A round-up of the latest technology news from around the globe.
PEOPLE POWER: Millions of people each day pass through turnstiles. Every turn of the stile could generate power, as the Guangdong University of Technology realised. Their concept for the Self-Powered Turnstile Green Pass captures kinetic energy and puts it to good use. Every little bit helps. More at GizmoWatch.
3D SURGICAL PRECISION: Surgeons at the University Hospitals of Geneva scan patients to create 3D images of their insides. Then they project the 3D image directly onto the patient's body, and also display it on an iPad. This lets surgeons see exactly where and how to cut. Just wait till the high resolution Retina Display comes to iPad! Details at EuroNews.
BRAIN TALK: University of Utah placed microelectrodes on a volunteer's brain and had the volunteer speak a limited vocabulary aloud. A computer correctly matched from 28% to 48% of the brain signals with words. Writers everywhere want this technology perfected. More at DiscoveryNews.
ROBOT HIDE & SEEK: At the Georgia Institute of Technology researchers are teaching their robots to practise deception, saying a deceptive robot may have an advantage. One robot lays a false trail while hiding from another. The 3 Laws of Robotics never said anything about telling the truth. More at the Register.
GPS ONE: Japan's first GPS satellite was launched in mid-September 2010. It will orbit above Japan for 8 hours per day, increasing GPS accuracy. Two more satellites will eventually provide 24 hour coverage. Isn't that more of a Japanese Positioning System? Details at the BBC.
- Miraz Jordan knowit.co.nz
