Clipmarks | bferman's 'technology' clips

Computer Screen Contact Lenses

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 03:29:10 GMT

clipped by: bferman
clipper's remarks: Simply amazing

This kind of stuff only used to be in science fiction. Not anymore. A group of University of Washington engineers is developing contact lenses which can, get this, display the details of whoever is calling you on your mobile phone! The display would be superimposed on the outside world. BUT, that's just the tip of the iceberg. The technology, if and when fully-developed, could be used by drivers to display speed of the vehicle, pilots to view the plane's condition while flying and yes, video game developers for new games which would definitely beat virtual reality as we know it. The developers aim to enable web surfing in through the contact lenses too. The team was already able to develop a prototype although a fully-functioning device would probably not be unveiled anytime soon.

Tags: technology, biomedical, science

The Blackest Material

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 02:04:28 GMT

clipped by: bferman

Clip Source: science.slashdot.org

The Blackest Material

"Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have created 'the world's first material that reflects virtually no light.' This anti-reflection technology is based on nanomaterial and could lead to the development of more efficient solar cells, brighter LEDs, and 'smarter' light sources. In theory, if a room were to be coated with this material, switching on the lights would only illuminate the items in the room and not the walls, giving a sense of floating free in infinite space."

Tags: science, anti-reflection, technology, nano

Rainbow Warrior Denied Access to Iran

Tue, 20 Feb 2007 03:57:40 GMT

clipped by: bferman
clipper's remarks: I was really rooting for the Rainbow Warrior peace ship too.

Clip Source: www.commondreams.org

Rainbow Warrior off Iranian coast, Greenpeace protest at Knesset in Israel

JERUSALEM - February 19 - Greenpeace today called for urgent discussions about a Nuclear Free Middle East to create a region free of all nuclear technology, civil and military, as essential to increasing peace and stability in the region. The international peace and environment group said nuclear technology is not the solution to either national security or energy needs.

Plans had been made to hold a press conference on board the group’s ship the Rainbow Warrior in Bushehr, Iran, to present the results of research into different energy options for Iran which would allow it to meet its energy needs without recourse to nuclear power(1). Through a combination of modern energy efficiency technologies and renewable energy sources Iran can save money, meet the energy needs of its people and its economy. At the same time it can reduce its consumption of oil and gas.

However, at the last minute with the ship on the edge of Iran's territorial waters, final permission to enter was withheld by the Iranian authorities.

"We are disappointed not be able to present our case in person to the people of Iran. At a time of massive naval operations in the gulf it is a real shame that there appears to be no place for a peace ship. We have received a huge amount of support and help from many people in Iran to try to get the ship in. However, we will seek other ways to communicate our message and continue to work for peace in the region."

Tags: rainbow warrior, iran, peace ship, nuclear

Bionic Eye Restores Sight to the Blind

Sun, 18 Feb 2007 04:30:56 GMT

clipped by: bferman

Clip Source: www.foxnews.com

Bionic Eye Restores Sight to the Blind

A bionic eye that can restore sight to the blind should be available commercially within two years, scientists behind the revolutionary technology announced.

The artificial retina has been cleared by U.S. regulators to begin trials on between 50 and 75 people suffering from two of the most common causes of blindness, opening the way for millions more to benefit from similar implants in the future.

If the research progresses well, a device could be on the market early in 2009 at a likely cost of about $30,000, said Mark Humayun, Professor of Ophthalmology at the Doheny Eye Institute, part of the University of Southern California.

An early version of the prosthetic retina has already been fitted to six patients with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative and incurable eye condition that affects 1 in 3,500 people. All have recovered the ability to detect light and motion, and even to make out large letters and to distinguish between objects such as a cup, a knife and a plate.

The second-generation device that is now starting trials should provide even better vision, as it contains 60 light-sensitive electrodes, compared with 16 in the previous model.

More improvements are expected within five to seven years with a 1000-electrode implant that will enable previously blind people to recognize faces, Humayun said.

The trials will be conducted at five centers in the U.S., on patients over 50. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has insisted on older subjects as they have less to lose if the experiments go wrong.

Thousands of people have already volunteered.

Tags: bionic eye, blind, science, biomedical, technology