One piece at a time...

Technology. What is it good for? Absolutely everything. So with the issues of global warming and needing alternative sources of energy, we’re desperate.

Who would have thought The Matrix was closer than we had expected?

Princeton University scientists have created a flexible, rubber material housing piezoelectric cystals to apply to be strapped on to your skin. These crystals can convert simple human organ functions into energy. Lungs breathing in and out and moving your ribs generates approximately one watt of power. Walking briskly creates about 70 per heel strike.

"GOO!"

So to harvest this potential source of energy, we could be able to keep our phone or music player charged by the power of movement.

Those dancing shows on TV could actually benefit society with this technology strapped on to them. At least they’ll be of more use than the judges.

Harvesting energy from humans sounds very Matrix-like, but until we start suggesting we live in pods filled with pink goo and create massive holes in our cranium to plug into computer systems (whatever happened to wireless technology?) then we’ll be fine.

Speaking of fine, I’d like to talk about a very fine and respected American film critic Roger Ebert. After his jaw removal surgery in 2006 the TV personality has been unable to speak, and has been left to use a computer in its place.

But now with the power of computers and archives, a Scottish speech synthesis company has taken his work on TV and commentary on DVDs to form a system where his voice can be ‘heard’.

As extremely cool as this is, there’s also a little danger. Voice recognition programs will be useless, and prank calls will be so much harder to decode. Say you’re after revenge after a good friend pranked you big time. Why not pick up the phone, use a program with your buddy’s voice, and use it to fool their partner into thinking they’ve been unfaithful.

Although it would be cool for Morgan Freeman to read ‘The Cat in the Hat’ to me for bedtime every night.

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