Is Your Avatar Giving You an Identity Crisis?
(AP Graphics Bank)
OK, enough psycho-babble. The point is to lead in to how we view our online selves. By that I mean the fine-tuning we do to portray our lives to those who might "know" us on social networks. In essence: our avatars.
Let's start with those 140 characters. When Twitter hit the scene in a big way last year it asked users a simple question: "What's happening?" There were the early adopters who enjoyed telling people they were ironing their socks or rearranging their paper clip collection. And we made fun of them. We yelled a collective: "Who cares??" Then more and more people (myself included) got enamored with the idea of having "followers" and telling those followers exactly what we thought about some product or where we were going or how we were so incredibly bummed out that Paula Abdul wouldn't be a judge on American Idol anymore. (Breathe, Daniel, I'm sure Ellen DeGeneres will be fine.)
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Getting Ready For CES
Working on a potential story for tonight's CBS Evening News with Katie Couric on the slew of tech products being showcased at this year's Consumer Electronics Show or CES. I started going to CES in 2003 and while it has slightly diminished in size it still offers a chance to take the pulse of what's cool in all things gadgetry. There'll be more than 2,000 vendors and about 110,000 analysts, journalists, and industry people wandering the floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center. I'm heading there tomorrow but we wanted to start with a preview of the show and throw in some of the trends we're seeing—from 3D to ebooks to smartphones. Also check out the CNET coverage — our digital partners are there in full force and reporting on every angle.
And more updates on the "disconnect" experiment coming soon. Until next time, stay connected.
And more updates on the "disconnect" experiment coming soon. Until next time, stay connected.
White House Unplugged?
Did the Obama administration walk into a technological Dark Age or are the reports of a digital dearth at the White House simply over-stated drama? The truth, as always, probably lies somewhere in the middle.
We did hear Monday from White House press secretary Robert Gibbs who said the e-mail system was down for at least several hours. And there have been reported complaints about outdates computers running Windows 2000 and a variety of other antiquated machines and programs. The line from White House spokesperson Bill Burton perhaps summed it up best: "It was like going from an Xbox to an Atari."
But I talked today to a White House official who said the computers were actually running something more current, though he wouldn't confirm if it was Windows XP or even Vista. (Maybe they're waiting for the Windows 7 launch later this year). A handful of other stories dispute the severity of the problems, and surely a transition on the scale of the federal government will come with its share of glitches. And here's what Burton said today about the e-mail situation:
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We did hear Monday from White House press secretary Robert Gibbs who said the e-mail system was down for at least several hours. And there have been reported complaints about outdates computers running Windows 2000 and a variety of other antiquated machines and programs. The line from White House spokesperson Bill Burton perhaps summed it up best: "It was like going from an Xbox to an Atari."
But I talked today to a White House official who said the computers were actually running something more current, though he wouldn't confirm if it was Windows XP or even Vista. (Maybe they're waiting for the Windows 7 launch later this year). A handful of other stories dispute the severity of the problems, and surely a transition on the scale of the federal government will come with its share of glitches. And here's what Burton said today about the e-mail situation:
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Why, Oh Why, Gen Y?
First, full disclosure: I fall smack in the middle of Gen X. You can do the math (that was never my strong suit). So while I'm not that far removed from Gen Y, as I pointed out yesterday I'm more of a "digital immigrant" (or "digital nomad") than a "digital native." There are many terms for this generation -- Gen Y, millenials, digital natives -- but the point is that someone born after 1980 likely grew up with a mouse in their hand. Using a computer came naturally, and the transition from school to the workplace didn't involve learning new ways to search for information (Dewey Decimel System vs. Web browsing) or adopting different methods of communicating (faxes vs. instant messaging). Bottomline: exactly what has this lifelong immersion in technology done to Gen Y's social skills? Admittedly, it's a broad question, but we try to answer it (at least in part) tonight on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.
Maybe the toughest part about doing a story on Gen Y (or any other generation) is cutting through the stereotypes. I can remember being labeled a "slacker," for example. When we interviewed older folks (and some younger ones) for this story we came across terms like, "sense of entitlement," "distracted," and "too plugged in." Whereas when we talked to Gen Y folks they described themselves as "motivated" or "driven" or "wired." Perception or reality? Probably a mix of both. As with every generation there is a gap.
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Maybe the toughest part about doing a story on Gen Y (or any other generation) is cutting through the stereotypes. I can remember being labeled a "slacker," for example. When we interviewed older folks (and some younger ones) for this story we came across terms like, "sense of entitlement," "distracted," and "too plugged in." Whereas when we talked to Gen Y folks they described themselves as "motivated" or "driven" or "wired." Perception or reality? Probably a mix of both. As with every generation there is a gap.
In this case, researchers are actually looking at how a Gen Y brain appears to be functioning differently than someone else's. Neural pathways for facial recognition aren't being used as much while surfing the Web triggers other responses, according to Gary Small, a neuroscientist at UCLA. We also talked to accounting giant Ernst & Young about a program they're adopting to integrate Gen Y needs (like listening to an iPod in the workplace) and find ways to educate all generations about each other. It even falls under E&Y's diversity program. Go figure.
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A 'Grand' Adventure
(Frank Eldredge)
Our journey lasted a full seven days but the students continued beyond our stopping point all the way to about mile 240 or so. (The producer and I hiked up and out of the canyon on the Bright Angel Trail, which leads to the main Grand Canyon observation point.) It was a low-budget trip with just me and the producer, Phil Maravilla, shooting video and interviewing the participants. The project was a joint venture between Global Explorers, Leading the Way, Grand Canyon Youth, and a couple of river-rafting companies. Also along for the ride was famed blind climber Erik Weihenmayer, the only blind man to summit Everest. He's also topped Kilimanjaro and McKinley and many others. Overall, they were an amazing group of students who worked together to overcome some daunting challenges, and we're planning to air the story on Aug. 24 on Sunday Morning.
In the meantime, it's back to the sci-tech/space/environment beat, and I'll post more in the coming days. Stay connected!
(Daniel Sieberg)
Response To A Well-Wired Life
I was amused and impressed by some of the comments to my article on "The High Price of a Well-Wired Life ".
Several people questioned why anyone needs all these gadgets in the first place with one person asking whether all of these expensive to use techno-toys are mainly for "ego." Another writer wondered aloud whether these costs "in combination with the escalating costs of food, energy, and housing will soon enough fragment the United States into information "haves" and "have nots." Someone else opined, "doesn't seem to me that the economy is hurting when people are still spending money on stupid things!"
Another person wondered about the impact of this technology on young people: "I don't think it wise for our youth to have these things available to them all day. I think it removes the ability to experience the joy of the task of finding the information for themselves instead of having it handed to them in four seconds."
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Several people questioned why anyone needs all these gadgets in the first place with one person asking whether all of these expensive to use techno-toys are mainly for "ego." Another writer wondered aloud whether these costs "in combination with the escalating costs of food, energy, and housing will soon enough fragment the United States into information "haves" and "have nots." Someone else opined, "doesn't seem to me that the economy is hurting when people are still spending money on stupid things!"
Another person wondered about the impact of this technology on young people: "I don't think it wise for our youth to have these things available to them all day. I think it removes the ability to experience the joy of the task of finding the information for themselves instead of having it handed to them in four seconds."
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Behind-The-Scenes Moments; CSP Saves Humanity?
How does a typical day unfold for your humble correspondent? Well, needless to say, it varies depending on what's making news, my availability, our internal resources, etc. A couple weeks back I used my Flip camera (see video below) to capture a rather hectic travel and filming day as I went from New York to Baltimore, then drove to Frederick, Maryland, back to Baltimore and then into Phoenix. (In the same day!) The story we shot in Frederick was going to air this week, but now it's slated for next Thursday, April 24, as part of a mini-series on the environment. That's the one about the CRAGs or Carbon Reduction Action Groups. You'll see a little of what it takes to get the story, and how some long days turn into REALLY long days. The trip to Phoenix was to cover the Space Access conference, which is an annual gathering of the commercial space industry. In other words getting you and me into space -- safely -- without the involvement of NASA. Of course, it's prohibitively expense right now, but that'll change.
In other news, interesting article here at Salon.com about the other solar power -- solar thermal electric, or basically using heated water to power engines and generators. The headline alone is enough to get your attention: "The technology that will save humanity." A good read.
Oh, and, um, who is really behind "Raining McCain"? The answer is here.
In other news, interesting article here at Salon.com about the other solar power -- solar thermal electric, or basically using heated water to power engines and generators. The headline alone is enough to get your attention: "The technology that will save humanity." A good read.
Oh, and, um, who is really behind "Raining McCain"? The answer is here.
Groundhog Day For E-Voting?
We're working on a story for tonight's Evening News about the sense of deja vu with electronic voting machines. Ever since the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 newer touchscreens have faced increased scrutiny and concern from some security experts and academics. A few states -- including Ohio, Colorado, California and Florida are planning to abandon touchscreens and likely move towards optical scanner machines. As a Canadian (full disclosure) I'm not allowed to vote. But I can certainly understand the current frustrations associated with some adult American's right to case a ballot when it comes to lack of uniformity. But how big is this problem? Why don't all touchscreen machines have a voter-verified paper trail? And where do we go from here?
I've spent considerable time following and covering the electronic voting issue. Back in 2002 I can remember when I worked at CNN and we wheeled in all the touchscreen machines to the set so I could discuss how they work with anchor Paula Zahn. That's right around the time when alarm bells started to go off in certain tech sectors. In 2004 I attended a two-day conference at MIT hosted by the Caltech/MIT Voting Technology Project, an ongoing movement aimed at minimizing the confusion/chaos experienced in 2000 with so-called hanging chads and other paper ballots. Also in 2004 I visited the offices of the Gaming Control Board in Nevada where state engineers were putting touchscreen machines to the test. I can remember then election officials still had a sense of optimism when it came to touchscreen voting, though they definitely recognized the potential for flaws and human error. Now, in some cases, that optimism seems to be Avi Rubin at Johns Hopkins University, the machines threaten to undermine the very democracy they are meant to help determine. The manufacturers have always defended their technology, but the recent wave of doubt seems to be overwhelming their apparent confidence. To be sure, this story is far from over.
I didn't have a chance to blog yesterday but of course much of the Web was abuzz with news of a proposed Microsoft buyout of Yahoo! -- maybe the new merger would be called Micro-hoo! -- in a clear move to align against Google. The online advertising market is key for Microsoft, and Yahoo! has surely been struggling of late. Both want to make gains with online search. It may be a mixed bag for shareholders but it's probably too early to tell how it'll affect most consumers. The AP did put together a decent outline of what could happen going forward if, IF, it actually happens. In any case, after all the anti-trust issues surrounding Microsoft in the late 1990s (through recently if you include the EU), it's interesting to now see the company on slightly different footing. Lesson learned: objects in rear-view mirror may be closer than they appear.
I've spent considerable time following and covering the electronic voting issue. Back in 2002 I can remember when I worked at CNN and we wheeled in all the touchscreen machines to the set so I could discuss how they work with anchor Paula Zahn. That's right around the time when alarm bells started to go off in certain tech sectors. In 2004 I attended a two-day conference at MIT hosted by the Caltech/MIT Voting Technology Project, an ongoing movement aimed at minimizing the confusion/chaos experienced in 2000 with so-called hanging chads and other paper ballots. Also in 2004 I visited the offices of the Gaming Control Board in Nevada where state engineers were putting touchscreen machines to the test. I can remember then election officials still had a sense of optimism when it came to touchscreen voting, though they definitely recognized the potential for flaws and human error. Now, in some cases, that optimism seems to be Avi Rubin at Johns Hopkins University, the machines threaten to undermine the very democracy they are meant to help determine. The manufacturers have always defended their technology, but the recent wave of doubt seems to be overwhelming their apparent confidence. To be sure, this story is far from over.
I didn't have a chance to blog yesterday but of course much of the Web was abuzz with news of a proposed Microsoft buyout of Yahoo! -- maybe the new merger would be called Micro-hoo! -- in a clear move to align against Google. The online advertising market is key for Microsoft, and Yahoo! has surely been struggling of late. Both want to make gains with online search. It may be a mixed bag for shareholders but it's probably too early to tell how it'll affect most consumers. The AP did put together a decent outline of what could happen going forward if, IF, it actually happens. In any case, after all the anti-trust issues surrounding Microsoft in the late 1990s (through recently if you include the EU), it's interesting to now see the company on slightly different footing. Lesson learned: objects in rear-view mirror may be closer than they appear.
E-Waste Crusader
So, as it turns out the Consumer Electronics Show got the best of us, in some ways. The producer on the shoot got a wicked case of the flu, I caught a minor stomach bug going around and basically we hobbled out of Las Vegas with some story ideas for the future. Overall, a decent show this year, but definitely somewhat subdued compared to previous gatherings. Hard to tell if it was a result of being overshadowed by the New Hampshire primary, our collective illnesses, or a cooling in the gadget world. Food for thought. In any case, we move onto tonight's piece on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric that highlights a growing problem in the technology marketplace -- what to do with all the (literally) tons of discarded electronics?
James Burgett, a former drug addict and homeless person, is taking the challenge head on. His motto is: obsolescence is just a lack of imagination. Burgett runs a non-profit re-use operation outside San Francisco. While he's in favor of better recycling options for electronics -- and feels more companies need to alter harmful manufacturing methods -- he is primarily an outspoken proponent of re-use. He and his team, many of who are convicted felons or former drug addicts, take thousands of pounds of computers, fax machines, printers, PDAs, game consoles, etc. every month and re-furbish them before donating them to schools or charities.
When Burgett was strung out on drugs or alcohol many years ago, he would dig in dumpsters or find machines that needed fixing. At the time, he'd use the money he generated to support his addictive habits. But eventually he turned his life around (he's been sober for more than a dozen years) and decided to use his new-found abilities to benefit the environment and others. In addition to giving devices a second chance, he does the same with his employees, who might otherwise be struggling to find a stable path through life. He says anybody -- yes, anybody -- can learn to repair, upgrade or even build their own computer. But too many times they are simply discarded -- along with other gadgets -- for the latest and greatest. The shelf life or home life of so many products is getting shorter and shorter while mass production ramps up. Burgett says he's trying to stop that cycle and minimize the impact on landfills and elsewhere.
Continue »
James Burgett, a former drug addict and homeless person, is taking the challenge head on. His motto is: obsolescence is just a lack of imagination. Burgett runs a non-profit re-use operation outside San Francisco. While he's in favor of better recycling options for electronics -- and feels more companies need to alter harmful manufacturing methods -- he is primarily an outspoken proponent of re-use. He and his team, many of who are convicted felons or former drug addicts, take thousands of pounds of computers, fax machines, printers, PDAs, game consoles, etc. every month and re-furbish them before donating them to schools or charities.
When Burgett was strung out on drugs or alcohol many years ago, he would dig in dumpsters or find machines that needed fixing. At the time, he'd use the money he generated to support his addictive habits. But eventually he turned his life around (he's been sober for more than a dozen years) and decided to use his new-found abilities to benefit the environment and others. In addition to giving devices a second chance, he does the same with his employees, who might otherwise be struggling to find a stable path through life. He says anybody -- yes, anybody -- can learn to repair, upgrade or even build their own computer. But too many times they are simply discarded -- along with other gadgets -- for the latest and greatest. The shelf life or home life of so many products is getting shorter and shorter while mass production ramps up. Burgett says he's trying to stop that cycle and minimize the impact on landfills and elsewhere.
Continue »
Click Your Mouse, Donate Rice
Ingenious. That's probably the best word to describe computer programmer John Breen. He's the man behind Freerice.com, a new Web site with a unique, two-pronged approach to tackling literacy and world hunger. A lofty-sounding goal, I know. But Breen is determined to make it happen, one click at a time.
When you first visit Freerice.com you see the vocabulary quiz that challenges your word wisdom. The game adjusts to your level of skill, giving you increasingly hard words as you progress. And, as a bonus, each time you get a definition right, 10 grains of rice gets donated to the United Nations World Food Program. How does the math work? Stay with me here –- Breen gets money from big-name sponsors like American Express, Fujitsu and Apple. Those companies place banner ads on the page. That money is then sent to the UN, which buys the rice in a particular region. To get the ball rolling, Breen actually sent the UN a check for $100,000 (yes, the UN verified it has his money). He has since collected about that much from the various companies, and the UN says it's in the process of buying a couple hundreds metric tons of rice to ship to Myanmar refugees in Bangladesh. More than 1.8 billion grains of rice (roughly) has been donated through Freerice.com thus far, according to Breen.
His background includes a deep interest in global poverty issues and he actually has another Web site called poverty.com, which collects large donations from the national income of participating countries. His new-age approaches to tackling age-old problems are getting plenty of attention. Freerice.com has become a viral, international sensation with people even posting their thoughts about it on YouTube.com. The general consensus is one of support and encouragement for Breen.
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When you first visit Freerice.com you see the vocabulary quiz that challenges your word wisdom. The game adjusts to your level of skill, giving you increasingly hard words as you progress. And, as a bonus, each time you get a definition right, 10 grains of rice gets donated to the United Nations World Food Program. How does the math work? Stay with me here –- Breen gets money from big-name sponsors like American Express, Fujitsu and Apple. Those companies place banner ads on the page. That money is then sent to the UN, which buys the rice in a particular region. To get the ball rolling, Breen actually sent the UN a check for $100,000 (yes, the UN verified it has his money). He has since collected about that much from the various companies, and the UN says it's in the process of buying a couple hundreds metric tons of rice to ship to Myanmar refugees in Bangladesh. More than 1.8 billion grains of rice (roughly) has been donated through Freerice.com thus far, according to Breen.
His background includes a deep interest in global poverty issues and he actually has another Web site called poverty.com, which collects large donations from the national income of participating countries. His new-age approaches to tackling age-old problems are getting plenty of attention. Freerice.com has become a viral, international sensation with people even posting their thoughts about it on YouTube.com. The general consensus is one of support and encouragement for Breen.
Continue »
Is Comcast hacking?
In my column that went up today, I examine Comcast's alleged practice of blocking uploads from BitTorrent and other applications. The practice was reported last week by the Associated Press and numerous bloggers. The company doesn't admit to the practice but does say that it takes steps to protect its network from people who abuse their service by sending out excessive amounts of information.
The company reportedly does the blocking by sending out false messages telling computers sharing files that the file is no longer needed by the person who requested it. If these reports are true, Comcast may be guilty of hacking and impersonation. Even though their motivations might be noble, their methods are scary. It's like a government agency engaging in illegal search and interrogation methods in the name of homeland security, not that that ever happens.
The company reportedly does the blocking by sending out false messages telling computers sharing files that the file is no longer needed by the person who requested it. If these reports are true, Comcast may be guilty of hacking and impersonation. Even though their motivations might be noble, their methods are scary. It's like a government agency engaging in illegal search and interrogation methods in the name of homeland security, not that that ever happens.
New Advances in Prosthetics
It's not often you meet a researcher looking for a solution to a condition they themselves are dealing with. But when you do their quest has added resonance. Hugh Herr is a double amputee having lost both his legs below the knee while mountain climbing at age 17. He's also one of the world's leading prosthetics innovators through his work at MIT. Herr was recently awarded the $250,000 Heinz Award for Technology, the Economy and Employment, but more importantly his efforts have resulted in breakthroughs for other amputees like Iraq war veteran, Army specialist Garth Stewart.
Stewart was the first recipient of Herr's rather bionic lower leg, which uses a combination of subtle mechanics and delicate robotics to better recreate human muscles and bones. Stewart, who previously had a decent but limited prosthetic, is astounded at the difference. He had part of his lower left leg blown off when he stepped on a landmine. Now, he's excited about the future possibilities, which include reduced lower back pain, something many amputee wearers suffer. And Stewart should know about fatigue since this is a guy who still practices jujitsu. (Seriously.)
But Herr isn't satisfied. He doesn't see prosthetic limbs as a replacement. In fact,quite the opposite. He sees them as an opportunity to improve on the "imperfect" design of the human body. With wireless sensors and software, Herr pushes his prosthetics to adapt to irregular terrain or faster movement. Eventually leaping higher or running faster. Forget about being disadvantaged. He believes people (be them military or other) who wear prosthetics will one day have an advantage over those who don't wear them.
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Stewart was the first recipient of Herr's rather bionic lower leg, which uses a combination of subtle mechanics and delicate robotics to better recreate human muscles and bones. Stewart, who previously had a decent but limited prosthetic, is astounded at the difference. He had part of his lower left leg blown off when he stepped on a landmine. Now, he's excited about the future possibilities, which include reduced lower back pain, something many amputee wearers suffer. And Stewart should know about fatigue since this is a guy who still practices jujitsu. (Seriously.)
But Herr isn't satisfied. He doesn't see prosthetic limbs as a replacement. In fact,quite the opposite. He sees them as an opportunity to improve on the "imperfect" design of the human body. With wireless sensors and software, Herr pushes his prosthetics to adapt to irregular terrain or faster movement. Eventually leaping higher or running faster. Forget about being disadvantaged. He believes people (be them military or other) who wear prosthetics will one day have an advantage over those who don't wear them.
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Microsoft + Facebook = More $$$
The Wall Street Journal is reporting today that Microsoft is in talks to invest in Facebook by as much as 5%, which would value the social networking site at more than $10 billion. Wait, what? $10 billion?? That stake from Microsoft would reportedly be worth $300 to $500 million. It's a somewhat complicated deal that would involve advertising, strategy and cross-platform stuff. But hang on. How'd this all happen so fast? Yet another sign of the times.
Facebook has seen such a rapid rise in popularity in the past year that companies like Google and Microsoft are competing for its favor. There are more than 40 million people registered as users. Thus far, young founder Mark Zuckerberg has rebuffed any major investment from established tech companies like Microsoft or Google or Yahoo!. (Of course that doesn't mean those companies aren't developing their own "Facebook-esque" venture.) Zuckerberg often cites independence, the desire to open the site up to third-party developers and the chance to keep growing and expanding without excessive corporate influence. I applaud him for that and hope it continues. (Obviously, if this upward trend continues he'll also go public at some point. That might change the whole game.)
Many of have some kind of Microsoft product in our lives, and Google has certainly become ubiquitous with searching online. But does every successful networking startup (see: Flickr, YouTube) have to cash in? I mean, don't get me wrong. Many young programmers begin with a dream to carve out a niche, and some are eager to be bought out by the bigger fish. Fine. I get it. But as a regular Facebook user I LIKE that it's different than Microsoft or Google or Yahoo!. I LIKE that it's unique and simple and actually quite handy for a transplanted Canadian. I guess I'm naively hoping it'll stay that way. Poke poke.
Facebook has seen such a rapid rise in popularity in the past year that companies like Google and Microsoft are competing for its favor. There are more than 40 million people registered as users. Thus far, young founder Mark Zuckerberg has rebuffed any major investment from established tech companies like Microsoft or Google or Yahoo!. (Of course that doesn't mean those companies aren't developing their own "Facebook-esque" venture.) Zuckerberg often cites independence, the desire to open the site up to third-party developers and the chance to keep growing and expanding without excessive corporate influence. I applaud him for that and hope it continues. (Obviously, if this upward trend continues he'll also go public at some point. That might change the whole game.)
Many of have some kind of Microsoft product in our lives, and Google has certainly become ubiquitous with searching online. But does every successful networking startup (see: Flickr, YouTube) have to cash in? I mean, don't get me wrong. Many young programmers begin with a dream to carve out a niche, and some are eager to be bought out by the bigger fish. Fine. I get it. But as a regular Facebook user I LIKE that it's different than Microsoft or Google or Yahoo!. I LIKE that it's unique and simple and actually quite handy for a transplanted Canadian. I guess I'm naively hoping it'll stay that way. Poke poke.
Google Searching For Moon Landing
Don't get too excited -- you can't book a cruise on the Sea of Tranquility just yet. But Google and the X Prize Foundation are trying to bring citizen travel to the moon a little closer to reality. A little. During Wired magazine's NextFest today the two groups announced a joint contest called the Google Lunar X Prize for landing a robot on the moon. How does $20 million sound?
The total purse is actually $30 million, with $20 million for the grand prize and $5 million for second place and $5 million for performance bonuses. (Second place would really be a bummer.) To win, the robot must move for at least 500 meters and be able to send video, images and data back to Earth. The grand prize will decrease to $15 million after Dec. 31, 2012, and it will remain at that level for another two years. After that, organizers will decide to extend or terminate the project.
The X Prize Foundation is no stranger to lofty goals, of course, having offered a few multi-million dollar rewards for science and exploration over the years. Most notably in the aerospace realm, the $10 million Ansari X Prize was awarded in 2004 to Mojave Aerospace Ventures (Burt Rutan, Paul Allen and co.) when they successfully (technically) sent a human into space twice within two weeks aboard SpaceShipOne.
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The total purse is actually $30 million, with $20 million for the grand prize and $5 million for second place and $5 million for performance bonuses. (Second place would really be a bummer.) To win, the robot must move for at least 500 meters and be able to send video, images and data back to Earth. The grand prize will decrease to $15 million after Dec. 31, 2012, and it will remain at that level for another two years. After that, organizers will decide to extend or terminate the project.
The X Prize Foundation is no stranger to lofty goals, of course, having offered a few multi-million dollar rewards for science and exploration over the years. Most notably in the aerospace realm, the $10 million Ansari X Prize was awarded in 2004 to Mojave Aerospace Ventures (Burt Rutan, Paul Allen and co.) when they successfully (technically) sent a human into space twice within two weeks aboard SpaceShipOne.
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A Wikipedia Wecord
(Wikipedia)
The Wikipedia announcement can be found here. It points out that the El Hormiguero entry, which covers a Spanish TV comedy show, was erroneously thought to be number two million. (El Hormiguero? Who knew. If this alone doesn't illustrate the breadth of Wikipedia then I don't know what does.) So the search is on for the rightful record holder.
For most journalists, the information on Wikipedia remains forbidden ground. There have simply been too many cases of errors or altered entries to use it as a primary source, as tempting as it may be. That said, it's a very handy tool to settle dinner-time disputes like the tallest building in the world or who began marketing the "Crazy Frog" ring tone. With Web surfing included in nearly every mobile device these days it must be outlawed by trivial pursuit gatherings across the country.
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