A round-up of the latest technology news from around the globe.
TIBETAN JAM: I hate when I have to wait through 2 traffic light
changes. It's a good thing I'm not in China where some drivers are in
the middle of a 100 Km long traffic jam on the Beijing-Tibet expressway. Drivers are coping with the help of roadside food stalls. Where are those flying cars when you need them? Details at Physorg and video on YouTube.
WEARABLE PHONE: A new slinky black cocktail dress, the M-Dress, is all cellphone. Gesture recognition software handles phone calls. Lift your hand to talk; lower your hand to hang up. The antenna is in the dress hem, and the SIM card is embedded in the dress. Just don't throw the dress in the wash! More at TheStar.
TRASH TALK: In Cleveland, Ohio, RFID chips are being added to recycle bins. If a chip show a bin hasn't been put out for weeks, a supervisor will sort through the trash for recyclables. Residents will be fined for not handling trash appropriately. It won't pay to be reducing your trash then. More at Cleveland's Blog.
DUST BUSTERS: Dust is such a nuisance, especially on solar cells where it reduces efficiency. A layer of indium tin oxide is what you need. Add an electric charge and the dust just falls right off. The electrodes could be powered by the solar cell itself. There's a little
bit of circular thinking there, I suspect. Details at ScientificAmerican.
DUMMY ROCKET: The Danish Heat 1X Tycho Brahe suborbital rocket heads into space on 31 August 2010, with a dummy aboard. The rocket has been built by Danish volunteers for non-profit scientific purposes. Live astronauts will have to stand up and will have very limited movement. Up, up and away. More at CopenhagenSuborbitals.
- Miraz Jordan knowit.co.nz.
