train

Aggies rethinking truck freight with electric train

A group of Texas researchers would like to resurrect the train as chief freight mover in the U.S.

The Universal Freight Shuttle is the brainchild of Stephen Roop, assistant director Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), a branch of Texas A&M University's system chain.

The automated train, which is designed to accommodate standard shipping containers and trailers, would move forward along a track by linear induction motors powered with electricity.

Roop and others at TTI have been working on the concept and design for eight years, keeping in mind not just the technology, but how such an infrastructure … Read more

Simple screen capturer

When information comes across your screen that you do not want to forget, a screen capture is in order. While using inaccurate and confusing hot keys was once the preferred method, ScreenHunter Free offers an alternative that promises to simplify the process.

This free program has a simple interface that makes this operation surprisingly easy. The main screen is well spaced and intuitive enough to have new users making screen captures in no time. A menu along the top allows users to make screen captures now or to stand by. Along the left side of the screen are the buttons … Read more

Amazing N.Y. subway breakdancers caught on iPhone

I'm not a big fan of anything subterranean, but every time I'm in NYC, for practical reasons, I take the subway.

This time around, it was also because I wanted to find out if the City Transit NYC Subway Guide iPhone app was worth $2.99. I ended up catching something else which, by itself, totally made the one-hour ride from Manhattan to the Bronx worthwhile.

As express train No. 5 started to leave 59th Street and Lexington Ave., two dudes who looked just like regular New Yorker-on-holiday riders turned on their boombox. One called out: "Hi everybody, what you're about to see is the most amazing thing. If you don't like it, boo as much as you want. But if you do, clap and please show your support." Seeing some people taking out their cameras, he added, "You can take video all you want, as long as you pay us."

Without further ado, the two took turns performing the most amazing breakdance I've seen. It was just coincidental that I had my iPhone video on and managed to capture the whole thing. What I didn't capture was the fact that their dance inspired some regular riders to stand up and show off their own moves. I totally heart NYC for this. … Read more

Serious security training may benefit from comedy

In a recent blog I discussed a bit of rather alarming ESG Research data. When asked to define the most important processes related to confidential data security, 47 percent of North American and Western European security professionals point to, "communicating and training employees on confidential data security policies." Unfortunately, it turns out that many large organizations aren't very good confidential data security policy communicators or trainers--28 percent of security professionals rate their organization as "fair" or "poor" in this area.

So what's the problem? Some organizations minimize this task and provide only … Read more

Siemens onboard for high-speed trains in China

The Obama administration isn't the only one looking to high-speed rail lines.

German train producer Siemens has inked a $1 billion contract to build 100 new high-speed trains for China, the company announced Friday.

The company's Velaro train has a top speed of 218 mph. A typical train will have 16 cars and carry more than 1,000 passengers. With a total length of more than 1,300 feet, the new trains will be the world's longest single high-speed units in use, according to Siemens.

Japan and European countries such as France have had high-speed train systems … Read more

Snow freight

Steam meets snow in an atmospheric screensaver especially appealing to lovers of trains and clocks. Watch from multiple angles as a throwback steam train chugs by pines on a snow-blanketed mountain pass. The vista overlooking a desolate valley is a treat, though there only appears to be one. A few more miles of varied scenery would improve the screensaver's visual interest. The locomotive is accompanied by either an analog or digital clock that you choose in the screensaver settings menu.

Report: Army to sink $50 million into combat training games

The Army is investing $50 million into video combat training games and gaming systems over the next five years, in a move to prepare soldiers for battle.

Soldiers, via the video games, will face ambushes and roadside bomb attacks while traveling in convoys, along with a host of other situations that mimic battle under a number of conditions and terrain, according to a report in Stars and Stripes.

The Army's Peo-Stri and gaming unit will monitor the industry, seeking out commercial games and systems it can use for low-cost training, the report noted.

Darwars Ambush is one of the … Read more

Digital City: Episode 4

Mass transit is our theme this week, along with Comcast's new comcastic download speeds, some breaking video game news, and a brief discussion on the merits of the Incredible Hulk on Blu-ray. Listen now: Download today's podcast

DIGITAL CITY RUNDOWN EPISODE 4

L Subway Line To Show Trains' Locations For the past year and a half, riders on the L train have had the unique advantage of knowing how long till the next train arrives. And in a few weeks, some of those riders will even know the exact location of every train along the line, thanks to … Read more

Report: DarkMarket was FBI sting operation site

A notorious Internet underground site that ceased operation last week has turned out to have been used since 2006 by the FBI as part of an elaborate sting operation.

DarkMarket was an online forum for "carders", those who buy and sell stolen identities and credit card information online. The site was recently made public with the arrest of "Chao," a Turkish criminal who allegedly stole personal information from devices mounted over the card slots and keypads of ATMs.

In a story on Monday, Wired revealed DarkMarket's primary operator "Master Splynter" to be J. … Read more