Exoskeleton at CES Steals the Show

 Emerging Technology  1 Response »
Jan 132014
 

While there were a lot of gizmos, gadgets and other electronic what not at this year’s CES in Las Vegas, one item stole the show. At that item was the Ekso Bionics exoskeleton.

According to Forbes, “Demonstrating the motorized harness was Paul Thacker – a paraplegic who fractured his 5th Thoracic Vertebra (T5) during a snowmobile accident in 2010. Paul first walked using the Ekso Bionics exoskeleton within 8 months of his injury.

“It takes about two minutes for Paul to gear up for a walk – and about one minute to climb out of the harness and back into his wheel chair. Once standing, he only uses the crutches as balance points. It’s still relatively cumbersome (for those of us with no impaired mobility), but he is most definitely walking (with motorized assistance from the exoskeleton). The direction today is forward only (no reverse), and turning (either left or right) at sharp angles is the highest technical and physical challenge.”

When high tech empowers people and changes lives one can only give it two thumbs way up in the air.

 

Top Future Tech Stories Week of August 15, 2011

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Aug 152011
 

Here are the week’s top future tech stories in regards to future airplanes, augmented reality, future cars, smart grid training and virtual reality.

DARPA’s Fastest Airplane Fails

DARPA attempted to fly the fastest aircraft ever built. The Agency’s Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2 (HTV-2) is designed to fly anywhere in the world in less than 60 minutes. This capability requires an aircraft that can fly at 13,000 mph, while experiencing temperatures in excess of 3500F … More than nine minutes of data was collected before an anomaly caused loss of signal. Initial indications are that the aircraft impacted the Pacific Ocean along the planned flight path.

http://www.darpa.mil/NewsEvents/Releases/2011/2011/08/11DARPA_HYPERSONIC_VEHICLE_ADVANCES_TECHNICAL_KNOWLEDGE.aspx

 

Microsoft’s Version of Augmented Reality

Wired Magazine’s take on Microsoft’s AR, “We present KinectFusion, a system that takes live depth data from a moving depth camera and in real-time creates high-quality 3D models. The system allows the user to scan a whole room and its contents within seconds. As the space is explored, new views of the scene and objects are revealed and these are fused into a single 3D model.”

http://www.wired.com/beyond_the_beyond/2011/08/augmented-reality-kinectfusion/

 

Audi Future Car to Be Showcased Next Month

The Urban Concept sports an ultra lightweight body with minimal features, 1+1 seating position and two electric motors for zero CO2 emissions. Note that fancy outboard 21-inch wheels.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/auto/autopreview/251504/audi-urban-vision

 

First Smart Grid Training Center in U. S. Announced

Vivint, a home automation company, announced that it has launched the nation’s first smart grid training center … The training center will prepare technicians for full scale AMI deployment, including the installation of home area network (HAN) and load control devices, EV chargers and much more. The 10,000-square-foot facility in Texas houses two fully equipped model smart homes outfitted with Vivint’s home automation, energy and security solutions.

http://smart-grid.tmcnet.com/topics/smart-grid/articles/206547-vivint-announces-first-smart-grid-training-center-the.htm

 

Sony Virtual Reality Headgear for Gaming

That 3D head-mounted display may be used for more than just viewing passive entertainment. Speaking with Develop, Sony Europe group studio manager Mick Hocking said that the company is currently researching ways to integrate the 3D headset into virtual-reality-type games.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6323896/sony-toying-with-virtual-reality-gaming-headgear-report

 

Future Technology Highlights Week of June, 23 2011

 Emerging Technology  1 Response »
Jun 232011
 

These are the week’s top future technology stories featuring current emerging tech that will one day change our lives.

 

Future Tech Jobs: We Need Social Science Graduates

The science behind that interconnectivity is social network analysis, developed decades ago in social science research. It involves proven methods of scientific research and analysis which today is accelerated through software and online social networks.

http://blogs.forbes.com/rawnshah/2011/06/22/future-tech-jobs-we-need-social-science-graduates/

 

F1’s fuel-efficient engines of the future: Tech Talk

The original proposal was for F1 to adopt a 1.6l in-line four-cylinder engine from 2013. This week that has been tweaked to a 1.6l V6 from 2014 onwards – but the big picture of a downsized engine featuring lots of road-relevant new technology remains.

http://www.redbull.com/cs/Satellite/en_INT/Article/european-grand-prix-tech-talk-021243038970005

 

The Current Status and Predictions on Cloud Computing from Cloud Leaders

Werner Vogels from Amazon and Satya Nadella from Microsoft talked about the current status of cloud computing, while Lew Tucker from Cisco and Jon Weinman from HP made some predictions on its future at GigaOM Structure Event.

http://www.infoq.com/news/2011/06/Cloud-Status-Predictions

 

Future of flight is a Dreamliner

From the outset, Boeing has touted its 787 Dreamliner as an innovative passenger jet equipped to usher in a new age in air travel. Now the travelling public is getting a peek inside.

http://gulfnews.com/business/aviation/future-of-flight-is-a-dreamliner-1.826383

 

Leeds scientists hail prostate cancer breakthrough

AN “exciting” potential breakthrough in cancer treatment has been found by Leeds scientists. Tests of a new vaccine using a range of DNA proved successful at treating prostate cancer in mice.

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/leeds_scientists_hail_prostate_cancer_breakthrough_1_3497180

 

Video: NASA Robot Hovers Autonomously in Infrared

This robotic lander made staff in a NASA control room very happy when it launched, flew and landed itself autonomously. While that’s an impressive feat in itself, seeing the explosive launch in infrared is even more exciting.

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/06/nasa-robot-hovers/

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