XPrize Founders Launch Tech Innovation Competition

metlin writes "The organizers of the Ansari X-Prize have launched the equivalent of the X-Prize in a variety of technology areas, called the WTN X-Prizes. The idea is to have a series of prizes for important technology challenges facing humanity in the 21st century, which will be judged by the World Technology Network. The website mentions that, 'The concept of the WTN X PRIZES is to utilize the concepts, procedures, technologies and publicity developed X PRIZE Foundation's Ansari X PRIZE competition for space and the global science and technology innovators identification process and community developed by the World Technology Network (WTN) to launch a series of technology prizes seeking to meet the greatest challenges facing humanity in the 21st century.' Sounds like a good idea, maybe this will help make that flying car a reality?"

Re:crappy article

[Sqwubbsy]

Actually, if you follow the link, there's a space where you can suggest what the prizes should be for.

Re:crappy article

[91degrees]

From the "Click for more information" link:

Here is a very rough and incomplete list of the sorts of challenges that might be appropriate:

• Medical challenges, such a cure for cancer or other major diseases.
• Technological "holy grails", such as artificial intelligence, teleportation, molecular assemblers (true nanotechnology), cold fusion, or a believable virtual reality system
• Major global challenges, such as the various UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) announced by the world's leaders at the UN in 2000 at the Millennium Summit.

Re:Prize for Fuel Cells?

[mprinkey]

The problem with hydrogen is *not* producing it. Electrolysis is easily accomplish. People have been genetically engineering algae to produce hydrogen gas directly from sunlight. We can gasify coal or other hydrocarbons, bleed off and sequester the CO2 to get H2 pretty efficiently.

The problem with hydrogen is storing it and transporting it safely. There is no good solution for this. The concept of using hydrogen as a bulk fuel is a complete non-starter until this problem is solved. With current approaches, either the pressure is too high, the temperature is too cold, or the energy density is too low. It leaks very easily, so it is difficult to store for extended periods of time. And recent studies seem to indicate that the environmental impact from significant H2 leakage could be worse than CO2 emissions.

Re:Whats the deal with flying cars?

[sapped]

If you have flying cars you no longer need to build roads.