Post 7b – A New Human Species?

Thanks to new genomics technologies, scientists have not only been able to read organisms' genomes faster than ever before, they can also write increasingly complex changes into those genomes, creating organisms with new capabilities.  Juan Enriquez, managing director of Excel Venture Management, states that the ability to write the code of life will profoundly change the world as we know it.  We can literally engineer our environment and ourselves.  Humanity is moving beyond the perceived constrains of Darwinian evolution. The result, he says, may be an entirely new species.  Let the ethical debates commence…

http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/38932/?p1=MstVwd

Below is a thought provoking video in which Juan Enrigquez talks about the evolution of the human species.  

Rick S.

Post 7a - Artificial Muscles

Researchers have created artificial muscles that can twist 1,000 times more than any material made in the past.  This development could prove useful in the development of robots and prosthetic limbs.  Artificial muscles are typically made from polymers and metals that change size and shape.  However, to be truly useful, these materials need to twist or rotate when an electric current is applied, and very few materials can do this.  The new muscles can produce as much torque, or twisting force, as commercial electric motors.

http://www.blogger.com/goog_1535169645

Rick S.

Post 6b - Light-Based Therapy Destroys Cancer Cells

For more than two decades, researchers have tried to develop a light-activated cancer therapy that could replace standard chemotherapy, which can be effective but causes serious negative side effects.  Now scientists at the National Cancer Institute have developed a possible solution that involves pairing cancer-specific antibodies with a heat-sensitive fluorescent dye.  The dye is nontoxic on its own, but when it comes into contact with near-infrared light, it heats up and essentially burns a small hole in the cell membrane it has attached to, killing the cell.  The dye used in the study offers another bonus because it lights up, which allows clinicians to track the treatment's progress with fluorescence imaging.  In the mice, the fluorescence visibly declined in tumor cells a day after administration of the near-infrared light.

http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/39082/?ref=rss

Rick S.

Post 6a - New Method for Making Neurons Could Lead to Parkinson's Treatment

A new method of synthesizing dopamine-producing neurons, the predominant type of brain cell destroyed in Parkinson's, offers hope for creating cell-replacement therapies that reverse the damage.  When transplanted into mice and rats with brain damage and movement problems similar to Parkinson's, the cells integrated into the brain and worked normally, reversing the animals' motor issues.  Many of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, including tremors, muscle rigidity, and loss of balance, are linked to loss of dopamine in the brain. While medications exist to replace some of the lost chemical, they do not alleviate all of the symptoms and can lose their effectiveness over time. Scientists hope that replacing lost cells with new ones will provide a more complete and long-term solution.

http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/39073/?mod=more

Rick S.

Post 5b - iThermostat

Do you ever quarrel disagree with your spouse over the temperature in the house?  Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence in my home.   In fact, there are many nights where my wife sleeps comfortably under the comforter, while I suffer from heat stroke above the comforter.  Of course, I would argue that keeping the house at 85 degrees isn’t normal. 

Fortunately, the answer for my family may have just arrived.  Ex-Apple engineer Tony Fadell has developed the Nest Learning Thermostat, which offers a new take on automatic temperature adjustment.  Featuring a simple knob-based design, the unit is capable of self-programming via a combination of user habits, activity sensors, and Internet-gathered weather information.  I am considering purchasing the Nest Learning Thermostat when it goes on sale in mid-November (priced at $249.00).  However, I must admit, I am concerned that the temperature extremes in my home would cause the device to blow a circuit. 

Rick S.

Post 5a - Bodymetrics Pods Scan Customers' to Get Clothing Measurements

London-based Bodymetrics and 3D machine vision company PrimeSense have developed a full 3D body scanner that is designed to make clothes shopping much easier.  The Bodymetrics platform uses eight 3D sensors to take all of a client's necessary measurements and map their body shape.  In turn, this data can be accessed by retailers, to find the clothes which best fit that client.  Initially the scanner is going to be used by Bodymetrics "Fit Stylists" to suggest the best-fitting jeans for female customers.  The next step is to revolutionize the online clothing retail market.

Rick S.

Post 4d - A “touch screen” for any surface?

Believe it or not, Microsoft Research is unveiling technology that turns any surface into a touch screen (even human skin).  Dubbed OmniTouch, it is a wearable system that allows multitouch input on everyday surfaces.  The technology combines a laser-based pico projector and depth-sensing camera.  The camera is similar to Microsoft's Kinect camera used with the Xbox 360, but has been modified to work at short range.  I encourage you to watch the video below.

Rick S.

Post 4c - Urine as Rocket Fuel?

Yes it’s true, using urine as rocket fuel is a real possibility.  Scientists have cracked the code for a particular bacteria that converts ammonium (a key chemical in urine) into hydrazine, which is a type of rocket fuel.  Now that scientists understand how hydrazine is made the next step is to enhance the conversion process.  With millions of tons of ammonium deposited in wastewater every year, rocket fuel should never be in short supply.   

Rick S.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/113418-New-Research-Could-Turn-Urine-into-Rocket-Fuel

Post 4b - Wireless Bike Brakes

Computer scientists at Saarland University have developed a wireless bicycle brake that is 99.999999999997 percent safe.  The scientists successfully installed the brakes on a cruiser bicycle.  The bike does not have a typical brake lever on the handlebars and cable snaking down the frame.  In contrast, this bike has a rubber handle that only needs to be squeezed and some electronics mounted on the handlebar and fork.  The tighter a rider squeezes the handle, the harder the disk brake presses on the wheel to slow the bike.

Rick S.

http://futureoftech.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/14/8322275-wireless-bike-brake-works-most-of-the-time

Post 4a - The Launch of Windows 8 and maybe an iPad Competitor

Microsoft is expected to launch the the next generation of Windows within the next few months.  The new operating system, currently known as Windows 8, is the latest attempt by Microsoft to regain its prominence.  For those that are unaware, Apple has surpassed Microsoft as the world’s most prominent & valuable technology company.  Surprisingly, it isn’t the MacBook or Mac OS X Lion that has Microsoft executives worried.  In contrast, it’s the dominance of the iPad that has Microsoft really scared.  The tech giant cannot afford to let Apple monopolize the tablet market like Microsoft did with the desktop OS.  That’s where Microsoft is hoping Windows 8 can make a difference.  The next generation OS is not only designed for PCs, but also works on tablets.  As such, it is widely speculated that Microsoft will also unveil a Windows 8 tablet in conjunction with the new OS launch.  The Windows 8 tablet is expected to be manufactured by Samsung, but designed meticulously by Microsoft in an attempt to create a viable iPad alternative.

The video link below prvoides an overview of the Windows 8 user interface.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p92QfWOw88I

Rick S.

Post 3b - Wireless Network with LED Room Lights

I guess there’s justification for the high price of LED lights?

German researchers have demonstrated how regular LED lights can be turned into an optical LAN (OLAN) with only a few additional components.  With the aid of a special modulator the LEDs are turned off and on in very rapid succession and transfer information as ones and zeros.  As such, LEDs can actually provide light for a room and transfer data at the same time.  The system works because the modulation of the light is imperceptible to the human eye.  Special diodes catch the light and translate the information into electrical impulses (the language of the computers).  In testing, the OLAN actually provided enough throughput to allow four people in a room to watch a film from the Internet on their laptops, in HD quality.  While rigging a system to turn LEDs into a transfer medium may not require many components, sending data over light waves is not without challenges.  For example, whenever an object (like a hand) comes between the light and the photo diode the transfer is impaired.  Researchers stress that the OLAN is not intended to replace other networks, but rather serve as an additional and low-invasive option in environments where radio transmission networks are not desired or not possible, such as hospital surgical rooms.

Well, I’m off to HomeDepot to buy some LED light bulbs.  Do you think they sell OLAN diodes and modulators?  Seriously, just think of the OLAN market potential… 

Rick S.

Post 3a - Lee's First Mobile Phone...The PaperPhone

Researchers from Arizona State University, Queen’s University, and E Ink Corporation have developed a flexible smartphone prototype called the PaperPhone.  Described as a “flexible iPhone” this device does everything a typical smartphone does, such as store books, play music or make phone calls.  However, the similarities end there…  The 9.5 cm diagonal bendable device is made of two layers: the e-ink display and a flexible printed circuit with five bend sensors.  Bend gestures are fed into a gesture-recognition engine trained to associate certain movements with certain instructions.  The interaction via bend gestures could be particularly useful to users with poor eyesight or other age-related ailments that prevent coordinated touch control.  Additionally, the flexible form of the display makes it much more portable than current mobile devices (it will actually contour to the shape of your pocket).  Further, the potential to store and interact with documents on larger versions of these light, flexible computers may lessen the need for office printers.    

There’s no mention of price point for this ingenious device.  However, I’m sure that this new technology will attract its share of customers.  In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is just the motivation needed by Lee W. to purchase his first mobile phone.  Welcome to the 21^st century!

Rick S.

Post 2b - Streaming Content Deals

This is an addendum to the Netflix post from a few weeks back (see Post 1b).  As noted in the previous post, the rise in popularity of streaming video has created greater competition in the battle for market share.  In fact, two of the key players, Netflix and Amazon, announced that they've acquired new weapons for their content arsenals. Netflix has sealed an exclusive streaming deal with DreamWorks Animation.  The deal, which doesn’t start until 2013, gives Netflix sole streaming rights to some of DreamWorks' movies and TV specials.  Similarly, Amazon recently announced that its Prime instant video service has scored a contract with Twentieth Century Fox. The deal will add more than 2,000 of the network's movies and TV shows to its streaming video catalog.  The Fox contract includes streaming rights for movies including Mrs. Doubtfire, Office Space, Speed and Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid.  The TV shows include 24, Arrested Development, Ally McBeal, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The X-Files and The Wonder Years.  While the Fox contract bolsters Amazon's catalog, it's not an exclusive deal.  Both Hulu and Netflix already had streaming rights for many Fox titles.  Once again, it’s amazing how streaming video technology has changed the landscape of the video market.

Rick S.

Post 2a - The Invisible Combat Vehicle

My father spent the majority of his military career as a Tank Commander in the U.S. Army.  In my discussions with him, he revealed that that this career choice was driven by his lifelong fascination with tanks.  In fact, despite being retired from the military for several years, he still tries to stay current regarding tank technology.  As such, I wasn’t surprised that he called me when it was announced that an “invisibility cloak” had been developed for tanks. 

BAE Systems has successfully tested a new camouflaging system called “Adaptive” that can instantly blend a combat vehicle into its natural surroundings by making it invisible to infrared and other surveillance technology.  Adaptiv can also mimic natural objects and other vehicles, and display tags for Identification Friend/Foe (IFF) capability by displaying distinctive patterns visible only at certain spectral ranges or in response to an interrogation signal.  The technology is based on sheets of lightweight hexagonal ‘pixels’ (panels) that are electrically powered by a vehicle’s systems.  The metal panels are individually heated and cooled rapidly using semiconducting technology. The hand-sized pixels are not unlike the tiles used on the exterior of space shuttles–they’re designed to sustain physical impact and can be easily removed and replaced if damaged.

Rick S.

 

Post 1b - Netflix

I found some interesting articles regarding Netflix.  As many of you are probably aware, Netflix recently started charging separate prices for DVDs-by-mail and streaming video plans.  In fact, the cheapest possible price for customers desiring to retain both services jumped from $10 to $16.  In response to this price hike, Netflix’s subscriber base has dropped from approximately 25 million to 24 million in just a few weeks.    

While Netflix’s pricing strategy is a major media focus, I am more fascinated by the impact technology has had on the Netflix business model.  Netflix has almost 22 million streaming video subscribers and, in contrast, approximately 2.2 million in DVD only subscribers.  This is a sharp contrast for a company that was founded on its DVD-by-mail service.  Additionally, Netflix has faced much stiffer competition in the streaming video market (i.e., Hulu).  Further, it is estimated that the streaming video content cost for Netflix will increase from $180 million in 2010 to a whopping $1.98 billion in 2012.  You have to wonder what the future holds for Netflix?

On a side note, the Netflix price increase has convinced my parents to adopt streaming video as their primary movie source.  It’s amazing how the motivation of saving a few dollars helps to overcome the technology generation gap.  Now, if I could just figure out a way to get them to set the clock on the VCR…  

Rick S.
   

http://money.cnn.com/2011/07/08/technology/netflix_starz_contract/index.htm

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/15/netflix-price-increase-subscriber-loss_n_964026.html

Post 1a - Hype Cycle 2011

I took the time to review Gartner’s “Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies, 2011.”  The article provides a broad review of several transformational technologies.  The technologies are categorized in five major areas:  On the rise - breakthrough technology; At the peak - well publicized technology, but with little success; Sliding into the trough - does not live up to inflated expectations and interest wanes; Climbing the slope - true understanding of technical application and more focused use; or Entering the plateau -  benefits finally recognized.  Further, the authors’ note that the vast majority of the technologies reviewed center on the following themes:  the connected world, interface trends, analytical advances, and new digital frontiers.

I was particularly fascinated by many of the technologies in the “on the rise” category.   For example, 3D bioprinting technology can be used to literally "print" a functioning human organ.  While this technology is currently marketed mostly as a "must have" for research labs, it is expected to eventually move into mainstream tissue/organ production.  In addition, the article discusses computer-brain interface technology.  The computer-brain interface literally interprets distinct brain patterns, usually generated by voluntary user actions, as commands that can be used to guide a computer or other devices.  The application of this technology is expected to provide wide-ranging benefits to disabled individuals.    

If you have the time, I encourage you to read the article.  Many of the emerging technologies reviewed are truly amazing.  Rick S.