nationalpost:

China builds world’s fastest supercomputer that can do 33,860 trillion calculations every second
China has built the world’s fastest supercomputer, almost twice as fast as the previous U.S. holder and underlining the country’s rise as a science and technology powerhouse.

The semiannual TOP500 official listing of the world’s fastest supercomputers released Monday says the Tianhe-2 developed by the National University of Defence Technology in central China’s Changsha city is capable of sustained computing of 33.86 petaflops per second. That’s the equivalent of 33,860 trillion calculations per second.

The Tianhe-2, which means Milky Way-2, knocks the U.S. Department of Energy’s Titan machine off the no. 1 spot. It achieved 17.59 petaflops per second. (Photo: Top500)

futurist-foresight:

4 ways Google Glass makes us Transhuman (via the Lifeboat Foundation) is a post worth reading wherein augmented reality visors, Google Glass and augmented memory are examined.

“Transhumanism is all about the creative and ethical use of technology to better the human condition. Futurists, when discussing topics related to transhumanism, tend to look at nano-tech, bio-mechanical augmentation and related technology that, for the most part, is beyond the comprehension of lay-people.

If Transhumanism as a movement is to succeed, we have to explain it’s goals and benefits to humanity by addressing the common-man. After all, transhumanism is not the exclusive domain, nor restricted to the literati, academia or the rich. The more the common man realizes that (s)he is indeed already transhuman in a way — the lesser the taboo associated with the movement and the faster the law of accelerating returns will kick in, leading to eventual Tech Singularity.” - Read on

futuretechreport:

10 Ways 3D Printing Can Be Used In Education [Infographic]

Remember when you had to make a diorama with a shoe box and construction paper in school? Well with 3D printers - your kids’ version are going to be actual replicas! 

8bitfuture:

FDA approved pill turns your body into a password.

Motorola have shown off a pill which enables the user to transmit authentication passwords to a range of devices through their body, including phones, computers, cars or door locks.

The pill is powered by stomach acids, and according to the FDA it would be safe to swallow 30 of the pills every day for the rest of your life, although the pill lasts about two weeks before it “needs to be replaced”.

futuristgerd:

(via C-Suite Briefing: Top Disruptive Technology Trends That Will Change How You Do Business - Innovation Insights)

wired:

When Foodler jumped on the Bitcoin bandwagon a few months ago, it seemed like an interesting way to drum up new business. But it turns out that, for some, Bitcoin business can come with an unexpected pricetag: privacy.

Since April, the Boston-based online restaurant ordering service, has accepted payments in the world’s hottest digital currency, and sales have grown nicely. Foodler is now doing about $15,000 in Bitcoin food orders per month. This is convenient for customers, and with Bitcoin, the company doesn’t have to fork over the payment-processing fees that come with credit card sales. But there’s a downside: If Foodler isn’t careful, Bitcoin could give competitors a way to spy on its business.

[MORE: How Bitcoin Lets You Spy on Careless Companies]