Thin

Portuguese company Displax has announced the development of a “skin” that can turn virtually any surface into a multi-touch display. Based on capacitive technology, the “skin” is developed on a thinner-than-paper polymer film that turns a surface, be it glass, plastic or wood, curved or flat, into an interactive touch screen. The interface is so sensitive that it even detects when you blow on it, registering both the intensity and direction of the air flow. Read More

There are few technologies more hotly anticipated in the TV/display market than OLED, but sadly we’re still a way off replacing our 50” plasmas with these wafer-thin low-power alternatives. Affordability is the main issue, and so far Sony has been one of few to have an early crack at the market with its US$2500 11” XEL-1. Read More

After recently announcing its first foray into the solid state drive market, Seagate has unveiled what it claims to be the world’s thinnest hard drive for slimline laptops. Measuring a mere 7mm in thickness and featuring a SATA 3Gb/s interface and spin speed of 5400rpm, Seagate believes it could pave the way for a new class of entry-level thin laptop computers. Read More

Rather than using e-paper technology just for displays, the research arm of Dutch technology company Philips Electronics has developed a relatively cheap, light, thin and energy efficient means of turning the whole of the surface of a device into a digital canvas. E-skin technology could be used to change the color of a mobile phone when a call comes in, alter the appearance of a kettle when the water is boiling or even be applied to wallpaper so you can redecorate your room at the flick of a switch. Read More

It can be very frustrating to discover that you can’t fit your stroller through the supermarket checkout, especially if you have already unloaded all the shopping from your cart. And trying to get your pusher through some train station automatic turnstiles is nigh on impossible. The Curio Avventura stroller was specifically designed to fit through narrow Japanese train station turnstiles and is also automatically collapsible if you need to carry it on to the train, meaning getting both you and baby out of any tight situations is a simple affair. Read More

Just when you thought your room wasn’t big enough for a home theater, JVC has come to the rescue with its ultra-slim amplifier and speakers, designed to sit perfectly alongside or underneath your ultra-slim 50-inch TV or projector screen. The SP-FT model from JVC is a pair of 31mm thin satellite speakers and matching amplifier which pump out an adequate 80W total output over four independent channels and support Dolby Digital, DTS and AAC formats. Read More

E-readers are a welcome alternative to lugging around paper-bound tomes when on holiday, as they can store volumes of reading material in one handy, pocket-sized (well almost) device, and offer users the possibility of hours and hours of uninterrupted reading pleasure. That is, of course, until the battery runs out. LG Display has developed a solar cell capable of extending the battery life of an e-reader, possibly making the anxiety of a blank screen on the last page of that captivating thriller less likely. Read More

Dell's latest addition to its Latitude series of laptops, the Latitude Z, has a number of ‘firsts’ the company is hoping will convince consumers to choose it over a plethora of other brands and models. Dell says its Latitude Z is the world's first 16-inch laptop that is less than an inch thick and also the first laptop with wireless docking and inductive charging (wireless power - no more cords to trip over or lose). The inclusion of Dell’s EdgeTouch allows users to operate commonly used applications and media controls through a touch interface on the screen’s bezel, while Dell’s Latitude ON technology delivers instant, interactive access to email, the Web, contacts, attachments and calendars. Read More

It seems the world has become obsessed with ‘skinny’ – watch your diet, exercise more and aspire to be ‘model thin’. But skinny isn't always better when it comes to speakers – good sound reproduction needs room to vibrate. However, at IFA, Fraunhofer scientists (in cooperation with Sennheiser electronic) presented a completely new concept for ultra-flat loudspeakers that still deliver full sound reproduction. What’s more, these speakers can be integrated inconspicuously on walls or in furniture because they're only 24mm thick (0.94-inch). Read More