Horizon highlights – Higher standards edition
Our regular roundup of sci-tech stories from across the Web includes: A wireless connection that's way faster than Wi-Fi, Google's ties with Apple make Uncle Sam nervous, and will our kids have any idea what a VCR is? Let’s kick it off:
After Wi-Fi: WiGig tempts with high-speed wireless data transfer
"A new standard aims to offer gigabit-speed connectivity without the clutter of cables. 'What we are talking about here is the ability to download a 25 GB Blu-ray disc in under a minute,' says Mark Grodzinsky, chairman of the marketing workgroup at the Wireless Gigabit Alliance. 'It’s not something you can do with Wi-Fi or any other standard right now.' " [via Gadget Lab]
Rest in pieces: Five technologies our kids won’t even recognize
"Tech rolls in and out of fashion, and today the turnover is faster than ever. It won’t be long before many seemingly permanent gadgets disappear and become mere curiosities. Here are a few things that will seem as retro to the kids of tomorrow as the steam ship seems to us today." [via Wired]
Do no evil: Google says it’s in talks with FTC on antitrust
"Google executives acknowledged Thursday that the Federal Trade Commission was inquiring about the antitrust implications of the ties between the boards of Google and Apple. But they said they did not believe that the boards’ sharing of two directors — Eric E. Schmidt, the chief executive of Google, and Arthur D. Levinson, the former chief executive of Genentech — was a problem." [via NYTimes]
iLearn: School of Journalism to require iPod touch, iPhone for students
"Books, paper, and pens are considered necessary school supplies. Now, so is an iPod touch or an iPhone for incoming freshmen at the MU School of Journalism. Brian Brooks, associate dean of the Journalism School, said the idea is to turn the music player into a learning device. 'Lectures are the worst possible learning format,' Brooks said. 'There’s been some research done that shows if a student can hear that lecture a second time, they retain three times as much of that lecture.' " [via The Columbia Missourian]
Geek gifts: Mother's Day shirt for the geeky mom-to-be
[via Crave]
