Chinese supermarket trialling WiFi-enabled tablet PC-equipped shopping carts

Chinese supermarket trialling WiFi-enabled tablet PC-equipped shopping carts: "It doesn't have quite the appeal of sending a robot to do your shopping, but this Smart Cart service being trialed by SK Telecom could definitely take some of the hassle out of trolling the supermarket aisles."

Cows check in for meals using electronic ear tags

Cows check in for meals using electronic ear tags: "With diseases such as Foot and Mouth, TB, and of course Mad Cow still presenting a danger to cattle, it's of the utmost importance that farmers monitor the health of their animals, and immediately proceed to isolate any that might be showing symptoms."

Hitting the brakes by reading drivers’ minds

Hitting the brakes by reading drivers’ minds: "With human error the predominant cause of car accidents, automatic braking systems like the Pedestrian Detection system found in the Volvo S60 use cameras and sensors to assist drivers in detecting oncoming hazards and automatically applying the brakes."

Wireless sensor to monitor structural integrity of bridges

Wireless sensor to monitor structural integrity of bridges: "According to a 2009 estimate by the U.S. Society of Civil Engineers, more than one in four U.S. bridges are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. While newer 'smart' bridges have embedded wired networks of sensors to monitor their structural integrity, the high cost of installing such systems on existing bridges is simply unaffordable for strained city, state and federal budgets."

'Roll it' turns compact housing on its head

'Roll it' turns compact housing on its head: "Students from the University of Karlsruhe in Germany have created a flexible housing solution that makes the most of its minimal interior space in a very unusual way. Dubbed 'Roll it', this cylinder-shaped home changes its purpose depending on its orientation - roll the the work space 180 degrees and it becomes a bed, the kitchen becomes a bathroom and you even get some exercise in the mouse wheel-like center section when you decide to 'move house'."

Acoustic diode allows sound waves to only travel in one direction

Acoustic diode allows sound waves to only travel in one direction: "When it comes to the sound-proofing of buildings, most people likely think of using materials that simply absorb the sound waves in a noisy room, so they can't proceed into a neighboring quiet room. Researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), however, are taking a different approach."

Scientists create water walking bionic microrobot

Scientists create water walking bionic microrobot: "Chinese scientists have developed an aquatic microrobot that mimics the water-walking abilities of the Gerridae - a family of long-legged bugs commonly known as water striders that are able to run on top of the water's surface. The scientists say their bionic microbot incorporates improvements over previous devices that make it an ideal candidate for military spy missions, water pollution monitoring and other applications."

Fujitsu Toshiba unveils IS12T - world's first Mango OS phone

Fujitsu Toshiba unveils IS12T - world's first Mango OS phone: "Fujitsu and Toshiba have announced IS12T, the first smartphone to run on Windows Phone 7 with the new Mango update pre-installed. The new smartphone is waterproof and dust-resistant and comes with 13.2 megapixel camera and large 32GB of internal storage."

Ion Audio’s Piano Apprentice + iDevice = personal, take anywhere piano tutor

Ion Audio’s Piano Apprentice + iDevice = personal, take anywhere piano tutor: "We recently took a look at the iPerform3D online guitar lessons for those looking to unleash their inner Hendrix, but if you're thinking tinkling the ivories might be more your style then Ion Audio's Piano Apprentice could be worth a look - at least for a basic introduction to playing the piano. Following the Simon school of music instruction, the Piano Apprentice features a 25-note keyboard that docks with an iPad, iPod touch or iPhone to demonstrate how to play as the relevant keys on the device light up."

Lockheed Martin’s HALE-D airship takes to the air

Lockheed Martin’s HALE-D airship takes to the air: "With the use of airships for passenger transport decreasing in the early 20th century as their capabilities were eclipsed by those of airplanes - coupled with a number of disasters - they were largely resigned to serving as floating billboards or as camera platforms for covering sporting events."

'Dynamic charging' might let electric race cars juice up while moving

'Dynamic charging' might let electric race cars juice up while moving: "As some Gizmag readers will already know, the new technical regulations for Formula One racing state that cars must move under electrical power only when in the pit lanes. Eyebrow-raising though that may be, two companies are currently collaborating on technology that would see cars being powered by electric motors for the entire race."

Boeing and BAE team up to develop laser weapon for the U.S. Navy

Boeing and BAE team up to develop laser weapon for the U.S. Navy: "Both Boeing and BAE Systems have been working on laser weapon systems for use at sea for a number of years and now the two companies have teamed up to develop the Mk 38 Mod 2 Tactical Laser System for the U.S. Navy. The system combines both kinetic and directed energy weapons capability by coupling a solid-state high-energy laser weapon module with the Mk 38 Machine Gun System that is already in use on many U.S. Navy vessels."

The 75th anniversary of the Supermarine Spitfire

The 75th anniversary of the Supermarine Spitfire: "As much as Goodwood might hold special significance for automotive enthusiasts, the estate also has strong ties with the world of aviation. During WWII it was an active fighter airbase (aka RAF Westhampnett), and there are many other aspects which make it a particularly appropriate venue at which to celebrate the 75th anniversary of most famous British aircraft of all-time - the Supermarine Spitfire."

State of the Internet report - Asia still fastest, new source of attack traffic emerges

State of the Internet report - Asia still fastest, new source of attack traffic emerges: "Akamai might not be a household name but between 15 to 30 percent of the world's Web traffic is carried on the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company's internet platform at any given time. Using data gathered by software constantly monitoring internet conditions via the company's nearly 100,000 servers deployed in 72 countries and spanning most of the networks within the internet, Akamai creates its quarterly State of the internet report."

Software picks out fake online reviews

Software picks out fake online reviews: "One of the great things about the internet is the fact that everyday people can share what they know with the entire world, so if they've had a particularly good or bad experience with a business or product, they can notify everyone via customer review websites. The flip-side of that, however, is that business owners can plant fake reviews on those same sites, that either praise their own business or slam their competition."

Power Up gives paper planes an electric boost

Power Up gives paper planes an electric boost: "Although they've been around for ages, for some reason paper airplanes have never been adopted for commercial use. It could be because they get soggy when wet, they lack any kind of flight controls, or because you would need an incredibly huge piece of paper in order to make one big enough to carry a human passenger."

Compostable bikinis take to the catwalk in Miami

Compostable bikinis take to the catwalk in Miami: "Miami Swim 2012 Fashion Week has premiered what may well be the world's very first compostable swimsuits. The two earthy swimsuit creations took center stage during the HauteNatured fashion parade on July 15th and whilst they may be compostable, they'll also do their job in the water, assures sustainable clothing designer, Linda Loudermilk"

Fujitsu releases Windows 7 F-07C Mobile Phone

Fujitsu releases Windows 7 F-07C Mobile Phone: "Fujitsu has launched what is claimed to be the world's smallest Windows PC / smartphone. Available only in Japan at the time of writing, the new F-07C phone has two modes of operation - one which gives users all we've come to expect from a modern smartphone, and another that launches a full version of Windows 7 to offer personal computing in the palm of your hand. It's powered by an Intel Atom processor, has system memory and solid state storage, and benefits from a slide-out tactile keyboard."

Low Drag Lightweight Jaguar E-Type Concept car makes public debut 47 years after it was built

Low Drag Lightweight Jaguar E-Type Concept car makes public debut 47 years after it was built: "It's not often that a car makes nearly fifty years after it was built, but that's what happened at the recent Cholmondely Pageant of power when the newly-restored, one and only factory-built Low Drag Lightweight Jaguar E-Type of 1964."

WALL-E toy gets gift of robotic life

WALL-E toy gets gift of robotic life: "Disney went into robotic toys market with a remote-controlled WALL-E robot back in 2008. Canadian-based robotics enthusiast DJ Sures was apparently not satisfied with the level of realism of the toy so he came with his own, customized version of WALL-E. Utilizing The U-Command Wall-E plastic toy, he modified it with EZ-B Robot controller hardware, voice recognition and a movement-tracking camera - but no trash compactor."

Researchers create artificial lung that works with air rather than pure oxygen

Researchers create artificial lung that works with air rather than pure oxygen: "Researchers have created an artificial lung that uses air as a ventilating gas instead of pure oxygen - as is the case with current man-made lungs, which require heavy tanks of oxygen that limit their portability."

Foldable boat packs into a portable carry bag

Foldable boat packs into a portable carry bag: "Joining the list of foldable products, Foldaboat is a flat-pack recreational boat suitable for flat water environments like canals and lakes. Designed by Arno Mathies & Max Frommeld, the 2.5-meter (8.2-foot) boat is made from a solitary piece of plastic, and after a few simple folds it packs nicely into a 150 x 60 cm (59 x 24 inch) parcel."

QUMA USB-powered figure could make 3D motion-capture easier

QUMA USB-powered figure could make 3D motion-capture easier: "It's been more than 20 years since Jordan Mechner used videos of his brother running and jumping as a reference to design in-game movements for the Prince of Persia video game"

Caltech creates first artificial neural network from DNA

Caltech creates first artificial neural network from DNA: "One of the things that our brains excel at is the ability to recognize what things are, even when presented with an incomplete set of data. If we know only that an animal is sold in pet stores and stuffs food in its cheeks, for instance, we can be pretty certain that the animal in question is a hamster."

Air guitarists rejoice and make some noise with Air Picks

Air guitarists rejoice and make some noise with Air Picks: "Rocking out with an imaginary guitar has gone from appreciative concert mimicry to a very serious business. Next month, finalists from around the world will head to Finland in the hope of being crowned Air Guitar World Champion."

Your very own, portable, Tropical Island Paradise

Your very own, portable, Tropical Island Paradise: "Owning one's own yacht must surely be one of man's greatest indulgences. The ability to take your own tailored environment anywhere you want."