Social Venn

31 03 2010

Last Christmas my wife gave me a t-shirt from ThinkGeek.com with a single word printed on the front, Geek. The next day, I saw her matching shirt, “I Love My Geek,” and the psychology of her gift made perfect sense!

Our Complimentary T-Shirts
[Time Passes . . .]

While sipping my morning coffee and reviewing Facebook action, I discovered that my friend Jeff liked the Venn Diagram shown below. It illustrates the relationships between intelligence, social ineptitude, and obsession. I agree with Jeff that this diagram definitely makes it much easier to explain . . .

Nerd_Dork_Geek_Venn_Diagram

Then the true significance of the Christmas gift came full-circle. My Wife is a genius!

~SP

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Categories : Family, Friends

HALOsonic Electronic Sound Synthesis

4 03 2010

Although I’ve never had opportunity to drive and electric vehicle, I hope to own one someday soon. Strangely enough, my ultimate vehicle wish is to own an electric pickup truck. I’d like a four door truck that’s about the size of a Honda Ridgeline but better looking. Perhaps an electric vehicle the size of the Toyota Tacoma would also be cool.

Unfortunately, I won’t own a Toyota truck until they reverse the direction of their grills. I just can’t imagine owning a vehicle that looks like its frowning. I want only smiles from my trucks! The Phoenix SUT comes close to “a grill with a smile” but still isn’t in production. One look at is grill and I think you’d agree, its more of a smirk than a smile.

Imagine what it would be like to drive an All Electric vehicle around town. Unlike the traditional mechanical noises we’ve grown accustomed to with four, six, and eight cylinder cars, electric vehicles make very little noise. Now Lotus is developing a technology called HALOsonic Electronic Sound Synthesis which is designed to recreate the engine sounds hear from internal combustion engines. Check out this video of the HALOsonic system tested in a Toyota Prius.

My favorite is the second Futuristic sound. And with the exception of the flying part, driving a vehicle that sounds like this would be oh so “Back To The Future!”

~SP

Thanks to Tom Young with Electroacoustic Design Services for pointing me to this very cool video . . .

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Categories : Audio, Transportation

Bose Ride System for Heavy-duty Trucking

27 01 2010
At a press event in Framingham, MA on Wednesday, January 27, Bose announced an entirely new kind of product for the trucking industry – a product that has nothing to do with sound.
Bose Ride SystemThe new Bose Ride™ system replaces a conventional air-ride truck seat with a Bose® suspension base and an integrated, custom-designed seat top. It provides over-the-road drivers with an unprecedented level of protection from road-induced shocks and vibration.
As the lifeblood of the U.S. economy, the trucking industry employs millions of professional drivers to deliver approximately 95% of the nation’s goods. To keep freight moving, over-the-road drivers spend up to 11 hours a day in their trucks, withstanding a ride much worse than a passenger car.
Even with the best conventional air-ride seats, over-the-road drivers experience constant road-induced vibration – a form of whole-body vibration. Independent scientific research has shown that whole-body vibration can reduce comfort, add to fatigue, and stress the spine and body. These issues can contribute to many of the industry’s challenges, including driver retention, health care costs, and accidents – factors that impact and disrupt business.
The Bose Ride system was engineered to reduce truck drivers’ exposure to whole-body vibration by sensing, analyzing, and counteracting the forces from the road. It leverages several proprietary technologies and components, including:
  • A high-power linear electromagnetic actuator, capable of counteracting the forces caused by road disturbances
  • A regenerative amplifier, powerful enough to energize the actuator to precisely position a truck driver — yet so efficient it draws less average power than a 50-watt light bulb
  • Sensors and proprietary Bose® control algorithms working together to counteract road disturbances before they reach the driver
  • An integrated, custom-designed seat top
The Bose Ride system is compatible with most makes and models of U.S.-manufactured heavy-duty trucks and can be installed by a trained mechanic in under two hours, using the existing seat bolts, air line, and a 12V power line that connects to the truck’s battery.
The Bose Ride system will be available directly from Bose in March 2010 on a build-to-order basis for volume purchases by truck fleets.

To learn more, go to www.Bose.com/BoseRide.

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Categories : Business, Events, Hardware, Technology, Transportation

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