Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

The nanobots, they’re multiplying!

Want to go to Mars?  Of course you do.  The only problem is that it not exactly the most friendly of places to visit just yet.  How could we set up a colony of sorts?  We could send people to live there to build a new civilization, but what fun is that?

Director of the NASA Ames Research Center Peter Worden thinks that self-replicating robots can handle the load.  Yep, you read that right.  Self-replicating robots.  These robots would built a suitable environment for humans by transforming the atmosphere of Mars.  Normally, I would go off and claim that these robots will eventually get irritated with its human overlords and try to stage a coup.  After all, if they can control the air, they can pretty much kill us at will.  However, I think this could be incredibly interesting if such a thing could happen (the atmosphere change, not the killing).  [Source]

Grab a computer, go to stay in jail

The things we do for technology.  We stand in ridiculously long lines so we can be the first to own that snazzy new phone.  We are willing to forgo house improvements for a nicer television.  We will spend minutes looking for a contact in our phones or contacts list in lieu of using a crash-proof paper notebook.  Maybe technology makes us a little dumber.

There’s no doubt that some of us are affected more than others.  William Bradley may be more affected than all of us.  Here’s what he did: he stole a computer.  That doesn’t seem too crazy.  However, Bradley stole the computer from a jail while already in jail for another incident.  The computer was supposed to be retrieved later.  The weird thing about jail is that it’s wired up to watch out for things like escapes.  Needless to say, Bradley’s scheme was foiled by the watchful security cameras.  [Source]

Dr. Robot will see you now

Robots aren’t getting medical degrees yet, but the next time you see a doctor, don’t be surprised if you meet a robot.  A large, mobile robot motors around the hallways with a monitor and camera setup so a doctor at a remote location can help patients.  At first it looks like a gimmick.  Why would anyone need this kind of thing?  Think about being able to get a specialist via a teleconference who can diagnose ailments without having to travel or relay instructions to another doctor.  Looks like we’re living in the future.  Cool.  [Source]