Augmented reality: The future of maps?

I have no sense of direction. Seriously, I once walked around a circular plaza one and a half times before realizing that I was retracing my steps. I always imagine that functional humans have a sort of navigator in their head that allows them to orient themselves constantly and keep track of where they are now relative to where they were before. I'm not like that. I still get lost in my office building.

Which is why I love love love augmented reality, especially as it applies to mapping services.

Map/Territory from timo on Vimeo.

This would save my life!

Via Flowing Data.

The remotest places in the world

If there's one thing I've gained from my sad corporate existence, it's a renewed appreciation for remote places. I think they appeal to the escapist side of me.

So if you're also dreaming of a little escapism from the hustle and bustle of your daily grind (can I fit any more cliches into this sentence?) then this map might come in handy.



It's a world map color-coded based on accessibility by travel, and you can read more about it here.

See you in Greenland!

Sleep: simplifying synapses?

A recent study seems to support the controversial theory that sleep preserves brain function by weakening or even severing connections between brain cells.

Counter-intuitive, at the very least.

Scientist theorize that this weakening in synapses serves to "save resources ... and boost the signal of important memories over the noise of unneeded connections." It basically clears up the brain for new thoughts and memories.

The findings are by no means certain - indeed there have been past studies suggesting the precise opposite: that sleep strengthens rather than weakens synapses. However, it's still and interesting thought.

It also echoes a similar and equally surprising finding in urban planning: that removing roads and traffic lights actually speeds up traffic. Whether you buy into the roads/synapses analogy, it's a fun article to read: touching upon all sorts of topics from mathematics to economics to game theory.

For more on sleep and synapses, check out this digest on Discover Magazine's blog.

Sweden Does Space Tourism

As early as 2012, tourist flights to space will be launching from Kiruna in Northern Sweden. Among the attractions: the possibility of flying through the aurora borealis, and catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights from space.

Which, I have to believe, must be one of the most amazing sights ever...



Flights will be operated by Virgin Galactic, and tickets will be available for $200,000 from the nearby Ice Hotel.

Read more about Swedish space tourism here.

Astronomical Hotel

We all know the feeling... rough week, frustrating grind of a job, constant grumblings about the tumbling economy... That's when we start fantasizing about escaping to more exciting locations.

Here's a truly unique one to day-dream about for a little while: Elquidomos, a hotel made specially for star-gazing, located in Chile's Elqui Valley, which typically enjoys over 300 days of clear skies per year.

Each of the 7 rooms is set up as a 2-story geodesic dome, equipped with a telescope, astronomical literature, a terrace and a detachable roof over the upstairs bedroom for bedtime star-gazing.

Check out the layout...



You can see the stairs leading up to the bedroom on this night time view...