Thursday, May 26, 2011

Genius wireless Ring Mouse released

Genius wireless Ring Mouse released: "Genius has announced the release of its Wireless Thumb Cursor Controller, or ring mouse for short. The clicking and scrolling action of the lightweight mouse replacement is thumb-controlled, its proprietary optical touch technology offers users 1000 dpi sensitivity and it's said to last a month between charges."

The leaning tower of ... Copenhagen

The leaning tower of ... Copenhagen: "The Bella Sky Comwell Hotel in Copenhagen has opened its doors. The 250 feet (76.5 m) tall, 814 room hotel is among of the largest in Scandinavia, but its not the size of the design from architecture firm 3XN that's striking - it's the shape. The building's tilting twin towers lean apart from each other at an impressive 15 degrees, an angle that provides guests with a better view of the surrounding parkland"

Zoomy lets kids take digital photos of microscopic details

Zoomy lets kids take digital photos of microscopic details: "If you want to get a child interested in the sciences, just let them loose with a microscope. Proper stage microscopes can be pricey, however, and are somewhat tricky for youngsters to use. Fortunately, there are options like the Zoomy Handheld Digital Microscope – it's a simple device that plugs into the USB port of a PC or Mac, then feeds through illuminated, magnified images of whatever it's placed over."

Elgato's HDHomeRun streams and records live TV over Wi-Fi

Elgato's HDHomeRun streams and records live TV over Wi-Fi: "Elgato has just released – or to be technically correct, re-released – the latest addition to its line of digital TV tuners for PCs and Macs. The HDHomeRun is a rebranded dual network tuner that has been sold by SiliconDust for nearly five years now and was also sold in its previous incarnation by Elgato since mid-2007. The device has however received an update and is a little smaller and sexier than the original model, but still offers PC and Mac users the same ability to watch and record HDTV over a local wireless network."

Greener, more efficient process developed to produce hydrogen from natural gas

Greener, more efficient process developed to produce hydrogen from natural gas: "Hydrogen is certainly one of the big candidates when it comes to finding cleaner fuels to replace petroleum. While it only produces water when burnt as fuel, the process of obtaining hydrogen from natural gas is not quite so eco-friendly – it consumes a lot of energy, and creates carbon dioxide. Now a new process being developed at the Netherlands' Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) promises a much more efficient, innocuous alternative."

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Ranger robot breaks its own endurance record

Ranger robot breaks its own endurance record: "On July 6th of last year, Cornell University's Ranger robot set a world record for untethered legged robots – it walked 14.3 miles (23.01 km) in about 11 hours on a single charge, with no hands-on assistance."

Communicative vehicles to meet up for cooperative driving competition

Communicative vehicles to meet up for cooperative driving competition: "When it comes to developing new technologies, running a competition is always a good way of helping to speed progress. Not only do such events give researchers more of an incentive to develop their ideas to the fullest, but they also give them a chance to see and be inspired by what other people in their field have been working on."

‘Fire-and-forget’ LCITS technology to combat small swarming boat attacks

‘Fire-and-forget’ LCITS technology to combat small swarming boat attacks: "At the 63rd annual Naval Helicopter Association (NHA) Symposium in San Diego last week the Office of Naval Research (ONR) unveiled a new weapons technology designed to give helicopters, such as the MH-60 and the AH-1 Cobra, the ability to combat the threat of a small boat swarm."

New pressure sensor can stretch to twice its size

New pressure sensor can stretch to twice its size: "Gauges that determine the amount of strain on an object are commonly used in mechanical engineering research and development to measure the stresses generated by machinery and to test structural elements like aircraft components."

Solar plane's first international flight a success

Solar plane's first international flight a success: "Solar Impulse has successfully completed its first international flight. After spending most of last week on standby waiting for favorable weather conditions, the Swiss solar powered aircraft made the run from Payerne to Brussels on Friday May 13 in a flight that lasted 12 hours 59 minutes. Hats-off to the Solar Impulse team!"

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Archos updates Windows 7 tablet – The Archos 9

Archos updates Windows 7 tablet – The Archos 9: "Archos media players have long been a favorite of mine, offering ease of use and excellent video/audio quality. In 2009, the French consumer electronics company was first to market with a Windows 7 tablet computer and has now announced a new improved version of the Archos 9 PC Tablet. Unfortunately the upgraded version still has a resistive touchscreen and only gets Windows 7 Starter Edition, but there is better storage in the shape of a Solid State Drive (SSD) and a more powerful Atom processor."

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G3 packs bigger features into a smaller chassis

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G3 packs bigger features into a smaller chassis: "Panasonic has announced the latest addition to its LUMIX G series of not-quite-compact cameras – the LUMIX DMC-G3. Smaller than a DSLR and larger than a pocket point-and-shoot, the G3 offers an interchangeable Micro Four Thirds lens mount, a 16 megapixel sensor, full HD video, and a rotating LCD touch screen."

B-Squares: Lego for electronics

B-Squares: Lego for electronics: "Connecting blocks are one of the all-time greatest types of toys. Unfortunately, when we grow up, many of us seem to think that it's silly to make stuff just for the sake of making it – we still enjoy putting things together, but they have to be functional. That's where B-Squares come in. The flat electronic modules serve a variety of functions, and can form a variety of devices when connected in different combinations."

The mysterious debut of Luna the personal robot

The mysterious debut of Luna the personal robot: "Ah, the personal robot. While flying cars and jetpacks are now here – for some people – we still don't have robots that help us out around the house. However, maybe we soon could. This week, California's RoboDynamics introduced its Luna personal robot to the world. While the company currently isn't providing too much other information, her(?) makers are calling Luna 'a breakthrough in robot design.'"

A driving holiday in the fast lane

A driving holiday in the fast lane: "Taking in the sights of a foreign land by car isn't a new approach to tourism, but this variation on the theme provides an extra injection of speed – supercar speed. The 'Elite Car and Castle Tour' merges old world British castles with high adrenaline track days and luxury driving in 15 of the hottest cars in the world including the Aston Martin DB9 Volante and V12 Vantage, Audi R8, Bentley GT Convertible, Ferrari 430 F1 Spider and California, Jaguar XF, Porsche 997 Turbo PDK, Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder and Maserati Quattroporte."

Monday, May 23, 2011

IMPLUX: Omni-directional, vertical axis wind turbine for urban environments

IMPLUX: Omni-directional, vertical axis wind turbine for urban environments: "When most people think of wind power they think of large-scale wind farms with fields of huge three-bladed horizontal axis turbines. With such farms requiring lots of room they are generally unsuitable for placement in or even near large cities."

Renault opens online reservations for Twizy all-electric two-seater

Renault opens online reservations for Twizy all-electric two-seater: "Renault is now taking online reservations for its Twizy two-seater all-electric micro car ahead of its launch in Europe later this year. The announcement made at the Barcelona Motor Show relates to two models – the Twizy 45, which is equipped with a five-horsepower (4 kW) electric motor, and the Twizy, which is equipped with a 17 hp (13 kW) motor and comes in Urban or Technic trims. However, the purchase prices for all variants, which start at EUR6,990 for the Twizy 45, don't include the battery, which will be leased from the company for a monthly fee"

Jetman flies across Grand Canyon

Jetman flies across Grand Canyon: "Yves Rossy, the former Swiss jet fighter pilot better known as Jetman, flew over the Grand Canyon last Saturday (May 7th) using his wearable jet-propelled wing. It was the first time he has flown with the device in North America, having previously used it to cross the English Channel, perform an aerial loop, fly in formation with stunt planes, and to unsuccessfully attempt traversing a stretch of the Atlantic Ocean between Morocco and Spain."

The Radiopool Thereglyph: a poor man's Theremin made from a talking dinosaur game

The Radiopool Thereglyph: a poor man's Theremin made from a talking dinosaur game: "Ever since a chance encounter with the new soundscape produced by a short-circuited toy amplifier in the 1960s, Reed Ghazala has been randomly exploring audio generation in compromised electronic devices such as talking games and toys. He has written a book on the subject, teaches others to bend circuits, and has created experimental instruments for many well-known artists including Tom Waits and Peter Gabriel. His latest work started life as an educational dinosaur game – which was broken apart, rewired and rebuilt, and then introduced to a plasma globe to become the Radiopool Thereglyph."

Bee venom used to create ultra-sensitive explosives sensor

Bee venom used to create ultra-sensitive explosives sensor: "Not only do bees play a vital role in agriculture by pollinating plants, but it now turns out that they may help keep us from getting blown up. Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have shown that bombolitins, which are protein fragments found in bee venom, can be used to detect single molecules of nitro-aromatic explosives such as TNT."

Boeing Phantom Ray unmanned aircraft begins flight testing

Boeing Phantom Ray unmanned aircraft begins flight testing: "Boeing has successfully kicked-off its test flight program for the Phantom Ray unmanned airborne system (UAS). The fighter-sized technology demonstrator reached an altitude of 7,500 feet and a speed of 178 knots in its first flight on April 27 in the skies above NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California. A second successful test flight followed on May 5."

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Mobile phones in developing nations could charge up using dirt

Mobile phones in developing nations could charge up using dirt: "There's no doubt that residents of developing nations can benefit hugely from having mobile phones. This particularly applies to the field of medicine, as the phones allow people living in remote areas to contact health care practitioners, or to use health care apps. Given how unreliable the electrical grid can be in such countries, however, keeping those phones charged can be a challenge."

Pesticide exposure linked to lower IQ in children

Pesticide exposure linked to lower IQ in children: "The results of three recent studies have found that children exposed to organophosphates (OPs) in the womb have a lower IQ at seven years than those that have not. Indoor use of two OPs (chlorpyrifos and diazinon) known to be neurotoxicants have been phased out over the past decade because of health risks, however they are still approved for use in agricultural pesticides and are widely used on food crops. Increasingly scientists are finding that prenatal exposure to pesticides may lead to later health impacts."

Continental forward braking system to get stereo vision

Continental forward braking system to get stereo vision: "More and more, we're hearing about vehicle safety systems that use video cameras to identify hazards. Like us humans, automotive supplier Continental's recently announced ContiGuard forward-looking braking system has two eyes, in the form of two high-resolution CMOS cameras, and a suite of electronics that enables it to analyze the difference in perspective between the left and right views – similar to the parallax shift which our brains also use to create spatial vision when processing images."

Huey the Chameleon - a lamp that changes colors to match its surroundings

Huey the Chameleon - a lamp that changes colors to match its surroundings: "Suppose you just love the sage green color of your new desk blotter, and think 'If only I could instantly make my whole office this color.' Well, now you can ... sort of. The designers over at ThinkGeek have created a gizmo called Huey the Color Copying Chameleon Lamp, that automatically 'reads' any color that it's placed upon, then glows in that color."

Lizard-inspired robot can swim through granular material

Lizard-inspired robot can swim through granular material: "When the sandfish lizard wishes to escape predators, it can actually dive beneath the surface of the sand, and then swim through it. Inspired by the sandfish, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have created an undulating robot that can likewise swim through a granular medium. While that medium has so far consisted of quarter-inch plastic balls in a lab setting, the team hopes that their robot – or one of its descendants – could someday be used to tunnel through debris to rescue earthquake victims."

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Lubricheck will let drivers know when their oil needs changing

Lubricheck will let drivers know when their oil needs changing: "Imagine if every time you bought a pair of socks, you automatically threw them out after six months, regardless of their condition. While you would certainly always have newer socks, you would also likely end up throwing away quite a few pairs that could have lasted a while longer."

Firebird intelligence gathering aircraft makes pilots an optional extra

Firebird intelligence gathering aircraft makes pilots an optional extra: "Although the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) such as Global Hawk and Raven for military information gathering has increased sharply in the last decade due to the maturation and miniaturization of enabling technologies, conventional piloted aircraft can still be a better option depending on the mission at hand."

Thin-film flexible 'Paperphone' created

Thin-film flexible 'Paperphone' created: "Researchers from the Human Media Lab at Canada's Queen's University have created a fully-functioning floppy E-Ink smartphone, which they also refer to as a paper computer."

TV in a Card brings video to brochures and greetings cards

TV in a Card brings video to brochures and greetings cards: "It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words, and a moving picture worth even more. Now a company in the UK is enticing businesses to go beyond the confines of eye-catching text, colorful graphics and product photos with TV in a Card."

Intel's 3-D transistors to keep pace with Moore's Law

Intel's 3-D transistors to keep pace with Moore's Law: "NASA, the double-helix model, Elvis ... there's a long list of things that emerged during the 1950s which still resonate strongly in 2011, but none more so than the humble silicon transistor."

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Veltop turns regular 'open top' bikes into convertibles

Veltop turns regular 'open top' bikes into convertibles: "You have to admire the people who commute by bike – regardless of the weather – although riding in the rain seems to involve a choice between getting soaked, or wearing a lot of rain gear and still getting a wet face."

The Chip Scale Atomic Clock makes atomic time-keeping portable

The Chip Scale Atomic Clock makes atomic time-keeping portable: "Atomic clocks are one of those things that most of us have probably always thought of as being big, ultra-expensive, and therefore only obtainable by well-funded research institutes."

Jaguar teams with Williams F1 to produce US$1.5 million C-X75 Hybrid Supercar

Jaguar teams with Williams F1 to produce US$1.5 million C-X75 Hybrid Supercar: "Jaguar's stunningly beautiful C-X75 hybrid concept 
that wowed Salon L'automobile last October in Paris, 
is to be produced in a limited edition of 250 vehicles with prices beginning at GBP700,000 (US$1.15 million) and running to GBP900,000 (US$1.5 million)."

Researchers simulate schizophrenia in a computer

Researchers simulate schizophrenia in a computer: "One of the theories regarding the cause of schizophrenia suggests that, due to an excessive release of dopamine, the brain remembers too many irrelevant things. Schizophrenics are then overwhelmed by the vast amounts of facts, thoughts and memories all crammed together in their heads, and start processing them into conclusions that aren't based in reality."

Farseeing inventor pioneered computer music

Farseeing inventor pioneered computer music: "Renowned computer generated music innovator Max Mathews has died at the age of 84. Back in 1957 Mathews wrote the program that enabled an IBM 704 mainframe computer to play a composition lasting 17 seconds – an achievement recognized as one of the first examples of digital synthesis of music on a computer."

Monday, May 16, 2011

Water-propelled Jetlev-Flyer personal jetpack set for release

Water-propelled Jetlev-Flyer personal jetpack set for release: "We first came across the water-propelled jetpack from JetPack International early in 2009 and since then the company has changed its name to Jetlev Technologies and teamed up with German company MS Watersports GmbH to get the machine to market."

As BlackBox goes global, we go hands-on with its C18 earphones

As BlackBox goes global, we go hands-on with its C18 earphones: "Armour Home recently announced that it has been appointed worldwide distributor of Phitek System's BlackBox range of Active Noise Rejection (ANR) headphones and earphones. Phitek says that the level of ambient background noise can reach 60dB in a busy street, 80dB in the office and up to 94dB in the cabin of a passenger jet."

Sound-absorbing curtains let the light shine through

Sound-absorbing curtains let the light shine through: "Heavy curtains made from thick material such as velvet are often needed to keep noise out of indoor environments, but Swiss researchers have come up with another option. The Empa researchers, in collaboration with textile designer Annette Douglas and silk weavers Weisbrod-Zurrer AG, have developed lightweight, translucent curtains which are five times more effective at absorbing sound than their conventional counterparts."

US$200,000+ Convertible SLS AMG Roadster breaks cover

US$200,000+ Convertible SLS AMG Roadster breaks cover: "Though the SLS AMG Roadster is now in showrooms, and we've just seen the first images of the 563 bhp convertible version a few minutes ago, they were developed in parallel and they're apparently so close in so many ways that choice will boil down to personal preference, not driving dynamics."

Thursday, May 12, 2011

New type of rechargeable battery – just add water

New type of rechargeable battery – just add water: "Scientists at Stanford have developed a battery that uses nanotechnology to create electricity from the difference in salt content between fresh water and sea water. The researchers hope to use the technology to create power plants where fresh-water rivers flow into the ocean"

US$200,000+ Convertible SLS AMG Roadster breaks cover

US$200,000+ Convertible SLS AMG Roadster breaks cover: "Though the SLS AMG Roadster is now in showrooms, and we've just seen the first images of the 563 bhp convertible version a few minutes ago, they were developed in parallel and they're apparently so close in so many ways that choice will boil down to personal preference, not driving dynamics."

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

G-Form Extreme Sleeve - the 'world's most rugged' laptop case

G-Form Extreme Sleeve - the 'world's most rugged' laptop case: "G-Form has taken its expertise in protecting the bodies of cyclists and skaters and applied it to consumer electronics, first with a case for iPad that's tough enough to withstand a bowling ball attack and now with what's billed as 'the world's most rugged case for laptops."

Hydromax wearable water supply for football players

Hydromax wearable water supply for football players: "When you think of the hazards involved in playing American-style football, things like being slammed to the ground and buried under a stack of bulky opponents probably come to mind. One of the big dangers, however, is dehydration – this is particularly true for children, or athletes in southern states."

New vintage: MXL introduces UR-1 USB ribbon microphone

New vintage: MXL introduces UR-1 USB ribbon microphone: "The relentless march of technology has delivered much of the audio quality once available only in a professional recording studio into the home. For those who desire a return to the classic mellow warmth of the golden age of terrestrial radio and broadcast television, MXL is about to introduce what is said to be the world's first USB ribbon microphone."

Seagate unveils 1 Terabyte per platter HDD

Seagate unveils 1 Terabyte per platter HDD: "Seagate has set a new commercial benchmark for HDD storage by breaking the 1 TB areal density barrier. The company has announced it will bring the world's first 3.5-inch hard drive with 1TB of storage capacity per disk platter to market in its GoFlex Desk product line, with the 3 TB Barracuda XT desktop hard drive (3 x 1 TB platters) expected to hit shelves in mid-2011"

Medical tech company creates world's smallest video camera

Medical tech company creates world's smallest video camera: "Medigus has developed the world's smallest video camera at just 0.039-inches (0.99 mm) in diameter. The Israeli company's second-gen model (a 1.2 mm / 0.047-inch diameter camera was unveiled in 2009) has a dedicated 0.66x0.66 mm CMOS sensor from TowerJazz that captures images at 45K resolution (approximately 220 x 220 pixels) and no, it's not destined for use in tiny mobile phones or covert surveillance devices, instead the camera is designed for medical endoscopic procedures in hard to reach regions of the human anatomy."

Monday, May 9, 2011

Simple inexpensive Pik'N Board adds percussion to your music

Simple inexpensive Pik'N Board adds percussion to your music: "For many of us, washing clothes by hand is no longer a necessity. Yet the simple ridged device used before the advent of washing machines is still in production today and continues to be used all over the world. Leaving soapy water well behind, the washboard found a new life in the hands of musicians playing everything from skiffle to dixieland, and jazz to blues. Solo guitar players can now provide their own inexpensive snare-like percussive accompaniment, by attaching a Pik'N Board to their instrument."

London 2012 Olympic velodrome completed

London 2012 Olympic velodrome completed: "One of the four permanent venues in the London Olympic Park, the velodrome was one of the last to be commissioned, and the first to be completed on time and on budget."

Loowatt creates energy and fertilizer from human waste

Loowatt creates energy and fertilizer from human waste: "Of all the things that people traditionally discard, one that most of us likely think the least about repurposing is human feces and urine. Sure, we recycle our plastic and paper, and compost our fruits and veggies, but ... that stuff? Actually, there are various worldwide projects aimed at using municipal raw sewage for things such as fertilizer or as a power source."

GoPano micro captures 360-degree video on iPhone

GoPano micro captures 360-degree video on iPhone: "If you've seen the rock video for Professor Green's Coming to Get Me, then you'll know just how fascinating 360-degree interactive video can be."

The World’s fastest Alfa Romeo: 190mph 600bhp 8C Spider

The World’s fastest Alfa Romeo: 190mph 600bhp 8C Spider: "Alfa Romeo was once one of the elite performance brands, winning the inaugural world racing championship in 1928 and the first two Formula One Championships in the 1950s. Nuvolari and Fangio are the most celebrated of the marque's race drivers, though one young racer founded a car company based on his Alfa Romeo Racing Team and went on to make a name for himself in another field – Enzo Ferrari."

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Supercharging touchscreen interaction, with Ringbow

Supercharging touchscreen interaction, with Ringbow: "Without a doubt, touchscreen technology has brought a whole new level of interaction with our devices. Israel's Efrat Barit and Saar Shai, however, believe that the functionality of touch-enabled devices could be greatly enhanced with the development of their Ringbow concept."

'Artificial nose' designed to detect bacterial infections

'Artificial nose' designed to detect bacterial infections: "Being able to quickly confirm the presence of infectious bacteria in a patient's bloodstream, and then identifying the specific species and strain, can make the difference between life and death for that patient. While traditional detection and identification methods are fairly accurate, they can also take too long to perform."

The Turntable iPhone Dock concept

The Turntable iPhone Dock concept: "For many of us, the digital age has resigned our vinyl collection to gather dust in the corner. There are already numerous devices which offer to convert and clean up the crackly sounds coming through the stylus, so why bother with another flavor?"

Roadies rejoice! The foam combo amp that weighs under 20 pounds

Roadies rejoice! The foam combo amp that weighs under 20 pounds: "As most musicians will tell you, playing in front of a live audience is what makes it all worthwhile. Unless you're successful enough to have a dedicated road crew, though, loading and unloading the equipment can be backbreaking work."

Apache Attack helicopters reduce vulnerability with new Ground Fire Acquisition System

Apache Attack helicopters reduce vulnerability with new Ground Fire Acquisition System: "Firing a rifle at a Longbow Apache Attack helicopter in the hope of claiming a US$8 million scalp with a 50 cent bullet might not be a very good idea for too much longer - unless you like keeping company with a Hellfire missile."

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

NOOK Color gets apps, email and Flash support

NOOK Color gets apps, email and Flash support: "NOOK Color e-Reader. The version 1.2 firmware update brings specially-designed apps, full-featured email, enhanced browsing and new multimedia content. It's available now for free manual download but existing devices will be automatically updated via built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi over the coming weeks."

Scosche freeKEY roll-up wireless keyboard

Scosche freeKEY roll-up wireless keyboard: "Even though tablet computers are flying off the shelves at quite a pace, less-than-satisfying onscreen keyboard input can lead many to seek a more comfortable alternative. Scosche Industries has released a water-resistant, wireless solution which can be rolled-up so that, like the folding Bluetooth keyboards we've seen, it can easily be taken along for the ride."

Toshiba Mobile Display develops 1mm thick integrated touch panel

Toshiba Mobile Display develops 1mm thick integrated touch panel: "Toshiba Mobile Display (TMD) has unveiled a 7-inch, 1024 x 600 pixel resolution touchscreen LCD panel where the capacitive multi-touch input functionality is integrated into the liquid crystal cell."

Spinovo: smart garment concept provides back pain relief

Spinovo: smart garment concept provides back pain relief: "Industrial Design student Justine Smith has looked to new technology for a solution to one of the most common ailments in the world today – chronic back pain."

Solar-powered plane ready for first international flight

Solar-powered plane ready for first international flight: "Solar Impulse is on standby for its first international flight this week. Brussels has been chosen as the destination for the first venture outside Swiss borders, which follows the solar powered aircraft's maiden flight and first overnight flight last year and will mark another important step towards the goal of flying around the world in 2012."

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

The US$47 113dB Sonic Boom Skull alarm clock with bed shaker

The US$47 113dB Sonic Boom Skull alarm clock with bed shaker: "To many people, it seems almost inconceivable that you can sleep through the aural brutality of an alarm clock, yet a small percentage of us can indeed, mask out all but the loudest of sounds without batting an eyelid."

Mercedes Benz E63 AMG – refined brutality

Mercedes Benz E63 AMG – refined brutality: "More power. Less fuel. That's the bare bones of the latest V8 equipped Mercedes AMG performance model – the E 63 AMG. The car's 5.5 liter biturbo V8 gives it a peak output of 386 kW (525 hp) and torque 
of 700 Nm – add on the optional AMG Performance package and it jumps to 410 kW (557 hp) and 800 Nm."

Music with the Mind: The Brain-Computer-Music-Interface

Music with the Mind: The Brain-Computer-Music-Interface: "Imagine a Wii that lets you play a musical instrument with your brain without touching strings or a keyboard."

Modified virus used to significantly boost solar cell efficiency

Modified virus used to significantly boost solar cell efficiency: "Last year, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) announced that they had successfully used carbon nanotubes for 'funneling' and concentrating electrons in photovoltaic cells – this meant that smaller solar cells created using the nanotubes could produce as much or more electricity than larger conventional cells"

Researchers develop low-cost stroke rehabilitation glove

Researchers develop low-cost stroke rehabilitation glove: "When the use of a hand is lost due to a stroke, it's important to get that paralyzed hand moving again – this allows the brain and the body to 'relearn' how to use it."

Monday, May 2, 2011

Researchers develop low-cost stroke rehabilitation glove

Researchers develop low-cost stroke rehabilitation glove: "When the use of a hand is lost due to a stroke, it's important to get that paralyzed hand moving again – this allows the brain and the body to 'relearn' how to use it."

Caterpillars and the next generation of rolling robots

Caterpillars and the next generation of rolling robots: "The millions of years of natural selection that lies behind the immense biodiversity found on our planet is fertile ground for keeping robotics research rolling ... in this case, literally."

WVIL concept: Digital SLR meets mobile phone, with an ingenious twist

WVIL concept: Digital SLR meets mobile phone, with an ingenious twist: "By throwing a whole lot of camera wants into a pot, Seattle design house the Artefact Group has come up with a groundbreaking concept that combines all the connected usefulness of a smartphone with the interchangeable lens capabilities of a digital SLR."

The 30 hp Aquawatt - the world's most powerful electric outboard motor

The 30 hp Aquawatt - the world's most powerful electric outboard motor: "Champions of clean emission boating will be thrilled to know that rapid progress is being made in the field and much larger boats can now be powered by electric motors than ever before."

Sharp piles 156 LCDs into multi-screen theme park attraction

Sharp piles 156 LCDs into multi-screen theme park attraction: "A new immersive video experience is about to open in Japan that offers visitors the chance to be almost completely surrounded by a huge multi-screen display system while an underwater love story unfolds before them. Sharp has provided the 156 LCD monitors and transmission system for the 5D Miracle Tour's walk-in adventure that's said to offer customers a virtually seamless 200 to 300-inch video experience in front, above and below, and at either side of them."