your plasma to you - Technology

Laser System Paints Information on the Road Ahead

Cheaper green semiconductor lasers could bring a novel display technology to market.

Head-up displays
, which project visual data onto the windshield and the driver's view of the road, are debuting in a growing number of car models. But more vibrant, compact, and efficient displays being developed by Microvision
, a company based in Redmond, Washington, could help the technology become much more common. Japan's Pioneer Corporation
plans to release its first head-up display product based on Microvision's novel display technology this year. Major carmakers in Detroit are also planning to integrate the technology into their vehicles by 2016, says Lance Evans, a director of business development at the company. Microvision's image projector
relies on semiconductor lasers and a microscopic mirror. The company's head-up display is already in some concept cars but has so far been too costly for commercial models, says Evans. Now, falling prices of green lasers—a significant cost component of the display—should make the technology competitive with conventional displays, he says. Most existing head-up displays generate images using LCDs. Light-emitting diodes produce light and liquid crystal arrays act as shutters, controlling whether or not light reaches each pixel. This approach drains power, and the images often aren't bright enough to be visible in daylight. Newer displays use either liquid crystal devices or hundreds of tiny mirrors to reflect light onto each pixel. While more energy efficient, these displays are still not very bright. Microvision's system uses a set of three lasers—red, green and blue—and a single, millimeter-wide silicon mirror that tilts on two axes. The lasers put out light at different intensities, and the three colors are mixed to produce the final pixel color. As the lasers shine light on the mirror, it rapidly scans horizontally and vertically, painting the image onto the windshield one pixel at a time. This happens so fast that the image looks static. Evans says that the lasers' pure, saturated colors result in more vivid images with a higher contrast ratio, so they are visible in daylight. Illuminating one pixel at a time also saves energy. And the use of a single mirror rather than an array makes the device smaller, simpler, and cheaper. The final cost of Microvision's product will hinge on the price tag of advanced green lasers. Materials for true green lasers have traditionally been difficult to engineer, so most green lasers contain semiconductors that emit infrared light, which is converted to green using complicated optics. In the past few years, though, half a dozen key players, such as Nichia
,Osram Opto Semiconductors
, and Soraa
, have developed cheaper pure-green lasers. They're slowly scaling up production, which should lower costs. Evans expects that costs should fall to a tenth of current levels by the end of this year. "Green lasers alone are $200 each now," he says. "Car companies are looking at the whole display to be that much." Microvision's laser-scanning display technology beats its competitors in terms of image quality, says Krishna Jayaraman, an analyst at Frost & Sullivan
. While other companies are also developing laser-based head-up displays, Microvision was the first to propose the approach and has a technology lead. Chris Chinnock, president of the display market research firm Insight Media
, points out that mobile connectivity is on the rise, and drivers need more and more information to be displayed in the least distracting way possible. That means the head-up display market for cars could be on the cusp of significant growth.
GE's New EV Charging Stations Are Not Ugly

Stylish charging stations are one small step toward getting consumers to accept EVs.

GE's Wattstation electric-vehicle charging station went on sale this week. The most notable thing about it is its appearance. Unlike many other charging stations on the market now, this one isn't ugly. It looks like the sort of thing you might want to plug a $40,000 electric car into.
How to Make a Broken Heart Mend Itself

A few small molecules that control gene expression can repair the scar tissue in a mouse?s damaged heart. The technique could translate into human therapy for heart attack patients and others.
The Indoor Positioning System Era

You are here. Almost.

GPS rules your life. At least, it rules mine. Without the GPS on my iPhone, I don?t know what I?d do. I have dim prehistoric memories of something called a ?map,? and a hazy image of a gas station attendant pointing off into the distance.
Mathematics of Eternity Prove The Universe Must Have Had A Beginning -- Part II

Heavyweight cosmologists are battling it out over whether the universe had a beginning. And despite appearances, they may actually agree
New App Watches Your Every Move

The creators of Placeme think "persistent tracking" will have all sorts of positive uses—from keeping tabs on your exercise habits to keeping watch over loved ones.

Once in a while, you might feel like you're being watched. Lately, I know I am, thanks to a smart-phone app that stealthily tracks my every move, no check-ins required, with greater accuracy than common geolocation tools.
The Intersection of Information and Energy Technologies

Why I think computational power will solve the world's energy problems in this century.

Two talks at the TED conference this year formed, back to back, a sort of debate about the future of our planet. First, Paul Gilding gave a talk entitled "The Earth Is Full,"
about how we are using up all Earth's resources, with possibly devastating consequences. Next, X Prize creator Peter Diamandis gave a presentation entitled "Abundance
," about how we will invent innovative ways to solve the challenges that loom before us.

How Do You Know An Autonomous Vehicle Has Seen You?

MIT's Media Lab demonstrates a system that lets driverless vehicles communicate with pedestrians.

The Media Lab seems to have solved a problem that we don't yet have.

Researchers are using Google Adwords to test the persuasive power of different messages.

The Web has fundamentally changed the business of advertising in just a few years. So it stands to reason that the process of creating ads is bound to change too.

Technology Review RSS Feeds

Non Mercury Switch - Non Mercury Switch
... budget is a bit tight and you are looking for alternatives that can work just as well under pressure? There are, in fact, other options for you to choose and one of these options is a non mercury switch. This low cost option is available through a fabulous supplier who has many wonderful items in their stock levels. A non mercury switchis ideal for situations where cost won`t affect the way the switch works. If you have a humid working environment the non mercury switchmight not be suitable but any setting that if free from such constraints will be able to utilise the affordable non mercury switch. Use the non mercury switchas a tilt or tip switch and you can ensure that safety and security is paramount in your workplace. Numerous switches are available for you to look at through the supp...
Visit Non Mercury Switch...

Two Way Earpiece Accessories - Two Way Earpiece Accessories
...the most important factors is the quality of the audio. There`s little point buying something that is comfortable to wear if the user can`t hear anything that comes out of it. The two way earpieces can help security personal keep in touch with one another. If one of the team has a dud unit they could find themselves in real trouble and not be able to radio for assistance. Looking around for good quality two way earpiece accessories shouldn`t be too difficult. A number of sites cater for two way radio accessories and customers can select from a wealth of prime products. It`s possible to find throat mics and a wide choice of two way earpiece accessories that are highly covert. The aim of the earpieces is to allow the user to listen to their colleagues in a discreet manner and be able to ...
Visit Two Way Earpiece Accessories...

Embedded Computers - Embedded Computers
...r technology right from the start. The world wide-web is the place to look for new embedded computers because on the internet there are companies that supply some of the best systems around. Although the embedded computers come packed with features there are optional accessories that can be put on them prior to delivery. All of the embedded computers come with a quick installation guide so it won`t take companies long to benefit from the computer`s technology....
Visit Embedded Computers...

Hard Drive Destruction - Hard Drive Destruction
...d drives fell into the wrong hands? Your competitors would have a field day with their newfound knowledge and your business would suffer as a result. Therefore precautions need to be to be taken when it comes to disposing of old laptops and the hard drive destructionshould involve a proven method. If you have ever tried to destroy a laptop drive yourself in the past you`ll know what a problem this can be. Software is often used in this process but can you honestly say, hand on heart, that you fully trust this method? One way to ensure that the hard drive destructionis carried out in the correct manner is to have drives destructed inside an industrial shredder. This can be completed before your own eyes as portable shredders can be brought to the work place by firms who specialise in this process. Up to 25 drives...
Visit Hard Drive Destruction...

Industrial Ethernet Switch - Industrial Ethernet Switch
...h from Korenix is ideal in dusty or dirty scenarios. Information won`t be interrupted at all when this type of switch is in action and you can imagine that the services provided by the switch in such harsh conditions have to be 100% accurate all of the time. The Industrial Ethernet Switch can work with superior software that can provide essential information for workers in the mine. They`ll need to know when the mine can be accessed and when they can carry out their duties. If you need an Industrial Ethernet Switch that will perform well in harsh conditions then Korenix could be the company that you will need to contact in the future....
Visit Industrial Ethernet Switch...

Small Pc - Small Pc
...ys of the monstrous towering PC`s that used to take up half of your desk. Today with a Small PC you can reclaim valuable desk space, also a Small PC looks a lot neater than its contemparory full sized cousins. Not that you have to sacrfice power with a Small PC, it is possible to tailor the components so that it just as powerful as the full sized PC`s. ...
Visit Small Pc...

Clive Roberts - Clive Roberts
...d notification for British Airways. Which used SQL2005 (tables, stored procedures, triggers); Reporting Services for the invoices; Notification service to sent the email; VS.net 2005 for the protocols to add the file to the email and to generate the reports into PDF`s or xml; XSLT to format the email sent by NS 2005. ...
Visit Clive Roberts...

Pre Term Fibre - Pre Term Fibre
...he is responsible for installing the pre term fibre in offices around the city centre of Manchester. He really enjoys his job, particularly because installing pre term fibre means that he gets to travel around the city every day going to different companies all of the time. He is one of those people who get really bored by routine and so he would be driven mad if he had to go to the same place of work day in, day out. Installing the pre term fibre suits him perfectly and he has met lots of friends through visiting different places in the city centre. Indeed, through his job he has met so many people that whenever we go out into the city centre in the evening there is always someone from one of his jobs who is saying hello to him. Last week we met someone from a job he had just done. He and his girlfriend were out visiting the Christ...
Visit Pre Term Fibre...

Reed Switch - Gettign The Right Reed Switch
...f ferromagnetic contacts or blades held in an insulating case. Within this case, these blades are held a particular distance apart while the case protects the contacts from corrosion because outside air can`t reach inside. The contacts extend outside the case where they are connected to any suitable appliance. An ordinary rubber insulates the wiring outside the case. Some of the reasons why using a reed switch is feasible is because it is small and of convenient size, had low weight but a minimal response period, can be used in more than 45 million operations, and, is cost effective. There are different types of reed switches including Mercury reed switches, High Voltage reed switches, Dry reed switches, and High Power Switch Modules. Depending on the use you have, each of these has its particular use. Generally, a reed switch be can used in robotics sensors, secu...
Visit Reed Switch...

Pallet Conveyors - Pallet Conveyors
...end operates pallet conveyors at the local factory. He has to make sure that the pallet conveyors are working property as well as using them to ensure that they do their job properly. Although his job is not very well paid, he does really enjoy himself as a rule because his colleagues are such good fun. Although he is the only one of his friends who operates the pallet conveyors, he really has a good laugh with all of the other employees and he tells me that he is constantly amazed about how good the staff morale is at this factory. I think that part of the reason for this morale is that the staff are treated very well by their employers. For example, they organise regular employee social events and, even if they cannot afford to pay for them all to attend, there is always some subsidy for the staff which they really appreciate. Similarly, at Christmas, their staff night o...
Visit Pallet Conveyors...