New and Emerging Technology News part 129 ~ NEW GEN TECH LIFE : new generation technology news

Friday 31 January 2014

New and Emerging Technology News part 129

How a future 'floating city' might look thanks to technology developed in the FLOATEC proj...
Venice may soon be sharing its “Floating City” moniker thanks to a research project developing “amphibian houses” that are designed to float in the event of a flood. The FLOATEC project sees the primary market for the houses as the Netherlands, whose low-lying land makes it particularly susceptible to the effects of rising sea levels. Such housing technology could also allow small island-states in the Indian and Pacific Oceans that are at the risk of disappearing in the next 100 years to maintain their claim to statehood through the use of artificial, floating structures.  Read More
Samsung has announced three new additions to its Wave line of smartphones, the Wave 3 (pic...
Among the many smartphones being introduced to the public at IFA 2011 are three additions to Samsung’s Wave family – namely the Wave 3, Wave M and Wave Y. All three phones use the company’s new bada 2.0 platform, which according to Samsung “brings together a wide variety of new capabilities including multi-tasking, Wi-Fi Direct, voice recognition and Near Field Communication (optional).” The platform is also said to allow for photo and file sharing without internet networking, mobile payments and transport pass-card recharge.  Read More
Toshiba 55ZL2 - 55-inch, glasses-free 3D TV
Toshiba has taken the wraps off a 55-inch, 16:9 ratio LED backlit TV with glasses free 3D capability and Quad Full HD resolution. That's a massive 3,840 x 2,160 pixels, or in other words, four times as many pixels as a 1920 x 1080p TV. We've just checked out the Toshiba 55ZL2 on the floor at IFA and the consensus is that it looks great.  Read More
Volkswagen's NILS - a single-seater electric sportscar for the road
Volkswagen has once more produced a minimalist and frugal commuter vehicle for its home auto show in Frankfurt, and this one has us quite excited. NILS is an F1-inspired single-seat electric concept with an aluminum space frame, gull-wing doors and thanks to its extreme light weight (460 kg), small frontal area, it offers sports car performance at speeds up to 130 km/h from a small 25kW electric motor. The electric motor's 130 Nm of torque offers rapid acceleration and although the range is limited to just 65 kilometers (40 miles), it recharges from empty in just two hours from a conventional 230-volt electrical outlet.  Read More
Pogoplug's Daniel Putterman talks to Gizmag about the new Pogoplug Mobile device at IFA 20...
San Francisco's Cloud Engines has announced its first mobile-focused device at IFA 2011. Pogoplug Mobile will allow users to securely stream entire libraries of digital content from connected storage in their homes to their Android or iOS mobile phone and tablet, without having to worry about bothersome monthly fees or storage limits. It will also cater for private sharing of media with family and friends and could well be the perfect companion for Amazon's Cloud Drive and Player or Apple's upcoming iCloud service. Gizmag caught up with Pogoplug's Daniel Putterman in Berlin for a quick look at what's on offer...  Read More
Samsung has launched the Series 7 CHRONOS notebook at IFA 2011 - with super fast startup, ...
No doubt looking to capitalize on the success of its gorgeous Series 9 notebook, Samsung has unveiled two Series 7 CHRONOS premium notebooks at IFA 2011. Thanks to something Samsung has dubbed MAX screen technology, the company has managed to squeeze 15- and 15.6-inch screens into frame sizes normally reserved for 14- and 15-inch notebooks. Both models will come with an Intel Core i7 processor, a spacious 750GB HDD and 8GB of DDR3 system memory. There's also some extra flash memory on the motherboard that's said to result in faster startup times and enhanced performance.  Read More
Ford's Evos Concept
Ford's Evos may only be a concept car but with its four scissor doors reaching skyward to the heavens, it is both the most distinctive and important concept from Ford in many a year. The Evos is the first manifestation of the Blue Oval's "first truly global design language," a visual signature that Ford hopes will make its next generation of vehicles more recognizable than the current fleet. The plug-in hybrid will debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show two weeks from now and previews not just the new family resemblance, but the intuitive "cloud connected" functionality Ford will infuse into the next generation of vehicles.  Read More
Samsung's MultiView MV800 compact camera was announced today at IFA
A new compact point-and-shoot camera with a 3-inch flip-out LCD screen is among a barrage of products just showcased at Samsung's IFA 2011 press conference in Berlin. The 16.2 megapixel MV800 gets the "MultiView" tag due to its 3.0-inch wide flip-out capacitive touch screen LCD Display, which is hinged at the top of the unit so that it can tilted up or down to add versatility to shooting and help you line-up self portraits.  Read More
Carbon nanotube-reinforced polyurethane could make for lighter and more durable wind turbi...
In the effort to capture more energy from the wind, the blades of wind turbines have become bigger and bigger to the point where the diameter of the rotors can be over 100 m (328 ft). Although larger blades cover a larger area, they are also heavier, which means more wind is needed to turn the rotor. The ideal combination would be blades that are not only bigger, but also lighter and more durable. A researcher at Case Western Reserve University has built a prototype blade from materials that could provide just such a winning combination.  Read More
The Samsung Galaxy S II models coming to Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile
Having already launched in many world markets, Samsung has now unveiled the Samsung Galaxy S II models that are destined for U.S. carriers from September. The company’s flagship smartphone will come in three slightly different flavors through Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile, with all running Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) with Samsung’s TouchWiz 4.0 UI and packing a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and Super AMOLED Plus touch screen display in a slim form factor. Although Samsung has revealed an LTE version is on the way, the three phones initially on offer will use HSPA+ (AT&T and T-Mobile) and WiMAX (Sprint) for 4G connectivity.  Read More

UrbanTiles making a dramatic effect on a city's landscape
Each and every day, the sun showers our cities in solar energy. Every night, our cities emit light so bright that they can be seen from space. An industrial designer from the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem, Israel, has designed a concept device called the UrbanTile that would harness the solar energy city buildings absorb during the day for their lighting needs at night. The UrbanTile is a small solar panel that can be flipped to reveal a light emitting screen. Banded together into rows, the panels become a window blind that forms a light and entertainment display.  Read More
Philips has introduced a new handheld dental care product that  dislodges interdental plaq...
Dental professionals inform us that cleaning between the teeth is essential to good tooth and gum health but regular flossing can be at best time consuming and at worst painful. Philips has introduced a new member to its Sonicare range of dental care products at IFA 2011 that dislodges interdental plaque and bacteria with rapid bursts of air and water. The cordless Sonicare AirFloss is about the same size as a standard electric toothbrush and features an angled nozzle with guidance tip for precision placement.  Read More
The miniature device (right) that fits inside a tube (left) and can then be inserted into ...
Some cancers, such as pancreatic and cervical cancers, are notoriously hypoxic, which means they contain low oxygen levels. Because radiation therapy needs oxygen to be effective, hypoxic areas of a tumor can be difficult to kill. To combat this, researchers at Purdue University have developed and tested a miniature electronic device that is designed to be implanted into solid tumors to generate oxygen and boost the effectiveness of radiation and chemotherapy treatments.  Read More
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 features a 1280 x 800 Super AMOLED Plus display
Only a couple of months after Samsung debuted its Galaxy Tab at IFA 2010 rumors were circulating that an AMOLED version may have been in the works. One year on from the official launch of the tablet, Samsung has unveiled just such a device at IFA 2011 in the form of the Galaxy Tab 7.7. As the name suggests, the Galaxy Tab 7.7 sports a 7.7-inch display (that’s 0.7-inches bigger than the original Galaxy Tab) and is the first tablet to feature a Super AMOLED Plus display, which boasts 1280 x 800 pixel resolution and promises brighter, higher-contrast viewing.  Read More
The smart forvision electric concept
Smart's iconic lightweight fortwo was such a natural for conversion to electric propulsion that it was one of the first zero emission cars with a badge recognizable by the general public. In essence, the electric smart changed little from the petrol-engined version apart from the drivetrain. Now it has teamed with chemical developer BASF to envisage the smart reconstructed with new materials for insulation, reflection, energy management and weight saving. The roof not only transmits light, it generates energy. smart says the end result of the forvision makeover is an increase in range of 20 percent with exactly the same powertrain.  Read More
The Boogie Board RIP eWriter that can save and export notes and images
It's only been a couple of months since Improv Electronics updated its range of Boogie Board eWriters but, like the original Boogie Board, these were criticized for not having the capability to save your digital doodles. Well, the company has finally addressed those concerns with the unveiling of the Boogie Board RIP tablet at IFA 2011. Standing for "Record Image Preserve," the RIP uses the same Reflex No Power LCD display technology found on previous models but adds the ability to save notes and drawings in PDF format to the device's internal memory for later uploading to a PC via USB.  Read More
Etymotic's HD-15 High-Definition electronic earplugs let users hear normally when things a...
If you work someplace where sudden loud noises frequently but intermittently occur, it can get kind of frustrating – you pretty much have to choose between protecting your hearing with ear plugs, or being able to hear what people are saying when it isn’t noisy. Your basic earplugs, unfortunately, don’t let you hear when things are quiet, but then activate when loud noises occur. Non-basic earplugs, however, do that very thing. Etymotic Research’s HD-15 High-Definition electronic earplugs contain tiny microphones, that instantaneously cause the plugs to block incoming sound waves when they detect noises over a given threshold. When the noise has ceased, the earplugs let the user hear normally again.  Read More
Metz has released its Primus 55 3D Media twin R television, which can convert 2D content t...
New models of televisions are certainly plentiful at IFA 2011, but one of the stand-outs so far has been the German-made Metz Primus 55 3D Media twin R ... evidently, they couldn't just call it something like the Trinitron. The long-named TV is able not only to show 3D content, but can also convert 2D content into 3D. Additionally, it has a built-in digital recorder, it can record to USB drives, and it can display film, photo and music files from an unlimited number of other digital devices in its users' home.  Read More
Toshiba Europe has just unveiled its 7 millimeter-thick Android 3.2 AT200 tablet
Toshiba Europe unveiled its latest multi-touch tablet today, the AT200. While the device has a backlit 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 HD screen, it is only 7 millimeters thick, and weighs in at just 558 grams (19.7 oz). It runs on Android 3.2 (Honeycomb), and offers micro-USB, micro-SD, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. It also has a micro-HDMI port (which allows it to stream HD content to a separate television set), 5- and 2-megapixel rear and front HD cameras, a 1.2GHz TI OMAP 4430 CPU, and 1 GB of RAM. Besides its thin profile, however, one of the distinguishing features of the AT200 is its audio playback capabilities.  Read More
The Galaxy Note next to Tim's Galaxy S II
Samsung showed its new Note smartphone today at IFA, just 12 months after it showed the Galaxy Tab to great acclaim, and when history judges the 5.3” supersized smartphone it just might play a much greater role in the development of the personal computer form factor. The incorporation of a stylus and the 1280×800 high-resolution Super AMOLED screen give the thin android phone additional functionality by way of both sketching and note-taking and when Gizmag's Tim Hanlon tried the phone with its 1.4GHz dual-core processor, he's now thinking of trading in his Galaxy SII. “I'm sold” reported Tim from Berlin.  Read More
 
The Wikitude Drive augmented reality navigation app overlays directional markers on real-t...
Although many of us don't know how we ever managed without our car navigation systems, they are not without their flaws. For one thing, when that voice says "Turn left in 100 meters," you may find yourself looking out the windshield and wondering "Does that mean this left turn, or the one just past it?" The Wikitude Drive augmented reality navigation app is designed to address these problems, by overlaying directional arrows on real-time video of the road in front of you.  Read More
BMW and Husqvarna to show electric motorcycle concepts in Frankfurt
Two of the more intriguing concepts planned for the world's largest motor show (IAA) in Frankfurt a fortnight from now will come from BMW Motorrad and sister brand Husqvarna. Almost nothing about the concepts has been disclosed other than their existence and a few cryptic words in a press release which mention an e-mobility BMW Motorrad design study and "a new idea for individual single track mobility" from Husqvarna.  Read More
Citroen's Tubik
UPDATED: NEW IMAGES Yet another interesting mobility idea to be seen for the first time at the Frankfurt Motor Show is Citroen's Tubik concept - a high-tech, high-comfort, connected executive shuttle. The idea came from Citroen's Multicity project, an online routefinder portal that provides a door-to-destination transport solution using all available modes - car, train, bus, plane etc. In looking at the big picture, Citroen realised that something was missing - a vehicle was needed that was more than a taxi and more flexible than a limousine. The Citroen Tubik is that solution.  Read More
The Look 920 mountain bike features a handlebar stem that is integrated into the top tube,...
For many of us, the list of dream mountain bikes that we’ll never be able to afford just keeps growing. That said, quite a few of those bikes have a way of looking alike – after all, there are only so many variations on the basic upright bike frame that will stand up to off-road use. At this weekend’s Eurobike trade show in Germany, however, a pretty unique-looking full-suspension rig is making an appearance. It’s the Look 920, and as is the case with some high-end road bikes, its handlebar stem is integrated into the top tube.  Read More
Image courtesy Firefly Bioworks
Early disease detection can be a matter of life and death, especially if that disease is cancer. In a novel approach to this problem, researchers from MIT have engineeringed a series of ultra-microscopic particles, each designed to bind to a disease-specific type of microRNA - a genetic material which affects gene expression in the nucleus. In cancer cells, the microRNA has somehow malfunctioned, leading to rapid, unregulated cell growth that can ultimately form tumors.  Read More
The clear mouse embryo on the right was incubated in the Scale reagent for two weeks
Scientists are constantly looking for new and better ways of seeing through biological tissue, in order to see cells within it that have been marked with dyes, proteins or other substances. While recent research has involved using marking materials such as carbon nanotubes and firefly protein, scientists from Japan’s RIKEN Brain Science Institute have taken a different approach – they’ve developed a chemical reagent that causes the tissue surrounding the marked cells to become transparent.  Read More
Sennheiser's new RS 220 wireless headphones are said to offer sound quality similar to tha...
How many people out there like headphone cords? Probably not a great number, but audiophiles will tell you that hard-wired headphones offer far superior sound quality than their wireless counterparts. Sennheiser, however, would have us believe otherwise. The company states that thanks to its Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) technique, its new RS 220 wireless headphones sound like they’ve got a cord coming out of ‘em.  Read More
Miele's latest dryer utilizes heat gathered by rooftop solar-thermal collectors
At last year's IFA electronics trade show, Miele unveiled its SmartGrid-ready washer and dryer. Although they run off of regular mains power, these machines are also able to access the internet and determine when rates will be cheapest. Users indicate the time period in which the laundry must be washed or dried, the appliances choose the least expensive time within that period, then proceed to automatically start at that time. At IFA 2011, Miele has gone one better by unveiling what it describes as the world's first dryer to use the heat of the sun to get the wetness out of clothes.  Read More
Toshiba has announced a new 13.3-inch Ultrabook which is said to be the lightest in its cl...
Toshiba has made an impressive entry into the new Ultrabook arena with the 13.3-inch Portégé Z830 notebook. Claimed to be the lightest in its class, powered by a second generation Intel Core processor and featuring solid state storage, the new notebook is also more than capable of withstanding the odd bump on the road, with new internal structures and a honeycomb rib reinforced magnesium alloy casing.  Read More
Samsung unveiled the NX200 Interchangeable Lens Camera at IFA 2011
Samsung has really gone to town with noteworthy new product launches at IFA this year and the latest addition to its range of interchangeable lens cameras - the NX200 - is on that list. The NX200 gets a 20.3 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor (a significant jump on last years 14.6 megapixel NX100 model) along with an all-metal body, 7fps continuous shooting (with 100ms Advanced Auto Focus), 100- 12,800 ISO, video recording at 1920x1080/30p, a 3.0-inch VGA AMOLED display and a capability upgrade for its i-Function lens.  Read More

The softshelter housing solution for disaster relief situations (Image by Molo Design)
Canadian design firm Molo has created a cheap and comfortable housing innovation for disaster relief situations.. Dubbed "softshelter," the system has been designed to create personal space within in a communal shelter, thus providing individuals or families with some privacy during a time of hardship. The softshelter modules are made from 100 percent recycled materials designed for re-use over a long period if time. The flexible walls pack flat, suitable for fast and cost effective shipping, whilst in a matter of minutes the softwalls can be unpacked and expanded to create walls and rooms.  Read More
Acer has unveiled its first 13.3-inch Ultrabook at IFA 2011 - the Aspire S3, which we got ...
Acer has announced its first dip into the Ultrabook market at this year's IFA. A more obvious leaning towards the trend-setting MacBook Air design than Toshiba's Portégé Z830 notebook, the Aspire S3 will come with a choice of second generation Intel Core processors, either solid state or hybrid hard drive storage and promises an impressive battery life. We got up close and personal with the pre-production models on show in Berlin, but were left less than impressed.  Read More
The all-conquering smartphone seems headed for ubiquity
Over the last decade, mobile telephones have gone from being a rarity in most countries, to being carried by the vast majority of human beings. Now, according to new research, smartphone (which is actually a misnomer – it is actually a Very Personal Computer) sales will top a billion units a year by 2015 as the smartphone's share of phone shipments rockets from 15.8% in 2009, to 32.5% this year to 54.4% in 2015). Planet Earth only has 6.75 billion human inhabitants. If this trend continues, by the turn of the decade, the vast majority of human beings will be carrying a networked personal computer on their person at all times. We are undoubtedly living through a period of unprecedented change in human history.  Read More
Philips Cinema 21:9 Platinum series LED TV
Philips has been teasing us with the promise of the 58-inch 3D capable Platinum Series Cinema 21:9 TV since IFA 2010, but the company finally looks set to deliver. Showing off the new set at IFA 2011, Philips revealed plans to launch the cinema-proportioned TV in September. The Platinum series boasts an ultra-wide 21:9 (2.39:1) aspect ratio and 2,560 x 1080p pixel resolution panel.  Read More
Stem Innovation has developed a secure remote monitoring camera system capable of live str...
When I lived in what is generally described as an unsavory neighborhood, I had a device installed which would ring my mobile phone if the alarm sounded. Technology has moved on a tad since then with home monitoring options like this one from Florida-based Stem Innovation. The company has developed an app-controlled video camera called the iZON Remote Room Monitor that streams live video and audio to your iOS device when movement or sound is detected at home. The system can even send the recording direct to a private YouTube account for safe-keeping or sharing.  Read More
Pascal Chretien's prototype electric helicopter takes flight
It's easy to look back at the history of exploration and aviation and feel like there's no mountains left to climb, that the age of the great pioneers is behind us and we're doomed to a future of LCD tanning and monitor hypnosis. But don't try telling that to Pascal Chretien. On August 12, this electrical/aerospace engineer and helicopter pilot took to the air in the world's first untethered, fully electric manned helicopter flight in a prototype machine that he designed and built almost entirely by himself within a 12 month development period. In his 2 minute, 10 second test flight, Chretien beat aviation giant Sikorsky into the record books - but it was not without significant risk. As the man himself puts it: "in case of crash I stand good chances to end up in kebab form."  Read More
Sony Reader WiFi ups the bar for eBook Readers by adding a touch screen
Among Sony's releases at IFA is one that could put a dent in Kindle's dominance of the eReader space - the 6-inch Sony Reader Wi-Fi. The new reader comes in at just 168 grams, two thirds of the weight of the Kindle 3 WiFi and with a host of advantages that include faster and smoother page turns (we tried it), and a dual-touch touchscreen for easy zooming. Unlike the Kindle, it won't lock you to Amazon as the sole provider of your reading material. It's also cheaper and lighter than the model it replaces, but still US$10 dearer than the Kindle at US$149.  Read More
Renewable sources accounted for more than 20 percent of the country's electricity generati...
In the wake of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, tens of thousands of German citizens took to the streets calling for the phase out of atomic energy. In May, the German government bowed to public pressure and unveiled its plan to shut down the country's 17 nuclear power plants by 2021 - with the possibility that three will continue operating until 2022 if the transition to renewable energy doesn't go as quickly as hoped. Providing some hope that Germany will achieve its ambitious goals, Spiegel Online International has quoted a newly released German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) report that says, for the first time, renewable sources accounted for more than 20 percent of the country's electricity generation in the first half of 2011.  Read More
Dyson's new DC37 is the company's first cylinder vacuum to feature Ball technology
Until now, Dyson's patented Ball technology that lets vacuum cleaners turn on a dime - or rather a ball - has only been available in its upright models. Now the company has unveiled its first cylinder - or canister - vacuum with Ball technology in the form of the DC37. On show it IFA 2011, the DC37 also includes a "Musclehead" floor tool that recognizes the floor surface and automatically retracts its brushes on carpet, and lowers them on hard floors.  Read More
Sony presents it's new Tablets at IFA 2011
Sony finally threw its hat in the tablet ring at IFA 2011 by announcing the market launch of the Sony Tablet S and Tablet P (previously codenamed S1 and S2). The biggest point-of-difference from other Android tablets and the heavyweight champ iPad is form factor - the Tablet S gets an unusual asymmetrical shape and the Tablet P throws the conventional tablet format away completely with its clam-shell, dual-screen design. Having stated its intention to become number two in the tablet marketplace and setting pricing identical to that of the iPad 2, Sony is certainly aiming high with this one.  Read More

Fujifilm X10 is designed for demanding amateurs or semi-professionals who require a small,...
Fujifilm has announced a follow up to the retro Fujifilm X100 released earlier this year. The Fujifilm X10 compact digital camera features an optical zoom viewfinder, a 12 megapixel EXR-CMOS sensor, 28-112mm equivalent F2.0 -2.8 Fujinon lens and continuous shooting at up to 7 fps at 12 megapixels.  Read More
Yale University researchers have now identified a key genetic gear that keeps the circadia...
Circadian rhythms are a roughly 24-hour cycle governing biochemical, physiological, or behavioral processes that have been widely observed not only in humans, but other animals, fungi, cyanobacteria and plants. In plants, circadian rhythms help synchronize biological processes with day and night to control photosynthesis, tell the plant what season it is, and the best time to flower to attract insects. Yale University researchers have now identified a key genetic gear that keeps the circadian clock in plants ticking, offering the prospect of engineering plants that can grow all year round and in locations where that's is not currently possible.  Read More
Husqvarna's new Nuda 900 and 900R
We've already written quite a bit about the development of Husqvarna's new Nuda 900 and 900R and the promise of the Italian (formerly Swedish) brand under Teutonic (BMW) ownership to execute new thought, but we felt that the latest release of new info on the supermoto/naked-bike crossover to debut at Frankfurt warranted an update. We already knew the engine was derived from the BMW F 800 R motor with an increase in bore and stroke giving it 898cc, but what we didn't know previously is that the crankshaft has been altered from the F 800 R's 0-degree crank offset angle to 315-degrees, creating an engine with the feel and sound of a V-twin, but with the same excellent power delivery of the parallel-twin at small throttle openings, a characteristic not normally associated with v-twins. Details have also been released on the suspension and running gear packages of both models.  Read More
HTC TITAN - 4.7-inch WVGA 480x800 pixel display
HTC has unveiled HTC TITAN, billed as its largest screen smartphone featuring 4.7-inch WVGA 480x800 pixel display wrapped in a slim 9.9 mm (0.39 inch) aluminum shell. Running Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango), HTC TITAN boasts 8 megapixel camera, which comes with f/2.2 aperture lens, dual LED flash, BSI sensor and 720p video recording. Along with TITAN, HTC has also announced a lower spec'd Windows Phone 7.5 arrival in the form of 3.8-inch HTC Radar.  Read More
Hase Bikes' KLIMAX tricycle features a detachable folding fairing, allowing users to add w...
While there are those of us who are strangely attracted to velomobiles – recumbent tricycles with full aerodynamic fairings – the idiosyncratic vehicles certainly have their drawbacks. Among these are the fact that the fairing, which is usually a hard shell, adds weight and traps heat inside with the rider. It also contributes to the sky-high price of the trikes, which can reach around US$15,000. Hase Bikes has taken an interesting approach with its KLIMAX 2K recumbent tricycle by using a weatherproof fabric fairing, that folds down and comes off when not wanted.  Read More
DARPA researchers have ruggedized a compact solid oxide fuel cell fueled by propane and in...
Small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) have become an increasingly important intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tool for the military and their use will only continue to expand. While vehicles that are small enough to be carried provide soldiers in the field with capabilities such as over-the-next-hill imagery or the short-term monitoring of convoys, much research is going into finding ways to extend mission duration through better battery systems. DARPA researchers say they have overcome this limitation with the development of a compact solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) fueled by propane that quadruples the endurance of small unmanned aircraft systems .  Read More
Audi's A2 concept electric car is set to appear at the 64th International Motor Show in Fr...
Audi's A2 electric car will be among the huge list of concept vehicles taking the stage at the 64th International Motor Show in Frankfurt later this month. The automaker has so far only released sketches of the four-seater and there's no specifics as yet on the drivetrain (just the promise of a "powerful electric drive system for agile performance and long range"), but we can expect to see some very interesting dynamic lighting innovations along with a tech-packed interior that includes a steering-wheel-mounted touchscreen.  Read More
A discovery by Yale researchers could lead to new treatments for baldness (Image: Tumblewe...
In news that offers hope to millions of chrome-domes everywhere – yours truly included – Yale researchers have made a discovery that could lead to new treatments for baldness. While men with male pattern baldness still have stem cells in follicle roots, they need signals from within the skin to grow hair. Until now, the source of those signals that trigger hair growth has been unclear, but the Yale researchers claim to have now discovered it.  Read More
The molecular motor (yellow dot with black arms) sits on a copper surface (orange) and is ...
Remember back in the old days, when nano-scale motors were a clunky 500 nanometers across? That record was subsequently broken with a 200-nanometer model, but has now been broken again, by a motor that’s just one nanometer wide. By comparison, the width of a human hair is about 60,000 nanometers. The new motor, created by scientists at Tufts University in Massachusetts, is reportedly the first one ever to consist of a single molecule.  Read More
The iHealth Blood Pressure Monitoring System and iHealth Scale allow users to measure and ...
For many people, a key part of their personal health management routine involves monitoring their blood pressure and weight. Frequently going to get one’s blood pressure measured at a pharmacy or clinic, however, can be a hassle. Well, to paraphrase an advertising slogan, “there’s an app for that” – along with a device. The iHealth Blood Pressure Monitoring System for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad consists of a blood pressure arm cuff wired to a portable dock, along with the free iHealth app, which users run on their chosen iDevice to keep track of their systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate. They will also soon be able to throw their weight data into the mix, with the iHealth Scale.  Read More

0 comments:

Post a Comment