Latest Invention: Smart Blocks That Interact with Touch Screen

The combination of the surface interactive table-top computer developed by Microsoft and several smart building blocks could help engineers create various designs much easier. The smart blocks represent the latest invention from German scientists at the Hasso Plattner Institute at the University of Potsdam. It is worth mentioning that in 2008 the software giant introduced Surface, which represents a touch-screen table computer. But the company's gadget could function only if users got in direct contact with it.
Patrick Baudisch, Torsten Becker and Frederik Rudeck are the three German engineers, who managed to interact with the Surface without touching the screen with their fingers. They created smart building blocks, dubbed Luminos. When the Luminos are used to create complex structures on the touch-screen, the computer identifies their position and virtually recreates the physical construction.
The secret of the engineers' latest invention lies in the pattern installed on the base of each block - the pattern identifies the 3D shape of each Lumino. With the help of its 4 built-in cameras the Surface screen is able to read them, which helps the computer make a 3D image of the objects that lie on the top of the screen.
Besides, the computer can also identify blocks when they are stacked up. This is possible thanks to fiber optic threads included in each block, reports New Scientist. Thus, the blocks that are put on top of other blocks are still identified, though they do not come in direct contact with the screen. Currently the screen can recognize up to 10 blocks that are put one on top of another.
Despite the fact that the invention is currently in the prototype stage, the engineers believe that in the near future they would be able to come up with a technology that would be of great help to architects

Latest Invention: Small OLED Squares for Infinite TVs

Mitsubishi has recently presented at CEATEC its huge 155-inch TV composed of tiny OLED squares. The latest invention used by the company allows creating TVs of unlimited sizes. The video shows what the new TV technology is made of and how it functions.
Using the new technology it would be possible to create huge digital displays that would wrap curved buildings. The invention is expected to be a hit in case the company decides to market it.
It is worth mentioning that the new technology is energy efficient and it might also be used to create digital billboards. Another advantage is that in case of certain defects, there would be no need to replace the entire billboard - the technology allows replacing just one square that runs out of order. You can find information on various inventions here at www.InfoNIAC.com - please check the links at the bottom of the story.
There is one drawback (stated in the video), i.e. the lifespan of Mitsubishi's latest invention is just over two-and-a-half years. Replacing the squares so often would lead to a lot of e-waste, which is not good, considering that the world is more aware today about the environmental issues. Currently there is no information on the price of Mitsubishi's latest invention.

Latest Invention: Car that Offers Flying-like Experience

A pretty concept car has been recently presented by the third largest Japanese carmaker Nissan. The vehicle tips to the side when it goes around bends, which brings the sensation of gliding through the air.
The new electric car is dubbed Land Glider and it offers space for two people. Land Glider is only 1.1 meters (3.6 feet) wide, which allows it to easily park into tight parking spaces as well as travel through narrow streets.
According to Nissan's Ryusuke Hayashi, the manager of the project, Nissan's latest invention can move in a three dimensional way, unlike traditional vehicles that move only forward and backward. He added that when you drive the car you get the sensation of flying.
The design of the vehicle was inspired from the designs of motorbikes and glider aircraft. Land Glider features four wheels and moving fenders that allow the car to lean by 17 degrees. With the help of special built-in sensors, the car can calculate the appropriate tilt for a corner. You can read more stories on latest invention and different car concepts here at www.InfoNIAC.com - please cheack the links at the bottom of the story.
One more uncommon feature is the car's airplane-style controls that replace the conventional wheel. The company's latest invention will be show this month at the Tokyo Motor Show that will take place in the period between October 24 and November 4.

Latest Invention: Touchscreen Software that Allows Surfing Through Time and Space

Recently engineers from the Tokyo Polytechnic University presented their new invention - c-loc touchscreen enabled software that allows surfing through time and space. The technology was revealed at the 2009 Digital Content Expo.
The new invention allows users to play around with geographical and chronological information, including text, images, sounds and videos, through 3-dimensional graphics, reports CrunchGear.
The software was developed for archeologists, historians and scientists from other fields that need information on historical events and geographical regions. It makes it possible to see the evolution of a certain geographical area or even building throughout a certain period of time.

Latest Invention: Software That Automatically Repairs the System Affected by Malware

Together with his colleagues, Martin Rinar, who is currently a professor of computer science at MIT, managed to create new software called ClearView that is able to identify the intrusion of alien software and generate a set of patches meant to repair the operating system. The new invention detects the rule that was compromised and then generates patches that make the software to pursue the compromised rules.
Afterwards the software analyses all options in order to decide which of the chosen rules represents the most suitable patch. The team's new invention searches for particular types of errors, which are often caused by a malicious code introduced into the operating software.
A great advantage of the new invention is that it can be installed on several computers that run the same software. When it selects the most effective patch, the latter can be installed on all the other computers.
The team of researchers carried out a test of the software on a group of machines that run Firefox. A team of independent programmers launched an attack on Firefox, each using a different type of attack. ClearView managed to block the malicious codes of all attacks. It also shut down the program prior to the attack.
The new invention discarded the wrong corrections and generated patches that corrected all errors caused by malware. Just after 5 minutes of the first attack ClearView managed to create a working patch.

A great idea was proposed by architects Goryainov A. and Krymov M. from the Arch Group. They thought about designing a rental booth that would allow t

Australia registered the world's first worm that infects the Apple iPhone. The worm changes the wallpaper of the iPhone to an image of Rick Astley, a pop singer of the 1980s. In addition, it generates a message that reads: "ikee is never going to give you up." The worm has been dubbed ikee and it can only influence "jail-broken" devices, meaning iPhones that had their protection mechanisms removed by the user to be able to run various programs that have not been approved by Apple.
Although the current iPhone worm is not harmful, experts believe that it could bring a new wave of malware that might have a more serious impact on the device. Mikko Hypponen, a representative of F-secure, a security firm, wrote that the developer of the iPhone worm managed to liberate a full source code of the 4 existing types of the worm. "This means that there will quickly be more variants, and they might have nastier payload than just changing your wallpaper," he wrote.
Up till now only Australia registered the circulation of the iPhone worm. This can be easily explained - the developer of the worm, known as Ashley Towns, lives in Australia. According to the 21-year-old Towns, he developed the worm to make people aware of the security issues.
The worm only affects devices that have SSH installed, which is a program that allows other phones to connect to the device and alter the system and files. The iPhone is infected in case the user did not consider changing the default password after installing SSH, reports BBC News.
As soon as the device is infected with the worm, the SSH service is disabled, which prevents re-infection. There are several comments included in the code. These messages were written by Mr. Towns to explain his motivation. One of the messages reads: "People are stupid and this is to prove it. It's not that hard guys. But hey who cares its only your bank details at stake."
To get rid of the worm the user has to change the device's password and delete a number of files. According to some estimates, today up to 10 percent of all iPhones and iPod Touches are jail-broken.

SleepBox Might Be the Most Useful Invention for Urban Commuters

A great idea was proposed by architects Goryainov A. and Krymov M. from the Arch Group. They thought about designing a rental booth that would allow travelers rest during their busy schedules.
The two architects named their booth SleepBox. The SleepBox can truly deserve the title of one of the most useful inventions for urban travelers. These boxes could be installed at decking railroad stations, airports, public and shopping centers, as well as accommodation facilities and even on streets.
One booth is quite spacious, having an area of 3.75 square meters. It includes a bed measuring 2x0.6 meters and featuring an automatic system for changing the bed linen.
The occupier can stay in the boot for several hours. The SleepBox includes a ventilation system, sound alerts in case of emergency, built-in LCD TV, WiFi and sockets that could be used to charge a mobile phone or a laptop. This can indeed be one of the most useful inventions for contemporary urban areas.

Camera Designed for Visually Impaired

Designer Nadeem Haidary presented its new concept - a camera developed for blind people. The camera allows visually impaired people to take pictures accompanied by sound clips that are registered simultaneously. Thus blind people will be able to share their happy moments with the loved ones
The pictures could be vectorized and laser cut, which would allow creating 3D images that blind people could "see" through touch.
Researchers at the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, carried out a number of tests and interviews to see the camera's possibilities. It is worth mentioning that the camera is made of durable materials.
Engineers made the camera easy to use for the blind people. To turn the camera on the user has to simply turn the main ring and to zoom in one has to pull the lens out. By pressing the button once, the user takes a picture and if the button is held than the audio clip is recorded. More images and information available.

Latest Invention: Full-color LED Dress - the Biggest Wearable Display on Earth

CuteCircuit, a fashionable technology company that operates in the fields of wearable technology and interaction design, has recently presented its new invention called Galaxy Dress and which allows its wearer to advertise different messages all over the body by making use of 24,000 colorful flat, extra-thin LEDs.
One LED measures 2x2mm. However, all of them harmoniously work together, producing a mesmerizing light show with hundreds of colors running through the flowing skirt.
The developers of the new invention thought about adding four layers of silk chiffon in order to disperse the light, creating an even more amazing effect. They also considered applying 4,000 Swarovski crystals to extend the dress' glitter when the light from the LED bulbs softens.
Surprisingly, the heaviest part of the new invention is the 40-layer pleated silk organza crinoline and not the technology used to make the dress shine, informs Ecouterre. It is worth mentioning that the silk organza crinoline is used to give the skirt its flounce.
In order to power the LED bulbs one should use only a few iPod batteries that will allow the dress to glitter for 30 minutes to 1 hour. In addition, the LED technology will not overheat the wearer of the Galaxy Dress, which is currently a prototype and can be observed at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

Digital Cloud Could Fly Over London's Skies

An international group of architects decided to develop a "digital cloud" that would float above London. They plan involves building 120 meters (400 feet) tall mesh towers along with a series of plastic bubbles that are interconnected and that will serve as screens for displaying pictures and information. In addition, the construction will also serve as an observation deck and park. Initially the building was seen as the center of the Olympic village.
The designers hope to raise money for the construction of the unique structure from small donations from millions of people. According to one of the designers that work on the project, Carlo Ratti, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the size of the construction will be based on the amount of collected donations.
It is worth mentioning that the current project was submitted to a competition launched by London Mayor Boris Johnson, who has committed to construct a tourist attraction in the Olympic Park. According to a spokesman, the mayor is still to decide which project will be brought to life.
The group of architects behind the digital cloud decided to go further and publish detailed information of their building. The design of the structure was inspired from the works of Toman Saraceno, an artist who lives in Germany and is famous for his inflatable sculptures of huge sizes, reports BBC News. Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) is a type of plastic that will be used to create the spheres. It would be worth noting that such plastic was used in the construction of the Beijing Aquatic Centre. The spheres will have different sizes and each sphere would serve as an individual element - some of them will be used as habitable spaces, while others as LCD screens with information projected on them.
"We could provide a custom feed of… searches made by Londoners during the Olympics to give a real time 'barometer' of the city's interests and mood," mentioned the California-based Internet giant Google that is one of the project's supporters. Google said that it will provide the information feeds for the digital cloud. The plastic spheres will also feature information on weather, the number of spectators, race results and more. Visitors will be able to climb up the cloud using ramps, stairs and lifts.

Architects decided to use the damping technology in their construction to be able to resist earthquakes. The technology is similar to that used in Japanese skyscrapers. Professor Ratti mentioned that the digital cloud would also make use of renewable energy. There will be solar cells on the ground as well as within some of the spheres. In addition, the lift would make use of regenerative braking, with the latter being used today in some hybrid vehicles.

Latest Invention: Suma 3D Controller that Uses Squeezable User Interface Technology

Recently Cambridge Consultants have presented one of their most interesting inventions - Suma sensor controller, a prototype 3D controller that is based on so-called "squeezable" user-interface technology.
Duncan Smith, the company's spokesman, said that the new invention works by conveying the 3D deformation of a squeezed item into a software-readable form. High sensitive control is provided by finger movements and whole-hand grip; thus the user can easily manage various programs, informs TG Daily. The new invention could be used by companies that develop different products and applications, be it gaming and design or creative arts.Smith believes that till now the full possibilities of the human hand have not yet been explored. "Emerging trends like 3D displays and augmented reality are bound to stimulate interest in Suma's unique capabilities," said Smith.

Latest Invention: Thinkpad Notebooks Installed as Seats

The latest invention from Lenovo is a Thinkpad Notebook. A number of such notebooks have already been mounted in buses and tram shuttles in the form of seats. The goal of the company's latest invention is to draw the attention of potential retailers and buyers to the Lenovo Roadshows throughout Germany.
The Thinkpad Notebook represents a part of promotional campaign launched by Ogilvy Frankfurt, an advertising agency.
The notebook folding seats have their frame made of metal, which provides shockproof hard drive protection, reports directDAILY. In addition, each seat features a waterproof keypad. Visitors thus have the possibility to use Lenovo's latest invention to surf the Internet to kill time while waiting by airports and railway stations.

Japan Launches Spy Satellite to Observe North Korea

Recently Japan has launched a new spy satellite the mission of which would be to observe the military facilities located in North Korea. During the monitoring, the satellite will provide high-definition pictures for Japan.
It is worth mentioning that the optical satellite was launch on board of an H-2A rocket. It has the possibility to identify specific objects on our planet with a resolution of 60 centimeters square, which is much more accurate than its predecessor.
It would be worth noting that the Japanese government already has two similar satellites that collect data from Earth, informs Asahi.com. In addition, it operates one radar satellite that is able to distinguish objects during nighttime and through clouds.
By fiscal 2011, Japan looks forward to launch another satellite that will help set up a surveillance system. The latter will allow capturing any point on our planet every 24 hours.

Solution Units Allow You to Generate Green Power Daily

Each day people do different things and spend a lot of energy. Some part of that energy could be gathered and then used to power various devices.
With this principle in mind designers Choi Hyung-Suk and Yun Jung-Sik decided to develop devices that anyone could wear on their wrist, hands and/or fingers. Their invention collects green energy that can be later used to power other devices.
The designers called their gadgets Solution Units. Each of these units features a battery that stores energy. Then the user can remove the battery and use it to power mobile phones and/or MP3 players.
When you're at home you can insert the battery units in the so-called Application Built-in Type so they would accumulate and supply power. Users can also make use of the Application Portable Type, which collects energy when they perform heavy-duty stuff, like cycling.

Latest Invention: Baggy Spacesuit that Shrinks to Fit the Astronaut

According to David Akin and Shane Jacobs from the University of Maryland in College Park, in the near future astronauts will have the possibility to get suited and booted in just a matter of seconds. This would be possible by stepping into a special baggy suit that afterwards contracts with the help of pneumatic artificial muscles to ensure an ideal fit.
The new invention will significantly improve the efficiency of astronauts' movements during their missions. Jacobs described their new project at the International Astronautical Congress that recently took place in Daejong, South Korea.
"Our research shows that of the physical work astronauts actually do on a spacewalk, only one-quarter of it is mission related. The rest goes into just moving the spacesuit around," outlined Akin. The same technology is used to fit the suit's gloves.
In addition, the new invention will feature stereo LCD spectacles and a video screen incorporated into the helmet. These could be used to receive augmented reality imagery, for instance, which will allow seeing the spacecraft that is hidden from view. Currently, researchers carry out tests of the new spacesuit in the university's neutral buoyancy tank.

Latest Invention: Self-tuning Dark Fire Guitar from Gibson

One of the most famous guitar makers, Gibson, has come up with a new invention - a self-tuning guitar called Dark Fire. The guitar is able to reach a perfect pitch in about 3 seconds.
The Dark Fire looks represents an improved version of Gibson's earlier developed "robot guitar," but it has one significant improvement - the new guitar features a self-tuning system with extra factory presets, allowing as much as sixteen alternate tunings. By making use of the new feature, the guitar player will have the possibility to get more set of chords from Dark Fire in just seconds.
In addition, the new invention from Gibson includes an onboard tone control function, which allows the player to imitate different guitar tones like the Texas blues or heavy metal. The instrument is rather pricey, being available for $3,477.
Dark Fire is powered by a rechargeable battery, which the player can juice up via the input jack. The guitar is mostly made of carbon fiber. Currently there is no information on the number of Dark Fires Gibson sold. According to the company, its new version of self-tuning guitar, the Dusk Tiger, is going to be released on December 7.

Latest Invention: Solar Cells Thinner Than Human Hair Developed by Sanyo

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The new invention of Sanyo, the company that not so long ago announced about its goal to become one of the largest solar manufacturers in the land of the rising sun by 2010, is a solar cell, which, according to the company, is thinner than a human hair.
The thickness of Sanyo's new invention is just 58 micrometers. The new solar cell was developed to reach a conversion efficiency of 22.8 percent.
The solar cells are made of two types of silicon, their flexibility level is similar to that of a paper and its cost will be 25 percent lower than the solar cells used today.
Although the new solar cells are likely to hit the market in a decade or so, their low cost and flexibility, could help modernize the solar industry.

Latest Invention: Chip Implanted in the Brain to Help Control Your PC

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According to Intel, its customers would soon have the possibility to have a computer chip implanted into their brains so they would operate computers, mobile phones, TV and more, using their thoughts, without any physical interaction.
Currently the company's new invention is being developed at its lab located in Pittsburg, USA. The chip will be able to feel brain activity with the help of a special technology based on Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (FMRI). Scientists at Intel have not yet developed such a chip but according to one of the company's researchers Dean Pomerleau these are close.
Theoretically, different people thinking of the same word or image would have the same activity in their brains, but since no one really knows exactly how the brain works, this is not certain.
With the help of FMRI, Pomerleau together with his colleagues scanned the brains of volunteers in order to see whether brain patters match when people are thinking about the same things. It is worth mentioning that in theory different people that think of a similar word of picture have similar brain activity, informs Physorg. However, such theory cannot be proved since no one yet knows how exactly our brain works.
The research team says that up till now the results look rather promising. According to the lead researcher, in a decade or so people will be more inclined towards the company’s new invention implanted into their brains.
In 10 to 15 years it would be possible for people to operate hybrid computers by making use of a combination of new technology and living tissue, considers Associate Professor Charles Higgins of the University of Arizona. His statement comes after scientists at the University managed to come up with a robot that is controlled by the eyes and brain of a moth. In the near future Intel's new invention could help people with some physical disabilities.

Hydrogen Powerplant Harnesses Solar Power to Produce Hydrogen

The new project of SolarLab Research and Design is a Hydrogen Powerplant that uses solar energy to generate hydrogen.
The concept was designed to take advantage of seawater, a fuel cell and Solar Tiles to generate hydrogen. The latter is afterwards pumped carefully to inflated hydrogen tanks mounted on the sea floor.
Due to the water-cooling effect, the plant's efficiency increases by 30 percent and the operating temperature significantly decreases.
The chances of explosion are limited to zero because hydrogen is gathered underwater, informs EcoFriend. The produced hydrogen is then dispensed in a cold, pressurized underwater environment via a hydrogen pipeline.

Latest Invention: Software that Allows Writing on Screen Using Power of Mind

A team of researchers managed to develop a software program that allows writing letters and number on the screen by simply thinking about them. The new invention developed by scientists at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville can be a great step towards a new type of communication that can prove to be useful for millions of people with paralysis and various neurological conditions.
Researchers discovered that people were able to make letters appear on the display by focusing on a specific letter when it was shown with a six-by-six grid of symbols. Their new invention represents the first step towards the creation of a mind-machine interface.
During trials, two patients had electrodes placed inside their skulls right on to the surface of the brain. The electrodes were placed inside the skull with the help of an incision called craniotomy. The team used these electrodes to follow the electrical signals generated by the nerve cells when a patient focused on certain figures on the matrix, reports The Daily Telegraph.
The results of the signals were then translated by a computer that ran the new software. As soon as patients focused on a specific letter, it was shown on the display. According to the researchers, in future, devices, which would be powered by the brain, would need surgery so they could be placed inside the skull. Dr. Shih considers that soon such devices could become so small that they could be easily implanted so computers could interpret signals from the patients' brains.