noemi

Lab Coat Made of LED Functions as TV

August 6, 2023 by noemi

Alright, DIY-ers out there. Here is the model for your next project! This labcoat is made of LED and even works as a TV! How much cooler can you get?

The LEB lab coat was made by David Forbes, who had one special mission in mind while he was conceptualizing and creating the coat: to wear his creation at Burning Man. Here’s a peek at the lab coat.

Think of it as a color TV set placed on top of a lab coat that any scientist, doctor, or researcher would wear. And yes, the TV displays NTSC video – no need to fiddle with the settings!

If you’re wondering how this was made possible, think about flex boards and color LED displays (160 x 120 pixels to be exact). If the image above is not exactly to your liking, here’s another one that might prove to be more fun.

Homer is David’s hero – just like countless other people in the universe. You have to admit that, while the resolution of the TV will definitely not compete with your HDTV at home, Homer looks pretty good on the lab coat. Well, you know what I mean. 😉

As you may have surmised, the displays covers pretty much the entire torso, down to the leg – back to front, sides semi-included. The brains of this lab coat cum TV can be found in circuit boards mounted on the shoulders and the hips. The work that has gone into this contraption is not to be taken lightly. Six months – and custom fabricated boards, hot glue, FFC cable, double-sided tape, a host of other electronics, and $20,000 – later, David is ready to be a hit at Burning Man. Did I already say this thing cost $20,000 to complete?

Here’s the TV in action.

I tried to ignore how awkwardly David had to move all throughout the demo. I guess he’s going to have to be ready not to sit or even lean against anything when he shows that thing off at the festival!

For more details and photos of the making of the TV lab coat, visit Cathode Corner.

Hyundai Rumored to Be Working on a Supercar

August 5, 2023 by noemi

Rumor is the operative word here. In a story ran by Inside Line ((Source)), it was emphasized – rather heavily – that it is all conjecture and whispers, and that no official verification has been received. Then again, these kinds of rumors always have a source. As they say, where there is smoke, there must be fire. So whether or not this piece of news is true, let’s feast our eyes on what is supposed to be on the drawing board over at Hyundai: a new supercar that is set to blast a lot of competition out of this world.

Think Chevy Corvette Z06. Think Nissan GT-R. Let’s add the Jaguar XK, BMW 650i, Porsche 911 and Cayman to that list. All of these are jaw-dropping, drool-inducing cars, but they just might be in for some competition from Korean car maker Hyundai – if there is any truth to the rumors.

So this car may not exist according to official channels, but the grapevine tells us that the Hyundai supercar is is going to be V8 powered and that the price tag would be anywhere from $80,000 and $100,000. More so, little birds have been saying that the same engine powering the Genesis R-Spec will be found under the hood of the yet unnamed supercar. That is, it will also have the all aluminum Tao 5.0-Liter V8 – something totally new from Hyundai, by the way. In addition to this detail, it is also being said that Hyundai engineers and designers are looking at front engine and midengine designs at this point.

The rumors have been dismissed by John Krafcik (Hyundai CEO) as “scurrilous nonsense” ((I just love the fact that he used that adjective.)) but that should not stop us from enjoying some eye candy – and from looking out for more rumors and leaks!

If the new supercar is going to look anything at all like these two images above, then car lovers will be in for a treat. Never mind that most of us will not be able to afford one.

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myCopter: Another Step Towards the Age of Flying Cars?

August 5, 2023 by noemi

With news about the Terrafugia being deemed roadworthy hitting the Net recently, hopes for the Age of Flying Cars are sky high. Now, another flying car is in the limelight, making the possibility of flying cars even more of a reality.

This new vehicle is called – rather unimaginatively, I think – myCopter, and it is being touted as a solution to the ever present problem of road congestion. The myCopter is a Personal Aerial Vehicle (PAV) – presumably one of the first of many yet to come – that is aimed to be part of a future personal air transport system (PATS). The idea is for PAVs to be partially or fully autonomous, doing away with the need for air traffic control, which is currently required for airplanes and helicopters. Also included in the concept for a PATS is the fact that PAVs should only be allowed to fly outside controlled airspace, so as not to interfere with the current air traffic.

Brilliant concept – no one can deny that. And if they actually get this system (including the myCopter and other future flying cars) off the ground, I guess we can truly say that this aspect of science fiction has become a reality.

Of course, there are numerous issues that have to be addressed before you and I (and everyone else) will be allowed to man myCopter. Just thinking about all the road accidents we hear about on a daily basis is enough to give anyone the shivers. Now just imagine reckless drivers, not to mention tipsy or drunk ones, taking to the air. For sure, there will always be the moron who will make the air unsafe for everyone else!

Then again, the system designers of myCopter have already taken this into consideration. That is why myCopter is going to be part of a network of flying vehicles. A controlled network, that is. Imagine a cable car system translated into an air system – the myCopters will be programmed to follow formations and avoid obstacles. That may take away from the fun of flying, but in this case, I think safety is a more important consideration. The last thing I want is two myCopters crashing above my house and killing me while I lounge in the garden!

Google Plus Anti Divorce?

August 5, 2023 by noemi

Are you plus one-ing yet, or are you still stuck with liking? Google’s beta release of Google Plus last week has got everyone online going gaga over the newest social networking site in town. With the limited and sporadic invites available, not everyone is on Google Plus yet. Still, divmore and more people are finding their way to the site.

With that comes all sorts of articles, critiques, and commentaries on Google Plus. One of the more interesting ones that I have stumbled upon is written by Kashmir Hill of Forbes.com. ((Article)) The topic? How Google Plus seems to be anti-divorce. Divorce may be an ordinary thing in most countries in the world, but in my neck of the woods, divorce is stirring up controversy. Yes, the Philippines in the only place on Earth (barring the Vatican) where divorce is not legal – yet.

So what is this about Google Plus not being nice to divorcees? For those who have an account already, check out the options for relationship status. As opposed to Facebook, which does provide “Divorced” as an option, Google Plus only offers the following.

The list of relationship status options being a fact, what does this imply about Google? I honestly wouldn’t have given it any further thought if I hadn’t read the article. Hill has a theory that, perhaps, Google took heed of feedback from the past (the “Call Daddy” reminder in Gmail, which offended some people with father issues) and chose not to include divorce as an option. After all, divorce can be one of the main sources of issues in people’s lives.

Then again, I honestly think that reading into the absence of the option is a waste of time. As far as I am concerned, it should be enough to state whether you are married, in a relationship, or single. After all, Google Plus is NOT a dating network – although I suppose for some people, that just might become one of the purposes.

Whether or not Google is against divorce – I don’t care. I do care about making sure that my stream is kept clean of the noise that I have on Facebook and that I use those circles to my advantage. How is your Google Plus experience so far? Do you miss the “Divorce” option?

New Solution Keeps Clothing Permanently Free of Germs

August 4, 2023 by noemi

I can already imagine germophobes clapping their hands in glee! No more having to worry about your clothing getting dirtied by sitting on a public bench. No more need for a pair of “bus pants” to make sure that you are not in direct contact with the gazillion germs that are sure to breed in those dirty seats. For sure, Sheldon Cooper would be first in line to get hold of this new solution that can keep clothing free of germs – on a permanent basis.

A team of researchers from the University of Georgia can be credited for this awesome anti-microbial treatment, and before you say that this kind of solution has been around for ages, let me remind you that the existing solutions usually wash off after several trips to the washing machine. After a while, your clothes are good as germ heaven. More so, the existing anti-microbial solutions have to applied during the manufacturing process.

With this new solution, both concerns are addressed rather effectively. One, the treatment can be applied to coats, jeans, dresses, gloves, shoes, carpets, and even plastics – at any time! You don’t have to go on a shopping spree to get a new wardrobe or redecorate your house just so you can be assured of germ-free living. Two, tests have shown that even after washing in hot water many times, the solution remains in the material – as effective as ever.

In their tests, the researchers have also found out that this solution can kill a wide range of pathogens including some of those we find so dreadful: staph, strep, E. coli, pseudomonas, and acetinobacter. More so, a single application of the solution is needed to stop the bacteria from growing; so, no need to use the solution like you apply your perfume all throughout the day.

The main purpose for the solution is to provide those who work in sectors such as healthcare with more protection, but I am sure that the average person will find a lot of use for this as well. I may not be germophobic (although I do like carrying around a travel-size bottle of 70% ethyl alcohol with me at all times, not to mention anti-bacterial wet tissues) but I wouldn’t mind being able to go to the store and buying this solution.

Via
Photo courtesy of Life’s Little Mysteries

What Kind of Hacker Are You?

August 4, 2023 by noemi

Hacking and its proponents have been in the forefront lately, what with hacking “groups” being more active and aggressive in their activities. The general public probably does not have an accurate idea as to what hacking really entails and what hackers really are like. Then again, I think that I am correct to assume that you know a tad more than your average joe. You might even have an experience or two to back you up. If this is the case, then you will definitely be interested in finding out just what kind of hacker you are. (Using the term rather loosely, I know.)

Well, wonder no more as the guys at IEEE Spectrum ((Source)) have done their utmost best to provide the only hacking chart you’ll ever need. That is, a hacking chart that will help you determine whether you are involved in activities that are good, bad, or neutral.

This chart is the result of the consolidation of the 25 biggest (and best) stories about hacking that have been published at IEEE Spectrum. They took both the good (those who hack to express themselves creatively without doing harm to others) and the bad (motivation: money, power, politics, and mischief), and of course, the ones that fall in between. They identified two parameters: innovation and impact. Using these parameters, they came up with this chart.

In the chart above, you can see the complete range of hacking activities covered by the site. In case you only want to do good, here is a simplified version, with only the good hacks displayed.

You can visit the site and play around with the options (even though there are only three). Now, you have to realize that the chart has been created by people with their own perspectives and opinions, so you might not necessarily agree with their assessment of the activities. In any case, you are totally free to let them know what you think about their assessment.

The bigger question is this: given that chart, where do you think your activities (if any) fall? Care to share?