LINCIS - Beyond Innovation

European Union retailers to be required to accept e-waste without charge, says Parliament

2012-01-24T12:14:00.002Z

The European Parliament on Thursday approved plans to force large electronic retailers to take back old equipment.

The new rules are as part of a shakeup of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive and will gradually come into force over the next seven years.

Only one third of electrical and electronic waste in the European Union is separately collected and appropriately treated and the revised directive will increase the collection target from its current 4 kilograms per capita to around 20 kilograms per capita by 2020. By 2020, it is estimated that the volume of electronic equipment will increase to 12 million tons and the E.U. authorities want to see 85 percent of that collected and treated.

The retailer take-back plan means that larger electrical goods stores, with a shop space of 400 square meters or larger, will have to accept small electronic items, such as mobile phones, free of charge, without making users purchase a new product.

Welcoming Thursday's vote, E.U. Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said: "Proper treatment of WEEE is important to prevent harm to human health and the environment, and its systematic collection is the precondition for professional recycling of the valuable raw materials like gold, silver, copper and rare metals, contained in our used TVs, laptops and mobile phones."

The revised directive also includes a clampdown on illegal exports of waste electronic equipment. Equipment that is no longer under warranty can only be exported to non-OECD countries if it has been certified to be fully functional and sent properly.

"It is long overdue that we stop making developing countries the dumping ground for our hazardous waste," said Green member of the European Parliament, Michalis Tremopoulos.

VIA :: http://www.pcworld.com/

Wireless Sensor Posts Temperature, Humidity, And Radiation Levels To Twitter (Video)

2012-01-24T12:01:00.000Z

Japan-based UC Technology Corp. [JP] has developed a wireless sensor that can automatically post data like temperature, humidity, illuminance, or radiation levels to Twitter. The so-called “Tsubuyaku Sensor” [JP, PDF] is mainly designed for use in food warehouses, plants, or wine cellars.

The data can be checked remotely on Twitter (the account can be set to private or public). UC Technology says that the sensor has a battery life of a year when it posts data once per minute.

The company explains:

You connect this device to the Internet and plug in the AC adapter. You can also connect a slave unit, so you have a wireless sensor that measures temperature, humidity, and sunshine. This sensor makes the wireless connection automatically, and sends its data each time. The connection range is about 40 m, but if you want to make measurements even further away, there’s a relay unit as well. That’s used by plugging it into a wall socket and it extends the range to 60 m.

VIA :: http://www.techfresh.net/

Sony Smart Watch a.k.a Sony Ericsson LiveView 2

2012-01-11T11:51:00.000Z

The idea is that you don't need to get your phone out of your pocket to do basic smartphone tasks. Instead things like Facebook posts or messages can be seen on the screen of the Smart Watch. The Android powered watch will also be able to download and run specific apps from the Market, as well as be customisable with whatever 20mm wristband you choose.

Caller ID and battery status are displayed straight on the Smart Watch screen as well as what we presume will be various other bits of app based information. In terms of size, the watch is 15.5g in weight without a wristband and 36mm x 36mm x 8mm in size. It uses Bluetooth 3.0 and can get roughly one week between charges with low usage. The display is OLED which is likely why the watch's power consumption is so good, although we imagine heavy use will curb that 1-week life pretty quickly.

The Smart Watch is one of a selection of accessories that Sony has announced at CES that will launch with its new phone lineup. Also due for release are NFC smart tags that can automate tasks whenever you move the NFC chip in a phone near them. Similarly the Smart Wireless Headset Pro will do things like show caller ID and other related handset information.

VIA :: http://www.theverge.com/

Razer's Project Fiona - Tablet PC

2012-01-11T11:39:00.000Z

Razer worked closely with Intel to harness the power of its third generation Intel Core i7 processor in Project Fiona. As a result, Razer's tablet is more akin to a fully functioning PC; and yet in a form factor and platform highly familiar to everybody.

Instead of relying on developers to work on a suite of brand new applications for Project Fiona, many PC games today run natively on the tablet concept without the need to be ported, optimized, or developed from scratch.

Moreover, Project Fiona will feature one of the most powerful processors integrated in a tablet form factor. Instead of the casual and mobile-only games that run on under-powered tablets, Project Fiona will run full-fledged PC games that have never run on a tablet form factor before until today.

"Project Fiona's combination of high performance Intel-based gaming hardware and innovative tablet design is specifically focused for PC gamers. It will unleash the PC gamer to play their existing and future high-end games in one of the most exciting new form factors - a tablet," said Brad Graff, Director of Partner Marketing, Netbook & Tablet Group, Intel.

PC Gaming User Interface Designed For a Tablet Form Factor

Razer's multi-award winning user interface and ergonomics team have developed an all-new hybrid user interface scheme for Project Fiona. Featuring integrated dual game controllers with ultra-precise analog sticks, Project Fiona runs gamepad-enabled PC games right out of the box.

Along with the game controllers, Project Fiona is also designed with ultra-precise accelerometers and a highly sensitive multi-touch screen. This provides game developers with new game experiential opportunities to develop around the hybrid game control experience offered by Project Fiona. It also ensures current-generation PC games run on the tablet concept, as well as any existing games optimized for the touchscreen interface of a tablet.

Future games developed for Fiona are expected to take advantage of not just the integrated gamepad controls but also integrate core game functionality controls for the touchscreen and accelerometer-based controls.

"While multi-touch screens have become the de facto user interface for tablets, they are not the right interface for serious PC gaming," said Min-Liang Tan, CEO, Razer. "The user interface we have designed for Project Fiona allows all existing PC games to be played right out of the box and also provides game developers new opportunities as they develop next-gen games on a highly-intuitive platform. Both developers and gamers are going to love the new user interface that combines the best of a gamepad, multi-touch screen and accelerometers for an all-new gaming experience on-the-go."

To further intensify the gaming experience with Project Fiona, Razer's integrated dual controllers deliver full force feedback, so every explosion or gun recoil can be felt in the gamer's hands.

THX Ltd., which works with many of the world's most innovative audio and video home entertainment manufacturers, agrees that the tablet adds tremendous flexibility to a gamer’s lifestyle. "Video games, music and entertainment that previously were mainly enjoyed within the home can now be enjoyed anywhere through tablets such as the Razer Concept PC Gaming Tablet," said Chris Golson, Senior Director, Business Development, THX.

Developer units of the Project Fiona Concept PC Gaming Tablet will be made available soon.

VIA :: http://www.pcgamer.com/

The Most Immersive Gaming Experience on a Tablet

Chrome up big, IE and Firefox decline in 2011's browser marketshare battle

2012-01-04T11:35:00.000Z

Microsoft's official Windows blog was happy to trumpet Net Applications' latest browser marketshare numbers, which show that Internet Explorer 9's share is up to over 25 percent on computers running Windows 7. That's some clever and unsurprising data selection, but looking across all desktop platforms over the course of the year shows a very different picture. When you look at the absolute numbers, IE is still the king (browser share of 52 percent from Net Applications and 39 percent from StatCounter), but its marketshare has declined all year long, despite the introduction of IE9. Chrome, on the other hand, experienced 84 percent growth year-over-year, far beyond any other browser on the market. It now sits at 27 percent according to StatCounter or 22 percent if you ask Net Applications.

Firefox also had a tough year, as its marketshare slowly but surely dipped — depending on who you ask, its lead over Chrome has evaporated. StatCounter shows Chrome solidly in 2nd place, ahead of Firefox's 25 percent share; Net Applications shows Firefox hanging on over Chrome at 22 percent. While we felt like StatCounter jumped the gun a little last month when it announced Chrome as the 2nd place browser, it appears the browser's momentum isn't slowing down any time soon.

VIA :: http://www.theverge.com/

Philips Lighting HealWell

2011-12-22T14:15:00.002Z

A lighting solution that improves patient satisfaction and supports recovery in patient rooms

The healing power of light
Light has an amazing effect on people - visually, biologically and emotionally. Used effectively in healthcare facilities it can enhance the healing environment and play a key role in promoting the recovery and well-being of patients.

Introducing HealWell
HealWell is the world's first total lighting concept for patient rooms. Developed specifically to address people's visual, emotional and biological response to light, it creates a unique healing environment that is designed to support patient recovery and improve the hospital experience.

VIA :: http://www.lighting.philips.co.uk

handy scan3d from creaform

2011-12-19T17:54:00.000Z

The innovative self-positioning handheld scanner that has completely changed the wayreverse engineering, design, shape acquisition and 3D inspection are done. Powerful, accurate and truly portable, the REVscan definitively maintains its technological edge.

Applications

Reverse Engineering & Styling, Design & Analysis:
The REVscan laser scanner allows companies to meet their requirements for creating or recreating new designs from existing and sometimes obsolete products or components, or even old parts that may have been developed without the use of CAD. The REVscan has proven particularly efficient at accelerating and facilitating the product design, creation and prototype analysis processes, while reducing related costs. The REVscan turns out to be very powerful for tasks such as:

Surface reconstruction
Class A surfacing
3D modeling
Mechanical design
Clay model digitizing
Tooling & jigs development
Maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO)
Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

Inspection: Scanning and measuring of objects of any size, in various environments. Non contact, first-article and supplier quality inspection, colorimetric reports and overall conformity assessment of parts.

Medical Applications: Non contact, non invasive process. Generation of 3D digital files from body parts or existing objects, orthotics and prosthetics, aesthetics and plastic surgery, body part measurements and reproduction, diagnosis and follow-ups.

Other applications include 3D scanning of existing objects, 3D archiving, complex shape acquisition, measurements archiving, damage assessment, digital models and mock-ups, packaging design and rapid prototyping.

Technical Specifications
Weight	980 grams (2.1 lb)
Dimensions	160 x 260 x 210 mm (6.25 x 10.2 x 8.2 in)
Measurements	18,000 measures/s
Laser Class	II (eye-safe)
Resolution in z axis	0.1 mm (0.004 in)
Accuracy	Up to 50 µm (0.002 in)
Volumetric Accuracy	20µm + 0.2 L /1000

VIA :: http://www.creaform3d.com/

Yo-Yo wireless mouse concept charges with the flick of a wrist

2011-12-14T12:09:00.001Z

It’s not the first time you heard us warn you about the repercussions of sitting on the computer for too long. Stiff back, sore wrists, numb legs….the list is endless! Looks to me that we all need a YoYo Mouse! This cute concept forces you to get up and do some Yo-Yo tricks to re-energize it because the battery drains out fast! Works best for me be, given that my wireless mouse runs out of battery ever so often!

VIA :: http://www.yankodesign.com

ShotSpotter Gunfire Detection System In Brazil

2011-12-07T15:40:00.001Z

ShotSpotter Flex is the most powerful and cost-effective gunfire alert and analysis solution available, making comprehensive, real-time gunshot detection and location affordable for any public safety agency.

ShotSpotter Flex delivers all the critical incident and forensic data agencies need to do their jobs more effectively:

Real-time alerts for outdoor gunfire in coverage area
Precise location anywhere within the coverage area including latitude/longitude and street address
Direction and speed of travel of one or more shooters
Exact time of each shot and potential number of shooters
Comprehensive database of incident history and data
Round-by-round post-incident forensic analysis to support investigators and prosecutors

ShotSpotter Flex streamlines the traditional financial and technological requirements of gunshot detection through its unique subscription service model. By eliminating the expense and complexity of a traditional technology purchase, ShotSpotter Flex makes it easier and more affordable than ever before to fight illegal gunfire and improve personnel and community safety.

When gunfire occurs outdoors, ShotSpotter Flex sensors and software triangulate and pinpoint the precise location of each round fired within seconds. Detailed incident data is immediately sent to the SST Operations Center, our secure data processing and alert qualification facility. Immediately, a SST gunfire and acoustic expert analyzes the data, qualifies the incident and sends a validated alert to the dispatch center or other Public Safety Answer Points (PSAP) and even directly to mobile and field personnel.

The highly trained and specialized team of gunfire detection experts at the SST Operations Center has analyzed thousands of gunfire events captured by SST solutions. Their dedicated 24/7/365 expertise provides an instant assessment of all potential incidents, freeing up time that dispatchers and officers would otherwise spend analyzing alerts and providing agencies the level of data qualification they need to have complete confidence when dispatching based on alerts from ShotSpotter Flex. Drawing on their experience, SST experts are often able to add important situational intelligence to alerts, such as the possibility of multiple shooters and other critical data that can help personnel respond more safely and successfully.

Key Benefits of ShotSpotter Flex:

Subscription-based service with low upfront costs
Hosted, cloud-based solution eliminates technology maintenance and administration requirements
Secure, centralized processing and qualified alerts optimize accuracy and confidence
Standards-based interoperability with CAD and other third-party systems

VIA :: http://www.shotspotter.com/

Microsoft Research: Spammers Act Just Like HIV Virus In Avoiding Filters

2011-12-05T14:13:00.001Z

Security researchers often use language and metaphors from the natural world to describe problems in the virtual world. (Thus, our use of the terms "virus," and "worm.") Now it turns out that the links may not be so arbitrary, after Microsoft researchers discovered that tools they developed to detect spammers' efforts to avoid anti-spam filters were also great at spotting mutations in the HIV virus.

A report from Microsoft Research in honor of World AIDS Day yesterday described how Microsoft Researchers David Heckerman and Jonathan Carlson were called upon to help AIDS researchers analyze data about how the human immune system attacks the HIV virus using technology and algorithms Microsoft had developed to fight spam e-mail in the company's Hotmail, Outlook and Exchange e-mail products.

The Microsoft researchers were looking for ways to sort through data compiled by a consortium of hospitals and universities, including the Ragon Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital, MIT, the Center for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) and the KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV to help. The tool they used to do so, a computational biology tool called PhyloD, does efficient data mining that can help identify virus patterns that are fruitful targets for future analysis. The guts of the tool include algorithms developed to spot efforts by spammers to avoid detection by anti-spam filters, Microsoft said.

"It turns out there are a lot of similarities between the way spammers evolve their approaches to avoid filters and the way the HIV virus is constantly mutating," according to the post on Microsoft Research's blog.

In fact, the Microsoft Researchers, using PhyloD with the aid of that company's high performance computing center, were able to process a year's worth of data in a matter of days, resulting in the discovery of six times as many possible attack points on the HIV virus has had previously been identified.

Despite assurances by technology leaders (notably Bill Gates) that the problem of spam e-mail would soon be conquered, the nuisance e-mail are still a major headache for ISPs, corporations and individuals. And, while recent years have seen period dips in spam volume, especially as more and more Internet users shift from e-mail communications to social networks like Facebook, spam is still endemic and accounts for upwards of 90% of overall mail traffic. Various solutions have been proposed to combat it over the last decade, including suggestions that users should be charged a small fee for each e-mail sent - a system akin to postage - and proposals to force e-mail senders worldwide to digitally sign and authenticate their messages.

VIA :: http://threatpost.com/

Father of RFID, Charles Walton, dies at 89

2011-11-30T11:34:00.001Z

Charlie Walton, the inventor of an ubiquitous wireless technology known as RFID, has passed away at 89.

Walton, who lived in Los Gatos, died on Nov. 6, according to his wife Ann Walton. I once wrote an article about Walton while at the San Jose Mercury News and his efforts to proselytize RFID, known in long form as radio frequency identification.

Walton, whose technology beat out barcodes for many applications and is paving the way for technologies such as near-field communications (NFC), died Nov. 6. A memorial service will be held Dec. 18 in Los Gatos, Calif.

According to a story on the history of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology in RFID Journal, Mario Cardullo received a patent in 1973 for an active RFID tag with rewritable memory and that same year, "Charles Walton, a California entrepreneur, received a patent for a passive transponder used to unlock a door without a key. A card with an embedded transponder communicated a signal to a reader near the door. When the reader detected a valid identity number stored within the RFID tag, the reader unlocked the door. Walton licensed the technology to Schlage, a lock maker, and other companies." (More on RFID's history and Walton, from MIT here)

Like many wireless pioneers, Walton got a start working with such technology for the military -- in his case, the Army Signal Corps, after studying electrical engineering at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., and later at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J. He later spent a decade at IBM, then started his own company called Proximity Devices to make devices based on his wireless patents. The first patent to mention RFID, for a "portable radio frequency emitting identifier," was awarded to Proximity in 1983.

Walton made millions from his creations, though the market for RFID technologies has really only taken off in recent years as the price of chips has plummeted. ABI Research says the RFID market worldwide last year was worth $5.3 billion.

A Venture Beat report on Walton's death said he received 50-plus patents during his career, including for a digital version of RFID that advanced the earlier passive models. However, the report notes that some of Walton's key patents expired in the mid-1990s, not enabling him to gain a huge windfall from the rapid adoption of RFID after that by organizations such as the Department of Defense.

Walton could hardly foresee some of the results of RFID technology, whichhas generated heated debate over security and privacy concerns, and eveninspired one researcher to infect himself with a computer virus via an RFID chip implanted in his hand.

VIA :: www.computerworld.com

Terahertz wireless chip could deliver 30Gbps of bandwidth, stream uncompressed 4K video

2011-11-23T10:43:00.001Z

Semiconductor manufacturer ROHM Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kyoto) and Osaka (Headquarters: Suita) research group is due to resonant tunneling diodes and oscillation device, by using a sensing element, high-speed wireless communication in a small device 300GHz ( 1.5Gbps) was successful.

Terahertz waves hitting the middle region of light and radio waves (100GHz ~ 10THz frequency) is very difficult to raise skills and technology to detect it, and was known far unexplored electromagnetic domain. In recent years, development has progressed slowly due to technological advances, such as high-speed wireless communications and security applications, are expected to be applied to various fields.

Japanese electronic parts maker Rohm announced it has developed a chip that reached a wireless data transmission speed of 1.5 gigabits per second in experiments, the highest level ever. And according to the company, even 30Gbps will be possible in the future.

The semi conductor device uses terahertz waves for data transmission, has a micro antenna attached to it and is 2cm long and 1cm high (size of the module). Rohm developed the technology in cooperation with a research team at Osaka University.

According to Japanese business daily The Nikkei, Rohm expects the new chip to cost just “several hundred yen” to produce (100 Yen currently translate to US$1.30). By way of comparison: the terahertz-based wireless chips out there now cost “several million yen”, are about 20cm square and reach a top speed of just 0.1Gbps, The Nikkei says.

Rohm plans to start mass-producing the new chips in three to four years.

VIA :: http://techcrunch.com

True 3D Technology Emits 50,000 Dots In 3D Space

2011-11-15T16:30:00.001Z

This True 3D display technology, developed by Burton, uses a laser to creates luminous points of light at desired locations in air or underwater.
This system is an evolved version of technology co-developed by AIST and Keio University, first announced in 2006. It works by focusing laser light, to produce plasma excitation from the oxygen and nitrogen in the air. The researchers state that this is the world's first technology to show pictures without the constraint of a screen.

"Most current 3D devices project pictures onto a 2D screen, and make the pictures appear 3D through an optical illusion. But this device actually shows images in mid-air, so a feature of this system is that it enables 3D objects to be viewed naturally."

"This system can create about 50,000 dots per second, and its frame rate is currently about 10-15 fps. But we're working to improve the frame rate to 24-30 fps."

In this demonstration, to make the system more compact, a green laser is shone into water from below. But if a laser source with higher output is used, images can be displayed in air. A color display can also be achieved by using a combination of red, green, and blue lasers.

"As the first application for this, we thought of digital signage. Also, because this system makes 3D objects look natural, it could be used for analyzing 3D objects, and if its precision can be improved, it could be used in healthcare, too."

VIA :: http://www.diginfo.tv/

‘Invisibility Cloak’ Uses Mirages to Make Objects Vanish

2011-11-11T15:25:00.001Z

Researchers from the University of Texas at Dallas have hijacked one of nature’s most intriguing phenomena — the mirage — to make an invisibility cloak. It can hide objects from view, works best underwater and even has a near-instant on/off switch.

To understand how it works, you need to first grasp the basics of the mirage effect. This unusual experience, sometimes seen in the desert or on hot roads during the summer, can trick your brain into seeing objects that aren’t really there.

It happens when a big change in temperature over a small distance bends light rays so they’re sent towards the eye rather than bouncing off the surface. So if you see a pool of blue water in the middle of the desert it’s just the blue sky being redirected from the warm ground and sent directly into your eye. Your brain, being theclever little computer that it is, swaps this mad image out for something more sensible: a pool of water.

With that in mind, the researchers wanted to find a material that has an exceptional ability to conduct heat and quickly transfer it to surrounding areas to mimic the light-distorting temperature gradients of the desert. That material, they found, was sheets of carbon nanotubes.

The nanotubes — one-molecule-thick sheets of carbon wrapped up into cylindrical tube — have the density of air but the strength of steel. They’re also excellent conductors, making them an ideal material to exploit the “mirage effect.”

Through electrical stimulation, the transparent sheet of highly aligned nanotubes can be quickly heated to high temperatures. By transferring that heat to its surrounding areas, a steep temperature gradient is generated, which causes the light rays to bend away from the object concealed behind the device. Therefore, the object appears invisible.

“It is remarkable to see this cloaking device demonstrated in real life and on a workable scale,” said a spokesperson for the Institute of Physics. “The array of applications that could arise from this device, besides cloaking, is a testament to the excellent work of the authors.”

VIA :: http://www.wired.com/

NSK developing robotic guide dog for the blind

2011-11-08T17:34:00.001Z

The Japanese manufacturer is working on a new mechanized canine that could one day serve as a guide dog for the blind. The company's latest prototype builds on the work of the University of Electro-Communications (UEC), which unveiled its first model, the NR001, in 2005, followed by an updated version (NR002) in 2007. With this third iteration, unveiled late last month, NSK and UEC have added a Microsoft Kinect sensor, which allows it to more easily identify and navigate obstacles or stairs. The quadrupedal beast can also scamper up and down steps with more grace than its predecessors, which moved more like arthropods than actual dogs. The bot's paws have also been equipped with obstacle-avoiding bumper sensors, and researchers are working on incorporating voice commands, as well. NSK says its guide dog could eventually feature GPS capabilities to provide more accurate directions for the blind and visually impaired, though it'll probably be a while before it hits the pavement; the company hopes to commercialize the dogbot by 2020.

VIA :: http://www.engadget.com/

LINCIS apresenta HOSPITOR e MySensis no Brasil

2011-10-31T16:56:00.000Z

Hospital Business 2011 - 1º Forum Internacional de Gestão em Saúde RJ, que contou com a participação da BusinessOn no stand 7, demonstrando produtos e soluções em TI para a área de saúde.

O Hospitor, sistema inédito no Brasil de gestão de controle de pacientes, visitantes e profissionais no ambiente hospitalar, foi apresentado com simulações de acesso por cartões com tecnologia Mifare-RFID, que armazenam dados do visitante, estado de saúde e localização do paciente que será visitado, médicos e diversos outros parâmetros que podem ser customizados de acordo com as normas das unidades a que se destinam.

MySensis, um difusor de aromas que traz ao Brasil a tecnologia de assinatura olfativa para clínicas, hospitais, consultórios, ambulatórios e unidades hospitalares. Com uma vasta linha de fragrâncias exclusivas, oferece ainda a opção de desenvolvimento de aromas personalizados com base na pesquisa de preferências do cliente, com foco em soluções dedicadas ao marketing olfativo.

Como distribuidor ROCHE, a BusinessOn apresentou a linha Accu-Chek, com seus novos modelos para uso em unidades hospitalares, de acordo com as normas da RDC 63.

A Business On recebeu a visita do Exmo. Sr. Secretário de Saúde do Município do Rio de Janeiro, Dr. Hans Dohmann que, junto com o Sub Secretário de Gestão, Dr. José Luiz Ferreira Costa, assistiu a apresentação do HOSPITOR, feita pelo Sr. Adelino Silva, CEO da Lincis, empresa portuguesa desenvolvedora do sistema, representada no Brasil pela Business On.

Dr. Wilson Shcolnik, Gerente Corporativo de Relações Institucionais do Grupo Fleury também esteve no stand da BusinessOn conhecendo as novas soluções de TI em saúde.

Tactile computer interface with electromagnets

2011-10-27T11:37:00.000+01:00

A team at the Media Computing Group at Aachen University figured out how to put a series of electromagnets underneath a display toprovide haptic feedback for touchscreens. They showed off their tech at the 2011 UIST conference and made their paper available.

For the FingerFlux, as the team likes to call it, a bed of tiny electromagnets is placed underneath a panel display. The user wears a ‘thimble’ with an attached permanent magnet. Driving the bed of electromagnets slightly moves the magnet and provides a little bit of sensation to the user. including the ability to draw your finger towards an item on the screen, and "lock" it in a certain area. What's particularly key, however, is that you're also able to feel a bit of feedback before you even touch the screen -- as opposed to other entirely screen-based options -- which could could let you operate something like media player controls without actually looking at your phone. Of course, it's all still a long ways from being shrunk down to phone-size, but the researchers do have a working prototype in a table-top device. The FingerFlux can be used to provide haptic feedback like a keyboard. The system can also be used to model constraints – making sure that users don’t move outside the controls they operate, and can guide the user to the desired button.

A bed of electromagnets would be a welcome addition to tablets, if only to prevent typung luje rhus.

via :: www.http://hackaday.com

Wacom's Inkling is a pen that draws both on paper and on-screen, tracking the artist's linework with 1024 levels of sensitivity

2011-10-21T17:20:00.000+01:00

Inkling

Do you start your artwork with pen and paper? But at the same time regret that your work is stuck on paper until you have scanned the image? Then Inkling is an indispensable tool for you. This digital sketch pen allows you to sketch with a real ballpoint pen on any paper. While you are drawing, all strokes are recorded electronically which can then be imported as raster or vector artwork in to your preferred graphics applicationfor further editing. With just one button click you can record layers, for instance, to separate preparatory and final drawings. These layers are then retained after import.

Key features

Enhance your professional workflow by capturing digital data while sketching with a ball-pen on normal paper
The ink sketch can be structured in layers while drawing – no need to recreate layers in software
1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity for natural pen strokes
Store hundreds of high resolution sketches on the receiver before transferring to your PC or Mac
Save time and export your sketches with layers directly into Adobe® Photoshop® or Illustrator® (CS3 or higher), or Autodesk® SketchBook® Pro or SketchBook® Designer (2011 or higher) as vector graphics
Be versatile by saving your sketches in the following formats: JPG, BMP, TIFF, PNG, SVG and PDF

VIA :: http://www.wacom.eu/

Microsoft builds a functioning ‘holodesk’ to interact with digital items

2011-10-21T14:51:00.000+01:00

Microsoft Research released a rather fascinating demonstration of one of its projects, what it calls a ‘holodesk,’ which has the potential to change the way we physically interact with digital items. Sounds trippy? That’s because it is. The user, looking down on a pane of glass, sees items (balls, blocks, whatever) on that screen. With their hands underneath the glass, they can move their appendages and digits and prod those images as if they were directly touching them.

It’s a bridge, essentially, between the physical and the digital. Microsoft dubs the idea at the “research project” stage only, so don’t get your hopes up about getting one for yourself. And of course, it uses a Kinect. Check the clip, and we’ll circle back afterwards:

Now, if this is only a research project, why does it matter? Microsoft, as a company, is working on all fronts to build on what it calls ‘natural user interfac[ing].” What this means is that the firm is looking past the keyboard and mouse (blasphemy) and is instead working with touch, voice, and so forth. This is especially important in the tablet world that the company is so desperately behind in.

VIA :: http://www.gizmodo.com/

Europe Launches Two Galileo Satellites to Cut Reliance on GPS

2011-10-21T14:30:00.002+01:00

Europe’s Galileo global navigation system will launch its first two satellites tomorrow as part of a project that will require an extra 7 billion euros ($9.6 billion) to continue running until the end of the decade.

The satellites will ride a Russian rocket to be launched from a space port in Kourou, French Guiana to an altitude of 23,600 kilometers (14,667 miles), according to the European Commission. While 4.5 billion euros have been allocated to develop and build the system for the period ending in 2013, another 7 billion euros will be needed for the budget cycle through 2020 to finish building the system and keep it operating, said Ingrid Godkin, an official at the commission.

Satellite technology is used for applications including in- car navigation, time-stamping transactions at banks and powering telecommunications. Unlike the Global Positioning System, developed by the U.S. military, Galileo is designed for civil purposes and aims to end Europe’s reliance on GPS.

Galileo “will provide a guaranteed system that won’t be vulnerable to being shut off for political or military reasons,” Godkin said.

The launch, first scheduled for today, was delayed by 24 hours for technical reasons, the commission said in a statement.

Successive launches are scheduled to complete the constellation of 30 satellites by 2019. The additional number of satellites Galileo provides, combined with GPS, will also improve the availability of signals in cities and offer better coverage at high latitudes, particularly in northern Europe, according to Godkin.

Free Service

The satellites launched today are the program’s first two to be operational and will test the navigation system in space and on the ground, said Pal Hvistendahl, a spokesman at the European Space Agency, which shared development costs with the commission. The deployment phase has been funded entirely by the commission, the executive arm of the 27-nation European Union.

Germany’s OHB System AG will build the first 14 satellites, and France’s Arianespace made the launchers. The system will start operating in 2014 and will be available free of charge.

“We are following it closely,” said Kristina Nilsson, a spokeswoman for TomTom NV, Europe’s biggest maker of portable navigation devices. “GPS is accurate, but we always track all new technical developments.”

Unlike GPS, Galileo will also have a commercial, fee-based service for high-precision, guaranteed signals for use in areas including mining, surveying and mapping, according to the commission.

Bad Timing

The commission will finalize a proposal for the 7 billion euros in funding by the end of the year to be presented to EU governments for approval, Godkin said.

Governments will probably scrutinize the proposed budget more carefully than when Galileo was first conceived over a decade ago because of concern over the economy, said Tomas Valasek, director of foreign policy and defense at the Centre for European Reform in London.

Still, the project probably won’t be shut down, and enough funding will be approved to keep staff employed and provide a minimal return for the manufacturers, he said.

“They’ve already poured so much money into it,” Valasek said. “Galileo has already benefited from previously unplanned allocations from the European Commission budget.”

It may be too early to tell how widely Galileo’s signals will be made available to the general public.

“We appreciate the Galileo efforts and are looking forward to seeing the first results,” Nokia Oyj spokesman Doug Dawson said by e-mail. “We will include Galileo satellites into our system if it will enhance our systems and the user experience.”

Nokia is working with Russia’s version of GPS, Glonass, which was revived last year after funding collapsed along with communism in 1991.

VIA :: http://www.businessweek.com/

Google unveils Dart, its new programming language for building web applications

2011-10-11T17:09:00.002+01:00

After months of teasing, Google has finally unveiled Dart, its new programming language for building web applications, a new platform developed with simplicity, efficiency, and scalability in mind, combining powerful new language features with familiar language constructs into easy to define code.

In September, we reported that the search giant might be working on a new programming language after a raft of new domain name registrations had been made. The registrations covered ‘DartLang‘, ‘DartLanguage‘ ‘Dart-Lang‘ and ‘GoogleDart‘ in .com, .net and .org flavours.

Google says that its new language will assist developers by helping “create a structured yet flexible language for web programming, make Dart feel familiar and natural to programmers and thus easy to learn, and ensure that Dart delivers high performance on all modern web browsers and environments ranging from small handheld devices to server-side execution”.

Google has made its language and development tools available on open source repository dartlang.org, detailing how the platform will suit small one-man development teams to large-scale projects with code being executable via a native virtual machine or on top of a JavaScript engine that translates Dart code to JavaScript.

Google notes:

This means you can write a web application in Dart and have it compiled and run on any modern browser. The Dart VM is not currently integrated in Chrome but we plan to explore this option.

Google’s dartlang.org website hosts code examples and technical overviews to detail how the programming language operates, providing a small insight into a platform that the company hopes will expand in the coming months.

VIA :: http://thenextweb.com/

Switched On: No new wires, one new caveat

2011-10-04T14:26:00.000+01:00

In the decade that WiFi has blanketed home networks across the United States, several technologies aimed at using existing wiring in the home have met with limited success. These have included MoCA(Multimedia over Coax, which has been adopted by some service providers for implementing multi-room DVRs) and HomePNA (originally for phone lines but later expanded to coax cable as well). At least three dueling standards have also sought to bring high-speed connectivity over electrical wiring.HomePlug, the most successful of these, has had several iterations. The latest – HomePlug AV – is rated at a theoretical throughput of 200 Mbits/sec. However, power line technologies have been held back by high prices and occasional interoperability problems.

But a new approach seeks to be the one protocol to rule them all, operating over phone lines, power lines or coax. Dubbed G.hn, the ITU standard promises up to 1Gbps theoretical throughput, with real-world usage over electrical lines expected to reach between 250Mbps and 400Mbps. If that sounds appealing to you, you're not alone. Service providers like the idea of G.hn since it allows them more flexibility than previous efforts. In fact, they like it so much that -- despite G.hn's capacity -- they have insisted on quality of service standards that could limit or prevent consumers from installing it themselves after they buy adapters from retailers.

Let's say your local pay-TV provider outfits your home with G.hn power line adapters to stream high-definition shows between two DVRs. A few months later, you purchase a couple of G.hn bridges to hook up your bedroom PC to your living room Blu-ray player to stream your own high-definition videos. The G.hn adapters that the service provider installed will recognize the new equipment. The service provider may then request that you call them for permission to install, may provide a portion of the bandwidth available over the power lines, or may even flatly tell you that you can't use the adapters. G.hn equipment providers are working with service providers to encourage a more relaxed stance, but operators reserve the right to do what they want.

Savvy home networkers will find a few ways to work around the service provider prerogative and still tap the bandwidth of cables already in the home. If, for example, the service provider chooses G.hn using coax cables, you are free to use one of the other two methods (phone line or power line) without restrictions. Or you could still use a technology other than G.hn. Going back to power line, the next version of the HomePlug standard is expected to coexist with G.hn. Finally, you could opt for a pay-TV provider that doesn't use G.hn if you have a local choice available.

G.hn is expected to appear in devices before the end of the next year, rolling out to service providers first, consumer electronics companies second, and finally to networking products aimed at retailers and consumers. It could deliver a promising complement to WiFi; but if your service provider puts it in your home before you do, remember to put sugar on top of your "pretty please" when you try to install it.

VIA :: http://www.engadget.com/

Virtu-limb bionic hand

2011-09-29T10:49:00.000+01:00

The Scottish maker of the i-Limb Pulse bionic hand is showing off its new Virtu-limb, a tool it describes as "a groundbreaking simulation and training product for myoelectric upper limb prostheses."

Showcased at this week's American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association National Assembly in Las Vegas, the Virtu-limb consists of electrodes that pick up electrical signals in arm muscles and a dock for a prosthetic hand that links wirelessly to a PC. It can also be used without the prosthesis.

When a user flexes his or her muscles, the movements are reproduced in a virtual 3D hand on a screen, or in a real i-Limb Pulse, which the company recently renamed i-Limb Ultra.

Clinicians can then determine the best muscle locations for a prosthesis. The Virtu-limb can also be used to train patients on how to use the i-Limb and its features, as well as demonstrate the artificial hand to prospective users.

The i-Limb Ultra's new features include variable grip strength for each digit, customizable gestures, upgraded control software, and an automatic function in which the hand returns to a natural position following inactivity.

I have yet to see an i-Limb user flip the bird, but it would be fun.

VIA :: news.cnet.com

Ferroelectric transistor memory could run on 99 percent less power than flash

2011-09-29T10:43:00.007+01:00

We've been keeping an optimistic eye on the progress of Ferroelectric Random Access Memory (FeRAM) for a few years now, not least because it offers the tantalizing promise of 1.6GB/s read and write speeds and crazy data densities. But researchers at Purdue University reckon we've been looking in the wrong place this whole time: the real action is with their development of FeTRAM, which adds an all-important 'T' for 'Transistor'. Made by combining silicon nanowires with a ferroelectric polymer, Purdue's material holds onto its 0 or 1 polarity even after being read, whereas readouts from capacitor-based FeRAM are destructive. Although still at the experimental stage, this new type of memory could boost speeds while also reducing power consumption by 99 percent. Quick, somebody file a patent. Oh, they already did.

VIA :: http://www.engadget.com/

Lego’s Augmented Reality App Shows You What’s Inside the Box

2011-09-29T10:29:00.003+01:00

Ever go to the store, pick up a package, stare at the pictures on the side and wonder “what does this thing inside really look like in all three dimensions?” Today at IDF 2011, Intel showed off an amazing augmented reality application that shows Lego shoppers a 3D rendering of a toy when they pick up a sealed box and hold it in front of a video screen.

Powered by an inexpensive Sandy Bridge PC with integrated graphics and a tiny ITX motherboard, the augmented reality app uses a simple webcam to detect patterns on the lego box and match the product to its appropriate 3D image, which appears to actually float on top of the packaging. For example, a 3D animation of a Lego train appeared to be resting on top of the box even as a user titled the packaging left and right.

In a retail environment, an augmented reality kiosk like this one would allow users to get a better preview of any kind of product, from toys to food. An Intel rep said the software could even be used to show how clothing looks on users, without them ever trying something on.

This isn’t Lego’s first experiment with augmented reality kiosks. The toy company had previously deployed an AR kiosk at some of its stores, but according to Intel, that system required much more expensive components (discrete graphics, pricier CPUs) and only worked with a handful of products. It’s not clear when Lego might deploy the new system Intel demoed at IDF, but it promises lower cost and the ability to show an avatar for every item in the store.

RFID windshield tag drives cashless parking system

2011-08-09T11:33:00.000+01:00

You can breeze in and out of parking lots with this unobtrusive sticker on your windshield.

(Credit: motionID technologies)

Parking technology has finally caught up to our on-the-go culture: pay without paying attention. Researchers have built a device that does for parking lots what radio transponders do for highway tolls. You park, it keeps track.

The near field communications (NFC) system, dubbed Viatag, consists of 0.5 inch by 4-inch RFID windshield tags, parking lot transceivers that read tags, and a central database. The windshield tag signals the parking transceiver as you're entering and exiting a parking lot. A central database tallies your time in the lot and debits your account accordingly.

The tag is unobtrusive compared with bulky highway toll transponders. This is because it's a passive RFID tag--no batteries. Instead it draws power through the air--from radio waves sent by the transceivers.

The technology is a step beyond cashless parking systems that allow you to pay by phone. The problem with these systems is you have to pull out your phone and send a text. Who's got time for that?

Viatag isn't just a research project. The Fraunhofer Institute in Germany developed the technology for the German company motionID technologies. It's installed Viatag in parking lots in Essen, Duisburg, and Munich.

And they're not the only game in town. GAO RFID also makes an NFC parking lot payment system.

Nifty, as far as they go, but what we really need is for these systems to work with parking meters. That would mean no more running down the street with newly scrounged quarters because you're late for an appointment but don't want to get a parking ticket. With an RFID tag that talked to parking meters on your windshield, you wouldn't even have to notice that there's a meter in order to be paid up.

VIA :: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20087852-1/rfid-windshield-tag-drives-cashless-parking-system/#ixzz1UWhxPC2d

LAN-connected washing machine lets you know when your clothes are done

2011-08-09T11:14:00.001+01:00

How-to the Laundruino

My washing machine is located in the basement. Unfortunately, the time data displayed on the front panel is always inaccurate. So instead of constantly running down the stairs and checking if the laundry is done, I decided to connect the washing machine to my LAN and extend it’s features by a simple http server. This is what I needed for it:

1 arduino uno
1 ethernet shield
1 opto-coupler (CNY17)
1 perfboard
1 resistor (150 Ohm)

In my case, getting the right signal from the washing machine was simple: It has a “Finished” LED on the front panel, so all I needed to do, was to solder it out and replace it with a two-core wire.

To connect my washing machine with the arduino, I built a minimal shield with a prefboard and a CNY17. Here’s how everything is put together:

Now I have a LOW signal on pin A2 (digital mode) when the laundry is done and a HIGH signal if the machine is running or turned off. In my case, a loop of 100ms duration is needed every time to watch the signal because I don’t get a steady voltage here (I guess the front panel LEDs might be multiplexed). If the signal becomes LOW once in this time window, the washing machine has finished and the LED would have turned on.

Screenshots:

VIA :: http://blogs.fsfe.org/clemens/2011/08/05/the-arduino-enabled-washing-machine/

Mini RFID Device Stores Personal Medical Data, Makes It Instantly Accessible

2011-08-09T11:08:00.001+01:00

Japan-based chemical and tech company Asahi Kasei has developed a small healthcare product that should make life for paramedics, emergency doctors (and patients) easier: the portable device (pictured) makes it possible to instantly access all medical data on a specific person with a PC or smartphone, via RFID.

Asahi Kasei uses the FeliCa smart card tech (instead of a self-developed solution), as this system has been widely adopted by all of Japan’s mobile carriers, several major PC makers (i.e. Sony for their Vaio computers), and other electronics companies. In Japan, FeliCa as a brand has actually been around since 1994.

In an emergency situation, doctors or paramedics can tap Felica-equipped equipment against the device to view medical data of its owner, for example the blood type, date of birth etc. on the screen in seconds. Asahi Kasei says that the entire medical history of patients can be stored. If doctors need to view very large files, for example X-ray images, the device can make access possible by letting users click on links that lead to that data (but stored on external servers).

via ::: http://techcrunch.com/

Insect-like robot can literally walk on water

2011-07-29T13:58:00.001+01:00

(Credit: American Chemical Society)

While some people who idolize robots might say the machines walk on water, a new microbot out of China actually does.

The robot was built to imitate the capabilities of water-striding insects such as mosquitoes and water spiders, which can walk and even jump on water without drowning thanks to their highly water-repellent legs. The robot is about 6 inches long and uses 10 water-repellent supporting wire legs and 2 movable, oar-like legs propelled by two mini motors to maneuver like a real water strider. It also looks great in a caterpillar Speedo.

While the new microrobot weighs as much as about 390 water striders, it's still able to walk (at a speed of about 6 inches per second), stand, and turn freely on water surfaces without sinking. The scientists say the radius and contact angle of the legs mainly accounts for the large supporting force.

The water-loving bot, which is detailed in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, isn't the first robot to mimic insects, nor is it the first aquatic robot to do so.

However, the scientists say the motion of a water strider-like microrobot on the water's surface had rarely been studied and their work yields valuable insights into making a bot that's speedy, agile, and inexpensive enough to fabricate that it could potentially have broad applications in water quality surveillance, water pollution monitoring, and the like.

To make the biomimetic bot, which weighs 3.88 grams (less than a quarter of an ounce), the researchers from the Harbin Institute of Technology's School of Chemical Engineering and Technology carefully analyzed water striders' locomotion to better understand exactly how the creatures get around the local pond.

MAPTOR MAP + PROJECTOR

2011-07-29T10:55:00.001+01:00

Maptor is this wonderful combination of a map and projector that (predictably) projects the desired map onto any surface. Palm of the hand, floor, and walls included. What I really fancy about it, is its size. Small enough to pass off as a lipstick (or a chapstick for you guys), the device is discreet enough for you to quickly hop into a quiet corner, check for directions and make your way forth. All this without anyone knowing that you are lost or need help!

Another good thing about the Maptor is that it has GPS included; as a result there is this big red arrow on the map that points to your current location. Therefore getting your bearings and charting your course is easy.

Although the images of the projected map look visible enough even in daylight, I wonder if it’s really going to be that clear in its practical avatar.

Anyways, I think this project has the potential to make it to the market and be a hit, I would love to get one for my husband, who hates to ask for directions!

Designers: Jin-Sun Park and Seon-keun Park

VIA :: http://www.yankodesign.com/

Red Cross sets up donation points via vending machines

2011-07-07T15:40:00.003+01:00

Coca-Cola and the Japanese Red Cross have rolled out a vending machine that lets users donate money directly to the vending machine. Making use of the fact that Japan has the highest number of vending machines per capita in the world, with about one machine for every twenty- three people, the simple introduction of the “charity button” is aimed at making it easier for users to donate towards the rebuilding of areas hardest hit by the recent disasters in Japan.

Users are given the option of donating either ¥10 or ¥100, and as with a normal purchase the buttons light up when the money is inserted but instead of receiving a beverage when pressed, the machine emits a loud “Thank you very much for the donation”. The units themselves are branded with the iconic red cross and have some images of the work the Japan Red Cross are currently doing around the world and in Tohoku as part of ongoing relief efforts.

100% of the money collected through to September will go towards the relief efforts of the earthquake and thevending machines will remain in place to collect money for the Red Cross indefinitely.

Whilst this certainly makes it a lot easier for members of the public to donate using the ubiquitous machines, it may be even more effective if users actually receive something for their donations. Adding an incentive, for example a limited edition pin badge that donators can wear with pride displaying their generosity, may help to drive more people to part with their yen. Ultimately it would be great to see specific charity vending machines that rather than added on as a side function, raising funds could actually be the main feature of such machines, and are seen around town as much as the beverage vending equivalents.

VIA :: http://www.japantrends.com

Home Plus creates virtual grocery store at a subway station

2011-07-07T15:32:00.002+01:00

According to Home Plus (also known as Tesco), the Koreans are the second hardest working people in the world. I don’t know who is the first, but according to my Source, the Koreans think shopping is a real chore in their busy schedules.

Home Plus has made grocery shopping easier by putting virtual grocery store aisles in subway stations. While subway riders are waiting for the next train, they can peruse the pictures of food that are made to look just like grocery store aisles.

The only difference is that pictures of food have QR codes. A smartphone user takes picture of the product, and then pay for the items. I am guessing that payment is done through some online service. I know for sure that the actual items will be delivered to the home.

According to HomePlus, this has made them the second biggest online shopping company in Korea. People like the service, and there is food waiting for them as soon as they get home.

Is there any reason why this can’t be in subway terminals in New York City? Perhaps they already are in place, as it seems an obvious target audience for such a service like this. I wonder if there is a charge for the delivery service, or if the food is just more costly? Someone has to pay for these services.

VIA :: http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/

Cane monitors users’ health as they walk

2011-07-07T15:26:00.001+01:00

For many elderly people, leaving the house can become a challenge as their health deteriorates. Hoping to provide both physical support and emotional reassurance, we recently came across The Aid by Lithuanian designer Egle Ugintaite.

As well as acting as an aid to walking, the cane, which recently won the grand prize in Fujitsu’s 2011 design award, also monitors the users’ pulse, blood pressure and body temperature. As their wrist comes into contact with the sensors, this data is displayed on the LCD screen on the cane’s clasp. Furthermore, the cane comes with a built-in navigator, which provides a help center with the user’s location when the cane’s SOS button is pressed.

In order to give The Aid’s users confidence to venture outside of their homes, the cane is also able to provide them with directions to a location of their choice. The user can contact a help center via phone or internet, which will then calculate the best walking route to the desired location and send this information to The Aid. The cane then provides directions through headphones.

We’re increasingly seeing innovations in healthcare which better enable 24-hour monitoring of a patient’s condition. When this can be done through a device the patient is already using — as we saw with theSpiroscout inhaler — then so much the better!

VIA :: http://www.springwise.com/

Great Wolf Connect allows direct Facebook photo sharing through RFID technolo

2011-06-29T15:55:00.001+01:00

Great Wolf Resorts® (NASDAQ: WOLF), North America's largest family of indoor waterpark resorts, is debuting a new technology that's a social media first for the industry. Great Wolf Connect, launching first at Great Wolf Lodge® - Grand Mound, allows guests to link the radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology in their waterpark wristbands with their Facebook accounts to automatically share photos from photo-friendly Paw Posts throughout the resort.

This new use of RFID technology will allow guests to have photos taken, which are then automatically posted to their Facebook page throughout their visit. Capturing this instant "wish you were here" moment was a challenge in the past with guests not bringing the necessary technology into the waterpark.

"Family vacations are what memories are made of, with photos lining the fronts of refrigerators and pages of albums for years," said Steve Shattuck, Corporate Director of Communications at Great Wolf Resorts. "Today, our guests use Facebook as both a virtual post card and a photo album. With technology we already had in place, we were able to make sharing one step easier."

Built by Fish Technologies, Great Wolf Connect uses the RFID technology imbedded in the waterpark's wristbands, which also serve as guests' room keys and in-house charge accounts. After check-in, guests can register their wristband at the Great Wolf Connect kiosks and link it directly to their Facebook account. Then, at five Paw Posts located throughout the resort, guests simply scan their wristband and smile for the digital camera at each spot. That photo - or a general photo of each attraction - and a caption are then automatically posted on the guests' Facebook wall.

"Guests have been asking us for photo sharing functionality for quite some time. Great Wolf Connect allows us to expand our technology infrastructure in a way that enhances their stay," said Great Wolf Chief Information Officer Rajiv Castellino. "In Grand Mound, we've already seen our guests embrace this new experience. And as guests see others capturing memories at the Paw Posts, they're trying it out for themselves, too."

The Paw Post locations include the most popular photo opportunities throughout the resort, including the resort's signature Tipping Bucket as well as a full view of the of the waterpark from an elevated balcony inside the waterpark, the Great Clock Tower in the lobby, the statue of Sprinkles the Bear outside Bear Paw Sweets & Eats(TM), and Pixi's Perch, part of the MagiQuest® game.

VIA :: http://www.engadget.com/

HP Flexible Displays.

2011-06-27T18:38:00.000+01:00

Photographs by Nick Bilton/The New York TimesFlexible-display technology being tested at Hewlett-Packard.

Rolls of flexible displays are etched with electronic components that are fully bendable.

Hewlett-Packard researchers are hard at work on a fully flexible displayscreen that they say can have all sorts of consumer and retail uses. Imagine candy bar wrappers, or screens as wallpaper, all made out of a flexible material that can change images in an instant.

Compared with today’s screens, which are made with glass and can easilybreak, these new displays could bring down the cost of consumer electronics and make gadgets more robust and bendable. The displays could also end up replacing hundreds of products that are currently made with paper and plastics.

“The Army has been asking for flexible displays so soldiers can wear screens that wrap around their wrist and can transmit information about an enemy in real-time,” explained Carl Taussig, the head of H.P.’s Information Surfaces Lab, the group responsible for developing the company’s flexible displays. “You can also see a number of retail applications with these displays where stores can show prices or discounts on products that change in real-time, rather than employees having to change paper price tags.”

The lab’s researchers want to make the screens easily visible in a low-light situation and outside in the bright sun. “We want to mix screens to be somewhere between a reflective surface, which is like a piece of paper, and for it to be transmissive, much like the screen on an iPhone,” Mr. Taussig said.

Mr. Taussig predicted that consumers would start to see this technology over the next two years.

The displays are created using a process similar to a printing press used to print on paper. Instead of using ink in this process, the machines are etching millions of tiny transistors.

The flexible displays could also be powered by solar energy using the solar panels above.

A small character dances on a color e-Ink screen. H.P. researchers are trying to make flexible displays that are visible in the sun and in low light.

NoPoPo Water battery, the only batteries running on water

2011-06-27T17:47:00.001+01:00

Introduce for the first time in 2007 by APS-J, the NoPoPo (Non Pollution Power) water battery are like its name want you to believe, runs on water.
Thanks to a chemical reaction, these batteries will be able to give you from 3 to 10 minutes of Juice (power) thanks to a few drop of water. Now what is interesting and here is that you can store these batteries for up to 20 years and still be capable to use them, what is even better is that you could actually use virtually ANY liquid, this could be of course water, but also sweat, urine, saliva, alcohol, rain water, sea water, whiskey… ANYTHING! Of course APS-J strongly recommend you to use simple tape water for ultimate performances but if you do not have any water to spare… urine will do just fine!
Finally each batteries can be charge maximum 3 times before being completely worn out, and these new Batteries will hit Japanese store shelves later this august!
Oh and one more last thing, these batteries are apparently available in the USA as well, so I am sure that APS-J will provide the upgraded version in North America soon ! US Distributor

VIA :: http://waterbattery.com/

DARPA's XC2V FLYPMode crowd-sourced combat vehicle

2011-06-27T17:27:00.004+01:00

DARPA is hoping that private industry and community based programs like these will help the military to more readily adapt to the rapidly changing face of warfare by making it far more efficient to design and implement new hardware when it's needed. Apparently, we're going to get our next-generation infantry fighting vehicle through just this type of system. It's going to be called FANG (for Fast Adaptable Next-Generation Ground Combat Vehicle).

DARPA has billed this mean machine as the "first crowd-sourced, militarily relevant vehicle design."

VIA :: www.dvice.com

Asus Shows 24-inch LED USB-Powered Monitor

2011-06-07T16:27:00.001+01:00

The 24-inch ASUS MS248B is brought to life with a single cable courtesy of USB 3.0's extra current and bandwidth. What's more, this is achieved with few compromises:

the LED monitor is just 16.5mm (0.66-inches) thick, does 1080p with a 2ms response time and has a 10000000:1 contrast ratio. Some extras did have to be thrown overboard to bring power consumption down -- there's no additional USB or audio ports, webcam, card reader or ability to daisy-chain.

Asus chose USB 3.0 rather than USB 2.0 (as is the case with the Lenovo L2270x and the Samsung LD220) because the latter can transmit more data and provides 80 per cent more power available for configured devices (900mA vs 500mA).

Asus has also managed to trim down the power consumption to a staggeringly low 9W. This compares very well with the 33W that the MS248H reportedly consumes.

The rest of the specifications are fairly standard; a full HD 1920x1080 pixel, 24-inch panel, a 10m:1 contrast ratio with a 2ms response time, a glossy piano black bezel, LED touch-sensor buttons, an ultra slim 16.5mm profile.

VIA :: http://www.itproportal.com

HomePlug Powerline networks electric cars from Audi, BMW, etc

2011-06-02T19:17:00.001+01:00

The Powerline Alliance, your future hybrid or all-electric car may also be using this system to talk to your power supply. Audi, BMW, Daimler, Porsche and Volkswagen have all thrown in with the HomePlug Green PHY (GP) profile for electric vehicle charging, enabling Earth-friendly cars to integrate with the smart grid.

That integration will allow cars from the German marques to intelligently take advantage of off-peak or low-rate energy supplies, negotiate for charging slots so as not to overload the system, and give feedback on performance and other data. Since it will use the same charging ports as the cars rely on for power, it will make getting connected – using regular IP standards – more straightforward too.

We’re guessing manufacturers will also be able to collect more up-to-date feedback on the car’s status, such as whether it requires servicing and the health of the batteries, rather than rely on systems checks when the vehicle is brought in (or using some sort of embedded cellular connection, which adds cost). No word on when the first 911 with a Powerline plug will pull off the forecourt.

VIA :: http://www.slashgear.com/

Next best thing since the TV programming guide

2011-06-02T19:10:00.000+01:00

Japan based NHK Science & Technology Research Laboratories (STRL) is testing an interface which observes TV viewers, determines their interest and provides information related to the TV program in accordance with the way they are watching it. UTAN (user technology assisted navigation) TV viewing interface as it is called, has a camera mounted on the TV which photographs the viewer and estimates the viewer's degrees of interest, concentration, etc from circumstances such as who is watching the TV with how much interest. The information is processed by a tablet PC and recommended information is shown to the viewer, it is possible to show individual interests as well in case there are multiple viewers.

The viewer's interest is determined by observing his face, facial expression and motion. For eg - if the viewer's expression does not change for a brief period, then he may be concentrating on the program. At the moment the differences are derived by comparing to the normal state but it is also possible to ascertain if the viewer is happy or angry. Though still in the development stage this could actually revolutionize how we watch TV and especially the advertisements. Maybe in the near future television will have a front facing camera and actually identify individual viewers by their faces and serve advertisements and give recommendation accordingly.

Fujitsu Develops World's First Personal Authentication Technology to Integrate Palm Vein and Fingerprint Authentication

2011-06-02T19:05:00.001+01:00

Able to identify one particular person from a million in less than two seconds
Kawasaki, Japan, June 1, 2011 — Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. today announced the development of the world's first biometric authentication technology that combines data on palm vein patterns with fingerprint data from three fingers. By employing both palm vein pattern and fingerprint data, the technology enables the rapid identification of a given individual out of data from a million people, processing the match within two seconds.
This technology makes it possible to construct biometric authentication systems that do not require ID cards and that can be tailor-made to fit different sized groups, from small-scale room access control to large-scale social platform systems. Moreover, the technology can be easily deployed by simply adding palm vein authentication to the fingerprint authentication systems that are already in widespread use.
Figure 1: Personal authentication combining palm vein patterns with three fingerprints

Background
Biometric authentication technology is becoming increasingly ubiquitous as a means to prevent corporate data breaches and identity fraud at financial institutions. This includes palm vein authentication based on a technology pioneered by Fujitsu Laboratories, now widely employed around the world for its highly precise authentication in applications ranging from ID confirmation for ATM users at financial institutions, to corporate PC access management and room access control systems. In addition, rapid fingerprint authentication processing is becoming popular as an easy and reliable personal log-in authentication method built into PCs and mobile phones.
The convenience offered by simply using one's body for authentication—biometrics eliminates the need to carry IC cards—is expected to accelerate the spread of biometrics even further. As the key to realize greater acceptance, the focus has turned to technologies that can recognize with superior speed and precision a given individual out of a million or hundred million people in applications for large corporations and governments.
Figure 2: Authentication service using only biometric data
Technical Issues
To determine whether specific biometric data of a given individual recorded in an IC card is a match or not (one-to-one matching), such as is the case for authentication systems used in financial institutions, current authentication methods using just one type of biometric data are sufficient. However, when attempting to distinguish and identify a given person from a group of many people (one-to-many matching), precision becomes problematic if the pool of people is as large as a million or ten million people. This results in cases in which it is impossible to clearly distinguish among potential matches using just one type of biometric data. For one-to-many matching, because authentication requires sifting through all records registered in a system, the level of precision required to authenticate one person out of a pool of one million is a million times the level of precision required for one-to-one matching.
One solution proposed for addressing this problem is to build a robust authentication system that combines multiple biometric authentication methods. Separately capturing the biometric data needed for each method, however, diminishes the convenience of this approach. For example, if palm vein authentication were combined with iris pattern authentication⁽¹⁾, both the palm and iris would each need to be separately scanned, compromising simplicity. This necessitated a technology that could easily combine more than one type of biometric data.
Moreover, in order to authenticate one person out of a million, because processing entails sifting through all one million records, authentication processing could take over twenty minutes using conventional technologies. Accordingly, also needed was technology that would dramatically reduce required processing time.
Newly Developed Technology
Fujitsu Laboratories has developed a system that can identify a given person out of a pool of a million people, delivering one-to-one million matching. This was accomplished by combining fingerprint authentication, already in wide use and easily performed at high speed, with palm vein authentication, which has superior accuracy and is extraordinarily difficult to falsify, making it highly secure against fraud. The system developed with this technology uses palm vein and fingerprint data from three fingers. Capturing both finger and palm vein data in a single scan, the identity of a given person from a pool of a million can be authenticated within two seconds through parallel processing on multiple servers.
Features of the newly developed technology are as follows:
1. Simultaneous and accurate capture of palm vein and three-fingerprints data
Despite the different methods required to capture palm vein patterns and fingerprints from three fingers, Fujitsu Laboratories developed technology that is able to accurately capture both sets of data through a one-time scan of a person's hand. Know-how accumulated in developing high-speed image capturing of palm vein patterns is used to capture data on palm vein patterns and fingerprints enabling smooth and accurate authentication in a single motion.
2. Instantly narrows down potential matches in authentication process
Fujitsu Laboratories developed technology that instantly narrows down potential matches to speed the authentication process, even from a pool of a million people. Using data extracted from four different groups of biometric feature data—comprised of the palm vein pattern plus three fingerprints—this technology enables potential matches to be instantly and accurately narrowed down to pinpoint the identity being authenticated.
3. Accurate identification by combining palm vein pattern with multiple fingerprints
For superior precision, an individual is identified by his or her palm vein pattern and three fingerprints. The technology accurately authenticates an individual's identity by processing the identification from among a narrowed-down pool of potential matches, and combining the results from the palm vein pattern with three fingerprints.
4. Leverages the power of parallel processing
Fujitsu Laboratories developed technology that uses parallel processing for authentication. Because it is possible to increase or decrease the number of servers used in authentication processing depending on the size of the pool of potential matches, it is well-suited to cloud-based environments.
Figure 3: Overview of the newly developed authentication system

Results
This technology enables authentication of a certain individual's identity from a group of one million. For example, because an individual's identity can be authenticated with biometric data alone without the individual having to carry an ID card, it is anticipated that this technology could be employed in a wide variety of situations that require both security and ease of use. Authentication among large groups of people can be performed by simply deploying additional servers. As such, countries where residency registration systems are underdeveloped can use this technology to provide an ID for each individual, creating a basic system built upon a foundation of social information.
This technology is also able to use, without alteration, the fingerprint imaging data from general-purpose fingerprint sensors already used in applications such as border control and residency identification. Accordingly, by simply adding palm vein pattern authentication to widely used fingerprint authentication systems, this new technology can be easily deployed.
Figure 4: Application scenarios for large-scale biometric authentication services

Humanoid Robots Do The Shuffle & Slip at ICRA 2011

2011-05-17T11:26:00.002+01:00

Bipedal robots often have to take a series of small steps in order to turn around, which usually takes up valuable time. Some robots are capable of twisting their legs outwards 90 degrees at the hip in order to turn in fewer steps, but that runs the risk of unbalancing the robot. And both of these methods require a lot of space, which a robot may not have if facing a wall or counter. Researchers at Ritsumeikan University and the Osaka Electro-Communications University are proposing that a stable, fully grounded shuffle is a safer and more efficient way to turn.

They’re using a modified Fujitsu HOAP-2 in their experiments, and have shown the robot is able to turn 30 degrees by controlling the load distribution on the soles of the feet. The robot can also maintain ground contact when turning by sliding its feet, if the floor is smooth enough. Granted, it won’t work in every circumstance (floors with greater friction prevents shuffling), but it could be useful. Their research on this topic goes back to 2009.

Waseda University researchers are presenting something similar with the full-sized WABIAN-2R. The robot is able to turn 90 degrees in about 2 seconds by slipping on one foot while remaining stable with the other.

They’ve also shown that by adding just 10mm of soft material to the feet dramatically improves a robot’s balance when walking on uneven terrain. After the break, you can watch the HOAP-2 walking on a plank with studs, both with and without soft soles, and see the difference it makes.

VIA :: http://www.plasticpals.com

Telepresence robots

2011-05-17T11:18:00.001+01:00

Picture the scene: your boss phones to say he is working from home. A calm descends over the office. Workers lean back in their chairs. Feet go up on desks - this shift is going to be pretty chilled.

Suddenly, a super-sized video feed of your boss, projected onto to the front of a helium-filled balloon equipped with a loudspeaker, floats silently into the room and starts issuing orders from above your head. Not such a good day.

This blimp-based boss, which brings to mind the all-seeing Big Brother of George Orwell's 1984, is the creation of Tobita Hiroaki and colleagues at Sony Computer Science Laboratories in Tokyo. Its eerie quality hasn't escaped Hiroaki - he says that his colleagues described the experience of talking to a metre-wide floating image of a co-worker as "very strange".

The project does have some non-sinister applications. It's part of a wider movement aimed at making "telepresence" possible. Imagine a medical specialist who can't make it to a regional hospital, but needs to consult with a patient there. Or an academic expert who wants to deliver a lecture remotely. Telepresence researchers are working on technology that can get a representation of these people into the room. To put it another way: telepresence lets you be in two places at the same time.

Anybots, based in Mountain View, California, is already marketing a wheeled robot that can be operated over the internet. It features a head-height screen that displays video of the person controlling the device. It's "your personal avatar", according to the company's marketing spiel.

The Anybot is impressive, but it suffers from what might be called the "Dalek problem": it can't handle stairs. Hiroaki's blimp, which can be steered by small propellers mounted on a gondola below the balloon, can glide up stairs and float over desks. "There's huge potential here," he says.

The project is still an early stage, adds Hiroaki, who discussed his work yesterday at the Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. He and colleague have built a blimp and shown that it can be operated remotely. Now they have to do user studies - experiments that examine what it's like to interact with the device. A blimp with a projection the size of a regular head might make the experience more enjoyable, notes Hiroaki.

VIA :: http://www.newscientist.com/

GreenChip smart lighting

2011-05-17T11:08:00.000+01:00

Smarter efficiency in lighting control

An internet address for every light bulb! By enabling new usage models, GreenChip makes the Internet-enabled, energy-efficient lighting network a reality – for consumers in the home as well as for commercial applications. NXP's GreenChip iSSL and GreenChip iCFL bring together wireless IP connectivity, energy-efficient lighting and low power standby (down to 50 mW) in a compact, low-cost solution that enables new ways to control lights and manage energy consumption.

JenNet-IP network software provides the ultra-low-power wireless connectivity for the GreenChip iSSL and GreenChip iCFL modules. JenNet-IP is a 6LoWPAN mesh-under tree network with low memory footprint, specifically targeting low-power IEEE 802.15.4-based networking for residential and industrial applications.

Total smart lighting environment

NXP supports a total 'smart lighting' solution with GreenChip. Our complete lighting product portfolio includes high efficiency, low standby power converters, CFL, solid state LEDs (SSL) and TL drivers and high performance, low power IEEE802.15.4 compatible single-chip transceivers and microcontrollers. NXP also supports the main lighting-relevant software stacks like Zigbee and JenNet.

The solutions are flexible too, so you can add extra smart lighting features such as remote dimming and color adjustment. Get ready for the 'Internet of Things' - a world in which every appliance can be monitored and controlled via an IP address.

VIA :: http://www.nxp.com/

Targeting leftover land mines: New smartphone-aided technology makes dangerous task easier

2011-05-06T14:39:00.002+01:00

The Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have helped develop a new and improved means of finding and removing land mines from current and former war zones. The new system uses smartphones with the conventional metal detectors to help de-miners better visualize what they are detecting.

Land mines remain among the most destructive remnants of 20th century warfare, continuing to slow resettlement and hinder recovery in many former war zones.

Harvard researchers have married a smartphone to a metal detector to create PETALS, a low cost way to improve mine detection in third-world countries. Traditionally, locating land mines has required a carefully trained ear to distinguish deadly explosives from, say, a can. This new system removes some of the guesswork by mapping the beeps on a cell phone screen, creating a silhouette of whatever is beneath the surface. Similar results have been accomplished using acoustic sensors, but so far they've been relegated to research projects and would likely be too expensive for use where they're needed most. Not only should the simplicity of PETALS (which stands for Pattern Enhancement Tool for Assisting Land mine Sensing) make it cheap and easy to deploy but, in tests novice de-miners were able to improve their performance by 80 percent.

VIA :: http://news.harvard.edu

GoQBot: Caterpillars inspire new movements in soft robots

2011-05-03T11:33:00.002+01:00

Researchers have been examining the diverse behaviours of caterpillars to find solutions for the new generation of search and rescue soft robots.

Despite their extreme flexibility and adaptability, current soft-bodied robots are often limited by their slow speed, leading the researchers to turn to terrestrial soft-bodied animals for inspiration.

Some caterpillars have the extraordinary ability to rapidly curl themselves into a wheel and propel themselves away from predators. This highly dynamic process, called ballistic rolling, is one of the fastest wheeling behaviours in nature.

Researchers from Tufts University, Massachusetts, saw this as an opportunity to design a robot that mimics this behaviour of caterpillars and to develop a better understanding of the mechanics behind ballistic rolling.

o simulate the movement of a caterpillar, the researchers designed a 10cm long soft-bodied robot, called GoQBot, made out of silicone rubber and actuated by embedded shape memory alloy coils. It was named GoQBot as it forms a “Q” shape before rolling away at over half a meter per second.

The GoQBot was designed to specifically replicate the functional morphologies of a caterpillar, and was fitted with 5 infrared emitters along it side to allow motion tracking using one of the latest high speed 3D tracking systems. Simultaneously, a force plate measured the detailed ground forces as the robot pushed off into a ballistic roll.

In order to change its body conformation so quickly, in less than 100 ms, GoQBot benefits from a significant degree of mechanical coordination in ballistic rolling. Researchers believe such coordination is mediated by the nonlinear muscle coupling in the animals.

The researchers were also able to explain why caterpillars don’t use the ballistic roll more often as a default mode of transport; despite its impressive performance, ballistic rolling is only effective on smooth surfaces, demands a large amount of power, and often ends unpredictably.

Many modern robots are modelled after snakes, worms and caterpillars for their talents in crawling and climbing into difficult spaces. However, the limbless bodies severely reduce the speeds of the robots in the opening. On the other hand, there are many robots that employ a rolling motion in order to travel with speed and efficiency, but they struggle to gain access to difficult spaces.

Lead author Huai-Ti Lin from the Department of Biology, Tufts University, said: “GoQBot demonstrates a solution by reconfiguring its body and could therefore enhance several robotic applications such as urban rescue, building inspection, and environmental monitoring.”

“Due to the increased speed and range, limbless crawling robots with ballistic rolling capability could be deployed more generally at a disaster site such as a tsunami aftermath. The robot can wheel to a debris field and wiggle into the danger for us.”

VIA :: http://www.physorg.com

The EPOSBED project

2011-04-28T11:01:00.001+01:00

The EPOSBED project proposes to design and validate a specialty bed with an easy-to-use positioning that allows patients with limited mobility to change their position in bed without need of assistance from hospital personnel.

An actuator system will change the bed configuration in order to assist comfortable:

lateral positioning,
sitting / Fowler positions.

To facilitate that elderly people can use the assistive system, an intuitive user interface was implemented based on an intelligent sensing system that interprets the movement intended by the patient and automatically activate a servo-actuator system accordingly. This system avoids the need of the classical remote controllers and ensures the autonomy of elderly patients.

The Need

The in-bed positioning of patients with limited mobility is of major importance in order to prevent the worsening of their health condition and improve their comfort. The lack of autonomy to undertake basic movements and postural changes causes anguish and discomfort in these patients. Nowadays, nurses need to change manually the position of patients every 2 to 4 hours. The manual handling of patients is reported to cause an outstanding amount of work-related back injuries, with 85% of nurses suffering back injury at some point in their career. These injuries account for 15 billion lost working days each year, bringing about annual cost of approximately 6 billion euros to the European hospitals.

The Market

Revenues in the hospital specialty beds market reached approximately €800 million in Europe in 2005, with an annual growth rate of 9% as a consequence of the population aging. Despite the existing mentioned strong demand for a system enabling patients improved mobility, there is not a satisfactory product in the market. The aim of this project is to enable European SMEs to either enter or strengthen their competitive positioning in the specialty bed market by working together with world class RTD performers in the development of new technology that fills unmet market needs.

VIA :: http://eposbed.pera.com

Dual Tracked Vehicle Shredder

2011-04-27T14:10:00.001+01:00

BPG Werks presents the DTV Shredder or “Dual Tracked Vehicle” – a gnarly, robust off-road vehicle that can make the outdoors your terrain park. The two aggressive tank-treads, skateboard trucks and powerful 4-stroke engine make it capable of traveling on snow, sand, trails and even mountainsides at high speeds. The DTV Shredder is already demanding the attention from people ranging from extreme sport athletes and fire mitigation works to recreational riders and gadget enthusiasts.

VIA :: http://bpg-werks.com/

Volvo’s Vision for Collision Safety Based on the African Grasshopper’s Vision

2011-04-19T10:47:00.001+01:00

Volvo has delved into a new, fascinating, and intersectional, iniciative. The car company’s vision is to develop a collision safety system for automobiles based on the African grasshopper’s ability to not collide when it flies in swarms.

Scientists have discovered that the African locust has a unique internal radar system composed of a giant movement detector behind the eyes. The visual input is instantly transmitted to the insect’s wing nerve cells – seemingly bypassing the brain. The detector releases bursts of energy when the locust is on a collision course, which allows it to move out of the way quickly. Jonas Ekmark, preventive safety leader at Volvo Safety Division, points out how amazing it is that these grasshoppers can fly around in a chaotic swarm, looking for food, yet never once collide with each other. He feels that the discovery about the locust’s radar system has the potential of yielding information that could be used to develop new technology to cut down on road traffic accidents.

The connection between the locust’s sensory system and a potential road traffic safety system was made by Dr. Claire Rind at Newcastle University, in the UK. When asked how she came up with it, she answers that she thinks it came from her own experience as a driver and a pedestrian. Locusts are quick to react and have reliable circuits, and they can do their computations against a lot of background chatter, which is quite similar to driving a vehicle around town. And so she realized that the locust’s ability may be available in the context of road traffic safety.

VIA :: http://www.themedicieffect.com