Tech universe: Tuesday, June 22

Toshiba's dual touch-screen Libretto.

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

VORTEX HUFF: Want to knock down a house of bricks? Try a vortex cannon. Take acetylene and air then blow the mix out like smoke rings.
The shockwave will tumble that Little Pig's house. Mmmm, bacon at the Beeb. Video fodder here.

PURPLE FLASH: Cheap digital cameras using red and green dyes and a purple LED flash can take photos to read oxygen levels. Psychedelia at New Scientist.

TWICE AS TOUCHING: The Toshiba Libretto handheld computer is tiny. Use it sideways as a laptop or turn it round to be a bookreader. Unlike other computers though it has two multi-touch screens. One for each hand?

UNUSUAL MOVES: Smart cameras in East Orange, USA watch citizens for unusual activity. They detect probable crimes so street patrols can be on the scene right away. "What you thinkin about, punk?" Catch up with Big Brother at Skunkpost.

SMOOTH MOVES: Hitachi's EMIEW2 humanoid service robot is a real cutie. Less than a metre tall, it skates on two legs, finding its own way around obstacles. It talks and listens, bows and waves too. Replace the citizens of East Orange with these robots and there'd be no crime at all! Watch the movie here.