Technology prizes are nothing new, but they tend to be focused
on specific issues like space travel or security flaws. The
upcoming Longitude Prize, funded by the Nesta charity and the UK
government, will be a little more... ambitious. The duo is
promising a £10 million ($17 million) reward for the best
solution to one of six greater challenges that humanity faces
today, such as developing eco-friendly flight or giving
independence to the paralyzed. While the winning entry will have
to help the British economy in some way, this is otherwise a
truly global competition; anyone can enter, and the end result
will ideally help the world at large.  And unlike many such
challenges, you'll get a say. Longitude's committee is opening
up voting to the public between May 22nd and June 25th, so
there's a real chance that your preferred cause will get the
nod. Whether or not your pick wins, the prize may help foster
interest in technology as a humanitarian tool -- there's a
chance that everyone will benefit in the long ru