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futures-hero · 8 years ago

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"I don't visit churches of the Gloriously Evolved that often. I actually, actively, try to avoid them whenever I can to be honest. I hope to say none of you with a reasonable amount of common sense can blame me for that though." "It goes without saying then that I'm not sure what all they do in there besides pickle their organs in old jam jars and take turns spoon feeding each other disillusioned ideals, but I've taken to some speculation inspired by those big stained glass windows I see from the streetside. As it turns out there's a lot of different variants of them depending on which city you're in and on what side of town you're on. I mostly see depictions of the grey lady, but there are also some quaint murals of what appears to be a terrible dystopian future, mechanised, multi-limbed angels, and maybe one or two appropriately tiny things depicting this masked asshole with three arms and a hexcore staff. The frequency of any of those images is dependent on the patron of the area, I suppose." "It's got me thinking though, that if these churches have risen heavenly messianic figures to a worshipable level, then they might also have a damnable figure too. I think it hard for such a zealous organized religion to have a path to righteousness without a contrasting path of folly after all. I wasn't entirely sure what kind of peak hated image that twisted mindset could conjure as the devil really, but an idea just hit me and I couldn't be more pleased." "If Viktor is this Evolution's forger, herald, and harbinger, then his adversary and the attributes of such an enemy would surely be considered the personified roadblock to the Evolution's realization. That adversary being...? Well, look no further than ME, of course! Glorious enemy number one from day one! Thank you, thank you! I do try!" "Just think about it. I mean seriously-- picture it: Viktor portrayed oh so noble in his torn rags, mechanical wings risen, feather blades flared, saint's sun set over his head like a golden crown dawning on this new age of fresh hell in all the vibrant colors of stained glass... And then me, somewhere, with this. Like. Thin-ass villainous mustache and rams horns, spitting flames and dragging people to the depths of ignorance with cloven hooves leaving trails of smoke and ash in my wake.” “I'm. I'm in tears here... I want to walk into one of those churches just to see if it's true and they rise from their pews to throw me out while chanting hymns and slinging blessed axle grease my way. Please. I need the satisfaction of being demonized for being so damn perfect in my life."

#long post #?#ic #this is a thought that ran away with me

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crystalglassca · 6 years ago

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Advanced Features Your Car Could Have in the Next 10 Years

The classic 1980’s movie “Back to the Future” predicted that by 2015 we’d have time machines and flying cars. Although it’s 2018, and cars have remained firmly stuck to the roads, there’s no denying that automotive technology has come a very long way from what we had in the 1980’s. Modern automobiles are not only safer, but they also offer better performance, higher fuel efficiency and a larger variety of amenities.

We are quickly moving into a world of hyper connected and highly intuitive automobiles. The cars of today already feature highly innovative driver assist systems, such as adaptive cruise control, lane centering and self-parking. We’re constantly edging closer to self-driving cars. In fact, Tesla had already made its cars semi-autonomous in 2014 with its ‘Autopilot’ technology. Although the technology is far from perfect, and has landed the company in legal trouble, Tesla has been constantly working to improve both its efficiency and functionality.

From night-vision to pedestrian-detection, over the course of this article we’ll take a look at some advanced technologies that you can expect to see in your car over the next decade.

Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS)

Although we’re still some way off from fully embracing autonomous cars, auto manufacturers today are integrating an increasing number of sensor and radar-based ADAS in cars that are certainly playing their part in making you a safer driver. For instance, automotive giants such as Mercedes, Hyundai and Lexus have already introduced collision-mitigation systems in some of their vehicles. By using radars, these systems provide the driver with an auditory and visual warning if the vehicle is getting too close to something too fast. The system can even apply brakes and fasten the seatbelts automatically.

Other radar and sensor-based technologies include Blind-spot Monitoring and Lane-departure Warning systems. These systems utilize a combination of radars and cameras to determine if the car is straying from its lane towards one that is occupied. Infinity’s latest system even has the ability to take control of the vehicle and steer it back into its lane.

Although radar guided safety monitoring systems are only available as optional extras on upscale models, expect them to eventually filter down to all cars but the cheapest ones over the next decade.

360 Degree View

Blind-spots have always ranked amongst the top causes of accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), around 840,000 blind-spot accidents occur every year in the United States. Thankfully, blind-spots are about to become a thing of the past because of emerging auto safety technology. Transport Canada has already made rear-view cameras mandatory for new cars and small trucks.

However, you can expect more technologically advanced camera systems to become standard in cars in the near future. Companies such as BMW, Ford and Chrysler are already offering Cross-path Cameras in their vehicles. These cameras provide a 180 degree view of your vehicle from back to front, and will even alert you if a vehicle pulls out of a blind drive or is approaching you from behind. Some companies even offer 360 degree visibility systems with their cars. For instance, Infinity’s 360 degree viewing system, known as “Around View monitor” uses feedback from four different cameras to provide drivers with eyes all around the vehicle.

Gorilla Glass

Originally designed by American multinational technology company ‘Corning’ to be used in smartphone screens, Gorilla Glass has now transitioned into the automotive industry. BMW’s i8 hybrid sports car became the first production automobile to feature auto glass that was made from this type of specially strengthened glass when it was launched back in 2013. The Ford GT hyper car then became the first car to be fitted with a Gorilla Glass windshield.

Manufactured through a unique and complex scientific process known as “Proprietary Fusion Manufacturing”, Gorilla Glass has incredible strength and purity. Not only is it much lighter than the laminated and tempered glass generally used in automobiles, Gorilla glass is also much stronger. Corning’s miraculous glass possesses incredible amounts of compressive and tensile strength which makes it 50% less likely to break or crack than its conventional counterparts. Furthermore, because Gorilla Glass is so much lighter, incorporating it in cars improves their handling and fuel-efficiency.

Although only a handful of companies have incorporated Gorilla Glass in their cars, it’s only a matter of time before the automotive industry as a whole realized how superior it is to laminated and tempered glass. Expect Gorilla Glass to become a lot more common in cars over the coming years.

Sheet Thin Batteries

Big, chunky car batteries may soon be about to become a thing of the past. While the development of sheet thin batteries is still in its infancy, the technology is showing a lot of promise already. Sheet thin batteries are based on the familiar concept of lithium-ion batteries, and put out roughly the same output when it comes to voltage and current. However, it’s the dimensions of these batteries that make them unique. These batteries are specifically designed to reduce the load of a bulky battery, with the aim to make automobiles more light and efficient.

The USP of sheet thin batteries is that they effectively transform the body panels of a car into a battery which can be charged with solar cells, which allows the car to be run completely on the power generated by the transformers attached to these batteries.

There is yet to be a production car that features these amazing batteries, however, with governments around the world pushing the automotive industry towards electric automobiles, sheet thin batteries might become common in cars by the end of the next decade.

Night Vision & Pedestrian Detection

A pedestrian detection system is an amazing feature which, upon detecting a pedestrian in your path, automatically brings the car to a complete halt. This technology was made famous when Volvo incorporated it into their S60 sedan. Night-vision systems use infrared light to detect a person who is in the intended path of a car but is out of the range of the headlights. These systems are generally only available in high-end and luxury cars.

Currently, night-vision and pedestrian-detection systems are very expensive optional extras available only in high-end cars. However, you can expect them to be available as standard on luxury cars and as an option on mainstream cars in the near future.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology

As automotive technology continues to develop, the number of fuel sources for our vehicles is expanding. Furthermore, tightening government regulations on emissions and protests from environmentalists have urged auto makers to examine alternative fuel sources. Hybrid and fully electric cars might be stealing most of the limelight at the moment, but hydrogen-powered cars are slowly emerging as the transport of the future. There’s a reason why major automakers are investing billions of dollars on research and development of hydrogen fuel cell technology and FCEVs (Fuel Cell Electronic Vehicle). Roland Forger, the managing director and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India, recently said, “By 2040, the whole world will be driving home in hydrogen cars”.

To explain it in simple terms, an FCEV is basically an electric car where the motor is powered by electricity produced by splitting hydrogen atoms instead of a conventional battery stack. The fuel cell is roughly the same size of a regular petrol engine and only has one moving part. Not only do FCEVs have a much longer range than regular EVs, but they are also much more environmental-friendly. The only emission produced by Hydrogen Fuel Cells is water vapor. What’s more, hydrogen is the most abundant substance in the universe and can be produced in a clean and sustainable manner.

The only thing that is standing in the way of FCEVs really taking off is infrastructure. Only a very small number of gas stations sell hydrogen. In fact, Canada’s first public hydrogen refueling station opened just this year. However, major manufacturers have already started making FCEVs, with Toyota launching their Mirai, and Honda coming out with the Clarity. Expect to see more FCEVs on the road as infrastructure continues to develop.

Smart Tires

Smart tires have been in development for quite a while but the first proper concept smart tire, the Goodyear Eagle 360, wasn’t unveiled until 2016. A number of tire manufacturers then followed Goodyear’s lead and came out with their own versions of smart tires. The smart tire is a revolutionary concept which involves using electronics to enhance the tire’s performance or function. Each tire manufacturer has come up with its own take on smart tires. For instance, Pirelli’s Connesso smart tire was designed to make rides more interactive. On the other hand, Goodyear’s Eagle 360 smart tire is a revolutionary design which is supported by a magnetic field instead of an axle.

Although the Eagle 360 concept is perhaps a bit too radical to be seen on the roads in the near future, Pirelli’s Connesso smart tire is already available for consumers to buy. It’s only a matter of time before major car companies start offering smart tires as an optional extra on new vehicles.

Exotic Materials

In order to comply with the government’s mileage standards, which are getting higher every year, automakers around the world are look at ways to make their cars lighter. So instead of using stainless-steel and aluminum, car makers are shifting their focus towards lighter and more exotic materials such as carbon fiber and magnesium.

Carbon fiber is an ultra-light and ultra-strong material that is generally used to make airplanes or high-performance cars such as Bugattis, Ferraris and Lamborghinis. However, automakers are now considering using carbon fiber and other exotic materials to produce many of their upscale vehicles. For example, BMW has already started using carbon fiber in its mass-produced electric car, the i3.

Advanced Fuel-Saving Tech

As we’ve already discussed in this article, automakers around the world are embracing fuel-savings to stay compliant with the various governments’ fuel average standards. In fact, the US government has set a target of 62 mpg for new cars, a target which should be achieved by 2025. Automakers are aware that if they are to meet these high expectations, their vehicles will require widespread electrification.

One of the major fuel-saving techs that have emerged is regenerative brakes. By using the motor as a generator when brakes are applied, regenerative bakes put energy back into the battery pack while stopping the vehicle at the same time. Regenerative brakes can boost fuel economy in hybrid vehicles by as much as 25%, and by 10% in non-hybrid ones. Other fuel-saving tech includes cylinder-deactivation and start-stop systems.

Automakers have already started to incorporate these fuel-saving technologies in mass-produced cars. If you don’t have them in your current car, you can be pretty sure that you’ll have them in your next one.

Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication

What if cars could avoid accidents by communicating with each other? Wouldn’t it be useful? Well, Ford is currently working on engineering an intelligent system that’ll enable vehicles to communicate with each other. Using Wi-Fi technology, this system will be able to determine the location of the vehicles around you while transmitting your own location at the same time.

Projected Windshield Displays

Although many cars already have projected windshield displays, automakers are now taking this technology a step further. Known as in-glass laminated displays, smart windshields not only provide the driver with vehicle stats, but they also give information on the weather, navigation and road hazards. Furthermore, smart windshields help keep the driver’s focus on the road instead of the dash or their phone.

As auto glass technology evolves, so does Crystal Glass. One of Canada’s premier auto glass companies, Crystal Glass specializes in windshield repairs and replacements, regardless of the make or model of vehicle you have. The company has over 50 locations which are spread throughout Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan, and are also experts at ADAS recalibration. Call us today at 310-GLAS or get a free quote!

#advanced cars #technology #crystalglass

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