Tag Archive for 'research'
A team at Oregon State University have apparently taken another step toward giving walking robots a more human-like - and energy efficient - gait, by fitting them with artificial tendons. Existing robotic limbs struggle to recover energy through a springy gait, but the Oregon team have introduced steel cable tendons and fibreglass springs made from [...]
LEDs are known for their efficiency. And that’s a good thing, considering they’re in just about everything these days. But the truly fantastic thing about LEDs is their ability to convert 50-70% of the energy that goes through them into light. However, high costs have prevented them from taking over traditional lighting like fluorescents, until [...]
Scientists at the University of Oxford are experimenting with ways to increase internet speeds by, ironically, slowing down the light used in fiber optic communications. The boost would come through replacing the existing system required to separate and route different signals to different destinations. Using so-called metamaterials, that can be engineered to slow light down, [...]
If you’re looking for the next generation of PC cooling technology or consumer electronic recharging, you may only have to look so far as a group of researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory who have developed a flexible solar cell. This cell could be applied to all sorts of electronics [...]
Could indiscriminate users be seriously affecting Blu-ray sales? That’s one of the suggestions from ABI Research’s latest report, that cites customers seeing only middling improvements in picture quality over DVD. It adds up to users reluctant to pay for upgrades - both to Blu-ray players and the HDTVs necessary to make the most of them.
“While [...]
Microsoft isn’t set to officially unveil its Surface Sphere until Demofest 2008 kicks off, but that hasn’t stopped Seattle PI’s Todd Bishop from running his hands-on story a little early. The multitouch-sensitive display, a spherical version of the original Microsoft Surface table, is intended as a design exercise or “an exploration of ideas”, according to project [...]
Ferromagnetic fluid is great stuff, but it actually has more practical uses than simply dancing around whenever a magnet gets near. Researchers at Université Laval in Quebec are looking to use the fluid to replace mercury in liquid mirrors, in effect creating a tiltable, highly reflective surface ideal for use in telescopes.
MTI Micro have been putting their Mobion fuel cell through it’s paces, in testing intended to demonstrate just how much improved the technology is over current Li-Ion power packs. A lab test version of the fuel-cell lasted 2,700 hours of continuous use, with further tests suggesting power degradation of less than 15-percent.
We are all guilty of having our chargers lying about and typically they stay plugged into the outlet even when they’re not in use. That is unless you’ve already caught wind that it’s actually bad to do that.
I sadly, actually caught wind that it was bad and still have stuck to my habits. Mostly because [...]
Women that happen to be well endowed when it comes to bra size generally have plenty of well founded complaints. Large breasts cause back problems and for the athletic types they have on occasion had to resort to wearing two sports bras just to minimize bouncing.
