iNfO mAcHiNe

iNfO mAcHiNe: RIBA the friendly robot nurse

noreply@blogger.com (Ammad Ghauri) — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 06:11:22 PDT

iNfO mAcHiNe: RIBA the friendly robot nurse

Sony delays larger screen OLED TVs?

noreply@blogger.com (Ammad Ghauri) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 04:29:01 PDT

Those of us eagerly awaiting the arrival of a successor to the Sony XEL-1 OLED TV may have to wait a little longer, with the Wall Street Journal reporting that Sony has delayed development of larger screen OLED TVs. Although Sony had attendees at CES 2009 salivating at prototype 21-inch and 27 inch OLED TVsng to ‘sources close to the company’ the XEL-1, which was released in late 2007, apparently won’t be getting a bigger brother until 2010 at the earliest.

Sony’s company-wide operating loss of JPY 25.7 billion yen (approx. USD$268 million at time of publication) for the first fiscal quarter of this year probably has something to do with the decision. The cost of mass-producing the next-gen TVs wouldn't be cheap and, according to those familiar with Sony’s plans, would exacerbate existing losses within Sony’s TV division.

Sony has refused to comment on the rumors but, if they're true, it could leave Sony playing catch up with competitors Samsung and LG, who are both pushing ahead with plans for OLED TV production. LG is even aiming to have a 15-inch OLED TV on Korean shelves by Christmas.

New Flip MinoHD announced

noreply@blogger.com (Ammad Ghauri) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:09:52 PDT

MInoHD Of Amazon's top five selling camcorders, versions of the Flip take four of the slots. The 4Gb MinoHD holds fourth position, but things never stand still for too long in the world of gadgetry and the MinoHD has just been supercharged. The second generation model features more memory, a bigger viewing screen with better resolution and a more powerful lens.

How do you make one of the world's favorite handy camcorders even better? Cisco, the company that now owns the Flip brand after acquiring it from Pure Digital earlier this year, has started by doubling the internal memory to 8Gb. This will give users around 120 minutes recording time. Improvement is also seen in the lens which now offers a fixed focus of 0.8m to infinity instead of 1.5m to infinity on the 4GB version.

An upgraded video engine (version 3.5) has been added for improved performance. The anti-glare TFT viewing screen size has been increased too, now standing at a diagonal two inches, and its resolution has been bumped up to 960 by 240. Direct connection to a high definition TV is catered for with the inclusion of a HDMI output and a stereo microphone has been added too.

In common with the first generation offering, the new MinoHD comes in standard or user-designed colors, video quality is 720p at 30 frames per second, there's a 1/4.5" HD 2.2µm pixels CMOS sensor, a fast f/2.4 lens, digital zoom and a built-in speaker. Let's not forget the pop-out USB 2.0 arm (not Superspeed USB 3.0 yet folks) which gives the product line its name and the FlipShare software that has been highly praised for its ease of use and simplicity.

The second generation MinoHD Flip is available in the US only (at the moment) and has a recommended retail price of USD$230 (with the earlier HD version still available at USD$200 and the non-HD Mino standard at USD$150).

RIBA the friendly robot nurse

noreply@blogger.com (Ammad Ghauri) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:10:31 PDT

It might look like a cross between a snowman and a badly-designed toy polar bear, but the nursing fraternity should appreciate this robot that can lift patients in and out of beds and wheelchairs on command, while at the same time saving nurses’ backs and improving patient care and safety.

RIBA (Robot for Interactive Body Assistance) is said to be the first robot that can lift up or set down a real human (up to 61kg/134lbs) from or to a bed or wheelchair. RIBA does this using a combination of its very strong human-like arms and by novel tactile guidance methods using high-accuracy tactile sensors. RIBA was developed by integrating RIKEN's control, sensor, and information processing and TRI's material and structural design technologies.

Robots like RIBA could prove themselves very worthy acquisitions when you consider the number of times patients in hospitals and care facilities are lifted and moved each day - no wonder many care-givers struggle with bad backs, injuries and exhaustion, not to mention the patients who suffer from poorly-executed moves. Then there are patients who can’t be moved often enough when nursing staff is limited.

First RI-MAN, now RIBA

RIBA is the second generation robot to emerge from RIKEN-TRI. The first model, named RI-MAN, had limited safety and performance functionality, but RIBA’s human-like arms equipped with high-precision tactile sensors and a body encased in a soft exterior of urethane foam, guarantees patient safety and comfort say its makers.

The nursing robot responds to operator's commands from the basic “hello", "goodbye" and “shake hands”, through to lifting up and down, and other more intricate moves. Motion is adjusted and suspended or resumed by touching on RIBA’s tactile sensors. Its base has omni-directional wheels so it can move in any direction.

RIBA has specially-created joint positions and link lengths designed for lifting up a human. It’s slim arms and joint structure have high rigidity and high output torque, while two cameras and two microphones allow it to follow an operator using visual and audio cues. When the operator is within its view, RIBA detects the position (direction and distance), and moves to the operator's front. RIBA also detects sound source direction.

The robot’s body is covered with soft materials and the elbow and waist joints are isolated, making RIKA safe for physical interactions with humans. This softness also contributes to patient comfort when they are being lifted. A teddy bear shape was deliberately used to put patients at ease and to give a friendly, non threatening, appearance.

Staff can control RIBA's motion by directly touching its tactile sensors. RIBA's makers say this is an intuitive control method because the contact position and force direction coincide with those of the desired motion. By pattern processing RIBA can detect the operator’s touch even when in the process of lifting a human.

Specifications:

Height: 140cm/55in
Weight: 180kg/400lbs (including battery)
Payload:61kg/134lbs (tested value)
Area tactile sensor with 128 sensing-elements (for each upper arm), 86 sensing-elements (for each forearm)
Hand sensor with 4 sensing-elements (for each hand)
Vision sensor: two cameras
Auditory sensor: two microphones
Operation time: one hour in standard use
Actuator: DC motor
Power: NiMH battery
Base movement: Omni-directional with omni-wheels

The nursing-care assistant robot has been created by the Riken-TRI Collaboration Center for Human-Interactive Robot Research (RTC), which was established as a joint collaboration project by RIKEN and Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd (TRI). They believe robots like the RIBA should be able to alleviate much of the burden surrounding manual patient moves in hospitals and aged-care facilities.

RIBA is scheduled for release in the near future, but until then RIBA can be seen in action through a series of videos.

In a world coming to terms with an aging population, robots like RIBA are going to play an increasing part in patient care.

Iveco Electric Daily LCV prototype begins testing in Brazil

noreply@blogger.com (Ammad Ghauri) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:11:19 PDT

Iveco is showing a prototype of its new Electric Daily in Brazil, a vehicle destined to become the first zero emission light commercial vehicle produced in Latin America. The vehicle has regenerative braking, a range of 100km (65 miles) and a fully-laden top speed of 70kmh (43mph).

The project builds on Iveco’s long-running research and development of electric propulsion, which started with the development of the first Daily with pure electric drive in 1986. This new project is a collaboration between Iveco and Itaipu Binacional, an organization which manages the largest hydroelectric generating station in the world, on the border between Brazil and Paraguay. The production of the prototype will enable suitability testing to be carried out, looking specifically at the utilization of electrical energy for the transportation of goods and passengers. The project puts Iveco on target to become the pioneers of zero emission transportation in the Latin American market.

The prototype, based on a crew cab Daily 55C, is equipped with three sealed Zebra Z5 sodium, nickel and chloride batteries. These batteries do not produce gaseous emissions and are maintenance-free and totally recyclable.

Once the tests have been completed the Electric Daily is expected to enter production with Iveco at the same site where the Fiat Palio Electric is already produced. This builds on the partnership initiated in 2006 between Fiat Automoveis and Itaipu Binacional for the production of the first pure electric traction automobile in Brazil.

The first ten Electric Dailys manufactured in the production center of Foz do Iguaçu will be supplied to Itaipu Binacional and its associated companies. However, the project is also attracting significant interest among other large companies across both Brazil and Argentina. A second prototype based on a different configuration of the Daily is already scheduled for production by Iveco and Itaipu Binacional at the beginning of 2010.

Another global broadband offering from Verizon: the UMW190

noreply@blogger.com (Ammad Ghauri) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:11:30 PDT

Not even a month has passed since Verizon announced that it had partnered with the USA arm of China's ZTE to release of the AD3700 USB modem which offered users worldwide coverage from a single device. And now the company is at it again, declaring the forthcoming availability of the UMW190 USB modem, which does essentially the same job in a slightly smaller and cheaper form.

The stylish black UNW190 offers worldwide wireless broadband connectivity via a combination of Dual-Band CDMA 1xEV–DO Rev. A/Rev. 0: 800/1900MHz, Tri-Band UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA: 850/1900/2100MHz and Quad-Band GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900MHz capabilities. It has a pre-installed 'Global Ready' SIM card, a visual two-color LED status indicator, two-way text messaging capabilities and promises simple plug and play installation and configuration. It also supports VPN and NDIS.

Like the AD 3700 it connects to your mobile device via swivel USB (which, when not in use, is hidden via a sliding cover), comes with access management software, will connect automatically and is compatible with Windows 2000, XP and Vista.

The UMW190 is smaller than the AD3700, measuring in at 2.8in x 1.4in x 0.6in and slightly lighter at 1.4oz. It's also a bit cheaper at USD$49.99 (after a USD$50 mail-in rebate when a new two-year contract is signed).

The device is available now online at the Verizon Wireless website and through the company's business sales channels, and will hit Verizon stores later in the month.

Not wishing to repeat myself but, like I commented in my overview of the AD3700, at face value the only advantage that the UMW190 appears to offer is the convenience of not having to locate wireless broadband as you arrive in whatever country you're traveling to.

Given that such connectivity can often be low-cost or even free in some areas of the world, it may be worth doing some research before jumping into a new two-year contract when purchasing this particular mobile broadband solution.

Oshkosh demonstrates TerraMax autonomous vehicle system

noreply@blogger.com (Ammad Ghauri) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:11:39 PDT

The ability of military vehicles to better protect occupants with modern designs and high-tech materials has become an increasing priority and UK firm Amsafe has already seen success with its Tarian armor plating in the U.S. Oshkosh Defense, part of the U.S. Marine Corp’s MRAP (Mine-Resistant, Ambush Protected) program, is also heavily involved and a recently announced armor system took an alternative approach with an emphasis on mobility. Development of its new TerraMax vehicles seems almost flawless in its potential, however, at least in protecting the lives of the soldiers on board because, put simply, there aren’t any.

TerraMax, the latest in unmanned ground vehicles (UGV), was recently demonstrated by the Wisconsin-based company, a leading contributor to autonomous vehicle technology, at the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) and Fort Hood III Corps Robotics Rodeo in Texas. Two unique demonstrations illustrated current capabilities in robotic logistics convoy operations, advanced perception technology and human-assisted change detection by incorporating the latest in advanced robotic hardware and software.

As well as computer-controlled steering, acceleration, braking and transmission, a new laser scanner offers enhanced sensing abilities and 360° obstacle detection, as well as the ability to reduce the visual signature of the vehicle’s sensors so that it can better blend in with military fleets.

Oshkosh is currently working on improving occupants’ situational awareness by creating an immersive 3D display to render imagery from previously driven routes and combining it with real-time data to improve response times and aerial imagery.

ASUS EeeTop PC ET20/22 confirmed at last

noreply@blogger.com (Ammad Ghauri) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:11:46 PDT

If you need computing power but space is at a premium and you don't want to opt for a laptop or netbook, then an all-in-one PC might just be the answer you are looking for. After months of eager anticipation, Taiwan's ASUS has finally confirmed the technical specifications for its solution for the space-conscious non-mobile computer user - the EeeTop 20/22 series. They'll be super fast full HD graphics on a touchscreen 20in or 22in screen, a built-in webcam, wireless keyboard and mouse and the option of a Blu-ray player and even more squeezed into one classy chassis.

These new all-in-one's took their first tentative dip into the pool of IT media frenzy at this year's CeBit in Germany, which is billed as the world's largest IT trade fair. Frustratingly, there was a distinct lack of detail though and news since has been somewhat thin on the ground.

But now ASUS has made things official, releasing ET2002 and ET2002T, and ET2203 and ET2203T product details and technical specifications which confirm the improvements on earlier Eee Top models.

Like the earlier EeeTop models (which sported a 15.6in 16:9 aspect screen with Intel's Atom N270, a 160GB SATAII drive), the new additions come in both standard and touchscreen versions but now there are two different screen sizes to choose from.

The ET2002 is the 20in model and is powered by an Intel Atom 330 Dual Core processor and NVIDIA ION chipset. The low power NVIDIA ION graphics card helps keep things compact yet high-def-powerful and with 2GB DDR2 memory, a 250GB or 320GB SATAII drive it'll be quick and spacious. The 511mm x 410mm x 53mm (20.1in x 16.1in x 2in) dimensions should see it fit into the snuggest nook and the 7.2kg weight (15.8lb) means changing locations shouldn't involve pulling any muscles.

The ET2203 is, unsurprisingly perhaps, the 22in model. An Intel Core 2 Duo processor T4300 or T6500 and Mobile Intel PM45 Express chipset provide its power base and an ATI Radeon HD 4570 graphics card (full HD 1080p) help the visuals flow smoothly. There's 4GB DDR2 memory and a choice of 320GB or very roomy 500GB SATAII drives. An SPDIF digital audio output gives improved external connection possibilities. Weighing in a little heavier at 8.9kg (19.6lb), its dimensions measure up at 548mm x 450mm x 48mm (21.5in x 17.7in x 1.8in).

The touchscreen version is identified by a 'T' after the model name, ET2002T for instance, and is ready and waiting for all that Windows 7 touchscreen interactivity can throw at it. In the case of the ET2203T buyers will also get the option of a Blu-ray optical drive.

As well as the specifications already given, all versions of the new models benefit from:

Vista Home Premium (Windows 7 upgradable)
Dual hi-fi speakers with SRS Premium Sound
Built-in web cam, the EeeCam
Super multi optical drive
16:9 aspect
802.11b/g/n wireless card and Ethernet LAN
Digital microphone and standard headphone socket
HDMI input
6 USB ports and 3-in-1 card reader (SD/MMC/Memory Stick)
wireless keyboard & mouse

There's a range of exclusive applications to make life just a little bit easier, too, which may help you get the most from the EeeTop range, including the quick access EeeBar, the image collecting FotoFun and the note leaving Eee Memo.

There's little doubt that ASUS found a winner in its range of Eee PC netbooks, the excellent Eee PC 1005HA being a number one best-seller according to a recent article in eZine. Will the combination of top tech with ease of use and elegance bring ASUS another market leader?

Well, numerous manufacturers have been doling out all-in-one desktop computers for a good while now - the first one I remember drooling over was from Sony's VAIOrange - and the momentum seems to be picking up pace of late. With HP,Acer,MSI shuttle and Sony all recently announcing new touchscreen all-in-one machines, ASUS just might find the competition very stiff indeed as the market becomes as overpopulated as that of the netbook.

Pricing and availability information is at best sketchy at the moment but the ET2002T can be seen with a price tag of €598,96 (about USD$854) on the French LDLC website. Elsewhere it's a case of wait and see.

Watch some tentative testing on the video below:

Newly-developed 'graphone' makes spintronic devices closer than ever

noreply@blogger.com (Ammad Ghauri) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:11:54 PDT

A team of researchers from the Virginia Commonwealth University, Peking University in Beijing, the Chinese Academy of Science, and Tohoku University in Japan has designed a new graphite-based magnetic nanomaterial that behaves as a semiconductor and could prove very important for ongoing research in the field of spintronics.

Spintronics, or magnetoelectronics, is an emerging technology that harnesses the spin of electrons along with their electrical charge to store and transfer information in digital form. Because the electronic spin is closely related to magnetism, techniques that attempt to manipulate these particles must present strong and highly controllable magnetic properties.

Graphene: a possible substitute for silicon?

First isolated by English and Russian researchers in 2004, graphene is a one-atom thick sheet of carbon atoms densely-packed in a honeycomb structure with unique mechanical and electronic characteristics.

Graphene has a breaking strength 200 times greater than steel, and has proven an excellent choice in manufacturing highly resistant carbon nanotubes, which have quickly become one of the central research areas in today's nanotechnology.

But graphene also shows excellent electrical properties that, like silicon, can be precisely controlled by adding trace concentrations of impurities. Such impurities form chemical bonds with the existing atomic structure and release electrically-charged particles — either negatively-charged electrons or positively-charged 'electronic holes' — that alter the conductivity of the material.

This makes graphene apt for a number of applications in electronics, and particularly in integrated circuitry where, because of this and a number of other unique characteristics, it has the potential to become an excellent substitute for silicon.

Graphone, a carbon sheet with a twist

As explained above, in order for spintronics to fully flourish, there needs to be a way to precisely manipulate the spin of electrons. Because magnetism and electronic spin are so closely related, using a magnetic material is perhaps the most natural way of addressing the issue.

An international team recently designed a material that adds magnetism to the properties of graphene while retaining its structural integrity and most of its electrical properties. The so-called 'graphone' is therefore a very strong candidate for future applications in spintronics.

"The new material we are predicting, graphone, makes graphene magnetic simply by controlling the amount of hydrogen coverage — basically, how much hydrogen is put on graphene. It avoids previous difficulties associated with the synthesis of magnetic graphene," distinguished professor Puru Jena, who was part of the team, explained.

This approach is in fact quite different from other graphene nanostructures such as one-dimensional nanoribbons and two-dimensional nanoholes, where zigzag edges are necessary for magnetism, as explained in a paper written by the group and published in the latest edition of the journal Nano Letters.

The research was founded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, The National Science Foundation and by the U.S. Department of Energy.

The Samsung HZ25W 12.5MP camera with 24x Mega-Zoom

noreply@blogger.com (Ammad Ghauri) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:12:02 PDT

Recent developments in the digital camera market have given amateur photographers that require a decent optical zoom some reasonably priced point-and-shoot alternatives. Following announcements earlier this year by Kodak and Olympus, Samsung has released its own model - the HZ25W, a 12.5MP, 24x optical zoom camera that sports the most powerful lens ever offered on a Samsung compact digital model.

The integrated Schneider-Kreuznach lens has a 26mm wide-angle focal length and in addition to taking photos can record 720p HD video using the high definition H.264 codec. Other noteworthy features include optical and digital image stabilization to help manage the zoom-length without a tripod, full manual shooting for those who require additional control, and advanced auto-shooting which analyzes the current environment to choose between 11 optimized presets for the best possible image.

Photos can be cataloged and browsed easily with the Smart Album tool using criteria such as date and time taken, color tone and media type and additional features such as face recognition, face detection, blink detection and Samsung’s ‘Beauty Shot’ make this one of the most advanced point-and-shoots on the market.

Reid Sullivan, vice president of audio/video and digital imaging marketing at Samsung America emphasizes the approachable yet powerful nature of the HZ25W.

“Photographers of all skill levels are going to be drawn to the HZ25W’s features” he says. “The versatility of the lens gives any user, whether you’re a soccer mom on the sidelines or an enthusiast looking to create a stunning image, the ability to be prepared for just about any shooting scenario. Serious shooters will gravitate toward the HZ25W’s aperture and shutter priority modes as well as full manual control and RAW support. For the entry-level shooter, Samsung’s Smart Auto takes simplicity to a new level, ensuring a great shot every time without having to be concerned about camera settings.”

Available from October 2009, the Samsung HZ25W is priced at USD$399.99.

Altec Lansing MIX - digital boombox with multi music input

noreply@blogger.com (Ammad Ghauri) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:12:11 PDT

Get one of these and become the life of the party, that seems to be the message from Altec Lansing with the launch of its new MIX (iMT800) digital boombox for party-goers and ‘unofficial DJ’s’. The MIX lets users connect three music players at once through its inputs – a 30-pin dock connector for the iPhone and iPod and also two front-facing 3.5mm jacks. No more plugging and unplugging devices during songs or arguments over whose music is on next. The unit has a built-in subwoofer, a seven-band graphic equalizer, FM radio and heavy-duty carry handles to enable you to take the MIX from party to party. There’s also a remote control with clip-on carabiner.

The MIX delivers boombox sound through specially engineered horn-loaded tweeters and mid-range drivers. The 5.25” side-firing subwoofer and 5.25” tuned passive radiator pump out the bass, which is further enhanced with XdB technology for extra heavy punch, while the digital seven-band graphic equalizer allows music lovers to quickly tailor the sound to their preferred taste. MIX runs on AC or gives 30 hours of play time on eight D-cell batteries.

Designed with iPod and iPhone in mind, MIX is cleverly engineered to be immune to GSM signals, and won’t pick up those annoying intermittent noises emitted by the iPhone or other mobile devices. The music pauses and resumes play before and after taking a voice call without ever switching the iPhone to airplane mode.

Features

Specially-engineered horn-loaded silk dome tweeters
Two custom-designed drivers
XdB bass-enhanced side-firing subwoofer and tuned passive radiator
Drivers, enclosure and electronics are balanced for optimum sound
Digital FM radio with telescopic antenna and four station presets
AC or battery-powered (up to 30 hours of play with eight D batteries)
Dual AUX IN 3.5mm front-facing jacks
Clip-on remote
Music Pause – automatically pauses music when a call is received on the iPhone
Interference free – design is immune to mobile phone interference, eliminating the need to switch to airplane mode
LCD display – track, artist, album and station display
Customizable seven band EQ
Universal dock for iPhone and iPod – Recharges while it plays your tunes

The Altec lansing MIX (iMT800) is available now for USD$299.95.

Hands on: Nokia's N900 Internet tablet may be their best 'phone' ever

noreply@blogger.com (Ammad Ghauri) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 07:10:43 PDT

Based upon their previous N-Series Internet tablets, the N900 is a Linux based device with a large 800x480 display, but adds a quad-band 3G radio where previous products have been limited to WiFi only for communications. There's also full support for Exchange syncing, and a customized version of the Mozilla browser used in the desktop version of Firefox. With a slide-out 3 row qwerty keyboard and a large screen this device is ideal for corporate e-mail, and does a credible job of displaying formatted e-mail as well as a full weeks worth of calendar entries at a time.

After spending a few minutes using the device, we were left thinking this was what we were hoping for when Nokia announced the N97. In nearly all ways this device is designed to satisfy the needs of the 'power user'.

We're eagerly awaiting a test device with final software so we can put it through it's paces and write a full report.

Attached is Nokia's press release detailing the platform:

Maemo 5 injects speed and power into mobile computing

The new Nokia N900: Computer-grade performance in a handset

Espoo, Finland – Nokia today marked the next phase in the evolution of Maemo software with the new Nokia N900. Taking its cues from the world of desktop computing, the open source, Linux-based Maemo software delivers a PC-like experience on a handset-sized device.

The Nokia N900 has evolved from Nokia’s previous generation of Internet Tablets and broadens the choice for technology enthusiasts who appreciate the ability to multitask and browse the internet like they would on their desktop computer.

Running on the new Maemo 5 software, the Nokia N900 empowers users to have dozens of application windows open and running simultaneously while taking full advantage of the cellular features, touch screen and QWERTY keyboard.

“With Linux software, Mozilla-based browser technology and now also with cellular connectivity, the Nokia N900 delivers a powerful mobile experience,” says Anssi Vanjoki, Executive Vice President, Markets, Nokia. “The Nokia N900 shows where we are going with Maemo and we’ll continue to work with the community to push the software forward. What we have with Maemo is something that is fusing the power of the computer, the internet and the mobile phone, and it is great to see that it is evolving in exciting ways.”

Designed for computer-grade performance in a compact size, Maemo complements Nokia’s other software platforms, such as Symbian, which powers Nokia’s smartphones.

“Just as Nokia continues to expand and diversify its device portfolio, so it is deploying multiple platforms to allow it to serve different purposes and address different markets. While we have seen continued growth in Symbian as a smartphone platform, Maemo enables Nokia to deliver new mobile computing experiences based on open-source technology that has strong ties with desktop platforms,” says Jonathan Arber, Senior Research Analyst in Consumer Mobile at IDC.

More multitasking with Maemo

The Nokia N900 packs a powerful ARM Cortex-A8 processor, up to 1GB of application memory and OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics acceleration. The result is PC-like multitasking, allowing many applications to run simultaneously. Switching between applications is simple, as all running content is constantly available through the dashboard. The panoramic homescreen can be fully personalized with favorite shortcuts, widgets and applications.

To make web browsing more enjoyable, the Nokia N900 features a high-resolution WVGA touch screen and fast internet connectivity with 10/2 HSPA and WLAN. Thanks to the browser powered by Mozilla technology, websites look the way they would on any computer. Online videos and interactive applications are vivid with full Adobe Flash™ 9.4 support. Maemo software updates happen automatically over the internet.

Messaging on the N900 is easy and convenient thanks to the full physical slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Setting up email happens with only a few touches and the Nokia Messaging service mobilizes up to 10 personal email accounts. Text message or IM exchanges with friends are shown in one view and all conversations are organized as separate windows.

The Nokia N900 has 32GB of storage, which is expandable up to 48GB via a microSD card. For photography, the Maemo software and the N900 come with a new tag cloud user interface that will help users get the most out of the 5MP camera and Carl Zeiss optics. The Nokia N900 will be available in select markets from October 2009 with an estimated retail price of EUR 500 excluding sales taxes and subsidies. The Nokia N900 will be displayed at Nokia World, Stuttgart, on September 2.

Concept bracelet phone leaves electricity behind

noreply@blogger.com (Ammad Ghauri) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:45:45 PDT

For fashionable folk who enjoy the simple life but still need to be in contact with the rest of the world, comes the Leaf wearable bracelet phone concept. Great if you’ve run out of pockets or don’t want to carry a handbag, the Leaf is a wearable bracelet phone that incorporates solar cells for power on its front panel.

Inspired by photosynthesis, the Leaf is pretty basic - good for making calls and texting only. However, designers Seungkyun Woo and Junyi Heo say it’s main objective is to “remind people that they can contribute to energy efficiency.”

Looking a little like the Nokia Morph of last year, the docking cradle for the Leaf also has solar cells on the back. But hey, if it’s too dark for charging – like at night – you can use electricity to recharge the Leaf.

The wearable kidney

noreply@blogger.com (Ammad Ghauri) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:15:32 PDT

A fashion statement it may not be, but the Wearable Artificial Kidney (WAK) could prove a very smart accessory for those with serious kidney disease. A miniaturized dialysis machine that can be worn as a belt, the WAK concept allows patients with end stage renal failure the freedom to engage in daily activity while undergoing uninterrupted dialysis treatment.

Worn as a belt, the device weighs just ten pounds (4.5kg), including the two nine-volt batteries that power it. The compact design, unlike conventional dialysis machines, will leave patients free to engage in the activities that normal kidney function would ordinarily allow them to enjoy. Walking, working and riding a bike can all be actively pursued without restriction while undergoing gentle, uninterrupted treatment 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Dialysis technology as it exists today is a cumbersome, tiresome and confining process. It requires a patient’s physical attachment to a large machine known as an extracorporeal circuit (ECC) consisting of plastic blood tubing, a filter acting as an artificial kidney, and a monitor that maintains blood flow and administers a chemical bath called dialysate to remove urea and other waste products from the blood. The treatment involves circulating the patient's blood outside of the body anywhere between 3 – 5 hours per day, at least three times a week.

Dr Victor Gura, MD, an author of the study examining the breakthroughs in the Wearable Artificial Kidney, explains that such a device would have a massive impact on the quality of life for patients with end-stage renal failure. No longer would patients need to endure long hours of dialysis, limit their activities or face exorbitant costs associated with treatment. With the U.S. dialysis population currently exceeding 400,000 at costs of over $30 billion per year, this alternative palliative treatment “will not only reduce the mortality and misery…but will also result in significant reduction in the cost of providing viable health care.”

Sony adds wireless Daily Edition eBook reader to family

noreply@blogger.com (Ammad Ghauri) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:13:50 PDT

Sony has added a third child to its eBook reader family – the Reader Daily Edition – a sibling to the Pocket Edition and the Touch Edition products, which were released earlier this month. The Daily Edition eBook reader, however, is the ‘big brother’ to the other two, boasting a larger page view (seven inches wide) and 3G wireless connectivity.

“We firmly believe consumers should have choice in every aspect of their digital reading experience," said Steve Haber, president of Sony's Digital Reading Business Division. “Today, we take another large stride to deliver on that promise. We now have the most affordable devices on the market, the greatest access to free and affordable eBooks through The eBook Store from Sony and our affiliated ecosystem, and now round out our Reader offering with a wireless device that lets consumers purchase and download content on the go."

Reader Daily Edition users can gain wireless access to Sony’s eBook store from just about anywhere in the U.S. via AT&T's 3G mobile broadband network, making it even easier to browse and download books, magazines and a selection of newspapers. Sony says there are no monthly fees or transaction charges for the basic wireless connectivity. And users can still load personal documents or content from other compatible sites via USB.

The seven-inch wide touch screen provides scope for easy navigation and, more importantly, a comfortable reading experience, especially important for newspaper and magazine layout style. Pages can be viewed in either landscape or portrait formats.

In portrait mode, about 30-35 lines of text are visible, similar to a printed paperback, and Sony says the high contrast ratio of 16 levels of grayscale delivers text and images that are crisp and easy to read.

The Daily Edition also boasts an aluminum body with an integrated cover for durability. It has enough internal memory to hold more than 1,000 standard eBooks and expansion slots for memory cards to hold even more. It will sell for about USD$399.

The Reader Pocket Edition has a five-inch electronic paper display and the chassis is available in a variety of colors, including navy blue, rose and silver. It retails for USD$199, making it the most affordable dedicated reading device on the market, Sony says.

For USD$100 more, the Reader Touch Edition has a larger six-inch touch screen and features a responsive menu that enables quick, intuitive navigation, page turning, highlighting and note taking with the swipe of a finger or by using the reader’s stylus. The Touch Edition is available in red, black or silver.

All three models incorporate Sony’s award-winning industrial design and an electronic paper display that emulates the look of ink on paper. Sony's eBook Library software 3.0 now supports many Apple Mac computers as well as PCs, which the company says makes it easy to transfer and read any Adobe PDF (with reflow capability), EPUB, Microsoft Word, BBeB files, or other text file formats.

More in store - a million free books plus local library access

Sony has also made several improvements to its eBook Store to provide better access to an even greater variety of eBooks. Earlier, Sony announced the availability of more than one million free public domain books from Google, as well as new releases and New York Times bestseller titles available for USD$9.99.

Sony's Library Finder application, just launched, now offers visitors to the eBook Store easy access to their local library's collection of eBooks. Thousands of libraries in the Over Drive network offer eBooks optimized for the Sony Reader, and visitors can find the closest libraries by typing their zip code into the Library Finder.

Reader-users can check out eBooks with a valid library card, download them to a PC and transfer them to their Reader. There are never any late fees because at the end of the library's lending period, eBooks simply expire.

Robotic gaming gets on a roll

noreply@blogger.com (Ammad Ghauri) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:14:19 PDT

Robots have uses beyond packaging,production lines and the imminent overthrowing of humanity - or at least South African/U.S. start up Robonica thinks so. It’s aiming to ‘redefine the entertainment robotics market’ with a line of robotic gaming products that fuse elements of robotics, remote controlled vehicles and electronic gaming. The core of the Robonica’s introductory product, Roboni-i Action Games, is a fully programmable remote controlled robot with sensors that make it aware of its environment and that enable it to interact with other robots.

The agile two-wheeled robot, called the Roboni-i, is controlled via a radio-frequency (RF) remote control that uses the Zigbee peer-to-peer RF protocol, which is specifically targeted at RF applications that require a low data rate and long battery life. The robot features four processors and a total of 16 sensors – 11 infrared sensors to interact with the BaseStation and other Roboni-i, further infrared and touch sensors to detect and avoid obstacles, and radio sensors to interact with the game accessories, which use RFID to allow the robot to react differently to each piece.

These capabilities allow for various gameplay options including managing the Roboni-i‘s power system, protecting assets, collecting tokens, neutralizing an opponent’s robot by bumping or shooting it, or invoking in-game bonuses to cast spells on opponents. In addition to the games that come bundled with Roboni-i, users can also create their own games using the PC-based Command Center Software and download them via USB to the robot. The PC-based Command Center Software also allows users to upload performance data from the Roboni-i, program its’ behavior and tune its’ technical profile.

Connecting the Roboni-i to a PC turns it into a wireless receiver, so the handheld controller can then be used to control a virtual Roboni-i in the Roboni-i Online World and ‘help save the world from certain destruction.’ The Online World also allows users to create profiles, download games, schedule matches with friends, or register for events and tournaments.

The Roboni-i remote controlled robot might have a greater emphasis on the ‘remote controlled’ rather than the ‘robot’, but is sure to appear on many a young lad's Christmas list this holiday season. A word of warning to parents, though. If you’re planning on spoiling junior you might want to consider picking up a battery recharger as well because the Roboni-i runs on 12 AA batteries.

The Roboni-i Action Games Starter pack from Robonica is aimed at ages 10 and up and is due to hit U.S. stores from September 28 priced at USD$249.

Check out the video below to see the Roboni-i in action.

Look, no hands: the Qlocktwo from Biegert & Funk

noreply@blogger.com (Ammad Ghauri) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:43:52 PDT

What's so great about numbers anyway? And why is it that the circular form seems so sought after? After all, the Qlocktwo from Biegert & Funk proves beyond reasonable doubt that it's cool to be square and words are what matter most. The familiar rounded clock face is abandoned in favor of a stylish and elegant, cornered design where illuminated letters spell out the time at set intervals. It's time-signal receiver ensures this quartz-driven timepiece is always accurate and its interchangeable faces offer numerous color coordination options.

The Qlocktwo advises the passing of time using only words, in much the same way as you would in conversation: "It is five past twelve" or "It is quarter to two" and so on. It does this by illuminating appropriate combinations of the 110 brilliant white LEDs behind the letter matrix on the clock front to spell out the wording of the current time.

For the controlling types there are four manual brightness modes to help set the mood. There's an automatic setting, too, which uses a sensor to control the unit's brightness depending on the amount of light in its surrounding environment.

The display updates at five minute intervals but those wishing a slightly more detailed account of how many moments are being lost can watch for dots appearing at each corner to signal the passing minutes in-between typographical changes.

Watching the seconds fly by is also possible at the press of a button (see video at the end). A pleasant feature is the purist mode where the introductory "It is ... " will only be displayed on the hour and on the half hour.

Inside the machine

At the core of this beautiful creation is a quartz-driven system which synchronizes with the DCF-77 central European time signal, a longwave time transmission emanating from the Frankfurt area of Germany with a range of about 2000km and set to Central European Time. So for a good part of Europe it'll stay accurate.

The system, which consumes less than 2W, is encased in a solid wooden body and topped with a synthetic (acrylic) glass front with polished edges. It benefits from automatic summer/winter daylight saving adjustment and at about 4kg (8.8lb) and measuring 450mm by 450mm by 20mm (17.7 x 17.7 x 7.8 inches) it'll look just as stunning on a wall as on its acrylic stands.

Settings are altered via four small buttons on the back which can be reached without the need to take the clock from the wall.

Getting your hands on one

A special mention must be made of the product website. The Flash representation of the Qlocktwo coded into the page synchronizes with your computer's clock to show the current time in Qlocktwo format - which is a nice touch! It's a pity that this animation is not available as a desktop widget, it would no doubt prove very popular.

The Qlocktwo was released in the second quarter of 2009 and has already picked up a FORM#09 design award by German Crafts Association for its innovative design and functionality. Each clock is hand-made in Germany and comes in six different colors (black ice tea, cherry cake, vanilla sugar, frozen blackberry, lime juice, light caramel) and in three languages (English, German or French).

It can be yours for the recently reduced price of €885 (about USD$1266 - excluding shipping). And don't worry if you change the decor of your home after you've purchased one of these beauties as interchangeable magnetic front panels made from either synthetic glass or solid stainless steel can be purchased separately (prices start at €95 or USD$136) and placed over the top of your base color.

iPhone and iPod Touch owners can enjoy the simple beauty of the Qlocktwo clock by purchasing an application on Apple's iTune store which will not only give your friends something to envy but also works out much, much cheaper than buying the actual clock.

UK government: crack down on file sharing, cut off suspected pirates' internet connections

noreply@blogger.com (Ammad Ghauri) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:43:26 PDT

Illegal peer-to-peer sharing of movies, music and software is currently estimated to comprise more than half the world's Internet traffic - and copyright holders are up in arms, saying that CD, movie and software sales are taking a devastating hit from the quick, convenient and anonymous piracy options the broadband age has opened up. Now, the UK is considering legislation that would see suspected illegal file sharers cut off altogether by their ISPs - despite the fact that the European Parliament recently rejected a similar plan from France, on the grounds that it contravened the modern citizen's fundamental right to access the Internet.

Information is free in the Internet Age

Music sharing has long been an issue for record companies - back in the 1980s and 90s, though, volumes were small enough to be negligible; yes, you could dub a cassette or burn a CD, but most of this was fairly small-scale, at least in developed countries.

But with the age of ubiquitous broadband, one thing has become clear to Internet users: if you can chop something into ones and zeros, you can get it for free if you look hard enough. Books, music, software, high-def movies - they're all out there. And the stream of piracy has become a raging torrent in the broadband age, if you'll pardon the pun.

Consumers are used to information on the Internet being free, and that has quickly extended beyond text content; as data speeds increase, even the biggest media and software files are quick, easy and pretty much anonymous to download.

To catch a pirate

But when we say "pretty much anonymous," that's not the full story. There are a few ways that you can be identified if you're engaging in illegal file sharing. For one, your computer's IP address can be noted when you visit one of the many thousands of websites devoted to indexing peer-to-peer file sharing links.

Furthermore, your ISP can identify easily enough which bits of data you're downloading and uploading are likely to be peer-to-peer sharing. Now, P2P sharing in and of itself isn't an illegal act - it's only a problem if you're sharing copyright material. And that's much more difficult for the ISP to work out. But given that the vast majority of P2P traffic (and most likely, the vast majority of ALL internet traffic) is pushing illegal copies around, it's fairly easy for an ISP to single out which of its customers are likely to be engaging in a lot of P2P piracy.

RIAA crackdowns in the USA

In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has aggressively pursued individual file-sharers by subpoenaing ISPs all around the country to identify piracy suspects, claiming that file sharing is responsible for the massive drop in CD sales in the last few years. In a number of high-profile court cases, the RIAA has won massive financial payments from file-sharers - take Joel Tenenbaum for example.

The Boston PhD student was found to have wilfully distributed a "mixtape of 30 songs" through the Kazaa network - and was ordered in July to pay a whopping US$675,000, or $22,500 per song - to the major record labels he'd infringed against. And while "DJ Joel" is a well-known example, he's hardly alone, and his bankrupting penalty is far from the biggest the RIAA has won.

Still, all that this legal action seemed to achieve was to rally a passionate and vocal opposition to the RIAA, not to mention a whole lot of bad blood directed at the record companies themselves - thus, the RIAA has backed off on the targetting of individuals, at least for the time being.

Britain's solution: off with their connections!

Across the pond in the UK, the government is considering proposals from copyright industry representatives that punishes offenders from a different angle. As part of the upcoming Digital Economy bill, the Department for Business Innovation and Skills has announced it is considering following France's lead and implementing a law which would see suspected illegal file-sharers given two written warnings before having their Internet connection suspended or cut off.

The French plan, incidentally, was derailed by European Parliament, who ruled 407-57 that cutting off acess to the internet was effectively a violation of the fundamentals rights of European citizens.

So it remains to be seen how Britain will deal with the flood of complaints the move is sure to inspire. For starters, the law could be seen to be punishing mainly the lowest-level file sharers, as folks who are seriously into file sharing have already worked out how to encrypt the streams of data, spoof their IP addresses and generally make themselves very difficult to detect.

Then there's the issue that when one Internet connection is cut off, more than just one person could be affected. Entire families could be dropped off the Web because Junior has downloaded a few movies. Worse still, big time pirates could conceivably find ways to use innocent third parties' connections to go about their business, and get them banned.

Furthermore, the ISP companies desperately don't want to be drawn into a situation where they're responsible for spying on and punishing their clients - and this kind of law would have to be enacted at the ISP level. Not only would it be a costly and technically challenging task, it would have a nasty effect on customer relationships.

Whether or not this bill passes, the UK government has committed itself to reducing piracy by at least 70% - which would be a massive win for content copyright holders, given that illegal file sharing is believed to represent more than half the total Internet traffic in the UK.

It will be fascinating to see how this plays out across the globe, with governments everywhere under intense pressure from recording and film industry groups to protect their members from the financial losses they believe file sharing is inflicting upon them. On the other side is the issue of free, uncensored and private access to the greatest information (and free stuff) resource the world has ever seen.

Tunable electromagnetic 'invisible gateway' brings science closer to fiction

noreply@blogger.com (Ammad Ghauri) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:43:10 PDT

Harnessing the unique properties of metamaterials, researchers in China have recently published a work detailing the implementation of a thin air, broadband and remotely controllable 'invisible gateway' that is able to shield all types of electromagnetic waves while letting through all other physical objects.

In the paper published by the group from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the Fudan University in Shanghai, this newly-developed technology is compared to one of the 'hidden portals' often mentioned in fiction that is now coming much closer to reality.

In its study, the group made use of negative refractive index metamaterials, exotic materials that can refract light and other electromagnetic waves in unique ways that are currently a very active field of research in solid state physics and electrical engineering.

The group employed metamaterials in conjunction with ferrite materials and transformation optics to produce a complex scattering effect that bends light and other electromagnetic waves away from the gateway, preventing them from walking through. However, because of the shape of the device (pictured above), other objects easily can go through the portal undisturbed, as nothing but thin air separates the two sides of the gateway.

Unlike previous attempts at building such a gateway, the team's approach seems to have solved the problem of the narrow operational bandwidth that is typical of metamaterials, which means that only a very narrow range of frequencies would be effectively blocked out on command.

This configuration, in fact, can be manipulated to have optimum permittivity and permeability, and is able to insulate the electromagnetic field that encounters it with an appropriate magnetic reaction. What is more, the configuration's response to magnetic fields can even be tuned and switched on and off remotely.

Does this mean that the long sought-after invisibility cloak will soon see the light of day? Not yet, according to Dr Huanyang Chen, who was part of the research group: "In the frequency range in which the metamaterial possesses a negative refraction index, people standing outside the gateway would see something like a mirror. Whether it can block all visible light depends on whether one can make a metamaterial that has a negative refractive index from 300 to 800 nanometers [the visible spectrum]," he explained.

As of today, such a composite hasn't been created. However, the team's findings have revealed yet another possible path to a Harry Potter-style invisibility cloak.

The eniCycle is an electric unicycle that balances fun and utility

noreply@blogger.com (Ammad Ghauri) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:42:59 PDT

The eniCycle is the latest entry in the increasingly crowded self-stabilizing electric unicycle market. Developed by Slovenian inventor Aleksander Polutnik, the eniCycle has Segway-like balancing capabilities but only a single wheel. With its three-hour battery and lean-to-go controls, this diminutive one-wheeler prototype brings Jetsons-type technology one step closer to reality.

The eniCycle features a seat mounted over a wheel like a standard pedal-type unicycle. In between is a battery pack, control unit, and coil spring suspension. There are no pedals on the EniCycle, only pegs for your feet. To steer the EniCycle, you simply press on the footpeg in the direction you want to go. Speed is controlled by leaning: to go forward, lean forward; to slow down, lean back. Polutnik claims you can learn to ride it in 30 minutes.

The eniCycle features a more upright posture compared with other electric mono-wheeled vehicles we’ve seen such as the UnoMoto, which looks something like a motorcycle, and the egg-like Bornbadier Embrio concept. Like the Segway the eniCycle seems best suited to urban or campus transport.

Polutnik has built two prototypes so far, and says that they use many off-the-shelf parts. Propulsion comes from a 1000W brushless hub motor powered by a battery pack made up of standard D-size NiMH batteries. The inventor claims that the battery pack recharges in 5 hours and provides up to 3 hours of run time. In addition, the inventor says the eniCycle recharges the battery while coasting downhill.

The balancing and lean-sensing features of the eniCycle are enabled by micro-electro-mechanical (MEM) gyroscopes and accelerometers. These components are similar to the technology used in automobile air-bag sensors and videogame controllers. The sensors are harnessed together by Polutnik’s customer electronics package and software.

eniCycle prototype specifications:

15kph (9.3mph) maximum speed
30 km (18.6mi) range on one battery charge
1000W motor
44V 10Ah battery pack
5 hours charging time for battery pack
28 kg (62lbs) weight

The enicycle website indicates that a first production run is planned for this year. No pricing information has been released.

X-ray telescope to shed light on dark energy

noreply@blogger.com (Ammad Ghauri) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:42:46 PDT

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Russia’s Roskosmos space agency are joining forces to try and shed some light on the poorly understood phenomenon referred to as ‘dark energy’. In 2012 the German extended Roentgen Survey with an Imaging Telescope Array (eROSITA) X-ray telescope will be taken into orbit on board the Russian Spektrum Roentgen Gamma (SRG) satellite to start searching for black holes and dark matter in an attempt to answer why the expansion of the universe is accelerating instead of slowing down.

Consisting of seven individual mirror systems with apertures of just under 36 centimeters and 54 nested mirror shells each, which scan the whole sky in parallel, the eROSITA telescope will offer an unparalleled combination of collecting area, field-of-view and resolution. Acting as seven electronic eyes are specially developed CCDs (Charge Coupled Devices) placed at the focal point of each X-ray mirror system.

To investigate dark energy, which is invisible and only perceptible at vast distances, eROSITA will survey about 100,000 galaxy clusters, which are visible to the X-ray telescope through the radiation from the hot gas that has collected at their centers. It is the distribution of this gas in space and its variation over time that is the key to the analysis of the characteristics of dark energy. Clues may be found, for example, in the way that its share in the energy density of the universe - which it dominates today at more than 70 percent - has changed in the course of cosmic evolution.

Unlike radio astronomy, which studies the radio waves from an astronomical object, X-ray astronomy is an observational branch of astronomy that deals with the study of X-ray emissions from celestial objects. And since X-ray radiation is absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere, X-ray telescopes such as eROSITA must be sent into space.

The eROSITA will be carried into space on a Soyuz-Fregat rocket that will set the X-ray telescope into an orbit around the second Lagrange (L2) point of the Sun-Earth system. L2 is one of five positions in an orbital configuration that a small object affected only by gravity will be stationary relative to the two larger objects, in this case the Sun and the Earth. L2 is located approximately 1.5 million kilometers behind Earth as seen from the Sun and is particularly good as a site for performing astrophysical observations. From this position, eROSITA will observe the whole sky for seven years and scan it multiple times.

Members of the German Aerospace Center and Roskosmos recently signed a detailed agreement setting out all the organizational and technical boundary conditions for the eROSITA project, which should provide scientists with valuable new findings to hopefully answer some of the big questions about our universe: How was it created? How old is it? What is its future?

Gorillatorch shines light wherever you need it

noreply@blogger.com (Ammad Ghauri) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:42:25 PDT

Joby, creator of the bendy Gorillapod camera tripod, has announced a hands-free flashlight called the Gorillatorch. Consisting of an LED lamp unit mounted on a Joby flexible tripod, the Gorillatorch’s design lets you twist and bend the legs around to position the light just where you need it.

The Gorillatorch flexible tripod legs are each tipped with a magnetic foot for added mounting capability. In addition, the joints and feet feature grippy rubber for extra stability on most surfaces but won’t scratch paint, according to Joby.

The water-resistant lamp unit features an LED that can output up to 65 lumens, and a dimmer switch lets you set the brightness. The Gorillatorch runs on three AA batteries, which Joby says will provide 20 to 80 hours of light depending on the output level.

Gorillatorch is designed for camping trip, workshop use, or wherever you need portable, mountable lighting. Joby even suggests using it to illuminate your steaks at a nighttime barbeque (be careful!).

The Gorillatorch will be available in September for US$30. You can pre-order in now from the Joby Website.

Portable USB drive and solar charger boosts gadgets on the move

noreply@blogger.com (Ammad Ghauri) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:42:07 PDT

If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere that gets a decent amount of sun every year, investing in a solar charger to give portable devices a boost when out and about would be a wise idea and Korean company Zyrus has come up with something tidy and practical enough to hold genuine appeal.

The Sun Drive is a combination solar panel, USB drive and multi-charger and as you can see from the image above, is more than portable enough to tuck away in a pocket or bag. This makes its solar capabilities all the more impressive, though a full charge does require around 15 hours of sunlight so unless we manage to perfect charging at night its solar potential may be restricted to a quick emergency boost when necessary.

Luckily there’s a bit more to the Sun Drive than this and aside from optional USB storage capacities of 2, 4, 8 and 16 GB it also houses a rechargeable 400mA Li-Polymer battery, which retains charge from the solar panel over time and can also be fully boosted via USB in under 50 minutes.

It’s capable of offering up to an hour of talk time or 35 hours standby time on mobile phones, and with the right adaptors can be used with additional devices such as digital cameras, MP3 players and games consoles.

Available for a quite reasonable US$23 for the charge-only unit or $31 for the 4GB memory model, it’s well priced too.

Tiny lasers hold key to nano-circuitry

noreply@blogger.com (Ammad Ghauri) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:41:53 PDT

Researchers at Cornell, Purdue and Norfolk State University have reported the successful creation of a 'spaser', a new kind of nanoscale laser that breaks dimensional limits previously thought to be insurmountable, leading the way to significantly faster and more efficient computer processing and data transfer rates.

Laser technology has been playing an increasingly important role in electronics during the past few decades even though, researchers agree, some of the most useful and game-changing applications will only become a reality once the problem of downscaling is solved, so that more can be integrated in a single chip.

Just a few weeks ago, researchers had found a way to create lasers much smaller than the 1,500 nanometers wavelength that is commonly used in nanophotonics, which involves precisely manipulating a limited number of photons. Now, the findings by the team represent yet another giant step forward in laser integration.

The device, called 'spaser', is the first of its kind to emit radiation in the visible light spectrum, with a 530 nanometers wavelength that is only about a third of the one usually employed in nanophotonics. The nanolasers consist of spheres with a diameter of only 44 nanometers, a tremendous improvement over common nanolasers.

In order to work correctly, in fact, lasers need to employ a resonator — a component that contributes to amplify and synchronize an initial signal so that the output is a high-energy beam concentrated in a small surface. Optical resonators must typically be at least half the size of the wavelength involved, which would put the size of a 530 nanometers wavelength laser at about 270 nanometers.

The researchers, however, have overcome this obstacle by using quantum particles known as surface plasmons instead of photons. The surface plasmon lasers, or 'spasers', contain a gold core surrounded by a shell filled with green dye. When photons hit the spheres, plasmons generated by the gold core are amplified by the dye and are converted to photons in the visible light spectrum.

"This work represents an important milestone that may prove to be the start of a revolution in nanophotonics, with applications in imaging and sensing at a scale that is much smaller than the wavelength of visible light," said Timothy D. Sands, the Mary Jo and Robert L. Kirk Director of the Birck Nanotechnology Center in Purdue's Discovery Park.

One of the many interesting applications of spasers, apart from the already cited photonics-based computer processing and telecommunication, the researchers suggested, could be in microscopic imaging ten times as powerful as today's, which would allow us to observe objects as small as DNA cells for the first time.

The team also announced that one of its next focuses will be to try to use an electrical source instead of a light source for their lasers, which would ease the transition to faster laser-based computation.

Not your average solar panel: The SRS solar roof tile

noreply@blogger.com (Ammad Ghauri) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:41:34 PDT

Thanks to a system created by SRS Energy and offered exclusively as an upgrade option to customers of US Tile (the largest manufacturer of clay tile in the United States), those wishing to benefit from rooftop solar energy will no longer have to worry about any panels being stuck on the side of the roof and spoiling the aesthetics. The Solé Power Tile system is the first building-integrated photovoltaic roofing product designed to blend in with curved roof tiles commonly found in the Pacific West and Southwest of the United States.

Each tile is 37.4in wide and 18in long, there's generally a 3in overlap leaving 15in of tile exposed to sunlight. A 30 tile per 100 sq ft installation will weigh 240lbs and generate 860 Kw/h per annum (assuming 5.8 peak sun hours). According to SRS Energy: "triple-junction amorphous silicon thin-film technology incorporated within the Solé Power Tile" is manufactured by United Solar Ovonic and "allows the system to produce an estimated 8-20% more energy than incumbent crystalline silicon panels."

Any power generated by the system which is not used by the building (or stored in batteries if that option is chosen) is fed into the grid. Utility companies then give a credit for the amount of energy generated meaning financial benefits can be enjoyed from day one. Each system is monitored to provide feedback so that checks can be made against any credits made.

Monitored to ensure efficiency

Although SRS Energy claims that those who choose to install the Solé Power Tile system should enjoy many years of trouble-free rooftop energy creation before a tile needs to be replaced, both SRS Energy and US Tile monitor the system to ensure that it's working efficiently. It's set up so that if one tile should fail, a total system failure doesn't occur and the rest of the tiles continue to generate charge as if nothing had happened.

If a tile does fail or it reaches the end of its expected operational life, the thermoplastic polymers used in its construction can be safely recycled. You might wonder why the solar tiles do not color match the clay tiles. Unfortunately blue is currently the only color available due to the limits of the solar technology used in the tile. Other color options may become available in the future as advances in the field are made.

Availability and more info

It is currently only available to a limited number of US Tile customers in the West Coast area. The first residential installation has just been completed at Bermuda Dunes in California. A (US) nationwide rollout is being planned for the Spring of 2010 and international marketing may follow after that.

Pricing an installation depends on so many variants that anyone interested in learning how they might benefit from one of these systems should contact SRS Energy for detailed information, although it may be worth noting that both Federal and State incentives could be available to help offset installation costs.

If you already have a US Tile roof and don't relish the thought of having to pay for a new one don't worry, a retrofit can be arranged. US Tile's headquarters in California is equipped with a demo installation should you wish to see a system in action.

And if you live near Audubon, Philadelphia then you could also pop over to Zwahlen's Ice Cream and Chocolate Company parlor on Shannondell Boulevard as the building has been sporting some Solé tiles on its roof since June 2009 (see gallery).

Details and installation photographs can be viewed on both SRS's Website and US Tile's Website.