The OP's link is from Dec 27, 2007, while this link is from Aug 2007.

The actual presentation from 24C3 is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lywXCZogsg

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I actually worked in the lab with Louis' team this past summer (completely unrelated projects.)

If the wind was going faster than a couple miles per hour, they couldn't even turn their prototype on to run their tests. I think the biggest problem they're having with going big-picture with this is doing the due-diligence to prove it's not a tornado machine.

Say more about "couldn't even turn [it] on"? Because it didn't work then (not a good sign)? Or because they, or somebody, thought the vortex would detach and go rogue?

It was less of an immediate safety concern and more a case of trying to limit the variables. They were only doing tests under ideal conditions, rather than testing in all conditions. I imagine the plan involves testing in all conditions eventually, but they need to fine-tune their equipment in ideal conditions to make sure they know what "good" and "bad" look like before potentially feeding some atmospheric action that they didn't anticipate.

How about doing it somewhere remote? Say, on a remote pacific island with no inhabitants? Or is there even the fear that it could emit a hurricane (which would probably happen anyways, but if it's your machine that starts it, all (media) hell breaks loose)?

Hi Matt,

It looks great. I really like that there are simple answers (yes/no!)

I wish there were a notification system, though. Like an option for "If I haven't made a report by ?pm, send me an email to remind me."

Or "If I haven't made a report for x number of hours, remind me."

Maybe implement it as an opt-in and opt-out list that's stored separately, so that your server doesn't have to poll every single account all the time.

The hardest part I have of tracking is remembering to track, and that would really help.

That's a great idea -- thanks!

For now, try just getting through the first few days. After that it becomes more of a habit and you're less likely to forget. A sticky note can help too :)

I actually set Google Calendar to send me an email at 6pm every day to update the tracker.

But I'd rather it didn't send me an email if I'd already updated.