Erik Staats

An Israeli firm has developed fiber optic technology that can project images on eyeglasses. The image matches that of a 70-inch television screen viewed from 10 feet away.

According to the company, Lumus Ltd., “Image you’re sitting in a meeting and you want to read an e-mail … you just click a button and you start reading away while you’re looking attentively at the person who’s giving the presentation.” I suppose you could just as easily be surfing porn without anyone noticing either:)

The company claims that products could be on the market next year. That would be very interesting.
Fiber Optics Turn Eyeglasses Into Movie Screen - Technology News by TechWeb

Blogged with Flock

A startup called Oxy Systems has announced software that allows music to be downloaded from a users’ PC’s to their cell phones over the wireless networks. This would obviate the need for large storage on cell phones for music since new tracks can be downloaded as needed.

Of course, you’ll want an unlimited data plan or those downloads could be costly.

The service is called Phling and will also enable sharing of music with up to six friends. It also enables photo transfers to and from your PC. This could be pretty interesting.
Start-up claims to offer next mobile-music thing | CNET News.com

Blogged with Flock

MIT is working on wireless power beacons that can transmit power up to 12 feet, even through obstacles. This could potentially enable truly wireless wireless devices. The artical doesn’t mention anything about how much power can be transmitted. Presumably, it’s not enough to power your 60″ plasma TV.

Imagine a house with a power beacon at every electrical outlet. All low power devices could stay constantly charged. Way cool!

EETimes.com - MIT claims advance in wireless power transfer

Blogged with Flock

Now anyone can be a rock guitar star with the air guitar shirt. Sensors in the shirt transform air guitar arm movements to real guitar sounds. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this make its way into some video game or some great YouTube videos.

Wearable guitar instrument shirt interview (Video)

Blogged with Flock

Duke university has demonstrated a working invisibility cloak using metamaterials with variable index-of-refraction. The material causes light to flow around it like water flowing around a smooth rock.

The demonstration only worked on microwaves. Practical applications include a doggy suit so you can safely put Fifi in the microwave:)
EETimes.com - Duke takes wraps off cloaking device

Blogged with Flock

Nokia announced a very low power wireless protocol called Wibree. It’s touted as requiring 1/10 the power of Bluetooth and providing up to 1 Mbit/sec with the same 10 meter range as Bluetooth.

Nokia has mentioned using the technology in watches and other very low power devices.
Apparently, rather than keeping the radio on constantly, it sends data in bursts, turning the radio off between bursts. In some ways, this is similar to how ZigBee works.

It also appears that a single, hybrid Wibree/Bluetooth chip can be made for not much more cost than a Bluetooth only chip.

There’s a lot of speculation about Wibree competing with Bluetooth. I think Bluetooth is too entrenched to be replaced any time soon. If Wibree proves to be successful, I’d predict that it would more likely displace the ZigBee spec.
Will Low-Power Wibree Spec Replace Bluetooth?

Blogged with Flock

CNET has an article on research Intel is doing into tiny robots that can work together to assemble themselves into any shape. This is it folks. The robots will take any unsuspecting shape to blend in before they attack. The end is nigh. Be prepared to choose the form of the destructor!
Attack of the killer prototype robots | CNET News.com

Blogged with Flock