Tech universe: Monday, 20 September

A Dynamics credit card includes a computer and lithium-polymer battery. Photo / Thinkstock

A round-up of the latest technology news from around the globe.

CREDIT 2.0: A Dynamics credit card includes a computer and
lithium-polymer battery. Press a button to switch between 2 accounts
on a MultiAccount card. Or use a keypad on the Hidden card to hide and
reveal digits from the account number. Both write information to the
magnetic strip. Don't fat finger that keypad. More at TechnologyReview.

SHIRT SPRAY: Don't forget to spray on your shirt in the morning. Imperial College London mixed small fibres with polymers and a solvent. Spray the mixture on as liquid clothing. It then hardens into a garment you can remove, wash and wear again. Careful how you peel it off. More at the Telegraph.

MICRO BUZZ: Micro air vehicles may be as tiny as the tip of your finger. Harvard University is developing these insect-size robotic flying machines to monitor and explore hazardous environments such as collapsed buildings, caves and chemical spills. Biggest threat: birds. More at EurekAlert.

SOCK IT TO ME: Intel's contextually aware computers will learn about their users and share the information with other devices. Imagine
socks that learn how you walk, for example. They're still just a
concept though. Fortunately. More at V3.

BEDTIME STORY STICK: Franklin's AnyBook Reader is a 'wand' that stores up to 60 hours of voice recording. Someone reads aloud a page from a book and adds a special sticker to the page. A kid taps the sticker with the device and hears the right recording. Wait till the copyright lawyers hear about this! More at Franklin.

- Miraz Jordan knowit.co.nz