A round-up of the latest technology news from around the globe.
BIKES UNCHAINED: The Hungarian Stringbike doesn't have a chain. Instead the pedals drive eccentric discs that move steel wires connected to freewheel cable drums on the rear wheel. Pulleys allow for changes of speed. No chain, no oil, no muss. More at HungarianAmbiance and video on YouTube.
SEEING EYE CARS: The NeuFlow supercomputer system out of Yale runs more than 100 billion operations per second, but uses fewer watts than a cell phone. Its complex vision algorithms and large neural networks let it recognise images. The size of a wallet, it could be embedded in cars to allow them to drive themselves. They'll need Optical Character Recognition to handle the road signs though. Details at EurekAlert.
SNAP FLICK: The 5 billionth photo was posted to Flickr recently. 1 billion photos per year are added to Flickr, but Facebook claims its users upload 2.5 billion photos per month. At least on Flickr you know
which photos are private. More at TechDay.
SWEET SOCKS: AgResearch scientists developed a fabric that has anti-static, anti-bacterial and anti-odour properties. The fabric's made of wool and doesn't need to be washed so often. Feet everywhere will be grateful. More at RadioNZ.
RED SHIFT: The Chinese space programme has plans for the Moon Venus, and Mars. They intend to launch a space laboratory in 2011, and land a probe on Venus by 2015. Missions with and without astronauts are being planned. There's enough space for everyone. More at EconomicTimes.
- Miraz Jordan knowit.co.nz
