AjaxLife - Second Life In Your Web Browser

Katharine Berry, a student in the UK, has created an in-browser AJAX application that allows you to log into the virtual world of Second Life, but without all of the laggy graphics. This is a great way to pop in-world for a moment if you just want to chat with other residents, and as far as anybody else will be able to tell your avatar will look just fine (although mostly immobile).

While you can't yet initiate new IM sessions or use the Search functions (these are coming), you can reply to any incoming IMs and participate in local chat wherever your avatar happens to be. You can also teleport your avatar to other locations via an on-screen map, although once there you can't really walk around.

The interface is really simple, really fast, and works in Firefox, Internet Explorer, and newer versions of Safari. You can take it for a quick test drive by clicking here.

A must have with high wife acceptance factor

I often hear from my friends that they often turn to me when they are in the state of buying electronics and computer stuff. They say that I already have done the necessary research, read all the tests and searched at Pricerunner etc. Thats often the case. And when I find some new gadgets that I find very special - I will post a note here for you all.

Today I stumbled into a revolutionary gadget that has entered the 2nd generation - the universal remote control that is activity-based, is updated through the Internet from a database containing more than 80 thousands different IR enabled devices from approx 2,5 thousands manufacturers.

When I watch TV today, I have to start my digital set-top box, DVR, Receiver and my TV using 4 remote controls. In the new universal remote control I just click the activity "watch TV". Then every step described above, will automatically be executed. And from only one remote control.

What you do is that you plug in the universal remote control via USB to your desktop PC, and through the software that is shipped in the package, you actually program the process which is linked to respective activity. This is DIFFERENT from the traditional universal remote controls that have been out there for years.

So today after a long discussion with my wife last night (primary targetgroup) I got free hands to buy a Logitech Harmony 525 at Teknikmagasinet for 695 SEK. It has high WAF-factor (Wife acceptance factor). It is so nice with a space-blue light.....

My friend futurist Peter Tuscher found this one as an (although more expensive) alternative

Technology for farmers

It is the bane of every farmer's life. Someone carelessly leaves a gate open the next thing you know half your cattle have wandered off. Now scientists in Australia have come up with a solution: the virtual paddock.

After three years of research, they have developed a prototype fencing system using global positioning satellite (GPS) technology in a project that has been nicknamed Bovines Without Borders.

The system employs battery-powered collars which emit a sound to warn the cattle when they are approaching a virtual boundary line. If a cow wanders too near, the collar - which is fitted with a GPS chip - emits a warning hum. If the cow then continues on, it would receive a mild electric shock.

I´ve upgraded my camera

Last week my collegue asked me to recommend a good DSLR camera, she was going to enter the beautiful world of DSLR-photography. I did a fast processing job in my brain, and decided to sell my Canon EOS 300D. So last week I bought a Canon EOS 400D. I also finally completed my filter collection with Cokin P - 121M graduated grey (ND4).

I think it was a real garbain for her though. My plan was to use the batterygrip I already had, with the 400, but It does not fit, so she got the grip in the package for no extra cost and also an extra battery, but I love happy customers....