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    The Future Is Now

    • Baseball’s Jerry Hairston, Jr trains with high tech fitness gear

      By Marc Istook | The Future Is Now – Thu, Mar 15, 2012

      "This is not your father's gym."

      I said those words during my interview with Mark Verstegen, the physical fitness guru behind Athletes' Performance.  His dream of combining technology and training is alive and well, not just in his Phoenix workout facility, but also on NFL, Major League Baseball and Olympic playing fields all over the world.  The athletes he trains are the best of the best, and their performance gains highlight the power of modern technology.

      The trainers at AP will readily admit that there's no substitute for hard work.  But what they're preaching is that the best hard work is also the most efficient work.  And that's where modern science and technology can make the biggest difference.  By combining today's knowledge of biology, physics, nutrition and computer programming, AP is helping make modern athletes stronger, faster and healthier than ever.

      Marc Istook tries some tech

      The gym at AP is almost like a factory.  Every inch of space seems dedicated to some specific function, whether that's

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    • Man and Metal: Tristan Shone and the future of music.

      By Marc Istook | The Future Is Now – Thu, Mar 8, 2012

      When I hear the term "digital music," I'm first reminded of the music stored in iTunes or on my iPhone.  But it's a term that means much more than just mp3s and white-corded headphones.

      Enter Tristan Shone, the subject of this week's episode of "The Future is Now." Tristan is part of a new wave of musicians.  While they might not play traditional instruments like guitars or pianos, they know good music.  And they're using modern technology and digital tools to create music in ways we've never heard before.

      [Hey Tweeters!  Like this video?  Here's a short code: http://yhoo.it/yjDhWg Don't understand what that last sentence meant?  Go find a neighborhood kid and ask them.  Orrrr...you could click here.]

      Tristan Shone, Author & Punisher

      If this story were just about Tristan's day job, it'd be fascinating. He's responsible for restoring and upgrading massive, million-dollar microscopes. It's ironic, machines this huge that are designed to help us see objects that are so small.  In the lab, Tristan uses advanced

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    • ZBoard, spnKiX and Solowheel: New high tech people movers

      By Marc Istook | The Future Is Now – Wed, Feb 29, 2012

      Too far to walk, too close to drive.  That's the theme of the technology we're showcasing on this week's episode of The Future Is Now.  First off, full disclosure.  When I first heard the idea, I thought to myself, "Isn't that what bicycles and scooters are for?  Or feet?"  But after seeing the cool, modern motorized technology we found, I hope you'll agree that it's time to ditch the bicycle, car keys and never-ending search for parking spots in favor of one of these three high-tech electric people movers.

      [Hey Tweeters!  Like this video?  Here's a short code: http://yhoo.it/yR99nv Don't understand what that last sentence meant?  Go find a neighborhood kid and ask them.  Orrrr...you could click here.]

      Let's start with the ZBoard — a weight-sensing electric skateboard.  Now, this isn't the first attempt at putting a battery-powered motor on a skateboard, but modern, lightweight battery technology has come a long way in recent years. That tech allows the ZBoard to hit 17 mph in the Pro

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    ABOUT THE FUTURE IS NOW

    "The Future is Now" gives us a front row seat on the future of untapped innovation. In this eight episode series, "The Future is Now" will focus on the "wow factor" of innovation in the areas of design, performance and technology.

    ABOUT MARC ISTOOK: Marc Istook's fascination with technology began at a young age. Playing Microsoft Flight Simulator on his family's IBM PC Jr. and editing videos between two home VCRs (this was the 80s, folks) fueled his love of gadgets and the technology that powers them. And although writing a program to play blackjack on his high school TI-85 calculator won him no social status, it did lead to a productive adulthood wasting sleepless nights wiring his home for surround sound and configuring wireless routers. When not working as a TV host and journalist, he can be found exploring the ever-growing world of social media on his iPhone. And he wants his mother to know that he no longer Tweets while driving.

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