The Adidas Teamgeist II Football

Adidas have decided that they have what it takes to take on the burden of sorting out football controversy and try and put an end to this beef on goal-line decisions. Their contribution to the football fracas is a new ball! Yep, just a ball, well... it's not just any ball.

The Teamgeist II is a brand new, state of the art football fitted with sensors that will judge whether the ball has crossed the line or not. The sensors are inside the ball and they work in conjunction with other sensors that are located around the pitch, which means that the balls exact location can be tracked at all times, thus being able to determine whether the ball crosses the line or doesn't cross the line. But how does the ref get the message? Does this magic new ball have speech capabilities too? Does it scream "Hoi! Ref! I'm out!". No...don't be silly. The ball will send a message over to the refs watch informing whether it is out or not, pretty cool huh?

The Teamgeist II ball was secretly tried out at the recent Club World Cup in Japan where it impressed the Fifa jury and it looks as though it is set to be used at the next Fifa World Cup in South Africa in 2010. With all the officials involved in the game nowadays, the ref himself, 2 linesmen and a 4th official, i still can't believe the job isn't done good enough and we need to employ a robotic-like football as a 5th official. Maybe Adidas should invent a ball that can handle all decisions in the game and issue the right colour of card aswell, what you think?

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JD Sports

Tefal Quick Cup: The Environmentally Friendly "Green" Kettle

At the moment, the whole planet is caught up in this frenzy to fight against Global Warming and so on. We now live in a world where the "tree hugger" is no longer just the local weirdo or a hippy, and even those spoiled celebrities are doing their bit to fight the cause, swapping their Range Rovers for the likes of the Toyota Prius. Now we have sorted the biggest problem of them all!... The Kettle?

This may sound silly to some folks but kettles are one of the planets biggest energy wasters. Tefal have saved the day though, with their new very unique and "Green" Kettle. The Tefal Quick Cup.

Compared to your standard Kettle, the Tefal Quick Cup reduces 65% of energy consumption, saving you valuable pennies on the electric bill whilst also aiding to the cause of saving the planet from death!

Most impressive of all though, the Quick Cup will deliver hot water in just 3 seconds! hence the title "Quick Cup" making it the "Tea Jennies" ultimate fantasy, and if you aren't a Tea Jennie then you can enjoy the cold filtered water that it produces instead, there you go! two for the price of one!.

The Quick Cup will cost £59.99. It will be available from July and will be on sale in pretty much any of your usual electrical stores.

Tefal Quick Cup Video

Related Links:

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Empire Direct

Astronaut Sunita Williams Sets New Space Endurance Record

Female astronaut Sunita Williams has set yet another record, this time for the longest unbroken space flight by a woman. On Saturday morning at 05:47 GMT, Sunita surpassed the record of 188 days and 4 hours set by Shannon Lucid in 1996.

Sunita who is aboard the International Space Station also set the record for the longest female spacewalk at 22 hours 27 minutes. The previous record was just over 21 hours set by Kathryn Thornton. During her time aboard the International Space Station Sunita has also ran the Boston Marathon on a treadmill!.

“She truly is a space marathoner who shows young women everywhere that there's a place in the space program for them.” said fellow astronaut Eileen Collins. Sunita returns to earth on June 21st which by then will giver her a total of 194 days in Space.

Digital Talking Paper Created By Swedish Scientists

Researchers from Mid Sweden University have constructed an interactive paper billboard that emits recorded sound in response to a user's touch. The prototype display uses conductive inks, which are sensitive to pressure, and printed speakers.

The researcher's display model shows its possible use for marketing holiday destinations.

One interesting idea would be to use it on cigarette packaging Mikael Gulliksson

Mikael Gulliksson, who led the research project, told BBC News: "When you approach the billboard and put your hand on a postcard that shows a picture of a beach, you can hear a very brief description of that beach."

Via BBC, Check Out The Full Story Here

Check Out The Digital Paper In Action

Rod Baber Sets World Record For Highest Mobile Phone Call!

I previously wrote a post on this British climber just before he was about to embark on his mobile mission. I can now inform you that Rod Baber has completed his hike of the huge mountain and successfully made two phone calls from Everest's "North Ridge".

After a month of preparation, Rod finally started the final ascent of the mountain on May 15th. Baber made the first call, describing the view from Everest's peak and he made the 2nd to his wife and kids. He has also claimed the record for the worlds highest text message, standing at 8,848 metres.

Listen To Rod's Phone Call

Rod's MySpace

British Climber Attempts World Record For Highest Mobile Phone Call

British climber Rod Baber feels that he has to go a little further than out the front garden to get a signal on his phone! Rod Baber is climbing to Mount Everest's north ridge just so he can make a phone call. After weeks of acclimatisation Rod has reached base camp and is about to begin his attempt on Everest.

Baber has been getting used to living in high altitude by climbing up and down the great mountain. The "practising" if you will has left four members of the expedition team unable to continue due to altitude sickness. Baber has lost 11kg in weight since he started preparing for this amazing attempt and he expects to lose at least 5 more by the time he is finished.

Mr Baber said: "We have a "very good" chance of reaching the summit if the weather stays calm, but, it's when Everest lets YOU climb it, not the other way around."

All i say to you Rod is, Good luck son!

MP3 Players To Have Sat Nav?

UK scientists are planning on adding satellite navigation technology to MP3 players to help guide lost and desperate souls around cities. On the move rockers will be able to program a destination into their MP3 player and be directed as they stroll to their sounds. The technology will be developed to allow users to personalise the system to their own preference. For example, just say you have programed in a destination, if you are heading in the right direction, your music will play through both headphones and will signal you to turn right or left by shifting volume to different ears.

Another feature is a "nudge alert". Lets say you are visiting an unfamiliar city, perhaps on a day out or trip and you have an appetite for museums and art galleries. You program into your device that they tickle your fancy and it will alert you when there is one nearby, by either a physical tap or vibration. If you ignore the device it will stop nudging you until it finds something else that might be of interest to you! What a clever little thing!

Swansea and Glasgow universities have received funding for the three-year project and are working on it as we speak.

New Invention Allows Disabled Children To Drive Radio-Controlled Cars!

UK electronics expert Mike Heath has put together a new device in the form of a hat! that allows disable children to drive radio-controlled toys. It has been named The Dream Racer and has been officially launched. This amazing new cap is also being altered so that it will work on Sony Playstation consoles as well, this version will be named The Dream Gamer and is set to be released in the Summer time.

The hat works by motion sensors, 4 in total, which detect movements of the head which in turn will transfer them over to the toy to control the direction. The sensors are wired in such a way that will allow two different directions to interact with each other, which will allow better control.

This new technology was originally designed by a five year old boy who was left paralysed after a car crash but it is by no means restricted to just children. It can also be a very useful gadget to adults. The new hat can be adapted to work with the PC. This means that adults with disabilities that stop them from being able to use a PC can really benefit from this technology, helping them learn new skills and could lead them to possible careers. What a bloody great invention!

Dream Racer Website

Astronaut To Run Boston Marathon From Space!

More and more people nowadays commit themselves to staying fit by attending the gym regularly, doing home exercise, joining fitness classes and running marathons from space?

If you have a friend who is constantly going on about how committed they are to keeping fit and forever talking about their fruit and veg collection, throw this back in his/her face! Astronaut Sunita Williams is to run the Boston Marathon from a treadmill in space! (are you THAT committed sonny Jim huh?). Williams registered for the marathon but on the day of the marathon she is due to be in space but she is hardcore and is going ahead with it up there. Organisers even sent her a numbered bib for it, the point in the bib i am not sure but I'm sure she'll be wearing it!

Sunita isn't the first person to do the marathon while not actually being in the actual marathon. Troops in Iraq have been doing it in Iraq since 2005 but she most definitely is the first person to do it from space!

Via Crave