Hasta La Gadget!

The folks from Japanese research collaboration Life BEANS yesterday displayed their nanotech fiber clothes at the Micromachine/ MEMS exhibition at Tokyo Big Sight. On display was a dress that incorporated nanotechnology which can be used to heat or cool the wearer, and ultimately allow the whole dress to become an electrical device itself.

BEANS or Bio Electomechanical Autonomous Nano Systems, is a collaboration project between a number of universities and science institutes throughout Japan and are the same team responsible for the glowing glucose tracking mouse ear. The technology on display yesterday incorporates a new fabrication process that allows more flexible layers of conductive cells within clothes. Woven into dresses or protective vests, for example, mean that the wearer can be cooled or heated depending on the temperature by activating the nanocells and also enable the transference of electronic data through the clothes themselves.

The nanotechnology in the clothes is capable of being utilized in a variety of ways, including turning the article of clothing into a mobile phone complete with GPS, recording data for sports and health care, or even ubiquitous data exchange by using the fabric as the circuit board itself. With the advancement in flexibility and the ability to weave the layers of conductive materials into fabrics, wearable technology could be integrated into normal everyday clothes.

Communication clothing is a growing area where, as we are increasingly seeing, fashion and electronics become closer combined together. As we rely on electronic data and portable devices more and more in our lives and jobs this type of advancement in technology will be pushing the boundaries of how we communicate with our devices in the future.

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This article was written on October 15, 2007 by CyberNet.

With all of the gadgets that you have around the house it may seem impossible to find any that are energy efficient. It’s almost hard to imagine what a house would be like without the constant humming of electronics and the glowing LED’s that light up the rooms at night, but you can give some of that up in favor of energy efficient gadgets!

Below is a list of the top 5 most energy efficient gadgets available (according to us), and all of them are surprisingly priced reasonably.

1. Lenova ThinkCentre A61e – This is supposed to be a quiet and energy-efficient computer that, if you so desire, can come with a solar panel for powering the machine. The desktop also uses up to 90 percent reusable/recyclable materials as well as 90 percent recyclable packaging! With it a user could save, on average, more than $20 a year in energy costs and the equivalent of the carbon dioxide emissions created by two round-trip plane flights from Boston to New York.
   
2. IntelliPanel – This determines the on and off power level of any desktop computer to automatically switch on power to peripheral equipment (monitors, printers, router, speakers, etc…) only when the desktop computer is switched on and in use. Peripherals will have the power cutoff 5 seconds after the desktop computer has been shutdown.
   
3. USB Cell Batteries – One of the reasons most people don’t want to use rechargeable batteries is because of the inconvenient, and often bulky charger that accompanies them. With the USB Cell batteries you don’t have to worry about carrying a charger around because you can use any computer (laptop, desktop, etc…) with a USB port. If you’re like me you probably take your laptop with you on vacations, which provides an excellent way to charge these up!
   
4. Solar Powered Backpacks – A solar powered backpack is a great way to get some juice on the go. These come with adapters for popular cell phones as well as a way to charge USB devices, like an iPod.
   
5. Nintendo Wii – Because of the Wii’s simplistic graphics it doesn’t consume a lot of power relative to other consoles, such as the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It only uses about 10% of the electricity that the other systems use!
    

This article was written in part for Blog Action Day.

Copyright © 2011 CyberNetNews.com

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This article was written on September 04, 2006 by CyberNet.

Million Dollar Monday

Part of the Simplicity brand of Philips, the latest futuristic message board “In Touch” is bound to provide you with the ultimate way to share information, news, or pictures with family and friends. It is the family message board of the 21st century! No more post-it notes, or white boards for leaving messages.

So what is the In Touch message board? It is a mirror, but not just an ordinary mirror.  It transforms itself from a mirror to a touch screen message center.  Messages can be viewed in a text or video format.  Uniquely implemented,  the photo feature includes family pictures which then can be used as a method of sending messages.

It works by using a stylus which opens up a drawing space.  From there you’re able to record a video message, or even a text message. You can send either MMS or  SMS messages which are created when a text box opens up– using a stylus to create a message. After the message is ready to be sent, you’d use your finger to drag the text box or video message over to the photograph of the person the message is to be sent to. When it’s been delivered, you receive a confirmation stamp. Messages can be left right on the mirror or sent remotely.

When you receive any type of message whether it be voicemail, text, or a picture, all that is needed to activate a message is to touch the image of the message you’re wanting to read or view.  The CEO of Royal Philips Electronics says the simplicity line including In Touch is important and needed because

Somewhere along the way, the promise of the digital revolution to make our lives easier, simpler, better is not being delivered. In fact, in many respects, it’s only made life more complicated.

Is the touch screen method of communication becoming a “trend” or the latest of the greatest to have? At the CES show this past January, Bill Gates said in the next four years this style of communication will take off.  It will be the technology we have in our households to keep track of family and their schedules, communicate,  and keep ourselves updated on the news. Click here to view the demonstration that Bill Gates gave.  The video clip will automatically open in Windows Media Player.  Forward to 11:25 into the clip to view the actual demo.

I haven’t come across any price estimates for the “In Touch” however I would imagine it will be a costly toy that few will initially have. The idea seems like a simple, useful concept that many would be able to benefit from.  I don’t know about you, but I’d like to look up and see something like that hanging on my wall!

News Source: TrendHunter via BornRich

Copyright © 2011 CyberNetNews.com

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