Amazing Scanning Technology

Dixau Text Scanner Wikifies and Googlizes Your Reading :

Reading is such hard work without the internet at your disposal to cross
reference anything that you don’t immediately understand. Until now,
people had to read books while at the computer if they wanted to look
stuff up, manually typing it in to Wikipedia or Google. It’s horrible,
I know. The Dixau text scanner from Korean company Unichal makes is so
that you only have to be next to the computer. It contains a little
camera that is able to take pictures of text, recognize the characters,
and then provide on-screen explanations via search engines. Technology surprises us each n everyday.

The Dixau may seem totally superfluous (especially for $90), but what I
think it’s designed for are Korean students who want to be able to
translate words from English scientific texts on the fly. And with that
in mind, it really could be useful even for native English speakers
trying to decipher English scientific texts. I mean, I majored in
geology, which is perhaps not the most technical of disciplines, and I
still swear that half of those words were made up just to confuse
people.

Dixau from Unichal is a device available on the Korean market designed to
help you understand what you are reading and while you are reading.

If you are in the middle of a study related to medicine or you encounter
specific terms that you are not familiar with, Dixau’s built-in camera
captures the image with the sentence at the push of a button and
searches through Wikipedia, Google or a dictionary you provided it
previously.

It then finds the detailed explanations in your PC
with the help of text recognition technology, and reveals them on the
monitor. Such a device costs around $90 and if you understand Korean
you might want to check all the details about it on the official
product page.

Turbocell introduces this technology!!

Mobile charger for your mobile phones - Technology grows!

Cellphones were originally designed to keep you connected while out in the field. Though "the field" can be rather lacking in wall outlets, so when your phone's batteries run dry, and you've gotta top up, you'll need a portable charger. The Turbocell Charger uses simple and readily available AA batteries to pump some go-juice into your cellphone's lithium ions. As small as a pack of gum, and with enough connectors to mate with nearly any manufacturer's phone, you'll be good to go, no matter where it is you're going. Technology is growing much faster than ever.

The average AA battery can add up to 2 hours of extra talk-time, which might be just what you needed - especially if, during the above movie, you have to hack into the aliens' computer network to upload a virus from your Mac. It would suck if your cellphone gave out at the last minute, and would make a terrible downer of a movie ending.

Details

Plugs into 9 different brands of phones: Audiovox, Blackberry, LG, Motorola, Nextel, Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson
Takes 1 AA battery
AlgorChip charges your cellphone's battery safely without damage or risk of fire
Up to 2 hours extra talk-time per average AA battery

Mooon concept technology!

Touchscreen Mooon+ Concept phone!!

Do you have a hard time keeping track of all your gadgets? Wouldn't it be nice if you were able to connect your Bluetooth headset directly to your phone? This way, you're much less likely to lose the handsfree side of the equation.

That seems to the be thinking behind the Mooon+ (the extra "o" is not a typo) cell phone concept. The top section of the phone detaches to reveal a fully functional Bluetooth headset. The rest of the phone seems to borrow some styling cues from the BlackBerry Pearl, but the interface is completely through the touchscreen display.

Seems like it could be a neat idea, but I'd imagine that the premium of the "free" Bluetooth headset will be integrated into the price of the phone as a whole.

Chinese scrolls technology in cellphones!

Yun Liang's new technology!!

As flexible displays come to market, designers are asked how they can design products that utilize the technology while remaining meaningful. Yun Liang’s scroll cellphone takes its inspiration from how traditional Chinese paintings are unfurled.

When not in use, the display neatly rolls into the tube. All numeric key functions remain tactile running along the side of the scroll as opposed to touchscreen. This makes it possible to use without having to unroll the screen. You would only do so when accessing media and data.

Direct from your brain! Technology never stops!

Control the system from your brain! Directly!

The Human Interface has a new contender technology. Though we’d like to think we’ve come a long way with computers, the keyboard and mouse remain the predominant way we interface with them. We’ve had the unfulfilled promise of handwriting and voice recognition and hope that something better will come along sooner or later. Perhaps this is it - brain computer interface technology pioneer Emotiv Systems will have its EPOC neuroheadset to market before Christmas 2008. The lightweight US$300 EPOC is, worn on the head but does not restrict movement in any way as it is wireless. The set detects conscious thoughts, expressions and non-conscious emotions based on electrical signals around the brain. It opens up a plethora of new applications which can be controlled with our thoughts, expressions and emotions.

The Emotiv EPOC will be the first high-fidelity brain computer interface (BCI) device for the video gaming market when it becomes available to consumers via Emotiv’s Web site and through selected retailers in late 2008 for a recommended retail price of $299.

The company is also opening its Application Programming Interface (API) and providing a range of development tools to enable developers to integrate neurotechnology into their applications. The initiative will spur the adoption of brain computer interface technology in video gaming and other industries, enabling consumers to experience an entirely new form of human-machine interaction.

The Emotiv EPOC detects and processes human conscious thoughts and expressions and non-conscious emotions. By integrating the Emotiv EPOC into their games or other applications, developers can dramatically enhance interactivity, gameplay and player enjoyment by, for example, enabling characters to respond to a player’s smile, laugh or frown; by adjusting the game dynamically in response to player emotions such as frustration or excitement; and enabling players to manipulate objects in a game or even make them disappear using the power of their thoughts.

Yet another direction enabled by the EPOC is that of live animation using the unit’s facial recognition sensors to mimic the wearer’s facial expressions in an animated avatar.

We look forward to exploring this one further. Very exciting possibilities.

New Technology in Watch!

The Icelink Snow 6 Timezone Watch

Watches with multiple time zones on display are becoming increasingly relevant as telecommunications is conquering the tyranny of distance, which makes Gemwatchmaker IceLink’s patent on watches displaying six time zones a valuable asset to the company. It began making its 6 Timezone watches some time back, but the latest release is special – instead of six time zones it features four plus power reserve plus a “snow zone” - dozens of floating diamonds are suspended in a special IceFuel liquid, so the precious stones swirl delicately with the movements of the wrist.

The Snow Collection is available in pink gold and white gold, and in two sizes: 6 carats plus 1.25 in the Snow zone and 4.25 carats plus 0.75 in the Snow zone. The 6Timezone features 6 Swiss movements and boasts the Swiss made label. This gadget might not be useful for laymen, but the technology would be useful for those who travel more. In simple words, this gadget is very useful for travelers.

Nokia's new release!!

The new 'Morph' concept phone:

A flexible, bendable mobile phone built using nano technology. While the thin, lime-colored device is only a demo developed in collaboration with the University of Cambridge, Nokia says some of its components may make their way into high-end Nokia handsets within seven years.

Developed by the Nokia Research Center (NRC), the Morph demonstrates how future mobile devices might be stretchable and flexible, allowing users to transform their phone into radically different shapes. It also demonstrates the functionality nanotechnology might be capable of delivering, including the use of flexible materials, transparent electronics and self-cleaning surfaces. The device is flexible enough to bend around a wrist and be used as a bracelet.

"We hope that this combination of art and science will showcase the potential of nanoscience to a wider audience," Dr. Tapani Ryhanen, head of the NRC Cambridge UK laboratory, said in a statement. "The research we are carrying out is fundamental to this as we seek a safe and controlled way to develop and use new materials."

Nokia admits after five years of work there are still technological issues to resolve, such as battery power, before a marketable phone is a reality. "Nokia Research Center is looking at ways to reinvent the form and function of mobile devices," Nokia CTO Bob Iannucci said in a statement. "The Morph concept shows what might be possible."

How a Hard disc works!!

This video illustrates how a hard disk of a computer works. Let us be aware of the basics!!

Tv channels in your hand!!

Packet Video for mobiles!

A decade ago being able to watch your favorite TV shows on your mobile handset looked like a distant fantasy. Not anymore thanks to innovations in mobile technology. And in case you’re wondering if you really have to dig into your life’s savings to buy a high-end handset to avail such services, then you can really breath relief right about now since PacketVideo (PV) has launched a pocket-sized mobile broadcast receiver that joins forces with WiFi-enabled phones and personal media players to deliver top quality mobile TV experience. What the device does is that it receives the digital TV signal, repurposes it to match your phone/player via a wireless signal using specific, patented protocols to provide secure access to premium channels. That effectively means you get to watch your fav soaps on the go without switching to a higher handset.

For now the receiver will be compatible with major mobile broadcast standards, including TDtv, DVB-H and MediaFLO as well as for WiMAX and can be customized for a specific service provider too if need arises. Running on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, the mobile broadcast receiver features a glowing LED on/off switch along with a color-changing halo that indicates battery charge level.



The 6.4cm W x 1.8cm H x 4cm D receiver is compatible with Nokia N-series, Apple iPhone and HTC Smartphone handsets and is expected to hit markets later this year.

Beware of Sim spy!!

Never leave your sim card alone

It is the Sim Card data extractor and it will take all the data out of the Sim that you have in your hand and instantly transfer it to a PC. So what is so great about this little gadget? For starters if you are trying to get in to someone else’s phone just for the sake of information, then you no longer need to try unlocking it.

Revolutionary phone!!

Now use more than 5 designs of moblies in a week!

Israeli manufacturer Modu claims their eponymous phone the smallest in the world. It certainly looks like the smallest with barely room for a regular numeric keypad. Instead, users have a set tic-tac-toe buttons. The screen is tiny as well, so I guess we can forget about watching videos on this 42-gram cell phone.

The “revolutionary” idea doesn’t stop in its small size. Modu Mobile comes with “jackets” that add functionality to the phone, i.e. a regular keypad. Dav Moran, the maker of Modu, is the same man who brought us the USB flash drive and his phone has very similar characteristics with the USB.

Besides the jackets, the phone seems to fit into just about everything: car radio, PDA, laptop as an express card. Modular phones are not new but Modu brings the form factor and fashionableness into the concept. Hopefully, before its October shipping, Modu can show us more of what the phone can do.

Still surprised? Watch the video:

Seagate's revolution!!

Seagate's 1 Terabyte Hard drive!

Finally Seagate has released a 1 Terabyte Hard drive following the Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000 which was released over six months ago. Seagate has been the first alternative of the 1 Terabyte Hard drive since Hitachi release their 7K1000. After six months of wait we all will surely be expecting some difference between the Hitachi and Seagate. The main difference between the Seagate and Hitachi is that the Seagate has an advantage over the performance wise. In features wise, Seagate has no advantage over the Hitachi. But concerning the performance wise, using the SATA-II interface makes the maximum transfer rate of 3GBps.

The Seagate ST31000340AS is priced at £180 but the 750GB is just £115 and the 500GB is £50. So if you don’t really need them in 1GB then it is cheaper to get a 750GB because the 1TB has just been released. But if you want a 1GB then the Seagate ST31000340AS is the best option in the market.

Trusted Review has given Seagate the following results:
- Features 6/10
- Performance 9/10
- Value 9/10

Vibrates your hand!!

Bluetooth Wristband

The BluAlert Vibrating Bluetooth Wristband pretty much sums up what it does - when paired to your cell phone, it will vibrate automatically whenever there is an incoming call or text message, making sure that you won’t miss a single phone call. This works great if you’re one who tends to wear baggy pants, making it hard to know whenever someone is calling you - even more so when you’re right smack in the middle of a noisy, bustling crowd. I would have liked to see other functionalities built into the BluAlert Vibrating Bluetooth Wristband though, such as a watch so that you don’t look so daft wearing just a wristband where other people might perceive it to be some sort of fashion accessory. It retails for approximately $63.

A coffee cup hard drive!!

Tempo Trash!

Cagnina Design has recently developed a unique external hard drive for Intech called Tempo. As files are deleted, they are automatically copied to the mini-trash can-shaped device, providing an extra safety net should the user accidentally delete important files. As the 250 GB of space is used up, embedded LEDs light Tempo's exterior surface from the bottom up, as if it were physically being filled.

Designed to mimic the look of a trash can, TEMPO is a unique hard drive storage device. Intended to protect the user from accidentally deleting files, it can also be used as an external storage device. As you delete files, they are automatically copied to the TEMPO. As it fills up, led's light the "can" from the bottom up, informing you of how much space is available.




Tempo is just a concept. It hasn't been technologically designed.

Smoke Digitally!!

Smoke without any side effects! But costly!

Products have recently been released allowing smokers to indulge their addiction and get a nicotine hit, without the harmful chemicals, toxins and cancer-causing poisons released by burning tobacco. These products are a type of “electronic” or “digital” smoking, in part designed to allow smokers to light up in places that have now banned smoking in effort to protect non-smoking patrons and employees.

One such product is the Crown7, an Art Deco styled tube with a cartridge and rechargeable battery. The cartridge contains water, propylene glycol, nicotine, and a tobacco flavor. One cartridge is equivalent to about two packs of cigarettes and each cartridge costs US$2 making it a much more affordable option than one-off use cigarettes although the initial investment in the reusable tube is significant, ranging from US$64.95 to $$149.95. The Crown7 comes in three styles to cater for all kinds of smokers: cigarette, cigar and pipe. Benefits of the Crown7 are that it contains nicotine but does not pollute the environment, emits only a harmless vapor, leaves no residual clothing or room odor and causes no harm to people in the surrounding area.

The second offering is the Vapir from AIR-2, an air vaporizer that transforms the active elements of virtually any plant substance into an inhaleable mist without actually burning the substance. “When a plant is burned its chemical make-up may change. When catalyzed by flame, many plants transform and create new compounds which were not inherent in the plant itself,” explains AIR-2 CEO Shaahin Cheyene.

A patented microchip regulates plant-specific temperatures for vaporization, also known as volitization, to avoid overheating or burning. The idea is to induce the plant to release its active elements without burning it. With tobacco users get the nicotine which they need to feed their addiction, but without the harmful smoke.

The concept even has the support of Harvard Medical School Associate Professor Lester Grinspoon who believes that the “applications are vast. This is the future of smoking. It may well be the future of all drug delivery.” Medicinal vaporization has the potential to eliminate hypodermic needles and oral medications which can be degenerated by digestive enzymes.

Feeling lonely? No girlfriend?

Get yourself a Virtual Girlfriend!

Hong Kong based company Artificial Life have developed an interactive virtual girlfriend that appears as an animated girl for new mobile phones with video capability. According to a company spokesperson, users of the latest 3-G mobile phones who subscribe to the service will be able to send messages to the virtual girlfriend, who will respond by voice. Each girlfriend will follow an evolving daily and weekly schedule which includes visiting her virtual home, work or bar, and shopping with her virtual girlfriends.

Although all the virtual girls look pretty similar, they behave in a different way depending on how well the user treats her.

Buying her flowers and diamonds will get her attention and advance the relationship to higher levels. In return, she will unlock new levels and aspects of her life, such as introducing her female friends - who also happen to be electronic images.

However, it's not as easy as it sounds, because the virtual girlfriend will get angry and ignore the user if she does not get what she wants. And since the users will be charged real money to pay for all those virtual flowers, in addition to the subscription charge, she might turn out to be not just virtual high maintenance, but real high maintenance! Although for now, it has not been determined how much the gifts will cost.

Classified as a game by its makers, it does not contain any elements of a sexual nature, and is "suitable for all ages", the spokesperson said.

Artificial Life hope to launch the new game later this year, with a "virtual boyfriend" equivalent scheduled for early next year.

The Virtual Girlfriend is based on intelligent animated 3-D characters (avatars) that live in a virtual mobile world. The virtual girls can be contacted and seen using a 3G phone at any time. However, the characters will be involved in different activities during the day, for example, the girlfriend may be in her virtual home or at her virtual workplace or in a virtual bar or restaurant or just shopping with another virtual friend in a virtual shopping mall.

The user can watch the characters during these activities and interact with them via the mobile phone. The characters and the game follow a certain daily and weekly schedule which will continuously change and progress over time.

Users can interact with the game characters on their mobile phones by sending SMS and MMS messages or chat with them in real time through a J2ME client. Several interactive game icons are available as well. Users even have the option to interact with the Virtual Girlfriend by sending her virtual gifts which can elevate the user to different, more sophisticated game levels.

Inkless magic!

The pen that never runs out!

While most pen designs are getting more complex, this inkless metal pen takes inspiration from the past for its simple design and functionality. Though not likely to usurp the ballpoint, the novel pen made from stainless steel contains no ink yet is able to write on any most types of paper without ever needing a refill.

The metal pen takes its inspiration from medieval times when artists and scribes often used a metal stylus in order to draw on a specially prepared paper surface. The material the pen was made from was a sign of the status of the scribe’s employer. Gold and silver were used by the upper classes and lead by the less wealthy. This type of pen was commonly known as Metalpoint, or Silverpoint when the stylus was made of silver. Artists such as Leonardo da Vinci used them.

This solid metal 'nib' of this particular metal pen is made from metal alloy rather than silver. It leaves a mark on most types of paper and works best on standard copier/printer paper. The mark it leaves looks like that of a pencil however it cannot be erased.

I wouldn’t use it to try and write the great American novel, but it’s definitely a handy implement to have around and not worry about whether your pen has run out of ink. It could also be a help to "lefties" to help them avoid ink smudge. The metal pen is available from Grand Illusions for US$29.98, a long-term investment since there is no need to replace the ink or buy a new pen for at least 25 years.

Here comes Electronic Paper Book!

Philips and Sony present first ePaper book

Philips, Sony and E Ink have won the race to market for electronic paper and announced the world’s first consumer application of an electronic paper display module in Sony’s new e-Book reader, LIBRIé, which went on sale in Japan as we publish. E Ink’s electronic ink technology offers a truly paper-like reading experience with contrast similar to newsprint.

The display is reflective and easily read in sunlight or dim light and at any angle, just like paper. Its black and white ink-on-paper look is achieved with a resolution of 170 ppi (pixels per inch), far better than most portable devices (computer screens are normally 72 ppi). As the display uses power only when an image is changed, you can read 10,000 pages on a set of over-the-counter batteries. With a compact, lightweight form factor LIBRIé is similar in size to a paperback book.

LIBRIé allows users to download content, such as books or comic strips and read it anywhere, and it can store 500 downloaded books.

While the way people experience entertainment has changed dramatically with the rapid growth of portable entertainment devices like music and movie players, the way people read books, magazines and newspapers has not.

The commercialization of this revolutionary display technology is a result of a strategic collaboration among E Ink Corporation, Toppan Printing, Philips and Sony and has resulted in more than 100 patents in chemistry, electronics and manufacturing processes.

Now u can send sms through Pens!!

SMS & Email Pen

D:Scribe is a digital fountain pen that allows users to send SMS and email messages from paper. Just write out the message and circle the person’s name to send. This does away with a keypad and allows you to focus on communicating in a more personal way from anywhere as long as you have a bluetooth enabled phone and a surface to write on. The pen also records everything you write which can be accessed on a computer. Of course for the creative peeps, if writing doesn’t suit your fancy, the D:Scribe also works with genius and not so genius drawings of brilliance.

The design is loosely based on a quill and inkwell where by the quill is the writing apparatus and the inkwell is an electromagnetic induction charger.

Once a message is sent, the status is displayed on the built-in OLED screen. The designers have also expanded its capabilities beyond that of messaging. Should your home electronics and appliances be bluetooth enabled, you could potentially program the pen to input commands by writing in the air. A little abstract but lets pretend this idea is more a patent for possibilities.

PC in a Coffee mug?? Strange!!

Yuno Concept Pc

The Yuno PC is a new personal computer concept designed to help you get the most out of your morning without holding you back or constraining you to a desktop PC. Everyone has their own routine, what they read, watch, listen to, and of course drink. The Yuno PC mug incorporates all the important morning alerts such as weather, time, traffic, stocks, and more on its touchscreen display. You can also display your own images as a screensaver if you just want to relax. It lets you enjoy the morning the way you deserve to, stress free and highly caffenaited.