New and Emerging Technology News part 177 ~ NEW GEN TECH LIFE : new generation technology news

Wednesday 5 February 2014

New and Emerging Technology News part 177

Fujitsu says that its new Palm Vein Biometric Authentication Sensor has 80 percent less vo...
Since creating the first contact-free palm vein authentication sensor in 2003, Fujitsu's biometric security solution has been getting smaller and smaller. Now, the company has developed a new system that's half the thickness of current offerings yet retains the same performance and accuracy levels as the latest commercially-available PalmSecure designs. The Japanese tech giant is claiming the title of the world's smallest and slimmest palm vein authentication sensor for its new creation and says that it will likely be headed for use in mobile products such as tablet computers, although there's currently no indication as to when that might be.  Read More

The Fraunhofer smartphone projector actually consists of an array of 200 microprojectors
If you were using a smartphone projector to shine an image onto an uneven surface, or onto a flat surface but at a diagonal angle, parts of the image would end up out of focus ... unless, that is, your phone featured a new prototype LED projector developed by Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering. Inspired by the compound eyes of insects, the device can reportedly display crisp, bright, distortion-free visuals onto irregular surfaces, and at non-perpendicular angles. Additionally, users can manipulate that display by reaching in and touching the projection surface.  Read More
The converted Fiat 500 trades its gas engine for an electric forklift motor While we wait for the official Fiat 500 electric - a car that makes all kinds of sense given the 500's small, fuel efficient build - two German manufacturers have teamed up to give us an alternative. The 500 E from Karabag and Linde trades its gas engine for an electric forklift motor.  Read More
ThinkGeek’s DIY Nixie Tube Desk Clock kit lets electronics tinkerers build their own retro... If you’re a fan of things retro and an electronics do-it-youselfer, this might might be just the thing for you – it’s a kit that lets you built your own clock, that displays the time using wonderfully outdated nixie tubes.  Read More
An artist's impression of the Spitzer Space Telescope (Image: NASA)
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has detected infrared light emanating from 55 Cancri e, a dark, blazing-hot planet only twice the size of Earth and eight times as heavy. This marks the first time that light has been detected from a planet of such a small size, and the find is telling astrophysicists where to look in their search for signs of life on planets beyond our own.  Read More
MuseBox benefits from two pro-grade guitar/mic inputs at the front of the unit with phanto...
Peavey Electronics and Muse Research have partnered to develop the MuseBox, a rather nifty software-powered, digital sound module, vocal processor, guitar processor and effects processor all-in-one. The half-rack-sized unit features a mind-boggling number of presets, comes supplied with a software package valued at over US$900 and benefits from two pro-grade guitar/mic inputs at the front of the unit with phantom power, stereo, 24-bit, 48 kHz 0.25-inch rear-panel inputs and outputs, Gigabit Ethernet, full-size 5-pin DIN MIDI and four USB 2.0 ports.  Read More
The R-Aide is designed to lift up obese patients' abdominal fat during surgery, allowing t...
When an anesthetized obese patient is lying on their back on an operating table, the weight of their abdominal fat can make it difficult for them to breathe. It can also press down on and displace their organs, making certain procedures more challenging. Mehdi Razavi, director of electrophysiology clinical research at the Texas Heart Institute, had encountered such problems first-hand, with patients of his own. He decided to turn to Houston’s Rice University, to see if its students could come up with a solution. In response, a group of bioengineering seniors created something called the R-Aide, which uses vacuum-powered suction cups to lift up patients’ bellies.  Read More
Fans of kung fu games and movies trying to emulate their heroes can now add authentic soun...
Imagine if you could accompany all those cool new moves you've just learned from Mortal Combat or reruns of Bruce Lee's finest celluloid moments with some genuine sound effects ... it would be like actually being in the game or movie. With a Dragon Grip in your Fist of Fury, that's precisely what's on offer. The joystick-like device is pre-loaded with fighting sounds inspired by the cheesy-but-classic kung fu movies of the 1970s like Enter the Dragon, that had all the kids in our neighborhood running around barefoot and shirtless with red lipstick wounds painted across their chests.  Read More
An eco-minded hotel in the UK has installed a bicycle-powered television in one of its roo...
If you're on a cycling holiday where you spend all day in the saddle, there's nothing like getting back to your accommodation and flopping down in front of the TV for a well deserved rest. But for guests at one UK bed and breakfast, it really is nothing like that ... because Cottage Lodge in Brockenhurst has installed a bicycle-powered television in one of its rooms.  Read More
It may look nothing more than an oddly shaped greenhouse, but the 'Globe (hedron)' is a co... It may look nothing more than an oddly shaped greenhouse, but the "Globe (hedron)" is a concept for a rooftop aquaponics dome that Urban Farmers hopes will help address global food security.  Read More
Osram Sylvania has been in touch to tell us about its 100 W-replacement LED light bulb, jo...
Following Gizmag's coverage of GE Lighting's 27 W Energy Smart and Switch Lighting's 100 W-replacement LED light bulbs, Osram Sylvania has been in touch to tell us about its 100 W-replacement LED light bulb, joining its Sylvania Ultra series: a 20 W, 1600 lumen light bulb with a warm, "incandescenty" color appearance of 2700 K. With Philips also to release a 100-W equivalent this means the big three manufacturers of light sources are joining Switch Lighting in offering high-output LED light bulbs for the home, but all things considered, Osram Sylvania's may prove the pick of the bunch.  Read More
 
After much speculation online, Olympus has finally confirmed details and availability for ...
Olympus has proved the rumor mill to be right once again, by detailing its new TG-1 iHS compact after it was accidentally leaked across the web last week. The new king of the TOUGH Series of cameras more than lives up to its hard-as-nails moniker, being waterproof to 40 feet (12 meters), shockproof to 6.6 feet (2 meters), able to operate in temperatures as low as 14°F (-10°C) and capable of withstanding a crushing weight of up to 220 pounds (100kgf). In spite of all this rugged muscle, the new model's most impressive feature is its f2.0 - f4.9 aperture lens.  Read More
The Iguana 24 Amphibian As forecast when we broke the news of the caterpillar-driven Iguana 29 amphibious vehicle last year, Iguana has released details of a smaller Iguana 24.  Read More
Opel's new Mokka crossover has an available FlexFix bicycle carrier built into its bumper,...
In a world where every automaker has or wants to have at least one crossover or SUV, sometimes they have to do something a little extra to set their model apart from the pack. Bentley's EXP 9 F does it with its signature interior; Lamborghini's Urus concept does it with its supercar styling and hot red paint; and Opel now does it with an innovative accessory - a bike carrier that's integrated into the bumper. Opel claims it's the only car maker to offer a fully integrated bicycle carrier that is always on board.  Read More
The Twente Photoacustic Mammoscope (PAM) integrated into a bed so patients can be scanned ...
While breast cancer screening tests are accepted as safe – and we definitely wouldn’t want to scare anyone off from a potentially life-saving test – they do have some risks associated with them. The most obvious being the exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation, which in itself is a risk factor for breast cancer. X-ray mammography can also give false positive and negative results. In the quest for a safer, more accurate alternative, Dutch researchers have provided proof of concept that photoacoustic imaging can be used to detect and visualize breast tumors.  Read More
A Loudoun County, Virginia Sheriff’s Deputy verifies the car’s mileage before removing the...
Apparently not happy with collecting over 40 world driving fuel economy records, the husband and wife team of John and Helen Taylor – also known as “the world’s most fuel efficient couple” – have been back on the road to claim the world record for the longest distance traveled on a single tank of fuel. The record 1,626.1 mile (2,616.95 km) journey was achieved in a stock 2012 Volkswagen Passat powered by a 2.0-liter TDI Clean Diesel inline four-cylinder engine with a six-speed manual transmission.  Read More
Researchers at MIT and Georgia Tech have created a robotic arm that automates whole-cell p...
A group of researchers at MIT and Georgia Tech has built a robotic arm that can automate whole-cell patch clamping, a complicated technique that normally requires great manual dexterity and takes researchers months to master. Once streamlined, this technology will monitor and record the electrical signals generated by the neurons in a living brain, to help uncover the secret inner workings of the human mind - or at least, in the not-so-distant future, of a lab rat's.  Read More
NIST's quantum simulator illuminated by fluorescing ions (Photo: Britten/NIST)
Physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have built a quantum simulator that contains hundreds of qubits - quite a jump from the the 2-8 qubits found in state-of-the-art digital quantum computers. The simulator has passed a series of important benchmarking tests and scientists are poised to study problems in material science that are impossible to model using classical computers.  Read More
The Brammo Empulse will cost US$16,995 when it hits the road in June Brammo has revealed pricing and release details for its new Empulse and Empulse R electric motorcycles. Both models are specced at an impressive 100 mph (160 km/h) top speed and 100 mile (160 km) range.  Read More
The ARIS wireless speaker for Windows plays music streamed from a Windows PC
While there seems to be an unending stream of wireless speakers designed primarily to stream audio from iOS or Android mobile devices using AirPlay or Bluetooth, Oregon-based Aperion Audio is showing Windows-using music fans some love with the ARIS wireless speaker. The unit is designed to work with Windows 7’s “Play To” feature that makes it easy to stream content from a PC over a home network.  Read More

Ducati's Panigale is already winning Superstock races, though the Panigale-based superbike...
With the World Superbike Championship celebrating its 25th year in 2012, it is an ideal time to reflect on the profound influence the series has had on the development of the everyday motorcycle. The production-based World Superbike Championship Series is now unquestionably the most important global race series in terms of influencing buyer decision of sports motorcycles and performance accessories but as our research shows, it appears to be even more influential than that. Statistics sourced from lap-times and speed traps over the last decade indicate the rapid rate road-going sports motorcycles are improving racetrack laptimes. Indeed, today's showroom models on road tires, are now quicker than the fastest factory superbikes of just five years ago.  Read More
Airbudz slide over your existing earpiece and connect you to the world around
As great a convenience as they are, headphones and earbuds appear destined to forever plague active music listeners. First, there are the annoying, dangling cords smacking you in the face. Then, there's your complete obliviousness to the outside world. For the former, we have inventive storage systems like Cordcrunchers and Hoodiebuddies. For the latter, AIRbudz.  Read More
NTU's nanoporous antimicrobial coating is being used in the manufacture of contact lenses
Scientists at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have created a "magnetic-like" coating that traps and destroys 99 percent of the bacteria and fungi that it encounters. The antibacterial coating has been shown to be effective against superbugs like Staphylococcus aureus and is already being used in the manufacture of contact lenses. As well as finding numerous biomedical and household applications, the research could lead to new wound treatments and even be used to target bacterial infections inside the body without the use of conventional antibiotics.  Read More
The Dragon spacecraft that will be used to take passengers to the orbiting Bigelow habitat... SpaceX and Bigelow Aerospace (BA) have joined forces in an attempt to woo international customers looking to enjoy some extended periods of microgravity. The joint marketing effort will push trips to orbiting Bigelow habitats on SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft using the Falcon launch vehicle.  Read More
An Italian design studio has developed a concept for a standalone Instagram camera that mi...
Instagram is enjoying a wealth of success right now, particularly after being picked up by Facebook last month for a cool US$1 billion. The photo-sharing network's social apps have become some of the most popular in the world, and one design studio in Italy is wondering what it would look like if the company decided to make its own hardware as well. ADR Studio has put together a fairly detailed concept for just such a device, called the "Instagram Socialmatic," which merges online photo-sharing with instant Polaroid-like prints for sharing in the offline world.  Read More
smart escooter
Alongside the smart fortwo electric drive coupé and convertible that appeared at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, smart also unveiled a couple of two-wheeled electric vehicle concepts, the smart ebike and smart escooter. With the ebike having already having received the production nod in 2011 and now nearing its scheduled mid-2012 release, smart has announced plans to bring its smart escooter to market with a planned 2014 launch.  Read More
That's no Toyota Prius
Still think hybrids and green cars are meek and hipsterish? Plant your eyes on the US Army's Fuel Efficient ground vehicle Demonstrator Bravo. It's one of the burliest vehicles you've likely seen in years, and it's all hybrid underneath its rugged sheet metal.  Read More
A depiction of Blue Origin's Space Vehicle
When it comes to spacecraft that may take the place of the now-defunct space shuttle, it would probably be fair to say that most people probably think of the SpaceX Dragon. It’s sometimes easy to forget, however, that SpaceX is a private company, competing against others for NASA’s business. One of those competitors is Washington state-based Blue Origin, established by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos (SpaceX was co-founded by Elon Musk, of PayPal fame). Although the company has been rather secretive about the space vehicle that it’s developing, it recently announced that the design has done well in a series of wind tunnel tests.  Read More
A TriDiCam camera, outfitted with the new 3D CMOS system
Hovering unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) – most of which take the form of quadrocopters – are currently being developed for a wide range of applications. Some of these include the delivery of supplies to remote locations, urban reconnaissance, and military operations. Whether they’re flying solo or in organized swarms, however, they constantly need to be aware of potential collision hazards, both mobile and stationary. While various technologies are already being utilized for this purpose, Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems has developed a new 3D CMOS sensor, that promises particularly good performance.  Read More
The portable LSI fuel cell (Photo: Lilliputian Systems Inc) In a deal announced this week, American high-end retailer Brookstone will become the first seller of a portable fuel cell made by MIT spin-off company Lilliputian Systems Inc (LSI). Described as a “plug-less charger,” it will allow users to recharge their electronic devices’ batteries wherever they are – as long as they’ve stocked up on butane.  Read More


Autospense medical marijuana vending machine
The Autospense vending machine by a Californian company Dispense Labs LLC is designed to allow easy access to medical marijuana for those who need it, while keeping it safely out of reach of those who merely want it. This machine is far more sophisticated than your average snack dispenser though - locks, cameras, sensors and proprietary software all add up to a high-security turnkey solution for dispensing, tracking and managing medical marijuana.  Read More
The original car itself, being fettled in the workshops of Jaguar Heritage Racing The annual reenactment of the Mille Miglia 1000 mile road race on public roads gets underway on Wednesday, with Jaguar Heritage Racing involved in the event to celebrate the 60th anniversary of developing the disc brake.  Read More
Riders can run through five travel programs from pedal-power to electric only
Audi has announced that it will debut a new performance e-bike prototype at next week's Wörthersee Tour car show in the picturesque village of Reifnitz, Austria. Described as a high-end pedelec for sport, fun and tricks, the Audi e-bike Wörthersee features a futuristic carbon fiber frame that houses an onboard computer and a Li-ion battery pack, and carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) wheels - both designed to keep the weight down. The prototype offers five travel modes, ranging from pedal-power to electric-only, and inclusive of two "Wheelie" modes where the power is automatically controlled to assist the rider while the front wheel grabs some air.  Read More
The Nike Pro TurboSpeed features golf ball-inspired dimples - Sleeve detail
The Nike Pro TurboSpeed is, as the name vividly suggests, a track uniform that offers professional athletes an advantage over their rivals. Through the clever use of aerodynamic techniques more commonly found on golf balls, the company has found a way to shave milliseconds off a sprinter's time. Or at least that's the bold claim Nike is making.  Read More
Netgear's R6300 is one of the first 802.11ac dual band gigabit WiFi routers on the market
With wireless home networks becoming increasingly crowded as more and more mobile devices appear under our roofs jostling for bandwidth, many will be pleased to see the upcoming 802.11ac WiFi standard stepping out from the planning meetings and laboratories and into the real world. Both Netgear and Belkin have announced plans to release dual-band routers supporting the new 5G WiFi standard that will boast speeds of up to 1,300 Mbps on the 5 GHz band and 450 Mbps on 2.4 GHz.  Read More
The Freekey keyring opens with a push
The keyring is a true nemesis for those of us with short nails - such a simple contraption capable of bringing such deep frustration and resentment. Two innovative redesigns improve upon the traditional keyring, making keys easy to organize for all. The Freekey lets you pop it open with a push and the Carabiner Key gets rid of it completely.  Read More
The Leica M-Monochrom will instantly look familiar to anyone who has ever lusted after a L...
When you think of Leica, you probably think of cameras which are built like a tank and feature that famous red dot. But if you were to take a photo of the iconic red logo with the latest rangefinder camera from the German firm, it might not come out as you'd expect … because the Leica M-Monochrom is the world’s first digital rangefinder which only shoots in black and white.  Read More
The new 3 Series Touring has a significantly larger interior than the Touring version of t... It hasn't been around long, but the sixth (F30) generation of BMW's 3 series is already regarded as a stand-out version of the perennial top-seller. Hence the first release of images and details of the new Touring estate version will no doubt interest a lot of people seeking a practical compact executive car. Highlights include a full-color Heads-Up Display, twin turbo engine, automatic stop-start, and optional eight-speed automatic gearbox and M Sport package.  Read More
The MINI John Cooper Works GP The MINI John Cooper Works GP will be unveiled at the MINI United festival in France later today. The limited edition (2000 only) will be the fastest MINI ever, capable of lapping the Nürburgring-Nordschleife circuit in 8 min 23 seconds.  Read More
Carroll Shelby is considered one of the great American success stories of the 20th century...
Automotive legend Carroll Hall Shelby passed away yesterday at age 89. Born in Texas on January 11, 1923, Shelby was a leading race car driver, then race and performance car designer who became a household name for his exploits.  Read More

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers has announced the publication of the...
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE) Standards Association has announced the publication of the fourth revision to the 15 year-old 802.11 Wireless LAN Standard, upon which protocols like Wireless-N and 802.11ac are based. More commonly known as Wi-Fi, the latest revision brings together the base standard and the various technical updates and enhancements published in the last five years into a single document. Additions include much higher throughputs up to a maximum of 600Mbps, support for faster and more secure devices and networks, mesh networking and improved cellular network hand-off.  Read More
GoPro has just released the Dive Housing, which reportedly allows HERO actioncam users to ... Although you may have seen plenty of underwater videos shot using the GoPro HERO actioncam, its lens was never really designed for underwater videography – as we previously illustrated in a video report, the footage sometimes looks a little fuzzy. As of today, however, would-be Jaques Cousteaus can now purchase a dive-specific GoPro housing, that promises sharp images.  Read More
The Gamma laser was tested against the skin and components of a BQM-7 drone
Practical laser weapons came another step closer to reality recently as defense contractor Northrop Grumman tested the latest version of its Firestrike solid-state lasers. On May 1st, the company announced that it had completed trials at its Redondo Beach laboratory of a more powerful and rugged generation of its slab lasers, that combine with improved sensor capacities to create a general laser component that can provide the military with a wide range of greatly enhanced defensive and offensive laser capabilities.  Read More
Little Sun can be hung, used as a table lamp, or taken out to be used as a lantern or bicy...
Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson, whose body of work is mostly based on light installations, last week presented a small solar powered light during the World Economic Forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Olafur collaborated with engineer Frederik Ottesen to create Little Sun, which they hope can help bring indoor lighting to those people who lack access in developing countries.  Read More
The world's most expensive camera - the Leica 0-Series (Photo: WestLicht Photographica) The Viennese WestLicht Photographica Auction House continued its stellar run of success with its 21st Camera auction in just its eleventh year as an auction house, when it recently broke its own world record for the fifth consecutive time by selling one of the original Leica 0-series cameras for €2,160,000 (US$2.77 million), including the buyer’s premium.  Read More
Designed by Mieke Meijer, the Balance Lamp is a wooden LED floor or table lamp that only i... Designed by Mieke Meijer, this lamp, simply called Balance, is a wooden LED floor or table lamp that only illuminates when perfectly balanced.  Read More
It may not be cheap, but it would at least be enormous (Image: Build the Enterprise)
An anonymous electrical and systems engineer going only by the moniker BTE-Dan has posted surprisingly detailed plans for a full-scale, functioning Starship Enterprise that he claims could be built in 20 years. Though it may be tempting to scoff at such lofty ambition, the Build the Enterprise website (up all of one week) includes specifications, costs, mission plan and funding strategies, all suggesting that a serious amount of thought has gone into creating a real world counterpart to the icon spaceship of the TV and movie series, Star Trek.  Read More
The IPMS spectrometer could one day be integrated into smartphones (Photo: Fraunhofer IPMS...
Foodies who've ever dreamed of having superhero-style vision that could analyze what they are about to eat should keep an eye on the upcoming Sensor+Trade fair in Nuremberg. Scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute of Photonic Microsystems (IPMS) will be exhibiting a tiny prototype spectrometer that can measure factors such as water and protein level in foods, meaning you won't make the mistake of buying fruit that looks good on the outside but is rotten at its core.  Read More
The Pistola con Caricato is a three-barreled revolver with 18 chambers in 6.35 x 16 mm sem... A host of unusual firearms have been floated and (mostly) abandoned over the two centuries of largely trial-and-error design. After our recent coverage of Arsenal Firearm's AF2011-a1 double barrel semiautomatic pistol, we wondered if more extreme versions of multi-barrel repeating handguns existed. The outlandish Pistola con Caricato three-barreled revolver is a definite candidate.  Read More
Etcher: Etch A Sketch for the Apple iPad
Even those of us who live for new technology and the wonders it brings cannot escape the power of nostalgia. Being reminded of a toy that fascinated us as children can snap us back to those heady days when stress meant not getting everything you asked for from Santa. This is the feeling that the people behind Etcher are hoping to capitalize on - it's an Etch A Sketch for the iPad.  Read More
 

1 comment:

  1. Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that i have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. az medical marijuana.

    ReplyDelete