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Posts with tag travel

Airplane Mechanic Causes $100M Damages After Pushing Wrong Button

Mechanic Pushes Button, Destroys Three Planes
Maybe this airline mechanic at the Baton Rouge Metro Airport was hopped on DayQuil earlier this week -- after all, "they" do say to take caution if operating heavy machinery. Whatever the cause, a mechanic at the Baton Rouge Metro Airport accidentally pressed a starter switch on a commuter airplane she was cleaning, which immediately sent the craft into full-fledged take-off mode -- right into two other planes inside the same hangar.

All three planes were destroyed, ultimately causing $100,000,000 in damages, not to mention nearly killing herself and 14 other workers, according to a report from Baton Rouge's WAFB-TV.

The entire incident took all of about five seconds according to witnesses, who are still dumbfounded as to how the whole hanger wasn't sent up in flames.

We all make mistakes, but we're pretty sure this woman will soon be out of a job. [Source: WAFB]

Airlines Adding Advertisements to Boarding Passes



Is nothing sacred? Pretty soon, we will literally run out of space free of advertising. Ads have already begun sneaking their way onto our cell phones, and they get attached to the tail end of our e-mail, so where else can they possibly be squeezed in an attempt to sell us something we don't need? Why on our boarding passes, of course!

No we're not kidding. Delta, Northwest, US Airways, United, and Continental have all signed contracts with Sojern, an advertising startup, to place targeted adds on the boarding passes customers print at home. The ads will be targeted based on length of stay and destination city, and eventually based on customers' stated interests.

Passengers can opt not to print the lists of events, coupons, and restaurant recommendations, but we're sure that option will be conveniently inconspicuous. [Source: USA Today]

The Real Future of Transport -- Heli-Blimps?

Are Heli-Blimps the Real Future of Transport?
Hot on the heels of the revelation that solar-powered, inflatable turtles are the future of mass transportation, Boeing is showing its vision of the heavy-hauling skies of the the near-future with its JHL-40 Skyhook heli-blimp, a craft it hopes will revolutionize the transport industry for remote, inhospitable places, like the Canadian Arctic.

It is just what it sounds like -- a combination of a blimp with four separate helicopter motors at the sides. The blimp itself, filled with helium, results in an aircraft that is neutrally buoyant in the air; able to stay aloft without any additional power. The four helicopter motors at the corners (not that it really has corners) would be just for lifting, and would in theory allow the thing to carry a 40-ton load up to 200 miles. That compares quite favorably to today's heavy aerial hauler, the CH-47 Chinook helicopter, which can only carry one quarter the load half as far before refueling.

Boeing is set to begin building two prototypes very soon and, as soon as these get the go-ahead by the necessary government agencies, we could see them hauling heavy loads in the sky above -- perhaps battling for airborne supremacy with those flying turtles. [Source: CNET]

Viral Dancing Video Viewed Over 5 Million Times


We're not gonna lie, we kinda hate this guy, but only because we're so jealous of him. Matt Harding is a former video game designer and counter clerk at a video game store. He never went to college and at this point is basically unemployed. Yet, with the aide of the Stride Chewing Gum company, he is able to underwrite his world travels (without ham-fisted interference from the company's marketing team).

Matt became an Internet phenomenon by posting videos of himself doing an arm-swinging, knee-pumping, dance in exotic locations. Production values have increased over the years for Matt Harding's 'Dancing,' as the series is called -- the most recent video even includes an exclusive score. The newest video also expands the scope of the dancing from just solo white-boy goofiness to flash-mob style dance parties with locals (which, in the case of Lemur Island, Madagascar, are lemurs). You can also track Matt between video dance parties at Wherethehellismatt.com.

You don't want to know what we'd be willing to videotape ourselves doing with locals if it meant we could spend our days traveling to exotic locations on someone else's dime. [Source: AOL News and New York Times]

Virgin America's Got Tech Chops -- Take a Look



Riding in airplanes is sooo boring. They make you sit down at the worst times, eat gnarly snacks, and watch bad sitcoms for however many hours it takes. Painful.

Virgin America is trying to make things better, though. The airline is on the verge of launching in-flight wireless Internet! Now you can sit around between New York and LA doing what you'd be doing anyway (in this case, reading Gawker and streaming episodes of 'The Hills' until we feel nauseous).

Charles Ogilvie, head of in-flight entertainment and general stand-up guy at VA, gave our bros at Boing Boing t.v. a behind-the-scenes tour of the airline's technological underthangs. (BBtv is featured on the airline's in-flight program, btw. No 'Everybody Loves Raymond' for you!)

You can watch Boing Boing's video tour (see above) of a pretty swanky Virgin plane and cockpit, starring Chuck O. himself and Xeni Jardin from Boing Boing. We admit, the setup does look pretty cool, but Xeni kinda freaks us out. [Source: Boing Boing]

12,000 Laptops Lost Each Week at US Airports


travelers carry laptops with secret information

In these digital times, it seems as though everything about us these days is reduced to bits and bytes and stored on computers -- so it's only fair to ask that those computers be secure. Well, according to a new study by the Ponemon Institute, half of all the business travelers surveyed said they fly regularly with important information on their laptops. Most of them -- more than two thirds -- don't use any type of security system in the event that laptops are lost or stolen.

Clearly, this is bad news, especially since the study also estimates that about 12,000 laptops are lost every week (based on interviews with officials at 106 American airports). This means business travelers are losing several laptops a week. Eventually, one of those laptops is going to be loaded with our Social Security numbers and names.

So for all you mobile workers out there, read this: We know you're not going to stop traveling with this kind of information on your computers, but please use any encryption software that came with your computer to lock that stuff up. Even just setting your computer to require a password to get on will keep your information secure from garden variety thieves.

If you're willing to spend some cash, may we recommend PGP's encryption software for company's or SecuriKey's combination of hardware and software authentication. And, for the the cash strapped but wary, TrueCrypt offers free encryption software for all operating systems. [Source: The Statesman]


New Bags Let You Keep Your Laptop Inside at Airport Security Lines

Airport Friendly Laptop Cases Just Around the Bend
In a post 9/11 world, getting though airport security is only about half a step away from a full cavity search and a Q&A session at Guantanamo. Shoes, belts, jackets, and sweaters must all come off, and laptops must be removed from their case and placed on the belt.

This isn't just a minor inconvenience -- as a result of the increased security procedures, it is now suggested that you show up at least two hours before your stated departure... for domestic flights. The slow moving and nerve-wracking long lines have many travelers fuming and even choosing other modes of transport for shorter trips.

But the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is looking to soothe at least some of the pain involved with air travel. It has just okayed luggage and laptop case makers to start manufacturing X-ray friendly cases. The problem with older laptop bags is that they are often difficult to see through on an X-ray machine and are packed with accessories -- such as power adapters and mice -- that block security personnel's view. The new cases will vary in design from fold-down or detachable laptop-only sections on luggage to standalone foam sleeves without room for accessories. Since they'll provide a clear view of laptops for X-ray machines, these cases will be allowed through security without requiring that anything be taken out.

Luggage makers should start manufacturing the newly approved travel accessories shortly, and will no doubt be rushing them to market as-soon-as-possible. [Source: NY Times]

Airbus Unveils Carbon Fiber Plane




You know that weird, checkered material you see used in cars, bikes, and sporting gear? It's called carbon fiber, and it's super light. Now, Airbus has rolled out its newest plane, made mostly of the material. The result, though still not quite friendly-skies-friendly, could become the way forward for an airline industry suffering from high oil prices and extensive financial problems.

"Making wings out of carbon fiber cuts the fuel consumption by at least 20%," said Dave Phipps, head of Airbus' carbon fiber research department at Filton, UK. "It's a revolutionary technology. It is so much lighter, and yet just as strong and just as safe."

The tech has been in the works for over two decades – mainly for safety concerns. "Dealing with lightning strikes is much harder," says Professor Philip Lawrence, aviation expert at the University of the West of England. "Every time you cut a hole to fit electronics the structure of the wing is affected and joins between metal and carbon fiber can be tricky."

Which leads us to our closing and rather delicious pun: If the technology takes off, it could be lightning in a bottle for the airline biz. [Source: BBC]

Laptop and Data Searches at U.S. Borders Rankles Senator -- and You



Border patrol and customs agents can search not just your bags but your laptop, mobile phone and any other electronic device you carry across the United States' border when returning from a trip abroad, and that's got some senators a bit rankled on your behalf.

Russ Feingold, Democrat of Wisconsin, says the open-ended ability to search and hold data or devices is troubling, considering privacy laws protect Americans from search and seizure in most other situations. But the Department of Homeland Security says it's doing what it must to protect us from smut, terrorist influence and other bad things. (Because, of course, none of these are available from other sources, like, oh, say, the Internet?)

Here at Switched, we're big proponents of traveling safely, and that includes keeping your private information private. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is just leave your laptop at home when you travel. If you must bring it for work, consider uploading documents to a secure server, wiping your hard drive and then downloading the documents once you reach your international destination. And then be sure to do it all again before you start your trip home. We've got more tips to help you protect your data while you travel.

Beyond Feingold's concern, however, is the allegation by some that Muslim Americans are being searched more than others and having their devices and data seized without apparent cause. They also sometimes have to answer questions about their political views. (Who knew paying attention in social studies class would come back to help in such a critical moment?)

One witness who testified before Feingold's committee made an interesting observation. Susan K. Gurley, executive director of the Association of Corporate Travel Executives, said "In today's wired, networked and borderless world, one's office no longer sits within four walls or a cubicle; rather, one's office consists of a collection of mobile electronic devices such as a laptop, a BlackBerry, PDA, and a cellphone." Because of the searches, "you may find yourself effectively locked out of your office indefinitely." [Source: The New York Times.]
Engadget

Getting Dirty With Mio's 'Knight Rider' GPS

Mio Knight Rider GPS

We may be a little overexcited about Mio's Knight Rider GPS unit, but we're not about to apologize for that. This is one beautiful union of K.I.T.T. and navigation that was meant to happen since the day LCDs and GPS chips first hung out. With that out of the way, we have some hands-on impressions.

The unit feels solid and small enough to be portable while the screen remains just big enough to be of use. A nice anti-glare coating looks to keep things visible during daylight hours. Yes, standard fare, but this can be a very apropos way to get to that date you've set up with that cutie you met on Hoffspace.

Peep the gallery at Engadget and don't miss the video after the break.
Engadget

Power Assisted Live Luggage Ready to "World Premier"


Well, well... three years and change have passed since we first told you about power-assisted Live Luggage. Now it's finally coming to market -- at least that's what we think they mean by a June 26th 2008 "world premier." The PA series of checked baggage features a 12V NiMH rechargeable battery pack supplying power to the wheels when the handle is gripped and the bag is tilted.

The bags weighs 10.6kg (23-pounds) which is about 3kg (6.6-pounds) more than standard hard luggage, according to the manufacture. The cases are good for about 1.5 miles of assisted travel under a 32kg load. Of interest, the bags are now 2.6kg heavier than the original case which also featured a more powerful (and possibly exploding?) Lithium Ion battery pack capable of 2.5 miles on a single charge. We guess that was the concession made to get, "all the required accreditations and approvals from the global airport authority."

No price was announced so we'll have to stick with the £397 (about $782) until we hear more on Thursday.

Update: Oh boy, after poking around the site a bit we find a price of $1,365 -- twice as much as originally planned.

Don't miss the gallery over at Engadget.

Read -- press release [Warning: PDF]
Read -- Live Luggage

Mobile Phones Could Save the Airlines Millions


A consulting firm working with the airline industry seems to think that mobile phones are the secret to saving the beleaguered industry millions of dollars. The firm, SITA, says that if the airline companies learn to properly leverage the features on high-end cell phones, it could save $600 million in the next few years.

SITA suggests using location-awareness functions like GPS to track passengers within the airport and to text message them with important updates about boarding and departure, reducing delays, and therefore saving millions of dollars (not to mention keeping the customers happier). Cell phones could also be used to store electronic boarding passes, luggage tracking numbers, billing information, and one day possibly visa and passport information.

Okay, but does this mean that everyone is going to wait until the last minute to go through security, thus creating super-long lines? And do you really want the airline to track your every move, be it to the liquor aisle at the duty-free shop or the bathroom? Do they really need to know? [Source: SMS Text News, via: Textually.org]

U.S. Wants Airlines, Cruise Ships to Fingerprint Travelers

U.S. Wants Airlines, Cruise Ships to Fingerprint Travelers
The airlines and foreign governments are balking at a plan put forth by the Department of Homeland Security to have airlines fingerprint and collect sensitive data about foreign travelers as they leave the U.S. They claim that it represents an effort by the U.S. government to "outsource" responsibility for border security, and it would also set a dangerous precedent of putting private companies in charge of collecting and maintaining databases of personal data.

The airlines are also worried about the potential price tag of such a program. Airline representatives claim it would cost the companies $12.3 billion a year, almost $9 billion more than the Department of Homeland Security estimates, which might force some of the struggling airline industry to simply close up shop.

Cruise lines are subject to the same rules, so don't be surprised when Mickey stops you to stick your digits on an ink-pad when you board the Big Red Boat. [Source: Washington Post via: Jaunted]

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Engadget

Montreal Public Bike System Uses Web and Radio-Controlled Tags

Montreal Public Bike Sytem

There are all sorts of ways to deal with rising gas prices and public transportation needs, and Montreal is getting in the game with what they're calling the Public Bike System. Utilizing a central inventory and check-out Web site, solar-powered docking stations, and high-tech RFID-tagged aluminum bikes, the system is a gadget-maxed project that could be amazing or turn into a complete theft disaster. Each station holds six bikes and six docks, and users can find the nearest available bike on a Web site and then return the bike to any other dock. Payments can be made via credit, debit, or "member" card.

Quick question, though -- what if a popular destination has no available docks for a drop-off? [Source: Public Bike System of Montreal]

New Concept Train Doesn't Stop to Pick Up Passengers


Traveling by train would be a whole lot faster and more energy efficient if it weren't for that whole pesky having to stop to pick up and drop off passengers thing. Thankfully, a Japanese inventor, Peng Yu-Lun, has developed a concept vehicle that allows passengers to board and disembark the train without it slowing down... and, most impressively, without sustaining any bodily harm.

The system involves shuttles that passengers board before the train passes through the station and scoops it up. Passengers would then enter the train's main compartment so that passengers getting off at the next "stop" could board the shuttle and wait to be deposited at the next station.

Peng's so called "non-stop MRT system" is a long way off, and Peng admits that his idea needs a lot of help from experts and stronger scientific and engineering minds than his. But by eliminating accelerating and decelerating trains would use less energy and require less maintenance, reducing costs for both rail companies and passengers. [Source: Boing Boing]


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