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Karen Sprey
- GlideCycle: giving back independence and mobility (26,290 Views)
- Renovo Hardwood Bikes provide the smoothest ride - the looks are a bonus (24,400 Views)
- Atlantis Dubai: the luxury resort that's home to 65,000 marine animals (17,035 Views)
- From oil rig to luxury eco-resort (10,687 Views)
- Would you like some powdered beer to wash down that canned cheeseburger? (9,815 Views)
All Articles by Karen Sprey
Panasonic's robotic-bed-cum-wheelchair helps maintain independent lifestyle
By Karen Sprey
17:32 September 22, 2009 PDT
Panasonic has developed a robotic bed which easily transforms to a wheelchair - and back again - without the user needing to move. The Robotic Bed eliminates the need for those with limited mobility to transfer between bed and wheelchair, reducing the need for assistance and helping them retain their independence and mobility. Read More
Ravi cools wine at the very moment it is poured
By Karen Sprey
17:28 September 21, 2009 PDT
Most of us know the feeling of having a bottle of wine we wished was a good few degrees cooler. So what do you do? Hurriedly throw the lukewarm bottle into the freezer? Make (another) mental note to keep the fridge stocked? Or drink it warm (no, of course you're not that desperate). If you've got a Ravi in your freezer, you need never face this situation again. This nifty Canadian invention cools wine as it is poured and the level of cooling can be adjusted according to the type of wine being served. Read More
Locusts give up aerodynamic secrets of insect flight
By Karen Sprey
19:04 September 20, 2009 PDT
It seems that locusts, the bane of farmers the world over, have served some purpose after all. With the aid of a wind tunnel and a high-speed digital video camera, scientists have captured the changes in the shape of the locust's wings during flight and created, for the first time, a computer model that recreates the airflow and thrust generated by their complex flapping movement. Modeling the aerodynamic secrets brings us a step closer to creating miniature robot flyers with the maneuverability and energy efficiency of an insect - such micro-aircraft would likely have huge benefits for search and rescue, military activities and inspecting hazardous environments. Read More
Sony DPF-D72N/BQ photo frame features Swarovski crystal bling
By Karen Sprey
08:41 September 3, 2009 PDT
Sony's new limited edition digital photo frame ticks the boxes for looks and functionality. The DPF-D72N/BQ features an elegant and understated black frame with Crystallized Swarovski Elements and stores up to 2,000 images courtesy of 1GB internal storage. It also has a nifty auto-resizing feature. Other functions include clock and calendar modes, and an Auto Orientation sensor that automatically rotates your photos into portrait or landscape format according to the placement of the frame. Read More
Would you like some powdered beer to wash down that canned cheeseburger?
By Karen Sprey
05:47 August 31, 2009 PDT
Picture the scene: you’ve been trekking hard all day in the great outdoors, enjoying everything nature has to offer. You’ve set up camp and your canned cheeseburgers are bubbling gently on the fire. As you watch the sun sink slowly behind the mountains the only thing missing is a cold beer. Well… (beer aficionados, you may want to stop reading now) Katadyn, the Swiss-based company behind the Trek’n’Eat canned cheeseburger and other high-tech, freeze-dried foods, has developed a world first – powdered beer – to wash it all down with. Read More
Renovo Hardwood Bikes provide the smoothest ride - the looks are a bonus
By Karen Sprey
21:07 August 24, 2009 PDT
Back in the 1700s before strong, lightweight metals were available, the first bicycles were made almost completely of wood. Crude wooden bikes are still used in many developing countries today, built from whatever recycled timber can be found. And as interest in sustainability and renewable energy grows, not only are more people (re)turning to pedal power, there is renewed interest in wooden frame bicycles. Renovo Hardwood Bicyles combine "high-tech magic and fine craftsmanship" to create a range of bikes from hollow wood and laminated bamboo, and are confident their bikes are “the smoothest bike you'll ever ride, stealth quiet, light and responsive, stiff as you want.” Read More
Milan trade fair to commission world’s biggest rooftop solar power installation
By Karen Sprey
20:27 August 10, 2009 PDT
Bigger may not always be better but when it comes to solar power generation it's a plus. The rooftop photovoltaic power installation at the Milan trade fair will cover around 270,000 square meters (2.9 million square feet) and have a peak installed capacity of at least 18 megawatts (MW). This will put it ahead of the biggest existing rooftop solar plant at General Motors in Zaragoza in Spain, which has a peak capacity of 12MW. Read More
Roll-out vegie patch for the time-poor (and non-gardeners)
By Karen Sprey
06:13 August 10, 2009 PDT
From the ‘it’s so simple, why didn’t I think of that?’ file comes the… Roll-out Veg Mat. Lack of time or a green thumb is no longer an issue (or an excuse). Just roll out the pre-sown-and-fertilized corrugated cardboard seed mat, add soil and water, then sit back and enjoy the fruits – or rather, veg – of your very limited labor. Read More
Rosetta Stone TOTALe - language learning in an online, social environment
By Karen Sprey
16:46 August 3, 2009 PDT
Rosetta Stone, the well-known language learning software that has helped millions worldwide learn a language without translation or memorization has moved into the online and Web 2.0 realm with it’s new language learning solution TOTALe. TOTALe combines three elements - the Rosetta Course, offered in 31 languages, Rosetta Studio, where you can practice with native-speaking Studio Coaches and other learners at your level in a real-time, and Rosetta World, a structured online community where you can practice and hone your language skills with native speakers and other learners at your level through fun and engaging games. Read More
Almeisan Tower design aspires to zero emissions, zero energy requirements and zero waste
By Karen Sprey
05:54 July 8, 2009 PDT
Dubai conjures up BIG images; not just the tallest structures, although it currently holds that crown, but also big as in flamboyant, lavish and generally larger than life. Amidst the opulence, extravagance and seemingly limitless budgets – or perhaps because of the latter – Dubai is increasingly embracing its green side. The latest building designed for the city to cross our desk has a foot squarely in both camps - the Almeisan Tower combines a delicate, soaring structure with a 600kW solar tower and passive cooling systems claimed to be almost "triple zero", which means it has zero emissions, zero energy requirements and zero waste. Read More
Focus on search and rescue robots at RoboCup 2009
By Karen Sprey
04:50 July 6, 2009 PDT
Search and rescue robots (S&R robots) were put through their paces in two complex and realistic disaster scenarios as part of a special rescue robot supporting program at RoboCup 2009 – the robotics world championships - in Graz, Austria. In recognition of the potentially lifesaving uses of rescue robots, RoboCup 2009 promoted their development in the separate category “RoboCup Rescue”, building on the success of the RoboCup Soccer project through technical discussion forums of technical discussions and competitive evaluations for researchers and practitioners. Read More
Dual chamber Eco Kettle boils only what you need
By Karen Sprey
01:04 June 30, 2009 PDT
Do you boil only enough water for your cup of coffee or tea or are you the person who can’t resist keeping the kettle filled to the top? The Eco Kettle caters to everyone. It features a central reservoir that you can keep filled to the brim and a central valve button in the lid that releases only the amount you need into its boiling chamber, from one to eight cups - saving electricity, time and even water. Read More
Motorola claims first 'true' bone conduction headset with Endeavor HX1
By Karen Sprey
21:13 June 25, 2009 PDT
Motorola has unveiled the Endeavor HX1, a Bluetooth headset which uses a combination of CrystalTalk noise cancellation technology and bone conduction technology dubbed ‘stealth mode’, enabling users to hear and be heard in noisy environments such as concerts or driving in a convertible. The company claims it is the only Bluetooth headset to use true bone conduction technology, a broadside that is surely aimed at competitor Jawbone whose headsets use a sensor that sits against the outside of the face as opposed to the in-ear setup of the HX-1. Read More
BMW's convertible Kidsbike - two bikes in one
By Karen Sprey
17:31 June 23, 2009 PDT
Riding a bike is something most of us learn as kids, with many a wobble along the way as we develop our sense of balance. The BMW Kidsbike has been designed for youngsters from around two and a half to five years of age, helping them progress from their first experience on two wheels to their first proper bike by means of a separate chain and pedal unit which can be easily mounted when the time is right. Read More
Dulux BackPack Roller System twice as fast as a conventional brush
By Karen Sprey
02:34 June 23, 2009 PDT
There’s no doubt a lick of paint improves the appearance of your house, but when it comes to actually doing, it's a chore most of us would prefer to avoid. Dulux hopes to make the job cleaner, easier and faster with the new Weathershield BackPack Roller system. Once you've attached the power unit to the paint pack you just drop it into the ergonomically designed rucksack, switch it on and you’re ready to go – no more paint trays, spills or running up and down ladders to reload the brush. And Dulux says you'll get the job done twice as fast. Read More
Zeo: the personal trainer that keeps you fit while you sleep
By Karen Sprey
21:44 June 16, 2009 PDT
If you have trouble getting to sleep at night, and drinking warm milk or counting sheep doesn't do the trick, you might want to try the Zeo Personal Sleep Coach. The product works on different levels. On one hand, it is designed to educate you about sleep as well as monitor your sleeping patterns, using a headband that records information to a digital reader. But the Zeo goes further – it also shows you how to analyze the data and understand its impacts on your lifestyle. Through a personalized "sleep fitness" program, it recommends ways you can catch that much-needed 40 winks. Read More
Rural Space designed to give eco-tourism a temporary lift
By Karen Sprey
17:08 June 16, 2009 PDT
With so many heritage-listed sites and national parks in Britain, there are tight restrictions on what can be permanently built and where. Designer Philip Crewe, however, has come up with the idea of Rural Space, a temporary living space powered by wind and solar energy, which helps people get closer to nature, in considerably more comfort than the standard tent or hostel. Read More
HyWind - world's first floating wind turbine reaches its final destination
By Karen Sprey
18:20 June 15, 2009 PDT
Hywind, the 2.3MW floating offshore wind turbine being developed by Norwegian oil and gas company StatoilHydro, Siemens and Technip has now been installed and moored to the seabed off the coast of Norway. Once cables to the mainland grid have been laid, the wind turbine prototype will undergo a two year pilot which will provide valuable knowledge on how to perfect the technology and hopefully one day enable floating wind turbines to become a financially viable alternative to other energy sources. Read More
Flexible solar strips shed light on bus waiting times
By Karen Sprey
03:51 June 15, 2009 PDT
Canadian research engineers at McMaster University in Ontario have developed flexible solar cell technology which generates enough power to light bus shelters as well as send internet-based updates of transport schedules. The attraction of the solar strips is that they can be bent to fit the curved roof of the campus’ bus shelters. Read More
Dubai's striking O-14 development has solid solar credentials
By Karen Sprey
06:37 June 9, 2009 PDT
Dubai can lay claim to some of the world’s most outlandish buildings and many are also at the forefront of innovation in eco- and- environmentally friendly design. Joining their ranks is the 0-14 (‘oh-14’), a 22 storey, 300,000 square-foot commercial building perched on a two-storey podium in Dubai’s Business Bay. It's defining feature - a lace-like concrete exoskeleton peppered with more than 1,000 holes - provides both the building’s structure and its facade, delivering shade, light and air, plus stunning views of the Bay and skyline. Read More
Hankook's enfren low rolling-resistance tires deliver 5 percent fuel saving
By Karen Sprey
01:52 June 9, 2009 PDT
Hankook says its new range of low rolling-resistance tires could delivering significant fuel savings and environmental benefits without consumers having to upgrade their car. The silica compound enfren tire achieved a 5.1% saving over conventional steel belt radials in a recent Fuel Economy Challenge using two identical Hyundai i30 SLX CRDi hatches. Read More
The eco-switch saves energy – including your own
By Karen Sprey
01:10 June 8, 2009 PDT
We all know we should turn off appliances at the wall to reduce fire risk as well as our carbon emissions, but the truth is most of us can't be bothered or think to flick the switch. The eco-switch could be the answer: it’s a simple and inexpensive energy-saving device that lets you relocate the power point switch to a more convenient spot where you can turn multiple appliances on and off – with the flick of a single switch. Read More
Solaqua draws on the sun to provide safe drinking water
By Karen Sprey
20:04 June 2, 2009 PDT
While clean, safe water is in short supply in much of Africa, there's no shortage of sun. The Solaqua is a nifty portable device that uses the sun's rays to purify contaminated water. Through innovative use of readily available materials, it carries, disinfects and stores water, providing a safe, environmentally sustainable source of water for rural communities. Read More
New DuPont technology reduces solar costs, increases performance
By Karen Sprey
19:06 June 1, 2009 PDT
New encapsulant technology from DuPont promises long-term protection for solar cells, the most sensitive part of photovoltaic modules. The DuPont PV5200 Series and DuPont PV5300 Series encapsulant sheets will also reduce the cost per watt and increase reliability and durability of the modules, allowing manufacturers to deliver better performing, cost-effective solar power. Read More
Glowmark puts the green in glow-in-the-dark safety lighting
By Karen Sprey
15:56 June 1, 2009 PDT
It is a challenge to provide affordable safety lighting in dark and low-light areas. Glowmark is a new product that uses long-lasting, photo-luminescent crystal technology as an alternative to electric lighting. Not only does it not need electricity, it costs nothing to run, is environmentally safe, biodegradable and easy to install. Read More
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- November 21, 2009 @ 03:30 UTC
