Gizmag Emerging Technology Magazine

Corporate R&D spend up despite global recession

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 06:47:12 -0600

Despite (or because of) the global financial crisis, a survey by global management consulting firm Booz & Company has shown that the top 1,000 public corporate research and development spenders increased their outlay in 2008. While sales were up only 6.5 percent, R&D expenditure rose 5.7 percent to US$532 billion with leading companies recognizing the importance of focusing on R&D in order to take advantage of competitors in the coming upturn. As Booz & Company Partner Barry Jaruzelski succinctly puts it: “Reducing efforts on innovation would be similar to unilateral disarmament in wartime.”..

Tags: Business, Research

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Modern Warfare 2 blasts all-time entertainment industry records

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:05:29 -0600

The controversy caused by leaked scenes of a level of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 where the player mows down innocent civilians at a Russian airport has done nothing to slow sales of the much-anticipated game. Released worldwide on November 10, the game has set an all-time entertainment industry record, grossing an estimated US$550 million in its first five days...

Tags: Entertainment, Games, Launch, Military, Modern, Modern Warfare 2, Record, Video Games, Warfare, Xbox 360, Xbox Live

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The ECOS Harbinger - an electric, Euro-styled supercar for under US$90,000

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:52:11 -0600

Building electric cars will come with its own set of challenges - but then, in other ways things are going to get a whole lot easier. With plenty of battery technology available pretty much off-the-shelf, and electric motors being incredibly simple compared with their combustion counterparts, there's not a lot stopping small, independent operators from building fun electrics and getting them to market as soon as they're approved for sale. And such is the case with the ECOS Harbinger - which truly could foretell a bit of a small-business revolution in electric sportscars. US$89,995 will buy you a 120mph, 150-mile per charge, 6 second electric supercar with Lambo-style looks and scissor doors to boot. Nice!..

Tags: Electric, green, Supercar

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Light resonators used to move nano-sized objects

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:55:28 -0600

Scientists at Cornell University report they can now use a light beam carrying a single milliwatt of power to move objects and even change the optical properties of silicon from opaque to transparent at the nanometric scale. Such an advancement could prove very useful for the future of micro-electromechanical (MEMS) and micro-optomechanical (MOMS) systems...

Tags: Cornell, Mechanical, MEMS, Nano, Nanoscale, Research, Resonators

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Dubai has The Burj, but Berlin might get The Berg

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:44:39 -0600

Hoax or hopeful? Sky high or pie-in-the-sky? German architect Jakob Tigges has unleashed a daring plan to create a man-made mountain in Berlin – not exactly a feature you instantly associate with the German city, but if this “project” gets approval that could change. According to The Berg website, Berliners are getting behind the project as another tourist-attracting (money-making) option for their fair city...

Tags: Berg, Berlin, Gigantic, Man-made, Mountain

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Next Cisco Flip pocket camcorder will have WiFi

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:23:18 -0600

The first major new Flip pocket video camera to be released since Cisco bought Pure Digital earlier this year will go on sale in early 2010. Reports indicate that the as-yet unnamed model will feature built-in WiFi capability and a larger screen...

Tags: camcorder, Cisco, Flip, Pure Digital, Wifi

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Harnessing waste heat to produce electricity

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:13:32 -0600

That heat emanating from your computer as you sit reading this article amounts to nothing more than wasted energy. And your computer is not alone. More than half of the energy consumed worldwide is wasted, most of it in the form of excess heat. But new research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) indicates it might be possible to harvest much of the wasted heat produced by everything from computer processors to car engines and electric powerplants, and convert it into usable electricity. This kind of waste-energy harvesting might lead to mobile phones with double the talk time, laptop computers that can operate twice as long before needing to be plugged in to mains power, or energy plants that produce more electricity for a given amount of fuel...

Tags: Conversion, Efficiency, Electrical, Electricity, Energy, MIT, Power, Research, Thermal, Waste

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Casio EX-G1: the world's slimmest shock-resistant digital camera

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:45:14 -0600

Casio’s G-Shock line of shock-resistant watches have been adorning the wrists of outdoorsy types since the release of the first G-Shock branded watch in 1983. The company extended the rugged specifications of the G-Shock line to mobile phones with the release of the G’zOne durable, water-resistant mobile phone in 2000, and has now further extended the brand to compact digital cameras with the release of the EX-G1 shock-resistant, waterproof, dustproof digital camera – the first in the company’s new EXILIM G line...

Tags: Camera, Cameras, Casio, Digital Cameras, EXILIM, Photo, Rugged

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Media Chair offers iPod dock, speakers, projector – and comfort

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:04:39 -0600

Usually, when you envisage a media chair your mind conjures up thoughts of weird (read uncomfortable) pieces of furniture that would be more at home in a museum of modern art than your lounge room. But Martin Emila’s Media Chair is something else. Sure, it’s a bit “left field” but it’s a concept chair that would look pretty good at my place I reckon. It features embedded speakers, an iPod dock, a projector and, above all, looks pretty darn comfortable...

Tags: Chair, Concept, furniture, iPod, Multimedia

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GRACE e-bike boasts F1 technology

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:41:28 -0600

Combining jet fighter technology with Formula 1 grade parts and German build quality, the GRACE street legal electric two-wheeler will start to be shipped in limited numbers next year. As well as offering a couple of city travel options, GRACE is also available in an off-road version too. The company has even manufactured a demonstration-only racy model capable of speeds up to 70kmh (44mph)...

Tags: Aerodynamics, Aluminum, Bike, City, Electric, Lithium-ion, Off-road, Vehicle, Water resistant

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November 2, 1936 - the beginning of television

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:22:07 -0600

Although computers and the Internet have eaten away at the dominance of television, it remains the most popular form of entertainment and source of information in the world. And with the line between TV and computers blurring with the advent of Home Theater PCs (HTPCs) and devices like Apple TV it’s likely that television in one form or another will retain its crown for some time to come. Television is no longer limited to a big box sitting in the corner of the living room. It can be accessed on sexy, slim panels hung on a wall or on mobile phones while sitting on a train. In fact television is so pervasive today it can be hard to imagine life before it existed – but there was such a time, and it wasn’t even that long ago...

Tags: BBC, Bonhams, British, Broadcast, Historic, History, London, Studio, television, Transmission, TV

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Raising a child with Wii

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:17:03 -0600

Wii has a knack for turning everyday activities into stimulating interactive games. We’ve seen cooking and yoga work their way into people’s consoles and Nintendo hasn’t stopped there. The company's latest creation - Baby and Me - allows anyone to play mom and raise a baby through their Wii console...

Tags: Doll, Game, Nintendo, Wii

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Bowers & Wilkins deliciously gorgeous MM-1 computer speakers

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:27:10 -0600

The makers of the award-winning Zeppelin ipod dock will shortly release some true hi-fi quality computer speakers which break away from reliance on the output capabilities of a system soundcard and connect via high speed USB instead. Boasting a frequency range of -6dB at 57Hz and 22kHz, outputting audio at 4 times 18W and incorporating music studio technology, the fully active MM-1 system could be just what audiophile deskbound digital music junkies have been waiting for...

Tags: Audio, Computers, Digital, Digital music, Hi-fi, Music, Production, Sound, Speakers, Stereo, USB

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Narrow track vehicles - the convergence of the car and the motorcycle

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:22:38 -0600

Since Nicholas Negroponte first came up with his landmark teething ring visualization of the coming together of communication, computing and content, the term convergence has become the uber buzzword. Now there’s convergence going on in the personal transport industry, with the car and the motorcycle morphing as car makers attempt to downsize their vehicles to make them better suited to the world’s increasingly crowded roads. This article begins with Nissan’s tandem two-seat, half width tilting car, the Landglider, and examines all the other work being done around the world as narrow track vehicles seriously begin to make their case...

Tags: Automotive, Benelli, BMW, Concept Cars, Convergence, Eporo, Frankfurt Motor Show, Gilera, Hybrid, Land Glider, Motorcycle, Motorcycles, MP3, Nissan, Peugeot, Piaggio, Pivo, Renault, Scooter, Tokyo Motor Show, Tokyo Motor Show 2009, U3-X, Volkswagen, Yamaha

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Snowboarding through the summertime: the Snowtunnel

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:21:02 -0600

The trouble with seasonal sports is that you've literally got to follow the seasons around the globe if you want to live your passion year-round. That, or let technology find a way to bring you your outdoor thrills indoors - like the Snowtunnel does. We've seen Dubai's lavish indoor ski slopes in the middle of the desert - now, this Aussie invention gives snowboarders the chance to cut a neverending icy edge for a fraction of the cost it takes to operate other indoor ski facilities. Sure, it'd be nothing like the feeling of dropping in, carving and jumping your way down a mountain slope, but the Snowtunnel looks like its own kind of fun...

Tags: Snowboard, Snowboarding

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The solar-powered school on stilts

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:19:14 -0600

It's almost as good as going to school in a treehouse. The recently opened Elleray Preparatory School in the Lake District National Park has three class pods standing on stilts connected by a center platform made from recycled materials, such as plastic milk bottles and wood shavings. Nestled amongst the trees, the complex is built to have a low environmental impact and therefore makes excellent use of solar power, rainwater collection, and has an energy-efficient heat pump...

Tags: Australia, Efficiency, Energy, School, Solar, Treehouse

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High-tech origami: Je Sung Park's recyclable paper laptop concept

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:00:24 -0600

In a world where concern for the environment is high on the agenda, it was only a matter of time before the laptop got a green makeover. Outstripping even the Bamboo notebook in eco-friendly credentials, designer Je Sung Park has pushed the concept to its limit and opened our eyes to the laptop of the future: a recyclable paper design...

Tags: Computers, Design, Eco-friendly, Environmental, Laptop, Notebook, Recycled, Waste

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Wanted: technology writers in Tokyo

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:43:07 -0600

Gizmag is seeking writers, photographers and videographers in Japan to join the team on a casual or part-time basis. Obviously speaking and writing English is essential, and having an in-depth knowledge of some if not all of the areas we cover goes without saying. If you can produce the goods, you’ll get paid well and you’ll get to carry a Gizmag press card. If you think you might fit the bill, we’ll be in Tokyo next week to meet up with interested parties, so send an outline of your skills to.....

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XOR's folding electric scooters: a new relationship with your wheels

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:07:38 -0600

One of the fun things we've got to look forward to as electric vehicles become more and more common is a changing of the relationship we have with our wheels. The XO2 electric scooter is a fine example - it'll behave fairly similarly to a regular electric scooter on the road, but when you get where you're going, instead of parking it on the sidewalk where it's exposed to rain, thieves and vandals, you can fold it up and bring it into your apartment or office, and plug it in to charge. We talk a lot about the coming population explosion here on Gizmag, with billions more people to be crammed into our urban centers in the next 50 years. Devices like these seem tailor-made for the type of living we're inevitably moving towards...

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Dating sites use DNA to find your perfect match

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:56:43 -0600

If you’re looking for love online you can forget listing your hobbies and favorite books. Dating sites can now find your perfect match based on DNA. Numerous studies have revealed that chemistry, in particular body odor, plays a big part in the art of attraction, but such physical chemistry is usually impossible to identify when searching for partners online. Dating sites such as ScientificMatch and sense2love.com say they can bring chemical attraction back into the mix to increase the chances of finding someone genetically compatible with your DNA. ..

Tags: DNA, Health, Sex

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JVC's Super LoLux analog CCTV cameras let you see in the dark

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:46:49 -0600

JVC has announced four new analog high-res CCTV cameras that it claims can produce accurate colors under extremely low light conditions. The new surveillance cams feature the company’s Super LoLux technology for sensitivity as low as 0.05 lux in color mode and 0.006 lux in black-and-white mode. JVC also claims these models use 40% less power making them more eco-friendly and cheaper to operate...

Tags: Cctv, JVC, Security, Surveillance, Video, Video Camera

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Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL-Hybrid bus previews in Hamburg

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:14:27 -0600

The first of ten new Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL-Hybrid buses has appeared in Hamburg, Germany as part of a large-scale fleet trial taking place there and in other European cities. Two major features of this latest-generation fuel cell hybrid bus are that it emits no pollutants while in motion and is virtually silent, making it ideal for use in highly congested inner cities and metropolitan areas. From next year, ten of the 30 vehicles that Daimler Buses is producing for European transport operators are destined for the Hamburg transport authority. Hamburger Hochbahn will take delivery of the remaining 20 buses. ..

Tags: Hybrid, Mercedes, Mercedes-benz

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Epson develops 0.52-inch high-def LCD Panel for Electronic Viewfinders

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:40:48 -0600

Epson has developed a high definition color LCD panel for use in professional camcorder viewfinders that's only 0.52 inches diagonally, offers 1.56 megapixels resolution and uses a filter to prevent color breakup that often occurs when recording fast-moving objects or panning...

Tags: camcorder, Epson, High Definition, HTPS, LCD, Viewfinder

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Bottle of Dalmore Oculus whisky sells for GBP27,600

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:58:21 -0600

Further proof that the GFC might be retreating and that the demon drink has indeed become a sound financial investment was the news that a bottle, err decanter, of Dalmore Oculus whisky sold for a GBP27,600 (USD47,000) at yesterday’s whisky auction at Bonhams Edinburgh (UK). ..

Tags: Bonhams, Financial, investment, Whisky

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Preschooler’s digital camera: sophisticated features in a kid-sized package

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:58:30 -0600

I’d love to be a kid again. Seriously. The technology age has delivered children all manner of sophisticated toys and games, think Nintendo, Playstation and Wii ... just to name a few. Now, they even have a variety of mini digital cameras to choose from, including the Kid Tough camera and the Preschooler’s digital camera. The Preschooler’s camera is a kid-tough unit that is suitably sized for small hands, can take photographs and video, and has a fixed-focus lens - so kids simply line up their shot and press a button...

Tags: Camera, Digital Cameras, Photo, Preschooler, Toys, Video

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