IBM introduces their new Power 575 supercomputer using the POWER6 processor and hydro cluster water cooling technology to achieve record speeds up to 5 GHz. According to IBM it is equipped with “448 processor cores per rack offers users nearly five times the performance and more than three times the energy efficiency of its predecessor.”
The recent fall of HD-DVD:
Feb 11, 2008: Netflix, Citing a Clear Signal From the Industry, Will Carry High-Def DVDs Only in Blu-ray Format
Feb 11, 2008: Best Buy to Recommend Blu-ray as the Customer’s Digital Format Choice
Feb 15, 2008: Wal-Mart Moving Exclusively Toward Blu-ray Format Movies and Players
Feb 19, 2008: Toshiba Announces Discontinuation of HD DVD Businesses
The Shadow Robot Company has developed an unique robotic hand which can mimic human hand movements. Using 40 air muscles and integrated sensors the hand is sensitive enough to handle fragile objects and accurately perform tasks. The dimensions of the hand are that of an average human male. link
A ‘Zoom Shop’ vending machine was spotted at Atlanta Airport offering iPod Minis and iPod Shuffles. link
The Canadian military and U.S. security agencies have launched a joint effort to make BlackBerry portable communications devices more secure, hoping to one day use them to exchange top-secret information.Defence Research and Development Canada, the Canadian Communications Security Establishment and the U.S. National Security Agency are among those involved in the year-long trial.
With LightScribe Technology one can create laser etched CD or DVD labels on specially coated discs. LightScribe is currently licensed for HP and LaCie products.
Burn your tracks onto the data side of the disc. Flip the disc over to the label side and put it back in the drive. Burn your label by opening your favorite LightScribe-enabled label-making software and going to the CD template work area. Now you do all of your creative design work-imported pictures, copy, and artwork. When you are satisfied with what you have done, click “print.” It really is that simple! No ink, no messy markers, no clumpy adhesive labels . just an amazingly beautiful label right before your eyes.
… LightScribe-enabled CD/DVD disc drive contains a special laser that pumps light energy into a thin dye coating on the label side of the disc. The light from the laser causes a chemical change in the dye coating that shows up as a visible point on the disc. With laser precision, LightScribe delivers closely controlled light energy to multiple points on the disc as it spins in the drive. The result is a high-resolution reproduction of the artwork, text, or photos you composed in the software application.
The BMW H2R has set nine world speed records for internal combustion powered vehicles using hydrogen as a fuel. The H2R has a 0-60 acceleration in under 6 seconds and a top speed of 174 mph.
The main modifications to the 760i engine involve adapting the fuel injection system to the special features and requirements of hydrogen fuel. Intake valves were enlarged, valve seat rings were modified, special hydrogen-specific injection valves were used and relocated to the intake manifold instead of the combustion chamber. Finally several engine management changes were made to tune the engine to hydrogen’s unique combustion characteristics.
Cyberkinetics Inc has begun government approved human testing of an implant to the human brain:
The System consists of a sensor that is implanted on the motor cortex of the brain and a device that measures and interprets brain signals and translates these signals into useful computer control.
It is hoped that the BrainGate System might someday allow people unable to use their arms or hands to control a computer using their thoughts. The System could potentially be used to help increase the independence of people with disabilities by allowing them to control various devices with their thoughts. Through their control of a personal computer, users of the BrainGate System may be able to control a variety of devices to complete everyday tasks such as composing an email, answering the telephone and controlling a television.