Darren Quick
Terra Motors hopes to clean up in Southeast Asia with new electric tuk-tuk
Auto rickshaws, also known as tuk-tuks, three-wheelers or by numerous other names, are a common sight on the streets of many Asian cities. An evolution of the traditional pulled or cycle rickshaw, the gasoline-powered vehicles, which are used as taxis, are a major source of pollution in many Asian cities. Japan’s Terra Motors hopes to capitalize on efforts to cut tuk-tuk pollution with its new electric three-wheeler aimed at emerging Southeast Asia markets. Read More
Localized dimming is a feature found in many televisions these days, but what about a display capable of producing localized smells? That’s exactly what a team from the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology in Japan has created. The “smelling screen” that was recently presented at the IEEE Virtual Reality 2013 conference in Orlando, Florida can produce odors that appear to emanate from specific areas of the screen. Read More
Gastric bypass (GBP) surgery has become a popular procedure for the treatment of morbid obesity. While many assume it is the reduction of the functional volume of the stomach that helps people feel fuller while eating less that is the solely responsible for the patient’s weight loss, it has been known for several years that there are other contributing factors at work. New research provides further evidence of this and could allow patients to see some of the weight loss benefits of GBP surgery without undergoing the surgery itself. Read More
Variety is spice of life for second-gen Click & Grow
With sales of more than 50,000 of the first generation of its namesake product under its belt, Click & Grow is set to release a second-generation version of its smart pot plant system. Like the original, the new Smart Herb Garden will help take the guesswork out of growing plants indoors but, in response to user feedback, will support the growing of more than one plant at a time and include a built-in light to combat any lack of natural light. Read More
As they develop, kids outgrow just about everything, meaning parents are faced with continually footing the bill for incrementally larger stuff. Clothes are the most obvious culprit, but bikes and furniture also need constant updating ... which is where "growing" products like the Froc high chair come in. Read More
Nuance Communications has been spreading the wings of its Dragon line of speech recognition software beyond the desktop with products like the Dragon Drive! platform designed for in car use. Now it’s making its way into the living room with its Dragon TV platform giving Panasonic’s 2013 Smart TV line the ability to listen and talk. Read More
Not even a year after it claimed the title of the world’s lightest material, aerographite has been knocked off its crown by a new aerogel made from graphene. Created by a research team from China’s Zhejiang University in the Department of Polymer Science and Engineering lab headed by Professor Gao Chao, the ultra-light aerogel has a density lower than that of helium and just twice that of hydrogen. Read More
Games have come a long way since the days of Pong and its knob controller. These days, some computer users aren't content even with a 101 key keyboard and mouse combo. This has led to input devices that attempt to bring feet into the mix, such as the SoftStep KeyWorx and Thanko USB Foot Switch. The latest foot-centric input device to catch our eye comes from Canada-based Stelulu Technology, whose Stinky Footboard is aimed at gamers for whom two hands just aren't enough. Read More
Blood tests usually involve drawing some blood out of the body. Now scientists from the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have developed an implant that allows blood to be analyzed from within the body, with results then transmitted wirelessly to a computer. While still at the experimental stage, the device could make it easier for health care providers to monitor the chronically ill and provide more personalized treatment to cancer patients. Read More
Produced at least as far back as 5,000 BC, beer has been with us for a long time. But coming third only to water and tea in terms of worldwide popularity means that the lifespan of individual beers is more likely to be measured in days or weeks rather than years or decades. The exception is if they’re preserved at the bottom of the Baltic Sea in a shipwreck. One such shipwrecked beer that is about 170 years old has been salvaged and analyzed and will be reproduced using modern industrial techniques. Read More
