Tech Universe: Tuesday 14 June

Bike helmets of the future will record details about your crash so you can relive the pain over and over again. Photo / Thinkstock

GET SMART: Current bike helmets are dumb - they're really just designed to protect your head from an impact. But what say the helmet could record data about your accident and maybe even call an emergency number? This was one of five winning ideas in Toyota's Ideas For Good competition. Technology, including accelerometers, and gyroscopes, normally used in a Prius could be used to make such a helmet. As one of the winners, this idea will now be pushed along to see if it can work at a reasonable price. No one wants a dumb head. Details at Fast Company and video here.

YOU CAN'T LIE TO YOUR ATM: The Russian Sberbank is testing an ATM with a built-in lie detector. The machine scans a passport, takes fingerprints and does a 3D facial scan. Then it uses voice-analysis software on spoken answers to recorded questions: nervousness and lying change the tone and pacing of speech. All this to work out if someone applying for a credit card is telling the truth. And if the machine makes you nervous - well, there go your chances of a credit card. New York Times has more here.

MEMORY FLASH: According to iSuppli Market Research Apple now buys more semiconductors than any other company, mainly because of the success of the iPhone and iPad. In 12 months Apple have moved up from third place to first, and iSuppli expect Apple to extend their lead in the year to come. The semiconductors are used for NAND flash memory, among other things. That's a big leap in one year. Details at iSuppli.

PAID TO STAND AROUND: For a paraplegic Austin Whitney spends a lot of time standing up and walking around. A recent graduate, he now has a job testing a robotic exoskeleton at the University of California at Berkeley. Eventually though he plans to study law. With so much attention on the technology of exoskeletons it's easy to forget they're actually all about the wearer. Cnet.com has more.

STEAM AND MIRRORS: A new hybrid power plant will be built in Turkey, combining a traditional gas-fired steam turbine, solar thermal power and wind power. Tracking mirrors will focus sunlight on a tower to amplify the gas-powered steam turbine's output, while a wind farm will feed in extra energy. The renewable sources are being added to an existing plant. The new plant is expected to be more than twice as efficient as other natural gas power plants. Shared systems help reduce costs. One day single-source energy may be considered quaint
and simplistic. Details at Technology Review.

- Miraz Jordan knowit.co.nz