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Many of life's failure are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up. Thomas Edison

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provide her meat in the summer, and gather her food in the harvest. Proverbs 6:6-8

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105 NLT

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world-- our faith. 1 John 5:4 NASB

Engineers have created a battery-free communication technique that repurposes wireless signals that already surround us. This new wireless communication system seems like "magic," since it "provides connectivity between computers out of what is essentially thin air." It takes us a step closer to an Internet of Things reality as it lets devices talk to each other without relying on batteries or wires for power. Instead, it taps into already existing ambient Wi-Fi, TV or cellular signals to exchange information. University of Washington researchers call it "ambient backscatter;" it's so revolutionary that when engineers presented their work [pdf] at the Association for Computing Machinery's Special Interest Group on Data Communication 2013 conference in Hong Kong, they won the "best paper" award.

Headphone maker SMS Audio’s Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson brand has launched the STREET by 50 over-ear wired headphones. They are built with Active Noise Canceling (ANC) technology to eliminate unwanted ambient noise anywhere, including on an airplane or other loud environments. Each side is equipped with 40 mm drivers inside soft leather memory foam ear cushions in between an adjustable headband, to deliver superior studio-grade audio while blocking outside noise, allowing users to enjoy music. Inside is a rechargeable (microUSB) lithium ion battery, good for 70 hours of ANC use. The headphones give you the option of turning off the noise canceling and will work (minus the ANC) if the battery loses its charge. The foldable headphones come with a removable cable with three-click microphone, soft touch cleaning cloth, micro USB charging cable, airplane adaptor and hard shell case for easy transport.

Microsoft has a vision for a world in which every surface is a Windows touchscreen. That became a whole lot closer to reality this week. A startup called Ubi Interactive is now selling $150 software that can turn any wall, desk, hand or screen into a 45-inch touchscreen. Just hook up a Microsoft Kinect sensor and a screen or projector, and the display will instantly gain touch-screen capabilities. Ubi's software can even support touchscreens of up to 100 inches, at a cost of $379 The software-Kinect combo senses when a finger touches a surface, allowing the user to click, drag, drop, scroll, and perform all the expected functions of a touchscreen. The selling point of Ubi's technology is that touchscreens are useful but incredibly expensive -- particularly large ones used in meeting spaces or in-store displays. But many businesses have projectors or televisions already set up in conference rooms. Those could soon become touchscreens by combining a Kinect, which costs $250...