I Art You

This weeks tech round up has a bit of a mishmash of technology attractions. As usual Japan and the United States lead in the coverage, these two tech titans provide the bulk of technological advances so its only natural that the most tech attractions are found in these countries.

First up is a bowling alley that is most likely the largest in the world. The 116 lane bowling alley located in the city of Aichi, Japan is truly a site to behold. It is even more impressive when you consider this massive bowling alley was built in land scarce Japan. [Source]

A city in Georgia is considering the development of a virtual world where citizens could attend city council meetings and learn more about the events in their city. The program would encourage involvement by rewarding participants with points that would be redeemable for discounts at local businesses. It seems like a great way to get often apathetic citizens involved in their cities management. [Source]

Last on this weeks round up in the San Diego, California based company is hard at work on electromagnetic transportation systems. Most maglev systems are designed with passengers in mind, but General Atomics (has an awesome name) has a concept for maglev cargo trains. They already have a 400 foot test track created. [Source]

Scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are hard at work on revolutionary research that could prove to be one of the most significant scientific discovery’s of all time. The plan is to ignite a thermonuclear reaction that would burn as hot as the sun. It would not only be the first man made star, but would also prove that fusion using lasers is possible. This would pave the way for future advancements in fusion technology that could eventually meet the entire worlds energy needs. Forget the industrial revolution, imagine a world with limitless cheap electricity. One immediately thinks of electric trains and cars, cheap electrolysis would ensure plentiful drinking water for people and plants, but the really amazing things would come from innovations we can hardly dream of with our current fossil fuel mentality.

The amazing thing is that the location of what could prove to be one of the worlds most significant scientific discovery’s of all time still offers tours on Tuesdays. For every other day of the week there is a visitors center outside the laboratory’s grounds.

Todays Tech Travel Bonus: Japanese Highways, including one that goes straight through a sky scraper! Source And the Wright-Patterson Airforce Museum [Source]

The worlds first modern mall was obviously built in the United States, but who knew it was built in Minnesota. The Southdale Center in Edina had all the features of today’s malls, indoor, climate controlled multiple levels of shops. It was designed after European arcades, and the builders nestled the mall around schools and homes..further malls of course choose to place them near big highways and place parking lots around them instead of schools. If you are ever in Edina drop in and take a moment for the past, present, and future [Source]

This weeks Tech Travel Roundup looks at the United States newest additions to the tech tourism world. From fast food to fast transportation this weeks edition look at two projects currently under construction that represent the future of the U.S. and the world! First stop is Chicago were McDonald’s has plans to construct an environmentally friendly McDonald’s. Energy is one of McDonald’s biggest expenditures, over a billion dollars is spent to power McDonald’s all around the world every year. The new eco-friendly McDonald’s will collect rain water, harvest solar power, and is constructed of sustainable recycled material. McDonald’s has always been on the cutting edge when it comes to fast food, it will be interesting to watch their sustainable developments be rolled out, the question remains is this the future of McDonald’s or a publicity stunt? [Source]

We already reported on Virgin Galactic’s plan for America’s first Space Port. The Space Port recently got the go ahead from the FAA which clears it for construction. The Space Port will be located in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Virgin Galactic will launch their Space Ship two from the site, and launch pad and runway way will be leased to other private space companies as well. [Source]

Robots, jet packs, and 3D have been praised as the technologies that will define our ‘future’ since the 1940’s and although progress is being made on all fronts to date the technology has not lived up to our Utopian expectations. However, 3D broadcasts are now poised to enter the mainstream. Not only have 3D broadcasts become a reality, but several manufactures including LG electronics will be releasing 3D capable TV’s this year. Although the technology is still pricey 3D broadcasts are already being shown in Californian movie theaters.

Our technology has taken a surprisingly long time to catch up to our sci-fi fantasies but rest assured, progress is being made.

This weeks installment of tech travel differs from most weeks editions. This week only will be featuring one location, the location this week is such a massive destination that we felt anything less then a full post would be shortchanging it…that, and I accidentally closed my Firefox filled with tons of material.

Black Rock Desert in Nevada, United
States is home to many natural wonders and features some of the most vivid photo opportunities of geysers anywhere on the planet. Despite being beautiful a natural park does not usually appear in tech travel guides, but this one has the distinction due its historical evens.

It was at Black Rock Desert that the current land speed record was set, if that not enough for you it was also the site of the first amateur rocket launch that reached space. Still not interested? Its also a part of the original Oregon Trail, so if you have downloaded the Facebook app or played the real version as a child I have your attention.

Beautiful scenery, mix of technology and nature, equals one of the best tech attractions North of the atomic bomb tests.

Konichiwa, I am sure you will not have too much trouble guessing the theme of this weeks tech travel round up. If you guessed Japan, congratulations, have a shot of sake cause this week the tech travel roundup is headed back to Japan. Perhaps and a obvious choice, its hard to talk about technology without Japan stealing the spot light, so without further ado we bring you new McDonald’s concepts and take you down the back alleys in Akihabara.

First up is a hot new concept McDonalds has released in Japan. The Japanese have been going crazy for McDonald’s. First it was the Big Macs, next came the Mega Mac’s, and now its the Quarter Pounder. The hip new “non-branded” restaurants have been popping up in Tokyo. Its fast food minimalist at its finest, the new Quarter Pounder restaurants have only one burger on the menu, no its not the Big Mac. Source

In the United States we have elderly greeting people at Wal*Marts, and cartoon characters to great peope at Amusement Parks. In Japan they have robots! There is a new Robot stationed outside iExpo 2008 in Tokyo to warmly greet visitors. Let the eldery retire, keep the cartoons on TV, Robots are never tired, and hopefully never angry. Source

Finally, as promised a tour through a back alley used electronics Akihabara shop. The store is packed full of gems, once the height of technology these items were quickly discarded for something bigger or better, technology moves fast in Japan but these stores offer a chance to pause and remember. Source

This weeks tech travel round up has a specific theme to it, museums. I know, I know museums are not the frist thing that springs to mind when you think about technology, but bare with me. There a tons of great museums out there, these new museums are not like your grandfathers museums. Unlike the crappy museums they used to take you too as a kid these are filled with all sorts of tecnological marvales of both the past and the present. If you don’t know where you came from you will never know where your going.

The first stop is Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum, you have to see it to believe it! The museum is full of all sorts of mechanical odds and ends, games machines and other coin operated objects seems to be the theme.

Another coin obsessed antiquity collector is the Museum Mecanique in San Fransisco, California.  Many penny games and slot machines are in the museum, along with what may be the only steam operated motorcyle in the world.

While on the theme of wacky carnival style pieces have a look at the Pez museum located in Burlingame, California. Even if Pez’s are not your thing you have to respect their impact on the internet. E-bay was founded as a way for the entreprenurs wife to meet other Pez peddlers.

Next is a peice that New Scientest ran looking at various abandoned or dismanteled large scale science experiments that litter the world.

Keep going across the Pacific and you will find a museum and tech obsessed country, Japan. The Japanese love their museums and have one (or two) for just about everything. However, when it comes to popular culture works such as Manga and technology they feel a better national museum is in order. The Japan Times has a great article looking at Japanes attempt to preserve their present.

Looking at the future of Museum, China not wanting to be outdone by Japan is constructing a very unique museum. Whats the best way to view a shipwreak? Underwater of course! Moving old wreaks can be very dnagerous so China is bring the museum to the shipwreak. Five great halls will cover the wreak and some of its 80,000 treasures.

I heart New York, thats why this weeks Tech Round Up takes a closer look at the big apple. Although it is one of America’s biggest city the tech capital of the United States has always gone to Silicon Valley, it may not be number one, but that does not mean New York should not be an important stop on any tech tour.

New York is famous for shopping, and that is why most attractions for the city are retail flagship stores. The Samsung Experience may look like a store, but it is an ‘experience center’ a place to hold tech events, try out the latest Samsung products, or get some technical advice. Nothing if for sale but its a prime stop for any tech tourist. Source

Next up is the very famous Apple flagship store. No doubt during the launch of the first iphone and then again with the iphon2 3G you would have seen news footage of devout fans lining up outside this iconic Apple retail store.

A trip to New York would not be complete without a stop at Nintendo World. A massive two story store located in the Rockefeller center.

Forbes had a great piece online titled “Grass-Roots Innovation Takes Root“. The article looks at the current trend of do it yourself DIY mentality that is starting to take off. The article looks at projects like MAKE Magazine, open source code projects, and various hacks. Forbes also profiled eight ‘do it yourselfers’ who are changing to world, from building rocket ships with catalog parts to selling standardized genetic parts to make your own drugs, plastics, and petroleum products.
I think its high time North American started bring technology hacks and innovation to everyday life. The success of our economy rests on our ability to innovate and a lot of that comes down to our culture. Japan for example has a culture of innovation, children build robots and play with electronics at a young age, man of them strive to understand how they work and go on to engineer some of the incredible robot culture the country has developed. The more our culture hungers for innovative technology and the more people that are pushing the envelope the better off our society will be.