Think of Smart Grid technology as a power supply grid with a brain. It thinks on its own not to decide who gets power but to figure out how best to efficiently run and use power across the grid. Many governments and companies are pushing for such an investment into our own power grid that was designed over a 100 years ago with little change since.
However, with help from advanced sensors, multiple ways of communication, and distributed computing technology, it is possible to be able to move the power grid of the yesteryear into the future and in the process, save some green. Literally.
By incorporating digital meters linked to a wireless mesh network, utility companies can monitor consumption and usage in real time and reduce wasted electricity. The first use of such technology was in the Telegestore project in Italy where the utility company developed their own meters, sensors, and software. Although highly unusual for a company to do that, the project ended up saving them more than $500 million per year.
For more information, check out GE's take on Smart Grid technology and also be sure to check out Experience's Green Blogs for all stuff green related:
Green 101
Green Your Future
To Green or not to Green
Smart Grid Tech
Telephone Tech
We all know the automated telephone system and how much of a pain it can be to get to the operator or some call center guy in some distant land getting paid below minimum wage according to U.S. standards. What if that same annoyingly friendly tone suddenly greeted you by
your name and actually pronounced it right? What if that same tone knew what information you are most probably looking for?
That hope is not too far away. American Airlines (of all companies) have introduced the Remember Me system that is at its core, an automated answering machine. The difference between this and the one that plays cheesy classical music to you for hours is that this one will greet you by name and automatically link your number to your AAdvantage account so that it tells you relevant information like your flight time and also about any delays. After all, that is what we call about most of the time anyway.
This is part of American Airlines new push to make things more streamlined and also save some money as they will have have fewer phone operators. If you're interested in a career in this field, then be sure to check out Experience's job postings.
Ski Tech
Lets face it, baby boomers are getting older (and supposedly wiser) but they still want to do everything as if they were back in their 20s. This includes skiing and its common for people to be skiing well into their seventies. That is because of the way ski resorts are beginning to realize that baby boomers still want to have fun on the slopes and are now adapting said slopes for this reason.
Hourglass skis, like the ones shown above, are paving the way for skiers of a more mature age to have more control and speed on the slopes. Apparently they make you feel like you're 20 on the slopes. So much for botox. More ski resorts are equipping themselves with these skis mainly for senior citizens and also offering senior citizen discounts to encourage more skiing. In addition to this, custom made boots with heating elements built in are also becoming the trend rather than the exception.
If that's not enough, some resorts are also using better grooming technology, that is, the way the snow/fake snow is shaped on the mountain, to make turning and such maneuvers easier on the knees for seniors.
With all this going on, it won't be a surprise to see grandparents hit the slopes and teach all us young people a thing or two about skiing. Maybe grandpa will take on some kid in a race down the slopes now.
Superbowl Security Tech
The Superbowl means hundreds of thousands of people, crazy commercials, and a security nightmare for anyone in that field. Recently, Homeland Security announced the use of special 3D vision type systems to ensure tight security monitoring of the Superbowl and surrounding areas. (Check out the posts about CNN and its use of holograms if you haven't done so already.)
The company, Intrepid Defense & Security Systems, is responsible for the new LifeVision 3D system that is already making waves in many more fields than security including medicine, entertainment, and retail. 
Much like the human brain mashes the signals it receives from both eyes to calculate depth and angles and such, the LifeVision 3D will use streaming signals from two cameras pointed in the same direction to project 3D images onto 20 inch screens specially made with a depth tube that makes it appear as though the images displayed are raised 30 inches forom the screen and also drop 30 inches into the screen.
The idea is to make facial recognition easier since the systems will provide a 3D view of someones face rather than a regular 2D image. It should also make seeing under vehicles easier due to acurate depth perception and here is the best part, no other special equipment or crazy futuristic goggles necessary.
