The car may drive itself, but you still got to pay for the hot wings

The things that can be done with software code are amazing. Researchers from the University of Berlin have created a system that will allow driving without hands. Called the EyeDriver, a converted bicycle helmet equipped with two cameras and an infrared LED will autonomously steer the car in the direction the user looks. It works with one camera looking outward and the other camera trained on the driver's eyes. The information is sent to a laptop computer and relayed to an onboard computer in the car. There are two modes, "free ride" and "routing," in the first, the car will go exactly where the eyes move, in the latter, the system is automatically steering the car,at intersections the system asks the driver the direction that is desired, requiring the driver to hold a stare for three seconds, even going backwards with the driver turning his head around.... I know what you may be thinking though, attractive people everywhere will be mowed down continuously with this type of technology,looking at a sign would be out of the question, so there's some kinks to work out. But the car does have some autonomy, during a demonstration a pedestrian jumped out in the car's path and the car stopped just fine (OK, it was only going 10 m.p.h.).

But that's not all, Apple smart phones have technologies that will operate the car remotely.
And there's more, Google is developing cars that drive themselves similar to the above mentioned routing mode. This is obviously the safer method excluding software error. There are other benefits like decreasing fuel consumption as it allows cars to drive closer together with the computer software's instant reaction times and perfected techniques. The latter making the cars safer than humans by taking distraction and emotion out of the driving equation. Again an advantage would be allowing the driver, or should I say the "would be driver" to be productive or entertained on the go.OK, this is my dream car,now if it could just pay for the chicken wings and other miscellaneous items I need.

http://mashable.com/2010/10/09/google-cars/#

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36737137/ns/technology_and_science-innovation/

No dipping into the stream

There is a new trend in software that appears to be gaining traction in today's app happy market that goes by a variety of names like "anti-distraction" or "no-distraction" software utilities. They also show that when the pendulum swings so far in one direction, money can be made by simply swinging back the opposite way. Computer and many consumer electronic devices pride themselves on the many tasks that can be handled continuously, and simultaneously, but that is not always a good thing for users who need to get things done, not twiddle around with Twitter or checking faces on Facebook.
These programs go by such names as LeechBlock and Isolator. Some fill up the screen to keep alerts that users loose focus with. Others turn off the internet or disable specific websites, with the difference being that users impose these restrictions on themselves.
Some word-processing packages such as Scrivner and Writespace have incorporated some of these programs by offering a "no distraction mode," that takes all unnecessary menus off the screen, or disables them. Other programs hide or blur everything except the active program.
For $10 a program called Freedom (Windows and Macs) will ask you how long you want to disable internet access by entering your system password and severing the feed. LeechBlock gives you the customization options that will disable some websites and allow others for those of us that need access to complete certain tasks.
Freedom designer Fred Stutzman, a graduate student in information science from the University Of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, comments, "Just being on-line means you have this continuous partial attention, or this sense that at any point in time, you can dip into the stream." The plethora of ways to be connected, also potentially causes a lot of distractions.
Is it interesting with so many devices touting their connectivity that there's a demand for items that disable so many features we pay money to have.
http://www.economist.com/node/16295664

Hopefully soon they'll create something like that for drivers!

Radioisotope batteries

Researchers at the University Of Missouri are working on a new battery that will utilize a liquid semiconductor that is more resistant from the attacks by radioactive elements. Conventional batteries use solid semiconductors that are not as resistant. The researchers believe that their battery has the potential to make a phone charge last a couple of months.
Jae Kwon, a assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at U.of M. said the battery can provide power density that is six orders of magnitude higher than chemical batteries(a million times the charge of a normal battery).
Problems to be overcome in its development is the size of the battery, which of course needs to be small to fit the many consumer devices that it will be used. The prototype is the thickness of a penny, but the researchers still want to reduce the size and test other materials to improve the battery. Kwon believes that the final product that will be used in commercial gadgets can be thinner than a human hair. The research team has a provisional patent.

Human Beat Box

Hopefully none of us will need to have an artificial limb, but now companies, well a company is combining a need for a prosthetic device with other aspects of a user's life. Upper extremity amputees can now enjoy an emerging technology, that's truly a merging technology also, with Reverb Arm. Advanced Arm Dynamics, the nations leading prosthetic rehabilitation service provider has integrated their prosthetic arms with MP3 playing capability.
According to Bernie Diamond, a patient that used the device on a ski trip; "the sound quality was crystal clear and the device itself was light and small, not bulky at all. I was able to hold onto the ski poles and still enjoy listening to my iPod. The sound was so loud, it could be heard up to seventy yards away."

The bass was optimized by the speaker placement so the sound would echo through the socket.

Who was that masked man?

The AV310 Widescreen
If you like video and movies, this may be for you, a 4 oz. wearable display that transforms your movie or gaming experience into a widescreen event. Not any widescreen, but the equivalent of a 52 inch screen viewed from 9 feet. Not only that, you’ll look like a superhero as well, you know the one with the tight fitting outfit and that superpower coming out of his glasses. This product can independently focus each eye, comes with high-quality stereo earphones and a single AA battery can give you 11 hours to view or game.
This product supports iPod and other media players, laptop computers, game consoles and video cameras. The independent +2 to -5 diopter focus adjustments (like binoculars), help you compensate for the weak eye(s) some of us have, can be worn with or without eyeglasses , has an on-screen menu display, removable earphones and an optional lightshield.
So get your buff on, buy some tight shirts and spend around $250 and look like a superhero while you enjoy a movie or a game.
http://www.vuzix.com/consumer/products_av310w.html

Look Ma, No Hands
The traumatically brain-injured, quadriplegics, and nonverbal persons now have a way to communicate, recreate, contribute to society and even pursue happiness. Technology that interfaces with brainwaves and physical movement, may let impaired persons play video games, adjust lightning, and communicate using an on-screen keyboard. This hands-free computer access solution uses a headband and special software. Introducing Brain Fingers, a trademark of Brain Actuated Technologies. Here’s how.
Facial muscles, brain waves and eye movements are transmitted using electrical signals; the headband has sensors that detect these movements from your forehead. Using a special software that decodes these signals, and recodes them to virtual fingers (hence the name Brain Fingers), allows a keyboard or mouse to access third-party software, gives people with severe disabilities the capability to enjoy computer access.
The headband amplifies and decodes these signals from the forehead using algorithms that separate channels (3) of information. These signals are captured by three plastic sensors and are sent to an interface box that contains a bio-amplifier and signal processor. This box connected to the PC, digitizes, amplifies and translates (by a patented decoding algorithm) into multiple commands which then create a hands-free control interface.
The lowest channel detects eye movements called ElectroOculoGraphic (EOG) signals, the left-right movements of the eye are mapped to left-right movements of the cursor.
The second channel is called the Electroencephalographic (EEG) signal; these frequencies are a reflection of internal brainwave activity. Tensing and relaxing certain facial muscles give users the ability to control these frequencies and are used for vertical and horizontal cursor control.
The third channel is the Electromyography (EMG) signals, which also reflect from facial muscle activity, and is used for keyboard commands, left and right mouse buttons and on and off program commands.
The CyberTrainer software is included and configures the system to the individual users. Certain actions, such as raising an eyebrow, will be different for each user, sensitivity adjustments are then made.
In some studies users were successful at using the BrainFinger system to pick randomly appearing targets in under 4 seconds, all done without using a hand.

http://www.brainfingers.com/

Solar powered portable devices...you still may be out of luck

Instead of carrying around another device for charging a battery, Apple is trying to integrate solar cells directly into the device. To make the device as unobtrusive as possible, electricity generating cells are placed under the device’s display (a semitransparent display with a solar cell underneath). The device's cover is connected to the solar cell layer to enable solar powered charging. This integration allows charging from sunlight without having to plug in a separate solar panel.
Apple patent applications also describe the use of multiple solar panels that connects the data processing system and memory. On the back of some devices a solar panel could be placed to feed a rechargeable battery.
Motorola is also attempting to build displays that allow sunlight to charge devices. These devices are most-likely to include AC adapters for standard charging. Of course these charging methods will rely on the sun shining, so if it’s dark out, you’re out of luck.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9952341-54.html