Last December at the Future of Electric Vehicles
conference in San Jose, a representative from The Netherlands’
Eindhoven University of Technology presented research that his
institution had been doing into a novel type of electromagnetic vehicle
suspension. Now that a test car equipped with the suspension is about to
appear at the AutoRAI exhibition in Amsterdam, the university has
released some more details about the technology. For starters, it is
claimed to improve the overall ride quality of cars by 60 percent. Read More
Lensbaby is an odd company making distinctly
analogue products to suit modern digital SLR cameras. The Composer Pro
is a lens body that features a tilting head which bends light and
distorts the focal plane of whatever lens optic you drop into it, giving
you a bunch of ways to creatively mess with your photography in-camera
for some pretty striking and evocative effects. It feels like a strange
thing to do, putting such low-fi and distorted lenses on your
ultra-sharp DSLR – but then again, hey, if it feels good, do it! Click
through to see some example photos. Read More
Sweden's eye tracking and control innovator Tobii
has announced the release of a stand-alone eye control device called
PCEye. Like the laptop-based prototype
system demonstrated at CeBIT last month, the device tracks eye movement
and translates it into mouse cursor action onscreen. Positioned in
front of a PC monitor and connected via USB, the company says that the
technology is compatible with a wide range of software and has been
primarily designed to improve computer interactivity for users with
impaired motor skills, such as stroke victims. Read More
When Korg's US trademark for "monotribe" was
discovered in the lead up to Musikmesse, it was pretty obvious that we
were about to meet a device that incorporated elements of the wonderful monotron analog synthesizer and the Electribe range - but that doesn't make these leaked shots any less exciting. Read More
The 25th Auto Shanghai kicks off a fortnight from
now, and in its capacity as one of the world's most important
automotive showcases in the world's largest auto market, we'll be seeing
quite a few important model introductions. Near the top of that list is
a new twin turbo V8 BMW Concept M5. As with all previous M5s, it's a
high-performance sports car that masquerades as a premium class business
sedan. Also on show will be the new BMW 6 Series Coupe. Read More
Nikon has announced the latest addition to its entry-level D-SLR
lineup in the form of the new D5100. The D5100 boasts the same 23.3 x
15.6 mm CMOS sensor, 16.2-megpixel resolution and ISO range of 100–6400
(expandable to 25,600) as Nikon's D7000,
plus a new Night Vision mode that can shoot up to a staggering 102,400
ISO. The D5100 also sports a new 3-inch, swing out style Vari-angle LCD
screen with 1000:1 contrast ratio and 921,000-dot resolution that has
the ability to rotate 180 degrees horizontally and vertically. Read More
Last week, Google announced Gmail Motion,
a system which promised motion control for the company's free webmail
service using a computer's built-in webcam and some nifty spatial
tracking technology. Using Gmail Motion users would be able to not only
control Gmail actions but also compose emails using gestures that would
be translated into common phrases. It was of course an April Fool's Day
joke, but Evan A. Suma, a postdoctoral research associate at the
University of Southern California's (USC) Institute for Creative
Technologies, immediately set to work in demonstrating that the
technology to run such a system already exists. Read More
When most of us think of sunlight being used to generate power, we likely picture photovoltaic cells. Concentrated solar power plants
however, use lenses or mirrors to heat fluid – such as synthetic oil –
which in turn is used to generate high-pressure steam to drive a
conventional turbine. A new experimental solar steam generation power
plant that opened last week in southern Spain is aiming to improve on
the efficiency of existing systems by using water as the direct working
fluid and incorporating novel methods for storing the energy, so it can
be dispensed even on cloudy days or at night. Read More
In a setback for AeroVironment's four-year demonstrator program, the first Global Observer unmanned aircraft system
has crashed during flight-testing. AeroVironment has confirmed the
"mishap" occurred at 2:30 am PDT on April 1st, approximately 18 hours
into its ninth test flight at Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB) in
California. Read More
Mosquitoes are perhaps useful for something after
all, besides feeding frogs. Along with his colleagues at Osaka’s Kansai
University, mechanical engineer Seiji Aoyagi has created an almost
pain-free hypodermic needle that is based on a mosquito’s proboscis.
Perhaps surprisingly, the needle’s patient-friendliness comes from the
fact that its outer surface is jagged, not smooth. Read More
Few things are as disconcerting, or as curious,
as the sight of a gecko or spider skittering effortlessly upside down
along the ceiling. This ability is known to be facilitated by
microscopic hairs or "setae" on the footpads of insects and mammals and a
better understanding of their function could lead to advances in
synthetic adhesives, wall climbing robots and yes, even the the holy-grail of the spiderman suit.
Now for the first time, scientists studying leaf beetles have been able
to measure the adhesive force from single setae in a live animal and in
the process expand our knowledge of the role they play in clinging to
diverse surfaces. Read More
The French-designed Platypus is a new and
immensely practical two-person electric underwater exploration concept
designed to travel for eight hours above the water at 10-12 knots
(18.5-22.2 km/h), or below the water at 3-4 knots (5.5-7.5 km/h). Most
importantly, it offers a safe and stable below-water platform that
requires no operating equipment to be worn by the pilot or passenger
other than masks because the pontoons contain an integrated compressor
which supplies air via hoses. The Platypus requires no license, produces
no local emissions, is completely silent and offers plenty of storage
space and a stable platform for many applications including diving,
photography, bird watching and eco tourism. Read More
Fujifilm has announced the upcoming release of a
new 16 megapixel compact with a multi-touch display, a new sensor and
the ability to shoot full high definition video. Taking over from the FinePix Z800EXR,
features include more dynamic range, improved battery life and full
resolution continuous shooting of three frames per second. Read More
Toshiba
has announced details and a release date for its new flagship 55ZL1
HDTV. The new model will be the first to be powered by a new
CEVO-ENGINE, which replaces the company's Cell-powered
models. The CEVO-ENGINE is essentially a stack of Cell multicore
processors in the form of a seven-core processing unit that provides the
processing grunt for such features as 2D to 3D conversion, 3D depth
control, HDD video recording, Auto Calibration, and a face recognition
feature that will switch to your personal settings after identifying you
using the 55ZL1's integrated camera. Read More
Adzookie's "Paint my house" scheme is an
innovative – if unsubtle – approach to advertising that brings new
meaning to the notion of having loud neighbors. In return for painting
an entire US home with a billboard-sized advert, Adzookie will pay the
home-owner's mortgage for the three-month period the house is contracted
to remain painted, with the option to extend the contract for up to a
year. The entire exterior is painted excepting the roof, and if the
contract is canceled by Adzookie or the home-owner during the contract
period they will paint the house back to its original colors. Read More
Many have decried the lack of USB 3.0 connectivity in Apple’s latest MacBook Pro lineup, with the company instead opting for the new Thunderbolt
I/O interface. Despite the lack of USB 3.0 connectivity in Apple’s
current laptops, the unearthing of a patent granted to the company for a
hybrid DisplayPort/USB 3.0 high speed dock connector suggests support
for the high speed connection may be making its way into the next
generation of Apple’s iOS devices. And with Thunderbolt using the Mini
DisplayPort connector, Apple may finally be answering the call for
greater connectivity options for its mobile devices. Read More
HandStand case puts iPad in the palm of your hand
By Darren Quick
April 5, 2011
Apple's iPad tablet has become an extension of the arm for many people. Despite being designed for portability – and the iPad 2
being 15 percent lighter than the first iPad – using either version of
the device for any longer than a few minutes without some kind of
support can lead to arm and hand strain. Hub International's HandStand
case makes things much more comfortable by letting you attach an iPad to
your hand like a catcher's mitt. Read More
Bicycle inner tubes that contain a small-puncture-sealing slimy liquid
may not be a new development in and of themselves, but Michelin has
released a product that takes the concept a step further. The company's
Protek Max tube not only contains a sealant, but is designed to compress
when punctured to assist the self-sealing process. Read More
According to the medical journal The Lancet,
approximately 20 million low birth-weight and premature babies are born
around the world every year. Of those, about 4 million die within four
weeks. Many of those deaths take place because the infants can’t
maintain a high enough body temperature on their own, and succumb to
hypothermia. Incubators are designed to address this problem, but many
hospitals in developing nations can’t afford them, nor can they provide
the uninterrupted power supply that the machines require. The San
Francisco non-profit group Embrace, however, is developing what could be
an effective and affordable alternative – the Infant Warmer. Read More
When I tuned into my first DAB broadcast a few
years ago and was treated to crackle-and-hiss-free CD quality digital
audio, I must admit to being impressed. Now an enhanced version of the
standard is being rolled out across Europe which uses a more efficient
audio codec and offers listeners even more access to digital services,
and Sony has launched two new products to greet it. Heading for UK
bedrooms will be the XDR-C706DBP DAB+ radio alarm clock, while living
rooms can enjoy the natural wood finish and retro-styling of the
XDR-S16DBP. Read More
It is a commonly held myth that much of the
effectiveness of communication is determined by nonverbal cues, but try
telling that to someone who has lost the power of speech due to brain
injury or damage to their vocal cords or airway. In a move that could
help restore communication for in this situation, researchers at the
Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have successfully
used regions of the brain that control speech to “talk” to a computer
through the implantation of a temporary surgical implant. The patients
were able to manipulate a cursor on a computer screen simply by saying
or thinking of a particular sound. Read More
Fast cars, shiny shoes, monster flat screen TVs
... all these things play a role as status symbols in our adult lives,
but cast yourself back to your early school days when nothing said cool
as much as a crackingly good pencil case. What I would have given to
have one of these beauties in tow instead of my brothers'
graffiti-ridden hand-me-down! Faber-Castell is the world’s oldest and
largest manufacturer of wood-cased pencils and the company is marking
its 250th Anniversary with this Limited Edition Wood Case set. Read More
Auto Shanghai debut for Mercedes Concept A-Class
By Mike Hanlon
April 7, 2011
Due to be shown for the first time at Auto
Shanghai later this month is the Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class, no doubt
a very strong indication of the next A-Class due for production in
2012. Following the styling cues first seen in the F800, the
front-wheel-drive concept is powered by a 210 bhp, direct injection,
turbocharged, transverse 2.0 liter four-cylinder BlueEFFICIENCY engine
from the new M270 series. The A-Class Concept sports a world first for
the compact class in the form of a radar-based collision warning system
with adaptive Brake Assist and lightning shifts will be possible with a
dual clutch transmission. The spectacular driver information display
with integrated smartphone is another highlight of a car you’ll probably
be able to buy within 12 months. Read More
The video capture capabilities found in today's
mobile phones has made it easier than ever to record those priceless
memories whenever and wherever they may occur. However, one of the
downsides to cramming a video camera into such a small device is the
lack of stability that often results in videos that look like they were
shot the morning after a big night. With a full-blown steadycam rig
probably not the best solution for smoothing out things on the go,
Midnox has created an app that provides real-time image stabilization
for the iPhone 4. Read More
DSLR cameras have brought high-def video capture
into the hands of vast numbers of people like myself – people who have
now had a glimpse at the possibility of making pro-standard video but
who don't have the cash for all the pricey accessories that you need to
move to the next level. So a bunch of businesses are taking creative
approaches to bring down the cost of moviemaking – and here's a neat
example. RigWheels are a simple and compact way to build yourself a
cheap camera dolly to liven up your footage with sliding shots – the
visual effect is similar to what we got with a slightly more expensive Glidetrack-type slider rig on our recent Zero Electric Supermoto review video. Read More
Researchers at Wake Forest University have
developed a new type of polymer solar-thermal device that combines
photovoltaics with a system that captures the Sun's infrared radiation
to generate heating. By taking advantage of both heat and light,
researchers say the device could deliver up to 40 percent savings on
the cost of heating, as well as helping reduce power bills by producing
electricity. Read More
SpaceX, the American space transport company founded by PayPal and Tesla Motors co-founder Elon Musk that is responsible for the Dragon space capsule and Falcon 1 and Falcon 9
rockets, has announced a late 2013 or 2014 launch date for the world’s
most powerful rocket, the Falcon Heavy. Overshadowed by only the Saturn V
moon rocket that was decommissioned after the Apollo program, the
Falcon Heavy will be able to carry payloads of 53 metric tons (117,000
pounds or 53,070 kg) into orbit, which is more than the maximum take-off
weight of a Boeing 737-200 loaded with 136 passengers, luggage and
fuel. Read More
Offshore wind power specialist Vestas
has revealed plans to build the largest dedicated offshore wind turbine
in the world. The proposed V164 would have a 7.0 MW capacity, twice
that of its predecessor, the 3.0 MW V112. The awesome 164 meter (538 ft)
diameter rotor would eclipse the size of the current titleholder, the
prototype G10X installed by Gamesa in Spain in 2009 which has a diameter
of 128 m (420 ft). Read More
Hyundai unveiled its new mid-size hydrogen powered fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) concept this week at the 2011 Seoul Motor Show. Powered by a 90 kW (120 hp) electric motor that delivers fuel economy of 34.9 km/L (82.1 mpg), the Blue2 (pronounced "Blue square") is intended as a "blue" print for the automaker's future sedans. Read More
Students at Michigan Technological University
have designed and constructed their own mini-smokestack to showcase a
new method for scrubbing carbon dioxide from emissions. The approach is
similar to SkyMine
technology, but instead of producing sodium bicarbonate as a byproduct,
it turns captured carbon into a solid material that could have
applications as a construction material. Read More
The arrival of viable wireless charging solutions has given us the opportunity to pull the plug on devices like mobile phones and personal media players (with televisions and electric vehicles
next in line). Game controllers are another obvious candidate for this
technology and BLAZE's latest offering joins the ranks of
wireless-charging solutions for the Nintendo Wii remote. Read More
Nanoparticles
have added yet another string to their microscopic bows with a new
study showing that the addition of alumina nanoparticles can improve the
performance and combustion of biodiesel, while producing fewer
emissions. In the study, a team at India’s National Institute of
Technology in Tiruchirappalli used nanoparticles with an average
diameter of 51 billionths of a meter. The high surface-to-volume ratio
of the nanoparticles means they have more reactive surfaces, which
allows them to act as more efficient chemical catalysts and results in
increased fuel combustion. Read More
Solid-state laser weapons are a step closer to operational capability with the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR)
reporting that it has successfully disabled a small target boat during
testing off the Californian coast. Stemming from the Defense
Department's Joint High Power Solid State Laser (JHPSSL) program, the Northrop Grumman
developed Maritime Laser Demonstrator (MLD) was installed on the deck
of the Navy's test ship the USS Paul Foster for the demonstration,
making it the first time such a system has been integrated with a ship's
radar and navigation system and the first time a high-energy laser has
been fired at sea from a moving platform. Read More
For many people with motor disabilities, the task
of precisely moving a mouse cursor around a screen can be incredibly
frustrating. While controlling a mouse cursor with the power of thought looks likely to be possible in the not too distant future, researchers at the University of Washington's
(UW) AIM Research Group have created two mouse cursors designed to make
homing in on onscreen targets much easier. Neither requires additional
computer hardware and all the researchers are hoping for in return for
the freely downloadable software is some user feedback. Read More
At the Winter NAMM show in Anaheim recently, Korg
unveiled a new oriental version of its famous Wavedrum percussion
synthesizer, designed specifically for Middle Eastern music. For
Musikmesse 2011 in Frankfurt, the company has announced that its
Wavedrum technology has been reduced down into a compact, portable,
playable pad with a built-in speaker and effects. The Wavedrum Mini also
features a clip sensor which is said to allow users to transform finger
taps and hand slaps made on just about any surface into synthesized,
amplified percussive sounds. Read More
We’ve seen the world’s first Formula 3 car running on a fuel derived from waste chocolate, and now engineers at Ford
have turned to the tasty treat for inspiration to produce lighter
plastic parts for Ford’s vehicles. Plastic parts have traditionally been
a difficult area to save weight without sacrificing strength and
durability, but by looking to the Aero chocolate bar they have produced a
lighter plastic by introducing gas bubbles into the plastic as it is
molded. The result is a microscopic honeycomb structure that Ford says
saves weight by reducing the amount of plastic used without compromising
the integrity of the part. Read More
With most households yet to make the move to biometric lock systems,
most of us are still carrying around jangly keychains. And with
keychains also attracting non-key items such as USB flash drives,
mini-torches and the all-important bottle opener, they can quickly reach
pocket bulging, Kramer-esque proportions. The Keyport is a pocket
friendly, Swiss Army knife-like solution that can consolidate all these
aforementioned items in one streamlined device and provides access to
them with a flick of a thumb. Read More
Having crossed Europe and North America, the Mercedes-Benz F-Cell roadshow
is now in Australia where the green-painted B-Class F-CELL cars are
making the long trek from Sydney to Perth. Surrounding the small fleet
is an entourage of more than a dozen vehicles including SUVs, Sprinter
vans set up as mobile workshops and refuel stations and a semi-trailer
laden with striking red full-length cylinders of hydrogen. Read More
Logitech has entered the seemingly insatiable iPad accessory market with a case that should appeal to those looking to use their new iPad 2 for something a bit more productive than playing Fruit Ninja.
The Logitech Keyboard Case for the iPad 2 is made from aircraft-grade
aluminum to match Apple's tablet, features a built-in wireless keyboard
and is lined with high-density padding to keep the tablet safe and
secure and prevent the keyboard from touching the screen, even if
dropped. Read More
As major automobile manufacturers around the
world pour countless dollars and man hours into the research and
development of electric vehicles, George Fortin has quietly gone about making one of his own. While it is
true that his Z-Kart is just a one-seater with a range of 20 miles and a
top speed of 40 mph that lacks pretty much any safety features or cargo
capacity, it is nonetheless a well-engineered little buggy that looks
like it would be a blast to drive. Not bad at all, for something that
was made and designed and built by a real estate broker. Read More
April 12, 1961: A remarkable date in human history
April 12, 2011
A remarkable milestone in human history took
place exactly 50 years ago today when Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin
became the first man in space. During the flight of Vostok 1 on April
12, 1961, Gagarin, then 27, completed a single orbit of Earth in
approximately 108 minutes. His flight begun at Baikonur cosmodrome in
southern Kazakhstan and ended with his safe arrival by parachute in the
Saratov region of central Russia, where he was famously welcomed back to
our planet with a hospitable offer of bread and milk by Anna Takhtarova
and her four-year-old granddaughter Margarita. Read More
With its two chief properties of excellent
electrical conductivity and optical transparency, indium tin oxide (ITO)
can be found in transparent conductive coatings for displays found in
all kinds of products, such as TVs, mobile phones and laptops, and is
also used as a transparent electrode in thin-film solar cells.
Unfortunately indium is a rare metal and available supplies could run
out in as little as ten years. This has prompted researchers to search
for alternatives with some success already reported using carbon nanotubes and copper nanowires.
The latest ITO replacement material also uses carbon nanotubes, as well
as other commonly available materials, and is environmentally friendly.
Read More
A combination of light weight AND strength makes
advanced composite materials very useful when building something that's
designed to go fast while being subjected to physical stress ... like an
aircraft. On the downside, bulky equipment is required when it comes to
inspecting these aircraft for damage – a problem that is MIT researchers hope to solve with the development of a new type of composite material that incorporates carbon nanotubes. Read More
Seventy percent of Mother Earth’s surface is
covered in water, yet we know more about the moon than we do about our
deepest oceans. In yet another ground-breaking initiative under Virgin’s
multi-faceted “Branded Venture Capitalism”, Richard Branson intends to
change all that with the Virgin Oceanic Five Dives project. The project
is a series of ocean expeditions to the bottom of the five deepest
trenches in the world, beginning with an attempt on the world record
35,911 foot dive to the Pacific Ocean’s Mariana Trench – the deepest
point on earth. Read More
If an advertiser offered you a one-off US$25 payment in return for being exposed to advertising, would you take it? That’s essentially the deal being offered by Amazon with its new ad-supported Kindle.
The device is the same as Amazon’s third-generation, Wi-Fi only Kindle
but retails for $25 less and comes with “special offers” and, apparently
not wanting to scare people off with that dirty word advertising,
“sponsored screensavers.” Ads won’t interrupt your reading, but will act
as the device’s full screen screensaver and will also appear along the
bottom of the home screen. Read More
A cross-discipline project that brings together
biomedicine and nano-engineering has led to the development of a
dime-sized microfluidic device that can rapidly detect cancer cells in a
blood sample. The new device is based on a cancer cell-detector created
four years ago by Mehmet Toner, professor of biomedical engineering at
Harvard Medical School. In its latest incarnation, carbon nanotubes have
been introduced into the design resulting in an eight-fold improvement
in the collection of cells. Read More
HDSLR cameras are taking off in a big way as
cheap video rigs with quality interchangeable glass – but the more you
get into SLR filmmaking,
the more obstacles you find yourself working around. One of those
obstacles is that you can't stick your eye to a viewfinder – you have to
watch an LCD screen. And in harsh sunlight or wide aperture conditions,
that makes it very difficult to get a tight focus on the action. And
that's exactly why Zacuto's Z-Finder EVF was built; it's an alternative
plug-in LCD screen for your DSLR that can be mounted on a frame or held
separate to the camera. It's got higher resolution than your camera's
screen, it's got a rubber eyepiece to block out ambient light, and a
bunch of other pro video-friendly features that help move your DSLR
closer to a proper video camera form factor. Read More
Among other things, Einstein’s theory of special
relativity says that as an object’s velocity increases, time as
experienced by the object will slow down when compared to another object
traveling at a lower velocity. This means that a 'relatively' short
round trip on a space ship traveling at close to the speed of light
would see you arrive home having aged less than those back on Earth.
While the greater the velocities involved, the greater the effect, the
theory applies to all relative movement. Now there’s an iPhone app
that will let you know just how many extra nanoseconds you’ve gained by
getting moving as opposed to sitting on your rear end. Read More
The European Commission has released a white
paper detailing ambitious plans to transform Europe's transport
infrastructure by 2050. The roadmap for a Single European Transport Area
includes forty initiatives for road, rail and air travel that aim to
increase mobility, reduce reliance on oil imports, cut emissions by 60%
and combat congestion by halving the use of "conventionally fueled" cars
in urban transport by 2030 with a view to phasing them out in cities by
2050. Read More
The U.S. Department of Energy's 2011 Solar Decathlon
competition is set to kick off at the National Mall's West Potomac Park
in Washington, D.C., in September. The event challenges 20 collegiate
teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive and in the lead up, the University of Maryland Solar Decathlon team has unveiled its entry called the WaterShed – a structure designed to capture more than just energy from the sun. Read More
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