Housed in a 10-story building at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, Calif., is one of the world's most unique machines. The Vertical Motion Simulator is a massive installation that gives pilots and engineers the opportunity to test aircraft design and explore flight characteristics with an incredibly high level of realism and accuracy.
Last week CNET visited the facility as NASA was testing out Altair, the design for the next generation of lunar landers. As they test the current design, pilots and engineers make recommendations, enhancements, and alterations.
Last week at the Hacker Dojo in Mountain View, Calif., developers partnered with Google, Yahoo, NASA, and the World Bank to exchange ideas and work on solutions for responding to natural disasters and other emergencies.
Random Hacks of Kindness is the first in a series of planned events that seek to use technology to solve real world problems related to crisis and disaster relief. By first working with governments and non-governmental organizations to better understand the immediate needs of rescuers and communities following a critical emergency, these programmers are work directly to solve communication issues and to better facilitate the exchange of information and resources in times of need.
Often, information comes from a wide array of sources during emergencies, including governments, rescuers, and victims in local communities. Successfully organizing the incoming content and delivering information back to the proper resource is a critical part of providing aid to victims.
Former IBM employee Bruce Buckelew has made it his mission to eliminate the digital divide in Oakland, Calif. By refurbishing donated computers and giving low-income families access to technology, the Oakland Technology Exchange (OTX) is providing access to the educational, health care, and employment resources available on the Internet that so many people take for granted.
In addition to providing computers, OTX provides training and technical support to the community, teaching basic computer skills to parents and children, giving them access to the technological knowledge and skills and a path toward self-sufficiency.
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captures incredible martian storm
(Credit: NASA, HiRISE, MRO, LPL (U. Arizona))
Riding the escalator down into Moscone North for Tuesday's keynote by Michael Dell.
(Credit: James Martin/CNET)
In Moscone West attendees shot baskets, played air hockey, Pac-Man and Donkey Kong.
(Credit: James Martin/CNET)
Wednesday's keynotes will feature Kris Gopalakrishnan, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director for Infosys Technologies Limited, and Oracle's Larry Ellison.
(Credit: James Martin/CNET)
A typhoon-like storm swept through San Francisco Tuesday as more than 2 inches of rain fell amidst wind gusts of 25 mph.
(Credit: James Martin/CNET)
One Oracle software customer, framed by dual cameras that fed the live Webcast of Oracle OpenWorld, offered a video testimonial for the company's software.
(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)
The Oracle OpenWorld show packs people into Moscone Center's thousands of chairs. After Tuesday's speeches, all that remained was the red lighting and an abandoned take-out breakfast bag.
(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)
Behind the scenes, it takes many people pack up the stage from one keynote and prepare for the next.
(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)Based in Alameda, Calif., the Pacific Pinball Museum is a nonprofit dedicated to the promotion and preservation of one of America's great pastimes. The museum's annual fundraiser, which also happens to be the world's largest pinball show, was the Pacific Pinball Expo held this year in San Rafael, Calif., October 2-4. More than 400 machines were on display showcasing the art, engineering, and rich history behind more than 70 years of pinball wizardry.
Intel CEO Paul Otellini speaks in the cavernous Moscone West conference hall at this week's Intel Developer Forum.
(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)
Who else but Intel could get away with a mobile of faux silicon wafers as decor? Real wafers these days are 300mm across, but some of these were much larger.
(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)
It takes a lot of people to register the deluge of IDF attendees and give them their shoulder bags.
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George Schweitzer, president of CBS marketing, announced a widget to help people find TV shows they want. He jokingly called the image behind him as his 'man cave.' (Editor's note: CNET News is published by CBS Interactive, a unit of CBS.)
(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)
A demonstration of live 3D video required the IDF audience to don RealD's 3D glasses.
(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)
Ever wonder what big-screen 3D TV looks like up close? This image of an NFL cherleader (look at it from a good distance away) shows how alternating rows of LEDs are staggered. Special glasses mean people's left eyes see only one set of rows and right eyes see the other; the brain combines the views to add depth.
(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)
3ality Digital showed off its double-barreled videocamera for capturing live 3D video. The company supplies technology that keeps the two Sony cameras aligned precisely to sub-pixel accuracy even when the cameras are panning, zooming, and refocusing, said 3ality Digital CTO Howard Postley.
(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)
Apple CEO Steve Jobs is back on stage, but gaunt after his liver transplant.
(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance event Sunday featured dozens of decades-old cars in pristine condition in a competition and show that's been held since 1950 at the prestigious golf course near Monterey, Calif.
The show draws thousands of attendees, who also get to see a number of cutting-edge concept cars. Here, though, is a look at some of the historic models.
The green and copper exterior of this 1941 Chrysler LeBaron Thunderbolt convertible was far less understated than most of the older cars at the Concours d'Elegance.
(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)
This Talbot-Lago T150C SS Figoni et Falaschi Coupe dates from 1938. The C stands for course, French for racing; the SS for Super Sports, used to indicate a shorter variant of the curvaceous design.
(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)
This grille is the business end of a 1930 452 V-16 Cadillac Fleetwood Sport Phaeton's engine, which has a displacement of 452 cubic inches.
(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)
Ever wonder just what powers a high-end race car? Porsche revealed this custom-built eight-cylinder engine in the historic cars area.
(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)
