New and Emerging Technology News part 228 ~ NEW GEN TECH LIFE : new generation technology news

Saturday 22 March 2014

New and Emerging Technology News part 228

The tick rover drags an insecticide-laced cloth behind it (Photo: VMI Photos by John Rober...
It's summertime in the Northern Hemisphere, and that means the bugs are out – specifically, ticks. In light of the ensuing infestation, otherwise known as the annual repopulation, three professors at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) have crossed the business of pest control with the world of robotics by last month testing their robotic "tick rover" to determine its efficiency at removing the blood suckers from the yard.  Read More
John Dabiri has hypothesized and tested counter-rotating arrays of vertical axis wind turb...
Since we first looked at John Dabiri's hypothesis that vertical axis wind turbines should be arrayed like a school of fish to reduce the land area required for wind farm installations, the MacArthur Genius Grant recipient has continued to work on the idea. Following the latest round of coverage, Gizmag takes a deeper look at his concept, and wonders whether the idea of packing turbines into as tight a space as possible might overlook some wind energy fundamentals.  Read More
Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies’ new i-H2GO It was back in 2006 that we first heard about Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies’ H-Racer fuel cell-powered toy car. Two years later, Corgi International teamed up with the company to create a remote-control offering, called the H2GO. Today, Horizon announced the latest model in that line-up, the i-H2GO.  Read More
The interactive electronic skin developed at UC Berkeley (Photo: Ali Javey/Chuan Wang, Ber...
The stereotype of the clumsy robot may soon become a thing of the past thanks to ongoing research at the University of California, Berkeley, where a team of engineers has created a thin and interactive sensor network that can be layered onto the surfaces of virtually any shape. The device gives out immediate feedback via an LED light when touched, and could be used to create smart bandages that monitor vitals in a patient in real time, wallpapers that act as touchscreens, or even to give humanoid robots that elusive "human touch."  Read More
The SafeHarness is a portable seat belt that can be quickly and easily added to existing b...
Given how diligent most of us are about putting on our seatbelt when we get in a car, it seems funny that we think nothing of riding on highway-going buses that don’t even even have seat belts. While it’s possible that coach manufacturers may be required to install safety restraints on new buses in the future, that will still leave a lot of belt-less older buses on the road and in use. That’s why Blake McCauley and Charles Bedell have created the SafeHarness portable seat belt.  Read More
SanDisk has launched a new Connect line of wireless storage vaults
Like many mobile workers, my notebook, tablet and smartphone share backpack space with portable storage. Accessing stored files over a physical connection, however, can be something of a challenge. Even if you're luckier than I and manage to find a free USB port when you need one, connecting multiple devices to your storage can quickly turn into a messy cable fight. SanDisk has launched a new Connect range of storage vaults that can bypass that nightmarish tangle soup altogether. The Wireless Flash Drive and Wireless Media Drive are each able to wirelessly connect with up to eight mobile devices simultaneously without so much as an external router in sight.  Read More
LG's curved OLED TV has been released in the US Since LG and Samsung both made world's first curved OLED TV debuts at CES back in January, the former has been leading the race to get units into the hands of consumers. Samsung took silver when it entered the South Korean market last month, and is playing second fiddle again as LG's 4.3 mm thin immersive big screen makes a break for US shores courtesy of Best Buy.  Read More
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 boasts a 60x zoom lens with a 35-mm format focal length equiv...
Panasonic's Lumix FZ-series of bridge cameras have offered photographers the versatility of vast focal ranges, without the need to change lenses, for several years now. But its new Lumix DMC-FZ70 (FZ72) takes things even further by packing in a monstrous 60x zoom. This gives it a 35-mm format focal length equivalent of an almost ridiculous 20-1,200-mm.  Read More
Honda's Micro Commuter Prototype β electric car
When Honda first unveiled its Micro Commuter Concept EV a couple of years ago, there were likely many people who doubted that the futuristic little car would ever be seen anywhere other than auto shows. Last week, however, Honda announced that it will begin field-testing an unspecified number of the MCC's successors later this year.  Read More
Muku Labs' Shuttr (Photo: Gizmag)
Hong Kong's Muku Labs has launched a Kickstater campaign for its news gadget, the success of which suggests there's a thirst for remote camera shutter controls for iPhone and Android handsets. Gizmag goes hands on with a pre-production prototype of the thin and compact Shuttr to see whether the excitement is justified.  Read More
The tick rover drags an insecticide-laced cloth behind it (Photo: VMI Photos by John Rober...
It's summertime in the Northern Hemisphere, and that means the bugs are out – specifically, ticks. In light of the ensuing infestation, otherwise known as the annual repopulation, three professors at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) have crossed the business of pest control with the world of robotics by last month testing their robotic "tick rover" to determine its efficiency at removing the blood suckers from the yard.  Read More
John Dabiri has hypothesized and tested counter-rotating arrays of vertical axis wind turb...
Since we first looked at John Dabiri's hypothesis that vertical axis wind turbines should be arrayed like a school of fish to reduce the land area required for wind farm installations, the MacArthur Genius Grant recipient has continued to work on the idea. Following the latest round of coverage, Gizmag takes a deeper look at his concept, and wonders whether the idea of packing turbines into as tight a space as possible might overlook some wind energy fundamentals.  Read More
Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies’ new i-H2GO It was back in 2006 that we first heard about Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies’ H-Racer fuel cell-powered toy car. Two years later, Corgi International teamed up with the company to create a remote-control offering, called the H2GO. Today, Horizon announced the latest model in that line-up, the i-H2GO.  Read More
The interactive electronic skin developed at UC Berkeley (Photo: Ali Javey/Chuan Wang, Ber...
The stereotype of the clumsy robot may soon become a thing of the past thanks to ongoing research at the University of California, Berkeley, where a team of engineers has created a thin and interactive sensor network that can be layered onto the surfaces of virtually any shape. The device gives out immediate feedback via an LED light when touched, and could be used to create smart bandages that monitor vitals in a patient in real time, wallpapers that act as touchscreens, or even to give humanoid robots that elusive "human touch."  Read More
The SafeHarness is a portable seat belt that can be quickly and easily added to existing b...
Given how diligent most of us are about putting on our seatbelt when we get in a car, it seems funny that we think nothing of riding on highway-going buses that don’t even even have seat belts. While it’s possible that coach manufacturers may be required to install safety restraints on new buses in the future, that will still leave a lot of belt-less older buses on the road and in use. That’s why Blake McCauley and Charles Bedell have created the SafeHarness portable seat belt.  Read More
SanDisk has launched a new Connect line of wireless storage vaults
Like many mobile workers, my notebook, tablet and smartphone share backpack space with portable storage. Accessing stored files over a physical connection, however, can be something of a challenge. Even if you're luckier than I and manage to find a free USB port when you need one, connecting multiple devices to your storage can quickly turn into a messy cable fight. SanDisk has launched a new Connect range of storage vaults that can bypass that nightmarish tangle soup altogether. The Wireless Flash Drive and Wireless Media Drive are each able to wirelessly connect with up to eight mobile devices simultaneously without so much as an external router in sight.  Read More
LG's curved OLED TV has been released in the US Since LG and Samsung both made world's first curved OLED TV debuts at CES back in January, the former has been leading the race to get units into the hands of consumers. Samsung took silver when it entered the South Korean market last month, and is playing second fiddle again as LG's 4.3 mm thin immersive big screen makes a break for US shores courtesy of Best Buy.  Read More
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 boasts a 60x zoom lens with a 35-mm format focal length equiv...
Panasonic's Lumix FZ-series of bridge cameras have offered photographers the versatility of vast focal ranges, without the need to change lenses, for several years now. But its new Lumix DMC-FZ70 (FZ72) takes things even further by packing in a monstrous 60x zoom. This gives it a 35-mm format focal length equivalent of an almost ridiculous 20-1,200-mm.  Read More
Honda's Micro Commuter Prototype β electric car
When Honda first unveiled its Micro Commuter Concept EV a couple of years ago, there were likely many people who doubted that the futuristic little car would ever be seen anywhere other than auto shows. Last week, however, Honda announced that it will begin field-testing an unspecified number of the MCC's successors later this year.  Read More
Muku Labs' Shuttr (Photo: Gizmag)
Hong Kong's Muku Labs has launched a Kickstater campaign for its news gadget, the success of which suggests there's a thirst for remote camera shutter controls for iPhone and Android handsets. Gizmag goes hands on with a pre-production prototype of the thin and compact Shuttr to see whether the excitement is justified.  Read More

Aireal is a new haptic technology from Disney Research
With systems like the Kinect and Leap Motion, controlling a gadget with just the wave of a hand is starting to become much more commonplace. The one drawback to those gesture-based devices however is that you never actually touch anything. No matter what you see on the screen, you're still very aware that you're just moving your hands through the air. The Pittsburg branch of Disney Research may be able to change that with Aireal, a low-cost haptic system which fires out small rings of air that allow people to feel virtual objects.  Read More
The MTM Special Ops RAD watch includes an integrated Geiger-Müller tube for measuring harm...
There are few things more embarrassing than being caught in an all-out thermonuclear war and realizing that you've forgotten your Geiger counter. To prevent this social faux pas, MTM has released its Special Ops RAD watch. Available in black or silver (gray has already sold out) titanium cases, the RAD watch includes an integrated Geiger-Müller tube for measuring exposure to harmful ionizing radiation.  Read More
Gizmag compares the specs (and other features) of Motorola's new battery life king, the Dr...
Today Motorola and US carrier Verizon rekindled their old romance, releasing three new phones under the Droid brand. We have the Droid Ultra, a high-end phone with a razor-thin build (but no Razr branding). Then we have the Droid Mini, which offers a smaller form factor without skimping much on quality. The one that really turned our heads, though, was the Droid Maxx, with an advertised battery life of 48 hours. Let's put it side-by-side with the Samsung Galaxy S4, and see how they compare.  Read More
HAARP operational site on the edge of Denali State Park northeast of Anchorage, Alaska (Ph...
Reports that the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) had been shut down permanently were apparently a bit premature. According to HAARP program manager James Keeney, the facility is only temporarily off the air while operating contractors are changed. So why does anyone care? Despite being associated with various natural disasters over the past two decades by the conspiracy fringe, HAARP is in reality a facility for studying the ionosphere. Let's take a look at the goings on at HAARP – past, present, and future.  Read More
The Mercedes-Benz W196R sold this for £17.5 million on 12 July
The world record price for a car at auction was smashed this month when Juan Manuel Fangio's 1954 Mercedes W196 F1 Silver Arrow sold for US$30 million, doubling the previous auction record. The only W196 outside of Daimler Benz or an internationally-recognized museum, this car won its first two starts – the 1954 German GP at Nürburgring and the Swiss GP at the uber-frightening, tree-lined Bremgarten circuit – and sealed the 1954 World Drivers Title for Juan Manuel Fangio, statistically the best racing driver in history. The following year, it was released in roadgoing form to become the world's fastest road car: the legendary Mercedes 300 SLR (aka W196S).  Read More
Reevu's proposed motorcycle helmet Heads-Up Display (HUD)
Motorcycle helmet innovator Reevu has come up with what it claims is the world's first commercially available intelligent helmet with a built-in heads-up display, or HUD. While that's a bit misleading – it won't actually be available for another 18-24 months – a HUD for bikers is clearly an exciting prospect, and Reevu with its experience in building in rear-vision capabilities is probably in an excellent position to get it to market.  Read More
The SwissRoomBox EasyTech plus roof tent
Swiss company misC sport & leisure has designed a lighter, simpler version of its SwissRoomBox camper-in-a-box system. The RoomBox EasyTech is designed to transform a station wagon or van into a functional camper within just five minutes. Its series of panels, attachments and hardware creates sleeping, cooking, eating and showering space, even in smaller cars.  Read More
With Disney Research's new software, even complex movements like four-legged walking can b...
Mechanized characters, such as clockwork automatons that move using a series of gears, go back hundreds of years. Now the most difficult aspect of their mechanical design, which took specialized engineering skill and lots of trial and error, has largely been eliminated by a pair of new software tools developed by Disney Research labs in Zürich and Boston, and labs at ETH Zürich and MIT. They're being presented this week at ACM SIGGRAPH 2013, the International Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques.  Read More
Interior of the CST-100 space capsule mock up (Photo: NASA/Robert Markowitz)
NASA and Boeing have unveiled a mock up of the Crew Space Transport (CST-100) space capsule. In an event held at Boeing’s Houston Product Support Center in Texas, members of the press were invited to view a fully outfitted test version of the spacecraft. As part of the proceedings, two NASA astronauts kitted-out in flight suits conducted tests on working in the capsule.  Read More
Crofthouse is located on the south coast of Victoria and offers its owners a simple and su... Located on the south coast of Victoria, Australia, Crofthouse offers its owners a simple and sustainable home which blends into its natural environment while also capturing the vast coastal views.  Read More

DexType and Leap Motion combine for gesture-based typing
The news release announcing the availability of the Leap Motion controller and supporting software isn't even cold yet, and the first applications that make use of its gesture recognition capabilities are already making a break for freedom. Asetniop creator Zack Dennis has joined the fray with an alternative to the physical keyboard he's calling DexType. Essentially a Google Chrome browser plugin, the Dex-typist uses mid-air point and poke gestures to select characters from a strip at the bottom of the screen.  Read More
Bentley's EXP 9 F, which debuted at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show
Bentley showed the world what an ultra-premium SUV might look like at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. Based upon the mixed reactions, it didn't seem clear if the world was really ready for an ultra-premium SUV – but it's going to get one. Bentley confirmed that it is moving ahead with production of what it says will be "the most powerful SUV in the market. It plans to launch the new model in 2016.  Read More
The GTi Surfboard Concept was unveiled last month in the UK  If you want something to look elegant, you build it out of wood. If you want it to look cutting-edge, on the other hand, you make it out of carbon fiber. So, what happens when you combine the two materials? Well, you end up with something like Peugeot's one-off GTi Surfboard Concept.  Read More
Google's new Chromecast streaming device lets you stream content from a variety of devices...
That new 2nd-generation Nexus 7 wasn't the only piece of hardware Google cut loose today. It also announced a new device called Chromecast, which streams media not only from Android phones and tablets, but also from iPhones and other iOS devices, Windows, and Mac OS X.  Read More
The Nvidia Quadro K6000 flagship professional GPU
Nvidia is currently a force to be reckoned with when it comes to consumer graphics, with powerful cards such as the GeForce GTX Titan sitting right at the top of benchmarking tables. The company is also no slouch when it comes to professional graphics solutions, and it's aiming to cement its position in the market with the Quadro K6000. The new card offers a significant performance bump over its predecessor, the Quadro 6000, providing five times higher compute performance and almost twice the graphics capability of the older card.  Read More
Kawasaki Heavy Industries' MSR05 arm at Interphex Japan If you were designing a robotic arm for use in pharmaceutical research, you’d want to make it easy to sterilize between uses. That’s why Kawasaki Heavy Industries has encased its snazzy-looking new MSR05 arm entirely in stainless steel.  Read More
Today Google pulled back the curtain on the new Nexus 7, which features a cutting-edge 323...
If you're looking for a small tablet and you're working on a budget, then you can do much worse than the Nexus 7. After today, though, the Google and Asus mini-tablet just became a much better deal, with the arrival of a new second-generation Nexus 7 that gets upgrades in every nook and cranny.  Read More
An illustration of InfraStructs (left) and the resulting  terahertz scans (right) (Image: ...
Fundamental to the Internet of Things is the idea that objects must be uniquely identifiable. RFID chips are perfect for assigning objects a digital fingerprint, at least so far as traditional manufacturing goes. But with the rise of 3D printing, incorporating an RFID chip into your object means interrupting the printing process. Now, scientists have come up with a way to 3D print a unique tag, called an InfraStruct, inside the object as it's being printed, and it's made possible by the slowly emerging field of terahertz imaging.  Read More
You are here (Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute)
If the midweek hump has you in a contemplative spirits, this stunning image of Earth as pictured by the Cassini spacecraft from Saturn, 898 million miles (1.44 billion kilometers) away, may offer a little context. The Earth and the Moon appear to be seemingly insignificant specks from the perspective of the spacecraft from its orbit around the gas giant, the second biggest planet in the Solar System. But as it turns out, Cassini is actually talking us up.  Read More
Test subjects ride the Toyota Winglet personal mobility robot on public sidewalks and road...
Toyota is taking to the public sidewalks of Japan with the Winglet, its two-wheeled personal mobility robot that looks like a miniature Segway. The trial, designed to test the Winglet's safety and practicality in the real world, takes place in Tsukuba city's Mobility Robot Experimental Zone, an area designated for just this type of thing. The move points to a possible commercialization of the robot in the future, which has been demonstrated only as a concept thus far.  Read More
DexType and Leap Motion combine for gesture-based typing
The news release announcing the availability of the Leap Motion controller and supporting software isn't even cold yet, and the first applications that make use of its gesture recognition capabilities are already making a break for freedom. Asetniop creator Zack Dennis has joined the fray with an alternative to the physical keyboard he's calling DexType. Essentially a Google Chrome browser plugin, the Dex-typist uses mid-air point and poke gestures to select characters from a strip at the bottom of the screen.  Read More
Bentley's EXP 9 F, which debuted at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show
Bentley showed the world what an ultra-premium SUV might look like at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. Based upon the mixed reactions, it didn't seem clear if the world was really ready for an ultra-premium SUV – but it's going to get one. Bentley confirmed that it is moving ahead with production of what it says will be "the most powerful SUV in the market. It plans to launch the new model in 2016.  Read More
The GTi Surfboard Concept was unveiled last month in the UK  If you want something to look elegant, you build it out of wood. If you want it to look cutting-edge, on the other hand, you make it out of carbon fiber. So, what happens when you combine the two materials? Well, you end up with something like Peugeot's one-off GTi Surfboard Concept.  Read More
Google's new Chromecast streaming device lets you stream content from a variety of devices...
That new 2nd-generation Nexus 7 wasn't the only piece of hardware Google cut loose today. It also announced a new device called Chromecast, which streams media not only from Android phones and tablets, but also from iPhones and other iOS devices, Windows, and Mac OS X.  Read More
The Nvidia Quadro K6000 flagship professional GPU
Nvidia is currently a force to be reckoned with when it comes to consumer graphics, with powerful cards such as the GeForce GTX Titan sitting right at the top of benchmarking tables. The company is also no slouch when it comes to professional graphics solutions, and it's aiming to cement its position in the market with the Quadro K6000. The new card offers a significant performance bump over its predecessor, the Quadro 6000, providing five times higher compute performance and almost twice the graphics capability of the older card.  Read More
Kawasaki Heavy Industries' MSR05 arm at Interphex Japan If you were designing a robotic arm for use in pharmaceutical research, you’d want to make it easy to sterilize between uses. That’s why Kawasaki Heavy Industries has encased its snazzy-looking new MSR05 arm entirely in stainless steel.  Read More
Today Google pulled back the curtain on the new Nexus 7, which features a cutting-edge 323...
If you're looking for a small tablet and you're working on a budget, then you can do much worse than the Nexus 7. After today, though, the Google and Asus mini-tablet just became a much better deal, with the arrival of a new second-generation Nexus 7 that gets upgrades in every nook and cranny.  Read More
An illustration of InfraStructs (left) and the resulting  terahertz scans (right) (Image: ...
Fundamental to the Internet of Things is the idea that objects must be uniquely identifiable. RFID chips are perfect for assigning objects a digital fingerprint, at least so far as traditional manufacturing goes. But with the rise of 3D printing, incorporating an RFID chip into your object means interrupting the printing process. Now, scientists have come up with a way to 3D print a unique tag, called an InfraStruct, inside the object as it's being printed, and it's made possible by the slowly emerging field of terahertz imaging.  Read More
You are here (Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute)
If the midweek hump has you in a contemplative spirits, this stunning image of Earth as pictured by the Cassini spacecraft from Saturn, 898 million miles (1.44 billion kilometers) away, may offer a little context. The Earth and the Moon appear to be seemingly insignificant specks from the perspective of the spacecraft from its orbit around the gas giant, the second biggest planet in the Solar System. But as it turns out, Cassini is actually talking us up.  Read More
Test subjects ride the Toyota Winglet personal mobility robot on public sidewalks and road...
Toyota is taking to the public sidewalks of Japan with the Winglet, its two-wheeled personal mobility robot that looks like a miniature Segway. The trial, designed to test the Winglet's safety and practicality in the real world, takes place in Tsukuba city's Mobility Robot Experimental Zone, an area designated for just this type of thing. The move points to a possible commercialization of the robot in the future, which has been demonstrated only as a concept thus far.  Read More

 
Tired of Windows 8 opening your files in metro-style apps? Here's how to make them open in...
One of the more annoying behaviors in Windows 8 and 8.1 is that all of your files are set to open in native Metro-style apps. For instance, if you're working on the desktop and view a picture or PDF, it opens full screen in the associated app. If you're working on a traditional computer without a touchscreen, this is frustrating to say the least. Especially if you're on a laptop with a single screen. Here's how to take control of your Windows 8 system and make your files open in the desktop programs you want them to.  Read More
Nukemap3D produces virtual mushroom clouds
Feeling cheerful? Why not remedy that by going online and seeing what would happen if someone dropped an H-bomb on your hometown? The browser-based Nukemap3D uses a Google Earth plug in to produce a 3D graphic of the effects of a nuclear weapon on your city of choice. All you have to do is pick your target, select your favorite thermonuclear device, and you can see an animated mushroom cloud rising over ground zero. Gizmag caught up with the creator, Dr. Alex Wellerstein, to talk about Nukemap3D.  Read More
X-RHex-Light shows off its obstacle beating agility
Parkour is all about hurling yourself quickly and efficiently past whatever obstacles are in your path while maintaining as much momentum as possible. It's a challenge for humans, so how would robots fare? In an effort to push the boundaries of robotic agility, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania decided to find out by teaching their RHex robot some Parkour moves.  Read More
The portable prototype that detects if you're burning fat by analyzing your breath (Photo:...
While there's no shortage of breathalyzers capable of detecting if you’ve had one too many drinks, a prototype device developed by researchers at NTT DOCOMO Research Laboratories analyzes your breath to detect if your body is burning fat. Besides letting users know if that exercise regime is actually shedding some pounds, its creators say the portable sensor could be helpful for diabetics and those trying to lose weight manage their daily diet.  Read More
The One Wybelenna home (Photo: Scott Burrows) Located in Brisbane, Australia, One Wybelenna is a luxurious property designed to achieve a high level of sustainability – as evidenced by its turf roof which not only provides insulation but also serves as home for a local species of bird.  Read More
Gizmag compares the specs (and other features) of the new Nexus 7 and the aging iPad mini
If you're shopping for a smallish tablet, we wouldn't blame you for narrowing it down to the iPad mini and Google's new Nexus 7. But how do you choose between the two? Let Gizmag lend a hand, as we compare the specs (and other features) of the two mini-tablets.  Read More
The MagBak can be mounted to any metal surface and others with the help of the metalic O-R... Mounts for iPad are thick on the ground, but the creators of MagBak are looking to stand out from the crowd with a slimmed down approach to attaching the tablet to any surface that also keeps the Smart Cover closed and provides a convenient grip.  Read More
AceCamp Survival Multi-Tool Shovel
Multi-tools have come a long way. At one time they were simply pocket knives with a handful of other functions. Today they're tooled smartphone cases, multifunctional snowboards, bike-specific Swiss Army tools and bottle-opening wallets. The Survival Multi-Tool Shovel from AceCamp is advertised as a multi-tool on steroids thanks to a design that incorporates wilderness essentials like a hatchet, shovel, compass and bottle opener.  Read More
The MagPen contains a magnet which is detected by the phone's existing magnetometers
The humble smartphone stylus may soon be gaining new features, thanks to a seemingly simple piece of technology. Developed by Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) PhD student Sungjae Hwang, the MagPen is essentially just a plastic tube covered in conductive tape, with conductive rubber tips at either end and a coin-shaped magnet inserted half-way down its length. Via a custom app, however, magnetometers already present in the phone are able to determine where that magnet is in relation to the screen, and respond with a variety of drawing and writing functions.  Read More
Leap Motion has just released it motion sensor, and launched its AirSpace app store
Hot on the heels of the Leap Motion Controller, which began shipping last week, Leap Motion has released the accompanying software. The software allows people to control their computers with natural movements, detecting both hand and finger movements. In addition, the company launched its Airspace store which includes apps specifically designed for use with the device.  Read More

Usain Bolt leaves the pack in his dust while setting a new world record for the 200-meter ...
Usain Bolt is often described as the world's fastest man. The reigning Olympic champion in the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints as well as a member of the Olympic champion 4x100 meter relay team, Bolt is the first man to win six Olympic gold medals in sprinting, and is a five-time world champion. Long and lanky at 6 ft 5 in tall, he towers above the (mostly) much shorter sprinters. How has he managed to come out on top for the past five years? A team of physicists from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM) has analyzed Bolt's past performances in the 100-meter sprint to understand what makes a record-breaker.  Read More
MINI Vision Unveiled at the company's Design@Home event in Munich this week, the Vision concept shows some of the new design language and features we can expect from MINI in the future, both inside and out.  Read More
From roofrack to water it takes only 60 seconds to get the Quickboat into the water
Think it takes more time to build a boat than make a French omelette? Think again. The Quickboat is the first foldable boat we've seen that a team of two can put together in a minute or less. That's insanely fast compared to the build times of other foldable boats we've covered, such as the Transporter (10 minutes) and the Smartkat (20 minutes). In fact, the boat is so easy to construct says Deryck Graham, the Managing Director of Australian company Quickboats, that one person with a beer in hand could assemble one in three minutes even with friends around to distract them.  Read More
The lactate-monitoring biosensor tattoo on one of the test subjects
No athlete likes hitting “the wall.” You know, that point at which their energy level suddenly plummets, and they just can’t go on. Using something that looks like a temporary tattoo, however, they may soon be able to receive a warning when they’re approaching that threshold.  Read More
There may be new hope for heart attack victims, in the form of patches that incorporate go...
When someone has a heart attack, the damaged heart tissue doesn’t grow back. Instead, it’s replaced by non-beating scar tissue. As a result, the heart is permanently weakened. Now, however, researchers at Tel Aviv University are getting promising results using patches that contain cardiac cells and gold nanofibers.  Read More
Xplore Technologies has introduced its first rugged Android tablet, the RangerX
When the going gets tough, the tough reach for a rugged tablet. Xplore Technologies has been kicking out ruggedized tablets for over 15 years, but its new RangerX is both its lightest to date, and its first to run Android. Developed for mobile workers rather than adventurous consumer types, the durable ICS slate has a 10.1-inch outdoor-viewable display, features a dual-core ARM processor, and packs enough battery life for a full day's work.  Read More
The Kite Mosquito Patch is worn on the clothing like a decal, and is said to keep mosquito...
Depending on what part of the world you live in, mosquitoes can range from being an annoyance, to acting as carriers of life-threatening diseases such as malaria and West Nile virus. Sprays containing deet do a fairly decent job of keeping the mozzies at bay, but they’re also highly toxic. Less-nasty sprays, bracelets and other devices are also available, although (as I can attest to from personal experience) they tend not to be very effective. Now, however, a group of California-based entrepreneurs are developing what could be the ultimate deterrent – the Kite Mosquito Patch.  Read More
The Lomography Petzval works with Canon EF and Nikon F mount cameras
Lomography is looking to make old new again with the reinvention of a 19th century lens known as the Petzval. This lens creates an instantly recognizable image style famous for its sharpness, color saturation, and swirly Bokeh effect in the background of the shot. It also has an incredibly narrow depth of field, which creates a very distinct look, especially for portraits.  Read More
Workers on site have downed tools, local media reports Within mere days of the announcement that ground had been broken on China's super-tall Sky City skyscraper, local media is reporting that workers have downed tools.  Read More
Nvidia's Ira demo running on the Logan mobile chip
With its new Project Logan mobile system-on-chip, Nvidia has not so much raised the bar as blown the roof off expectations of computer and game graphics on mobile devices. In an impressive display of Logan's "oomph," the company has shown it running Ira, an incredibly detailed and effects-heavy demo of a human head animated in real time. The demo was itself unveiled in recent months, and previously shown running on Nvidia's super-heavyweight GeForce Titan graphics card.  Read More

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