Korean developer Mouscan is working on a handheld device, dubbed Voiscan, that it expects to be commercially available worldwide by the end of 2008. Mouscan will pay royalties to HP for each device sold.
“This pioneering handheld scanning technology developed by HP allows us to bring to market a unique device that facilitates communication from text to audio anywhere, anytime and in any language”, said Yang Yu, chief executive officer of Mouscan, which he founded in 2002 to develop translation devices.
Voiscan relies on a scanning technology invented by HP Labs. The handheld device is dragged across foreign language text, recognizes words, and translates them. Text-to-speech software developed by Mouscan is used to convert the translated text into spoken words instantly. As the scanning area is relatively narrow, the device can also automatically stitch together multiple scans to form a complete image of a page before translating the text.
“HP welcomes partnerships with start-ups like Mouscan to help them find capital while giving new life to technology developed in HP Labs,” said Joe Beyers, vice president, Intellectual Property Licensing, HP. “Our IP licensing program is one way HP can help make useful technologies such as Voiscan widely available.”
Mouscan will pay royalties to HP for each device sold.
More at:http://mouscan.cdisk.co.kr/
Via-vnunet
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Microsoft has acquired UK tech firm Multimap In $50 million
What Company Is Offering:
Multimap offer business-focussed location-based services, such as proximity searching and aerial images with map overlay, all available on web, mobile, PDA, kiosk, and iTV platforms. Multimap's asset tracking service locates assets in real time and can reverse geocode, to give an address from geographic coordinates which can be browsed to or sent as a text message.
Multimap can supply its application programming interfaces (APIs) to businesses allowing customisable client-side applications and also allowing firms to embed interactive location services into their own websites. A choice of interfaces can be delivered including Javascript, and a new Static API which works over dial-up and with non-Javascript browsers. The Web Services API gives a direct programming interface for integration into enterprise sites.
Who Acquired This Company:
Microsoft has acquired UK tech firm Multimap, to better compete with Google Maps. Although no figures have been disclosed, the deal is rumoured to be around $50 million.
Multimap will become part of the Virtual Earth and Search teams in Microsoft's Online Services Group, but will operate as a wholly owned Microsoft subsidiary.
More at:http://www.multimap.com/
Multimap offer business-focussed location-based services, such as proximity searching and aerial images with map overlay, all available on web, mobile, PDA, kiosk, and iTV platforms. Multimap's asset tracking service locates assets in real time and can reverse geocode, to give an address from geographic coordinates which can be browsed to or sent as a text message.
Multimap can supply its application programming interfaces (APIs) to businesses allowing customisable client-side applications and also allowing firms to embed interactive location services into their own websites. A choice of interfaces can be delivered including Javascript, and a new Static API which works over dial-up and with non-Javascript browsers. The Web Services API gives a direct programming interface for integration into enterprise sites.
Who Acquired This Company:
Microsoft has acquired UK tech firm Multimap, to better compete with Google Maps. Although no figures have been disclosed, the deal is rumoured to be around $50 million.
Multimap will become part of the Virtual Earth and Search teams in Microsoft's Online Services Group, but will operate as a wholly owned Microsoft subsidiary.
More at:http://www.multimap.com/
TripIt --Travel Organizer
What Company Is Offering:
With today's myriad of travel sites, even the most experienced traveler has their hands full managing all the details of a typical trip. Booking airline tickets, hotels, rental cars and restaurants leaves you with lots of separate pieces of paper. Throw in maps, directions, things to do, and weather and the chaos multiplies.
How It Works:
There are two ways to create a TripIt account.
1.Click the "sign up" link at the top of the page to manually create an account.
2.Email a travel booking to plans@tripit.com and we'll automatically create an account for you. You'll receive an email confirmation with temporary sign in information.
TripIt turns chaos into order by making it easy for anyone to:
Organize trip details into one master online itinerary -- even if arrangements are booked at multiple travel sites. Automatically include maps, directions and weather in their master itinerary. Have the option to book restaurants, theater tickets, activities and more right from within the online itinerary. Safely access travel plans online, share them, check-in for flights, or print an itinerary.
TripIt is a free service for travelers like you to enjoy.
More at: http://www.tripit.com/
With today's myriad of travel sites, even the most experienced traveler has their hands full managing all the details of a typical trip. Booking airline tickets, hotels, rental cars and restaurants leaves you with lots of separate pieces of paper. Throw in maps, directions, things to do, and weather and the chaos multiplies.
How It Works:
There are two ways to create a TripIt account.
1.Click the "sign up" link at the top of the page to manually create an account.
2.Email a travel booking to plans@tripit.com and we'll automatically create an account for you. You'll receive an email confirmation with temporary sign in information.
TripIt turns chaos into order by making it easy for anyone to:
Organize trip details into one master online itinerary -- even if arrangements are booked at multiple travel sites. Automatically include maps, directions and weather in their master itinerary. Have the option to book restaurants, theater tickets, activities and more right from within the online itinerary. Safely access travel plans online, share them, check-in for flights, or print an itinerary.
TripIt is a free service for travelers like you to enjoy.
More at: http://www.tripit.com/
RadarFarms.com --Keyword Intelligence
What Company is Offering:
RadarFarms.com is a "turn-key" platform offering the capability to create, publish, and access information radars - controlled streams of Web news, articles, multimedia, blog items covering very specific topics of interests of RadarFarms users.
How It Works:
If you are a Webmaster or Newsmaster, you will have the opportunity to enhance your website content by creating and publishing news radars at their own sites through Radar Widgets, which will allow them to increase market position, become a trustable content source and generate more traffic and/or revenues.
Whom This Site Will Help Most:
Market Researchers, Product Managers and Competitive Intelligence professionals can benefit from monitoring and analyzing online response/buzz, Consumer-Generated Media and Word-of-Mouth information for products, services, brands and competitors. If you are a Knowledge Worker or SEO Practitioner, you will be able to build, manage and use secure web-based information channels giving you competitive and/or innovative advantage, as well as create taxonomies for any subject of your interest and/or expertise (Keyword Intelligence).
More at:http://www.radarfarms.com/
RadarFarms.com is a "turn-key" platform offering the capability to create, publish, and access information radars - controlled streams of Web news, articles, multimedia, blog items covering very specific topics of interests of RadarFarms users.
How It Works:
If you are a Webmaster or Newsmaster, you will have the opportunity to enhance your website content by creating and publishing news radars at their own sites through Radar Widgets, which will allow them to increase market position, become a trustable content source and generate more traffic and/or revenues.
Whom This Site Will Help Most:
Market Researchers, Product Managers and Competitive Intelligence professionals can benefit from monitoring and analyzing online response/buzz, Consumer-Generated Media and Word-of-Mouth information for products, services, brands and competitors. If you are a Knowledge Worker or SEO Practitioner, you will be able to build, manage and use secure web-based information channels giving you competitive and/or innovative advantage, as well as create taxonomies for any subject of your interest and/or expertise (Keyword Intelligence).
More at:http://www.radarfarms.com/
LateRooms.com --To Sell Their Late Availability Hotel Bedrooms
What Company Is Offering:
LateRooms is an established way for hotels around the world to sell their late availability bedrooms, and for customers to take advantage of excellent savings. Because no hotel wants to be left with empty rooms, they will often drop the price to fill their empty beds and the internet makes this possible by bringing all the availability together in one place - LateRooms.
How It Works:
LateRooms is the hotel industry's late availability database providing over 500,000 genuine hotel deals and discount hotels across the UK and Worldwide. With up to 70% off thousands of discount hotel rooms in properties ranging from 4 star and 5 star luxury hotels through to unique guest houses, from city apartments to rural bed and breakfasts, LateRooms is the only place you need visit to find hotels for business or pleasure.
Their hotels simply enter their own rates and update daily to reflect their availability. Book hotels online or by telephone through their hotel reservations service and secure your booking by credit card. Pay the hotel on departure. LateRooms do not charge a booking fee.
More at:http://www.laterooms.com/
LateRooms is an established way for hotels around the world to sell their late availability bedrooms, and for customers to take advantage of excellent savings. Because no hotel wants to be left with empty rooms, they will often drop the price to fill their empty beds and the internet makes this possible by bringing all the availability together in one place - LateRooms.
How It Works:
LateRooms is the hotel industry's late availability database providing over 500,000 genuine hotel deals and discount hotels across the UK and Worldwide. With up to 70% off thousands of discount hotel rooms in properties ranging from 4 star and 5 star luxury hotels through to unique guest houses, from city apartments to rural bed and breakfasts, LateRooms is the only place you need visit to find hotels for business or pleasure.
Their hotels simply enter their own rates and update daily to reflect their availability. Book hotels online or by telephone through their hotel reservations service and secure your booking by credit card. Pay the hotel on departure. LateRooms do not charge a booking fee.
More at:http://www.laterooms.com/
22books
What Company Is Offering:
22books is dedicated to the creating, sharing, and viewing of book lists. Start out by browsing some of the featured lists to the left and then open a free account and start creating lists of your own.
How It Works:
Once you are a member of this site you can create a book list to share with other members. You book list can have any theme you want. You can make a list of your favorite books, the books you read over the summer. The list can be books by a specific author of from a specific genre or topic. Make any type of book list you want and post it on the site. If you are interested in looking through the book lists you can conduct a key word search or click on the list section. Have fun discovering new reading material at 22books.com.
More at:http://www.22books.com/
22books is dedicated to the creating, sharing, and viewing of book lists. Start out by browsing some of the featured lists to the left and then open a free account and start creating lists of your own.
How It Works:
Once you are a member of this site you can create a book list to share with other members. You book list can have any theme you want. You can make a list of your favorite books, the books you read over the summer. The list can be books by a specific author of from a specific genre or topic. Make any type of book list you want and post it on the site. If you are interested in looking through the book lists you can conduct a key word search or click on the list section. Have fun discovering new reading material at 22books.com.
More at:http://www.22books.com/
ADNStream is a Spanish startup dedicated to generating technology for the diffusion of audiovisual content
What Company is Offering:
ADNStream is a Spanish startup dedicated to generating technology for the diffusion of audiovisual content through the internet for the entire world.
How It Works:
ADNStream is actually quite reminiscent of Joost except that it works right in your browser and you don’t have to install a thing. The first thing you’ll see is a nebula of amorphous colors which acts as a cool prelude to what’s in store. On the sides are two selection panels, one labeled ADN, the other TV channels. The former, once you click on it, opens up a screen in which you can select from a variety of different video clips. TV Channels, on the other hand, gives you a selection of different viewing genres: Manga films, Vanguard and Classics; it’s here that you’ll find such goodies as Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Rashomon, the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, and Tales of Kama Sutra in the Garden. The control panel allows you to adjust to full screen or widescreen mode; additionally, you can bookmark and email videos, and read a short synopsis.
More at:http://www.adnstream.tv/
ADNStream is a Spanish startup dedicated to generating technology for the diffusion of audiovisual content through the internet for the entire world.
How It Works:
ADNStream is actually quite reminiscent of Joost except that it works right in your browser and you don’t have to install a thing. The first thing you’ll see is a nebula of amorphous colors which acts as a cool prelude to what’s in store. On the sides are two selection panels, one labeled ADN, the other TV channels. The former, once you click on it, opens up a screen in which you can select from a variety of different video clips. TV Channels, on the other hand, gives you a selection of different viewing genres: Manga films, Vanguard and Classics; it’s here that you’ll find such goodies as Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Rashomon, the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, and Tales of Kama Sutra in the Garden. The control panel allows you to adjust to full screen or widescreen mode; additionally, you can bookmark and email videos, and read a short synopsis.
More at:http://www.adnstream.tv/
Combyo, combines hot deals & coupons from top deal sites
What Company is Offering:
Combyo, combines hot deals & coupons from top deal sites like Fatwallet, Slickdeals etc. and presents them with real-time price comparison side by side. In case you don't have the time to look for deals everyday, tell us what you are looking for and the price you are looking for. They will alert you when there is a price drop.
How It works:
Combyo.com which fetches deals from all the top deal sites and provides side by side price comparison from Shopzilla. Following are the salient features of Combyo that differentiates it from any other meta deal site.
Deals from various top deal sites like Fatwallet, Slickdeals etc. are aggregated in one place ( includes your favorite deal site too )
Real time price comparison of products and prices side by side. Eliminates the need for going out of Combyo.
Set Price Alert on all our deals and products and you will be sent an email when the price of the product drops to your desired price.
Deal Rollups - We have made some good effort to rollup same deals from different sites.
Search for lowest price on almost any product.
More at:http://www.combyo.com/
Combyo, combines hot deals & coupons from top deal sites like Fatwallet, Slickdeals etc. and presents them with real-time price comparison side by side. In case you don't have the time to look for deals everyday, tell us what you are looking for and the price you are looking for. They will alert you when there is a price drop.
How It works:
Combyo.com which fetches deals from all the top deal sites and provides side by side price comparison from Shopzilla. Following are the salient features of Combyo that differentiates it from any other meta deal site.
Deals from various top deal sites like Fatwallet, Slickdeals etc. are aggregated in one place ( includes your favorite deal site too )
Real time price comparison of products and prices side by side. Eliminates the need for going out of Combyo.
Set Price Alert on all our deals and products and you will be sent an email when the price of the product drops to your desired price.
Deal Rollups - We have made some good effort to rollup same deals from different sites.
Search for lowest price on almost any product.
More at:http://www.combyo.com/
Mobius Microsystems is an innovator in analog and mixed signal designs got $10.22 million Series B round of financing
What Company Is Offering:
Mobius Microsystems is an innovator in analog and mixed signal designs, and is the first to implement highly accurate frequency generators entirely in standard CMOS. This is a significant technical breakthrough in a class of frequency generation, which to date has been accomplished exclusively with quartz-based crystals and oscillators.
Mobius’ patented CMOSHarmonic Oscillator (CHO™) technology is implemented on a single piece of silicon and enables system designers to create smaller, thinner, and more mechanically robust products. CHO also significantly shortens the manufacturing cycle time to best respond to market demands.
How Much They Got From VCs:
They announced that it closed its Series B round of financing in the amount of $10.22 million. The investors for this round were Foundation Capital, Menlo Ventures and RPM Ventures. The three firms extended their seed and Series A round investment in the company.
How They Will Use Raised Fund:
Mobius will use the funds to expand operations to support the production release of its patented CMOS Harmonic Oscillator (CHO™). This is the world’s first highly accurate frequency reference produced entirely in standard CMOS, and targeted at high volume consumer and storage markets. The CHO device will replace quartz-based crystals and crystal oscillators that have been the existing technology for nearly 70 years.
What's Market Of That Kind Of Product:
The demand for frequency references and oscillators is expected to be a $5.7 billion market by 2011. Mobius’ CHO will enable system designers to reduce costs, offer higher frequencies, and allow for smaller, thinner, and more mechanically robust products.
More at:http://www.mobiusmicro.com/
Mobius Microsystems is an innovator in analog and mixed signal designs, and is the first to implement highly accurate frequency generators entirely in standard CMOS. This is a significant technical breakthrough in a class of frequency generation, which to date has been accomplished exclusively with quartz-based crystals and oscillators.
Mobius’ patented CMOSHarmonic Oscillator (CHO™) technology is implemented on a single piece of silicon and enables system designers to create smaller, thinner, and more mechanically robust products. CHO also significantly shortens the manufacturing cycle time to best respond to market demands.
How Much They Got From VCs:
They announced that it closed its Series B round of financing in the amount of $10.22 million. The investors for this round were Foundation Capital, Menlo Ventures and RPM Ventures. The three firms extended their seed and Series A round investment in the company.
How They Will Use Raised Fund:
Mobius will use the funds to expand operations to support the production release of its patented CMOS Harmonic Oscillator (CHO™). This is the world’s first highly accurate frequency reference produced entirely in standard CMOS, and targeted at high volume consumer and storage markets. The CHO device will replace quartz-based crystals and crystal oscillators that have been the existing technology for nearly 70 years.
What's Market Of That Kind Of Product:
The demand for frequency references and oscillators is expected to be a $5.7 billion market by 2011. Mobius’ CHO will enable system designers to reduce costs, offer higher frequencies, and allow for smaller, thinner, and more mechanically robust products.
More at:http://www.mobiusmicro.com/
SmartVideoChannel
what Company is Offering:
SmartVideoChannel is a free video portal service that provides users a comprehensive tool to manage and share video. You can use your own domain or create your own SmartVideoChannel channel. SmartVideoChannel makes it easy for you to seamlessly integrate videos into your website whether you’re just starting out, or an experienced webmaster.
How It Works:
Your users will be able to upload media and comment on media anonymously.
SmartVideoChannel Login: Your users will have to register and login before they can upload or comment on media. SmartVideoChannel will administer and maintain your user database for you.
External Login: Your users will have to register and login on your existing website before they can upload or comment on media.They support avi, .mpg, .mpeg, .mov, .dvr-ms, .mpe, .mp4, .mp2, .asx, .asf, .wmv, .3g2, .3gp, and .divx. All videos will be outputted in .wmv or .swf format.
Features:
Ability to comment on individual videos.Ability to rate videos. Ensures that the best videos receive proper exposure.Ability to change the look and appeal of your page.Ability to email and/or embed videos with provided html codes.Ability to control your content.Tracking and monitoring reports provided for you .
More at:http://www.smartvideochannel.com/
SmartVideoChannel is a free video portal service that provides users a comprehensive tool to manage and share video. You can use your own domain or create your own SmartVideoChannel channel. SmartVideoChannel makes it easy for you to seamlessly integrate videos into your website whether you’re just starting out, or an experienced webmaster.
How It Works:
Your users will be able to upload media and comment on media anonymously.
SmartVideoChannel Login: Your users will have to register and login before they can upload or comment on media. SmartVideoChannel will administer and maintain your user database for you.
External Login: Your users will have to register and login on your existing website before they can upload or comment on media.They support avi, .mpg, .mpeg, .mov, .dvr-ms, .mpe, .mp4, .mp2, .asx, .asf, .wmv, .3g2, .3gp, and .divx. All videos will be outputted in .wmv or .swf format.
Features:
Ability to comment on individual videos.Ability to rate videos. Ensures that the best videos receive proper exposure.Ability to change the look and appeal of your page.Ability to email and/or embed videos with provided html codes.Ability to control your content.Tracking and monitoring reports provided for you .
More at:http://www.smartvideochannel.com/
NanoScan--The First Instant Virus Scanner
What Company is Offering;
It's an "instant" scanner that searches for viruses, spyware and other threats. It can detect, in less than a minute, a huge number of threats that could be running on your PC right now. Actually, don't be surprised if it finds active viruses, spyware or Trojans on your PC, even if you have an updated antivirus.
How it Works:
NanoScan's great detection capacity is mainly due to the new Anti-malware Collective Intelligence, a system developed by Panda Research and hosted on a network of datacenters (initially made up of around 100 servers).
It detects over 2,718,036 viruses, spyware and other known threats.
It also finds threats that have not yet been identified thanks to its TruPrevent® intelligent technology.
It is downloaded and scans in approximately 1 minute.
It takes about 400k (compared to 20-30MB taken by other virus scanners).
How Is It Different:
Unlike traditional antiviruses, NanoScan doesn't need to download a virus signature file, as it accesses the entire Panda knowledge base online.
This results in an extremely light scanner, which performs the scan in approximately one minute and detects much more than a traditional antivirus.
More at:http://www.nanoscan.com/
It's an "instant" scanner that searches for viruses, spyware and other threats. It can detect, in less than a minute, a huge number of threats that could be running on your PC right now. Actually, don't be surprised if it finds active viruses, spyware or Trojans on your PC, even if you have an updated antivirus.
How it Works:
NanoScan's great detection capacity is mainly due to the new Anti-malware Collective Intelligence, a system developed by Panda Research and hosted on a network of datacenters (initially made up of around 100 servers).
It detects over 2,718,036 viruses, spyware and other known threats.
It also finds threats that have not yet been identified thanks to its TruPrevent® intelligent technology.
It is downloaded and scans in approximately 1 minute.
It takes about 400k (compared to 20-30MB taken by other virus scanners).
How Is It Different:
Unlike traditional antiviruses, NanoScan doesn't need to download a virus signature file, as it accesses the entire Panda knowledge base online.
This results in an extremely light scanner, which performs the scan in approximately one minute and detects much more than a traditional antivirus.
More at:http://www.nanoscan.com/
neighborrow.com --Borrow Anything From Your Neighbor
What Company Says:
Based upon each one of these values, metrics,assignments and qualifications, neighborrow allows people to use things in a way that was never possible
before. The formula will apply algorithms and manual flexibility to enable sharing in the most efficient,convenient, and safest way possible...
How It Works:
neighborrow.com identifies and tracks individually owned items and automatically pools them into one giant collection for a group of people living in a concentrated area (or a group of people connected to each other in some way). Once an item is added to the system, it is visible to every member of the group immediately. Each neighborrowhood is transformed into a perpetually growing, completely transparent, collectively owned, FREE library that is open (theoretically) 24 hours a day. Using an apartment building as an example, the building is the library and the library is the building. What could be more convenient than that? In addition to apartment buildings, neighborrow works any place on earth where there are people and things (and the Internet)! All you need to do is list and lend (or donate); then borrow, trade, use and share anything in the library.
More at:http://neighborrow.com/
Based upon each one of these values, metrics,assignments and qualifications, neighborrow allows people to use things in a way that was never possible
before. The formula will apply algorithms and manual flexibility to enable sharing in the most efficient,convenient, and safest way possible...
How It Works:
neighborrow.com identifies and tracks individually owned items and automatically pools them into one giant collection for a group of people living in a concentrated area (or a group of people connected to each other in some way). Once an item is added to the system, it is visible to every member of the group immediately. Each neighborrowhood is transformed into a perpetually growing, completely transparent, collectively owned, FREE library that is open (theoretically) 24 hours a day. Using an apartment building as an example, the building is the library and the library is the building. What could be more convenient than that? In addition to apartment buildings, neighborrow works any place on earth where there are people and things (and the Internet)! All you need to do is list and lend (or donate); then borrow, trade, use and share anything in the library.
More at:http://neighborrow.com/
eMarketer is "The First Place to Look" for market research and trend analysis
What Company is Offering:
eMarketer is "The First Place to Look" for market research and trend analysis on Internet, e-business, online marketing, media and emerging technologies. eMarketer aggregates and analyzes information from over 2,800 sources, and brings it together in analyst reports, daily research articles and the most comprehensive database of e-business and online marketing statistics in the world.
How It Works:
With eMarketer, you understand the growth and impact of the Internet. Plus, you stay ahead of the curve on new trends such as blogs, social networking, podcasting, mobile marketing, and many others that are profoundly affecting the business landscape. eMarketer's core expertise lies in researching and sorting vast amounts of publicly available information, and objectively compiling and analyzing this information into widely read reports, articles and newsletters. Their information products help business executives worldwide make smarter, faster decisions about online marketing, emerging technologies and e-business.
Why To Use It:
eMarketer provides the information marketers need to keep up-to-date with trends and developments in online marketing and emerging media. Companies from all verticals rely on their eMarketer subscriptions for easy access to information, charts and data to make informed decisions and to prepare compelling sales, client and business presentations.
http://www.emarketer.com/
eMarketer is "The First Place to Look" for market research and trend analysis on Internet, e-business, online marketing, media and emerging technologies. eMarketer aggregates and analyzes information from over 2,800 sources, and brings it together in analyst reports, daily research articles and the most comprehensive database of e-business and online marketing statistics in the world.
How It Works:
With eMarketer, you understand the growth and impact of the Internet. Plus, you stay ahead of the curve on new trends such as blogs, social networking, podcasting, mobile marketing, and many others that are profoundly affecting the business landscape. eMarketer's core expertise lies in researching and sorting vast amounts of publicly available information, and objectively compiling and analyzing this information into widely read reports, articles and newsletters. Their information products help business executives worldwide make smarter, faster decisions about online marketing, emerging technologies and e-business.
Why To Use It:
eMarketer provides the information marketers need to keep up-to-date with trends and developments in online marketing and emerging media. Companies from all verticals rely on their eMarketer subscriptions for easy access to information, charts and data to make informed decisions and to prepare compelling sales, client and business presentations.
http://www.emarketer.com/
10 Tech Concepts Which Will Change The Face 2008
1.EEG Game Controllers
The Nintendo Wii has gotten gamers moving about with its motion-sensitive controllers, but the next generation of game control device may require no movement at all. Video games that can read your mind will invade living rooms in 2008, thanks to electroencephalography (EEG) controllers that detect the electrical activity of the brain. Scientists have been working on the basic concept for several years, developing experimental brain implants that allow paralyzed patients to check their e-mail and move their wheelchair by thinking about it. But the new wave of EEG devices make the transition from medical device to consumer gadget, involving simple headsets that slip on with an array of electrodes to measure brain activity.
Already, Japanese researchers have demonstrated a prototype system that allows users to move their avatars around the virtual world of Second Life with only the power of their thoughts. The system is aimed at providing new opportunities to patients with severe paralysis. Some companies are using the consumer gaming market as a launchpad—hoping to make enough money to develop medical devices later, they say. Emotiv Systems promises its headset will detect facial expression, emotion (for instance, you might need to remain calm to stay undetected in a stealth game), as well as Jedi-style thoughts such as an intent to levitate things out of a swamp hands-free. Another company, NeuroSky, is creating its own biosensor technology for gaming. Whichever company wins, the force will be with us.
2.Self-Healing Materials
Drop your cellphone and it is likely to get scratched—unless it’s made of a self-healing material. Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed the first practical self-healing plastic back in 2001: When the material was damaged, embedded microcapsules ruptured and a healing agent oozed out the fill the crack. The agent mixed with a catalyst also embedded in the material and hardened in place. The problem was that the catalyst was too expensive to be practical in real-world applications. But now the same research team has managed to modify the process so that the expensive catalyst is replaced by an inexpensive solvent. Tests of the new system show that fractures can recover as much as 82 percent of their original strength.
The applications for self-healing materials range from cosmetic uses like car paint that makes door dings disappear to structural uses like repairing airplane fuselages, where cracks can be catastrophic. The Illinois researchers are already working on tough paint for Navy ships, and the Army Corps of Engineers is testing a self-healing coating for large steel structures that have lead-based paint on them. Ultimately, the technology will allow bridges to repair tiny cracks before they turn into major structural problems.
3.High-k Transistors
Every few years, we’re warned that computer chips soon won’t be able to get any smaller or faster. The problem: Tiny chip circuitry lets electric current leak out, causing overheating and wasting power. But Intel has once again managed to reduce chip size, with the smallest features on its new Penryn chips shrinking from 65 nanometers to 45 nanometers, thanks to a radical change in how it builds the insulating wall on its chips.
For the past four decades, semiconductor makers have used silicon dioxide as an insulating material. But the most recent generation of chips is so small that the insulating layer is as little as five atoms thick, making it impossible to shrink further without permitting too much current to leak away. The new chips replace silicon dioxide with a hafnium-based high-k insulator. “High-k” refers to the electric properties of the new material, which allows ten times less leakage current to escape compared to a similar thickness of silicon dioxide.
Intel rival AMD is following with its own 45-nanometer chips, also based on high-k technology. And the pace of development seems unlikely to slow down quite yet: Intel as well as an alliance of chip makers led by IBM have already demonstrated working prototypes of the next generation of high-k chips, 32-nanometer models that should hit in 2009.
4.Real-World Web
The machines know where you are—and that may be a good thing. As more portable devices merge GPS information with network connectivity through cellular, Wi-Fi or ad hoc links, Internet use will change. Do a Yellow Pages search on “pizza” when you’re in a new town and your smartphone will tell you the closest spot to get a slice. New pop-up ads may not be far behind—imagine receiving an alert that a Starbucks is just a block away, along with an electronic coupon for a new coffee flavor.
Already, many GPS devices are integrating real-time contextual location information into guidance. Many of the latest systems incorporate real-time traffic and construction information over terrestrial or satellite radio frequencies.
But the biggest development of 2008 may be the advent of Android, a new open-source mobile operating system platform backed by Google and several major cellphone carriers through the Open Handset Alliance. The organization’s aim is to encourage the development of creative applications that will transform the mobile handset into more of a portable mini computer whose phone function is secondary. Google cites possible mash-ups like combining a mobile version of Google Maps with a service showing where your friends are, suggesting that the company’s mastery of contextual information could help kick-start a new, location-based information age.
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The Nintendo Wii has gotten gamers moving about with its motion-sensitive controllers, but the next generation of game control device may require no movement at all. Video games that can read your mind will invade living rooms in 2008, thanks to electroencephalography (EEG) controllers that detect the electrical activity of the brain. Scientists have been working on the basic concept for several years, developing experimental brain implants that allow paralyzed patients to check their e-mail and move their wheelchair by thinking about it. But the new wave of EEG devices make the transition from medical device to consumer gadget, involving simple headsets that slip on with an array of electrodes to measure brain activity.
Already, Japanese researchers have demonstrated a prototype system that allows users to move their avatars around the virtual world of Second Life with only the power of their thoughts. The system is aimed at providing new opportunities to patients with severe paralysis. Some companies are using the consumer gaming market as a launchpad—hoping to make enough money to develop medical devices later, they say. Emotiv Systems promises its headset will detect facial expression, emotion (for instance, you might need to remain calm to stay undetected in a stealth game), as well as Jedi-style thoughts such as an intent to levitate things out of a swamp hands-free. Another company, NeuroSky, is creating its own biosensor technology for gaming. Whichever company wins, the force will be with us.
2.Self-Healing Materials
Drop your cellphone and it is likely to get scratched—unless it’s made of a self-healing material. Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed the first practical self-healing plastic back in 2001: When the material was damaged, embedded microcapsules ruptured and a healing agent oozed out the fill the crack. The agent mixed with a catalyst also embedded in the material and hardened in place. The problem was that the catalyst was too expensive to be practical in real-world applications. But now the same research team has managed to modify the process so that the expensive catalyst is replaced by an inexpensive solvent. Tests of the new system show that fractures can recover as much as 82 percent of their original strength.
The applications for self-healing materials range from cosmetic uses like car paint that makes door dings disappear to structural uses like repairing airplane fuselages, where cracks can be catastrophic. The Illinois researchers are already working on tough paint for Navy ships, and the Army Corps of Engineers is testing a self-healing coating for large steel structures that have lead-based paint on them. Ultimately, the technology will allow bridges to repair tiny cracks before they turn into major structural problems.
3.High-k Transistors
Every few years, we’re warned that computer chips soon won’t be able to get any smaller or faster. The problem: Tiny chip circuitry lets electric current leak out, causing overheating and wasting power. But Intel has once again managed to reduce chip size, with the smallest features on its new Penryn chips shrinking from 65 nanometers to 45 nanometers, thanks to a radical change in how it builds the insulating wall on its chips.
For the past four decades, semiconductor makers have used silicon dioxide as an insulating material. But the most recent generation of chips is so small that the insulating layer is as little as five atoms thick, making it impossible to shrink further without permitting too much current to leak away. The new chips replace silicon dioxide with a hafnium-based high-k insulator. “High-k” refers to the electric properties of the new material, which allows ten times less leakage current to escape compared to a similar thickness of silicon dioxide.
Intel rival AMD is following with its own 45-nanometer chips, also based on high-k technology. And the pace of development seems unlikely to slow down quite yet: Intel as well as an alliance of chip makers led by IBM have already demonstrated working prototypes of the next generation of high-k chips, 32-nanometer models that should hit in 2009.
4.Real-World Web
The machines know where you are—and that may be a good thing. As more portable devices merge GPS information with network connectivity through cellular, Wi-Fi or ad hoc links, Internet use will change. Do a Yellow Pages search on “pizza” when you’re in a new town and your smartphone will tell you the closest spot to get a slice. New pop-up ads may not be far behind—imagine receiving an alert that a Starbucks is just a block away, along with an electronic coupon for a new coffee flavor.
Already, many GPS devices are integrating real-time contextual location information into guidance. Many of the latest systems incorporate real-time traffic and construction information over terrestrial or satellite radio frequencies.
But the biggest development of 2008 may be the advent of Android, a new open-source mobile operating system platform backed by Google and several major cellphone carriers through the Open Handset Alliance. The organization’s aim is to encourage the development of creative applications that will transform the mobile handset into more of a portable mini computer whose phone function is secondary. Google cites possible mash-ups like combining a mobile version of Google Maps with a service showing where your friends are, suggesting that the company’s mastery of contextual information could help kick-start a new, location-based information age.
Read Full Article at:Click
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NewzNozzl takes the top stories from the best social news sites, combines them - and then lets you comment and Vote for the stories that you think are the best. They ONLY load the high-rated stories from each site, so by the time it hits NewzNozzl, you know it's worth looking at! Most of the social news sites are often thought of as "meta" sites - that is, they take in and amplify what other news sites have. Nozzl can be thought of a "Meta-Meta" site - they take what other meta news sites think are worthwhile and amplify just those stories.
How It Works:
They only load stories from other sites. If you think you've got a story that others need to know about, submit them to your favorite social news site - if others agree with you, it'll show up on NewzNozzl quickly.
How Is Different:
Unlike most of the other social news sites, they don't take story submissions - instead, they let the other social news sites discover (through their community) what's interesting and important. And then they take the very best of those stories and let our users figure out which of those stories is really interesting and useful. This lets us show only the very best stories out there, quickly and from a really wide array of sources.
More at:http://newznozzl.com/
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