite music. At this moment, we operate our miuro using a remote control but in the future we would like to make miuro’s behavior much more intelligent by incorporating several new features. For example, we would like that miuro can learn the user…

FIRST LEGO League Nano Quest Challenge Kickoff

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Google Tech Talks
September 15, 2006

Mark Edelman is Co-founder and Director of Technology for Playing At Learning, a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded to identify, develop, support, and foster technology-based educational enrichment programs for children. He has over 13 years of experience as a software engineer, and has spent 5 years as a youth robotics coach, mentor,instructor, and volunteer.

ABSTRACT
A gathering of the Northern California FIRST LEGO League community to formally kick of the 2006 Nano Quest Challenge.

At the gathering, there will be:

– Viewing of a short video explaining the 2006 Nano Quest Robot Game
– A Description of the 2006 Nano Quest Research Project
– A Discussion of…

Darfur

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Google Tech Talks
November 8, 2006

ABSTRACT
In 2004 Mark Brecke travelled for 5 weeks to Darfur and the refugee camps of Eastern Chad to photographically document the Darfur genocide. He will be presenting his photos, and sharing his remarkable stories. Credits: Speaker:Mark Brecke

Understanding Urban Environments Through the Use of…

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Google Tech Talks
December 13, 2006

ABSTRACT

For 3D global visualization systems, it is important to be able to render city-sized collections of relatively simple building models at fast speeds without losing spatial coherence. Since traditional mesh simplification algorithms are not designed for collections of simple models, we introduce a method of simplification through merging of similar objects. We incorporate the concept of “urban legibility” from architecture and city-planning as a guideline for simplifying city models. Our algorithm can be broken down into five steps. Hierarchical clustering, cluster merging, polyline simplification, and hierarchical texturing are performed during…