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‘research’ Stories

iRobot Seaglider unmanned robot gets updated

Shane McGlaun, Sep 21st 2011 Discuss [0]

Anytime I hear the iRobot name I always think about the line of robot vacuum cleaners for the home. iRobot makes a lot more than just vacuum cleaners though. The company has announced that it has updated its Seaglider unmanned underwater vehicle. The photo here of the Seaglider is the previous version; images of the new updated robot are not available at the time of writing. The new robot has a payload capability that is doubled compared to the previous generation. Read The Full Story

NPD: Android on top, Windows Phone 7 gaining

Rue Liu, Sep 20th 2011 Discuss [16]

A new report from research firm NPD's Connected Intelligence unit, reveals unsurprisingly that Android is still on top, but also suggests that its continued dominance is not guaranteed. The report shows that Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 platform may soon gain momentum with nearly half of smartphone owners, and those intending to own a smartphone, beginning to consider a Windows Phone 7 device as their next choice. Read The Full Story

Bi-directional OLEDs track distance, could spawn 3D touchscreens

Chris Davies, Sep 16th 2011 Discuss [0]

Bi-directional OLEDs capable not only of displaying graphics but of working as a camera have been upgraded to support measuring distance and inclination, and could well pave the way for a new type of touchscreen technology recognizing hovering fingertips and 3D gestures. The handiwork of the Fraunhofer IPMS, the new panels build on previous iterations tipped for use in head-up displays, and support up to VGA resolution in their latest form. Read The Full Story

IDC: Tablets beat estimates, Android down, iOS up, Amazon’s tablet is actually an e-reader

Rue Liu, Sep 14th 2011 Discuss [3]

Research firm IDC released some interesting data this morning regarding tablet shipments for Q2 of 2011 as well as predictions for the second half of the year. Beating estimates, tablet shipments are now expected to reach 62.5 million in 2011, up from the original forecast of 53.5 million units. Apple's iPad 2 shipments continue to surge as Android slips and RIM enters. WebOS share will disappear by Q1 of 2011 and the much anticipated Amazon tablet is actually an e-reader. Read The Full Story

IDC: tablets, smartphones to surpass PCs in internet use by 2015

Rue Liu, Sep 12th 2011 Discuss [9]

According to a new report from market research firm IDC, mobile internet usage on smartphones and tablets will surpass internet usage on PCs by 2015. The firm predicts that devices like the iPad, iPhone, and Android phones and tablets would grow at an average of 16.6 percent annually, while PC use would eventually decline as the tablet market picks up. Read The Full Story

Lithium Jelly Batteries are safer, thinner, and cheaper than conventional lithium batteries

Shane McGlaun, Sep 12th 2011 Discuss [13]

Researchers from the University of Leeds have announced that they have devised a new type of battery that is safer, thinner, and cheaper to build than current lithium batteries. The new battery uses a jelly to replace the volatile liquid electrolytes used in current lithium batteries. That means that if the battery is punctured, the electrolyte will not leak. Read The Full Story

Implantable sensor can monitor tumors constantly to sense growth

Shane McGlaun, Sep 12th 2011 Discuss [2]

Fighting cancer is very touch on the caregivers because they need to find the medications that will kill the cancer cells without causing too many side effects for the patent. The problem is that too much cancer treatment like chemotherapy can make the person with cancer sicker than the tumor itself. Cancer is one of the biggest areas of research in the medical field and researchers have developed an interesting new implantable sensor that can continuously monitor the growth of a tumor. Read The Full Story

iPhone cleans up in J.D. Power smartphone survey

Chris Davies, Sep 8th 2011 Discuss [7]

J.D. Power’s latest batch of smartphone rankings are out, and it’s another strong showing for Apple as well as good news for users all round, as more claim to be content with their advanced devices than every before. Apple maintains its top spot, with the iPhone scoring 838 out of a possible 1,000 when rated by users for performance, physical design, ease of operation and features. Bringing up second place is HTC, the only other manufacturer to make it above the 800 mark (and only just at that, with a score of 801).

Read The Full Story

Washington D.C. tech firm to build 20-square mile ghost city in New Mexico for testing tech

Shane McGlaun, Sep 7th 2011 Discuss [2]

I always think of the old west when I hear the term ghost town. We are all familiar with the phrase meaning a town where the buildings are still there, but no one is around. A technology company from Washington D.C. has an interesting idea for testing all sorts of new technology in a realistic setting. The company is called Pegasus Global Holdings and the project will cost $200 million to complete. The town will be constructed with old and new buildings in New Mexico. Read The Full Story

Freie Universtat Berlin shows off autonomous electric wheelchair at IFA that uses Kinect

Shane McGlaun, Sep 5th 2011 Discuss [2]

One of the things that can be difficult for people that are wheelchair bound is getting around in their own home. Depending on the type of injury that has left a person dependent on a wheelchair the simple operation of controls like a joystick can be difficult or impossible. At IFA, a university from Berlin was on hand showing off a very cool automated wheelchair that uses the Microsoft Kinect sensor and a netbook to navigate around the home. Read The Full Story

Fraunhofer unveils wireless window sensors for home automation that get power from radio waves

Shane McGlaun, Sep 5th 2011 Discuss [1]

I have always wanted to automate my entire home by installing sensors for various things along with controls for the lights and more. Two things make adding home automation a big issue for existing construction though. The first thing is the cost, home automation sensors and controllers are very expensive. The second thing is the actual installation. Depending on how the walls in your home are made it could well be impossible to add all the sensors and wiring to a home. Read The Full Story

Light Field photo tech promises true HD upscaling

Shane McGlaun, Aug 31st 2011 Discuss [2]

One of the things that delays photos that you take with a point and shoot camera between when you press the shutter button and the image is actually recorded is the time needed to focus. We have already talked about a camera before called the Lytro light field camera that could shoot a photo and then focus later that would eliminate that delay. Fraunhofer is now presenting a similar solution at IBC 2011 convention in Amsterdam that will allow photographers to use a special lens and software after the photo is snapped to change focus, angle, and depth of field. Read The Full Story