PC World just came out with 100 technology predictions Here are some of the ones that I liked: Dragon NaturallySpeaking speech-recognition program claimed an accuracy of 99 percent, but PC world tests showed an accuracy of 96 percent. Expect higher accuracy to allow use of machines without keyboards. Adding flash memory to the motherboard could …
The current US dept of Energy plan for climate change at this site The actual 243 page pdf is here The strategic goals as follows:1. Reduce emissions from energy end use and infrastructure;2. Reduce emissions from energy supply;3. Capture and sequester carbon dioxide;4. Reduce emissions of non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gases;5. Improve capabilities to measure and …
A gadolinium layer of no more than one nanometer in thickness is capable of combining the magnetic world with electronics. In this way, it will be possible to put a magnetic memory element directly to a silicon transistor: the basic building block of information technology. Memory that is directly coupled to processing power, is an …
Engineers in Japan are perfecting a wearable power suit that amplifies human strength to help lift hospital patients or heavy objects. Driven by portable batteries, micro air pumps and small body sensors that pick up even the slightest muscle twitch, the Stand-Alone Wearable Power Assist Suit is designed to help nursing home workers lift patients …
New experimental research shows that half-matter, half-light quasi-particles called polaritons show compelling evidence of Bose-Einstein condensation at the relatively high temperature of 19 degrees Kelvin. The creation of a polariton Bose-Einstein condensate in the solid state provides scientists with a unique opportunity to better understand and possibly exploit the quantum effects that occur in these …
New fuel that is easy to manufacture and is capable of boosting the power output of PWR plants by 50 percent. Researchers at MIT changed the shape of the fuel from solid cylinders to hollow tubes. This added surface area that allows water to flow inside and outside the pellets, increasing heat transfer. The efficiency …
Following up on information from crnano The Harvard Nanopore Group is working on the development of solid state nanopores and our studies of DNA translocation through these nanopores suggest how a nanopore could be the core of an instrument capable of inexpensive de novo sequencing. They are investigating and developing the basic science and technology …
Via Accelerating Futures and Slashdot This new ultra-capacitor technology could be in cars by 2008. It could also be useful for space systems and other applications. Digital Crusader analyzes the numbers that are claimed Texas-based company EEStor has finally revealed some details of it’s ultra-capacitor technology. They claim that an automobile using their energy storage …
RingCube Technologies Inc. unveiled software that can virtually squeeze a PC onto an iPod, USB keychain drive, cell phone or any gizmo with digital storage space. RingCube’s MojoPac software mirrors a computer’s personal settings, programs and data on a storage device. Then, when it’s connected to any computer running Microsoft Corp.’s Windows XP operating system, …
I have made a long bet prediction. This costs $50. Anyone is free to challenge this prediction and a long bet can be negotiated. There will be a quantum computer with over 100 qubits of processing capability sold either as a hardware system or whose use is made available as a commercial service by Dec …
Engineers and entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley are taking advantage of their expertise in computer chips to design and manufacture electricity-generating solar cells that they hope will be increasingly competitive with traditional energy sources such as coal and natural gas. Most solar cells and chips are made from the same raw material from which the valley …