Wearable Computer Expedition Reaches South Pole 104
henrym writes: "Tom and Tina Sjogren have reached the South Pole after skiing in for two months wearing portable computers. Their web site hasn't been updated to reflect this fact, but our station manager has just come back from greeting them as they reached the pole. Details of their expedition can be found at thepoles.com. Henry Malmgren, South Pole Station Network Engineer" It's not every day we get a story submission from the South Pole.
Why the South Pole (Score:4, Funny)
Is it because they wanted some Penguins?
Re:Why the South Pole (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Why the South Pole (Score:1)
Re:Why the South Pole (Score:4, Interesting)
Actually, there is something about Antartica that is just very appealing to me. Not necessarily the South Pole (there are many expeditions there. If you want to do something big, though, you could try skiing there in the Winter, that would be something). But while Antarctica is appeal, the northern polar icecap seems just very, very scary. But, I guess I might change my mind about that too.
Re:Why the South Pole (Score:2)
Re:Why the South Pole (Score:1)
It depends on how you read it a bit.
Re:Why the South Pole (Score:1)
Re:Why the South Pole (Score:1)
I rather agree.
Re:Why the South Pole (Score:1)
Re:Why the South Pole (Score:2)
(disclaimer: I'm a certified glacier guide, and I've been in lots of crevasses, but don't take this is legal advice... :-) )
Re:Why the South Pole (Score:1)
Regards / ushac
Re:Why the South Pole (Score:1)
Because there's a base at the south pole?
Actually... (Score:1)
http://www.thepoles.com/guide/schedule.htm
Luis, who isn't surprised that the times shown in the page are in Chilean Time.
Wearable computers (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Wearable computers (Score:3, Interesting)
Not a wearable computer in sight!!!!!!
Re:Wearable computers (Score:1)
It's hard to believe that ... (Score:2, Interesting)
That, or they were desperate overclockers looking for the ultimate cooling solution.
Am I the only one who read (Score:4, Funny)
Imagine this: The 2020 wearables exhibition: Now at the South Pole
And then they wonder why so few people came...
Re:Am I the only one who read (Score:1)
Well they were selling it to the Penguins, obviously;)
Imagine That? (Score:3, Funny)
Well at least their systems wont need any cooling.
The website has now been updated (Score:5, Informative)
mark
roast turkey? (Score:2, Funny)
Apparently, they have gone insane...
the website data at a glance... (Score:3, Funny)
In the other news... (Score:4, Funny)
Ain't that a good idea?
No cooling problems there (Score:1)
A note (Score:5, Funny)
Wow. some gear. (Score:3, Informative)
The technology
High energy Solar Panels
Wearable computing
PDA
Finger mouse
Wrist key board
Head mounted display
Flat panel display
Customized technology west's
Shoulder mounted web camera
Lithium-Ion batteries
Satellite phone
Power converters
I was wondering how they powered all that stuff, and now I feel like an idiot. I was thinking fuel cells, batteries (which, granted, they did have) wind power and the rest, but completely missed THE SUN.
Funny what you don't think about when you live in a metropolis. I miss the country.
Triv
Re:Wow. some gear. (Score:1)
Re: Power sources in Antarctica... (Score:2, Informative)
So how do we get power down there ?
Yeah the stations on the high Antarctic plateau may not have too much power requirements but they use mainly diesel generators.
The Americans used a nuclear generator taken from a Sub years ago but they kept having problems with it and it's now been removed because the Antarctic Treaty [nsf.gov] forbids it.
In summer there's plenty of sun, so solar panels are used, but in winter there's none. In the center of Antarctica there's not too much wind (I studied at Dome C [colostate.edu] where most winds are 'born' and there's not enough to power a fan. On the other hand, on the coast you get demented winds [colostate.edu] that will break anything.
The French experimented with a heat transfer system that had it's highest efficiency in cold winds. The colder and faster the better. But it wasn't too conclusive.
And if you just want power for your palmtop, take L91 Lithium Energizer batteries, the only ones that work below -50C...
I want a wearable computer (Score:4, Funny)
Damn. Bad Pun.
I want my copyrights (Score:1, Interesting)
back in 1989 I was in the first year of highschool here in brasil and my stepfather gave me an HP-15C, a very cool calculator.
Well, the desks at the school were too damn small to fit notepads, pens AND the calculator so I tied it to wristband and started using it in my left wrist. one of the first wearable puters ever.
now everyone is copying my ideas and I don't see money flowing to my pockets. not fair.
Re:I want my copyrights (Score:1)
check out this wearable hands free cellphone [stuffnet.org] You may be interested. Or you may want to ask them for copyrights too.
Re:I want my copyrights (Score:1)
Explore and surf (Score:1)
Book: Shackletons Way [amazon.com]
Re:Explore and surf (Score:1)
From Huntford's biography, it is apparent that while Shackleton might have superficially believed in "Explore and Serve," his principal motivation consisted simply of the quest for quintessential Edwardian glory. His polar adventures were simply the most ambitious and publicized instances of his reach for fame and fortune; he formulated numerous ill-fated get-rich-quick schemes throughout Europe.
Several times, I have read of the glorification of Shackleton's desires when the facts present him as an opportunist. Granted, he was a superb leader of men and optimist, but his motivations are somewhat plain and not particularly praiseworthy.
That would be cool... (Score:1)
So long as their wearable computers aren't running windows (otherwise that probably would be what went wrong)!
Re:Antarctic Marathon (Score:1)
There is a branch of the extremely social running and drinking club, the Hash House Harriers at one of the bases.
URL (Score:1)
DISCLAIMER: Do not click there [spole.gov]. It's a weak sattelite link. Under any circumstance, do not click [spole.gov].
Hi Mar"c", hi Tom.
CNN was there? (Score:2, Funny)
CNN manager talking to a reporter: Now Jones, it was a bad, bad thing when you drove up to that crime scene and ran over the body. The police were very angry with us. Very angry indeed. Now, now, I know it was an accident.
Fire you? No, no, everyone makes mistakes, Jones. Why, when I was a young cub like yourself, I made a few in my day, too.
In fact, I have little assignment for you, Jones. Right up your alley. Let me show you this map...
Iridium (Score:1)
URL? (Score:3, Funny)
Must... Get... Sleep... (Score:2)
The idea that the "wearable computer expedition" actually included people somehow didn't occur to me.
another live south pole camera (Score:3, Informative)
South Pole Live Camera [noaa.gov].
or check out our South Pole Web Page [noaa.gov].
Correction... (Score:1)
That would be Sjögren, and it's Swedish. It's not THAT hard to spell, is it? Ericsson is a Swedish surname too, but in this case it's the name of the company sponsoring the expedition, if I'm not mistaking.
Strange thing is that the submitter is a swede...
Next place I want to bring my computer is deep underwater while diving.
Re:Correction... (Score:1)
mr. malmgren is not swedish. sure sounds swedish, though.
i'll hide behind my crt until you forget about it.
A question for CmdrTaco... (Score:1)
With the posting of this news bit, have you now posted stories from every corner of the world?
Just curious...OT: Ham Station at the SP (Score:1)
Abandoned stations? (Score:1)
hmmm (Score:2)