If the notion of flying through the air appeals
then hang-gliding might be your first thought. But if your fear of
heights keeps you closer to the ground then perhaps Dr Carsten Mehring's
StreetFlyer may be of interest. The human-powered three-wheeler
suspends its user from an arched frame so that when enough momentum is
generated, the legs can be lifted off the ground and you're away – at a
cruising altitude of just a few feet. Read More
Continental has developed a sensor (satellite)
for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles which will immediately shut off
the high-voltage battery in the event of a collision while the vehicle
is in charge mode. This means that emergency service personnel can
recover vehicles without running the risk of suffering an electric
shock. Read More
Graphene has already brought us the world’s smallest transistor, a triple-mode, single transistor amplifier and a supercapacitor
that can store as much energy as a battery while recharging in seconds.
And these are sure to just be the tip of the iceberg. The latest
breakthrough from the wonderful world of graphene is a new graphene
field effect transistor (GFET) that boasts a record high-switching
performance. The device promises improved performance for future
electronic devices and means graphene could potentially replace silicon,
or at least be used side by side with silicon, in electronic devices.
Read More
For those of us who live in the developed world,
internet access has become pretty much a given. It’s become so
ubiquitous that we almost expect to have it at all times and in all
places, but even in this “Information Age,” the majority of the world’s
population lacks access to the internet – either because service isn’t
available where they are, or they can’t afford it. Kosta Grammatis has a
plan, however. Through his charity group ahumanright.org, Grammatis
aims to set up a network of satellites that will provide free internet
access to everyone in the world. He’s starting by attempting to buy a
single used satellite that’s already in orbit and moving it to a
location above a developing country. Read More
Although iPads
are designed to be carried around, that doesn’t mean you necessarily
want to be literally carrying the iPad all the time – even when you’re
using it. Hence the huge variety of iPad mounts on the market. While
most of the mounting solutions on offer generally aim for one or maybe
two specific uses, such as in the car, on the fridge or in the studio, Vogel’s RingO Universal Mounting System is designed to let users mount their iPad just about anywhere. Read More
See double with the Kyocera Echo dual-screen smartphone
By Darren Quick
February 8, 2011
For smartphone manufacturers, getting the display
size right can be a bit of a balancing act. People want a screen that
is big enough for doing things like composing and reading emails and
viewing pictures, but they also want a device that fits comfortably in
their pocket. To offer the maximum screen real estate while retaining
the compact size of a smartphone, Kyocera has taken a leaf out of
Nintendo’s book and come up with a dual touchscreen smartphone that
offers multitasking capabilities called the Echo. Read More
No matter how I look at this, it still seems like
science fiction – a combat aircraft without a pilot that is capable of
flying itself, making its own decisions, recognizing and neutralizing
threats, and taking off and landing on an aircraft carrier. Last Friday
(Feb 4), the Northrop Grumman-built
U.S. Navy X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D)
aircraft successfully completed its historic first flight at Edwards Air
Force Base in California. The era of the unmanned combat plane is fast
approaching. Read More
Production set to begin on Loon solar-electric boat
By Ben Coxworth
February 8, 2011
Five years ago we first reported on Tamarack Lake Electric Boat Company's Loon,
a proposed production solar-electric boat. At that time, creator Monte
Gisborne told us that “exhausting hydrocarbons directly into your own
lake isn’t much different from urinating in your family room.” In 2009
the 8-passenger watercraft received a design overhaul,
and production was scheduled to begin later that year. Now, with a
just-announced deal in place to manufacture the boat at facilities in
the city of Rome, New York, full-scale Loon production should finally be
commencing within the next few months. Read More
SteriShoe uses UV light to eliminate smelly shoes
February 8, 2011
U.S. company Shoe Care Innovations has launched the world’s first ultraviolet shoe cleaner.
The SteriShoe UV Shoe Santizer safely disinfects the inside of shoes by
using ultraviolet (UVC) light. It is ideal for people who suffer from
athlete's foot (tinea pedis), toenail fungus (onychomycosis), or shoe
odor. It has also been recommended for diabetes sufferers and is 100
percent free of chemicals. Read More
The recently finalized Double Challenge project
required MA students at London’s Royal College of Art to design an
ultra-compact electric vehicle for event sponsor Citroën. Not
surprisingly from such distilled intelligence, the winning entry is a
new type of personal urban commuter positioned between bicycles and cars
– light, aerodynamically efficient, cheap to build and economical in
its use of energy and hence run. Heikki Juvonen’s “E-3POD Antistatic” is
an ultralight, micro segment electric three-wheeler with the driver sitting inside a large hub-less third wheel. Read More
As a way to shoehorn its way into the smartphone market, last April HP acquired Palm along with its webOS mobile operating system. Obviously keen to see a return on its US$1.2 billion investment HP today unveiled three new mobile devices running webOS – a 9.7-inch tablet called the TouchPad and two new smartphones, the pint-sized HP Veer and the business-oriented HP Pre 3. Read More
Boutique Italian motorcycle company Vyrus is
hoping to cause a real shake-up in top-level racing by entering its
radically unorthodox Vyrus 986 M2 Factory in the heavily standardised
Moto2 competition. With the same weight, engine, tyres and electronics
as its opponents, the Vyrus bike is more or less a controlled experiment
in the racetrack effectiveness of hub-center steering. It will be the
first time in decades that we've seen a machine enter top-level racing
without a set of traditional telescopic forks at the front end. If it
succeeds, it has a real chance at causing a suspension revolution in the
sportsbike world. Oh, and there's streetbike and kit versions available
too. Very exciting news. Read More
Building a 15-story hotel in less than six days
February 10, 2011
China's impressive building credentials have been
in the news regularly over the past few years, particularly those in
evidence at the Shanghai World Expo and Beijing Olympic Games.
The most recent example of the striking capability of the Chinese
building industry took place in Changsha, Hunan province a few months
ago. China’s Broad Group showcased their rapid building technology by
constructing the 15-story Ark Hotel in less than six days. Using a team
of 200 workers the structural framework was erected in just 46.5 hours
and the external cladding and internal non-structural surfaces were
completed in another 90 hours. Read More
A longstanding part of the Vacheron Constantin
watchmaking heritage, the World Time complication is making a noteworthy
comeback in the form of the Patrimony Traditionnelle World Time model.
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin, this new mechanical
self-winding movement is distinguished by its capacity to indicate the
world’s 37 time zones, including those offset from Universal Coordinated
Time (UCT) by a half or quarter-hour. Read More
It wasn’t all that long ago that rhythm-based
games were sweeping all before them and plastic guitar controllers and
drum kits were popping up in living rooms and bedrooms around the world
at an astonishing rate. It seems many of those controllers are now
gathering dust, leading Activision to announce it will “disband” its Guitar Hero business unit and discontinue development on its Guitar Hero game for 2011. Read More
Sweden's Marten is well-regarded for its high-end
speakers and takes a fair amount of pride in their audiophile-pleasing
performance. So it comes as no surprise to learn that the company has
decided that the only way to ensure optimum sound for its products is to
create its own amplifier. Introduced at this year's CES,
the M-Amp Mono Power Amplifier uses a new technology called Adaptive
Modulation Servo (AMS) that's said to provide a wide bandwidth, really
low audio distortion and high power output. Read More
Ferrate is a type of supercharged iron particle,
in which iron is in the plus 6 oxidation state – it’s also known as Iron
(VI). That might not interest you, but perhaps this will: it can be
used as an environmentally-friendly disinfectant in water treatment
applications, reportedly outperforming stand-bys such as ultraviolet
light, hydrogen peroxide, and chlorine. So, why isn’t it in common use?
Unfortunately, it’s proven too expensive to produce, package and
transport. Ferrate Treatment Technologies (FTT), however, claims to have
addressed that limitation with its product, the Ferrator. Read More
The GXR system gets Leica-friendly lens mount expansion unit
By Paul Ridden
February 9, 2011
Since introducing its modular GXR
camera system towards the end of 2009, Ricoh has kept its promise of
regularly adding new interchangeable units to the setup. The line now
includes four units which between them offer a broad range of different
lens and sensor configurations. Now, the company is branching out a bit
with the announcement of an expansion unit that will give users the
freedom to use different lenses. Read More
Generally speaking, it is inadvisable to eat
foods containing Salmonella bacteria – especially if you’re not a fan of
diarrhea, fever or abdominal cramps. In the future, however, we might
be swallowing genetically-engineered versions of the little guys as a
way of treating viral infections. If we do, it will be thanks to
research presently being carried out at UC Berkeley’s School of Public
Health. Scientists there have reprogrammed Salmonella bacteria to act as
harmless transporters of virus-stopping enzymes. Read More
With a track record including the time-honored Z
series and the extraordinary GT-R supercar, Nissan’s credentials for
producing affordable sports car exotica is without equal – which makes
the company’s latest showing even more exciting. Nissan will use the
Geneva Motor Show to debut an electric sports car based closely on
technology pioneered in the production Nissan LEAF. The ESFLOW is a
two-seater with its two electric motors each driving a rear wheel. It
will hit 100km/h in under five seconds and run 240kms between
powerpoints. Read More
Like every other object in the world, the car is
about to become networked. A glimpse into the automotive benefits of our
networked future will be on show at the Geneva Motor Show
next month when BMW shows its Vision ConnectedDrive concept car. The
concept study, in a two-seat roadster guise, presents the automobile as a
fully integrated part of the networked world in both its design and
technological innovations. It is with this concept that BMW presents the
potential of current and future in-car technology for optimizing
comfort, safety and infotainment. Read More
If you want a superyacht that really stands out
at the next annual billionaires meeting then why not give it a theme?
Yacht Island Design thinks there’s a market for such vessels and has set
about developing several themed yacht concepts. The first is "The
Streets of Monaco," a 155 m (508.5 ft) long yacht that looks to “reflect
the style and sophistication of the principality” and includes a fully
functional go kart circuit that recreates the famous Monaco Grand Prix
circuit along with other Monaco landmarks. Read More
A recent study suggests that, at least for worms,
free radicals may not be the "bad guys" after all. It turns out that if
you are a bacteria-eating worm of the species C. elegans, genetic
modifications that raise your free radical levels don't have the
negative effect expected, but instead serve to lengthen lifespan. Read More
Behind the scenes at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
By Jeff Salton
February 10, 2011
Many Muggles, fans and aficionados of the Harry
Potter franchise would no doubt be aware that The Wizarding World of
Harry Potter Theme Park and Resort opened last June. And judging by the
fact that the park just sold its one millionth Butterbeer
(non-alcoholic) beverage, its popularity doesn’t seem to be waning. The
success of Universal’s newest park, located in Orlando, Florida, like
most theme parks, will be judged on the experiences it offers its
guests. Often this boils down to the teeth-rattling speed,
stomach-churning loops and turns, or the full-on "shock and awe" of its
rides. Gizmag spoke with Senior Vice President, Creative Studio for
Universal Parks and Resorts, Thierry Coup, to get a behind-the-scenes
insight into the creation of the park’s rides, namely the Dragon
Challenge, Flight of the Hippogriff and The Forbidden Journey. Read More
Scientists have used gelatinous hydrogel to
create an inexpensive new type of biochemical sensor that is highly
sensitive, sturdy, long-lasting, and has few moving parts. The gel
expands or contracts according to the acidity of its environment, a
quality that allows the sensor to measure changes in pH down to one
one-thousandth on the pH scale. This amount of accuracy, along with its
robustness, could make it ideal for chemical and biological applications
such as environmental monitoring in waterways and glucose monitoring in
blood. Read More
Renault CAPTUR: sporty adventure crossover concept
By Gizmag Team
February 10, 2011
Renault's recently reworked brand identity “puts
people at the forefront” while the resultant design strategy bases each
new concept car on a different phase of the human life cycle. The first
such concept was the DeZir coupé shown at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, which expressed the passion of "falling in love." The second concept in the series was unveiled today ahead of the Geneva Motor Show,
representing the next phase of “two people exploring the world around
them together." Apart from the crock of marketing soup, the rather
appropriately named CAPTUR is quite interesting technically, with a
clever mechanical self-locking differential and an augmented reality
system. Read More
Chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers and
burns, can be very difficult to heal. This can result in pain,
infection, or worse. Proteins known as growth factors have been shown to
help such wounds heal, although purifying these proteins can be pricey,
and they don’t last very long once applied to a wound. There is now
hope, however, in a nanometer-sized drug that its creators are
describing as “robotic.” Read More
A toddler on a leash – no matter how many times
they see it, some people find the sight of a small child wearing a
harness and tether just somehow wrong. It’s understandable why
some parents do use leashes, however, as many tykes have a nasty habit
of wandering off into the mall, park or woods as soon as mom or dad’s
back is turned. There are GPS-based alternatives such as the Wherify Child Tracking System
(which appears to now be discontinued), although they require the
parent to access the internet or use their mobile phone. The Mommy I’m
Here CL305 child locator, however, will instantly let you know where
your kid went via an audible alarm. Read More
HP announces first webOS tablet: the TouchPad
By Paul Ridden
February 10, 2011
In conjunction with the announcement of the Veer and Pre 3 webOS smartphones,
HP has revealed that users will soon be able to enjoy the webOS
experience on a bigger screen. Its new TouchPad tablet is headed for a
Q3 release and will run on a dual-core Snapdragon processor, offer
genuine multi-tasking and feature a host of useful productivity tools
like Synergy and touch-to-share. There's Wireless-N and Bluetooth
connectivity, a webcam for online chat and cable-free charging via an
optional touchstone charging dock. Read More
Bringing distant subjects into sharp focus has
just received a COOLPIX boost with the announcement of the P500 from Nikon.
The 12.1 megapixel camera features a whopping 36x zoom lens, hybrid
vibration reduction technology and a vari-angle high resolution display.
It can shoot full high definition movies and sports a number of useful
scene modes to help users capture the best panoramic, tone rich or low
light images possible. Read More
DARPA asks public to design new combat support vehicle
By Darren Quick
February 13, 2011
In an effort to streamline the design and build
process for manufacturing military vehicles, the Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
is enlisting the “power of the crowd”. Through the Experimental
Crowd-derived Combat-support Vehicle (XC2V) Design Challenge, which asks
entrants to conceptualize a vehicle body design for combat
reconnaissance and combat delivery & evacuation, the agency is
looking to pick the brains of not only armed service members and
engineers, but also members of the public and others that usually have
no way to contribute to military design. Read More
The Cockeyed experiments and creations of Rob Cockerham
By Ben Coxworth
February 13, 2011
When you think of people having a blast with
science experiments, hands-on product research and wacky but clever
inventions, chances are you think of MythBusters. Five years
before that show’s 2003 premiere, however, Sacramento’s Rob Cockerham
set about doing much the same thing on his Cockeyed blog. Today,
approximately a million readers from around the world visit it every
month, checking out his latest activities as documented in sections such
as Incredible Construction, Science Club, and Pranks. We had a chance
to talk to Rob recently ... when he wasn’t busy making cyclones out of
fireworks, analyzing the compostability of SunChips bags, or sneaking
bogus time machines into shopping mall displays. Read More
Prepare for some mind-boggling numbers. A new
study has estimated how much information there is in the world in terms
of how much humankind is able to store, communicate and compute. Looking
at the period from 1986 to 2007, the study is the first to quantify
humankind’s ability to handle information and how it has changed in the
past two decades. But despite the monumental figures, the numbers still
pale in comparison to the order of magnitude with which nature handles
information. Read More
Immune boosting treatment eliminates HIV-like infection in mice
February 13, 2011
Australian scientists may have discovered a vital
key to curing HIV and other immune related illnesses by boosting the
body’s immune response. A team of researchers led by Dr. Marc Pellegrini
from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, successfully cured a HIV-like
infection from mice by boosting the function of cells vital to their
immune system. Read More
Eco-Navigator keeps driving as clean and efficient as possible
By Ben Coxworth
February 11, 2011
Pretty much everyone knows that driving too fast
wastes fuel and creates excess carbon emissions, as does revving the
engine and not bothering with tune-ups. We can try to alter our driving
habits accordingly, but how can we know how much to alter them?
What speed should we drive at when, and how often should we take our
car to the garage? These questions can be instantly and completely
answered, right in your car, if you’re using an Eco-Navigator device.
Read More
With the Okii Systems USB Follow Focus,
photographers and videographers can remotely control their Canon EOS HD
DSLRs. The compact remote device uses Canon’s built-in USB capability to
operate many camera functions including focus
(even while recording video), record start/stop, shutter release, and
more. Built in a rugged, compact case, the Okii USB Follow Focus
eliminates the need for a bulky mechanical setup or being tethered to a
computer. Read More
As any reader of detective fiction will tell you,
no two fingerprints are alike. The similarly unique physical structure
of microchips could help manufacturers protect their products from
piracy, thanks to research at the Fraunhofer Institute for Secure
Information Technology. The team has developed technology that makes use
of slight variations generated during manufacture to produce unique,
clone-proof digital fingerprints. Read More
Audi tries its hand at making skis with the Carbon Ski concept
By Ben Coxworth
February 11, 2011
If you can buy Porsche bicycles, Lamborghini hard drives, or spend a day at the Ferrari World amusement park, then why shouldn’t you be able to snap on a pair of Audi
skis? You may soon have the chance, given the reported success of the
German automaker’s experiment with its Audi Carbon Ski concept. Designed
and developed at Audi Concept Design in Munich, the downhill skis were
created in collaboration with specialists from ski-making company Head,
and the German Ski Association. The result is an ultra-lightweight ski
that is said to offer premium performance. Read More
The performance of Gumpert's Apollo places it among the supercar elite, with its recent Nurburgring Nordschleife lap record for road legal cars
further emphasizing those credentials. Now the German manufacturer is
to add a second model in 2012 which it claims will create a new class of
"Fast Tourers" with attributes of superior efficiency, performance,
space, comfort and pleasure. Though Ferrari, Bentley, Porsche et al
probably consider such a class already exists, it'll be interesting to
see what gets unveiled at Geneva in a few weeks from now. The first
image of the 700 bhp central-engined V8 Tornante was released today, so
it's probably worth summarizing what we know already ... Read More
It seems you can get just about anything from vending machines these days. From shoes to flowers and ice cream to gold
it can all be had by slotting a bit of cash into a machine – or in the
case of the gold vending machine, a lot of cash or a credit card with a
decent limit. Now there’s another unlikely vending machine offering in
the form of the RoboPutt, a robotic vending machine that will dole out a
five minute putting lesson for the cost of a decent golf ball. Read More
Call it standby power, phantom power or vampire
power, but the current drawn by various household electrical devices
when they are supposedly “off” can account for up to ten percent of a
home’s energy use. Fortunately, there are gizmos available
that act as “middle men” between wall outlets and devices, completely
shutting off the power supply when the devices are not in use. One of
the newest is the OnPlug, which manages to come in at quite a low price
point by avoiding the bells and whistles of similar products. Read More
Fujifilm North America has announced that its FinePix X100, that was unveiled at the Photokina trade show last September,
is set for release next month. Aimed at professional or enthusiast
photographers, the fixed lens, large sensor digital camera sports
classic non-digital camera controls and a hybrid viewfinder that allows
users to switch between optical and electronic modes. Read More
LED light bulbs are becoming increasingly popular
with designers and consumers of green technology, as they use less
electricity, last longer, and emit more light on a pound-for-pound basis
than traditional incandescent bulbs. However, while it may be tempting
to look at them as having solved the problem of
environmentally-unfriendly lighting, researchers from the University of
California would advise against such thinking. Read More
Millions of people around the world are medicated
with heparin, a blood thinner used for the treatment and prevention of
blood clots. One of the ways in which doctors monitor the effectiveness
of heparin is to look for a blood protein known as factor Xa in a
patient’s bloodstream – the less factor Xa activity that is occurring,
the better. Now, thanks to an enzyme obtained from fireflies, that
protein may be easier than ever to detect. Read More
PowerTrekk fuel cell charger allows for power on the go
By Paul Ridden
February 14, 2011
Outdoor types who need power for mobile devices
away from the grid may find themselves carrying solar chargers or
battery packs but, as we reported last year,
hydrogen fuel cells offer instant juice benefits and zero degradation.
Now, Stockholm's myFC and SiGNa Chemistry have teamed up to launch the
PowerTrekk, a pocket-sized, portable charging solution that combines the
convenience of a battery pack with the instant power of a hydrogen fuel
cell. Read More
Just when you thought Skype couldn't be any more
useful, the company has announced a partnership deal with leading Wi-Fi
hotspot providers around the globe. Skype Access, the company's
pay-as-you-go service, will now be available through mobile networks in
over 500,000 locations including airports, cafes, trains and offices.
And the announcement comes with a sweetener – the company is offering
free access throughout Spain during Mobile World Congress 2011. Read More
Built for speed: Plextor launches 12x external Blu-ray writer
By Paul Ridden
February 14, 2011
Plextor's new external Blu-ray writer is designed
with speed in mind. The PX-LB950UE offers a 12x write speed for
single-layer Blu-ray media and 8x for double layer. The company has also
thrown USB 3.0
and eSATA connectivity into the mix to help keep waiting time to a
minimum and there's in-device labeling technology for
professional-looking disc production. Burn accuracy, quality and
stability is given a boost with the inclusion of a low vibration system
and 8MB buffer. Read More
As we suggested it would a few weeks back,
LG finally pulled the wraps off its 3D smartphone at Mobile World
Congress 2011 today. The LG Optimus 3D has a dual-core, dual-channel and
dual-memory architecture – all firsts for a smartphone – but it’s the
phone’s recording, viewing and sharing of 3D content without glasses
that will draw the most attention. The LG Optimus 3D’s dual 5MP lens
camera captures still and moving images in 3D and the 4.3-inch WVGA
display recreates 2D (up to 1080p) and 3D (up to 720p) without the use
of glasses. The big question the phone is likely to answer is “who
cares?” and there are a lot of people in press rooms around the world
who are betting that the answer is “not many people.” Read More
Sony Ericsson releases Playstation smartphone - Xperia PLAY
By Gizmag Team
February 14, 2011
Sony Ericsson finally showed the world the new
Playstation gaming smartphone at Mobile World Congress in Spain today.
The PlayStation-certified Xperia Play runs the Android Gingerbread OS
and will be available next month, accompanied at launch by 50 titles
downloadable from Android Market, but with a lot more coming. The phone
has a slide-out gamepad that features a PlayStation-style D-pad, thumb
sensors and X, O, square and triangle action buttons and combines a
PlayStation-quality gaming experience with the very latest Android
smartphone technology. Read More
Ahead of Mobile World Congress 2011, which officially kicks off today, Samsung has unveiled the successors to its Galaxy S smartphone and Galaxy Tab
tablet at its Unpacked event in Barcelona. At just 8.49 mm thick,
Samsung is touting the Galaxy S II as “the world’s thinnest smartphone,”
while thanks to its larger 10.1-inch TFT display, the next iteration of
the Galaxy Tab will be known as the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Read More
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