Scientists from the institut polytechnique Grenoble INP and the Centre Technique du Papier have developed a novel new product so gratuitous, it almost seems necessary: a silver-crystal coated wallpaper that can block neighbours from freeloading off your Wi-Fi network. The silver crystals are arranged in such a way that they are able to block certain wireless frequencies, not least of which is the same frequency as a WiFI router.
I still have not-so-fond memories of using Mosiac on a DEC system at University to browse that newfangled information superhighway, but you crazy kids of today can’t seem to pick a browser and stick with it.
Over in the States, two bills now pending in Congress-the PROTECT IP Act of 2011 (Protect IP) in the Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House-represent the latest legislative attempts to address a serious global problem: large-scale online copyright and trademark infringement.
Google eBooks just got upgraded with real time translation. This feature is another step towards the destruction of language barriers that limit worldwide cultural sharing. Something that, eventually, will deeply change the core of the human species while preserving our tribal identities.
