Video: Civilisation types

In this lecture, theoretical physicist Dr. Michio Kaku talks about the types of civilisation. A Type 1 civilisation would correspond to a Buck Rogers type civilisation, type 2 which would correspond to a Star Trek type civilisation, and type 3 which would correspond to a Star Wars type civilisation (specifically The Empire).

Apparently we are currently a Type 0 Civilisation, but transitioning towards a Type 1 civilisation, and according to current calculations we will reach Type 1 in approximately 100 years, but that this transition from Type 0 to Type 1 is also the most dangerous phase and that some people fear this transition. More details are in the video itself.

Video: Why batteries are primitive

This is an interesting video I found on batteries. In this video, the theoretical physicist Dr. Michio Kaku explains why current battery technology is primitive, that today's batteries have far less energy per kilogram compared to petrol. The future possibilities look very interesting indeed - including using lots of carbon nanofibres or graphenes (a graphene sheet is a 2-dimensional layer of carbon atoms) to increase storage capacity dramatically, once nanotechnology matures of course.

What a UK metric road signs changeover could look like

We have explained the need to go metric, to have metric road signs, and have given many examples of what metric road signs would look like. I also believe metrication is a good time to have a look at signage improvements including clutter removal.  I do not plan on going into too much detail about the changeover, as metrication and road signs have been rather overdone (on this blog). But I do intend on looking at the key points.

Could sign colours (motorway, primary route, local route, roadworks) be standardised?

Anyone who has driven through Europe will have noticed that the road sign colours are not uniform for motorways, primary routes, non-primary / local routes, and roadworks signs. The differences are explained in more detail here. Could the colours for these signs be standardised in Europe, if not worldwide? Even though there is no safety issue from leaving things as they are, the purpose of this article is to start a discussion.

More thoughts on tunnel signage and tunnel safety

In this article, I give more thoughts on tunnel signage as well as tunnel safety.  For me, metrication is a big must, and the only thing really needed, as well as ensuring the signs are as clutter free as possible, and which respect international standards, specifically SI (metric system) and the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals.

More signage suggestions and why the UK should properly implement the Vienna Convention

In my previous articles, I have given my thoughts and ideas on possible signage improvements, the aim being to remove clutter and make the signs clearer, more symbolic, and language independent, as well as what British metric signage might (and in my opinion should) look like. This is because metrication and the conversion to 24 hour time would be an ideal time to rationalise road signs, not to do so would be a missed opportunity. But I also believe strongly that the UK should implement properly the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals that the UK already signed up to.

In this article, I give more signage suggestions that (hopefully) are compliant to the Vienna Convention, and that respects the standards including SI, and using 24 hour time format.

No overtaking signage: Metrication and other suggestions

In this article I share my thoughts on "No overtaking signage".  Not much needs to be done, except for metrication, making the supplementary plates more symbolic, and given the sign means no overtaking already, then perhaps remove the supplementary plate "No overtaking" (and thus eliminate the need to translate for bilingual signs too).

Suggestions for crawler lane signage

In this article, I will share with you the thoughts I have had on crawler lane signage, in particular how crawler lane signage can be made language independent. This article shows three different approaches, one is to modify the existing sign and graphic of the crawler lane sign, or alternatively one can use speed limit by lane, or mass limit by lane (and the lane without the speed limit or mass limit would be the crawler lane by implication).

These suggestions are described and illustrated in more detail in this article.

Signage improvements: Turn signs for One Way and Dual Carriageways revisited

Following the feedback and comments I have received on a previous article, "Signage improvements for mandatory direction and turn signs", and having thought about this some more, I have had some more thoughts and alternative ideas for the turn signs, one way roads, and dual carriageways.

Motorroads / Expressroads / Expressways and making Dual carriageway ahead symbolic

Following feedback received for "Improvements for UK speed related signs", especially for the Motorroad / Expressroad part, and having had more thoughts about this topic, I decided to revisit Motorroads / Expressroads. And on a loosely related note, I also believe that all of the wordy "Dual carriageway ahead" signs should be replaced with symbolic equivalents, whether or not the dual carriageway in question is a motorroad / expressroad.

Poll Result: Should the UK change to a different time zone?

poll by twiigs.com

If the UK joins Schengen

Ever travelled from France to Germany, from Switzerland to Norway, or from Spain to Italy? Those of you who have, will have noticed that there are no border controls and no waiting at passport control, whether one travels by air, road, rail or sea. This is because these countries and several other countries (to be precise 22 EU countries, plus Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland) have implemented the Schengen Agreement fully, which includes the abolition of passport controls, although one still needs to bring identification when travelling. Contrary to popular myth, states do not need to have ID cards to implement the Schengen Agreement, passports can still be used as ID, and photo-card driving licenses ought to be accepted as ID too.

The UK on CET debate

I had hoped to post this article when the news was current, but was unfortunately extremely busy, and had little to no time recently. Nonetheless, in this article, I give my take on the debate regarding moving Greenwich Meridian Time (GMT) and British Summer Time (BST) an hour forward respectively, so that the UK would in effect use Central European Time (CET) in winter, and Central European Summer Time (CEST) in summer.

GMT (also known as Western European Time or WET) and UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) are identical for practical purposes, the difference is negligible (only a fraction of a second), and the same applies for BST (also known as Western European Summer Time or WEST) and GMT+1. Similarly, CET can be regarded as equivalent to UTC+1, and CEST as equivalent to UTC+2 for practical purposes.

Throughout this article, I will be referring to UTC only to avoid ambiguity, and because UTC (not GMT) has been the main reference for time worldwide since 1972.  Having said that, one can still use GMT as a synonym for UTC, BST as a synonym for UTC+1, etc.

US-style mega-dairy plans are withdrawn

On the 16th Februrary 2010 there was some great and welcome news, plans for the US-style megadairy in Nocton, 10 km south of Lincoln in Lincolnshire, had been withdrawn.  The animal rights and environmental campaign groups have done a great job, and so has everyone who supported the campaign against this mega-dairy.  However, I believe it is not over yet, as the corporation behind the proposed factory farm still owns the land.  The root cause of the problems facing UK dairy farmers, especially small and family farmers not paid a fair price at the farm gate, also needs to be addressed.

Signage improvements: Diversion and advisory routes

This article suggests changes (and new signage) to modify and improve diversion and advisory route signage, by making them wholly symbolic and language independent as well as metric, which can benefit safety by making the signs easier to read at a glance.  Of course the bare minimum is to leave the designs as is and just metricate. 

I believe however that we can do better, and make the signage more symbolic at the same time, where applicable.  As with all the previous articles in the "Signage improvements" series, examples are given in this article as well. Also stated in this article is where changes are not required, for example recommended lorry routes, many diversion signs, and many signs showing routes avoiding restrictions (such as no left turn), do not require change.

Poll Result: When will the UK be prepared for snow?

poll by twiigs.com

The state of football

This article has been written to share with everyone my disillusionment with football (or soccer to those from the United States) in general, especially the football in England, and to look at suggestions to improve the game, in particular the suggestions in the Guardian series Blueprint for a better football.

Metrication is not because of EU membership

Even though this topic has been done a lot already it is worth re-iterating. Many people in the UK believe that metrication in the UK is a result of UK membership of the European Union (EU), and believe this often repeated lie unquestioningly. The truth is that the UK began its metrication programme in 1965, long before the UK joined the predecessor of the EU, the European Economic Community (EEC), in 1973.  Furthermore, the EU itself was not even created until 1992.

Video: Future by design

I just came across this video, and thought this is worth sharing.

This documentary is called "Future by design" and looks at the life and designs of futurist, inventor, and architectural designer Jacque Fresco, along with his vision for the future which suggests using automation and technology to benefit people, a high standard of living for all, and no more warfare amongst other things.