New and Emerging Technology News part 159 ~ NEW GEN TECH LIFE : new generation technology news

Sunday 2 February 2014

New and Emerging Technology News part 159

The AQUA TEK S case offers ruggedized protection and a solar panel for charging its own bu...
If you're hoping to attract investors to get yet another iPhone case to an already crowded market, it had better do more than just protect a phone from bumps and scrapes. Snow Lizard Products is giving itself the best possible chance of raising funds for its new AQUA TEK S case for iPhone 4 and 4S with an offering that not only boasts ruggedized protection, but also includes a solar panel, built in battery, and is waterproof up to 20 ft (6 m).  Read More
The Air-O-Swiss AOS 7146 Travel Ultrasonic humidifier utilizes a regular bottle of store-b... Planning a trip to the desert? While there’s not much that you can do to increase the humidity while you’re out and about, there is a device that’s designed to improve the comfort level in your hotel room – the Air-O-Swiss AOS 7146 Travel Ultrasonic humidifier.  Read More
Design students from 18 countries are being called upon to enter the 2012 James Dyson Awar... Develop a problem solving invention. That's the straight-to-the-point brief for the 2012 James Dyson Award which is now calling on entries from design students around the world. Entries close on August 2, with the international winner to be announced on November 8.  Read More
A depiction of CleanSpace One, closing in on an expired picosatellite
NASA currently monitors approximately 17,000 pieces of space junk that are orbiting the earth at extremely high speeds. These odds and ends consist of things like dead satellites, spent rocket stages and parts that have broken off of spacecraft. As the amount of junk increases, it becomes increasingly difficult for functioning satellites to avoid colliding with it. When collisions do occur, the satellite is often destroyed, with the resulting debris further adding to the problem. Scientists from Swiss research institute EPFL, however, have decided that enough is enough – they’re currently developing a small satellite known as CleanSpace One, which will be tasked with grappling expired satellites and pulling them back to Earth.  Read More
Logitech has announced the new M600 Touch Mouse, where the familiar clicky buttons and scr...
There's no doubt about it, we live in a touch-enabled world. Everywhere you look there's a smartphone, tablet, laptop or computer obeying the fingertip commands of users. Separate input peripherals like keyboards and mice have also had their keys and buttons replaced by a smooth, touch-enabled surface. Although somewhat late to the party (Apple introduced its Magic Mouse as far back as 2009), Logitech is about to release its own Windows 7 mouse called the M600.  Read More
Mathematicians are proposing a cloaking system, which could allow buildings to be rendered...
While “cloaking” technology may have once been limited exclusively to the realm of science fiction, regular Gizmag readers will know that it is now finding its way into real life – just within the past few years, scientists have demonstrated various experimental cloaking systems that prevent small objects from being seen, and in one case, from being heard. Such invisibility systems involve the use of metamaterials, which are man-made materials that exhibit optical qualities not found in nature. These are able to effectively bend light around an object, instead of allowing it to strike the object directly. Now, mathematicians from the University of Manchester are proposing technology based on the same principles, that would allow buildings to become “invisible” to earthquakes.  Read More
Nikon has finally revealed the successor to its 2008 D700 DSLR model, a 36.3-megapixel HD-...
Has it really been over three years since Nikon released the 12-megapixel D700 digital camera? At long last, its replacement - which effectively triples the pixel count of its predecessor - is due to arrive next month. The new D800 is about half the price of the D4 announced in early January, with which it shares a number of features, plus it's smaller and lighter, and features a new 36.3 megapixel FX-format (35.9 x 24mm) CMOS sensor. It's also the first digital camera to achieve USB 3.0 certification.  Read More
FreeD is a handheld smart milling device that gives the artist creative control, but won't...
Even if you think you're pretty handy with a chisel, often all it takes is one wrong angle or strike of the hammer to ruin an entire sculpting project. MIT's media lab has a solution - the FreeD is a handheld smart milling device that gives the artist creative control, but won't let you totally screw up your project with one wrong move.  Read More
A survivor of the 7/7 London bombings has created a smartphone app that makes it easier fo...
How do you figure out how to pilot a wheelchair around your city? Around 10 percent or more of the population live with a disability, so chances are that you, or someone you know, has this problem. You can't be certain if wheelchair access is available unless you laboriously phone ahead to inquire for every route and every destination. Some web information is available, but knowing where to find it and what search strings to use can be a real challenge. Enter the Ldn Access smartphone app, that helps people with disabilities easily find where there are step-free access ramps, usable toilet facilities, and other services for the disabled.  Read More
Amid the 42 acres of lush parklands guests can enjoy a weekend in nature from within a pri...
A luxurious Belgian castle dating back to the 1880s might seem an unlikely setting for a futuristic and modern weekend away. Situated one hour outside Brussels, Chateau De La Poste is home to a fully renovated castle with 42 guest rooms amidst 42 acres of parkland, but guests can now opt for a quiet escape with the benefits of a pint-sized penthouse that lies hidden on this historical property - the Loftcube.  Read More

Grace Digital has announced the release of its flagship Mondo Wi-Fi Music Player, first se...
San Diego's Grace Digital has finally announced the release of its flagship Mondo Wi-Fi Music Player, first seen at CES 2011. The first of three new devices to swell the company's family of audio products, Mondo features a large high contrast color TFT display with adjustable brightness, can access thousands of online radio stations over a Wi-Fi connection, and is also capable of streaming music stored on a PC, Mac or network attached storage device.  Read More
The Bike Pack for iPhone from Wahoo includes a weatherproof phone case that incorporates a...
Many people now carry a powerful computer around with them wherever they go that can feed them the latest dose of gossip, keep them in constant touch with loved ones and can even guide a user from one place to another using GPS technology. Smartphones like the iPhone can also be used as cycling computers, offering the same kind of workout information produced by dedicated devices (like the Garmin Edge 500), but with all that useful multimedia and communications technology thrown into the pot too. The Bike Pack for iPhone from Wahoo includes a weatherproof case to protect the device, a proprietary fitness app, and a wireless speed and cadence sensor - all for a fraction of the cost of the Garmin device.  Read More
Jordan Correa, a robotics developer with Microsoft, built a dog-sitting robot that lets th...
When Jordan Correa and his wife both started working full time, they found themselves away from their home much more often, leaving their dog, Darwin, alone all day. Most people would have just had to leave the problem as is, or maybe get a part time pet sitter. But Correa, being a test developer for the Microsoft Robotics Team, came up with a solution right in line with his talents and built a dog-sitting robot, so he could play and speak with his pet over the internet while he's at work.  Read More
If the rumors prove true, an LTE, quad-core, Retina display iPad 3 will be announced on Ma...
It's been a busy week on the iPad 3 rumor mill, and things have progressed considerably since our last iPad 3 update with the iMore blog citing "reliable sources" who suggest an official iPad 3 announcement is likely on March 7. Further, the same sources indicate that the next iteration of Apple's tablet could be powered by a quad-core processor and include - as we already suspected - a Retina display. There's some suggestion that the device could feature LTE connectivity - though this latter point seems shrouded in uncertainty. Time to take the cautious stick to the iPad 3 rumor cauldron ...  Read More
House Arc is a prefabricated off-the-grid housing solution that facilitates compact living
House Arc, by Bellomo Architects, is a prefabricated off-the-grid housing solution that facilitates compact living. The project was originally designed as an environmentally sensitive and affordable method of housing that is not only functional but also attractive to the eye. Furthermore, it is designed to be easily packed and shipped to any location, where it can then be erected by the user or community. "We designed it to be a kit of parts that can be assembled quickly-like an IKEA house," says House Arc architect Joseph Bellomo.  Read More
Gizmag takes an in-depth look at small modular nuclear reactors and wonders if they hold t...
This year is an historic one for nuclear power, with the first reactors winning U.S. government approval for construction since 1978. Some have seen the green lighting of two Westinghouse AP1000 reactors to be built in Georgia as the start of a revival of nuclear power in the West, but this may be a false dawn because of the problems besetting conventional reactors. It may be that when a new boom in nuclear power comes, it won't be led by giant gigawatt installations, but by batteries of small modular reactors (SMRs) with very different principles from those of previous generations. But though a technology of great diversity and potential, many obstacles stand in its path. Gizmag takes an in-depth look at the many forms of SMRs, their advantages, and the challenges they must overcome.  Read More
Inspired by origami and children's pop-up books, Harvard engineers have pioneered a means ...
Inspired by origami and children's pop-up books, Harvard engineers have pioneered a means of mass-producing bee-sized flying microrobots. The breakthrough mechanizes the already state-of-the art process of making Harvard's Mobee robots by hand, by mass producing flat assemblies by the sheet which can be folded and assembled in a single movement. The technique, which cunningly exploits existing machinery for making printed circuit boards, can theoretically be applied to a multitude of electromechanical machines.  Read More
The World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on Emerging Technologies has drawn up a l...
Our goal here at Gizmag is to cover innovation and emerging technologies in all fields of human endeavor, and while almost all of the ideas that grace our pages have the potential to enhance some of our lives in one way or another, at the core are those technologies that will have profound implications for everyone on the planet. For those looking to shape political, business, and academic agendas, predicting how and when these types of technologies will effect us all is critical. Recognizing this, the World Economic Forum's (WEF's) Global Agenda Council on Emerging Technologies has compiled a list of the top 10 emerging technologies it believes will have the greatest impact on the state of the world in 2012.  Read More
The latest version of the F-16 (not pictured) features a number of enhancements designed t...
Since its introduction in 1978, over 4,450 F-16 Fighting Falcon’s have been built, making it one of the most successful military aircraft of all time. Although it is no longer purchased by the U.S. Air Force (where it is scheduled to remain in service until 2025), improved versions are still being built by Lockheed Martin for 26 nations around the world. The latest version, unveiled this week at the Singapore Airshow, is the F-16V, which features a number of enhancements designed to enable the 4th generation fighter to better interoperate with the 5th generation F-35 and F-22 fighters.  Read More
Mattel will be releasing a replica of the iconic hover board featured in the Back to the F... Admit it. No matter what age you were when you first saw the hover board in Back to the Future 2, odds are that you wanted one. Too bad we're a scant three years away from the time when the movie takes place and the hover industry hasn't exactly taken off. Mattel is planning the next best thing though: a full-sized replica of the famous pink hover board.  Read More
 
Researchers have shown it is easy for a third party to track a mobile phone user's locatio...
While cop shows have shown us that it’s easy for service providers to track a person’s location via their mobile phone, researchers at the University of Minnesota have revealed it’s also an easy task for hackers. Using a cheap phone and open source software, the researchers were able to track the location of mobile phone users without their knowledge on the GSM network, which is estimated to serve 80 percent of the global mobile market.  Read More
Whilst having similar properties to carbon fiber, Tegris won't shatter on impact, is appro...
Spartanburg, South Carolina, is home to one of the largest privately owned chemical and textile research establishments in the world, Milliken & Company. The firm's innovative research that combines textiles and chemistry has now produced a thermoplastic composite called Tegris that is cheap, recyclable and tough. These properties make Tegris an attractive alternative to (or composite partner for) carbon fiber, and it's already proving to have wide ranging applications in the automotive, military and sporting industries.  Read More
The Macan will add a smaller SUV and fifth model to Porsche's lineup Porsche first announced development of a compact crossover SUV based on the Audi Q5 in late 2010. The model has been going by its project name "Cajun" since it was but a rumor but has now been upgraded with its official name - the Macan. Porsche teased us with a sketch, video and website for the Macan crossover this week.  Read More
The MotoLOAD winches a MotoCYCLE into an airplane using a cordless drill Light planes are a great way to get from A to B, but with the majority of small airports not boasting ground transportation services, getting from B to C can pose more of a problem. That's where the MotoLOAD system from Illinois-based MotoPOD comes in. Designed to slot into a small aircraft, the system makes unloading and unloading of some additional two-wheeled transport a simple job for just one person and their trusty cordless drill.  Read More
Swedish researchers have created a computer program that can score 150 on standard non-ver...
Researchers at the Department of Philosophy, Linguistics, and Theory of Science at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden have developed a psychological model of patterns as seen and selected by humans, and incorporated it in their IQ test solving programs. By doing so they have created a computer program that can score 150 on standard non-verbal IQ test questions.  Read More
The robotic universal jamming gripper can now throw objects using a blast of high-pressure...
Last year we looked at a universal robotic gripper, which was made by filling an elastic membrane with coffee grounds. The versatile gripper, which is attached to a robotic arm, was able to pick up a wide variety of objects, including a coin or raw egg, which are notoriously difficult for robotic grippers modeled after the human hand to deal with. Now the universal jamming gripper's developers have given it the ability to "shoot" objects some distance, which could enable it to sort objects into different bins, dispose of trash, or maybe even try out for the NBA.  Read More
Scientists have developed a tiny sensor that could wirelessly transmit data on the status ... In order to determine how a patient is recovering from orthopedic surgery, doctors must presently rely on technologies such as X-rays or MRIs. Before too long, however, they may instead simply be able to read the output from tiny sensors, implanted in the patient's body. A team of scientists from New York's Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have already created prototypes of just such a device, that measure a mere four millimeters across and are 500 microns thick.  Read More
The Beam toothbrush is Bluetooth-enabled to track your dental hygiene using a smartphone
From heart monitors to cooking thermometers, almost any piece of tech seems to be equipped with Bluetooth and an accompanying smartphone app these days. Now it looks like even the simplest of items can get their own high-tech upgrade, as evidenced by Beam Technologies' upcoming Bluetooth-enabled toothbrush. The Beam Brush will monitor a person's dental hygiene using sensors that sync with an app, which will then track that data and offer incentives to improve their brushing habits.  Read More
EM Observe is an electronic system, that remotely monitors fishing vessels' catches
In an effort to save the world's oceans from overfishing, many countries now require commercial fishing vessels to bring along an observer, who checks that the crew aren't exceeding their catch limits. That observer takes up cabin space on the boat, however, plus they require a salary, and probably aren't made to feel particularly welcome by the crew members. This month, however, a Spanish purse seiner became the world's first tropical tuna-fishing vessel to try out something different - an electronic monitoring system. Designed by Archipelago Marine Research, the EM Observe system is already in regular use in the company's home province of British Columbia, Canada.  Read More
The Magnic Light is a contactless dynamo bike light, that reportedly utilizes eddy current...
Despite the continuous advances being made in lithium-ion battery technology, many cyclists still prefer to use dynamo-powered lights on their bikes – there’s no having to remember to recharge the batteries, no subsequent forgetting to put the light back on the bike, and no worrying about the batteries unexpectedly giving out mid-ride. Dynamos, however, have their own drawbacks. Friction-powered sidewall units slow the bike down and wear out the tire, while dynamo hubs must be built into the wheel, and add to the bike’s revolving weight. Now, however, German inventor Dirk Strothmann has created what he claims is a better alternative – a small, no-contact, self-contained dynamo bike light.  Read More

The soft BrainBand costs a little more, and comes with Bluetooth and sports training apps
Whether you're in the mood for a film with a happy ending or feeling more like a Machiavellian finale, the MyndPlay media player delivers what you want ... by reading your mind. The system consists of an electroencephalograph (EEG) headset and accompanying software dreamed up by London-based former The Apprentice star Tre Azam.  Read More
Peugeot 208 GTi Concept
One of the cars which originally popularized the now-burgeoning hot hatchback category, the Peugeot 205 GTi, looks set to be reprized with an all-new 208 GTi concept to be shown in Geneva next month and production seemingly inevitable. The six-speed manual 208 GTi runs a 203 bhp turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, guaranteeing performance well beyond the original 205 GTi which launched in 1984 with an at-the-time amazing 104 bhp.  Read More
A bright apparition shreds
Night snowboarding usually equates to grueling pre-dawn slogs up backcountry routes or short, icy turns under stadium-like lights at small resorts. Nowness.com has put a new spin on those traditional forms of night riding. In this stunning piece of film, a unique LED suit is employed to turn the subject into a powder-slashing apparition.  Read More
The Amplid Plasma helmet uses Vaco12 technology in its padding
Originally designed for orthopedic rehabilitation, Vaco12 technology uses vacuum cushions filled with millions of small, round beads to provide better fitting, more protective sports gear. The beads simultaneously provide a snugger, more comfortable fit on your head and are said to absorb impact up to four times more efficiently than traditional foam - just what's needed in sports like skiing and snowboarding in which professional and recreational athletes are constantly pushing the boundaries of what's possible.  Read More
Scientists have set a new record for thin-film solar cell efficiency, using 'bumpy' silver... Researchers from Australia's Swinburne University of Technology have announced the development of the world's most efficient broadband nanoplasmonic solar cells. The scientists improved the performance of existing thin-film cells by incorporating nucleated or "bumpy" gold and silver nanoparticles. By doing so, they were able to boost the cells' absolute efficiency up to 8.1 percent.  Read More
The state of Nevada has approved regulations that set out guidelines for testing self-driv...
Nevada is now officially the first state in the USA where the operation of self-driving vehicles on public roads is regulated by law. The regulations approved by the Legislative Commission of the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles set out guidelines for companies who want to test autonomous vehicles on public roadways. They also include a set of requirements for people who'd like to "drive" such vehicles.  Read More
Scientists are reporting success in the first human trial of a chip-based implant that del...
Much as anyone with a medical condition wants to get better, it can often be difficult to get patients to stick to their medication regimens. This is particularly true for patients who are required to give themselves injections – a time-consuming and unpleasant procedure that it’s easy to “forget” to do. Scientists from MIT and Massachusetts-based company MicroCHIPS Inc., however, have come up with what could be a solution. Yesterday, they announced success in the first clinical trial of an implantable chip-based device, that automatically delivered regular doses of medication to osteoporosis sufferers.  Read More
Bus shelters across the UK will smell like baked potatoes, thanks to a new advertising cam... With the assistance of signage suppliers JCDecaux, McCain - makers of a variety of oven-cooked potato products - have come up with a novel advertising campaign to promote their ready-baked baked potatoes. Bus shelters in cities across the UK are to be fitted with smell-emitting advertisements designed to mimic the aroma of a slow-baked potato.  Read More
The super-adhesive 'Geckskin' can stick a 700-pound load to the wall without leaving a sti...
Everyone knows geckos have extraordinary powers of adhesion, able to clamber up vertical windows with remarkable ease. With the "Geckskin", a team of scientists have replicated the effect to produce a flat, index-card sized piece of material capable of carrying a 700-pound (318-kg) load - easily enough for a flatscreen television. It can be removed with ease and leaves no unpleasant oomska. And interestingly, it doesn't work as you might think.  Read More
AirPlay Mirroring lets your MacBook interact with an HDTV-served audience
Just seven months after Lion hit servers, Apple has released OS X Mountain Lion (version 10.8) to developers. This tight development cycle is in support of integrating the best features of Apple's iOS mobile operating system into OS X. As Steve Jobs put it in 2010, Apple intends to "hook up" the user environments of the iPad and the MacBook. The result is a substantial step forward for Apple interconnectivity.  Read More

V-22 Osprey (Photo: Boeing)
The tilt-rotor Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey program received a boost last week when the U.S. Marine Corps took delivery of the latest variant. The Osprey, which began development some 30 years ago, combines the helicopter's ability to take off and land vertically, with the speed of a regular aircraft. The recently delivered Block C variant includes an improved weather radar system, an upgraded crew and passenger aircon system, improvements to the cockpit Electronic Flight Instrument displays and upgrades to the Electronic Warfare Systems.  Read More
A Ferrari 250 GTO has been sold for approximately US$30 million (Photo:  Shutterstock) Resale value is one of the many factors to consider when buying a car. But for some serious return on automotive investment it's hard to beat the Ferrari 250 GTO. In what is believed to be the largest single car transaction in the U.K., one of these rare beauties has sold for over GBP20 million (approx. US$31.7 million).  Read More
The OdMEx house concept sees a house built onto the back of a mobile billboard
Last year we looked at Adzookie (now Brainiacs From Mars), which will turn a house into a (house-shaped) billboard and pay the mortgage for a three-month period. As part of the "House Prototype" Design Competition for Baanlaesaun Fair 2011, Bangkok, Thailand-based design firm Apostrophy S (or 'S) has come up with a similar - yet different - advertising-centered housing option. Instead of turning a house into a billboard, this proposal turns a billboard into a house.  Read More
Artist's rendering of the GDPE project on the Guangzhou skyline
By this time next year, a walk along the Pearl River in Guangzhou, China, will come with an unusual bonus: a view of the completed Guangdong Plastics Exchange research center/warehouse. Far from being just another boxy building, this unique, 1 billion yuan (US$159 million) edifice is patterned after objects the Cantonese traditionally associate with luck and good fortune. One thing's for certain - at 138 meters (453 feet) in height, with a 47 meter (154 foot) diameter hole in the center, this is one landmark that will be difficult to miss.  Read More
BAE Systems is developing structural batteries for the military (Photo: Shutterstock)
Battery life is a crucial issue on any portable device drawing power - from cell phones to something as big as a car. Of course, the larger the battery, the more it weighs. Structural batteries which store power in the parts that make up the device are seen as a solution to this issue and BAE systems is working on such systems with the aim of lightening the load for frontline soldiers.  Read More
The MinION is the size of a USB memory stick, and obtains both power and computer analysis...
At the Advances in Genome Biology and Technology 2012 conference (AGBT), Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd. announced it is entering the gene-sequencing battle with a disposable DNA sequencer that will sell for under $900 in the second half of 2012. The USB-size sequencer is called the MinION (min-ion), and has already demonstrated the potential to bring genome sequencing and personalized medicine out of the lab and into physicians’ offices.  Read More
The 180 Stove vents and protects your fire so that it's focused on the pot above
The 180 Stove is a simple, portable backpacking stove that relies on wood as its sole fuel. Unlike gas canisters and liquid propane, wood is a natural fuel that's available in all types of wilderness areas, making it a renewable, clean source of fuel for backwoods cooking. And since there are no canisters to buy, carry and dispose of, you save weight and space in your pack.  Read More
The Ramos clocks designed by Paul Sammut require a snoozer to get out of bed and enter a c...
While there are still some who, at the mention of the alarm clock, might think of a small, spring-driven, mechanical device topped by a couple of bells with a hammer between them, my generation would probably envision a digital clock radio. Recently, designers have come up with more and more ingenious (read evil) ways to get us out of bed - such as a clock with wheels that runs away at the appointed hour with buzzer sounding, or a 113dB sonic boom skull that also shakes the bed until you switch it off. The Ramos Alarm Clock from Paul Sammut is another design aimed at the dedicated snoozer who can usually find a way to prolong the warmth and comfort under the covers. The clock is wirelessly linked to a separate Defuse Panel located in another room, such as the bathroom, and a code will need to be correctly entered to silence the buzzer.  Read More
Nelson, BC provides the ultimate powder testing grounds
California-based Signal Snowboards recently fulfilled the dreams of board sports enthusiasts everywhere in its "Every Third Thursday" Web series by building a hybrid board capable of surfing both waves and powder stashes. If you think that the board can't possibly shred on both water and snow proficiently, Signal took it to the beach and mountains to prove it.  Read More
F40s marked the coveted Ferrari's 20th birthday at the Silverstone Classic in 2007
Ferrari F40 fans might wish to put the date July 22 in the calendar now, maybe even if you live somewhere a long way from Silverstone. The annual three-day Silverstone Classic is claimed to be the world's biggest classic motor racing festival. Held at the Silverstone F1 circuit in mid-July, the central focus of the massive festival is the historic racing which features the cream of motor racing drivers and cars from every era of motor sport. Whenever there's a significant automotive anniversary, such as the 50th anniversary of the E-type Jaguar, there's also a mass gathering of vehicles. This year the festival is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Ferrari F40 - already more than 50 of the original 1315 F40s produced have RSVP'd for the event, guaranteeing a world record.  Read More

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