Gizmag Emerging Technology Magazine

Knut internet-connected sensor keeps you in the know via email

C.C. Weiss — Sat, 26 May 2012 04:30:11 -0500

Our lives a very connected these days. You can check in on friends and family, your car and your home within seconds by typing a few words and pushing a few buttons. Despite this, there are still many pieces that remain cut off from our networks by physical space. The Knut sensor hub aims to connect a few more of those pieces. .. Continue Reading Knut internet-connected sensor keeps you in the know via email

Section: Electronics

Tags: Internet of Things, Kickstarter, Monitor, Sensors, Wi-fi

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Researchers create first of its kind invisibility cloak array

Ben Coxworth — Fri, 25 May 2012 17:57:32 -0500

When we think of invisibility cloaks, probably the first things that come to mind are Harry Potter-like contraptions that allow people or large objects to instantly disappear. Scientists from the University of Maryland and nearby Towson University, however, today announced their development of something a little different – little being the key word. They have crammed 25,000 tiny “invisibility cloaks” onto a gold sheet, which itself only measures 25 millimeters per side. While the resulting biochip array may not allow any young wizards to vanish from sight, it could allow them to identify biological materials... Continue Reading Researchers create first of its kind invisibility cloak array

Section: Research Watch

Tags: Biosensor, Invisibility, Light, Towson University, University of Maryland

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Porsche tuning house Gemballa introduces diamond-based car coating

C.C. Weiss — Fri, 25 May 2012 16:48:16 -0500

German tuner Gemballa has announced an innovation that should lead to many cars that surpass the gaudiness of even its own gold-splashed Mirage GT Gold Edition. It's a car finish made from crushed diamonds. .. Continue Reading Porsche tuning house Gemballa introduces diamond-based car coating

Section: Automotive

Tags: Diamonds, Gemballa, Porsche, Tuner

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LG unveils 55-inch OLED TV at Monaco's Salle des Etoiles

Paul Ridden — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:17:14 -0500

LG unveiled the world's largest and slimmest 55-inch OLED (organic light-emitting diode) TV at the Salle des Etoiles in Monaco earlier this week. First given a U.S. showing at CES 2012, the OLED TV's four-color pixel technology and Color Refiner work together to offer vibrant, natural and comfortable Full 1080p HD viewing in both 2D and 3D. Cutting edge technology doesn't come cheap though, so be prepared to gasp as the price is revealed after the jump... Continue Reading LG unveils 55-inch OLED TV at Monaco's Salle des Etoiles

Section: Home Entertainment

Tags: 3D, High Definition, LG, OLED, TV

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First Thunderbolt-packing desktop motherboard from Intel launched

Paul Ridden — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:09:40 -0500

After over a year of Mac dominance, the first Intel desktop PC motherboard featuring Thunderbolt I/O technology has been – somewhat quietly – announced. Based on the latest Z77 Express chipset, the DZ77RE-75K has been optimized for the new Intel -K Core processors. It features a new GUI BIOS, comes with integrated HD audio and video, and benefits from RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 support... Continue Reading First Thunderbolt-packing desktop motherboard from Intel launched

Section: Personal Computing

Tags: Intel Core -K, Motherboard, Personal Computers, Thunderbolt

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New OmniVision sensor chips promise 4K2K smartphone videos

Enid Burns — Fri, 25 May 2012 12:45:41 -0500

Smartphones are quickly replacing the need for a camera. The phone is always within arm's reach, and ready to capture any subject worth documenting with a digital still or video image. The reason we're still toting around cameras is the resolution and a few other features such as focus for a sharp image. The Smartphone may soon catch up, however. OmniVision just released details on two new 16-megapixel CameraChip sensors for use in digital still cameras, digital video cameras and high-end smartphones... Continue Reading New OmniVision sensor chips promise 4K2K smartphone videos

Section: Mobile Technology

Tags: 4K2K, Digital Video, Photography, Smartphone

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Stable dye-sensitized solar cell may provide cheaper alternative to silicon

Antonio Pasolini — Fri, 25 May 2012 12:44:51 -0500

Solar power is up there as the quintessential clean energy and there’s a race worldwide to develop better solar cells to overcome current challenges related to cell efficiency, manufacturing costs, durability and materials, among other things. One of the latest developments in the sector comes from Northwestern University where researchers have developed a stable dye-sensitized solar cell that may one day prove cheaper than silicon-based cells... Continue Reading Stable dye-sensitized solar cell may provide cheaper alternative to silicon

Section: ecoGizmo

Tags: Dye-sensitized, Northwestern University, Solar, Solar Cell

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FIFA trial goal-line technology in international soccer match ahead of key vote

James Holloway — Fri, 25 May 2012 11:39:14 -0500

The international football friendly (the association kind) between England and Belgium scheduled for June 2 may not be burning a hole in your diary, but it will be notable in at least one respect. The match, to be held at London's Wembley Stadium, will be the highest profile match to date to make use of so-called goal-line technology, designed to detect whether or not the ball has crossed the line (and therefore whether a goal should be given). The goals at Wembley have been fitted with a Hawk-Eye system similar to those now officially used to assist umpires in tennis and cricket. However, though the system will be up and running for the entire match, it will not be used to help adjudicate in the event of a difficult goal-line decision... Continue Reading FIFA trial goal-line technology in international soccer match ahead of key vote

Section: Sports

Tags: Fraunhofer, Oxford University, Soccer

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SpaceX Dragon successfully grappled by ISS

Ben Coxworth — Fri, 25 May 2012 09:23:25 -0500

Well, it’s official. Just moments ago, the SpaceX Dragon became the first-ever privately-made spacecraft to reach the International Space Station (ISS). “The International Space Station Expedition 31 crew successfully captured the SpaceX Dragon capsule with the station's robotic arm at 9:56 AM EDT,” NASA has stated. “The feat came 3 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes and 23 seconds after the mission's launch. The station was 251 miles over northwest Australia when capture occurred.”.. Continue Reading SpaceX Dragon successfully grappled by ISS

Section: Science and Education

Tags: International Space Station, NASA, Spacecraft, SpaceX

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Renault reinterprets the Alpine A110 to commemorate its 50th Birthday

Mike Hanlon — Fri, 25 May 2012 08:29:20 -0500

It's fifty years ago since the Renault Alpine A110 Berlinette was introduced as one of the most beautiful road cars of its time, embodying light weight and sweet handling and furthering the long and successful Renault motorsport heritage by winning rallies all over the world. Not surprisingly, such a memorable automotive birthday has precipitated a very appealing concept car. The Renault Alpine A110-50, is a reinterpretation of the original Alpine's key features in a thoroughly modern way, all cloaked in stylish Alpine Blue carbon fiber bodywork, with a 400 bhp Mégane Trophy power train. All up weight is 880 kg. It seems like a recipe for a very stylish rocketship. .. Continue Reading Renault reinterprets the Alpine A110 to commemorate its 50th Birthday

Section: Automotive

Tags: Alpine, Automotive, Motorsport, Renault

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Animated "LED matrix shades" coming to an urban dystopia near you, July 2012

James Holloway — Fri, 25 May 2012 07:32:36 -0500

The LED-meisters at macetech LLC seized upon this week's Maker Faire to unveil an eye-catching pair of prototype "LED matrix shades" that light up in a variety of dynamic patterns. When the shades hit the market in six to eight weeks, users will be able to program patterns of their own, thanks to the Arduino-compatible electronics from which they're made. macetech's Garrett Mace gave Gizmag an exclusive insight into the development of the shades, which look like they've fallen through a portal from some future urban dystopia... Continue Reading Animated "LED matrix shades" coming to an urban dystopia near you, July 2012

Section: Wearable Electronics

Tags: Arduino, Glasses, LED, Macetech

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UAVs and open source software combine to digitize historical buildings in 3D

James Holloway — Fri, 25 May 2012 04:37:22 -0500

The human implications for living in a world with UAVs are very much dependent on one's latitude and longitude at any given time. Though the term is likely to conjure images of covert military operations, it's not a connotation that the term, or the technology, necessarily implies. Fundamentally, a UAV is merely an unpiloted flying machine, and that's a potentially useful thing to have for all sorts of civilian applications. It's already happening. Exhibit A: research at the University of Granada into using small UAVs, equipped with cameras, that scan buildings in order to construct 3D models. .. Continue Reading UAVs and open source software combine to digitize historical buildings in 3D

Section: Aero Gizmo

Tags: 3D scanner, UAV, University of Granada

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World record price for Aston Martin - £1.23 million

Mike Hanlon — Fri, 25 May 2012 03:42:40 -0500

Yet another world auction record fell during the week when a 1991 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato Sanction II Coupé was sold for GBP1.23 million (US$1.93). One of just four cars built 30 years after the first batch, the car was previously owned by singer Phil Collins' manager Tony Smith and had just 4,748 miles on the odometer... Continue Reading World record price for Aston Martin - £1.23 million

Section: Automotive

Tags: Aston Martin, Auction, Bonhams, Convertible

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Audi's AMOLED video rear-view system

Mike Hanlon — Fri, 25 May 2012 02:20:26 -0500

The fascinating lead-up to the Le Mans 24 Hour race in three week's time is a technological smorgasbord as usual, with new technologies being used to gain infinitesimal increments of seconds per lap in the hope that it will lead to a winning margin over 350+ laps and 24 hours. A new addition to the dominant Audi R18 cars for this year's race will be an AMOLED digital rear view mirror - how can a better rear view mirror make you go faster? .. Continue Reading Audi's AMOLED video rear-view system

Section: Automotive

Tags: Audi, Le Mans, OLED, Sports Cars

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Doping leads to new efficiency record for graphene solar cells

Darren Quick — Fri, 25 May 2012 02:12:49 -0500

Doping graphene with trifluoromethanesulfonyl-amide (TFSA) has enabled researchers at the University of Florida (UF) to set a new efficiency record for graphene solar cells. While the record-breaking efficiency of 8.6 percent is well short of the efficiencies seen in other types of solar cells, it is a big improvement over previous graphene solar cells that saw efficiencies ranging up to 2.9 percent. The development provides hope for cheaper, durable graphene solar cells in the future... Continue Reading Doping leads to new efficiency record for graphene solar cells

Section: ecoGizmo

Tags: Graphene, Solar Cell, University of Florida

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Lasers used to zap weeds into submission

David Szondy — Fri, 25 May 2012 00:38:42 -0500

Weeds are pesky things. They grow everywhere and, by definition, where they’re not wanted. Whether a large-scale farmer or a weekend gardener, everyone who has tried to raise crops has wished that there was a ray gun that could just blast the wretched things out of existence. Now, thanks in part to researchers from the Laser Zentrum Hannover (LZH) at the Leibniz University of Hannover, Germany, that frustrated daydream is closer to reality. Through the use of low-powered infrared lasers, the team has found a way to inhibit weed growth without harming neighboring plants, providing an alternative to expensive, hazardous and environmentally-damaging chemicals... Continue Reading Lasers used to zap weeds into submission

Section: Research Watch

Tags: Agriculture, Farming, Laser, Plants

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Aerovironment testing potential for UAVs to re-establish communications in event of disasters

Darren Quick — Fri, 25 May 2012 00:13:22 -0500

While UAV’s continue to reshape the theater of war, they are also finding more and more non-military applications, from gathering atmospheric data to delivering supplies to remote villages. Now Aerovironment is examining the potential for its UAVs to rapidly re-establish communications when existing communications networks are knocked out following a natural or man-made disaster... Continue Reading Aerovironment testing potential for UAVs to re-establish communications in event of disasters

Section: Aero Gizmo

Tags: AeroVironment, Aircraft, Communications, UAS, UAV, Unmanned

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Bessel beam "tractor beam" concept theoretically demonstrated

Darren Quick — Thu, 24 May 2012 22:12:21 -0500

Last year, we looked at three potential “tractor beam” technologies being evaluated by NASA to deliver planetary or atmospheric particles to a robotic rover or orbiting spacecraft. At the time, the third of these, which involved the use of a Bessel beam, only existed on paper. Researchers at Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) have now proven the theory behind the concept, demonstrating how a tractor beam can be realized in the real world – albeit on a very small scale... Continue Reading Bessel beam "tractor beam" concept theoretically demonstrated

Section: Research Watch

Tags: A*STAR, Laser

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MIT jet-injector provides a needle-free alternative to medicine delivery

Enid Burns — Thu, 24 May 2012 19:49:25 -0500

Those of us with an aversion to needles can soon go to the doctor with a little less trepidation. That is if a new device developed by a team of MIT researchers becomes available at your local medical facility. The device uses a Lorentz-force actuator to create an adjustable high-pressure jet that is ejected out of a nozzle as wide as a mosquito's proboscis, penetrating the skin to deliver highly controlled doses at different depths... Continue Reading MIT jet-injector provides a needle-free alternative to medicine delivery

Section: Health and Wellbeing

Tags: Drugs, Health, Medical, MIT

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First flight of LEMV military blimp scheduled for next month

Ben Coxworth — Thu, 24 May 2012 18:01:48 -0500

Next-generation airships are notorious for always being just around the corner, almost but not-quite ready to take to the skies. According to a report in Wired, however, Northrop Grumman’s military Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle (LEMV) has been scheduled to make its maiden flight early next month... Continue Reading First flight of LEMV military blimp scheduled for next month

Section: Aero Gizmo

Tags: Airship, Blimp, Military, Northrop Grumman, Reconnaissance, Surveillance

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Choose your own adventure with Mission Workshop's Arkiv modular backpack

C.C. Weiss — Thu, 24 May 2012 17:07:22 -0500

Carrying spare tubes and extra clothes for cycling, transporting a laptop, books and files to the office and lugging camera gear ... those are just a few random examples of things that you might need a backpack for on any given day. Typically, you might need to get a separate backpack for each activity or series of activities, but Mission Workshop's Arkiv Field backpack utilizes modular compartments to transform into the pack you need every time. One backpack can take on limitless functions without compromise... Continue Reading Choose your own adventure with Mission Workshop's Arkiv modular backpack

Section: Good Thinking

Tags: Backpack, Mission Workshop, Modular, Weatherproof

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Navatar system could help the blind navigate indoors

Ben Coxworth — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:48:50 -0500

When blind people are trying to navigate the city streets, they can get assistance from a speaking GPS-enabled smartphone, just like everyone else. Once they move indoors and lose access to the required satellite signals, however, it’s a different story. While there are some indoor navigation systems that require things like radio-frequency tags to be strategically placed around the building, it’s currently unrealistic to expect to find such systems installed in many places. The University of Nevada, Reno’s experimental new Navatar system, on the other hand, just requires a smartphone loaded up with a digital two-dimensional map of the building in question... Continue Reading Navatar system could help the blind navigate indoors

Section: Mobile Technology

Tags: Blind, Maps, Navigation, University of Nevada

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Porsche's LA Experience Center to hone both human- and horse-power

C.C. Weiss — Thu, 24 May 2012 15:23:25 -0500

The United States may or may not be getting its own Nurburgring track, but it is definitely getting another German track import. Porsche is in the process of building a new "Experience Center" in the greater Los Angeles area, where it will headquarter its North American Motorsport division... Continue Reading Porsche's LA Experience Center to hone both human- and horse-power

Section: Automotive

Tags: Motorsport, Porsche, Racetrack

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CSR project aims to create a high-speed, carbon-neutral steam-powered locomotive

Ben Coxworth — Thu, 24 May 2012 15:07:53 -0500

You might think that a coal-burning locomotive built in 1937 had nothing left to offer the modern rail industry, short of being a nice museum piece. In the case of Locomotive 3463, however, that appears to be far from true – now in the hands of engineers from the Coalition for Sustainable Rail (CSR), it is set to become the world’s first carbon-neutral higher-speed locomotive. It won’t be electric, however. Instead, it will run on steam generated by the burning of biocoal... Continue Reading CSR project aims to create a high-speed, carbon-neutral steam-powered locomotive

Section: ecoGizmo

Tags: Biofuel, Carbon Neutral, Coal, Environmentally-friendly, Steam Power, Trains, University of Minnesota

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Taking the lid off the Piano Box 12-note paper synth

Paul Ridden — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:12:41 -0500

Last year, Portugal's Catarina Mota was part of a New York hackerspace team that created a toy piano made from Jell-O (and some electronics) for a competition in Brooklyn, NY. Being a lover of mixing electronics with low-tech materials like fabric and paper, she has now created a paper box that opens up to reveal a 12-key touch piano/synthesizer sporting some cool LED light action. The Piano Box is built around an Arduino Mega board running the CapSense and Tone libraries, and features twin speakers, capacitive keys made from paper-covered copper tape, and some custom code that's available for free download to allow anyone to make their own paper synth. .. Continue Reading Taking the lid off the Piano Box 12-note paper synth

Section: Music

Tags: Arduino, Digital music, DIY, Hack, Paper, Piano, Synthesizer

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