Car technology has advanced so much within the last decade most people probably do not recognize automobiles are edging close to autonomous. Cars have subtly took over more driving tasks starting with simple cruise control to automatic parallel parking and braking systems that can detect objects that the driver may not see. It is only a matter of time before cars that are fully capable of driving themselves are commonplace.

A perfect example of these new cars is Google's self-driving fleet. The cars use an array of sensors and complex algorithms to navigate the road safely. The heart of the system is Velodyne's HDL-64 LiDAR sensor. The sensor currently sits on top of the hood and spins at 10 revolutions per second constantly collecting data from the environment. It generates 1.3 million data points (750 Mbytes per second through an ethernet interface) that allows software to analyze and map obstacles and potential hazards. The laser sensors can create a 3D view of the environment up to 40 meters, and it collects centimeter resolution data from 80 to 100 meters away.

The biggest obstacle facing the robot-car is liability. There can be major discrepancies over who is at fault when an accident occurs, or if a user is to be ticketed for some reason. However, the cars promise improved safety and fuel-efficiency and many politicians are working to help legalize the cars. For example, Nevada allows driverless cars. However, the owners must pay a $1-$3 million insurance bond per vehicle. If you are ever out in the desert state, look for cars with a red license plate... those are autonomous.

Currently, many states and other countries are working on systems that will allow these cars to freely roam the roads. Many people may fear leaving total control of their cars up to computers; what if the computer makes a mistake? Google's autonomous fleet had one accident in 160,000 miles driven. For the record, it was when a human took the wheel. (Most people have had more accidents in less miles, also for the record.)

Steve Mahan is legally blind (95%), but thanks to Google's autonomous cars he was able to take a trip to a local fast food restaurant. Mahan explained, "There are some places you cannot go, some things that you really cannot do... Where this would change my life, is to give me the independence and the flexibility to go to the places I both want to go and need to go when I need to do those things." Google has labeled Mahan the first user of the technology; "Self-Driving Car User #0000000001."

Although there is more testing a work to be done on the autonomous car before wide-spread adoption, they are on the road now. Who doesn't want smooth moving computer-controlled traffic?

Eavesdropper

Technological advancement is not always for pushing the future along. Often enough it helps us understand the past and know more about our present. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is using satellites to record specific reflective properties for exploring ancient civilizations. Google is using ground images to allow viewers to tour far away and restricted locations. Both efforts are modern, leading edge, giving us all a deeper understanding of our Earth and history.

Topographical maps combines with MIT's anaysis show connections between past civilizations (via Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA)

Using unique soil signatures and satellite images, MIT researchers have created a new way to study past civilizations. Human activities such as large-scale settlements leave distinctive patterns in the soil. These patterns, called Anthrosols, have fine textures and lighter reflective properties. As a result, these patterns can be seen from satellite images exploiting human migration patterns. These methods can help us prove new and old hypothesis, and learn more about areas in which we have little or restricted access. Currently, computer science researcher Bjoern Menze has created a software program that takes the satellite images and maps the Anthrosol patterns by analyzing the wavelength patterns. Although the software can detect large settlements very well, it currently is not reliable detecting smaller settlements due to the sporadic or less dense wavelengths detected.

Now dealing with the present, Google will be adding a new feature to its street view software.  The software will enable viewers to traverse rivers and trails in the Amazon. It works on the same concept as street view using over 50,000 photos together to create a panoramic picture that can be viewed from any direction. The project will allow viewers to learn more about the Amazon from the comfort of their own homes while providing access to areas restricted to the public and was funded by the non-profit organization Amazonas Sustainable Foundation.

Tibutary of the Rio Negro (via Google)

Sounds like one of the best jobs in the world, taking the Google street view camera through the Amazon.

Using technology can help us learn more about the past, present, and future of our planet Earth. With more easily accessed information, Today's generation has the potential to learn about anything they desire with a few clicks.

Cabe

http://twitter.com/Cabe_e14

(via TechNet study)

Some say the mobile device "app gold rush" is over. Both the iOS and Android markets have the better part of a million applications each, how can there be room for more? I disagree. I think the field is flush with possibilities. So far, 466,000 jobs have been created in the "app economy" business. There is room for more.

The App Economy generated $20 billion USD in 2011 alone, according to the TechNet study on the industry. The revenue includes app sales, in app advertising gains, virtual and physical goods sold due to apps. The major contributors to the app markets are not surprising: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Facebook site apps, and Windows Mobile/Phone. (I would say Blackberry may be a dwindling market for the developer, beware.)

(Left) App jobs per state  (Right) App jobs per city (via TechNet study)

Geographical location was also obvious in the report. California state, USA, takes the crown having 23.8% of the jobs. New York, Washington, Texas, New Jersey, Illinois, Massachusetts, Georgia, Virginia, and Florida round out the top 10 in order. Being close to the OS company in Silicon Valley is a popular choice for app developers, while others want to be near advertising/media concentration in New York.

Growth is predicted, by the report, to be significant in the coming years. Between 2010 and 2011, an increase of 45% was seen in the job want ads. If you have the skill, the jobs are plentiful.

App career growth chart (via TechNet study)

With feature phones (dumb-phones) outnumbering Smartphones 4:1, globally, as of 2011, the app market has the potential to grow 400%. Take $20 billion and make it $80 billion to give another perspective. There are 82.2 million Smartphone users in the USA(2011), those numbers will only grow over time. I liken this to the adoption of computers in the home. At first slow, now every home has several.

Want to get started? Try the Goolge/MIT App Inventor. No coding needed.

Cabe

http://twitter.com/Cabe_e14

See the full TechNet study, attached to this post

One of five Google UGV Prii (7th car is an Audi TT)

“It’s a bug that cars were invented before computers. Your car should drive itself. It just makes sense," says Google's CEO Eric Schmidt.

Google has admitted to having 7 cars that are unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) that have logged a total of 140,000 miles on California roads and highways. Schmidt states the cars have diven, "from our Mountain View campus to our Santa Monica office and on to Hollywood Boulevard. They’ve driven down Lombard Street, crossed the Golden Gate bridge, navigated the Pacific Coast Highway, and even made it all the way around Lake Tahoe."

The cars use cameras, laser range finders, radar sensors, GPS, and Google's massive data centers for processing large amounts of data the cars collect when mapping the terrain. After a DARPA challenge to make an automated vehicle that would drive unmanned what so ever, Google collected all the best engineers from the competition to work on their UGV. The result, over 140,000 miles driven with only one accident. And that was someone else rear-ending the Googlemobile. For the record, each Google UGV has a driver in the car that could take over in case of an emergency.

Now Google is pushing Nevada State Assembly Bill No. 511 may allow driverless cars on the road, and to give them a designated area for testing. In a further act of Google Law, they are pushing for an additional law that would allow the backup drivers of the UGV the ability to text while riding. This additional law, as you might imagine, has not made much progress.

Eavesdropper