A round-up of the latest technology news from around the globe.
COLOURING BOOKS: The Hanvon Technology e-reader is the first to use colour e-ink technology. The NY Times says "E Ink
uses its standard black-and-white display overlaid with a color
filter", while New Scientist says "Electronic ink works by attracting black or white powders to the front of a clear pixel capsule.... E Ink has now divided each capsule into four subcapsules containing red, green, blue and white powders". Either way, when it comes to books I'm happy with black and white.
IFACE BOOKED: In Victoria, Australia, police are using a new facial recognition network that matches photos and descriptions to the iFace image database. New cameras and lighting systems are intended to improve photo quality. Will it tell all their friends their face has been matched? More at the HeraldSun.
HOT FEET: Roads and footpaths get hot - we've all had that summer barefoot problem. So how about using that heat to generate some power, maybe for streetlights or to heat buildings? The University of Rhode Island is checking out the possibilities, including photovoltaic cells, water filled pipes below the road, thermo-electric
semiconductors and replacing asphalt with specialised power harvesting
materials. Exploring every avenue for power generation: good thinking. More at ScienceDaily.
UNDERGROUND CHAT: Unattended ground sensors can detect a footfall or a tank, or pick up other information from acoustic, seismic, passive infrared, electro-optical, infrared and even nuclear channels. Networked together, and sending information with seismic signals rather than via cellphone towers they become very powerful military tools. I guess seismic signals doesn't mean earthquakes here. More at DiscoveryNews.
SEE THROUGH SOLAR: A semiconducting polymer doped with carbon-rich fullerenes can be made to self-assemble into a honeycomb-pattern. The material both absorbs light and generates a charge, though it remains largely transparent, making it perfect for windows that generate solar energy themselves. Maybe they'd help recycle some of that night-time light pollution too. More at Kurzweilai.
- Miraz Jordan knowit.co.nz
