New and Emerging Technology News part 238 ~ NEW GEN TECH LIFE : new generation technology news

Thursday 27 March 2014

New and Emerging Technology News part 238

Jaguar's C-X17 sports crossover concept, on display at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show
After hinting at its new C-X17 concept, Jaguar has finally taken the lid off of its first sports crossover concept vehicle at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. This is not only the first vehicle of its kind to be designed by Jaguar, but it also acts as a demonstration of a new architecture that will be common in future Jaguar models as the company seeks to expand into new markets.  Read More
At its most recent launch event, Apple kicked off several iPhone-related announcements by ...
Apple has revealing its most colorful of its smartphones to date: the iPhone 5c. Sporting a look that's nearly indistinguishable from the previous iPhone 5 – aside from a much broader color spectrum, that is – Apple's latest smart device was designed especially with the new iOS 7 in mind and boasts a slew of new features.  Read More
The NBA is bringing motion tracking cameras to all 30 arenas next season (Photo: Joel Shaw...
When you combine sports with technology, you can end up with some serious improvements to the game. The NBA and Stats LLC is rolling out the SportVU motion tracking system, which uses six cameras to collect various types of data for the purpose of statistic tracking.  Read More
Today Apple pulled back the curtain on the new flagship iPhone 5S
If you were hoping Apple would break from tradition with its latest iPhone, well, today wasn't your lucky day. As expected, the company stuck with its "S-phone every other year" pattern, and pulled back the curtain on the iPhone 5s. Like previous S-series entries, the iPhone 5s looks almost exactly like its predecessor, only with a few upgrades thrown in. Here the big star of the show is the long-anticipated biometric fingerprint sensor, which Apple branded as Touch ID.  Read More
VW's new e-Golf (Photo: Gizmag)
At long last, Volkswagen has whipped the covers off its e-up! and e-Golf electric automobiles, at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt. Volkswagen claims that the e-up sets a new efficiency standard, consuming 11.7 kWh of electrical energy every 100 km (62 miles) for a cost of €3.02 (US$4). The e-Golf isn't far behind, consuming 12.7 kW/h per 100 km at a cost of €3.28. VW also used the event to unveil its new flagship Golf, the latest Golf R, as well as its Golf Sportsvan concept.  Read More
Students of the Biodesign program design MetaboShield to fight obesity and reverse type 2 ...
MetaboShield, is an innovative intestinal sleeve that can be lodged permanently in the small intestine via the throat in an anesthesia-free procedure. Though it is still a prototype, when developed the sleeve could help people shed unwanted pounds and potentially help reverse type 2 diabetes.  Read More
Binatone's Brick mobile phone (Photo: Gizmag)
In what is surely the mobile phone handset story of the day, UK electronics company Binatone has unveiled the aptly named Brick (strictly speaking, The Brick) mobile phone which boasts up to 3 months of standby time, 28 hours of talk time and an integrated flashlight, all wrapped up in an extremely compact form factor … for 1991.  Read More
The Castrol Rocket in testing in Utah
All of the two-wheeled machines that have held the motorcycle land speed record over the past few decades have one thing in common – they don't look like motorcycles. The latest speedster to step up to the plate is no exception. The Castrol Rocket is a 1,000-hp jet without wings that's been undergoing testing at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah in preparation for a shot at the title of world's fastest motorcycle.  Read More
The specification for 10 Gbps USB 3.1 has been finalized 10 Gbps USB transfer speeds are a step closer following completion of the new specification by the USB 3.0 Promoter Group.  Read More
The Lauf fork, in its native Iceland
Telescopic suspension forks may have done a lot to make mountain biking easier and more enjoyable, but they’re not exactly light or mechanically simple ... at least, not when compared to rigid forks. Icelandic entrepreneurs Benedikt Skulason and Gudberg Bjornsson decided to do something about it, and together created the Lauf leaf-style fork. It has no moving parts, requires no maintenance, and weighs just 980 grams – a typical suspension fork weighs more in the neighborhood of 1,400 to 1,900.  Read More

Nissan says the watch will be the first in an ongoing line of wearable devices for drivers
The smartwatch trend has certainly taken off recently with new wrist-worn tech announced by the likes of Samsung, Sony, and ... Nissan? Yes, the automobile company is getting in on the action with a concept for a watch designed exclusively for its Nismo brand of high-performance cars. Unlike most other smartwatches that just sync to a person's mobile phone, the planned Nismo Watch will also connect to a sports car to provide data on its performance in real-time.  Read More
Kia Niro has debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show (Photo: Gizmag.com) Having already seen the pre-show teaser shots, we had a chance to take a closer look at Kia's vision for the European B-segment at the Frankfurt Motor Show today – the Niro.  Read More
Gizmag compares the specs and features of the new iPhone 5s and Samsung's Galaxy S4
Earlier this year, Samsung launched the Galaxy S4, which some considered to be a minor update over the Galaxy S3. But Apple's new iPhone 5s might be an even more iterative update, apart from one or two marquee features. Which comes out on top? It's too early to say for sure, but we can start by comparing the specs and features of the companies' two latest flagships, the iPhone 5s and Galaxy S4.  Read More
Swedish architectural firm Tengbom has come up with an accommodation model that squeezes s...
Swedish architectural firm Tengbom has come up with a creative new accommodation model that squeezes student living into a compact 10 sq m footprint. The Smart Student Unit aims to offer an inexpensive and sustainable housing choice for students in Sweden that could reduce the current residency rents by half.  Read More
Stanford scientists have used DNA molecules to assemble high-performance graphene transist...
A team of Stanford researchers has found a way to grow graphene nanoribbons using strands of DNA. This important development could be the key to large-scale production of graphene-based transistors that are orders of magnitude smaller, faster and less power-hungry than current silicon technology.  Read More
The production model of the Porsche 918 Spyder hybrid debuted at IAA 2013 (Photo: Gizmag.c...
Porsche has debuted the long-awaited production model of its 918 Spyder at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA). Billed as the "genetic blueprint for the Porsche sports car of the future," the plug-in hybrid super sports car is designed to strike a balance between performance and efficiency, boasting acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 211 mph despite miserly fuel consumption estimated at 3 liters per 100 km (0.8 gallons per 62 miles).  Read More
Robots with artificial muscles would have superhuman strength (Image: Shutterstock)
It's a classic science fiction scene: an android is injured and its human-like exterior is laid bare to reveal the metallic gears and cables of its true mechanical nature. The future is, unsurprisingly, not likely to match this scenario as our ability to mimic biology with innovations like artificial muscles improves. The latest breakthrough in this field comes from the National University of Singapore’s Faculty of Engineering where researchers have developed a “robotic” muscle that extends like real muscle tissue to five times its original length, has the potential to lift 80 times its own weight and holds out the promise of smaller, stronger robots capable of more refined movements.  Read More
The 2X4 Cargo Bike, in all its stuff-haulin' glory
Cargo bikes are nothing new, nor are electric-assist bikes, nor even two-wheel-drive models. NTS Works’ 2X4 Cargo Bike is definitely unique, however, in the way that it combines all three.  Read More
Scientists have developed a method of accentuating only the parts of speech that people re... Places like airports and train stations aren’t known for their tranquility, and that’s largely because of the constant barrage of loud announcements made over their PA systems. Scientists at the University of Edinburgh, however, have helped develop a system that may allow those announcements to still be heard, but at a lower volume.  Read More
The Babolat Play Pure Drive sensor-packed racket and mobile device app
For fitness enthusiasts wanting to keep track of performance, or sports professionals looking for real-time information to help improve their game, the selection of monitoring devices is pretty good ... if you happen to be a runner or a cyclist. There's even one for kayakers. If you're a tennis player, however, your options are pretty much non-existent. Veteran French racket specialist Babolat is looking to address this shortfall with the release of its Play Pure Drive. The sensor packed racket collects data on a player's game, which is then transmitted to a smartphone or tablet running a proprietary app for analysis.  Read More

Basaltic roving would be used as a building material
Setting up house is always a pain and when that house is on Mars, it’s a logistical nightmare. To make things a bit easier, Dmitry Zhuikov, Arina Ageeva, and Krassimir Krastev of ZA Architects in Germany have come up with a concept architecture for future Mars colonies, built underground by robots before the colonists arrive.  Read More
The FINDER system (lower right, in photo) being tested at the Fairfax County Fire Departme...
Sniffer dogs and fiber optic cameras may soon be getting some assistance, when it comes to locating people trapped beneath debris. The Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate has joined forces with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to create a microwave radar-based system known as Finding Individuals for Disaster and Emergency Response – or FINDER. The new technology is able to detect a human heartbeat buried up to 30 feet (9 meters) under assorted rubble.  Read More
A batch of grapes that passed the new system's inspection
Wine grapes may soon be joining oranges and strawberries, on the list of "Fruits That Are Now Inspected and Sorted by Machines." As part of the Grapesort project, Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Optronics, System Technologies and Image Exploitation has helped create an automated system that not only gives bum grapes the boot, but also divides up the good ones according to quality.  Read More
Cosmic Led is a speaker and light bulb combined (Photo: Gizmag) A new hybrid product by Belgium-based eTiger combines light and sound for those people who enjoy playing with atmosphere at home. Cosmic Led is a wireless-enabled product that combines an audio speaker with a light bulb. All it takes is plugging it into lamp or overhead ceiling rose connection.  Read More
The Owlet smart sock monitors a baby's vital signs through its foot (Photo: Owlet Baby Car...
Can a sock reassure you of a baby's well-being? Perhaps it can, if it's the Owlet. Created by Owlet baby care, this sensor-lined sock monitors a baby's vital signs through its foot, and transmits the data to a smartphone app or internet-based device via Bluetooth. Parents can check on a baby's skin temperature, heart rate, blood oxygen levels and sleep quality at a glance, and even be alerted to the baby rolling over. As a monitoring tool rather than a medical or diagnostic device, the smart sock aims to help parents be more aware of potential health-related danger signs so that they can take preemptive action.  Read More
New research examines the economics of storing energy from renewable sources (Photo: Shutt...
True or false: solar and wind power are freely available and clean, and thus should always be stored when they generate more energy than the grid can use? It's easy to assume that renewable energy should never be turned off, but scientists at Stanford have done the math to find the break-even point where storing energy is better than "wasting," or curtailing, that energy, and their findings aren't necessarily as you'd think.  Read More
The S-Walker Board combines aspects of a Segway, a balance board and a skateboard
Although it’s the major automotive manufacturers and their no-expense-spared world premieres that dominate IAA, German company S-Walker is holding a somewhat smaller-scale world premiere for its S-Walker Board. Combining aspects of a Segway, a skateboard and a balance board, the two-wheeled electric vehicle is set to hit the streets in the not-too-distant future.  Read More
Infiniti unveils its Q30 concept (Photo: Gizmag) With the unveiling of the Q30 concept, Infiniti, the luxury division of Nissan Motors, is clearly seeking to cement its reputation for opulence.  Read More
i8 will be available in four exterior colours and have four interior configuration options...
Gizmag has been following the development of BMW’s forward looking i8 for years. Now the fruits of that development labor have been revealed at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show with BMW finally de-cloaking the production version of the futuristic plug-in hybrid.  Read More
Thin films of gallium arsenide appear to reduce energy loss in stacked solar cells
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a new system for strengthening the connections between stacked solar cells which could improve the overall efficiency of concentrated photovoltaic technology and reduce the cost of solar energy production. The hardened connections could theoretically enable these cells to operate at concentrations of up to 70,000 suns while minimizing wasted energy.  Read More

Roux claims that his proposal will support the same passenger throughput while allowing in...
If Elon Musk's Hyperloop is to come to fruition, it's going to need passenger terminals. But where Musk's design proposes terminals with turntables to rotate transport capsules, industrial designer Serge Roux has come up with an alternative, and one which lives up to the Hyperloop brand. Roux's idea is much like a gondola cable car system, involving an endless loop (you see) to and from which passengers embark and disembark at either end. Roux maintains that this idea saves time, space, and has fewer parts to go wrong.  Read More
The Nanuk rides on 22-in wheels
Straight-lining dirt roads at 170 mph, fishtailing into mountain switchbacks, then rolling up to dinner in the sportiest, sexiest car in the lot – that's the type of Saturday afternoon that will be possible if the new Audi Nanuk Quattro Concept ever hits production. Then on Sunday you can blow away your buddies at the race track. The second example in a rising trend, the Nanuk is an off-road-ready supercar.  Read More
The Defikopter is a UAV that can be activated by a smartphone app to automatically take to...
We've seen flying drones designed to deliver food and even beer on command, but a new autonomous aircraft from a non-profit organization in Germany could provide medical equipment to remote areas in an emergency. The Defikopter is a UAV that can be activated by a smartphone app to automatically take to the skies and drop a defibrillator to medical personnel on the ground, shaving precious seconds off of the time it takes for a person to receive treatment for cardiac arrest.  Read More
Field Deployable Hydrolysis System (FDHS) developed at the U.S. Army’s Edgewood Chemical a...
The US Department of Defense recently rolled out a system to rapidly deploy chemical weapons disposal facilities that could potentially be used quickly and effectively on foreign shores in the near future. The Field Deployable Hydrolysis System (FDHS) developed at the US Army's Edgewood Chemical and Biological Center in Maryland is a mobile system designed to destroy chemical warfare agents in bulk. The FDHS neutralizes chemical agents by mixing them with water and other reagents like sodium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite and then heating them to produce compounds that are "not usable as weapons." This heating and mixing process to facilitate chemical reactions purportedly has destruction efficiency of 99.9 percent.  Read More
PhotoFlow is a two-in-one concept design that combines solar power generation with rainwat...
In many countries around the world the supply of electricity and clean water is often sporadic and of poor quality. Consulting and design company NOS is looking to address this problem with PhotoFlow, a two-in-one concept design that combines solar power generation with water collection and storage.  Read More
New i10 is longer, lower and wider than the previous model (Photo: Gizmag.com) Hyundai’s i10 hatchback has sold over 450,000 units in Europe since 2007 and this week at the Frankfurt Motor Show Hyundai officially unveiled its successor. Gizmag was on hand for the debut of the company's new entry into Europe’s A-segment market.  Read More
Deep Impact carried an impactor probe, which it launched at comet Tempel 1 in 2005 (Image:... Launched in 2005, the Deep Impact unmanned spacecraft has had a long career making flybys of various comets, but NASA says that mission control lost communications with the probe on August 8 and has been unable to restore the link.  Read More
Gizmag compares the specs and features of Apple's iPhone 5c and Motorola's Moto X
Sometimes the rumor mill is a little off the mark. Motorola's Moto X was originally thought to be a high-powered superphone that would make geeks salivate. When the phone actually arrived, though, it brought tame specs and more focus on the user experience. Apple's iPhone 5c was rumored to be an aggressive play at the budget smartphone market. What we actually got there, though, was a phone that was only a little cheaper than Apple's most expensive flagship. Are either of the phones worth taking a look at? Let Gizmag try to help, as we compare the specs and features of the iPhone 5c and Moto X.  Read More
Scientists at the Oregon Health and Science University have announced a positive step towa...
A very promising vaccine candidate for HIV/AIDS has shown the ability to completely clear the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), a very aggressive form of HIV that leads to AIDS in monkeys. Developed at the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute at the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), the vaccine proved successful in about fifty percent of the subjects tested and could lead to a human vaccine preventing the onset of HIV/AIDS and even cure patients currently on anti-retroviral drugs.  Read More
Stephen Walden with his Ergonomic Shovel
When it comes to defining what technology is, you may have heard people say "Heck, even the shovel is an example of technology." That may be true, but it's also an example of technology that has hasn't changed much in a long time. California-based entrepreneur Stephen Walden, however, wants to change that. After getting stiff and sore using a conventional shovel, he set about designing an alternative. The result is his Ergonomic Shovel, that features a rotating second handle in the middle of the shaft.  Read More

Artist's impression of Voyager 1 leaving the Solar System with the plasma layer represente...
After a journey of 36 years, NASA has announced that the Voyager 1 space probe officially left the Solar System on August 25, 2012. Based on new analysis of data sent by by the unmanned spacecraft, the space agency has declared that it is now in the first man-made object to travel into interstellar space, 12 billion miles (19 billion km) from the Sun.  Read More
The Hydra System is composed of several parts: the delivery system, shelters that may rest...
DARPA has floated a fascinating new unmanned systems project that would see undersea motherships launching smaller submarines and flying vehicles to conduct pop-up surveillance on pirates, terrorists and hijackers. The Hydra Project, named after the Greek legend of the multi-headed snake that grew two new heads whenever one was cut off, looks to provide low cost response to quickly changing situations on or near the water.  Read More
The Afterburner tail light puts out 30 lumens, or 60 if you get the Boost version
Life would certainly be simpler for bicycle commuters if they could just leave their lights on their bikes all the time, but – in most cases – doing so could likely result in the lights being stolen while the bike was parked on the street. MIT grad Slava Menn addressed this problem last year, by helping to create the revolver-like Defender theft-resistant headlight. Now, he's working on a similarly street-proof headlight and tail light, that are sleeker than the Defender but just as hard to steal – or wreck.  Read More
Roland's most versatile and powerful HandSonic digital hand percussion instrument to date,...
Through many of us may kitchen-top-finger-tap or office-desk-thumb-drum out of impatience or boredom, folks like Jeremy Ellis and Wilhelm Grahsl have turned it into an impressive art form, with a little help from some digital friends. The latest version of the latter's hand percussion weapon of choice has now been released, the Roland HandSonic HPD-20.  Read More
Sony Europe has launched the new Walkman WH Series 3-in-1 headphones
Though many smartphones are also very capable music players, there are some of us who prefer to listen to tunes from a dedicated device while out and about. Whatever your poison, you'll also need to carry some headphones, and perhaps even a set of speakers for those moments when you've just got to share with those around you. Sony has combined three devices into one to create the new Walkman WH Series headphones, saving you space in your overloaded backpack and eliminating the chance of annoying cable snag.  Read More
The Estrima Birò now comes with the option of a battery that can be removed and pulled alo...
Along with the ever-persistent problem of range anxiety, one of the things that keeps many people from taking electric cars seriously is the limited number of charging stations. What happens if your destination doesn't have one, or if you have to park your car out on the street when you're at home? In the case of some electric scooters and bicycles, users can remove the vehicle's battery and take it with them to charge indoors. Now, Italian automaker Estrima is offering that same feature in its Birò electric car.  Read More
The new Olympus OM-D E-M1 could be the end of the DSLR, at least as far as Olympus is conc...
Olympus has revealed its new flagship camera, the OM-D E-M1. While the mirrorless camera builds on the success of the E-M5, it's actually been designed as the successor to the last DSLR the firm produced, the E-5. As such, the camera boasts a chunky grip and manual controls galore. There's also a 16 megapixel sensor with no optical low-pass filter, a speedy autofocus system and built-in Wi-Fi.  Read More
The Intelligent Headset combines 3D audio, GPS, and head tracking for immersive augmented ...
Running down an alley you make out the low growls of a zombie approaching distinctly above you and to the right. Touring a famous city you get lost, happen upon a fascinating art exhibit, and touch your headphones to find out where you are and what you see. Intelligent Headset hopes to create these augmented reality scenarios with its GPS-enabled 3D audio headset and a complementary suite of smart phone apps that entertain, educate, and always know where you're at.  Read More
It was a conceptual feast for the eyes at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show
The exhibition halls at Messe Frankfurt are a fertile hunting ground for lovers of concept cars at this time of year, as automakers unveil vehicles that give a glimpse of possible future design directions, technologies that might be integrated into forthcoming production models, or pure flights of fancy. This year proved no different, with vehicles big and small, practical and absurd, strutting their stuff on the Frankfurt stage.  Read More
The Enfojer stand
Here's a fun little toy that might be of interest to playful photography enthusiasts and tinkerers. The Enjofer, described as a "portable smartphone photographic enlarger," is a stand that lets you create good quality black and white photographic prints directly from your smartphone, though you'll need your own darkroom set up to do it.  Read More
Artist's impression of Voyager 1 leaving the Solar System with the plasma layer represente...
After a journey of 36 years, NASA has announced that the Voyager 1 space probe officially left the Solar System on August 25, 2012. Based on new analysis of data sent by by the unmanned spacecraft, the space agency has declared that it is now in the first man-made object to travel into interstellar space, 12 billion miles (19 billion km) from the Sun.  Read More
The Hydra System is composed of several parts: the delivery system, shelters that may rest...
DARPA has floated a fascinating new unmanned systems project that would see undersea motherships launching smaller submarines and flying vehicles to conduct pop-up surveillance on pirates, terrorists and hijackers. The Hydra Project, named after the Greek legend of the multi-headed snake that grew two new heads whenever one was cut off, looks to provide low cost response to quickly changing situations on or near the water.  Read More
The Afterburner tail light puts out 30 lumens, or 60 if you get the Boost version
Life would certainly be simpler for bicycle commuters if they could just leave their lights on their bikes all the time, but – in most cases – doing so could likely result in the lights being stolen while the bike was parked on the street. MIT grad Slava Menn addressed this problem last year, by helping to create the revolver-like Defender theft-resistant headlight. Now, he's working on a similarly street-proof headlight and tail light, that are sleeker than the Defender but just as hard to steal – or wreck.  Read More
Roland's most versatile and powerful HandSonic digital hand percussion instrument to date,...
Through many of us may kitchen-top-finger-tap or office-desk-thumb-drum out of impatience or boredom, folks like Jeremy Ellis and Wilhelm Grahsl have turned it into an impressive art form, with a little help from some digital friends. The latest version of the latter's hand percussion weapon of choice has now been released, the Roland HandSonic HPD-20.  Read More
Sony Europe has launched the new Walkman WH Series 3-in-1 headphones
Though many smartphones are also very capable music players, there are some of us who prefer to listen to tunes from a dedicated device while out and about. Whatever your poison, you'll also need to carry some headphones, and perhaps even a set of speakers for those moments when you've just got to share with those around you. Sony has combined three devices into one to create the new Walkman WH Series headphones, saving you space in your overloaded backpack and eliminating the chance of annoying cable snag.  Read More
The Estrima Birò now comes with the option of a battery that can be removed and pulled alo...
Along with the ever-persistent problem of range anxiety, one of the things that keeps many people from taking electric cars seriously is the limited number of charging stations. What happens if your destination doesn't have one, or if you have to park your car out on the street when you're at home? In the case of some electric scooters and bicycles, users can remove the vehicle's battery and take it with them to charge indoors. Now, Italian automaker Estrima is offering that same feature in its Birò electric car.  Read More
The new Olympus OM-D E-M1 could be the end of the DSLR, at least as far as Olympus is conc...
Olympus has revealed its new flagship camera, the OM-D E-M1. While the mirrorless camera builds on the success of the E-M5, it's actually been designed as the successor to the last DSLR the firm produced, the E-5. As such, the camera boasts a chunky grip and manual controls galore. There's also a 16 megapixel sensor with no optical low-pass filter, a speedy autofocus system and built-in Wi-Fi.  Read More
The Intelligent Headset combines 3D audio, GPS, and head tracking for immersive augmented ...
Running down an alley you make out the low growls of a zombie approaching distinctly above you and to the right. Touring a famous city you get lost, happen upon a fascinating art exhibit, and touch your headphones to find out where you are and what you see. Intelligent Headset hopes to create these augmented reality scenarios with its GPS-enabled 3D audio headset and a complementary suite of smart phone apps that entertain, educate, and always know where you're at.  Read More
It was a conceptual feast for the eyes at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show
The exhibition halls at Messe Frankfurt are a fertile hunting ground for lovers of concept cars at this time of year, as automakers unveil vehicles that give a glimpse of possible future design directions, technologies that might be integrated into forthcoming production models, or pure flights of fancy. This year proved no different, with vehicles big and small, practical and absurd, strutting their stuff on the Frankfurt stage.  Read More
The Enfojer stand
Here's a fun little toy that might be of interest to playful photography enthusiasts and tinkerers. The Enjofer, described as a "portable smartphone photographic enlarger," is a stand that lets you create good quality black and white photographic prints directly from your smartphone, though you'll need your own darkroom set up to do it.  Read More
Artist's impression of Voyager 1 leaving the Solar System with the plasma layer represente...
After a journey of 36 years, NASA has announced that the Voyager 1 space probe officially left the Solar System on August 25, 2012. Based on new analysis of data sent by by the unmanned spacecraft, the space agency has declared that it is now in the first man-made object to travel into interstellar space, 12 billion miles (19 billion km) from the Sun.  Read More
The Hydra System is composed of several parts: the delivery system, shelters that may rest...
DARPA has floated a fascinating new unmanned systems project that would see undersea motherships launching smaller submarines and flying vehicles to conduct pop-up surveillance on pirates, terrorists and hijackers. The Hydra Project, named after the Greek legend of the multi-headed snake that grew two new heads whenever one was cut off, looks to provide low cost response to quickly changing situations on or near the water.  Read More
The Afterburner tail light puts out 30 lumens, or 60 if you get the Boost version
Life would certainly be simpler for bicycle commuters if they could just leave their lights on their bikes all the time, but – in most cases – doing so could likely result in the lights being stolen while the bike was parked on the street. MIT grad Slava Menn addressed this problem last year, by helping to create the revolver-like Defender theft-resistant headlight. Now, he's working on a similarly street-proof headlight and tail light, that are sleeker than the Defender but just as hard to steal – or wreck.  Read More
Roland's most versatile and powerful HandSonic digital hand percussion instrument to date,...
Through many of us may kitchen-top-finger-tap or office-desk-thumb-drum out of impatience or boredom, folks like Jeremy Ellis and Wilhelm Grahsl have turned it into an impressive art form, with a little help from some digital friends. The latest version of the latter's hand percussion weapon of choice has now been released, the Roland HandSonic HPD-20.  Read More
Sony Europe has launched the new Walkman WH Series 3-in-1 headphones
Though many smartphones are also very capable music players, there are some of us who prefer to listen to tunes from a dedicated device while out and about. Whatever your poison, you'll also need to carry some headphones, and perhaps even a set of speakers for those moments when you've just got to share with those around you. Sony has combined three devices into one to create the new Walkman WH Series headphones, saving you space in your overloaded backpack and eliminating the chance of annoying cable snag.  Read More
The Estrima Birò now comes with the option of a battery that can be removed and pulled alo...
Along with the ever-persistent problem of range anxiety, one of the things that keeps many people from taking electric cars seriously is the limited number of charging stations. What happens if your destination doesn't have one, or if you have to park your car out on the street when you're at home? In the case of some electric scooters and bicycles, users can remove the vehicle's battery and take it with them to charge indoors. Now, Italian automaker Estrima is offering that same feature in its Birò electric car.  Read More
The new Olympus OM-D E-M1 could be the end of the DSLR, at least as far as Olympus is conc...
Olympus has revealed its new flagship camera, the OM-D E-M1. While the mirrorless camera builds on the success of the E-M5, it's actually been designed as the successor to the last DSLR the firm produced, the E-5. As such, the camera boasts a chunky grip and manual controls galore. There's also a 16 megapixel sensor with no optical low-pass filter, a speedy autofocus system and built-in Wi-Fi.  Read More
The Intelligent Headset combines 3D audio, GPS, and head tracking for immersive augmented ...
Running down an alley you make out the low growls of a zombie approaching distinctly above you and to the right. Touring a famous city you get lost, happen upon a fascinating art exhibit, and touch your headphones to find out where you are and what you see. Intelligent Headset hopes to create these augmented reality scenarios with its GPS-enabled 3D audio headset and a complementary suite of smart phone apps that entertain, educate, and always know where you're at.  Read More
It was a conceptual feast for the eyes at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show
The exhibition halls at Messe Frankfurt are a fertile hunting ground for lovers of concept cars at this time of year, as automakers unveil vehicles that give a glimpse of possible future design directions, technologies that might be integrated into forthcoming production models, or pure flights of fancy. This year proved no different, with vehicles big and small, practical and absurd, strutting their stuff on the Frankfurt stage.  Read More
The Enfojer stand
Here's a fun little toy that might be of interest to playful photography enthusiasts and tinkerers. The Enjofer, described as a "portable smartphone photographic enlarger," is a stand that lets you create good quality black and white photographic prints directly from your smartphone, though you'll need your own darkroom set up to do it.  Read More


 
 
 
 

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