future

OK, the words fun and commute will never go together, but one Sweden-based designer is hoping to make the ride to and from work a little less painful with a new gaming concept.

Figuring one can't escape the long wait times of a commute, Jiang Qian came up with idea of the Strap Game (or Game Strap), a gaming system built into the safety handles found on trains and buses. The dangling gaming handhelds would provide entertainment to those who are bored or stressed and hopefully make the time go by faster.

Qian imagines that the Game Strap would be powered on as soon as the user touches the handle, and a button on the side of the device would allow for easy one-handed game play. A swiveling strap also ensures that the system can move with you, so you don't find yourself in an awkward position if the bus or train makes any sudden stops or turns. … Read more

Bonnie's back, just in time to witness a barrage of futuristic concept videos.

We get Samsung's take on the transparent tablet of the future. Also, Toyota's vision of a self-driving psychedelic car from a frightening nightmarescape where the middle-aged are given the "Logan's Run" treatment. We revisit the fashion predictions of 1939 and watch as flying robots construct foam towers. In Geek News, Eric recounts his obsession with MST3K and the latest RiffTrax RiffPlayer, makes amends with Dr. Who fans, and shows us the creepier side of Batman.

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With bendable smartphones already on tap for next year, Samsung's next big thing may be a flexible, transparent tablet.

Samsung's Mobile Display division posted a video yesterday showing off a concept device that looks to be a smartphone-tablet hybrid that can be rolled up like a newspaper or expanded for different tasks.

In the clip below, you can see the Samsung Flexible AMOLED concept being used as an e-reader, a camera, a video chat system, and an interpreter. The company also imagines the tablet showing off 3D images through the use of an augmented-reality system. … Read more

Apple is looking to get into the business of unique device identification, Patently Apple reports, filing a patent that details plans for a "digital handshake" using next-generation cameras capable of reading specially coated, invisible ink.

The technology would be used for enterprise, social networking, and gaming applications.

While technology already exists that can transfer information between two devices quickly and securely (such as Bump and PayPal), Apple plans on revolutionizing the process and the media used to create a more robust, yet simpler transfer method.… Read more

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--With the Nokia Research Center leading the way, the Finnish handset manufacturer could be headed down one twisted road--and we mean that in a good way.

Since its founding in 1986, the NRC has been charged with developing mobile technology through the exploration of science. The center recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, and to commemorate the milestone, Nokia hosted various events around the world. CNET got to take part in the U.S. celebrations at Nokia's Sunnyvale, Calif., headquarters yesterday, where we got to check out some of the latest innovations from the NRC. … Read more

The future may not be bright, but it will require shades if you want to be able to view your computer monitor and avoid a fight with Rowdy Roddy Piper. Little Printer puts the Internet back onto paper, while invoked computing concepts put the Internet inside a pizza box. Eric and Donald meet up with the Keepon Pro, and Neil deGrasse Tyson predicts the end of the West Coast.

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2011 would be a good year for Doctor Emmett Brown's DeLorean to break down. He can just call up his local O'Reilly and see if it has part numbers "121G" and "121GMF" in stock.

O'Reilly Auto Parts lists a Flux Capacitor and Mr. Fusion Upgrade from EB Enterprises in its online catalog. The parts are compatible with 1981-1983 DeLoreans.

The flux capacitor product listing includes a warning as to the dangers of time travel. Unfortunately, O'Reilly doesn't carry plutonium. You will have to contact your local supplier. … Read more

Tablets are done. The future is tables. Unfortunately, it's the same future where giant teddy bears punch you in your sleep and adorable pugs are transformed into bloodthirsty monsters. This week, Bonnie Cha joins Donald and Eric to talk all about this topsy-turvy dystopia and provides the invaluable function of translating Eric's obscure '80s film references for the rest of us. In Geek News, Eric channels the dark heart of Bane.

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Occasionally we see some learned organization counting the number of bytes of data that humans have produced to date. And I've been known to scoff at these projections.

Seriously folks, even if you think that the number is 789.332 yottabyes on some given day--let's say today--the number is bigger tomorrow. And it gets bigger the next day. Even the rate of growth of the world's collective data is meaningless. Who would ever try to collect it all in one place and do something with it?

Oops. Someone actually is trying to collect all the data in … Read more