Shinoda Plasma has ignored the usual plasma/LCD rat-race and instead turned to developing larger, flexible panels for next-gen applications. Its latest prototype, a 125-inch film-type display, measures 3m long by 1m tall and is just 1mm thick. Currently it offers 960 x 360 resolution, obviously less than HD-compatible plasmas on the market today, but then again not many of the screens you see in the shops can be curved around your walls.
Sharp have announced the development of a prototype direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) that it claims achieves the world’s highest power density. The cell is constructed of a stack of multiple reed-shaped thin cells, sandwiched together with similarly shaped porous spacers. That increases surface area and maximises air-flow (essential for the fuel cell to produce power), resulting in 0.3W/cc power density.
Making DIY versions of Microsoft’s multitouch Surface table seems to be so popular, even Microsoft themselves are getting in on the action. Somewhat bizarrely, the company has developed another multitouch platform, this time coming in a whole lot cheaper than the $10k Surface. TouchWall basically relies on three infrared lasers that scan the surface of a plexiglass board, and an infrared camera to register any touch against it; in Microsoft’s demo of the system, they used a rear-projector, 4 x 6 foot plexiglass screen, and a basic Vista PC running the software app, Plex.
Check out the video demo of TouchWall after the cut
Samsung will be showing its latest LCD panel with 240Hz image frame rate next week. The prototype Samsung will be demonstrating is a 15-inch panel at the SID (Society for Information Display) 2008 International Symposium, Seminar and Exhibition, which takes place in Los Angeles from May 18 to 23.
Looks like MTI Micro have some big-name competition in the fuel-cell business. Sony have unveiled their own hybrid fuel-cell system, and while the concept might be big, the prototype isn’t. In fact, it measures just 5 x 3cm, but is still capable of pumping out up to 3W of power.
MTI Micro are demonstrating the latest version of their portable fuel-cell technology, in the shape of a GPS reference design prototype. Powered by the company’s Mobion fuel-cell, which relies on easily exchangeable methanol packs, MTI Micro are claiming the system provides up to three times as much energy as in a typical GPS with four AA batteries. In the case of this particular design, one fuel-cell manages up to 60 hours of continuous use.
We’ve seen exoskeleton suits designed to grant their wearers super-human strength, but they tend to look somewhat obvious. Fine if you’re an attention-seeking superhero, but less of a selling point if you’re an elderly person with mobility problems. Honda have thankfully come to the rescue, though, with their ‘Walking Assist Device‘; worn as a straightforward belt with thigh straps, the 2.8kg unit promises to lengthen a user’s natural stride by supplementing their own muscle power.
A team at Microsoft Research have developed a prototype interface [pdf link] for mobile devices that responds to twisting, squeezing, flexing and stretching to control and on-screen GUI. The system, called Force Sensing, relies on very small manipulations of a handheld device – in this case a modified Samsung UMPC – with different gestures mapped to navigation and other controls. Visual feedback, such as interfaces twisting or bending, apparently decreases the learning time necessary for users to adapt to the new controls.
The U8 MID prototype Lenovo have been flaunting lately is, frankly, lovely, and Josh Bancroft was lucky enough to get some serious hands-on time with the device – and the Aigo MID – at Intel’s Mobility Software Enabling Lab this week. Comparing the Lenovo MID to a prototype MID device we’ve seen in photos before, a Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium UMPC, a Fujitsu Lifebook UMPC and Josh’s own iPhone, he’s promising in-depth video of each new device, but until now this Flickr gallery will have to sate us.
Mio, long time manufacturer of GPS devices, is partnering with ATX, a major provider of telematics services in both the US and Europe. The types of things this partnership will bring you include lots of location-aware types of data including local weather, weather for your planned destination, in-depth traffic info, and business directories that change as the respective businesses open and close.
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