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Electronics
The electrical inlet
By Darren Quick
22:13 March 18, 2009 PDT
It wasn’t surprising to see that power conservation was a prevalent theme for entries in this year’s core77 Greener Gadgets Design Competition – the first two places were taken by variations on household power meters. One of the entries that made it to the semi final stage that we thought warranted some kudos was the Inlet ‘Outlet’ - a concept that would see household electrical outlets accompanied by an electrical ‘inlet’ that would make it easy for householders to feed power back into the power grid. Read More
Theoretical spin battery could see magnet powered cars
By Darren Quick
21:55 March 18, 2009 PDT
Researchers at the University of Miami and at the Universities of Tokyo and Tohoku, Japan, have been able to prove the existence of a "spin battery" that could have significant benefits over chemical battery systems including being much faster, less expensive and using less energy. Read More
PowerNap plan could save 75 percent of data center energy
By Karen Sprey
22:58 March 12, 2009 PDT
The average utilization for a typical industrial data center is as low as 20 to 30 percent - and the computers are still using 60 percent of peak power even when they're doing nothing. To combat this problem, researchers at the University of Michigan have put together an approach that could save up to 75 percent of the energy that power-hungry computer data centers consume. Read More
ADT rolls-out anti-skimming solution for ATMs
By David Greig
01:00 March 12, 2009 PDT
The theft of financial information during ATM transactions is one of the financial industry's fastest growing crimes and in the latest effort to combat this problem, ADT Security Services today introduced a new advanced skimming detection device for financial institutions throughout North America. The ADT Anti-Skim™ ATM Security Solution helps prevent skimming attempts and detects skimming devices on all major ATM makes and models, says ADT. Read More
LaCrosse's versatile Alpha Power Battery Charger
By David Greig
23:22 March 5, 2009 PST
March 6, 2009 Batteries are essential for the daily operation of many of the tools that we depend upon in the home or office. Without the modern rechargeable battery, the costs of running these devices with disposable batteries would be prohibitive, but why have a seperate charger for each type of battery? Featuring an LCD display that keeps you informed of the charge status for each battery, the LaCrosse Alpha Power Battery Charger is capable of charging all NiCd and NiMH "AA" and "AAA" rechargeable batteries and can charge AA & AAA simultaneously. Read More
ASU adds touchscreen capabilities to flexible display technology
By Darren Quick
23:07 February 24, 2009 PST
Arizona State University's Flexible Display Center (FDC) aren’t resting on their laurels. Following the first prototype of their affordable, flexible electronic displays announced late last year, they’ve now added touchscreen capabilities to with support for real-time user input by either stylus pen or by touch. Read More
iPoint system promises touchless gesture control of 3D displays
By Darren Quick
22:29 February 23, 2009 PST
For all the advances in computing and display technology over the years it’s a little disappointing that the main way we interact with them is still largely keyboard and mouse based, or for gaming consoles, controller based. The Wii’s motion controller has shown that the traditional ways of interaction serve as a barrier to many people and that new ways of interaction offer up a whole new range of possibilities. We also know that there are people hard at work on delivering whiz-bang new Minority Report style glove-controlled interfaces, but iPoint 3D goes a step further – the system allows people to communicate with a 3D display through simple hand gestures – without touching it and without 3D glasses or a data glove. Read More
Intel researchers demo RF energy harvester
By Paul Evans
02:59 January 28, 2009 PST
Following INTEL’s recent demonstrations of wireless power transmission and numerous wireless power products announced at the recent 2009 CES INTEL researchers have released details of an ambient RF energy harvesting technique they have developed to power a typical wall mounted house-hold weather station complete with LCD screen from energy collected via a TV antenna pointed at the local TV station antenna 4 km away. Read More
Stretchable Electronics with a Twist
By Mike Hanlon
23:42 January 25, 2009 PST
January 26, 2009 Three university engineering professors have collaborated to develop a new design for stretchable electronics that can be wrapped around complex shapes, without a reduction in electronic function. The new mechanical design strategy is based on semiconductor nanomaterials that can offer high stretchability (up to140%) and large twistability such as corkscrew twists with tight pitch (e.g., 90 degrees in 1cm). Potential uses for the new design include electronic devices for eye cameras, smart surgical gloves, body parts, airplane wings, back planes for liquid crystal displays and biomedical devises. Read More
World's smallest working fuel cell
By Darren Quick
20:44 January 25, 2009 PST
People are becoming more and more reliant on the portable gadgets they carry every day and at no time is that reliance more pronounced as when those gadgets’ batteries run out of juice. While we’ve seen some fuel cell technologies appear in recent years that offer the future prospect of powering portable devices, none are quite as small as this new working fuel cell created by US chemical engineers and featured recently in New Scientist that measures just 3 millimeters across. Read More
Bug Labs' BUG: modular, open-source platform for DIY gadget makers
By Tim Hanlon
11:55 January 17, 2009 PST
While we've heard the term "mashup" apply to music and web services before, we think the hardware mashups that Bug Labs' BUG platform enables have far more to offer. Read More
Wireless electricity products spark a new industry
By Paul Evans
08:21 January 15, 2009 PST
The promise of wireless electricity has been around for over 100 years but the technology is only just reaching the point of commercial viability. At this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, half a dozen companies are demonstrating wireless power products that will be on sale as early as April this year to recharge your laptop, iPhone or power tools. Read More
Keep up to date with Gizmag's coverage of CES 2009
11:56 January 7, 2009 PST
It's time for CES 2009 and Gizmag has a team on the ground in Las Vegas to bring you the latest coverage of the highlights from this year's premiere techno-fest. Check out our full coverage here and keep an eye out for regular updates throughout the week. Read More
Load video and MP3s while charging your Electric Car
By Paul Evans
14:43 January 2, 2009 PST
Panasonic plans to unveil a networking system that can exchange data between an electric car and home devices via electrical wiring at January's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The electric car networking prototype allows people and devices inside the home to check on an electric vehicle while it is being recharged. It will be one of several research developments on show at the HD-PLC Alliance stand in the Las Vegas Convention Center's South Hall, Panasonic says. Other prototypes will include an HD-PLC adapter for a security camera and an electrical monitoring system. Read More
Behavioral screening could boost airport security
By Darren Quick
20:08 December 10, 2008 PST
If terrorists aimed to frustrate millions of air travelers with time consuming pre-flight baggage searches they definitely seem to have made progress, but new technologies used to analyze human behavior could provide an alternative to the time consuming process of analyzing the content of passengers’ carry-on luggage. These systems would detect signs of emotional strain that could indicate that a passenger may intend to commit an act of terror. It might sound like science fiction, but such technology is much further advanced than most might think, and it’s not surprising that Israel, a country that faces constant security threats, has become a leader in developing such technologies. Read More
HP and Arizona State University reveal flexible, unbreakable display
By Darren Quick
18:56 December 9, 2008 PST
HP and Arizona State University (ASU) have announced the first prototype of their affordable, flexible electronic displays. The unbreakable displays were created by ASU’s Flexible Display Center and HP using self-aligned imprint lithography (SAIL) technology developed by HP Labs, HP’s central research arm. HP claims the production feat is a milestone in the industry’s efforts to create a mass market for high-resolution flexible displays. Plus, from an environmental standpoint, the displays leapfrog conventional display processes by using up to 90 percent less materials by volume. Read More
Sony uses 19th century zoetrope technology to showcase BRAVIA TVs
By Darren Quick
03:44 December 8, 2008 PST
Sony has revitalized some fascinating old technology in order to spruik the cutting-edge Motionflow 200Hz capabilities of the new line of BRAVIA TVs. Measuring 10 meters in diameter and able to spin at speeds of over 50kph, the BRAVIA-drome is based on the zeotrope – a device invented in the 19th century to create short ‘films’ from a series of static images – which is seen as a perfect way to demonstrate just how Sony’s Motionflow 200Hz technology works to create smooth motion images. Read More
Sharp's LCD Christmas Tree
By Emily Clark
22:04 December 2, 2008 PST
In a nod to Christmas cheer and the spirit of giving, Sharp has unveiled a 26-foot tall tree comprising 43 of its AQUOS LCD televisions. Aside from enhancing the holiday atmosphere, the “AQUOS Experience” in New York’s Grand Central Terminal represents Sharp’s donation to non-profit organization, the Hope Program. Read More
Meraki Solar powered Wi-Fi
By Darren Quick
04:56 December 2, 2008 PST
Meraki, a company whose aim is to ‘bring affordable Internet access to the next billion people’, is hoping their solar-powered Wi-Fi unit will do just that. The Meraki Solar is designed to provide wireless coverage over large outdoor areas with a minimum of fuss by removing the need to run power cables. Each unit is self-contained and ready to mount on roofs, poles, or anywhere the sun shines and is designed to provide 24/7 uptime in most locations worldwide by running on its own solar charged battery. Read More
Toshiba to launch 16GB microSDHC
By Darren Quick
04:52 December 2, 2008 PST
The ever-increasing rise in memory capacities continues with Toshiba launching an industry largest 16GB microSDHC memory card onto the market. They have also further extended their range by adding ultra fast read write 8GB and 16GB SDHC cards. Read More
The Energy Detective keeps electricity bills low
By Jack Martin
23:27 November 23, 2008 PST
November 24, 2008 If you’re looking at ways of reducing energy consumption be it to do your bit to save the planet or reduce the load on your wallet for the expected economic winter, here’s a very good starting point. The Energy Detective (TED) is a US$145 real-time electricity monitoring device and as it can be expected to result in the saving of 10-20% on your electricity bills, the ROI should be less than 12 months. TED can tell you how much energy your air conditioner, computer, or dishwasher are using and accurately predict your next power bill weeks in advance. There’s also optional US$45 software which enables you to analyse energy usage every-which-way on your PC. Read More
Micro generator produces power from movement
By Kyle Sherer
13:32 November 18, 2008 PST
A micron-scale generator that uses zinc oxide wires to produce alternating current could be woven into clothing to power wireless devices or implanted in the body to monitor vital signs. A team led by Zhong Lin Wang at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Center for Nanostructure Characterization has developed the generator, which can produce an oscillating output voltage of up to 45 millivolts. Read More
Intel launches record breaking Core i7 desktop processor
By Darren Quick
20:49 November 17, 2008 PST
Intel has launched what it is touting as the fastest desktop processor on the planet. The Intel Core i7 processor is Intel’s most advanced desktop processor ever and is the first member of their new Nehalem family of processor designs. The Core i7 holds a new world record of 117 for the SPECint_base_rate2006 benchmark test – the first time any single processor has exceeded 100 points. It incorporates new technologies that boost performance on demand and maximize data throughput to speed video editing, resource hungry 3D games and other Internet and computer activities by up to 40 per cent without increasing power consumption. Read More
USB 3.0 moves closer
19:40 November 17, 2008 PST
This week's SuperSpeed USB Developers Conference in San Jose, California marks a significant milestone in the march towards the next generation of USB devices. The first public release of the Revision 1.0 Specification USB 3.0 is coinciding with a demonstration by Symwave of the first device to meet this new standard, which at 10 times faster than current USB transfer rates, will save a lot of people a lot of time. Read More
30 petabyte storage facility for climate and weather records
By Darren Quick
21:48 November 16, 2008 PST
Analysis of the Earth’s climate relies on and generates a huge amount of data. No one knows this better than the folks at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), who have announced the arrival of AMSTAR, a new digital storage library that will preserve and protect 30 petabytes of valuable scientific data for the next 15 to 20 years. The new system, designed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. and based on the Sun StorageTek SL8500 Modular Library, will give NCAR five times its current storage capacity, enabling it to generate increasingly sophisticated computer studies of Earth’s climate. Read More
rob yates
- November 26, 2009 @ 12:49 UTC
