SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Cheapest Robot
Walkman, a 12.7-cm (5-in tall) robot, costing $1.75, was built from the remains of a Sony Walkman, at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, USA, in 1996. In tests, when its legs were held, the robot managed to struggle free without being programmed to do so and without making the same movement twice.
Highest Jumping Robot
Designer Rush Robinett first had the idea of making a leaping robot while he was catching grasshoppers to use for trout fishing. Several years on, and the revolutionary highest-jumping robots are being proposed for uses such as military reconnaissance, search and rescue missions, and even exploring other planets.
Most Emotionally Responsive Robot
Kismet, created by Cynthia Breazeal at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), is a robotic head powered by 15 networked computers and 21 motors. It is designed to recognize and respond to different emotions while interacting with humans. Nine of the computers are used to control Kismet's vision alone.
Best-Selling Video Games
The Nintendo game Super Mario Brothers has sold a total of 40.23 million copies worldwide. The 26 games featuring Mario, the character who first appeared in the arcade game Donkey Kong in 1982, have sold more than 152 million copies in total since 1983. More than 40% of US households own a Nintendo game system.
Most Widespread Computer Virus
Unlike previous headline-grabbing bugs, the "I Love You" virus was able to forward itself to every entry in a computer's address book. It was able to write itself over existing files, and to send valuable information - such as passwords - to its home site in the Philippines. Six months after it hit, more than 50 variants of the virus were still circling the globe.
Smallest Mouse
Let's be honest… it doesn't look much like a mouse. But slip the Cat Eye FinRing on your finger, and you can control your computer with less hand action than ever before. When you tilt your hand, the FinRing's internal sensors transmit the movement to a receiver plugged into your PC, which then moves the on-screen cursor.
Largest Mechanical Puzzle
Quest, a 3D geometrically symmetrical puzzle designed and built by Joe Pieczynski, stood 144.78 cm (57 in) tall, 133.35 cm (52 in) in diameter and weighed 229.51 kg (506 lb) when it was unveiled on October 25, 1998, at Austin, Texas.
Largest Domain Ownership
According to NetNames Ltd., as of April 2000, the USA has over 11 million domains of the 15,719,462 that exist worldwide.
Largest Free Email Provider
MSN Hotmail is the world's largest free web-based e-mail service provider, with more than 110 million active subscribers as of January 2003. The Hotmail user base has grown more than 10 times since January 1998 – more than the world population has grown in the last fifty years – and on most days, the number of new people signing up for an account is greater than the number of babies born into the world!
Largest Indoor Amusement Park
The world's largest indoor amusement park is Galaxyland, located inside the West Edmonton Mall, Alberta, Canada. The park covers an area of 37,160 sq m (44,444 sq yd) and contains 30 skill games and 27 rides and attractions.
|
Human Body
Amazing Feats
Natural World
Technology
Arts/Media
Modern Society
Travel/Transportation
Sports/Games
|
