Fuel Cell technology is coming closer to consumer electronics market thanks to the engineers from Toshiba that made this first commercially available miniature fuel cell charger for mobile devices through USB charging. Toshiba call it Dynario and so far only made 3000 units available and can be bought at Shop1048 for 29,800 Yen. The fuel cell charger is running on methanol and requires 14ml of it for full refill and enough to charge 2 cell phones. Dynario charging capability is within the USB spec and weights 280g without methanol. Already safety regulation is preventing user from carrying such device especially the methanol and more particular when flying. This device is ideal for people who are on the move a lot and carry lots of electronic mobile devices but they have to stand the chemical smell of methanol and luckily Toshiba chose to use methanol instead of hydrogen which can be even more dangerous.
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If you ever wonder whether it is possible to create all round 3D image view that you have seen in many Sci-fi shows!!! Now it is possible thanks to the folks from Japan that made a prototype concept product that is able to display 3D object and can be view from 360 degree and showcase at recent IFA 2009. At this stage of development Sony have yet to identify specific application usage model based on this technology. The specification of this 360 degree 3D display is 24 bits colour at 96 X 128 resolutions to generate stereoscopic images without having to wear 3D glasses. In this early stage I think it is not possible to put in on mobile devices yet but it will be cool to have 3D Head Ups Display use in car dashboard.
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Live 3D images are already in usage in many our consumer product mainly in security verification like credit card. But now there a new 3D fractal image generator that it is possible to feel floating 3D image or hologram 3D objects, thanks to the scientists from Tokyo University who make it possible. Source from Reuters report that they have manage to enable the 3D hologram to be felt by human hands touching the projecting hologram by using ultrasonic wave which is control by the ultrasound 3D image software. Professor Hiroyuki Shinoda who is one of the developers of the Technology claims that the usage of such technology can be use to replace other physical object like switch button that can be more economical and environmentally friendly.
Of course the usage model from touching 3D hologram objects at this stage is basic model only and perhaps in the coming future they are to do more complex model thus extending the usage model of such technology. This is also one of the wow factors in many Sci-fi film that use its concept to do impressive presentation which is quite notable for me are movies like Star Wars and Steven Spielberg’s film Minority Report. There will others who will be thinking of its usage in the porn industries. We can expect foreseeable future the usage of touchable 3D Hologram technology in the consumer market.
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The idea of having a giant solar panel in space to harness the limitless power from sun is really nothing new. In fact the concept is already made it into Sci-fi Anime like Gundam 00. Where orbital elevator were build from Earth stretching out to space to collect the solar power.
Now, the ideas have started taking more serious interest as source from Inhabitat reveal that the Japan will be investing $21 billion in such development. The solar space power plan will provide 1 gigawatt of electricity wirelessly. So this project actually take 1 step further when compare with the concept of orbital elevator in Gundam 00 where they have build the elevator from Earth and all to way into the space. So no wire attachment is require to transfer power, very innovative! So it will beam the power from space back to Earth. Well not sure whether the concept was influence by Gundam 00 since it is a very popular anime series in Japan.
Anyway the huge project will be work by Mitsubishi Electric Corp. and industrial design company IHI Corp mainly. Expect to have the prototype ready for test run by 2015. If this method proved to be successfully then it will definitely help with the growing energy needs in Japan and also encourage other nations to move into space solar power plant development.
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