Science & Technology

New wireless technology to change communications

2011-08-02T05:01:00.001-07:00

This is a pretty impressive pilot technology under development in the USA for wireless communication. You can read more about it from these sites:

1. The Australian Online

2. Background technical reading

The technology should be available before I retire. It should make up for my slower reflexes.

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Andrew Sheldon www.sheldonthinks.com

Thinking about buying solar power

2009-06-20T23:37:00.000-07:00

I have just finished writing a report on renewable energy. If you listen to the press you might be dismayed by the state of the environment, but actually there is reason for confidence from science. There are some exciting new technologies which are being commercialised in the next two years, as well as some prospects for greater efficiency and lower cost down the road. I am particularly impressed by the fuel cell and the prospect of generating power from much more efficient solar energy cells.
When is the time to buy solar power systems you might ask. I would argue that the time to buy is when you can obtain a 3-4 year payback from buying. Any longer than that, they you are wasting money. These systems will unfortunately not be compatible with new technology, so no benefit there. If you are interested in renewables refer to this report.
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Andrew Sheldon www.sheldonthinks.com

Brain waves show the future

2008-11-09T02:57:00.000-08:00

Here is a technology I actually anticipated but didn't have the tens of millions of dollars to get it to the market. Oh, and I have no background in this area. But these guys do. My idea was simply to be able to convert thoughts into brain data or vice versa, just as you might copy information off your computer HDD. For example, being able to focus on what your friends say, and focusing on recording that content so you can play it back later in some sense knowing you won't forget it.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

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Andrew Sheldon www.sheldonthinks.com

The development of wireless energy

2008-08-25T20:26:00.000-07:00

Intel has developed a wireless electric power system that could revolutionise the way we live as drastically as the development of electronic devices themselves. This is a critical development which will free people from the power socket. People will be freed from wall sockets because this form of conducting electricity does not require transformers. The technology also promises a reduction in product size and energy losses, since transformers generate a lot of heat or current resistance.

The technology was unveiled by Intel chief technology officer Justin Rattner. He demonstrated the Wireless Energy Resonant Link at the Intel's annual developers forum in San Francisco by sending electricity to a lamp on stage wirelessly, and in the process powering a 60-watt light bulb, which uses more power than a typical laptop computer. More importantly the conduction did not electrocute any observers. The human body is not affected by magnetic fields; it is only affected by elective fields. The question is whether the technology can be developed in a way that does not interfere with the operation of other devices. Would you want your retail store to be sharing its power or interfering in some way with any car passing by. Of course the technology is at an early stage of development.
Possible applications include laptops, mobile telephones and other mobile devices for use in airports, offices and other buildings . This is of course just the start. Perhaps we might be looking at other ways of discharging power remotely. Perhaps the first application might be the powering of your wireless mouse for your computer so you don't need batteries or a wire, not to mention other accessories. The technology is likely to eliminate the need for chargers, since these mobile devices will get their power by wireless from your car and computer, etc. You will no longer need batteries for many applications.

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Andrew Sheldon www.sheldonthinks.com

A new generation of computing by NEC - will it take off?

2008-02-25T16:17:00.000-08:00

This is one of the latest technology solution offers by NEC. This computer comprises a collection of 5 different pen-size devices. Whilst it's a clever technological solution, its hardly a practical one, and I dont believe its the way that computing is likely to go.
I believe the way of the future is integrating your brain with the CPU of the computer. I think we will be using a retinal scanner which will allow us to see a screen projected onto our retina, and that there will be some pointer device established using the movement of our eye. We will use that scanning capacity for scanning the screen. But ultimately I think such computers will be able to dispense with a keyboard and what you think will be communicated to a screen. I think such solutions are about 10 years in the future and will likely herald a fall in the price of computers below $300, but eventually falling to $50.
Anyway check out the NEC solution.
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Andrew Sheldon www.sheldonthinks.com

2007-12-14T19:42:00.001-08:00