Posts Tagged Future

The Future is Cordless

Posted by Malcolm Micallef in Future, Smart Phones, Technology on March 18, 2010

The first step of making devices truly wireless was creating a wireless network capable of pushing data to the device. Using WIFI and 3G any device can be connected to the internet and from there they can do an infinite amount of different activities. This technology is not limited to computers or mobile devices but it is becoming a standard feature for televisions to support WIFI and allow you to check your Facebook account and also YouTube video.

The next step of making a television completely cordless is allowing the television set to receive full HD videos and sound wirelessly. This too has been done. All that is really required for this is for the protocols to become standardized and by doing some television manufacturers will start building the technology straight into the TV. This means that your new laptop or blue ray player will only need to be plugged into the mains and everything and your television will automatically detect this new video source and all will be done.

The last step in making the device completely wireless is cutting the power cord. Researchers have been working on techniques to transmit power wirelessly to other devices. Charging your mobile phone without plugging it in is becoming mainstream. Technology has already moved onto its second generation gadgets.

PowerMat first generation gadgets involved changing either the back plate of your mobile phone or using a mobile cover. When the phone was placed on their specially designed mat the device would start charging. Other devices could be charged by using adapters (purchased separately). These devices would just plug into your PSP for example and have a small box at the end. When this small box was placed on the mat your PSP would charge.

Their second generation technology is much more impressive. Their second generation places the tech needed to charge your phone built straight into the battery. This means that your phone will look standard. If device manufacturers had to start implementing this themselves into the battery this would mean that all gadgets can be charged wirelessly.

This technology won’t only be used on small gadgets. In the future everything will be powered wirelessly. Below is a video showing of a presentation at TED demonstrating this technology at its best. If you just want to see the demo of this tech just go forward to around 7 minutes mark.

The end game of this technology would be powering your electric car while you are driving your car. They are also working on placing solar farms in space and transmitting the power wirelessly back to earth. This power will then be placed in the grid for everyone to use. Solar panels are more efficient in space because the light is not weakened by any kind of atmosphere.

They could also use the solar panels to create a huge laser beam which would be like a kid with a magnifying glass and a sunny day. Except we would be the ants…

I can’t wait for this technology to become more effecient and more mainstream. It would mean I can stop praticing my knot tieing and knot undoing skills. Another benefit is that there won’t be any more cables to get your feet tied up and need to call for help (again).

cordless, devices, electricity, Future, Gadgets, green tech, renewable sources of energy, wireless, wireless power

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Was that the last Computer/Console you will ever purchase?

Posted by Malcolm Micallef in Awesome, Future, Games, Technology on March 16, 2010

Recently I have ran into a new technology being developed by Unlimited Detail which is such a great leap in technology it is hard to imagine. If this company has their way not only do they stand to make an unimaginable amount of money but they would have changed the game graphics forever.

Below are two videos which show case and explain the situation with computer graphics. In my opinion it’s a great demo and explanation of the pitfalls of polygons. If you have no understanding of how computer graphics work and you care how your games will look in the future you will still understand the video and get a good vision to the future.

I don’t think this technology can be over looked for long. Could you imagine a Nintendo Wii playing games which have better quality graphics than a PS3 or XBOX360. They solved the problem using search engine techniques. Humans have developed very powerful search techniques. The best example of these techniques would be Google. They are capable of going through a ridiculous amount of data in a very short time.

Only problem there is with this solution would be that if it had to be implemented on current technology it would mean that the console or gaming rig you just bought will be your last one. This obviously is not bad for us but bad for the hardware manufacturers who depend on the sales of these products.

The only thing that would improve the graphics of this system would be buying a monitor which can support a higher resolution (higher than FULL HD). Currently I believe that some hardware giant (might be Panasonic) released a television which supports 4000×2000 resolution. They developed techniques which receive full HD feeds and up scales them to the required size.