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Atlas Gloves is a DIY (Do It Yourself) physical interface for controlling 3D mapping applications like Google Earth. With a pair of illuminating gloves, the user is able to fly above the world and zoom in and out, tilt, and rotate by doing various gestures. The technical implementation includes a small camera attached to a computer.

The open source Atlas Gloves application can be downloaded at the website and operated from home using a webcam and two self-made illuminating gloves. Check out how to build your own illuminating gloves and download the open source application.

Watch the demo video.

After reading the BBC article about the plans for YouTube to share is ad revenue with users, I recall a recent article I've read in Trend Watching about Generation Cash.

About three and a half years ago, they talked about a new trend arising, what they called Generation C(ontent). I think we now can all agree that they were right, and that it culminated with the Time's Person of Year: You issue.

Meanwhile, companies are earning a lot of money by aggregating one's content, so it's only fair to share part of the profit with the producers of the content.

GENERATION C(ONTENT) is joining GENERATION C(ASH). If consumers produce the content, if they are the content, and that content brings in money for aggregating brands, then revenue and profit-sharing is going to be one of 2007’s main themes in the online space. It’s not like brands will have a choice: talented consumers are going to be too sought after to remain satisfied with thank you notes. Get ready for an avalanche of revenue sharing deals, reward schemes and sumptuous gifts aimed at luring creative consumers.

YouTube rivals are already following the trend, and YouTube must stay a competetive player, so it was just a matter of time. Here is an image of the Generation C(ash) pioneers:

By the way, shouldn't we be talking about Fon also?

I'm developing my RoR skills on a daily basis, and I'm a member of the Portuguese Ruby Brigade, so I've a special interest on this amazing framework:

• RoR 1.2 is finally available, and you can learn more about it in this article on the official blog;
• Mário wrote an excelent article on RoR web servers evolution;
• There is a new book on the block, so I guess is time to use my CC again;
• Processing Credit Cards with Ruby on Rails</ul>

  If you want to know more about RoR, take a visit to the official website.

Last night Apple released his Q1 2007 financial results. The numbers are huge (7 billion USD in revenue, 1 billion of net profit), and are a company record.

Please bare in mind the fiscal year is different from the regular year: Q1 2007 is the time period between the 1st of October and the 31th of December 2006, so it includes Christmas 2006. In this quarter, Apple sold more than 21 million iPods, and more than 1.6 million Macs.

When I saw (and wrote about) the Gapminder presentation, I found TED. And it changed my life. So, what is TED?