Posted: 14 Nov 2013 08:45 AM PST
With cycling continuing to gain in popularity, it seems bike technology is ever expanding as well. Just within the past couple of months, I have read of improved bike helmets, bike locks, and more. It has never been safer to ride a bike, and if the MYBELL takes off, it will be soon be even safer. Riding a bike on a desolate back road is one thing, but riding on a busy New York City street is something entirely different. Actually, riding in the middle of NYC is just what inspired Peter Pottier to begin developing the MYBELL. He was almost struck while riding, and decided it was time to stand up for bikers everywhere.
A New Bicycle Bell For A New Generation
Basically, what Pottier and co. have done is they have drastically improved the age-old bicycle bell. Inside of an annoying dinging sound, though, it now allows you to program a custom MP3 file to blast. For instance, if you are riding down a busy street and some car (or even pedestrian) isn’t paying any attention and is about to run into you, you can blast Beat It by Michael Jackson, or maybe even more appropriately, Get Back by the Beatles.
MYBELL plays back sound at 96dB – the average bell can only reach 70 dB. On top of the sound, MYBELL also features LED lights to help pedestrians and motorists see you better in the dark.
MYBELL has yet to enter its crowdfunding stage, but we can bet it won’t be too long before it makes its debut. MYBELL has recently placed at the top or near the top at several tech challenges. You can view all of the details on the MYBELL website.
While I am all for improving biker safety, it seems bikers will have to have Spider-Sense reflexes in order to push the button to activate the lights and sound before they are struck by a car or a person. And what happens if a vehicle has their radio blasting near full volume with the windows up? Nevertheless, this could be a very good item for serious bikers to purchase.
The MYBELL is being designed to fit on many different handlebar sizes.
[Image via MYBELL]
The post MYBELL Seeks To Improve Biker Safety appeared first on TechBeat.
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Posted: 14 Nov 2013 07:30 AM PST
A team from the Duke University have discovered a technology that can turn microwave signals into an electrical signal. They claim it is as efficient as solar panels.
The device that the team produced used metamaterials, which are able to capture different types of wave energy and convert them for other uses. These are artificial materials that display properties not normally seen in nature.
“We’re showing… these materials can be useful for consumer applications,” said engineering student Alexander Katko.
The researchers successfully converted microwaves into 7.3 volts of electricity by using fibreflass and copper conductors on a circuit board. At this voltage it would be possible to charge a mobile phone or camera.
“We were aiming for the highest energy efficiency we could achieve,” said team member Allen Hawkes.
“We had been getting energy efficiency around 6-10%, but with this design we were able to dramatically improve energy conversion to 37%, which is comparable to what is achieved in solar cells.”
US researchers think that in the future satellite, sound and wi-fi signals could also be “harvested”.
However, Katko and Hawkes along with their colleagues, hope to see this technology incorporated into mobile phones. This will mean that a phone can charge wirelessly when it is not in use.
“Our work demonstrates a simple and inexpensive approach to electromagnetic power harvesting,” said Mr Cummer.
“The beauty of the design is that the basic building blocks are self-contained and additive. One can simply assemble more blocks to increase the scavenged power.”
[Image via Duke University]
The post Wireless Power One Step Closer! appeared first on TechBeat.
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Posted: 14 Nov 2013 06:34 AM PST
Verizon just joined the tablet wars by officially announcing its first 7-inch Android tablet, the Ellipsis 7. It’s not like we need another tablet to add to the already sometimes overwhelming set of choices, but there is always the thought of another manufacturer possibly bringing something new to the table. After all, isn’t that what the tech world is all about: innovation?
So the Ellipsis 7 is only the first of a line of tablets which consumers can look forward to. But, does it really bring something new that will get users to switch from whatever tablet they’re using at the moment?
Specs
Let’s look at the numbers and figures that matter, then.
Looking at those specs, it is easy to understand how one can just dismiss the Ellipsis 7 as unremarkable. Nothing innovative here.
Price
Of course, it will all boil down to the financial damage that the unit will cost the user. Verizon is offering the Ellipsis 7 with two options.
The first option is a two-year contract, which will cost $149.99 (the tablet only). The second option involves a month-to-month contract, with the tablet costing $249.99.
Wrap up
The Ellipsis 7 is not bad and actually has a chance to stand up against its competitors. Given that it is exclusive to Verizon, there should be perks in terms of connectivity, one of them being the ability to serve as a hotspot supporting up to eight additional devices.
Here’s the clincher: for a limited time, you can get $100 off any tablet from Verizon when purchased with a new two-year contract.
[Image via Digital Trends]
The post Verizon Announces Its Ellipsis 7 Tablet appeared first on TechBeat.
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Posted: 14 Nov 2013 05:20 AM PST
The hardware startup Whill, wants to redesign the wheelchair, but that is not all the company wants to accomplish. They also want to fight the stigma surrounding disability, by creating lustrous and modern mobility devices for all. The company was founded by former Sony, Olympus and Toyotaengineers and their first retail model, the Whill Type-A, is now available for pre-orders and will be ready for delivery within the U.S. early next year.
Whill is part of 500 Start-up‘s accelerator program and they have raised a total of $1.7 million so far. Other investors include Facebook, Itochu Technology Ventures, Japan engineer Eric Kwan, SunBridge Global Ventures and Wingle Co.
The company entered Tech Crunch Tokyo in 2012 with a prototype of an electric add-on that allowed wheelchair users to travel for longer distances. Whill decided to develop a complete device with a four-wheel drive after showing their exhibit at the Tokyo Motor Show and then conducting market research in Japan the U.S. and the UK. First the team interviewed 150 wheelchair users from the U.S., where they’d received the most demand for an alternative, based on their research. The company found that people wanted devices that were both agile and yet stable. Most important of all though, people hunted for something that would help remove the negativity surrounding wheelchair use. Whill’s director of business development, Atsushi Mizushima said, “Imagine a car, bicycle, scooter or skate board, all devices that basically make you feel happy…only the wheelchair, as a mobility device, makes people feel uncomfortable. People’s perception of those devices, are that they are limiting.”
One of the biggest differences between the functionality of the Type-A and traditional wheelchairs are the front-arm controllers that let users navigate by leaning forward, thereby transferring their weight to help steer. This mimics the posture of motorcycle and bicycle riders. “In addition to the aesthetics, what we try to achieve is the feeling of driving a car, motorcycle or skateboard…They can choose to take the lean-in position, which makes them look more active and lets them feel like they are riding a motorcycle or other cool mobility device instead of forcing them to take a passive sitting posture.” says Mizushima
Whill’s controller can be operated like a gaming joystick, with a single hand. Two other modes allow the user to sit close to tables or lean back and relax when they are stationary.
The other major improvement Whill makes to a standard wheelchair is a better balance between turning radius and terrain coverage. In order to make small turns, wheelchairs need to have small front wheels, but those have the tendency to get stuck in cracks or when traversing over coarse surfaces such as pebbly areas. Whill’s team spent time developing a unique all-around wheel with freely moving rollers. This enables the Type-A to have a turning radius of 28 inches and gives it the stability to pilot rough terrain and clear bumps up to three inches high.
Mizushima says the first batch of chairs will include some premium features as an incentive for early adopters of the design. Whill wants to have the Type-A approved as a medical device by the U.S. F.D.A. (Food and Drug Administration) To enable it to be eligible for insurance coverage, as well as making it available to other countries. To extend manufacturing, the company is currently talking with original equipment manufacturers in Mexico and Taiwan. Future models of the device will include software integration, such as apps, alerts and data analysis that can warn users about a reduced battery supply and upcoming obstacles in their path.
Mizushima made a bold statement saying, the company wants to “create the iPhone of mobility devices”. He adds that Whill hopes its mobility devices will ultimately be seen as not just as alternative to traditional wheelchairs, but as an energy-efficient transportation, like the Segway.
For more info regarding Whill, visit the company’s site. The Type-A will be exhibited at Abilities Expo San Jose later this month, as well as CES andAbilities Expo LA early next year.
[Image via: slideshare and techinasia]
The post Whill’s Wheelchair Alternative Is Ready For Pre-Orders appeared first on TechBeat.
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Posted: 14 Nov 2013 04:26 AM PST
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas…right? Well, maybe not anymore as Las Vegas is installing Intellistreets. They are street lights that have many features, not just illumination; they include the ability to shoot video and record sound. Which, in these troublesome days of surveillance, some people are finding more than a little worrying. In fact they are going so far as to imply, it is downright spying.
The company behind Intellistreets, Illuminating Concepts has as its motto: “Assisting in the Creation of Memorable Environments since 1981.” The word “memorable” is of an interest to some. Las Vegas public works Director Jorge Cervantes told MyNews3 that this was all entirely innocent: “Right now our intention is not to have any cameras or recording device. It’s just to provide output out there, not to get any feed or video feed coming back.” Those who feel their privacy has been co-opted by everyone from a leader of a social media platform to a government official of a certain job title (what do you call a spy anyway? is it a government operative?) will be focusing only on two of Cervantes’s words: “Right now.”
But if we are to believe the words of Neil Rohleder, of the city’s Public Works Department: “We want to develop an experience for the people who come downtown.” We should feel safe, right? However, it does beg the question; what kind of experience do they want to develop?
Intellistreets is controlled from an iPad. So, should anyone have reprehensible intentions and some hacking skills, they will to be able to carry out their evil plan, with the greatest of ease. The video of how the system works spends an awful lot of its time presenting a compelling case for its brilliance, however, near the end of the film, there is this phrase: “Intellistreets also enables a myriad of homeland security features.” A myriad of homeland security featuressounds a lot like; abundant ways to spy on people using new technology. Will it be easy for someone to manipulate the data, hack the system or sell someone’s antics to the highest bidder? Who knows? But I don’t plan on spending anytime in Vegas in the near future, do you?
[Image via: publicintelligence]
The post Be Careful In Vegas, Intellistreets Is Watching appeared first on TechBeat.
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Posted: 14 Nov 2013 02:35 AM PST
Now this is just awesome – if we had any doubts that the future was here, those doubts can now be laid to rest. Allow me to introduce you to the Z-Machines. Forget Metallica, the Z-Machines are a heavy metal band in every sense of the word – the members are all robots! The metallic band was designed and created by engineers at Tokyo University and they hope one day that the band can perform a concert up in space. Now that would be the day.
Introducing Z-Machines To The World
The lineup of Z-Machines is comprised of 3 highly sophisticated robots. Mach is the guitarist for the group, and is equipped with 78 fingers and 12 guitar picks. He can play at a speed of 1,184 beats per minute. He also has countless wires and cables affixed to his head so he can whip around his long hair during the set. Ashura is the drummer, and he (she?) has six arms and 22 drumsticks, making h/she the fastest drummer in the world. The last member of the metal band is the keyboardist, Cosmo. On top of tickling the ivories, Cosmo can also shoot all kinds of laser beams from his eyes to add a kind of psychedelic and transcendental flavor to any show. Well, if nothing else, their names sure sound like rock gods.
The Z-Machines are sponsored by Zima, which is a popular alcoholic beverage in Japan. The drink didn’t do so well over here in America, but the band could be a whole other story.
The Z-Machine’s debut song is called Post People, Post Party and it was written by DJ Tasaka who is very popular in the realm of electronica music. I’ll admit, Post People, Post Party doesn’t have the same ring to it as Enter Sandman or For Whom the Bell Tolls, but hey, if Call Me, Maybe worked, there is always hope.
Will robotic bands ultimately replace human bands in the future? I certainly hope not, but I do have to admit that the Z-Machines open up countless possibilities as to what future technology can do.
Check out the Z-Machines in action with the video below.
[Image via Metro]
Source: http://japandailypress.com/japanese-robot-band-z-machines-rocks-out-in-debut-performance-2531131/
The post Meet The Z-Machines: The First All Robot Band appeared first on TechBeat.
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Posted: 14 Nov 2013 01:30 AM PST
Earlier this year Microsoft replaced Hotmail and all accounts were transferred to Outlook.com. Microsoft included a host of new features such as integration with SkyDrive and instant search. If you are still finding your way around, then take a look at seven of the features we picked out that you may not have discovered yet.
 Outlook Alias
In order to keep different kinds of mail seperate, many of us end up using various email address accounts but it often ends up being a nuisance. Microsoft have included a feature in Outlook.com that allows you to add aliases to your existing account.
To set up an alias then all you need to do is:
If you want to set up a rule for automatically filing messages received to the new alias address to a special Outlook.com folder, then type the desired name under “A new folder”, then click “Done”.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts are fantastic at saving us time. Here are our top five for Outlook.com:
Facebook and Twitter Content
Outlook.com enables you to add your contacts from social networks and manage content from Facebook and Twitter accounts. It even allows you to post comments and accept friend requests directly from the Outlook.com inbox.
To manage privacy settings and view which social media accounts you have linked with Outlook.com then:
Sweep Emails
This feature allows you to give your inbox a good spring clean but quickly and easily (not like my housework then!). If you want to set-up an automatic clean-up of emails from a particular sender or entire category:
You have various options with this feature, so you can “Only keep the latest message from this sender”, or “Delete all messages older than _ days”, and even “Move all messages older than _ days to <select>.
Revoke Easy Access Feature
If you have a device that only you use, Microsoft has created a feature whereby you can login quickly to this device by just using a password. Should you happen to lose this device however and want to revoke this one-step access quickly, follow these steps:
One-Click Actions
The one-click acttion feature allows you to deal with emails instantly. So for example if you see that an email is spam before you even open it, then with one-click you can deal with it.
To configure these quick actions then click on the settings icon in the toolbar and select “More email settings” from the menu. Select “Instant actions” under “Customising Outlook” and make sure “Show instant actions” is ticked.
It is possible to add your own instant action buttons by clicking “Add actions” and selecting other options from the menu. If you want this button to be constantly visible then highlight the button under “Show on mouse over” and click “Move down” until the button is under “Show always”.
Outlook.com Service Status
If you are having problems with Outlook.com, then you can find out if Microsoft is aware of it and whether anything is being done about it.
Visit the Outlook Service Status page. If you want to see issues that have been recently resolved then visit the Microsoft Services Status Historypage.
[Image via tenpennydreams]
The post 7 Great Outlook.com Tricks You May Not Know About Yet appeared first on TechBeat.
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Saturday 16 November 2013
MYBELL Seeks To Improve Biker Safety
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