Super battery made of super-high pressure treated materials

By Damir Beciri
6 July 2010

super-battery-created-with-super-high-pressure-treated-materials-at-wsu-1When we write about gadgets and technology, we often mention the need for breakthroughs in energy storing technology. By using super-high pressures similar to those closer to the Earth core or on a giant planet, the researchers from Washington State University have created a compact, never-before-seen material capable of storing vast amounts of energy. “If… »

Oblong g-speak – the near future of information interaction?

By Damir Beciri
One Comment5 July 2010

oblong-g-speakIf you’re a regular tech news reader you must have stumbled upon articles where they compare some information manipulation (or human-machine interface) technology to the technology seen at the sci-fi movie Minority Report. In this article we’re going to describe the Oblong g-speak Spatial Operating Environment (SOE), technology that is most resembling to the one… »

Share Happy ice cream vending machines recognize your smile

By Damir Beciri
One Comment3 July 2010

smile-activated-vending-machine-1SapientNitro (part of Sapient) unveiled the world’s first smile-activated vending machine. Built for Unilever, a large ice cream manufacturer, this ice cream vending machine is an attempt to use the augmented reality in order to attract the passersby and potentially reward them if they manage to grin enough for the wending machine’s facial recognition algorithm…. »

Thermally actuated microrobot with omnidirectional walking

By Damir Beciri
2 July 2010

thermal-powered-centipede-like-microrobot-1The past few years have given rise to a growing number of microrobots, miniaturized mobile machines designed to perform specific tasks. Researchers at the University of Washington and Stanford University have developed an insect-like robot with hundreds of tiny legs. The robot is able to carry loads more than seven times of its own weight… »

Green architecture – Helios NW Eco-House

By Damir Beciri
1 July 2010

helios-nw-eco-house-1After taking this project from the previous builder who didn’t complete the certification due to economic downturn, the new owners managed to construct the Helios NW Eco-House – the first vacation rental property in Oregon which received the LEED for Homes Gold certification. This modern home opened its doors as a luxury vacation rental property… »

RC flying with augmented reality – Parrot AR.Drone quadricopter

By Damir Beciri
3 Comments30 June 2010

parrot-ar-droneImagine you are the pilot of an aircraft that flies like a dragonfly, and with an on-board video camera, you see exactly what the pilot sees. Imagine no more because Parrot, a company that develops wireless devices for mobile phones, came up with AR.Drone – a remote controlled quadricopter. Unlike similar remote controlled flyers, these… »

Insects biomimicry for robots that hop, jump and stick

By Damir Beciri
One Comment28 June 2010

mirko-kovac-robot-perching-mechanismWe already wrote several articles regarding swarm robotics because it is offering innovative solutions to real-world problems by creating a new form of artificial intelligence based biomimicry of insect-like instincts. Mirko Kovac, from EPFL’s Laboratory of Intelligent Systems, is a robotics engineer who has already made leaps forward in the field with his grasshopper-inspired jumping… »

New Dyson Air Multiplier fans got larger and even more expensive

By Damir Beciri
One Comment27 June 2010

dyson-air-multiplier-1After postponing the original article in hope its price will fall through time, we’re finally publishing the article regarding a Dyson fan. The original version, which came out last fall, has wowed many, partially because it was innovating and partially because of its price. Aside from not dropping its price, the folks from Dyson made… »