New and Emerging Technology News part 215 ~ NEW GEN TECH LIFE : new generation technology news

Tuesday 18 March 2014

New and Emerging Technology News part 215

The Mataerial printer uses a robotic arm and quick-solidifying material to form rigid, fre...
Earlier this year, we covered the 3Doodler, a pen that lets users sketch 3D objects with plastic filament, almost like a 3D printer. It's a fun little gadget, but what if someone made a device that offers similar freedom, except it built objects over 10 times larger? It might look something like the Mataerial 3D printer, which uses a robotic arm and quick-solidifying material to form rigid, free-flowing structures on almost any surface, even vertical ones.  Read More
The new infection-indicating dressing on a healthy skin sample (R) and on an infected skin...
Serious burns can lead to infection and potentially fatal toxic shock syndrome (TSS). Once an infection sets in, it is vital to begin treatment quickly to avoid or minimize a transition to TSS. The problem is, removing dressings to check for infection can be painful, slow the healing process and increase the chance of scarring. A prototype dressing developed by chemists at the University of Bath in the UK alerts doctors to the first signs of infection by glowing under ultraviolet (UV) light.  Read More
The Perceptive Radio uses local data and onboard sensors to adjust itself and even alter t...
Radio plays can transport listeners to far away exotic settings but the BBC’s prototype Perceptive Radio aims to give listeners a more localized experience. Shown to the public recently at the Thinking Digital Conference in Gateshead, UK, the Perceptive Radio uses local data and onboard sensors to adjust itself and even alter the script of a radio play in real time to reflect local conditions. The goal is to make listening to the radio more like attending live theater.  Read More
The Bailey Blade XTR from BXR Motors (Photo: BXR Motors)
Developing a high-performance sports car is a project that takes many years inside a well-established auto company. It's exponentially more difficult when you're a small team pursuing one hot rod enthusiast's vision for the ultimate sports car. BXR Motors has been slowly but surely developing its Bailey Blade XTR sports car for the past half-decade, but things appear to be jumping into high gear now that the small start-up has secured the funding it needs to finish the 750-hp car.  Read More
The 1:1 scale Lego X-Wing is unveiled in Times Square
A certain Jedi Master, species unknown, once said, “size matters not.” But he obviously wasn’t referring to the latest Lego creation from the Lego group. Taking the title of the world’s largest Lego model is a 1:1 scale replica of an X-Wing made up of 5,335,200 Lego bricks and taking 32 Lego master builders 17,336 hours (around four months) to complete.  Read More
Unofficial reports have HTC selling five million Ones, compared to ten million Samsung Gal...
It’s no secret. HTC’s future – along with the job of its CEO – is riding on the success of its flagship phone, the HTC One. With recent reports saying that the company is in a “freefall” while losing top staff, things weren't looking so hot. But there may be hope yet, as HTC has reportedly sold around half as many Ones as Samsung has sold Galaxy S4s. That might sound like bad news for HTC, but those are actually promising figures.  Read More
The Nanostructured Lipid Carrier (NLC) that can be inhaled to deliver an anticancer drug d...
According to American Cancer Society estimates, lung cancer will account for 27 percent of all US cancer deaths in 2013, making it by far the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women. Part of the problem is getting the toxic chemotherapeutic drugs used to treat the cancer into the lungs. A new drug delivery system aims to overcome this problem by allowing the drugs to be inhaled, thereby delivering the drug where it is needed while reducing the harmful effects to other organs.  Read More
Amazon Publishing is launching Kindle Worlds, a platform for fan fiction writers to moneti...
Fan fiction writers, take notice. Amazon Publishing is launching a new platform to allow budding writers in the genre to indulge in their hobby and even make some money out of it. Called Kindle Worlds, the service has been announced as the first commercial publishing platform of its kind for those who get inspiration from fictional universes and characters created by authors they admire.  Read More
The new electrodes are made from a film consisting of graphene and silver nanowires (Image...
Transparent electrodes are in and of themselves nothing all that new – they’re currently used in things like touchscreens and flat-screen TVs. Thanks to research being conducted at Indiana’s Purdue University, however, a new class of such electrodes may soon find use in a variety of other applications, including flexible electronic devices.  Read More
DARPA's Warrior Web program aims to build a suit that makes life easier for soldiers in th...
Unless you've been there yourself, it's hard to imagine being a soldier in the field, trekking through rugged terrain while carrying gear weighing 100 lbs (45.35 kg) and beyond. There has a been a lot of research into exoskeletons over the years to alleviate these heavy loads, but strapping a person into a robotic outfit just isn't practical in a combat zone yet. Instead, DARPA's Warrior Web program aims to build a lightweight suit that improves a soldier's endurance and overall effectiveness, while preventing injuries.  Read More

The University of Illinois' iPhone-based biosensor
We already know that smartphones can perform many of the same features as more expensive computers, cameras and other devices. Now, a portable iPhone cradle made up of about US$200 worth of electronics is claimed to be as accurate of a biosensor as a $50,000 spectrophotometer that remains stuck in a lab.  Read More
HTC is reportedly prepping a Google Edition of the One, to join Samsung's Galaxy S4
Last week at Google I/O, some had been expecting a brand new Nexus phone or tablet. That didn’t happen. The closest we got was a pure Google version of the Samsung Galaxy S4. The next logical question, then, was whether HTC would follow suit. Well, after a week of back-and-forth rumors, it looks like the company is indeed going to join in on the fun with a “Google Edition” version of the popular HTC One.  Read More
The 3200 x 1800 resolution 13.3-inch notebook display from Samsung
Samsung Display has chosen Vancouver's Display Week Exhibition hosted by the Society for Information Display to unveil two new Retina-beating display panels. The WQXGA 10.1-inch LCD screen will be used for tablets, while the QHD+ 13.3-inch is destined for notebooks. Details are scant, but we have managed to persuade Samsung to part with a few key specs.  Read More
The Seal system consists of neckbands worn by swimmers, designed to sound an alarm if anyo...
It can’t be easy, being a lifeguard at a pool full of children. The kids that catch your attention are going to be the ones who are splashing and yelling, whereas the ones that you really need to look for could be silently slipping below the surface, where they won’t be seen or heard. North Carolina-based emergency physician Graham Snyder decided that those potential drowning victims needed more attention drawn to their predicament, so he created the Seal system.  Read More
Room with a view: the Notting Hill Penthouse
UK-based architectural practice Studio RHE was approached by a client who desired the creation of an unusual and ambitious project: to transform the roofs of two adjacent mansion blocks in London’s Notting Hill into one all-glass home, offering stunning views of both the sky at night and the surrounding area.  Read More
Solar Impulse landing at Fort Worth, Dallas (Photo: Solar Impulse |Revillard| Rezo.ch)
The Solar Impulse has broken its own record for the longest distance flight of a solar-powered aircraft following the second leg of its journey across the USA. Solar Impulse touched down in Texas at 1:08 a.m. local time after a flight of 18 hours 21 minutes having covered at least 868 miles.  Read More
Artist's impression of the Osaka canal swimming pool (Image: City of Osaka) Plans are afoot to build an 800-m swimming pool in the Dotonbori Canal in Osaka, Japan, according to a report in the Japan Times on Wednesday.  Read More
The Inteliscope Tactical Rifle Adapter and app allows gun owners to mount their iPhone or ...
You might think strapping your smartphone to a firearm is the last thing you'd want to do with it, but what if it could provide helpful information while hunting or during target practice? That's just what inventor Jason Giddings and his new company, Inteliscope, LLC, decided to do when they combined guns with smart devices to launch the Inteliscope Tactical Rifle Adapter. Along with an iOS app, the adapter allows gun owners to mount their iPhone or iPod Touch to a firearm and use it as a sight with a heads-up display that shows real-time data on their surroundings.  Read More
BVN Donovan Hill's emergency shelter
Australian architecture firm BVN Donovan Hill made an appearance at Melbourne’s recent Emergency Shelter Exhibition in order to demonstrate its new emergency shelter concept. Developed with the aim of providing comfortable surroundings for its occupants, the temporary structure resembles a 3D puzzle and is said to assemble much like an Ikea cupboard.  Read More
Only one hundred of the limited edition 12C and 12C Spiders will be available ... 50 12C C... McLaren is looking to make the wanting and the owning of a 12C even more enticing as part of its ongoing 50th anniversary celebrations. Featuring a tidy list of anniversary upgrades, the McLaren 50 12C and 12C Spider are available as part of a special one hundred car run.  Read More
The University of Illinois' iPhone-based biosensor
We already know that smartphones can perform many of the same features as more expensive computers, cameras and other devices. Now, a portable iPhone cradle made up of about US$200 worth of electronics is claimed to be as accurate of a biosensor as a $50,000 spectrophotometer that remains stuck in a lab.  Read More
HTC is reportedly prepping a Google Edition of the One, to join Samsung's Galaxy S4
Last week at Google I/O, some had been expecting a brand new Nexus phone or tablet. That didn’t happen. The closest we got was a pure Google version of the Samsung Galaxy S4. The next logical question, then, was whether HTC would follow suit. Well, after a week of back-and-forth rumors, it looks like the company is indeed going to join in on the fun with a “Google Edition” version of the popular HTC One.  Read More
The 3200 x 1800 resolution 13.3-inch notebook display from Samsung
Samsung Display has chosen Vancouver's Display Week Exhibition hosted by the Society for Information Display to unveil two new Retina-beating display panels. The WQXGA 10.1-inch LCD screen will be used for tablets, while the QHD+ 13.3-inch is destined for notebooks. Details are scant, but we have managed to persuade Samsung to part with a few key specs.  Read More
The Seal system consists of neckbands worn by swimmers, designed to sound an alarm if anyo...
It can’t be easy, being a lifeguard at a pool full of children. The kids that catch your attention are going to be the ones who are splashing and yelling, whereas the ones that you really need to look for could be silently slipping below the surface, where they won’t be seen or heard. North Carolina-based emergency physician Graham Snyder decided that those potential drowning victims needed more attention drawn to their predicament, so he created the Seal system.  Read More
Room with a view: the Notting Hill Penthouse
UK-based architectural practice Studio RHE was approached by a client who desired the creation of an unusual and ambitious project: to transform the roofs of two adjacent mansion blocks in London’s Notting Hill into one all-glass home, offering stunning views of both the sky at night and the surrounding area.  Read More
Solar Impulse landing at Fort Worth, Dallas (Photo: Solar Impulse |Revillard| Rezo.ch)
The Solar Impulse has broken its own record for the longest distance flight of a solar-powered aircraft following the second leg of its journey across the USA. Solar Impulse touched down in Texas at 1:08 a.m. local time after a flight of 18 hours 21 minutes having covered at least 868 miles.  Read More
Artist's impression of the Osaka canal swimming pool (Image: City of Osaka) Plans are afoot to build an 800-m swimming pool in the Dotonbori Canal in Osaka, Japan, according to a report in the Japan Times on Wednesday.  Read More
The Inteliscope Tactical Rifle Adapter and app allows gun owners to mount their iPhone or ...
You might think strapping your smartphone to a firearm is the last thing you'd want to do with it, but what if it could provide helpful information while hunting or during target practice? That's just what inventor Jason Giddings and his new company, Inteliscope, LLC, decided to do when they combined guns with smart devices to launch the Inteliscope Tactical Rifle Adapter. Along with an iOS app, the adapter allows gun owners to mount their iPhone or iPod Touch to a firearm and use it as a sight with a heads-up display that shows real-time data on their surroundings.  Read More
BVN Donovan Hill's emergency shelter
Australian architecture firm BVN Donovan Hill made an appearance at Melbourne’s recent Emergency Shelter Exhibition in order to demonstrate its new emergency shelter concept. Developed with the aim of providing comfortable surroundings for its occupants, the temporary structure resembles a 3D puzzle and is said to assemble much like an Ikea cupboard.  Read More
Only one hundred of the limited edition 12C and 12C Spiders will be available ... 50 12C C... McLaren is looking to make the wanting and the owning of a 12C even more enticing as part of its ongoing 50th anniversary celebrations. Featuring a tidy list of anniversary upgrades, the McLaren 50 12C and 12C Spider are available as part of a special one hundred car run.  Read More

 
Makani Power's Wing 7 prototype Airborne Wind Turbine (AWT) will now benefit from the back...
Having already put its Google Wallet where its mouth by backing a solar power tower plant in California to the tune of US$168 million, Google has now turned to wind power. According to a report from Bloomberg Businessweek, the search giant has acquired Makani Power, a California-based startup whose Airborne Wind Turbine (AWT) technology first caught our interest in 2011.  Read More
Honda's new Grom 125 cc motorcycle (Photo: Honda Powersports)
There's a general impression that there are motorcycle riders and there are scooter riders, and never the twain shall meet. The reality is of course much different, with most members from each camp accepting that each conveyance has its pluses and minuses depending on the task at hand, and the market now offering so many variations on both themes that the old dichotomy is largely irrelevant. Honda is further muddying the waters with its new Grom, a kind of supermoto-moped that straddles the valley between different classes of two-wheeled conveyance.  Read More
Bacteriophage attacking an infectious bacterium
Though not something people like to ponder, the purpose of mucus as a protective barrier that keeps underlying tissues moist and traps bacteria and other foreign organisms is well known. However, researchers at San Diego State University (SDSU) have now discovered that the surface of mucus is also the site of an independent human immune system that actively protects us from infectious agents in the environment.  Read More
Europe’s first man-made island and 'space hotel' by US based company Mobilona
The bustling Spanish city of Barcelona attracts thousands of tourists each year and is renowned for its world heritage sites which include several masterpieces by the 19th century Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. In stark contrast to the city’s various attractions steeped in history, art and culture, Barcelona could host Europe’s first man-made island and "space hotel." Barcelona Island would feature a 984 ft high hotel which promises “the world's first zero-gravity spa” – whatever that means.  Read More
Gran Lusso's lengthy wheelbase features sweeping, extended design elements from tip to tai... In the world of automotive design, Pininfarina stands as one of the most influential and iconic names in the business. So what happens when you put designers from this legendary firm in the same room as their counterparts over at Bayrische Motoren Werke? You end up with an exclusively styled one-off in the form of the Gran Lusso Coupé.  Read More
CurvACE reproduces the architecture of the eyes of insects and other arthropods
Robots are getting down to the size of insects, so it seems only natural that they should be getting insect eyes. A consortium of European researchers has developed the artificial Curved Artificial Compound Eye (CurvACE) which reproduces the architecture of the eyes of insects and other arthropods. The aim isn't just to provide machines with an unnerving bug-eyed stare, but to create a new class of sensors that exploit the wide field of vision and motion detecting properties of the compound eye.  Read More
The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor turns SUV thanks to Hennessey
The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is one of the most rugged, off-road-capable pickup trucks out there. In fact, in a showdown of four of the most off-road-savvy pickups on Earth, PickupTrucks.com named the 2012 F-150 SVT Raptor its winner, lauding it for one of the more dominant contest performances of 2012. Hennessey domesticates the four-door SuperCrew cab Raptor just a little, transforming it into the VelociRaptor SUV.  Read More
Ziggle is a ride-on car for kids which utilizes the force of lateral friction to propel it...
The lifestyle choices parents make easily filter down to their children. If you drive everywhere and do very little in the way of exercise then the chances are your kids will grow up to do the same thing. However, walking is boring, and it's an activity that some kids will avoid if they can possibly help it. Which is where Ziggle may just provide a solution to parents ready to tear their hair out over their offspring's lethargy.  Read More
The BMW Concept Ninety at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2013 With BMW Motorrad celebrating two significant birthdays this year (90 years since the founding of BMW Motorrad, and 40 years since the launch of the BMW R 90 S), it's understandable that it should produce a tribute motorcycle to the most famous Boxer Twin. Hence, BMW will show the BMW Concept 90 at the famous Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on the banks of Lake Como later today.  Read More
B is a combination RC car and quadcopter, which can be driven or flown
Quadcopters are becoming more and more popular with radio-controlled model enthusiasts, but sometimes ... sometimes you still just want to remotely-control a car. If that’s the case with you, then UK-based product designer Witold Mielniczek has got you covered. His prototype vehicle, known simply as B, functions as both a quadcopter and an off-road racer.  Read More
Makani Power's Wing 7 prototype Airborne Wind Turbine (AWT) will now benefit from the back...
Having already put its Google Wallet where its mouth by backing a solar power tower plant in California to the tune of US$168 million, Google has now turned to wind power. According to a report from Bloomberg Businessweek, the search giant has acquired Makani Power, a California-based startup whose Airborne Wind Turbine (AWT) technology first caught our interest in 2011.  Read More
Honda's new Grom 125 cc motorcycle (Photo: Honda Powersports)
There's a general impression that there are motorcycle riders and there are scooter riders, and never the twain shall meet. The reality is of course much different, with most members from each camp accepting that each conveyance has its pluses and minuses depending on the task at hand, and the market now offering so many variations on both themes that the old dichotomy is largely irrelevant. Honda is further muddying the waters with its new Grom, a kind of supermoto-moped that straddles the valley between different classes of two-wheeled conveyance.  Read More
Bacteriophage attacking an infectious bacterium
Though not something people like to ponder, the purpose of mucus as a protective barrier that keeps underlying tissues moist and traps bacteria and other foreign organisms is well known. However, researchers at San Diego State University (SDSU) have now discovered that the surface of mucus is also the site of an independent human immune system that actively protects us from infectious agents in the environment.  Read More
Europe’s first man-made island and 'space hotel' by US based company Mobilona
The bustling Spanish city of Barcelona attracts thousands of tourists each year and is renowned for its world heritage sites which include several masterpieces by the 19th century Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. In stark contrast to the city’s various attractions steeped in history, art and culture, Barcelona could host Europe’s first man-made island and "space hotel." Barcelona Island would feature a 984 ft high hotel which promises “the world's first zero-gravity spa” – whatever that means.  Read More
Gran Lusso's lengthy wheelbase features sweeping, extended design elements from tip to tai... In the world of automotive design, Pininfarina stands as one of the most influential and iconic names in the business. So what happens when you put designers from this legendary firm in the same room as their counterparts over at Bayrische Motoren Werke? You end up with an exclusively styled one-off in the form of the Gran Lusso Coupé.  Read More
CurvACE reproduces the architecture of the eyes of insects and other arthropods
Robots are getting down to the size of insects, so it seems only natural that they should be getting insect eyes. A consortium of European researchers has developed the artificial Curved Artificial Compound Eye (CurvACE) which reproduces the architecture of the eyes of insects and other arthropods. The aim isn't just to provide machines with an unnerving bug-eyed stare, but to create a new class of sensors that exploit the wide field of vision and motion detecting properties of the compound eye.  Read More
The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor turns SUV thanks to Hennessey
The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is one of the most rugged, off-road-capable pickup trucks out there. In fact, in a showdown of four of the most off-road-savvy pickups on Earth, PickupTrucks.com named the 2012 F-150 SVT Raptor its winner, lauding it for one of the more dominant contest performances of 2012. Hennessey domesticates the four-door SuperCrew cab Raptor just a little, transforming it into the VelociRaptor SUV.  Read More
Ziggle is a ride-on car for kids which utilizes the force of lateral friction to propel it...
The lifestyle choices parents make easily filter down to their children. If you drive everywhere and do very little in the way of exercise then the chances are your kids will grow up to do the same thing. However, walking is boring, and it's an activity that some kids will avoid if they can possibly help it. Which is where Ziggle may just provide a solution to parents ready to tear their hair out over their offspring's lethargy.  Read More
The BMW Concept Ninety at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2013 With BMW Motorrad celebrating two significant birthdays this year (90 years since the founding of BMW Motorrad, and 40 years since the launch of the BMW R 90 S), it's understandable that it should produce a tribute motorcycle to the most famous Boxer Twin. Hence, BMW will show the BMW Concept 90 at the famous Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on the banks of Lake Como later today.  Read More
B is a combination RC car and quadcopter, which can be driven or flown
Quadcopters are becoming more and more popular with radio-controlled model enthusiasts, but sometimes ... sometimes you still just want to remotely-control a car. If that’s the case with you, then UK-based product designer Witold Mielniczek has got you covered. His prototype vehicle, known simply as B, functions as both a quadcopter and an off-road racer.  Read More
Makani Power's Wing 7 prototype Airborne Wind Turbine (AWT) will now benefit from the back...
Having already put its Google Wallet where its mouth by backing a solar power tower plant in California to the tune of US$168 million, Google has now turned to wind power. According to a report from Bloomberg Businessweek, the search giant has acquired Makani Power, a California-based startup whose Airborne Wind Turbine (AWT) technology first caught our interest in 2011.  Read More
Honda's new Grom 125 cc motorcycle (Photo: Honda Powersports)
There's a general impression that there are motorcycle riders and there are scooter riders, and never the twain shall meet. The reality is of course much different, with most members from each camp accepting that each conveyance has its pluses and minuses depending on the task at hand, and the market now offering so many variations on both themes that the old dichotomy is largely irrelevant. Honda is further muddying the waters with its new Grom, a kind of supermoto-moped that straddles the valley between different classes of two-wheeled conveyance.  Read More
Bacteriophage attacking an infectious bacterium
Though not something people like to ponder, the purpose of mucus as a protective barrier that keeps underlying tissues moist and traps bacteria and other foreign organisms is well known. However, researchers at San Diego State University (SDSU) have now discovered that the surface of mucus is also the site of an independent human immune system that actively protects us from infectious agents in the environment.  Read More
Europe’s first man-made island and 'space hotel' by US based company Mobilona
The bustling Spanish city of Barcelona attracts thousands of tourists each year and is renowned for its world heritage sites which include several masterpieces by the 19th century Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. In stark contrast to the city’s various attractions steeped in history, art and culture, Barcelona could host Europe’s first man-made island and "space hotel." Barcelona Island would feature a 984 ft high hotel which promises “the world's first zero-gravity spa” – whatever that means.  Read More
Gran Lusso's lengthy wheelbase features sweeping, extended design elements from tip to tai... In the world of automotive design, Pininfarina stands as one of the most influential and iconic names in the business. So what happens when you put designers from this legendary firm in the same room as their counterparts over at Bayrische Motoren Werke? You end up with an exclusively styled one-off in the form of the Gran Lusso Coupé.  Read More
CurvACE reproduces the architecture of the eyes of insects and other arthropods
Robots are getting down to the size of insects, so it seems only natural that they should be getting insect eyes. A consortium of European researchers has developed the artificial Curved Artificial Compound Eye (CurvACE) which reproduces the architecture of the eyes of insects and other arthropods. The aim isn't just to provide machines with an unnerving bug-eyed stare, but to create a new class of sensors that exploit the wide field of vision and motion detecting properties of the compound eye.  Read More
The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor turns SUV thanks to Hennessey
The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is one of the most rugged, off-road-capable pickup trucks out there. In fact, in a showdown of four of the most off-road-savvy pickups on Earth, PickupTrucks.com named the 2012 F-150 SVT Raptor its winner, lauding it for one of the more dominant contest performances of 2012. Hennessey domesticates the four-door SuperCrew cab Raptor just a little, transforming it into the VelociRaptor SUV.  Read More
Ziggle is a ride-on car for kids which utilizes the force of lateral friction to propel it...
The lifestyle choices parents make easily filter down to their children. If you drive everywhere and do very little in the way of exercise then the chances are your kids will grow up to do the same thing. However, walking is boring, and it's an activity that some kids will avoid if they can possibly help it. Which is where Ziggle may just provide a solution to parents ready to tear their hair out over their offspring's lethargy.  Read More
The BMW Concept Ninety at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2013 With BMW Motorrad celebrating two significant birthdays this year (90 years since the founding of BMW Motorrad, and 40 years since the launch of the BMW R 90 S), it's understandable that it should produce a tribute motorcycle to the most famous Boxer Twin. Hence, BMW will show the BMW Concept 90 at the famous Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on the banks of Lake Como later today.  Read More
B is a combination RC car and quadcopter, which can be driven or flown
Quadcopters are becoming more and more popular with radio-controlled model enthusiasts, but sometimes ... sometimes you still just want to remotely-control a car. If that’s the case with you, then UK-based product designer Witold Mielniczek has got you covered. His prototype vehicle, known simply as B, functions as both a quadcopter and an off-road racer.  Read More

The Universal Battery Charger is designed to provide power to field infantry electronics (...
Portable electronic devices have revolutionized warfare, but they've also burdened the soldiers with an increasing number of batteries that adds significantly to their load. To help lighten the load, the US Army Research, Development and Engineering Command's communications-electronics center (CERDEC) has developed a military-grade Universal Battery Charger (UBC) to help soldiers in the field keep their electronics powered up.  Read More
The modular Linkbot robot building platform
Though somewhat time consuming and a bit of a brain drain, robot building can also be rewarding and fun. For those just starting out, however, the prospect of simultaneously playing the roles of designer, tinkerer, programmer and troubleshooter in order to breathe life into a pile of wires, motors, plastic and metal might be just a little overwhelming. Linkbots offer a gentler learning curve with a modular platform that starts with a single working unit, and grows into more complex robots by attaching accessories and connecting other units.  Read More
Toronto-based entrepreneur Henry Chong, riding the LIFEbike
For the most part, electric bicycles are configured like regular bikes, with the addition of a motor and battery. Because they’re essentially just conventional bikes with extra stuff, they also tend to be pretty heavy. The Revelo LIFEbike, however, is an ebike with a difference. Its wacky design runs the pedal axle through the front wheel hub, thus drastically shortening the aluminum frame and eliminating the chain. As a result, it weighs in at 15 kg (33 lb) – about the weight of a non-electric cruiser bike.  Read More
Lenovo has released the K900 smartphone in China
With the release of its K900 smartphone in China, Lenovo confirms its determination to face high-end smartphone manufacturers head on. Despite being only 6.9 mm thin, this Jelly Bean beauty boasts the latest Atom processor from Intel, a 5.5-inch Full HD display and a 13-megapixel camera that lies flush with the stainless steel alloy and polycarbonate unibody housing.  Read More
Scanadu has turned to crowdfunding website Indiegogo to bring what it calls 'the first med...
Scanadu has turned to crowd-funding website Indiegogo to bring what it calls "the first medical tricorder," its Scout diagnostic device, to market. Though expected to ship to home users in March 2014, Scanadu highlights that until the Scout is approved by the FDA, it should not be thought of as a medical device. Instead, backers are described as testers who will help to gather the data to gain that approval.  Read More
A conventional steel-column wind turbine (Photo: Patrick Finnegan)
Engineers at Iowa State University think concrete columns could be the key to building taller, higher-powered wind turbines. By making the switch from steel to concrete, it's thought that the upper limit of turbine column height could be raised from 80 m to over 100 m.  Read More
The new RC213V production machine under testing in Japan on May 24, 2013. The bike's runni...
Yes, that seems like a whole lot of money for a motorcycle, but Honda will unveil a whole new production model by the end of 2013. It's an over-the-counter MotoGP racer with a target price of €1 million, and a level of power that will make it competitive in the CRT class of MotoGP in 2014. Oh, and the bike is designed to save money.  Read More
The Joby UltraPlate can be used with a both a tripod plate and a shoulder strap at the sam...
The Joby UltraPlate is a new universal quick-release plate which enables photographers to attach both a tripod and a shoulder strap to their camera. What makes this plate stand out from the rest of the field is that both accessories can be connected simultaneously, meaning no more unnecessary fiddling when moving between tripod and hand-holding a camera.  Read More
Aeryon Labs recently unveiled its latest compact UAV, the SkyRanger, which deploys within ...
Many UAV drones have issues when it comes to strong winds and adverse weather, but if you're a soldier needing a birds-eye view, you don't always have time to wait for the sky to clear up. Aeryon Labs' SkyRanger UAV deploys from a backpack within seconds and boasts a new airframe that can remain aloft in high winds and extreme temperatures.  Read More
Four customizable LED headlights are a modern-day take on light racks used by night rally ...
In the 1980’s, Renault’s much modified R5 Turbo would slide its way about the rally circuit in a valiant effort to claim the podium. With its exaggerated hindquarters and impressive power-to-weight ratio the R5 Turbo was an instant rally hit, but it was femme fatale Fatima Blush driving a red R5 Turbo in James Bond’s 1983 Never Say Never Again that would bring the impudent racer to the attention of the masses. Thirty years later, Renault is paying homage to the R5 Turbo by introducing the 320 hp Twin’Run Concept Car.  Read More

Earlier this month Adastra was presented with the 2013 World Superyacht Award for Most Inn...
Last year we provided readers with the first images of the US$15 million Adastra superyacht being constructed in China. The incredible watercraft has since traveled 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km) through the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand and earlier this month was presented with the 2013 World Superyacht Award for Most Innovative Design.  Read More
Meystyle's Between collection of LED wallpapers appeared at this year’s New York Design We...
Wallpaper has been around for some time now, and one could argue that the same old paper-based patterns and prints have become a little stale with time. Interior designers looking to spice up their walls now have another option open to them, as Meystyle has given wallpaper a modern twist with the help of some embedded LEDs and Swarovski crystals.  Read More
Soylent: the future of food?
There's a romance to food. It's one of life's great sensory and social pleasures. But a lot of us don't eat healthily, and a lot of us don't enjoy the process of preparing food, especially when we're eating alone. Furthermore, the way we eat today is incredibly wasteful throughout the entire production and consumption process, to the point where it actively damages our bodies and our planet. Enter Soylent: a food engineered to efficiently deliver 100 percent of the healthy body's needs with minimal waste, junk food-beating convenience and a very low cost, or, as the inventors put it, "creating an efficient form of fuel for humanity for the first time in history." Food has always been sexy, and this sounds about as exciting as artificial insemination. But when you check out the details, this ambitious plan actually makes a lot of sense.  Read More
The foc.us gaming headset claims to improve a gamer's abilities by stimulating specific ar...
What would you do if you wanted to improve your video game skills? Practice more often? Study game maps? Maybe get some tips from pro gamers? But why do any of that when you can just hook some electrodes to your scalp and run an electric current through your cranium? That's what Focus Labs is offering with the foc.us headset, which it claims will improve a gamer's abilities by stimulating specific areas of the brain with a low electric current.  Read More
The sleek rows of windows in the building's recessed oblong front combine with the wood fi...
You'd expect, or at least hope, that members of the solar industry walk the walk when it comes to designing environmentally friendly offices and factories of their own. And though we don't know much about Sputnik Engineering's office and production building at Biel, Switzerland, its designer, Burckhardt+Partner, claims the building's electricity is provided entirely by renewable energy.  Read More
Honda's Walking Assist Device has been under development for 14 years, as has the company'...
Practical exoskeletons have moved considerably closer to everyday use with the news that Honda has begun leasing 100 of its Walking Assist Devices to hospitals in Japan so that it can monitor and validate their usefulness in the real world. Honda's announcement means it has joined Panasonic's Activelink Powerloader, Cyberdyne's HAL, Argo Medical Technologies' Rewalk, Rex Bionics' REX, Ekso Bionics EKSO, Raytheon's XOS2, RB3D's Hercule and Lockheed Martin's HULC exoskeletons, which are all at or close to market.  Read More
Battery-swapping company, Better Place, has filed a motion to be put into liquidation Swappable batteries might seem like a good idea to overcome the range limitations of electric vehicles, but the benefits of such an approach weren’t enough to save Better Place, the company responsible for the first commercial implementation of a battery-switching service.  Read More
ASMRrequests in her amazing Space Travel video
Have you ever been in a situation where a certain situation, or a certain person's voice, has made you slip into a super-relaxing trance? Have you ever felt your scalp or neck tingle as a result of some visual or auditory stimulus? If so, you're among the unknown percentage of people capable of experiencing ASMR, or the Autonomous Sensory Meridien Response. There's no science out there to confirm that the effect even exists, but for those of us that feel it, there's an emerging community of YouTube artists producing a huge array of content specifically designed to bring on scalp-tingling pleasure and extreme relaxation. Check out some of these videos to see if you're one of the lucky ones.  Read More
The next-gen Kinect for Windows sensor boasts improved image fidelity
The Xbox One may have hogged the spotlight, but the next-gen console wasn’t the only piece of new hardware Microsoft unveiled this past week. The company also announced a next generation version of its Kinect for Windows sensor. Built around the same set of technologies as the Xbox One’s new Kinect sensor, the new Kinect for Windows sensor and software development kit (SDK) are aimed more at businesses and organizations than individual consumers.  Read More
Mercedes-Benz plans to use QR codes to help rescue crews free people from car wrecks
Open a magazine, go to a shop, get handed a business card or look at a flyer and the odds are pretty good these days that you’ll be staring at a QR code. Those boxy little patterns turn any bit of paper into an interactive medium that, with a quick scan of a smartphone, will unleash all sorts of information, but can they save lives? Mercedes-Benz believes that they can and plans to use QR codes on all its future cars to help rescuers reach victims quickly and safely.  Read More


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