New and Emerging Technology News part 144 ~ NEW GEN TECH LIFE : new generation technology news

Sunday 2 February 2014

New and Emerging Technology News part 144

The re-purposed ProMetal 3D printer used by the WSU researchers to create objects in a bon...
Over the past decade, 3D printing technology has made the transition from huge expensive units used by industry to produce prototype components to small desktop units like the DIY MakerBot Thing-O-Matic that are within the reach of home users. But home users looking to produce custom household objects aren’t the only ones set to benefit from advances in 3D printing technology, with 3D bio-printers offering the prospect of creating organs on demand for replacement surgery. Now researchers have used a 3D printer to create a bone-like material that could be used to create customized scaffolds to stimulate the growth of replacement bone tissue.  Read More
The 137mph Energica electric superbike
Italian electric race-bike outfit CRP Racing has announced its first road-going superbike, the Energica. With 100 kW of power and top of the line chassis and suspension, all clothed in modern Italian style bodywork, the Energica is capable of speeds up to 220 km/h (137 mph) and range of 150 km (93 miles) on a single charge, due in part to a power train efficiency close to 95 percent. The package includes such niceties as ride-by-wire throttle, a brace of radial-caliper Brembo disc brakes, Ohlins suspension, digital multifunction LCD dashboard and LED lights.  Read More
Developer Brandon Fiquett has hacked Siri on the iPhone 4S to enable control of his car
Developer Brandon Fiquett has hacked Siri on the iPhone 4S to work along with his Viper SmartStart module in order to not only start his car, but also to arm and disarm the car's alarm, lock and unlock doors, and even pop the vehicle's trunk.  Read More
eSolar's 5 MW Sierra SunTower installation covers 20 acres and will provide power 'up to 4...
Recently the Cleantech Group, with the assistance of an advisory panel of corporate executives, sat down to decide upon the third annual Global Cleantech 100: the hundred "most promising and innovative" clean technology companies of 2011. The listed companies span a range of industries, and though solar energy firms, chemical recyclers, LED manufacturers and energy-monitoring software programmers certainly aren't under-represented, many companies in the hundred are defined by a single product or idea. Gizmag scoured the Cleantech 100 to find what we thought were the ten most innovative companies.  Read More
Steelseries SRW-S1 racing controller
When it comes to hardcore racing games, the trend seems to rest more on authenticity than portability, with controls ranging from a separate wheel and pedals to one arcade game in Japan that is literally a full-sized car. Hoping to offer a more compact alternative, SteelSeries has teamed up with game developer, Ignite Technologies, to create the Simraceway SRW-S1 Steering Wheel.  Read More
The Origami is a stroller that automatically folds itself up, with the push of a button
Appropriately enough called the Origami, the new baby product from 4moms is billed as “the world’s first power-folding stroller.” This means that it will fold itself down into a compact car-trunkable bundle, at the press of a button – another press gets it to open back up again. Evidently, however, that one feature just isn’t enough. It also has running lights and headlights, plus it will charge your cell phone. There’s no word yet on whether or not in can perform diaper changes.  Read More
On a scale of 1 to 5, how much retouching would you say was applied to the left-hand image...
Even though we know that the photos we see of models and celebrities are retouched, many of us nonetheless can’t help but think “Yeah, but even without that little bit of airbrushing, that person still looks way better than me.” For most people, such thoughts are merely a little bit humbling. For others, however, they can lead to Body Dysmorphic Disorder, eating disorders, or severely-low self-esteem – all of which can in turn have very serious consequences, including death. Perhaps if those people knew just how retouched that one photo of Mila Kunis or Ryan Gosling was, however, they might realize how much of a lie it really represented. That’s why researchers at New Hampshire’s Dartmouth College are proposing a system that objectively assesses the extent of changes made to a photograph, then displays that amount as a number rating on the published photo.  Read More
SolLight has announced a portable charger that marries a lightweight carry pouch, a solar ...
The Solio may not have been the first solar charger, but its appealing design and useful interchangeable tip system gave portable power packs a much-needed popularity boost. Transferring the juice from a charger to a smartphone or media player can be a time-consuming affair, though ... time that could be spent listening to the music stored on the device. SolLight's solution is to combine a lightweight carry pouch, a solar charger and some stereo speakers into something called the SoliCharger-SP.  Read More
Zoleco's lightweight body and drag reduction design offers a claimed 82 percent reduction ...
Canadian Zoltan Bod is a self-proclaimed "car and performance nut" who has built his very own, very efficient, 151 mpg (1.56 L/100 km) concept car. Dubbed Zoleco (which merges part of Bod's name with the word "eco"), it is designed with ergonomic considerations and seats up to four passengers comfortably. It also features a teardrop body shape and a three-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine, along with thermal and braking energy recovery technologies, that conserve as much energy as possible. The result is a sporty and eco-friendly car that we're told is fun to drive.  Read More
Fujifilm has unveiled a new addition to its premium X Series camera family - the X-S1 12 m...
A new member will shortly take its place alongside the X10 retro compact and the FinePix X100 in Fujifilm's premium X Series cameras. The X-S1 bridges the gap between compact point-and-shoot cameras and digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) models - featuring a relatively large sensor, 26x superzoom lens, built-in flash and the ability to record full high definition movies.  Read More

The mobislyder is a compact video camera sliding system, for use with smartphone cameras a...
I have to admit to occasionally doing something that’s perhaps a little dorky. If I’m listening to particularly moody music, I’ll sometimes close one eye, then simulate a tracking shot or a crane shot from a movie, by slowly moving my head past the items on my desk. Yeah, I look pretty dumb doing it, but the continuous change in perspective created by such a simple move really has a way of making even the most mundane scenes look ... poetic? Profound? Good videographers realize how powerful such shots can be, which is why some of them put their DSLRs or prosumer-level camcorders on camera sliding mechanisms like the Glidetrack. Now, users of smartphone cameras and pocket camcorders can get in on the smooth-tracking action, with Glidetrack’s compact new mobislyder.  Read More
Honda's RCE
One of the disappointments of the Tokyo Motor Show which opened today was the lack of information on many of the concepts on show, and in particular, Honda's much awaited first real electric motorcycle. Up close, it looks like the real deal, but not one scrap of information was available on even the specifications. Honda wasn't the only culprit but with its extraordinary technology, we were expecting more. We have lots of pics, but no info whatsoever.  Read More
The Yamaha Y125 concept
Yamaha's press conference at the Tokyo Motor Show today was a genuine sign of the times. Four brand new world premiers were shown. The largest internal combustion engine amongst them was a 250cc model with fat tires designed to go anywhere – the SUV of motorcycles was the claim. There was also a three-wheeled electric commuter, a fold-up electric pedal-assist bicycle and, wait for it, an 80 km/l (226 mpg Imperial or 188 U.S. miles/gallon) retro 125cc commuter that's somewhere between a bicycle and motorcycle – it weighs just 80 kg and it is beautiful.  Read More
The Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV II PHEV.
With its Concept PX-MiEV II making its world premier at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, Mitsubishi is breaking away from electric mini-cars and applying its MiEV electric vehicle technology to the oft-derided SUV. But Mitsubishi hopes to convince the SUV-naysayers with its concept plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV), which it describes as having "high environmental performance and fuel efficiency." To the technology borrowed from the i-MiEV, the PX-MiEV II adds a conventional engine, with the result that the hybrid matches the range of a conventional car, but with significantly improved fuel efficiency. Thus, claims Mitsubishi, its hybrid SUV will happily cruise at 60 km to the liter (141 mpg), to a range of more than 800 km (or 500 miles).  Read More
Jetman flying in formation with his bigger brothers
Jetman's death-defying aerial antics took another turn recently, when he teamed up with a pair of jets for some formation work. In what could easily have turned into a replay of Icarus's last adventure, Jetman (Swiss pilot Yves Rossy) strapped on his tiny wings and leaped from his rotary-wing elevator to meet up with his bigger brothers.  Read More
Aedes aegypti, the #1 disease vector for dengue fever (Photo by Muhammad Mahdi Karim, publ...
War, plague, famine, heart disease, cigarettes, road trauma: six very effective killers of human beings. But they're all amateurs when their records are compared to the number one mass murderer of all time. The humble mosquito, and the deadly diseases it carries, is estimated to have been responsible for as many as 46 billion deaths over the history of our species. That staggering number is even more frightening in context - it means that mosquitoes are alleged to have killed more than half the humans that ever lived. So if any species deserves the full wrath of human technology, this is the one. And here, it seems, is how we might take our revenge - genetically modified strains of mosquito that are designed to cripple their own offspring and systematically destroy entire populations. And these mutant, auto-genocidal mozzies are already loose in the wild.  Read More
By following a few simple steps, anyone can turn an old LCD into a privacy monitor with co...
Many of us still keep old LCDs that should have been discarded long time ago. There might be a good reason, however, to refrain from disposing of this obsolete equipment. By following a few simple steps, anyone can turn an old LCD into a privacy monitor with contents visible only to the person wearing a pair of special glasses (also home-built), while anyone else can only see a white surface.  Read More
Honda EV-STER concept
More from the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, where Honda today unveiled the two-seater EV-STER, which it describes as the "next-generation electric small sports concept". Honda says that its lightweight frame made of "carbon materials" grants a range of approximately 160 km (99 miles) while simultaneously improving performance. Honda very much emphasizes the EV-STER's driving experience, citing the ability to customize motor output and suspension settings, as well as its twin-lever control instead of a steering wheel.  Read More
The Little Printer is a cloud-connected thermal printer, that prints off mini newspapers c...
Even though computers were supposed to usher in a paperless society, the fact is that for some things, people still like the simplicity and durability of printed text. Now more than ever, though, we’re being told to cut back on unnecessary paper use. Well, that’s where the Little Printer comes in. Announced today by UK tech company BERG, the small box-shaped device is designed to search the internet using user-defined criteria, then print off a cash register receipt-like mini newspaper upon request. Users can then stuff that printout in their pocket, jam it into their wallet, or use the back of it for their next shopping list.  Read More
The Volkswagen Cross Coupe concept making its debut at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show (Image: G...
The opening day of the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show has seen Volkswagen unveil its Cross Coupé crossover concept. Featuring a long wheelbase and short overhangs, the all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid is visually a cross between a four-door coupé and a compact SUV. The vehicle also represents the first public outing of Volkswagen's new modular transverse matrix (Modularer Querbaukasten or MQB) platform, which is intended to form the basis of a variety of different models (including the upcoming Golf and Audi A3), allowing the use of the same set of components while providing the flexibility for individual models to have a variety of wheelbase, track and external dimensions.  Read More
 
My Robot Nation - build your own miniature robot
Following a month long beta, My Robot Nation has officially launched its new website, which offers everyone a chance to create their own personalized miniature robots. With the browser-based building tools, visitors to the website can customize a robot from scratch, which they can then order to be generated with a 3D printer and shipped to them. It may sound like a simple concept, but that simplicity is what sets My Robot Nation apart from other 3D printing services on the market.  Read More
The three-strong range of Kobot concept electric vehicles at the Tokyo Motor Show
In February of this year, TMSUK - the Japanese robotics company behind service robots such as the telerobotic shopper and the Showa Hanako 2 robotic dental patient - partnered up with pharmaceuticals and electro-optronics company Kowa to develop environmentally friendly electric vehicles for urban transportation. The Kowa-TMSUK joint venture isn't even a year old yet has managed to produce not one, not two, but three eye-catching concept vehicles that have made their world debut at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show.  Read More
Honda's new 2.4L engine is part of a wide range of engine classes developed for the compan...
Honda has outlined its next-generation technology for automobiles at the Tokyo Motor Show. "Earth Dreams Technology" is a broad revamp of engine and transmission technologies with which the company aims to achieve ambitious, industry-leading fuel efficiencies for every category within three years, while simultaneously setting a timeline of 2020 to reduce by 30% CO2 emissions for all products sold worldwide, relative to emission figures for 2000.  Read More
The demo lets iPhone and Android users test the Windows Phone 7 on their handsets
Now you don't need to have a Windows Mobile phone in order to test drive Windows Phone 7.5 Mango. To let prospective customers get a tastes of the mobile OS, Microsoft has created a HTML 5-based demonstration designed specifically to be viewed using the mobile browser on the iPhone and Android handsets.  Read More
Caenorhabditis elegans in the flesh
Microscopic worm Caenorhabditis elegans may hold clues to the human colonization of space, according to scientists at The University of Nottingham. Research published by the university today indicates that C. elegans can reach maturity from egghood and successfully reproduce in space, just as it does on Earth. Now the worm is a prime candidate to form an advance party to Mars in order to examine the effects of long-distance space travel on earthly organisms.  Read More
Mercedes' Aero Trailer, being pulled by an Actros tractor unit
Being in Belgium in November for a truck show may or may not be your cup of tea/mug of Java, but Mercedes is at least doing its best to make the "Trailer 2011" exhibition interesting. The truck design world moves at a glacial pace compared to the consumer automobile business, and new models have to provide serious and significant commercial improvements if they are to be accepted by the trucking fraternity. Coming off the back of the well-received launch of its new Actros heavyweight tractor unit, Mercedes brought along a trailer concept design that aims to match and extend the significant commercial and environmental advantages of that unit. It looks cool, too.  Read More
Google has launched Google Maps 6.0 for Android devices which includes indoor plans of ven...
Google Maps is a great tool on-the-go, although it isn't very useful inside buildings ... well, at least it wasn't until now. Google has launched Google Maps 6.0 for Android devices which includes indoor plans of venues such as malls, retails stores, or airports. The user's current position inside a building is indicated in the same way as on the outside and it's also possible to switch between floors.  Read More
Spotify introduces apps (Image: Spotify)
In an event somewhat akin to taking to a stage to show an audience an empty bag (cat long since departed), Daniel Ek confirmed at a press event this afternoon what, thanks to the Wall Street Journal, everyone watching already knew: Spotify is becoming a platform for third-party applications. Spotify's founder demonstrated several of the first wave of apps, including contributions from Rolling Stone, Last.fm, Tunewiki and Songkick.  Read More
The Lightning Foundry's 1:12 scale prototype in action
Calling all Tesla fans! Electrical engineer Greg Leyh and his team at the Lightning on Demand organization (LOD) in California are raising the funds necessary to build the world's largest twin Tesla coils (ten stories high, about 120 ft/37 m) that will be capable of generating electric arcs more than 200 feet (60 m) long. Dubbed the "Lightning Foundry," the project currently consists of a working 1:12 scale prototype. When complete, a towering pair of coils will fill a football field-sized area with massive electric bolts that researchers hope will reveal some of the mysteries of this beautiful but deadly force.  Read More
PREDIBIRTH is a software system that determines how likely pregnant women are to experienc...
In the United States, approximately one-third of all births are performed via cesarean-section. Here’s another statistic: emergency C-sections are six to seven times more likely to result in death or harm to the infant, than are planned C-sections. Therefore, if a significant percentage of the emergency cesareans could instead be planned, that would potentially save a lot of babies. That’s where PREDIBIRTH comes in. Developed by Dr. Olivier Ami and a team of researchers from France’s Université Paris Sud, the software can accurately predict the likelihood of difficult births, based on MRIs of pregnant women's bellies.  Read More

Bridgestone's airless tires are made from entirely recyclable material
This week at the Tokyo Auto Show in Japan Bridgestone showed off its latest development – puncture-less air-free tires. The tires are still in the concept phase, but have been successfully tested on single-person vehicles in Japan traditionally used for elderly people. The 9-inch wheels have thermoplastic-resin spokes that radiate from the rim to the tread, curving to the left and right for maximum structural support. The solid design doesn't require air, and consequently can't be punctured - so, no more flat tires.  Read More
Nao, Aldebaran Robotics' versatile fool (Photo: Gizmag)
There's an infestation of robots at London's Science Museum this weekend. Robotville has set up camp in a darkened room on the second floor, where visitors to the museum can drop by to say hello to their mechanized counterparts. There are 23 robots all told, from toy dinosaurs to pressure-sensing fish and all-terrain robot cockroaches (though, being purely remote controlled, the latter isn't a robot in the strict sense). Most captivating, though, were the nine androids that struck Gizmag as being, in one way or another, the most human. Say hello to the robots that might help shape our future.  Read More
The Octane 120 Pro Beer Arcade is an arcade-style racing game system, with its own beer ta...
What could be better than having your own arcade-style racing game? How about having your own arcade-style racing game with its own beer tap? The Octane 120 Pro Beer Arcade includes a wireless arcade control panel and 200 different games to satisfy all your gaming desires, along with a built-in keg to keep you hydrated. The arcade has a fully-adjustable steering wheel and seat, dual-motor force feedback, a 2-player control panel with built-in trackball, and a high-output HD projector.  Read More
The BabyPing monitoring system will allow parents to hear and view their baby utilizing an...
BabyPing recently announced the arrival of its new high security Wi-Fi baby monitoring system. The product will allow parents to hear and view their baby utilizing an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. The system also features double-layer security that alerts parents if their baby cries, if the Wi-Fi connection drops out or if their iOS device is out of range.  Read More
The Sliding Hub prefabricated cubes join together to create a temporary housing solution f...
Italian Designer Gabriel Aramu has conceptualized a modular housing system that seems to offer endless possibilities. Dubbed "Sliding Hub," these prefabricated cubes join together to create a temporary housing solution for multiple situations. In the event that emergency shelters are required, the modules can be packed and transported to any destination. On arrival, the modules are easily joined together, with the flexibility to house individuals, small groups or large numbers without limitation. Each module incorporates an insulation system suitable for all kinds of weather conditions. In addition, the temporary accommodation units provide a comfortable standard of living, important to natural disaster victims.  Read More
Nikon has revealed a new flagship Speedlight flash unit - the SB-910
What with the huge sensitivity range of modern digital cameras, and the strong likelihood of finding a built-in flash on most models, it might be a logical assumption that the days of producing separate flash units are numbered. In the right hands though, a powerful flash can add something very special to a subject or scene - even when there's already ample background lighting. Nikon camera owners can now look forward to a new flagship Speedlight flash unit arriving just in time to help light up festive office parties - the Nikon Speedlight SB-910.  Read More
Pipistrel is releasing the ALPHA in 2012 at an intro price of EUR59,000
European ultralight aircraft manufacturer Pipistrel has taken note of the ever increasing prices being quoted for entry-level Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) and has done something about it. Enter the ALPHA Trainer. Its 34-foot 6-inch wingspan, reliable Rotax 4-cylinder, 4-stroke engine and rugged landing gear makes it suitable for flight training, and its 108 knot (200 km/h) cruising speed is right up there with most of the fast boys.  Read More
The Xbox Kinect turns an ordinary sandbox into a thriving interactive environment.
The Xbox Kinect has certainly become a useful tool for innovation, with modders finding applications in medical imaging, robotics, and even aids for the visually impaired, to name just a few. Now it looks like you can add "topography" to that list with the development of the SandyStation. Created by two students in the Czech Republic, the SandyStation projects a realistic ecosystem over an ordinary sandbox, which can be altered in real-time.  Read More
Germany's DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics flew its unmanned solar-powered ELHAS...
There's no doubt that satellites have become an essential part of our daily lives, making things like communications, navigation, weather forecasting, and remote imaging all possible. Unfortunately, the orbiting objects can be very expensive, both to build and to launch into outer space. For some of the functions that they carry out, however, an actual satellite isn't required - a high altitude, long endurance (HALE) aircraft could also get the job done, and at a much lower cost. Some such aircraft have been powered by conventional fuel, batteries, and hydrogen. On November 13th, though, the Electric High Altitude Solar Powered Aircraft (ELHASPA) joined the ranks of HALE aircraft to fly using nothing but the power of the Sun.  Read More
Mazda's TAKERI concept car at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show
Mazda's theme at this year's Tokyo Motor Show was "Environmental Technology, Pushing the Boundaries of the Emotion of Motion," and the TAKERI concept making its world debut at the show integrates a number of environmentally friendly technologies that fall under the company's SKYACTIV banner. The car also reflects the KODO design language ushered in by the SHINARI and MINAGI concept cars, which will serve as a blueprint for Mazda's future vehicles.  Read More

The Steady Stand 200 pictured with its full suite of accessories (Photo: Modahaus)
With the launch of the Steady Stand 200, Modahaus has brought its range of tabletop photo studios dangerously close to impulse buy territory. Though compatible with most compact cameras and smartphones, this is a product aimed squarely at iPhone owners, joining a growing number of products capitalizing on the improved photographic credentials of recent iPhone models. But what is it? Essentially it's a stand that allows you take product photos on a plain background from above, lending snaps a convincing studio veneer - judging by the sample images, at least.  Read More
Researchers in North America are developing a novel way to study the 'evolutionary arms ra...
A duck pond may seem like the ideal place to spend a peaceful spring afternoon, but during mating season it can look like the scene of a gang attack. Though ducks as a species are famously monogamous, unattached drakes can be extremely aggressive. They attack any female in sight in a mating frenzy that often ends in the injury or death of the victim. This has resulted in the ducks developing ways to prevent unwanted matings and the drakes ways to overcome their defenses. Researchers in North America are developing a novel way to study this "evolutionary arms race" that uses high-speed cameras, force transducers and model duck oviducts made of glass.  Read More

1 comment:

  1. The SunnyBAG team are empowered to discover their roles and areas of responsibility within the company. Flexibility, strong communication and limitless potential encourage a fun and motivational company culture. Stefan believes that a strong company culture allows the core values and philosophy of SunnyBAG to be communicated and passed on to the customer.

    ReplyDelete