even a helmet can be smart...

LONDON, England (CNN) -- A British design graduate has come up with a way to make the road a safer place for motorbike riders, using technology originally developed for jet fighter pilots.

Piers Tucker, 24, of Yorkshire, has created a motorbike helmet that is fitted with GPS technology, which displays information about what speed the bike is traveling.

The device means that the driver does not have to take their eyes off the road to monitor their speed.

Tucker says the idea is based on "Head Up Display" systems used by fighter pilots.

Although he does not ride a motorbike himself, he is a Formula One enthusiast and also has a passion for electronics and physics.

His invention is a result of combining the two interests, he says.

He believes the device will be a lifesaver and he would like to see it become a common accessory for motorbike riders within five years, used by both racers and everyday commuters.

"As soon as you take your eyes off the road, you're potentially causing a hazard," Tucker says.

The helmet is fitted with a small display unit, measuring approximately 2.5cm x 2cm, which has an LCD screen and can be seen to the left of the wearer's peripheral vision.

It displays the speed at which the motorbike is traveling, whether the bike has its indicators on by displaying a light either side of the screen, and what gear the bike is in.

When the indicators are on, the unit also makes a sound so that the driver is aware both visually and aurally.

Inside the display unit is a GPS chip, which measures the movement of the bike in nautical speed and converts it into a miles-per-hour reading. It then projects it on to a screen within the helmet.

Tucker says the technology is a lot more accurate than the speedometers currently fitted in most standard vehicles.

He believes the system could also be used by parachute jumpers and slalom skiers and could eventually replace the need for dials on a motorbike dashboard.

His prototype is the result of months of research and experimentation, testing the GPS technology on a second hand racing-standard helmet he purchased off eBay.

A lot of his research was undertaken in sophisticated multimedia laboratories and testing was done by high-tech simulators, both are at Brunel University in London, where Tucker has recently graduated with an industrial design and technology degree.

Motorcycle News acting editor Sean Warwick told CNN he believes there is a big market for Tucker's idea.

"I think a lot of motorcyclists would be very excited about it," he says.

"The main benefit, from a motorcyclist's point of view, is that they have to spend so much time watching out for dangers on the road because they are that much more vulnerable."

Warwick says the potential for using GPS technology within motorcycle helmets is great. It could also be used to detect hazards on the road, including potholes and manhole covers, he says.

Some car manufacturers have experimented with a similar system, displaying speed information on the vehicle's windscreen, in the driver's line of vision.

HTC TytnII the ultimate mobile companion

OVERVIEW

More powerful than any mobile communications device you've seen before, the HTC TyTN II takes global connectivity to the next level.

Staying connected means staying ahead. The TyTN II supports the full spectrum of network standards, guaranteeing that you will stay in touch ANYWHERE in the world. With an internet connection via 3.5G HSDPA that is nine times faster than 3G, using the TyTN II to download files and surf the Web is a breeze.

Communicating on the go is easier than ever with an innovative, ergonomic LCD design that positions the touch screen perfectly for reading and creating e-mails, using applications, or even just playing games.

Important information is just a glance away with HTC Home™, which displays a big clock and provides live weather updates, access to a quick application launcher and one touch ring settings, easy photo dialing, and more.

With a complete suite of Microsoft® Office Mobile applications, including Outlook® Mobile, Word Mobile, Excel® Mobile, and PowerPoint® Mobile, being out of the office doesn't have to mean you're out of the loop. Always ready for business - and pleasure - the HTC TyTN II makes sure you are too.

Highlights

	Enjoy super fast connectivity worldwide with HSDPA/UMTS, GSM, GPRS, EDGE, Wi-Fi®, and Bluetooth®
	Do more on the move with Windows Mobile® 6 Professional - instant e-mail, calendar, notes, tasks, and contacts synchronization
	Work in comfort with the unique tilting touch screen and the slide-out QWERTY keyboard
	Take your office with you - download, view, and edit documents wherever you go with the Office Mobile Suite and PDF viewer
	Find your way to your destination easily with built-in GPS navigation and software
	Capture magic moments with the built-in 3 megapixel camera with auto focus

whats new from sony vaio

Sony have announced two new models in their VAIO laptop range, the NS-series and CS-series. The former has a 15.4-inch display, while the latter has a 14.1-inch; both use widescreen XBRITE-ECO, panels, and both can be specified with Blu-ray drives. Power in the NS is courtesy of Intel’s 2GHz T5800 Core 2 Duo CPU, while graphics are integrated X4500; in the CS it’s a P8400 2.26GHz processor.

Even the entry level NS models have 3GB of RAM and a 250GB hard-drive; color options are blue, white and silver. The CS, meanwhile, has 4GB of RAM and a 320GB hard-drive, while color options are glossy “sangria, cosmopolitan, dove and black” or a matte black. It also has a 12-tone music analyzer which creates a music-triggered LED light show in the palmrest, based on the same technology as in the Sony Rolly.

Both the VAIO NS and CS laptops will be available starting in the fall. The CS will begin at $920, with the Blu-ray model at around $1,070; the NS will start cheaper at $650, though the Blu-ray model will be around $1,000.

Press Release:

Sony UNVEILS TWO BLU-RAY Disc NOTEBOOK PCS

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 12, 2008 –- Sony today introduced two notebooks with Blu-ray Disc™ technology— the VAIO® NS and CS models.

“With these new units, Sony is now offering consumers a host of multi-media PC options to choose from,” said Mike Abary, senior vice president of VAIO product marketing at Sony Electronics. “And with a starting price of around $1,000 for the NS model, we’re expecting a new audience to experience HD entertainment on their computers.”

HD Entertainment Attractively Priced

The VAIO NS notebook features an optional Blu-ray Disc-ROM drive that is ideal for viewing HD content. It also has the added convenience of DVD and CD read/write functionalities.

The PC is equipped with a 15.4-inch (measured diagonally) widescreen display, and Sony’s own XBRITE-ECO™ LCD technology for sharp details and vivid colors.

The NS model easily accesses your music, movies and the Internet. Its integrated A/V mode features a dedicated menu, putting entertainment within easy reach by letting you select up to nine programs, such as a favorite web site, from one location.

Packing an Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo processor, significant RAM and ample storage, the NS notebook is equipped with the tools required for everyday computing.

Available in three colors— nightfall blue, silk white and granite silver— the VAIO NS notebook will start at around $650, while the Blu-ray Disc model will go for about $1,000.

High Fashion Meets High-Def

The VAIO CS notebook is available in four glossy colors— sangria, cosmopolitan, dove and black. A standard black matte finish is also available.

The unit is equipped with a 14.1-inch widescreen display and XBRITE-ECO™ LCD technology for sharp images. Matched with an optional Blu-ray Disc-ROM drive, the CS model is ideal for watching HD entertainment on-the-go.

Its instant A/V mode lets you kick off your entertainment with ease. Go straight to watching a movie, playing music, or viewing photos with the touch of a button. A built-in A/V slide control also lets you control all functions (play, pause, rewind, fast-forward, stop, eject, etc.) all with one-touch ease.

The PC has a uniquely configured keyboard, designed with spacing between the keys, for a comfortable typing experience. A specialized keyboard font adds a fun touch. The unit also has a12-tone music analyzer that translates your music into a colorful LED light show that plays out beneath the palm rest of the PC.

It is backed by optional Intel® Centrino® 2 processor technology with plenty of power for high-speed performance and an energy-efficient design for remote computing.

The CS model will start at about $920, while the BD model will go for around $1,070.

The VAIO NS and CS notebooks will be available online at www.sonystyle.com/pr/fall. They will also be sold at Sony Style® stores and select retailers around the country starting this fall.

'Smart' Engine Shows Promise for Leaner, Greener Vehicle

Dr. Jagannathan Sarangapani, professor of electrical and computer engineering at UMR, and Dr. Jim Drallmeier, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at UMR, and their students have spent the last two years developing the controller, which may one day transform current engines into leaner, greener devices.
The researchers believe the sophisticated controller shows the most promise with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), a technique used to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.

Spark-ignition engines need both fuel and air to operate, Drallmeier says. “If, however, I can operate the engine in a situation where I can give it less fuel for the same amount of air or dilute the mixture with inert gases such as EGR, the engine will behave differently,” Drallmeier explains. “And that’s what we’re doing here.”

The researchers created a neural network controller that is implemented as a software program. Artificial neural networks are adaptive systems, which “learn” based on the successful connections they make between neurons or nodes. “The neural network observer part of the controller will assess the total air and fuel in a given cylinder in a given time,” Sarangapani says. “It then sends that estimate to another neural network, which generates the fuel commands and tells the engine how much fuel to change each cycle.”

Speed is a critical component, Drallmeier says.

“This controller observes what an engine cycle is doing, makes measurements in that period of time, reduces that data, and decides how you need to push the engine in the next cycle,” Drallmeier explains. “It does all that before the next cycle starts. We’re talking about a matter of milliseconds.”

Significant theoretical challenges encountered during controller design must be overcome before the controller can be implemented on the hardware, Sarangapani says.

“Very limited information is known to the controller from the engine, and the controller must generate an appropriate fuel command signal per cycle while ensuring overall performance,” Sarangapani explains. “The actor-critic neural network learns on-the-fly using reinforcement signals.”

Although increasing EGR can reduce nitrogen oxide emissions, it can cause significant cyclic dispersion in heat release.

“Cyclic dispersion is a cycle-to-cycle variability in engine output,” Drallmeier says. “A good example of people experiencing cyclic dispersion is when they’re sitting in their car at a stop light and they feel their car shaking. The more EGR you can add, the lower your nitrogen oxide emissions. The question is how far can we push it and still keep cyclic dispersion in a reasonable range.”

The auto industry depends on catalytic converters to meet the EPA’s tight emission requirements. But there are points in an engine operation when catalytic converters don’t work, such as during a cold start before the engine gets hot, Drallmeier says.

A smart controller that can reduce cyclic dispersion would open new possibilities to engine efficiency.

“The key is you’re opening doors into new modes of engine operation that were not available before through sophisticated controllers,” Drallmeier says. “Where future engine designs will go is multimode operation. The only way you’re going to get there is through sophisticated controllers.”

Source: University of Missouri-Rolla

latest smartphone on the 'hood

HTC Touch Diamond

The HTC Touch Diamond, HTC Corporation’s flagship handset has been named “European Smart Phone 2008-2009” by the members of EISA, the European Imaging and Sound Association. EISA is a unique association made up of some the most influential lifestyle and gadget publications across Europe; consisting of 49 member magazines spanning 18 European countries. The Touch Diamond was elevated above the competition thanks to its combination of innovative design and impressive functionality, applauded by EISA members.

Florian Seiche, Vice President HTC Europe, commented: “We are excited to have received this accolade from EISA. HTC is committed to innovation and the Touch Diamond continues to stretch the limits of mobile technology by integrating advanced functionality into a thin and compact design achieving the ultimate in high performance.”

The driving concept behind the innovation of the Touch Diamond was to set a new standard for integrating advanced mobile capability into a small and attractive package. The HTC Touch Diamond targets the no–compromise, tech-savvy consumer who demands the performance of a smartphone without the aesthetic compromise that many other devices on the market require.

via HTC

Technorati Tags: htc,diamond,touch,smart phone 2009-2009,european

save the planet by using smart n environment friendly technology

Go Green Now: Save Energy Through Smart IT

You've heard that going green in your IT planning is not only good for the environment, but good for your company's budget. But where to start? I asked two top technology executives for five quick steps that they suggest a CIO should take to start moving forward on a green agenda. But this is just a start; if you have a "five quick steps" suggestion please send me an email directly at Eric_Lundquist@ziffdavis.com.

Thomas Russo is the chief technology officer at Akridge Real Estate Services in Washington, D.C. He is a CTO with boundless energy to talk to you about saving energy. His advice spans an area of interest that ranges beyond traditional IT areas, but expanding your sphere of concern is also a way to expand your sphere of management. Here are his five quick steps:

1. Use motion-sensor-controlled lighting on building automation systems. Remember the following areas and techniques.
* Stairwells
* Daylight harvesting sensors that automatically adjust lighting to amount of daylight. Some studies show an 84 percent savings using these sensors.
* Parking garages
* Bathrooms
* Common areas
* Elevators

Don't forget: In some areas the lights cannot be turned off, but they can be dimmed. Dimming most lights is a 1 to 1 ratio of savings (50 percent on equals a 50 percent savings) including CFL (compact fluorescent lights).

2. Push building management to replace all incandescent bulbs with CFLs, LED lighting, or just more efficient bulbs.

3. Use variable speed drives on motors where possible, for example:
* Escalators can use motion sensors rather than constant operation
* Domestic water pumps can pump only the volume needed, not constantly at full speed.

4. Design, Design, Design -- whether retro-fitting or new design, energy efficiencies should be considered early.
* Design new buildings with no incandescent bulbs.
* Be part of the development and design teams. Help them find energy efficient solutions in the early stages of design and development.

5. Monitor electrical savings to prove return on investment
* Various software and hardware options are available to monitor the consumption of all utilities.

James Whalen is the senior vice president and CIO of Boston Properties. He is widely recognized as one of the top technology executives in melding IT, building systems and business processes into a comprehensive energy management system. As Jim noted to me in an email, "the biggest (green) 'opportunity'" is reducing energy consumption and heat output in the data center, but, unless one is confronted with life cycle rollover or a move, it is difficult to justify purely on '"green" benefits. However, IT is confronted with life-cycle rollover decisions every year. He also raised an interesting question: For buildings, one seeks a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification that requires the accumulation of points for various components ... maybe we need a corresponding point system for IT efforts in this area? Here are his suggestions:

1. Virtualization -- You can dramatically cut the number of servers while also investing in the latest "efficiency" servers, thereby eliminating legacy and inefficient servers. In one case, Boston Properties virtualized 24 existing servers down to four.

2. Power settings -- This is a practical suggestion enabled by enforcing policy level standards across all desktops, laptops and printers.

3. Data center redesign -- This is usually only prompted during life-cycle rollover or a required move. Jim noted that his group recently built a new center and proactively re-engineered elements to reduce energy consumption and heat output.

4. Cut paper -- A practical suggestion enforced by proactively reducing paper output through imaging and marketing best practices on printer usage.

5. Recycle -- Again a practical suggestion enforced by a policy requiring proper recycling of older computers.


Posted by Eric Lundquist on August 1, 2007 12:02 PM

latest gadget arroud us....could be used as buying guide...

Panasonic launched The World Smallest Camcorder

Feb 16th, 2007 by Albert

When Camcorder

joins our daily life, capture all our precious moments, even company us traveling around the world however because of the size of the oldies camcorder which was big, we got trouble in taking care of it. However now, Panasonic launched SDR-S10 “The World Smallest Camcorder” measures 1.2 x 2.5 x 4.5 inches, 10x optical zoom, 2.5-inch LCD. With the ability to record on SD/SDHC format, Panasonic reveal that a 4GB SDHC memory card will allows 100 minutes recording time whereas the 2GB SDHC memory card will allows 50 minutes recording time. SDR-S10 designed in a stylish look, easy shooting that allows you to shoot your precious moment comfortably in the palm of your hand. Watch the stunning pic of the smalles camcorder after the break.

Unfortunately no word on the price of SDR-S10 however it will be available on Europe around the beginning of this May.

Via: SimplyDV