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06 January 2007, 15:59
Hydropolis Underwater Hotel. Underwater luxury hotel.
Underwater luxury hotel
Currently under construction in Dubai, Hydropolis is the world's first luxury underwater hotel. It will include three elements: the land station, where guests will be welcomed, the connecting tunnel, which will transport people by train to the main area of the hotel, and the 220 suites within the submarine leisure complex. It is one of the largest contemporary construction projects in the world, covering an area of 260 hectares, about the size of London's Hyde Park.
"Hydropolis is not a project; it's a passion," enthuses Joachim Hauser, the developer and designer of the hotel. His futuristic vision is about to take shape 20m below the surface of the Arabian Gulf, just off the Jumeirah Beach coastline in Dubai. The ВЈ300 million, 220-suite hotel is due to open at the end of 2007 and will incorporate a host of innovations that will take it far beyond the original blueprint for an underwater complex worthy of Jules Verne.
Dubai is about to gain the first underwater luxury hotel in the world. The project, called Hydropolis, will cost more than half billion dollars and it represents the desire of General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prince of Dubai. There are only a few locations in the world where such a grandiose dream could be realised. A high proportion of today's architectural marvels are materialising like fanciful mirages from the desert sands. We have come to expect extravagant enterprises to be mounted in the Middle East, and especially in Dubai. "This venture could only be born here in Dubai," says Hauser. "It [has] a very open-minded, international community - and that's what makes it so special."
There are more than 150 companies involved in the project, and the hotel will have three main parts: the land station where guests will arrive, the connection tunnel and the main area of the hotel. Inside the building you will find 220 suites, a high tech cinema, restaurants, an entertainment park and a lot of attractions inspired by the sea. The land on which Hydropolis is being built belongs to His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai. It was his last free beach property on this stretch of coast. The project is a fantastic one, yet Sheikh Mohammed's success record with comparable schemes instils confidence that science fiction can become fact. With his support, several companies have been formed to kick-start this phenomenal project, and around 150 firms are currently involved.
"There have been many visions of colonising the sea - Jules Verne, Jean Gusto and several Japanese architects - but no one has ever managed to realise this dream," says Hauser. "That was the most challenging factor, and that's what makes it so fascinating. Despite being a dream of mankind for centuries, nobody has ever been able to make living underwater possible."
UNDERWATER HOTEL DESIGN
The original idea for Hydropolis developed out of Hauser's passion for water and the sea, and goes much deeper than just building a hotel underwater. More than just curiosity, it is a commitment to a more far-reaching philosophy. "Once you start digging deeper and deeper into the subject, you can't help being fascinated and you start caring about all the associated issues," he explains. "Humans consist of 80% water, the earth consists of 80% water; without water there is no life."
The designer of the hotel is called Joachim Hauser, and here is a quote of his description about the project: “My general plan was to create a living space in the sea. My initial proposal was a deep-sea project, which looked very different. I had to adjust to the local reality of the natural surroundings and change to a shallow water construction. We want to create the first ever faculty for marine architecture because I believe that the future lies in the sea, including the future of city planning. I am certain that one day a whole city will be built in the sea. Our aim is to lay the first mosaic by colonising the sea.” Hydropolis reproduces the human organism in an architectural design. There is a direct analogy between the physiology of man and the architecture. The geometrical element is a figure eight lying on its side and inscribed in a circle. The spaces created in the basin will contain function areas, such as restaurants, bars, meeting rooms and theme suites. These can be compared to the components of the human organism: the motor functions and the nervous and cardiovascular systems, with the central sinus knot representing the pulse of all life.
The ballroom, located at this nerve centre, will have asymmetrical pathways connecting the different storeys along ramps. A large, petal-like retracting roof will enable the staging of open-sky events. Staircases, lifts and ramps will provide access to the ballroom, while flanking catering areas will supply banquets and receptions.
HYDROPOLIS LAND STATION
In order to enter this surreal space, visitors will begin at the land station. This 120m woven, semicircular cylinder will arch over a multi-storey building. On the lowest level passengers board a noiseless train propelled by fully automated cable along a modular, self-supporting steel guideway to Hydropolis. A just-in-time and on-demand logistical system will facilitate efficient supply of goods to the hotel.
People involved with the project consider it to be much more than a hotel. Apart from the hotel guests they are expecting to receive around 3000 daily visitors. The interesting part is that if the project will turn out successful there are plans to create a branch of underwater hotels around the world. Should Hilton be worried? The upper storeys of the land station house a variety of facilities, including a cosmetic surgical clinic, a marine biological research laboratory and conference facilities. On the lower levels are the staff rooms, goods storage and loading areas, and hotel and parking areas.
The land station also includes a restaurant and high-tech cinema screening the evolution of life in the ocean and the history of underwater architecture. As a finale, the screen will open to reveal the real-life Hydropolis. A viewing platform at the front opening of the spanning roof will allow views of the architecture as well as the light shows of Hydropolis.
MARINE ARCHITECTURE
This structure promises to be a conceptual as well as a physical landmark. While human beings accept the existence of water, we have only a superficial appreciation of its significance. "We waste it, go swimming in it and generally take it for granted," says Hauser. "Humans could actually live self-sufficiently underwater, generating energy, nurturing food supplies and so on. This is why we are starting a foundation to demonstrate something of the importance of water in our lives.
"My general plan was to create a living space in the sea. My initial proposal was a deep-sea project, which looked very different. I had to adjust to the local reality of the natural surroundings and change to a shallow water construction.
"We want to create the first ever faculty for marine architecture because I believe that the future lies in the sea, including the future of city planning. I am certain that one day a whole city will be built in the sea. Our aim is to lay the first mosaic by colonising the sea."
Hauser plans to incorporate many different elements associated with the sea. The cosmetics will be ocean-based, the cinemas will screen films that focus on aquatic themes and a children's seaworld will educate as well as entertain.
He views his creation as a place where those who do not dive - or do not even swim - can experience the tranquillity and inspiration of the underwater world. "We are expecting around 3,000 visitors per day in addition to the hotel guests. The aim is to inspire people to develop a new awareness of the sea."
As well as emphasising the positive aspects of water, Hauser also believes we are systematically destroying marine life, and thus wishes to draw attention to various dangers and problems, such as the loss of algae and the destruction of the coral reefs.
FUNDING AND DEVELOPMENT
Dreams, however fabulous, remain unfulfilled without the cash to support the commitment. "The hardest part of the process was finding sponsorship to the tune of €550 million," admits Hauser. "That's what brought me to Dubai. Still, it was a battle which took two-and-a-half years and proved tougher than developing the project itself. No bank would pay such an amount. It's a risky investment, as there are no pilots. We had to convince investors that it is safe and will bring returns on investment."
With official blessing, the Dubai Development & Investment Authority (DDIA) established a framework to handle grants and authorisations. Once the financial backing was guaranteed, the sonar analysis of the seabed complete and 7,000 anchors in place, construction began in summer 2005.
"We are sure that this hotel will set a precedent," says Hauser. "Crescent-Hydropolis is now planning a chain of underwater hotels, and nine countries have shown interest. Some will be the realisation of my initial deep-sea design." Hauser has even chosen to make his permanent home in Dubai. "And that won't change after the project [is finished], regardless of where our next project will be. The infrastructure is exceptionally good here - and it seldom rains!"
KEY PLAYERS
Crescent Hydropolis Holdings LLC were the original intellectual property rights developer and are acting as the project developers, with SIBC Industrial Building Consultants as the global project managers.
Consultation has come from Q3A+D Limited as architecture and design consultants and Siemens I&S IS Facility & Systems Engineering as the technical engineering consultants. OSTSEE-KONTOR GmbH are providing the marine and naval surveying services.
Design, architecture and interior scenery is being provided by 3-Deluxe System Modern GmbH. The underwater foundation, tunnel and access way will be the work of DCN Duik Combinatie Nederland B.V.
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05 January 2007, 14:42
iTheater Video Glasses.
The end of painful entertainment has arrived!
Virtual Realities is pleased to introduce the i-Theater, a completely new concept in head-worn personal displays. Featuring 230,000 pixel resolution in a truly lightweight design, this personal video display offers big pictures on-the-go in a compact AV unit.
 Lightweight and comfortable, the iTheater system lets you enjoy big-screen movies on the go. These are also great for watching movies or video games at home when you don't want to disturb others. HMDs (Head Mounted Displays) are perfect for the dentist's office as well, enabling you to keep your customers happy while in the chair.
The Mikimoto Beans i-Theater, paired with your iPod, is the perfect portable theater for watching your newly purchased TV shows and movies on the go. Airplanes, buses, your corner office--all can be enhanced courtesy of a roving home theater. The iTheater represents the next big move in personal entertainment technology. Watch your videos in complete privacy and at the equivalent of viewing a 50" big screen from eight and a half feet (230,000 pixel resolution). Move your head and arms comfortably as you finally get to enjoy your portable movies.
The i-Theater weighs less than 3oz (78g) and features dual-QVGA TFT screens that give the wearer the experience of a 50" plasma screen. The i-Theater features integrated stereo headphones and runs for more than six hours on a single charge. Weighing just 3.5 ounces, the i-Theater features a sleek, ergonomically comfortable and lightweight design. But don't let the small package fool you. All the necessary electronics and optics have been integrated into this compact, stylish, video-eyewear product. The i-Theater is a completely mobile video system that delivers a crisp, vivid-color, QVGA resolution (320 x 240) video image which is equivalent to a 50 inch video screen viewed from a distance of 8.5 feet. The full-screen image is compressed into two of the industry's smallest light-transmitting LCDs (liquid crystal displays), by means of award-winning technology, protected by more than 200 global patents.
Features: Display: LCD display x 2 Video signal: NTSC / PAL / SECAM Resolution: 230K pixels (320 x 240 x 3) Viewing angle: 25 degrees (diagonal ) Image size: 2.5m at 50" screen Power: AA battery x 2 or adapter Adaptor output: 4.5V DC Power consumption: 450mW Battery duration: 8-10 hours, Lithium battery Net weight: 68g The total net weight is only 68g. It is easy to connect with any VCR, DVD players, camcorder or any other video source to enjoy your movie successfully...To enjoy outstanding video and audio quality, simply install the 2 AA batteries and plug into your favorite video source (DVD, VCR, Game Console) with the included RCA cables. You can even connect it to the new Video iPod with an optional cable.
The end of painful entertainment has arrived! The i-Theater integrates all the video eyewear functions into one rugged, low-power, plug-and-play module. The system's binocular display module (BDM) includes two video displays, backlights, drive electronics, and a pair of 24-degree field-of-view optics with large eye relief (20 mm) and pupil size (10 mm). The displays are precisely aligned to the optics and to each other for viewing comfort, and the package is designed to maintain alignment during use. Its low power consumption allows for long battery-powered viewing time (up to eight hours from 2 AA batteries).
If the person you're buying a gift for already has an iPod (and who doesn't...) this is the perfect compliment. The combination of video microdisplays, adapters, surround-sound stereo and battery pack, make it ideal for consumers to privately view theater-quality video, photos and websites from small mobile devices such as cell phones, photo iPods, portable DVD players, and personal multimedia players. This small unit is proof that the mobile video revolution has begun and will change the way information and entertainment is delivered to people, wherever they go.
Note: iPod cable now standard with the iTheater!
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04 January 2007, 15:13
Russian Rocket (SL-4) Comes Down Over Wyo (NORAD said).
A spent Russian booster rocket re-entered the atmosphere Thursday over Colorado and Wyoming
 North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is a joint organization of the United States and Canada which provides aerospace warning and control for North America. It was founded on May 12, 1958, as the North American Air Defense Command. Since 1963, NORAD's main technical facility has been the Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center in Colorado, and for this reason NORAD is sometimes unofficially referred to as Cheyenne Mountain. A spent Russian booster rocket re-entered the atmosphere Thursday over Colorado and Wyoming, the North American Aerospace Defense Command said.
NORAD's main facilities in Colorado are administered by the U.S. Air Force under the command of the 721st Mission Support Group, part of the 21st Space Wing, headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base. Eyewitnesses reported seeing flaming objects in the sky at the time the rocket was re-entering, NORAD spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Sean Kelly said.
 "It was pretty spectacular," said Riverton Police Capt. Mark Stone, who said he saw the burning object while he was retrieving his newspaper. "My first concern is that we had some sort of aircraft that was coming down. It was definitely leaving a burning debris trail behind it."
At the end of the Cold War NORAD reassessed its mission. To avoid cutbacks, from 1989 NORAD operations expanded to cover counter-drug operations, especially the tracking of small aircraft. But the DEW line sites were still replaced, in a scaled-back fashion by the North Warning System radars between 1986 and 1995. The Cheyenne Mountain site was also upgraded. However, none of the proposed OTH-B radars are currently in operation. Stone said he could tell it was fairly large object, but it was too high to make out exactly what it was.
After September 11, the NORAD mission evolved to include monitoring of all aircraft flying in the interior of the United States. NORAD oversees Operation Noble Eagle using fighter aircraft Combat Air Patrols (CAP) under command of First Air Force and Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) E-3 Sentry aircraft under command of the 552nd Air Control Wing. At U.S. request, NATO deployed five of its NATO AWACS aircraft to the U.S. to help NORAD in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. Kelly said the agency was unable to confirm a report that a piece of the rocket may have hit the ground near Riverton, Wyo., at about 6 a.m. MST.
The Commander of NORAD is always American and simultaneously heads USNORTHCOM, while the Deputy Commander is Canadian. No damage was reported, and any debris that may have hit the ground was not believed to be hazardous, NORAD said.
NORAD comes to public attention at Christmas, when it tracks Santa Claus on his journey around the world delivering toys for the world's children. 2005 marked the 50th time of NORAD tracking Santa. NORAD identified the rocket as an SL-4 that had been used to launch a French space telescope in December, and Kelly said U.S. spacewatchers knew the rocket was coming down.
"Objects falling from space are almost an everyday occurrence," Kelly said.
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