Power Point Gone Wrong

As someone who both attends and presents a fair number of presentations, I have a typical love/hate relationship with Power Point.

Few have summarized this relationship better Mr. Don McMillan.

Kill a few minutes and learn about presentation skills.

Google Adds Video Chat - Challenges Skype

In a previous post about Google adding SMS, the idea of Google as your total communication portal was further enforced. Now, Google Chat has added video, and is looking more and more like a solid Skype option.

Google Chat now offers voice and video to its chat function, giving it a further step towards total communication domination. Although Google Chat isn't overly popular as of yet, this is a significant step towards gaining market share. Once the SMS is enabled, Google could be the one portal for the vast majority of communication - e-mail, chat, video chat, audio chat, and SMS.

Webmonkey has a review and some video here. Cnet's Webware has another.

While it requires a download on both ends, the single interface is a nice option for a lot of people, and adding Skype-type of functionality may be a turning point in the chat tool's popularity.

Mind Meld - Computer Controlled by Brain Wave

"60 Minutes" presented a fascinating story about a computer controlled only by a brain, with no interface other than thought. The advancements here are astounding, and largely unknown.

While this is sure to create some paranoia about 'mind control', as the episode itself mentioned, it's important to note that the signals sent are only those intentionally sent. The demonstration of a first time user was particularly fascinating.

The full context of the show is presented here. Video follows.



The potential of this is astounding, life-changing, and exceptional. It fascinates the science that is being done around the world.

Netbooks Below Cost - With a Catch!

As previously suspected, there are rumblings that netbooks are going to be offered soon at less than cost under a program similar to how cell phones are subsidized.

Slashdot posted today how HP and AT&T may be talking about offering a netbook for less than cost with a two-year wireless contract. This model follows the cell phone model, though first shown via the Gillette company with razor blades (offering the razor at below cost, but making strong profit off the disposable blades).

As the wireless world becomes more and more stable and fast, the use of netbooks by the mass public will become more and more ubiquitous.