Computers

We tend to quickly forget about technology that's no longer shiny and state-of-the-art, which is part of the reason that piles of discarded electronics are becoming larger and larger. Polish sculptor Marek Tomasik, however, thought of a way of bringing them back to life ... sort of. He created an enormous and disturbing rectangular, walk-in sculpture made of several thousand discarded computer parts. The piece, entitled "Sometimes You Have To Be Open," is in the form of a room measuring 5m x 4m x 4.5m (16' x 14' x 15'), based around a wooden structure. Read More

As computers, data centers and mobile devices become more powerful, their energy requirements are likewise generally increasing. Possible solutions to the problem include power-saving sleep modes, devices that keep computers from drawing a current when supposedly turned off, and water-cooled processors. EnerJ, a new solution created at the University of Washington, takes a different approach – it supplies less power to regions of the chip that are performing processes that don’t require absolute precision. In lab simulations, it has already cut power consumption by up to 50 percent, although that amount could potentially reach as high as 90 percent. Read More

LG has announced its first All-in-One desktop computer at Computex 2011 in Taipei, which will allow users to view 3D content using lightweight polarized glasses instead of the heavy shutter-type variety. The highest spec version of the 23-inch, multi-touch LG V300 will come with Intel's second generation Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, AMD Radeon HD 6650M graphics, a Blu-ray optical drive, and a 750GB HDD. Hi-Speed and SuperSpeed USB also feature, along with HDMI 1.4. There's a choice of Bluetooth 3.0 or 2.1 with EDR, and the space-saving device is also DNLA-compliant. Read More

If you find that having your hands on the keyboard and mouse still isn’t giving you enough control over your computer, perhaps you’d like to let your feet in on the action, too. While some people might think that's overkill, it’s precisely what the Thanko USB Foot Switch lets you do. Available as either a single pedal or a joined trio, the floor-located device plugs into your PC’s USB port, and controls a function (or three) of your choice via foot taps. Read More

Military computer manufacturer Black Diamond Advanced Technology has released its ultra-rugged wearable PC and communications kit as a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) system. Adaptable to a range of specialist missions, the Modular Tactical System (MTS) system is - as the name suggests - not just a pack containing a computer. Components are split-up are and integrated into different parts of the soldier's uniform and equipment so that mobility isn't compromised, and it's designed to make the transition from computer operation to direct combat engagement in seconds. Read More

Industrial-grade rugged computer systems manufacturer Stealth Computer has announced its most powerful small form factor PC to date. The Little PC 670 has been designed with Intel's Core i3, i5 and i7 mobile processors, and packs numerous I/O connectivity options into a 6.54 x 6.18 x 1.89-inch (166 x 157 x 48 mm) durable aluminum chassis. HDD storage comes as standard, but SSD solutions are available for applications that require extra-high shock, vibration and temperature protection. There's support for full 1080p high definition playback, and 5.1 Channel audio courtesy of Realtek. Read More

The clicking sound we hear when we press a mouse button is part of the device's switching mechanism, that has also become a kind of audible comfort cushion for computer users. However, Dutch component manufacturer Nexus believes that in these days of notebook trackpads and tablet touchscreens, we no longer need the audible confirmation that a requested action has been performed – we can see it onscreen. The company has now discovered some silent switching technology and installed into a couple of its input peripherals, so that they operate without so much as a squeak. Read More

The Guillemot Corporation brand Hercules has announced a couple of new 10-inch eCAFÉ netbooks – one less than an inch thick and the other promising at least 13 hours of "real use" battery life. Both feature a low-power processor, run a custom operating system and benefit from solid state storage. They also sport a display which folds into the body, and all physical connectivity options are placed at the sides. Read More

A lot of us have one "mothership" desktop computer, along with a laptop or notebook that we take on the road. Many of us also use one computer at work, and another at home. Inevitably, there are occasions where we're using one computer, but wishing we could access a file on the other. While there is remote access software that allows you to do so, the iTwin system offers what seems to be a much simpler solution – two flash drive-like sticks that plug into either computer, and let them communicate for free over a secure internet connection. Read More