April 2014 ~ NEW GEN TECH LIFE : new generation technology news

Wednesday 30 April 2014

New and Emerging Technology News part 321

The Inox rugged watch from Victorinox
Victorinox Swiss Army has launched a new watch collection at this year's Baselworld in Switzerland. Pitched as a rugged companion for life, the Inox comes with the knowledge that it has survived over a hundred toughness tests, including being run over by a tank, dropped onto concrete, exposed to temperature extremes and thrown into the middle of a sandstorm for a couple of hours.  Read More
How to stop the autoplay videos in your Facebook feed (Photo: Annette Shaff / Shutterstock... Regular Facebook users will no doubt have noticed that videos in their news feed are playing automatically. If you're using Google Chrome, you can stop this annoying "feature" quickly and easily.  Read More
CRS-3 undergoing static firing tests prior to launch SpaceX’s Dragon CRS-3 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) has once again been scrubbed. On Friday, NASA confirmed that the launch of the unmanned cargo ship has been delayed due to the failure of a tracking radar, which meant that the launch could not meet the minimum public safety requirements.  Read More
The Tourbillon Astronomique was displayed at Baselworld
It’s easy to get dismissive of upmarket astronomical watches in this age of cheap digital apps, but it’s still impressive to see what can achieved with mechanical movements – and how that can still sometimes put the apps to shame. For example, we got a look at Swiss watch maker Antoine Martin’s Tourbillon Astronomique watch at Baselworld this week, which can not only tell what time the Sun will rise and set at, but even has a few tricks that you won’t find at the app store.  Read More
Discovery images of 2012 VP113 comprised of three shots, with the dwarf planet displayed i...
Scientists from the Carnegie Institution for Science and the Gemini Observatory have reported the existence of a new member of our solar system. The distant dwarf planet, dubbed 2012 VP113, is believed to be one of thousands of distant objects that make up the hypothesized "inner Oort cloud."  Read More
Samples of the coating, which contains dyes that make bacteria die
Hospital-acquired infections are a major health threat, and have prompted the development of preventative measures incorporating things like blue light and selenium nanoparticles. One of the latest such developments is a light-activated antimicrobial surface coating made from silicone, dye and gold. For some reason, it also works in the absence of light.  Read More
The mini heart takes the form of a cuff of cardiac tissue, wrapped around a vein
When someone has chronic venous insufficiency, it means that because of faulty valves in their leg veins, oxygen-poor blood isn't able to be pumped back to their heart. The George Washington University's Dr. Narine Sarvazyan has created a possible solution, however – a beating "mini heart" that's wrapped around the vein, to help push the blood through.  Read More
Gizmag compares the features and specs of the new HTC One (M8) and last year's HTC One (M7...
We already know that the new HTC One (M8) isn't exactly a radical departure from last year's HTC One (M7). But are there enough new goodies there to justify the upgrade? Let's compare the features and specs of the two flagships, and see if we can point you in the right direction.  Read More
LaserEyes in 'burning mode' Last year, German laser weapons hobbyist Patrick Priebe built a working replica of Ironman's laser gauntlet. Now, he's paid another visit to the world of superheroes, creating his own take on the "energy beam"-emitting eyewear worn by the X-Men's Cyclops.  Read More
The dragon can shoot fire three feet while on the ground
A couple of years ago, a man named Rick Hamel created one of the most insane remote-controlled flying machines you'll ever witness. No, it's not an airplane or helicopter, or anything that mundane. Instead, he created a dragon that actually shoots fire and reaches airborne speeds of up to 70 mph (112.6 km/h). Now, this beast is actually for sale via Hammacher Schlemmer, with a staggering US$60,000 price tag.  Read More

New and Emerging Technology News part 320

The cloud-based supercomputer will be used to suggest patient specific cancer treatments f...
IBM's Watson supercomputer is being re-tasked to help clinicians create personalized treatments for a common form of brain cancer known as glioblastoma. The project, which is a collaboration between IBM and the New York Genome Center (NYGC), hopes to make use of Watson's artificial intelligence to analyze vast quantities of data in order to suggest a personalized life-saving treatment based on the patient's individual case.  Read More
The SmartMat is a Wi-Fi enabled device designed to fit under a regular doormat
We've got smart doorbells, smart locks and smart door handles, so why not a smart doormat? Dr. Andrew Clark has created just such a device called, surprisingly enough, the SmartMat. Designed to be placed under a regular doormat, the SmartMat acts as a pressure sensor and features Wi-Fi connectivity to allow actions to be triggered when someone steps on it.  Read More
In testing the fluorescent compound, the team observed a difference in the intensity of th...
Central to the dangers of so-called "date-rape" drugs is the fact that they are difficult to detect. Indeed, GHB, one of the most commonly-used of such drugs, is both colorless and odorless. A team of researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has developed a fluorescent sensor which, when mixed with a drink containing GHB, changes color within 30 seconds, potentially alerting people soon after their drink has been tampered with.  Read More
Is Earthwatch sending an expedition to Mars? (Image: NASA JPL)
For over forty years, Earthwatch has been sending ordinary people to extraordinary places in the company of top scientists to conduct hands-on research in over 50 expeditions. On Thursday, the international nonprofit organization announced its most ambitious and extraordinary public expedition ever aimed at sending volunteers to Mars in search for water and life. With its US$1.25 million ticket price, it seems too good to be true, and probably is.  Read More
BrewNanny is designed to be used as a tool to guide the hobbyist in refining their beer cr...
While a mouthful of home-brewed beer delivers a certain degree of satisfaction for hobbyists and expert craftsmen alike, seeing the hops, yeast and water come together to create a refreshing drop can take some serious know-how and even more serious man-hours. BrewNanny is a device designed to help ease the burden by using built-in sensors to monitor and offer guidance throughout the brewing process.  Read More
The Trends in Society design (Image: NASA)
NASA has gone a touch sartorial as it asks the public to vote on the design of its new prototype Z-2 spacesuit. Part of the Advanced Suit development program to come up with a replacement for the 22-year old suit designs currently used on the International Space Station, the Z-2 not only includes a number of technical innovations, but also a design that for the first time has an eye on the aesthetics of living and working in outer space.  Read More
A demonstration of how the phosphorus-laden particles can be removed from water using a ma... Phosphorus is a mineral that's widely used in fertilizer, which itself has an unfortunate tendency to leach out of farmers' fields and into our waterways. Now, researchers from Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research have devised a method of retrieving some of that phosphorus from the water – thus both reducing pollution, and providing a source of reclaimed phosphorus.  Read More
London's Science Museum is currently hosting '3D: printing the future,' looking at the imp...
London's Science Museum is wildly popular, hosting over 2.9 million visitors a year. It's currently showing 3D: printing the future, an exhibition about 3D printing and how it will impact our lives. Gizmag payed the exhibition a visit.  Read More
Gizmag takes an early look at the new HTC One (M8)
HTC doesn't beat around the bush. On the same day that it announced its new One (M8), the phone went up for sale. Not pre-orders, mind you, I mean you could actually walk into a store and buy the damn thing right after the announcement. After jetting to NYC and back for HTC's launch event, we have our review unit in hand and are ready to share some initial impressions.  Read More
It may someday be possible to ascertain someone's appearance by analyzing their DNA
As any fan of just about any TV cop show will tell you, it's possible to determine someone's sex and race based on a sample of their DNA. In the future, however, such samples may provide police with even more valuable information ... they might allow investigators to construct an image of the person's face.  Read More

Tuesday 29 April 2014

New and Emerging Technology News part 319

A 7,300 lb (3,311 kg) floating skateboard ramp was installed on Lake Tahoe as part of Visi...
A 7,300 lb (3,311 kg) floating skateboard ramp has been installed on Lake Tahoe as part of Visit California's Dream365 tourism campaign. The ramp took four days and 300 man hours to complete before it was lowered into the Californian lake and put to the test by pro skateboarder Bob Burnquist.  Read More
New research suggests a nasal spray could be used to treat depression  (Photo: Shutterstoc...
A nasal spray containing a specially-developed protein peptide could form the basis for highly-targeted treatment for depression, new research from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has shown. The peptide, when delivered in spray from, was found to relieve symptoms of depression, with the lead researcher hopeful of little to no side-effects.  Read More
Pyle Audio's Street Blaster boasts 1,000 W of power Pyle Audio is looking to update the ghetto blaster for the wireless age with its Street Blaster. Ditching the rectangular boombox styling of the '80s, the unit adopts a cylindrical form factor that makes it look like something Geordi La Forge pulled out of the USS Enterprise's warp core.  Read More
The ATHENA organ project combines heart, liver, kidney and lung features in a toxicity tes...
A five-year, US$19 million multi-institutional effort is working on developing a "desktop human" that could reduce the need for animal testing in the development of new drugs. The "homo minitus" is a drug and toxicity analysis system that would comprise four human organ constructs interconnected to mimic the response of human organs. The project has now reported success in the development of its first organ construct, a human liver construct that responds to exposure to a toxic chemical much like a real liver.  Read More
Blueforce's new implant warns police of dangerous internal temperatures (Photo: Shuttersto...
Police dogs serve many purposes for law enforcement agencies. Often times they are used for their superior sense of smell, and they are also used to apprehend suspects. As such, these animals face many risks. One, though, is not necessarily the first that comes to mind, and that is being left to overheat in police cruisers. A company called Blueforce Development aims to fix this problem with a sensor that alerts police when a K-9's temperature reaches dangerous levels, thus saving the dog's life.  Read More
The three young inventors of the Pluvia system, which uses rainwater runoff to generate el... When we complain about the rain, other people will often say "Yeah, but it's good for the plants." Well, thanks to a microturbine-based system created by three students from the Technological University of Mexico, it's now also being used to generate electricity for use in low-income homes.  Read More
The BomBoard disassembles into four modules, and can be put back together in one minute
Personal water craft (or PWCs) have been around since the 1950s, and received a boost in popularity when the Kawasaki Jet Ski was released in 1973. Since then, we've seen the introduction of a number of makes and models, all boasting their own unique features. One of the latest, the BomBoard, is claimed to be the world's only modular PWC – and at a planned price of US$3,495, it could also be the cheapest.  Read More
A bicycle equipped with Fietsklik's quick-release Crate unit
While it's certainly helpful to have a cargo box or panniers on your bike, most such containers must either be left on semi-permanently, or are relatively easy for thieves to remove. The Fietsklik system, however, features interchangeable cargo carriers that can be quickly clicked on and off of a slim rack-mounted adapter, but also locked in place when needed.  Read More
The 20-gigapixel panorama is compiled from more than 2 million individual snaps (Image: NA...
Images from the NASA Spitzer Space Telescope have been used to create a staggering 20-gigapixel panorama, encompassing more than half of the galaxy’s stars. The vista was created from more than a decade’s worth of infrared images, and will be used to help further our understanding of the structure and formation of stars in the Milky Way.  Read More
Creative children will be able to furnish their whole room using Olla
Given even the smallest opportunity to get creative, kids will invariably take it. This is why modular furniture designed to appeal exclusively to children is potentially such a good idea. Olla is just that, offering children of all ages the opportunity to build their own Lego-style furniture.  Read More

New and Emerging Technology News part 318

The Bifrost Isblå prototype on display at Baselworld 2014
The Baselworld 2014 watch show officially starts tomorrow in Basel, Switzerland, but Gizmag has already spotted a pretty special-looking watch on the trade show floor. Made by Sweden's GoS Watches, the Bifrost IsblÃ¥ features a dial and crown made from what the company describes as "high-contrast" pattern-welded stainless Damascus steel.  Read More
Which expression do you think shows real pain? (Photo: UC San Diego)
A computer-vision system able to detect false expressions of pain 30 percent more accurately than humans has been developed. Authors of the study, titled Automatic Decoding of Deceptive Pain Expressions, believe the technology has the potential for detecting other misleading behaviors and could be applied in areas including homeland security, recruitment, medicine and law.  Read More
Yamaha's Tricity 3-wheeler
Regular readers will know that we’re big fans of the tilting 3-wheeler platform here at Gizmag. Narrow track vehicles are evolving and sprouting up all over the place, but Yamaha’s brand new Tricity represents the first production effort by a major motorcycle company – and it seems to be focused in all the right areas to make it a huge success.  Read More
Panasonic's Power Supply Container is a self-contained solar power plant designed for deve...
In an effort to bring reliable electricity supplies to emerging regions and remote island communities, Panasonic has developed an expandable, portable, self-contained photovoltaic system. The "Power Supply Container" comes equipped with 12 of Panasonic's HIT240 solar modules on the roof and generates approximately 3 kW of electricity, with 24 lead-acid batteries capable of storing 17.2 kWh of energy used to store excess electricity.  Read More
Starshade and its space telescope (Image: NASA)
Apparently NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, thinks that what space exploration in the 21st century needs is spacecraft that are a bit more botanical. The center has released a video showing off its starshade spacecraft that opens up like a blossom. Bearing a resemblance to a cosmic sunflower, it’s designed to help astronomers to directly study exoplanets, including taking the first actual pictures of planets beyond our Solar System.  Read More
A new Perovskite solar cell has been found have light absorbing and light emitting propert...
When looking for the best materials with which to construct a solar cell, the obvious preference is for one that absorbs light, not emits it. But researchers from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have discovered a material that does both. Amongst a variety of potential applications, the researchers say the material, Perovskite, opens up the possibility of mobile devices with displays that double as solar cells.  Read More
The Kitchen Becomes Open! project is seeking out 10 budding designers to workshop sustaina...
Italian design firm Valcucine is looking to turn its showroom at next month's Milan Design Week into a collaborative space by seeking out 10 budding designers to workshop sustainable modifications to its Meccanica kitchen concept. The "Kitchen Becomes Open!" project is set to take place over six days and will fundamentally be an open-source venture from start to finish. Participants will work with a team of experts to develop ideas and ultimately make them freely available for distribution and modification.  Read More
Gizmag gets a hands-on look at HTC's new One M8
Today we got our first glimpse of the new HTC One (M8). We already know it brings a dual camera, Lite-Brite-esque cover, and some serious gun metal. But what's it like to actually use? We were at the company's launch event, and got some hands-on time.  Read More
The Tsunamiball is the sole work of designer Chris Robinson (Photo: Chris Robinson)
Following the tsunami that hit Japan in March, 2011, designer Chris Robinson was inspired to create an escape pod to ensure he and his family could survive if such a disaster were to occur in his home city of Palo Alto, California. After some two years of painstaking design and construction, his floating off-grid shelter, dubbed Tsunamiball, is nearing completion.  Read More
The Venom GT WFE has a new livery that incorporates the colors of the American flag
Last month, the Hennessey Performance (HPE) Venom GT skidded into the record books when it hit over 270 mph at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida. To commemorate this event, as well as snatching a Guinness World Record by doing 0 to 300 km/h (186 mph) in 13.63 seconds, HPE is rolling out its very limited-run World’s Fastest Edition (WFE) Venom GT with a special livery.  Read More

Monday 28 April 2014

New and Emerging Technology News part 317

PSA Peugeot Citroen has teamed up with EPFL to develop an emotion detection system designe...
Ever experienced road rage? Someone cuts you off while you’re trying to merge and next thing you know you’re tailgating them like a NASCAR driver at Fontana trying to get a slingshot off the bank. Then they hit the brakes … "screech-crash-bang" … there goes your platinum rating with the insurance company. What if an on-board emotion detection system could tell that you were getting annoyed and intervene? PSA Peugeot Citroen has teamed up with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology to develop an emotion detection system designed to recognize signs of irritation and fatigue in a driver’s facial expressions.  Read More

The HTC One M8 is available now in the US and Canada
HTC announced its successor to last year's heralded HTC One in New York on Tuesday, which we'll be calling the HTC One M8. Although the main details of the phone had largely been leaked in advance of the event, there were still a few surprises and a lot to like in a phone that keeps and improves upon the best features of the original One, while also adding new features from other top phones of the past year and taking an above-and-beyond approach to customer service.  Read More
Google has followed up its Titanium collection of Glass frames (pictured) by partnering wi... Google has announced a strategic partnership with premium eyewear manufacturer Luxottica Group for a range of Glass frames. The Luxottica Group owns a number of well-known brands including Ray-Ban, Oakley and Vogue Eyewear. The deal is aimed encouraging uptake of Google Glass.  Read More
Musaic is a new wireless sound system
As the technology has improved and become more affordable, wireless sound systems have become increasingly popular. London-based Musaic is one of the latest manufacturers looking to enter the market. Musaic promises high quality, compatibility and smart-home integration.  Read More
Google Now notifications are being rolled out to Google Chrome
Google has announced the roll-out of Google Now for Chrome. Google Now users will be able to receive their automated updates in their browser once it has been updated and if they are signed into Chrome. The roll-out is expected to take up to a few weeks.  Read More
The four world record breakers at the National Motor Museum
Records are made to be broken, and the British have a habit of breaking World Land Speed Records more than anyone else. Last week, Don Wales, grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell, opened a new multimedia exhibit entitled “Britain & For The Hell Of It” at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, Hampshire. Celebrating the golden age of British record breaking from the 1920s through the 1960s, it features four famous record-breaking cars as well as souvenirs and memorabilia, trophies and personal items belonging to the drivers.  Read More
Megan and Emily, creators of the IceTee that applies cooling gel packs to particular point... Layers of clothing that cool you down rather than warm you up can involve lugging around hefty equipment or some pretty advanced technology. The IceTee takes a more low-tech approach with strategically-placed pockets for holding gel packs to help keep you cool.  Read More
Specially designed platforms, featuring key vehicle information and details and vintage Fe...
The re-worked red brick house in Modena is no different than most other 19th century residences in the Italian motoring villa. That the unassuming space was the birthplace of Enzo Ferrari was previously only communicated to persons on the street by a simple sign reading, “Officina Meccanica Alfredo Ferrari.” But now a new contemporary gallery dedicated to Ferrari’s founder has reopened to the public and showcases some of his company's finest vintage works.  Read More
Researchers have developed a technique that allows stem cells to be created from less than...
Harvesting samples for producing stem cells can be rather painful. Techniques can involve collecting large amounts of blood, bone marrow or skin scrapes. The reality is intrusive measures such as these can be very off-putting. But what if it was as simple as a finger-prick? Such a DIY approach, which is so easy it can be done at home or in the field without medical staff, has been developed by researchers at Singapore's A*STAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB).  Read More
The MQ-4C Triton test aircraft makes its approach for landing March 13 at Palmdale, Califo... The Triton UAV's initial flight test program, which kicked off with the unmanned aircraft's first flight last May, has been completed. Now cleared to fly at various altitudes, speeds and weights, the Triton is on track to be introduced into the US Navy fleet in 2017.  Read More
Ducati's Multistrada D-Air, with wireless airbag jackets.
Ducati has announced a new version of its stunning Multistrada 1200 sports-tourer (check out our video review) that wirelessly inflates airbag jackets for both rider and passenger in the event of a crash. A step forward from the motorcycle airbag Honda showcased in its Goldwing series, the Ducati system can protect the rider and passenger even once they’ve separated from the bike.  Read More
 
Green Spirit Creations saw an opportunity to create environmentally-friendly products usin... UK-based Green Spirit Creations is the latest team to try its hand at paper-based lighting solutions. Seeking out discarded materials from local shop-owners, its stylish household lamps are made from 100 percent recycled cardboard (bulbs, wiring and switches aside).  Read More
The Luuv works with a number of smartphones and small camcorders, including the GoPro Hero...
With the number of video stabilizing rigs for GoPros and smartphones hitting the market lately, if one wants to stand out, it's gotta be different. Well, the Luuv is just that. Besides having a unique form factor, it can be flipped over and used upside-down.  Read More