Feature Channels: Technology

Filters close
Released: 25-Aug-2006 6:00 PM EDT
Jaguar Supercomputer Surpasses 50 Teraflops
Oak Ridge National Laboratory

An upgrade to the Cray XT3 supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory has increased the system's computing power to 54 teraflops, or 54 trillion mathematical calculations per second, making the Cray among the most powerful open scientific systems in the world.

Released: 23-Aug-2006 6:00 PM EDT
Researchers Aim To Close “Green Gap” in LED Technology
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

A team of researchers from RPI has received $1.8 million in federal funding to improve the energy efficiency of green light-emitting diodes (LEDs). As part of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Solid-State Lighting Program, the team aims to close the "green gap" in LED technology by doubling or tripling the power output of green LEDs in three years.

Released: 22-Aug-2006 3:55 PM EDT
Carbon Fibers Make Tiny, Cheap Video Displays
Cornell University

Cornell researchers have shown that carbon fiber can be a durable, flexible material for micromechanical electromechanical systems (MEMS), with particular application to creating video displays.

Released: 18-Aug-2006 6:05 PM EDT
Supercomputer Staff Help Nation’s Archivists with Digital-Preservation Expertise
University of California San Diego

In the Digital Age, there is an urgent need to preserve vital electronic records to capture our nation's history, which can vanish in an instant with the crash of a hard drive, or more gradually in migration to new and incompatible hardware and software.

Released: 17-Aug-2006 5:00 PM EDT
Bursting Tech Bubbles Before They Balloon
IEEE Spectrum Magazine

IEEE Fellows take a hard-nosed look at what technologies will--and won't--impact our lives in the next 20 years.

Released: 17-Aug-2006 3:40 PM EDT
Splitting Light with Artificial Muscles Could Bring New Generation of Color Displays
American Institute of Physics (AIP)

Scientists have unveiled a new technology that could lead to video displays that faithfully reproduce a fuller range of colors than current models, giving a life-like viewing experience. The invention, based on fine-tuning light using microscopic artificial muscles, could turn into consumer products in eight years, the scientists say.

Released: 16-Aug-2006 3:45 PM EDT
Preventing Heat Stroke / Sensor Monitors Temperature in Real Time
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Biological engineering students at the University of Arkansas have developed a wireless biosensor that can accurately record and monitor a football player's body temperature in real time while the player is active. The prototype designed by students in the College of Engineering contributes to research into a commercial product that could prevent death due to heat stroke.

7-Aug-2006 3:05 PM EDT
Computer Scientists Lay Out Vision for a “Science of the Web”
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

Researchers need a clear agenda to harness the rapidly evolving potential of the World Wide Web, according to an article in the Aug. 11 issue of the journal Science. Calling for the creation of an interdisciplinary "science of the Web," a group of computer scientists suggests the need for new approaches to tap the full richness of this powerful tool, while ensuring that it develops in a way that benefits society as a whole.

Released: 8-Aug-2006 5:00 PM EDT
Diamond Technology to Revolutionize Mobile Communications
Argonne National Laboratory

The U.S. Dept. of Energy's Argonne National Lab has teamed with industrial and academic partners under a DARPA Phase II research and development program to develop a new technology based on Ultrananocrystalline Diamondâ„¢ (UNCDâ„¢), a novel material developed at Argonne that will enable diamond resonators and oscillators to be directly integrated with microelectronics chips for next-generation telecommunication devices.

   
Released: 7-Aug-2006 3:15 PM EDT
Hybrid Lighting Technology Gaining Momentum Around Nation
Oak Ridge National Laboratory

With five hybrid solar lighting systems already in place and another 20 scheduled to be installed in the next couple of months, the forecast is looking sunny for a technology developed at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Released: 2-Aug-2006 8:15 PM EDT
Supercomputer Team Backs Firefighters in Recent “Horse” Wildfires
University of California San Diego

Firefighters facing fast-spreading wildfires, especially in remote areas where communications and other resources are scarce, can now add "cyberinfrastructure" to their firefighting arsenals.

Released: 2-Aug-2006 4:45 PM EDT
Pigment Formulated 225 Years Ago Could be Key in Emerging Technologies
University of Washington

A mixture of zinc oxide and cobalt, first formulated in 1780 as a pigment called cobalt green, appears capable of allowing electrons to be manipulated magnetically at room temperature without losing its magnetism.

Released: 31-Jul-2006 3:00 PM EDT
Fingertip Device Helps Computers Read Hand Gestures
University at Buffalo

University at Buffalo researchers say their "Fingertip Digitizer," which users wear on the tip of the index finger, can transfer to the virtual world the meaning and intent of common hand gestures, such as pointing, wagging the finger, tapping in the air or other movements that can be used to direct the actions of an electronic device, much like a mouse directs the actions of a personal computer, but with greater precision.

27-Jul-2006 6:30 PM EDT
Trading Cuts for Clicks: New Software Performs ‘Virtual Surgery’
Brigham Young University

A new software tool developed by computer scientists at Brigham Young University will allow surgeons to instantly visualize any part of a patient's anatomy by extracting a 3-D computer image from an MRI, CT scan or similar data with just a few clicks of the mouse.

Released: 26-Jul-2006 4:15 PM EDT
Medical Device Test Center Expands Capabilities
Georgia Institute of Technology, Research Communications

New wireless technologies that improve security, commerce and entertainment may also carry a down side: potential interference with implantable medical devices such as pacemakers, defibrillators and drug-infusion pumps. A research center at the Georgia Institute of Technology has expanded its test capabilities to help manufacturers head off such conflicts.

Released: 26-Jul-2006 3:45 PM EDT
Supercomputer Ranked Among World’s Most Powerful
Cedars-Sinai

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, one of the largest academic medical centers in the Western United States, has been recognized for having one of the 500 most powerful computers in the world. Cedars-Sinai's supercomputer is designed to analyze blood proteins from cancer cells and provide information that will allow researchers to more accurately predict how cancer patients will respond to specific treatments.

Released: 25-Jul-2006 12:00 PM EDT
Undergraduates Devise Inexpensive Hand-held Braille Writer
 Johns Hopkins University

To help provide a low-cost communication tool for blind people, undergraduates at Johns Hopkins have invented a lightweight, portable Braille writing device that requires no electronic components.

Released: 25-Jul-2006 8:00 AM EDT
Material to Aid U.S. Military in Next Generation Radar Systems Developed
Northeastern University

Researchers at Northeastern University have developed a magnetic material that will enable radar technology used by the U.S. military to be smaller, lighter, and cheaper without compromising on performance.

Released: 21-Jul-2006 7:15 PM EDT
Displays of a Different Stripe
IEEE Spectrum Magazine

Displays drain more power than any other component of a handheld device, a problem that will only grow as mobile devices incorporate higher-definition graphics.

Released: 19-Jul-2006 7:00 PM EDT
Making Hair Realistic in Computer Animation
Cornell University

Cornell researchers have developed a new and much quicker method for rendering hair in computer graphics that promises to make blond (and other light-colored) hair more realistic.

Released: 18-Jul-2006 5:30 PM EDT
Team Invents Fast, Flexible Computer Chips on Plastic
University of Wisconsin–Madison

New thin-film semiconductor techniques invented by University of Wisconsin-Madison engineers promise to add sensing, computing and imaging capability to an amazing array of materials.

Released: 14-Jul-2006 5:55 PM EDT
'Paint-On’ Antenna Test Flight Paves Way for Next-Generation High-Altitude Airships
RTI International

"Paint-on" antennas, designed to establish new high-altitude communications and surveillance platforms, successfully transmitted voice and data links as well as teleconferencing capabilities during test flights in the Nevada desert June 21 on board a SA-60 spherical airship.

Released: 14-Jul-2006 4:45 PM EDT
Scanner Darkly Blurs Lines between Programming and Artistry
American Institute of Physics (AIP)

A Scanner Darkly, opening in theaters nationwide today, uses old techniques in a new way to make other-worldly effects pop on the picture screen. Thanks to advances in digital technology and an old animation process called rotoscoping, moviemakers can make motion picture film or video of real, live actors appear as dreamlike as an animation classic.

Released: 11-Jul-2006 4:35 PM EDT
Self-Cooling Soda Bottles?
National Science Foundation (NSF)

Every day, the sun bathes the planet in energy--free of charge--yet few systems can take advantage of that source for both heating and cooling. Now, researchers are making progress on a thin-film technology that adheres both solar cells and heat pumps onto surfaces, ultimately turning walls, windows, and maybe even soda bottles into climate control systems.

Released: 7-Jul-2006 8:40 PM EDT
Cracking the Secret Codes of Europe's Galileo Satellite
Cornell University

Members of Cornell University's Global Positioning System Laboratory have cracked the so-called pseudo random number (PRN) codes of Europe's first global navigation satellite, despite efforts to keep the codes secret.

Released: 29-Jun-2006 1:10 PM EDT
Method to Better Predict Software Vulnerabilities
Colorado State University

Researchers have developed a model to predict with much greater accuracy the number and severity of vulnerabilities that will likely surface in operating systems and in major software applications in the near future. The research is lead by Yashwant K. Malaiya, professor in the Department of Computer Science in Colorado State's College of Natural Sciences.

Released: 26-Jun-2006 4:30 PM EDT
Stealth Radar System Sees Through Trees, Wall - Undetected
Ohio State University

Engineers have invented a radar system that is virtually undetectable, because its signal resembles random noise. The radar could have applications in law enforcement, the military, and disaster rescue. With further development the technology could even be used for medical imaging.

Released: 20-Jun-2006 5:00 PM EDT
Metcalfe's Law Is Wrong
IEEE Spectrum Magazine

Communications networks increase in value as they add members--but by how much?

   
17-Jun-2006 9:00 PM EDT
Researchers Set Speed Record for Silicon-Based Chips
Georgia Institute of Technology, Research Communications

A research team from IBM and the Georgia Institute of Technology has demonstrated the first silicon-germanium transistor able to operate at frequencies above 500 GHz. The accomplishment redefines the performance limits of silicon-based semiconductors.

Released: 19-Jun-2006 1:15 PM EDT
Virtual Shopping Mall Helps Stroke Victims
University of Haifa

Stroke victims and people suffering from weakness of their upper extremities may now be able to go mall shopping, thanks to a "virtual mall" developed by a University of Haifa Occupational Therapy doctoral student.

   
Released: 17-Jun-2006 8:40 PM EDT
New System Blocks Unwanted Video & Still Photography
Georgia Institute of Technology, Research Communications

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have completed a prototype device that can block digital-camera function in a given area. Commercial versions of the technology could be used to stymie unwanted use of video or still cameras.

Released: 13-Jun-2006 9:00 AM EDT
Fail-Safe Techniques Erase Magnetic Storage Media
Georgia Institute of Technology, Research Communications

What if you absolutely must delete all data from a computer drive -- beyond any hope of recovery? That was the challenge facing scientists at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI). Their solution: special high-strength neodymium iron-boron magnets that permanently erase all the information.

12-Jun-2006 2:00 PM EDT
Electronic Stability Control Could Prevent Nearly One-Third of All Fatal Crashes
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)

A new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety finds that as many as 10,000 fatal automobile crashes could be prevented if all vehicles were equipped with electronic stability control or ESC.

Released: 7-Jun-2006 4:00 PM EDT
Grant for Sensors to Measure Blood Flow, Pressure, Temp
Cornell University

Physicians and surgeons will someday monitor a patient's blood flow, blood pressure and temperature with tiny, implanted devices, thanks to research being conducted by a Cornell University professor and an Ithaca-area high-tech firm.

Released: 5-Jun-2006 2:25 PM EDT
Got Bugs? New Project Lets Real Computer Users Gang Up on Software Bugs
University of Wisconsin–Madison

Ben Liblit offers a bold prediction regarding all of the complicated software programs churning away in your computer: They have bugs. All of them. Guaranteed. Liblit has developed a novel program that lets real software users fight back with cooperative bug detection techniques.

Released: 1-Jun-2006 4:25 PM EDT
Sharing Patient Costs on Web Site
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

On May 31 2006, a new feature of the DHMC website was released called "Out-of-Pocket Estimator". This enhancement follows the initial release in February 2005, of the webpage called "Charges for Healthcare Services." The goal of the section "Charges for Health Care Services" is to answer patients' questions about DHMC charges for services and to direct users to the correct resource to assist in getting the answers.

Released: 1-Jun-2006 4:00 PM EDT
Sleeping Computers Unravel Genetic Diseases
American Technion Society

Using the spare time of 3000+ linked computers, Israeli researchers have developed a free, online system designed to help unravel the mysteries of genetic diseases. The gene-mapping system provides results tens of times faster than previous programs, providing a fast-forward button in the quest to developing treatments for genetic diseases.

Released: 24-May-2006 4:40 PM EDT
For the Future Hydrogen Economy, a Tiny, Self-Powered Sensor
University of Florida

Hydrogen has been called "the fuel of the future." But the gas is invisible, odorless and explosive at high concentrations, posing a safety problem for hydrogen-powered cars, filling stations and other aspects of the so-called hydrogen economy.

Released: 24-May-2006 4:35 PM EDT
Invention IDs Computer Users By Typing Patterns
University of Alabama

An invention enables any typical computer workstation, using a standard keyboard, to distinguish a computer user by the way they type their name.

Released: 12-May-2006 9:10 AM EDT
New Design Allows Fabrication of Ultra Wideband Antenna
Georgia Institute of Technology, Research Communications

By taking advantage of a phenomenon that earlier designers had struggled to avoid, engineers at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) have developed a new approach to phased-array antenna design that could allow a single ultra-wideband device to do the job of five conventional antennas.

Released: 11-May-2006 5:20 PM EDT
From Geek to Chic: the Changing Face of Computing
Florida State University

You don't have to be a nerdy white guy to be a computer geek. In fact, you can be a woman, a minority, a person with a disability or someone who is downright cool. That's the message of a group of Florida State University professors who are participating in a 10-member university consortium.

Released: 10-May-2006 5:50 PM EDT
New Supercomputing Center To Advance the Science of Nanotechnology
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, in collaboration with IBM and New York state, has announced a $100 million partnership to create the world's most powerful university-based supercomputing center, and a top 10 supercomputing center of any kind in the world.

Released: 10-May-2006 4:35 PM EDT
Electronic Stability Control Is a Lifesaver in Rollovers
University of Michigan

Though fewer than a third of new vehicles sold in the United States have electronic stability control, this relatively new technology can reduce the odds of fatal rollovers by 73 percent in sport utility vehicles and 40 percent in passenger cars, say University of Michigan researchers. (Spanish version included.)

Released: 9-May-2006 8:45 AM EDT
The Most Realistic Virtual Reality Room in the World
Iowa State University

More than $4 million in equipment upgrades will shine 100 million pixels on Iowa State University's six-sided virtual reality room. That's twice the number of pixels lighting up any virtual reality room in the world. That means the C6 will produce virtual reality at the world's highest resolution.

Released: 4-May-2006 6:50 PM EDT
E-mail Talk Requires Special Handling to Avoid Fireworks
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)

Think twice before replying to an e-mail message. Because e-mail doesn't have the non-verbal modifiers that make up face-to-face communication, the messages can be ambiguous and cause problems.

Released: 2-May-2006 3:45 PM EDT
Speed Cameras Reduce Crash Rates
Health Behavior News Service

A new Australian review of existing research suggests that "speed cameras" and other devices can reduce automobile accident rates by allowing authorities to detect and cite speeders as they zip down the road.

Released: 1-May-2006 2:20 PM EDT
Hospital Uses Latest CT Technology in ER for Better Diagnoses
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist

Brenner Children's Hospital is one of few children's hospitals in the United States using the latest computed tomography (CT) technology in an emergency setting "“ providing a more accurate diagnosis in a shorter period of time.

Released: 30-Apr-2006 2:50 PM EDT
Brain Power
IEEE Spectrum Magazine

Biology inspires engineers to design low-power circuits.

Released: 27-Apr-2006 9:00 AM EDT
Intelligent Scarecrow Can Save Aquaculture from Financial Losses
University of South Florida

University of South Florida computer science students have built and tested an intelligent scarecrow that guards fish farm ponds from predator birds through image processing and loud, artificial gun blasts and water cannons.

Released: 26-Apr-2006 10:05 PM EDT
Top Dog: Can a Robot Ease Loneliness as Well as a Furry Friend?
Saint Louis University Medical Center

Saint Louis University is pioneering the use of robotic dogs in nursing homes as geriatrics researchers study whether a mechanical canine can help residents feel less lonely.



close
3.86773