Product Inspiration

With this gadget, doctors can remotely monitor various things about their patients remotely. Instead of the bulky machines that are currently used in hospitals, this product condenses ECG, temperature, repiration and physical activity monitoring into a small band-aid size device. It uses active radio frequency transmission to send the data to a base station wirelessly.

Honestly, while I think this is a cool new device, it seems that there is some new wireless medical monitoring gadget coming out every day. They range from highly impractical mini-purses that you have to carry around with you, to small unnoticeable pads such as this. Similarly, the data they collect range from insulin levels (a VERY hot area) to alcohol abuse.

At any rate, these new devices are here to stay, and should grow pretty steadily in use over the next 10 years. Let’s hope our doctor insurance company prescribes us these pads over the bagphone models!

This new toothbrush design purportedly cleans your teeth better without toothpaste than the one you currently use (with toothpaste). It uses a titanium oxide embedded in the base of the bristled end of the brush to send out free electrons, which then react with the acid in your mouth, helping it break down the plaque. The electrons are activated when light shines on the titanium.

While silver nanoparticles seem to be taking over the world of antimicrobial plastics and fabrics, maybe this alternative way of killing bacteria by using electrons could give it some competition.

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/11/solar-toothbrus.html

more information at: http://blogs.zdnet.com/emergingtech/?p=754

Technorati : solar, toothbrush

Microbial fuel cells take advantage of the byproducts natural(or bio-engineered) bacteria produce when feeding on organic matter. The byproducts range from useable electric current to hydrogen and ethanol, and the feedstocks are usually waste plant matter or even sewage.

This newest innovation uses the science behind microbial fuel cells to power remote sensors on sea turtles. The big difference between this and other microbial fuel cells is that it uses feedstock and bacteria that exist naturally in the wild. In particular, it uses the bacteria which are colonized on the sea floor mud. A chamber attached to the bottom of the turtle grabs some of this bacteria-rich mud when the turtle rests on the ocean floor, and carries it around, using the natural electric current the bacteria generate to power the sensors.

Grabbing useable energy from the environment is a great and upcoming way to generate power. People are doing it by harnessing the movement of bridges, the jostling of animals, and even the natural microcurrent running through trees! Right now, the main problem with these methods is that the power output is very small, and can only be used to power tiny sensors. The improvements in energy efficiency of electronics and the effectiveness of harnessing natural energy will likely lead to more and more useful ways like this to power electronics in the natural world.

http://technology.newscientist.com/channel/tech/dn12894-mud-microbes-p ower-turtletracking-sensors.html

Technorati : bacterial fuel cell

Certain algae have shells which can display any color, depending on the physical design of their shell (in other words, the geometry of their shell can trick your eyes into seeing any color in the rainbow). If these bacteria are attached to fabric, they can act as the coloring agent. The benefit is that dye is no longer needed to color fabric, which both cuts the cost and improves the fabric’s strength/durability.  If it becomes both cheap and easy to adopt, this small improvement could save loads of money for both manufacturers and customers over the long run.

http://www.wired.com/science/planetearth/news/2007/10/eco_textiles

Microbial Fuel Cells use organic matter and special bacteria to produce power. The bacteria consume whatever trash or biological byproducts they are fed, and in turn they produce small amounts of electricity. While the amounts of power don’t seem that large when compared to batteries and more conventional generators, you have to remember that it is being produced from trash. Even further, the bacteria also process the matter, breaking it down for safer and less toxic disposal at a later time. This kind of win-win technology is definitely worth keeping an eye on.http://technology.newscientist.com/article/dn12731-grassmunching-bu gs-could-charge-rural-phones.html

While contact lenses have been around for a long time, this new product actually replaces the cornea, repairing vision problems permanently. Quite a few scientific advancements came together for this product, such as the ability to prevent biofilms from forming on the lens (which cause clouding/fouling) and biofriendly, strong and forgiving materials.
http://www.fraunhofer.de/fhg/EN/press/pi/2007/10/ResearchNews102007Top ic3.jsp via engadget

A conventional DVD drive has been modified to scan laboratory samples through some simple hardware and software modifications. The huge cost savings this provides seems to suggest that there may be much cheaper ways of making this type of laboratory scanning equipment WITHOUT all of the hardware hacking.

http://www.hackaday.com/2007/09/25/convert-a-dvd-r-drive-into-a-lab-sc anner/

Technorati : DVD drive hacks, laboratory scanner

This new advancement is a drug patch which can deliver very discrete and controllable amounts of different drugs from a very small patch which is worn on the body. Outside of the improved delivery characteristics, one of the biggest benefits to this technology is that, due to the extremely small needle size, there is absolutely no pain associated with the injections. Keep an eye on this technology- we may all be wearing these in a few years to get better dosing of our daily meds.

http://www.techreview.com/Biotech/19365/

Technorati : microneedle, transdermal

In the last year or two, there have been quite a few advanced sensors aimed primarily at improving the performance of professional athletes.

One such technology was a pill which the sports hero swallowed at the beginning of the workout. During the workout, the pill could transmit the athlete’s core body temperature to the sideline trainers. This let them optimize the athlete’s performance and reduce his (or her) risk of injury by picking the best times to have them take a break.

More recently, a device came out which monitors various other parameters, and clips to the back of the ear.

Another such technology uses GPS monitoring to track the athlete’s movement during practice and actual games.

While these previous features only record diagnostic information, the following device (and others) actually enhances the athlete’s performance. It provides rapid cooling of your body by putting a very cold pad on your veins, chilling your circulating blood, and rapidly bringing your body temperature down. This could really extend a player’s endurance.

Given the recent controversy surrounding the use of video eqiupment for cheating in the NFL, it will be interesting to watch how each sport’s governing bodies control and regulate these technologies which give players an advantage over others.

Technorati : sports technology

Facial recognition seems like it has been that science fiction technology which is always ‘right around the corner.’ You see it on Discovery Channel specials, and hear about scientists doing all kinds of cool things with it in the lab, but rarely see it in real products. Recently, this technology has finally been brought into some new products for average consumers. First, some new consumer cameras incorporated this technology to improve focusing on the faces of the subjects, and to check and make sure everyone is smiling.

Then, Lexus created this system which employs facial recognition for a much more practical use. It uses a set of cameras, remote controls, and computer-run algorithms to make sure you are paying attention to the road. The driver-facing camera is coupled with a camera which looks in front of the vehicle for upcoming obstacles. When both an inattentive driver and an upcoming are sensed, the system kicks into action, sounding a buzzer, pre-tensioning the seat belts, and even applying the brakes.

Applications such as these show that facial recognition may finally be turning the corner, and may be giving the average consumer some cool new functions on a wide variety of products.

via gizmag

Technorati : facial recognition, smart cars