On yesterday’s Morning Show I mentioned the new version of Samsung’s Alias phone, appropriately named the Alias 2. This phone is significant because it uses so called “e-paper” or “e-ink” displays for each of the keys. This allows the keys to change what is printed on them depending on what you’re using the phone for at the time.

If you’re making a call, the phone will display the standard numeric 10-key layout found on the majority of phones. If you’re typing out a text message or e-mail, the keys will show up as the QWERTY layout we all know from our home computers. It even lets you cycle through sets of symbols.

Phone Scoop created a demonstration video showing off the Alias 2, check it out below. The keyboard’s fancy feats get shown off starting around 1:10 into the video.

A while back we posted a video showing off Boston Dynamics’ “Big Dog”. Well, the lab that works with them is back again with a new robot—that climbs poles. This robot, dubbed the RiSE V3, isn’t quite as visually impressive, but the technological feats required to pull it off certainly are impressive. Check out the video by clicking here.

Each year the Neural Correlate Society sponsors The Best Visual Illusion of the Year contest. This year’s winner is an illusion that demonstrates how the break of a curveball causes the brain to think the ball is changing direction. I would try to explain it, but it is simply something you have to see for yourself. Hit the link or the photo to check it out!

The runners up include an illusion which shows how the eyes interpret color and one showing how our brains determine the sex of someone we’re looking at. The latter is my favorite. Two variants of photo of an androgynous face are presented. One has reduced contrast and the other increased contrast, making them appear lighter and darker. This small difference causes our brains to identify one face as female and the other as male—even though they are the same face.

And be sure to just have some fun looking around the site. Take advantage of the “Try a Random Illusion” links in the left column and you could end up sinking hours of your time looking at awesome illusions!

This Sunday, May 17th, join Steve Wohlers as he interviews Sweet Home High School’s 2009 valedictorians and salutatorians. They’ll be discussing their hopes, dreams, opinions and plans for the future. Listen in and gain some insight as to how the next generation thinks about the future.

Just came across this over at boing boing. Someone took a long exposure, 30 minute, photograph of a Roomba doing its dirty work. Quite interesting, this shows how the Roomba wanders its way around the room, vacuuming as it goes. Click the photo to check out the original post on signaltheorist.com:

Via Boing Boing

This morning we talked about the Navy’s new flight-deck cleaning machine. If you’d like to see a video of the Mobile Cleaning Reclaim and Recovery System (MCRRS—aka the “flight deck Zamboni”), head on over to PhysOrg and check it out.

As promised on The Morning Show, here’s a link to the map NPR put together showing confirmed cases of the “swine flu”. But, please, don’t obsess over reloading the map every five minutes to see if the flu has shown up near you. We don’t need any “swine flu lotteries” or games of “flu darts”!

Over the weekend I was introduced to the goblin shark. I can”t help but think this thing must have inspired H.R. Giger”s designs for the movie Alien. It as a “protrusible jaw” that shoots out to capture prey. Take a look:

And Treasure came across the “Deep Sea Dragonfish“, which is equally as weird. It is bioluminescent, which means it can produce its own light, and looks like it fell straight out of the Jurassic period. For another group of photos that includes this and other creepy deep sea creatures, check these out.

On today’s Morning Show I talked about a few of the things Guy Kawasaki mentioned in his article showing what Twitter is being used for—besides telling everyone about the hamburger you just ate. (Sadly, I’m guilty of that.) For those who are interested in learning more, here are the links to the articles referenced.

Tony Hsieh’s Beginner’s Quick Start Guide and Tutorial to Using Twitter
Guy Kawasaki’s How to Demo Twitter

Check out the video embedded in this article about research from the University of Michigan that promises to bring self-healing, bendable concrete to a roadway near you.

We talked about this planet on the Morning Show, which I first learned about by reading the Bad Astronomy blog. It orbits a star in the constellation best known as the Big Dipper and has some very extreme conditions. Such as the shape of the orbit around its star that brings it very close in, scorching the planet, and then swings far, far away leaving it out in the cold. This produces winds in excess of 11,000 miles per hour! Check out the story to find out even more fun facts about this extreme planet.

As promised on the Morning Show, for those who want to know more, here’s a link to that list of MIT projects over at TechRadar. Definitely look at the last one that talks about MIT’s “Sixth Sense” project that has been getting quite a few mentions by tech mavens. First we had Bluetooth headsets, just wait for Bluetooth eyeglasses!

Just came across this over at Engadget and what a great innovation for those of us that really hate dealing with daylight savings time. Simply tilt the clock one way or the other to align the appropriate hour! Click the photo for more information!

Soon, KFIR will be airing Lars Larson’s national talk show. To get things kicked off, Steve Wohlers will interview Lars for a special edition of the KFIR Community Forum. Be sure to join in and get a sneak peek into the mind of Lars Larson and find out what’s in store!

The Nintendo Wii gets made fun of quite often. And it is easy to see why…with accessories like the Riiflex dumbells. Here’s a bit of their marketing copy:

“Riiflex™ weights introduce a new way to add resistance to your Wii™, and Wii Fit™ workouts. Add weight to both the Wii™ Remote and Wii™ Nunchuk and make your Wii™ Fitter.”

Video games as exercise? Oh, oh yes. (Did anyone catch the Duran Duran reference in the title?)

KFIR welcomes Representative Sherrie Sprenger back to the Community Forum. Join Sherrie and Steve this Sunday for an update on this legislative session.

Comedy often has the power to show us truths we either fail to see or, in all too many cases, simply choose not to see. This bit of comic artistry is brought to you by Chris Eaton over at Wrong Way Comics.

Kat Beal from the Army Corps of Engineers will join Steve Wohlers to talk about about a proposed marina for Foster Lake. Make sure to tune in and get the details!

As promised during The Morning Show, if you are interested in seeing that “Map of Science”, just follow this link. Learn how different scientific disciplines relate to one another!

Rick Alexander of the Lebanon School Board joins Steve Wohlers this Sunday for the KFIR Community Forum. Rick will discuss the end of the academy system, the new Lebanon High School principal and issues with the district budget.