It's been a busy month! New clients, new projects, and lots going on!

Before we get to the tech goodies for this month, I've included an article that a friend forwarded from BBC Online that says web users are "getting more selfish." Actually, I think that's only one symptom. I'm finding that my attention span has shrunk to that of a rather dull barnyard chicken! And my memory is just about as short!

Now what was I talking about? Oh, yes, on to the tech talk...

Twenty-three years is either a very long time or a very short time - depending on your perspective. It was just 23 years ago when Back to the Future was a popular movie and the final scene showed a modified Delorean being "refueled" with garbage. Science fiction then, but looks like it is becoming fact: a microbial fuel cell that can generate electricity from soil, manure, or food scraps has won $200K in a World Bank competition.

Continental Airlines is testing a new wireless - and digital - boarding pass system. Soon to be rolled out in the real world, I hope. It didn't take long for the industry to adopt online check in and digitally printed boarding passes.  Then again, if it saves the airlines money, it's a done deal!

This one is just for fun - the Yamaha Deus Ex Machina. I've seen unicycles, bicycles, and tricycles - but never one like this! Take a look below!

I also made a return pass at some technologies that I've talked about before; e-paper and touch technology. An interesting new player here: Bridgestone, the tire people, are bringing out a full-sized e-paper newspaper.

And, of course, Microsoft never slows down. They've turned the Surface into the Wall (Touch Wall, that is) and are working to develop "smart whiteboards" for schools and offices. In the video I've linked to my site you can see Bill Gates take a pause as he fears that he is entering the "demo from Hell."

Read the summaries in the excerpts below; enjoy! The full postings from May are on my website. If you like, you can connect via RSS to get the posts as they happen.

Please visit my site and join the conversation as I continue to observe trends, identify new technology, and comment on developments in the graphic communications industry - printed and digital, mailed and e-mailed. There are always new links to articles, websites, and blogs that I hope you will find interesting.

All the best,

 

I'm a great user of the online check in service and the print-your-own boarding passes that the airlines have embraced over the last few years. I even use the SMS messaging service that sends me a note on my cell phone if my flight is delayed or the gate has changed.

Now here's a new twist that should make it even easier - a wireless boarding pass system. Just wave your cell phone in front of the barcode reader and you're on your way! To find which airline is testing it now and in which airports, read on here>>

It's just a matter of time now! Bridgestone - yes, the tire people - demonstrated a full-sized e-paper newspaper at Display 2008 in Japan in April. A bit slow to refresh but nifty.

The folks at LG Phillips have come out with a bendable A4-sized color display that is just 0.3 millimeter thick and can display up to 4,096 colors. Read more about e-paper here>>

At the Microsoft CEO Summit 2008, held in Redmond WA, the week of May 14, Bill Gates demonstrated a new version of the Surface. It's now the Wall (Touch Wall, actually), essentially a Surface flipped on its side and mounted on a wall.

By the way, you missed your chance, you know! For Christmas 2007, Neiman Marcus offered a 3 ft by 8 ft wall-sized touch panel from Perceptive Pixel at the bargain price of just $100K. Read the whole post here>>