Made This For You - Latest Comments

Re: The Rise of the Biodegrable Battery

Michael Rad — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:34:52 -0000

what a refreshing post. r&d into batteries seems to be seriously lacking, considering the increasing number of wireless products hitting the market. loving the idea of biodegradable / usb chargeable options!!!

Re: Singing about Songbird

layne — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:36:06 -0000

I am sure you can ask them. People love free advertising

Re: Greener Gadgets: Measuring your Hue of Green

layne — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 21:32:25 -0000

nice comment! I wish you were at this panel to correct them. So, does EPEAT have any plans of combining forces with other services that are not directly computer related? And, even if EPEAT becomes the standard like LEED is becoming, how much closer is the consumer to seeing a carbon footprint on those products? Or are we destined to see EPEAT Gold Stickers on new "green" equipment. I guess what I am getting at, is that when I buy a can of soup, I can see how much sugar, carbs, etc. are in the can. When will I see carbon footprint ="5", or landfill years ="20.5", or joules = "#". I am guessing it will be a long time.

Re: Singing about Songbird

Concourse E — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 08:33:05 -0000

Yeah! The Songbird illustration makes me want it just for that. Maybe they'll do a vinyl of him.

Re: Greener Gadgets: Measuring your Hue of Green

Green Girrl — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:50:00 -0000

EPEAT (www.epeat.net) is the standard Dell and Intel were referring to in the discussion - the premier environmental ratign system for computer hardware (desktops, laptop, workstations, displays - with thin client up in July and a printer standatrd under discussion now). EPEAT has 30+ participating manufacturers and 1000+ registered porducts, rated at Bronze, Silver and Gold based on how many of 51 environmental performance criteria they meet. EPEAT is required for all US federal purchasing, used by dozens of states and provinces, education, healthcare and enterprise purchasers worldwide. It addresses toxics, recycled content, ease of recycling, lifecycle extension and extended warranty, packaging (reduction ,recycled content), energy efficiency, and comapny performance. The system was developed in a three year stakeholder consensus process and will be continually revised in an open stakeholder process through the Institute of Electricla and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). The statement in this panel that EPEAT is ignored by teh feds is actualy completely untrue (he was confused by a report on another program - EPACT) - last year's purchasing figures in fact show between 75- 95% of federal agency computer purchases were EPEAT registered.

Re: 50 people 1 question

Layne Braunstein — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:15:02 -0000

hmmm... Atlanta :-). Or maybe Vegas

Re: 50 people 1 question

Angel — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:44:03 -0000

Thank you for posting our project! Come check out our newest London video at: http://fiftypeopleonequestion....

What city would you like to see in our next video? Thanks again!

Re: 50 people 1 question

Benjamin Reece — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 10:07:39 -0000

Thanks for posting our project :) Watch out for Mexico city soon! :)

Re: The Future of the TAL Podcast?

Layne Braunstein — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 01:01:20 -0000

@ jeremy
wonder what the hold up is then

Re: 50 people 1 question

Layne Braunstein — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 00:57:16 -0000

@ michael
check out all the other videos on their site. I think it depends how people answer the question. And to answer your other question about what would it take.....? There isn't a definitive answer; but I believe you answered alot of it in your comment :-)

Re: 50 people 1 question

Michael Habachy — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 00:00:34 -0000

This video was a great sampling of the diversity of people in our society! Wouldn't be great if more people actually responded with an answer that took other's in consideration rather than themselves? I think that generally, most people are consumed with themselves and the close few that they surround themselves with. Especially in the U.S., I think that our society teaches us that it is OK for our work, money, personal relationships, etc. to take precedence. I too, find myself getting so caught up with these everyday routines! I guess the question is, what would it take for more people to start thinking about what can we do for others, society, our world, and our future?

Re: The Future of the TAL Podcast?

Jeremy — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:42:23 -0000

Haha yeah I though the same thing (why not use bit torrent etc.) when they started asking for money to offset their bandwidth costs. Adrianne Mathiowetz replied to my email saying that they were currently considering BitTorrent and other peer to peer networks this was June 20th 2008 so hopefully they will come around to the idea eventually and we can give them money instead of paying for bandwidth grrr

Re: Mimobot and GURP

John R — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 14:37:55 -0000

For Star Wars geeks:

http://gadgets.boingboing.net/...

Re: Mimobot and GURP

John R — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:25:22 -0000

@Layne - I'm not sure that I would use any "extras". However, perhaps something that combined utility and design - like an auto-backup app with a cute interface would be handy. Some come with an app that makes it into a virtual CD drive for mounting .isos.

Or a little yakuza character could pop up on the screen and go around screaming at and extorting my other programs. If they don't comply, they get CUT!

Re: How To Recycle Anything

John R — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:59:26 -0000

This is fantastic - thanks!

Re: Mimobot and GURP

Layne Braunstein — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:56:19 -0000

I hadn't seen the Yakuza one till now. I have always been a fan of Friends With You. So, that probably gave me more of a thrill to get the other stuff then most. I am currently using the wallpaper that came with mine on my video monitor.

What do you think is a better idea for "extras" on the flash drives?

Re: Mimobot and GURP

John R — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:39:26 -0000

I got the Yakuza one for Christmas and it's awfully cute. I have to say though, the icons, wallpaper, and "magazine" are kind of lame. It seems like a dated concept and design.

But my favorite thing is that when I plug it in, it shows as "F\:YAKUZA" - ha!

Re: The Future of the TAL Podcast?

Heidi Hysell — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:42:28 -0000

@Justin
First, I've updated the article to reflect that it isn't an NPR show (besides the podcast, I catch it on our local station that also syndicates NPR programming - silly mistake)
Second, I am all for giving donations and supporting efforts such as TAL; I have and still do. My point though was that I would rather see my money going towards the people producing the program, rather than the bandwidth costs that could be avoided through other measures.
Being a tech savy person myself, I would be willing to help with my time in an effort to see this happen if there were other barriers that needed to be handled.

Re: The Future of the TAL Podcast?

Justin — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 14:11:35 -0000

In addition to the comment I posted on twitter (that TAL isn't an NPR show), it's worth nothing that the bandwidth bill quoted has to be minor compared with their production costs (staff, travel, etc.). How would you propose funding the production if not through donations to WBEZ?

Re: Mimobot and GURP

laurie — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 18:13:38 -0000

ahhh.. this makes me want to buy more MIMOBOTS!!!! great write up!!