Alternative Energy Cuba: Four Wind Turbines for Guantanamo Bay

The U.S. Navy base in Guantanamo Bay is demonstrating yet more global responsibility with the installation of four new wind turbines. They'll not only reduce oil imports, but show those "energy-starved communist neighbours what they are missing". No plans to share the technology with Cuba however.
[Alternative Energy Blog]

The Viability of Domestic Wind Turbines for Urban Melbourne - ATA Report Launch

The Alternative Technology Association will launch a report prepared for Sustainability Victoria into the Viability of Domestic Wind Turbines for Urban Melbourne.

When: Thursday 13th September, 2007
Time: 6:15pm for a 6:30pm start
Where: Saint Michael’s Building, next to 120 Collins St. Disabled access. (click here for a map)
Costs: $10 for ATA members (ATA couples $15). Non-members welcome $15.
Refreshments provided
RSVP essential as seats are limited. Contact Wendy Clarke on ph:(03) 9631 5407 or email: wendy@ata.org.au

This report investigates the feasibility of small-scale, grid-connected wind turbines for urban Melbourne, outlines the findings of the research and highlights the issues which may face the emerging market.

Speakers include:

• Geoff Mabbett, CEO of Sustainability Victoria will launch the report
• Alicia Webb, a wind engineer, is the author of the report. She will overview the report, looking at the different types of micro turbines, what is available in Australia as well as the considerations around installing micro turbines in residential Melbourne.
• Dominique La Fontaine, CEO of the Australian Wind Energy Association (Auswind) is one of Australia’s leading wind energy authorities, well renowned for her advocacy of wind energy, aiming to mainstream the use of wind energy worldwide. She will look at the potential of wind energy, innovation in the Australian wind industry and current incentives (VRET, emissions trading, NRET, MRET).

See also entry on Small Barrel Wind Turbine for residential rooftop use

Furniture design and production as an artwork performance

FRONT Design, a Swedish design firm is bringing the technology
to people’s bedrooms to create truly personalized furniture. The 3-person team “draws” directly into the air using the tip of a pen, captured by surrounding cameras connected to computers. The sketches are translated into 3D digital files and materialized through an innovative Rapid Prototyping technique - a plastic molding machine that uses a laser beam to solidify the liquid plastic layer-by-layer with the 'functional' piece of furniture emerging over a day.

The design team are doing “performances” of their work in Miami, Tokyo and other cities.

[From Wired Blogs: Gadget Lab]

Medieval Help Desk (movie)

New technologies have always presented challenges to users. Here's a YouTube sketch of medieval help desk support for one of those new fangled 'books'.