美研發太陽能油漆 價格親民

http://news.chinatimes.com/realtime/110111/112011122201171.html

Old nuclear power plant transformed into a theme park and hotel

(From Gizmag)

我太陽光電業 驗證時間減半

http://news.chinatimes.com/tech/171706/122011092800365.html

IDF亮點／太陽能電池 郵票大小 即能供電

http://mag.udn.com/mag/digital/storypage.jsp?f_ART_ID=342484

日本太陽能屋 自給自足

http://mag.udn.com/mag/news/storypage.jsp?f_ART_ID=335300

東京綠屋頂 有田有菜園

http://mag.udn.com/mag/news/storypage.jsp?f_ART_ID=335299

再生能源 2025年達20%

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/110802/4/2w4f8.html

擬建太陽能高塔 澳提供美20萬戶電力

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/110801/1/2w2sc.html

糧荒效應 工研院與學產研投入植物工廠發展

http://news.chinatimes.com/tech/171702/132011063000667.html

Google風力電廠 拚全美第一

http://news.chinatimes.com/tech/12050903/122011062400171.html

歐洲第一座 太陽能供電高鐵隧道

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/110607/78/2suzs.html

台積雙綠獨立 規劃IPO

http://news.chinatimes.com/tech/12050902/122011042900410.html

http://mag.udn.com/mag/digital/storypage.jsp?f_ART_ID=312423

Power Plant: One Small Leaf Could Electrify an Entire Home

http://www.technewsworld.com/story/Power-Plant-One-Small-Leaf-Could-Electrify-an-Entire-Home-72156.html

Solar systems to be installed in the Tibetan Plateau

http://www.techfever.net/2011/03/solar-systems-to-be-installed-in-the-tibetan-plateau/

科技又環保 屏縣推種樹種電

http://news.chinatimes.com/tech/171702/112011032400278.html

臺灣目前還是以火力發電為主,以太陽能及風能來取代之更佳...

Liquid salt could help clean up tar sands

http://www.gizmag.com/ionic-liquids-used-to-process-tar-sands/18214/

未來也要發明鹽杯或碘杯來去除輻射水?

Giant Hamster Wheel Makes You Work, Charges Your (Nokia) Phone

http://www.techfever.net/2011/03/giant-hamster-wheel-makes-you-work-charges-your-nokia-phone/

太陽能電動車 雲科大新發明

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/110318/78/2o9ae.html

電動單車大躍進 三度電跑百公里

http://news.chinatimes.com/tech/171702/112011031800435.html

智慧電網 打造綠色城市

http://news.chinatimes.com/tech/171702/122011031000312.html

Power Flowers to domesticate wind turbines

http://www.gizmag.com/power-flowers-project-aims-to-bring-wind-turbines-closer-to-home/18049/

Japanese elevators get voice recognition, Japanese elevator rides get even more awkward

http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/08/japanese-elevators-get-voice-recognition-japanese-elevator-ride/

可循環利用的環保節水型衛浴設施

http://tech.weiphone.com/2011-03-02/Recycled_water-saving_sanitary_facilities_231533.shtml

綠陽投入1億美元擴產 降低成本

http://news.chinatimes.com/tech/12050902/122011022300387.html

綠陽光電 台灣CIGS領頭羊

http://news.chinatimes.com/tech/12050902/122011022300386.html

梅山節電 太陽能設備年省五萬

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/110218/78/2mmfd.html

MWC2011：綠色的聰明好朋友，太陽能 Android手機 Umeox Apollo

http://chinese.engadget.com/2011/02/16/intivation-intros-umeox-apollo-smartphone-100-solar-powered/

Scientists closer to practical full-spectrum solar cells

Berkeley researchers Kin Man Yu and Wladek Walukiewicz (Photo: Berkeley Lab)

兔年科技當道 10雄領風騷

http://mag.udn.com/mag/digital/storypage.jsp?f_MAIN_ID=320&f_SUB_ID=4887&f_ART_ID=299598

綠色機器：沙漠變森林

一個名為撒哈拉森林計劃，其目的是創造沙漠綠洲，由挪威資助，建立試驗工廠於約旦紅海，2012年建造20萬平方米面積。那兒有豐富的陽光、海水、二氧化碳和旱地，可持續生產食物、飲用水和能源，同時可約束溫室效應發生。這是利用太陽能發電，引入冷空氣循環調溫種植，並導致淡水凝結由管道收集加熱再運用的方式。(圖/Sahara Forest Project)

有時逆向工程，花的代價可能不小，但成果有限，不過總是在"做"...

((見圖))太陽能面板比綠色植物量大，最後還是要請大自然多幫忙配合了...

Solar power enters the plastic age

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/TECH/innovation/01/21/plastic.solar.panel.revolution/index.html

背包的未來設計：Androcell高科技背包
來自：weiphone
 
這是由設計師卡蘭辛格甘地設計的未來概念背包：Androcell高科技背包，是一款“從搖籃到搖籃”的電子產品設計。

該背包設計的主要對象為年輕人，尤其是喜歡數碼產品的年輕人。背包正面上有“×”的獨特造型，保證了書包的有良好的支撐性。“×”型的兩旁為太陽能電池塊為書包提供電力，而且只要書包內有電子設備，都可以利用書包存儲的電力為這些設備進行充電。

Androcell背包集成了一些特別的功能：可以對數據進行交換，存儲，創建和查看，並能夠執行一些設計的基本任務等，用戶可以通過位於肩帶上的互動式電子紙電子紙顯示螢幕進行操作，例如進行文件的瀏覽和修改，還可以通過的USB口輸入或輸出數據文件，便捷的與其他用戶進行分享和共享。

除了數據功能外，背包也內置有揚聲器，任何時候都可以播放音樂，為戶外出行增添樂趣。此外，在夜間背包還能夠作為安全信號燈發光，用戶可自定義光的顏色，提醒過往的車輛注意行車。而Androcell背包基本上每個部分採用的是有機可降解的革命性材料製作而成，當書包壽命週期結束之後，Androcell可以降解成有用的科技成分。

　　

中央大學研究染料敏化太陽能電池 技轉

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/110118/1/2l0cy.html

Phil Pauley envisions cruisers that could fly and submerge

Phil Pauley's line of Cruiser watercraft would include the aptly-named Fly Cruiser

The more things change, the more they stay the same... Just as readers of science magazines in the 40s and 50s liked to read about how jetpacks and passenger-carrying deep space rockets were right around the corner, so do today’s readers like to believe that car/boat/plane/helicopter hybrids and extensive underwater resorts are something they’ll soon be seeing. Those last two are examples of the “wouldn’t it be cool” ideas put forth by British conceptual designer Phil Pauley. While such fantastic visions might or might not ever see the light of day, they’re definitely inspiring to consider, and as the saying goes – more or less – “shoot for the moon and land in the stars.” With that in mind, here’s his latest idea: a family of boats that can fly, submerge, or sprout an extra deck.

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The proposed watercraft would constitute the Cruiser series, and would include four boats: the Yacht Cruiser, Sub Cruiser, Fly Cruiser and Power Cruiser.

 

 

The biggest of the bunch, the Yacht Cruiser would not surprisingly offer “7 Star luxury from top to bottom,” which would include floor to ceiling one-way glazing. Its Wonders of the Future feature, however, would be the ability to raise its upper deck on pistons, to create a whole other usable deck space underneath it. Called the Party Deck, this area would be intended for sports and social activities – although if one wanted to use it for tax preparation or ironing laundry, presumably they could do so.

 

 

The Fly Cruiser, on the other hand, would give users the option of taking to the air and cruising at a speed of over 100 knots. With the touch of a button, engine-equipped wings would fold out from the sides, allowing it to lift off from the surface of the water once it had achieved take-off velocity. A dagger board on the underside would help stabilize it while taking off, and would retract once the boat became airborne. Without any sort of rudder at the rear, however, it's questionable how well the vehicle would handle in the air.

 

 

The Sub Cruiser would, of course, have the ability to submerge and travel underwater.

 

 

The Power Cruiser, from the sounds of things, would simply be a luxury, high-performance powerboat. As with its three siblings, however, its hull would be designed to “irradiate vibration, bang and slap to literally smooth through the water no matter what the weather or sea condition.”

Any of these watercraft would only be made to order, so if you’re interested, Pauley would no doubt like to hear from you.

All images courtesy Phil Pauley

(Gizmag)

Wagan Tech previews five-panel solar-powered generator

Wagan Tech's five-panel solar-powered generator

There’s a number of small portable solar chargers available which are designed to keep mobile gear such as MP3 players and mobile phones powered up when there’s no electrical outlet around. But with people cramming more and more devices on their person or in their cars when heading off the grid, we're seeing a growing number of larger and more powerful units designed for more power hungry devices. The latest is thid portable solar-powered generator from Wagan Tech which provides 1,500 watts of power for seven to eight hours.

Intended as the perfect accessory for campers, hunters and RVers, Wagan Tech’s generator is small enough to throw in the boot and has wheels to make it easy to transport from the car to the campsite – although you’ll probably want the campsite and the car in pretty close proximity. The unit comes fully assembled with one 12-volt battery – with the option of adding two more – and folds open to display five solar panels – again, with the option of adding two more.

 

 

Wagan Tech had a unit on display at CES 2011 and said, in its basic form – one 12-volt battery and five solar panels – it would supply 1,500 watts of power for seven to eight hours. A spokesman said the company was still tweaking the design, but was aiming for a Q2 2011 release date and a price of around US$1,100.

(Gizmag)

WVIL 給你意想不到的 3100萬全片幅無線智能手機

http://chinese.engadget.com/2011/01/11/wvil-3100/

'Superstreet' concept shows promise in real-world test

'Superstreet' traffic designs result in faster travel times and significantly fewer accidents, according to the new study. Credit: Dr. Joe Hummer, North Carolina State University

No left turn. That is the simple concept behind the Superstreet traffic design which promises significantly faster travel times, plus a drastic reduction in auto-collisions and injuries. These superstreets are ground level streets – not raised freeways or highways – that allow for greater volume of thru-traffic by re-routing traffic from side streets that would normally be trying to get across the main road. While the idea has been around in urban transport modeling textbooks for over 20 years, researchers from the North Carolina State University have been the first to test the concept in the real world and the results are promising.

The central concept to the superstreet design is a thoroughfare, a stream of constantly moving traffic that follows a main arterial road. Drivers wanting to cross the thoroughfare or to turn left are first required to make a right turn, joining the main stream of traffic. A little way down the superstreet they then make a U-turn after which they can continue on along the thoroughfare if they had been trying to turn left or they can turn right into the side street if this was their planned route. While this may seem time-consuming, the study shows that it actually results in a significant time savings since drivers are not stuck waiting to make left-hand turns or for traffic from cross-streets to go across the thoroughfare.

"The study shows a 20 percent overall reduction in travel time compared to similar intersections that use conventional traffic designs," Dr Joe Hummer, professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering at NC State and one of the researchers who conducted the study said. "We also found that superstreet intersections experience an average of 46 percent fewer reported automobile collisions – and 63 percent fewer collisions that result in personal injury."

The researchers assessed travel time at superstreet intersections as the amount of time it takes a vehicle to pass through an intersection from the moment it reaches the intersection – whether traveling left, right or straight ahead. The travel-time data were collected from three superstreets located in eastern and central North Carolina, all of which have traffic signals. The superstreet collision data were collected from 13 superstreets located across North Carolina, none of which have traffic signals.

A Paper on the travel time research will be presented on January 24 at the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting in Washington D.C. The Paper is co-authored by Hummer, former NC State graduate students Rebecca Haley and Sarah Ott, and three researchers from NC State's Institute for Transportation Research and Education: Robert Foyle, associate director; Christopher Cunningham, senior research associate; and Bastian Schroeder, research associate. The collision research was part of an overarching report of the study submitted to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) last month, and is the subject of a forthcoming paper. The study was funded by NCDOT.
(GIZMAG)

Poo-Gloos treat sewage as quickly and effectively as mechanical plants, but cost less

Poo-Gloos (Bio-Domes) prior to submersion in a sewage lagoon

Poo isn't something generally talked about in polite company but like it or not, all of that human waste has to go somewhere. In smaller rural communities, it usually goes to wastewater lagoon systems; the alternative is mechanical treatment plants which process waste far more quickly but are expensive, labor intensive and often use chemicals. Enter the "Poo-Gloo," or Bio-Dome as it is officially known – an igloo-shaped device that can reportedly clean up sewage as effectively, but far more cheaply, than its mechanical counterparts. The Poo-Gloo, developed by Wastewater Compliance Systems, Inc., uses a combination of air, dark environment and large surface area to encourage the growth of a bacterial biofilm which consumes the wastewater pollutants. It is claimed that Poo-Gloos can treat pollutants just as quickly as mechanical plants while operating at a fraction of the cost – hundreds of dollars a month rather than thousands – and can be retrofitted to existing lagoon systems.

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The Poo-Gloos work in clusters, with two dozen or more arranged in rows fully submerged at the bottom of the lagoon. Each Poo-Gloo consists of four concentrically nested plastic domes filled with plastic packing to provide a large surface area for bacterial growth. Rings of bubble-release tubes sit at the base of every Poo-Gloo and bubble air up through the cavities between domes. The air exits a hole in the top of each dome. As air moves through the dome, it draws water from the bottom of the lagoon up through the dome and out the top.

Individual Poo-Gloos create 2,800 square feet (260 square meters) of surface area for bacterial growth while taking up just 28 square feet (2.6 square meters) of space. In comparison with labor-intensive mechanical plants, Poo-Gloos require little maintenance. They use the same amount of electricity as a 75-watt bulb and can even be powered with solar or wind energy systems, further reducing the cost.

Taylor Reynolds, director of sales for Wastewater Compliance Systems says that most of the projects he quotes are between US$150,000 and $500,000, a far more palatable option for an average municipality than the $4 million to $10 million they are quoted for a mechanical plant.

A pilot study to evaluate Poo-Gloo performance at different water temperatures, levels of aeration, sewage volumes and concentrations yielded impressive results:

• Biological oxygen demand – a measure of organic waste in water – was reduced consistently by 85 percent using Poo-Gloos, and ranged as high as 92 percent

   

   

• Total suspended solids fell consistently by 85 percent, and ranged as high as 95 percent

   

   

• Ammonia levels dropped more than 98 percent with Poo-Gloo treatment in warmer water and, more importantly, by as much as 93 percent when temperatures dropped below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) – conditions that normally slow bacterial breakdown of sewage

   

   

• Total nitrogen levels fell 68 percent in warmer water and 55 percent in cooler water

Poo-Gloos have been deployed in six states in the U.S. in either a full installation or pilot environment, and in all cases have successfully met pollution-control requirements.

The Poo-Gloo is not just for consuming poo, however. Wastewater Compliance Systems is in the process of filing patents for other applications and markets, hence the rebranding as Bio-Dome, which the company agrees is "less fun" but more appropriate for their diversification.

(GIZMAG)

PixelOptics to launch 'world's first electronic focusing eyewear'

 

 

We have previously reported on the development of prototype adaptive focus glasses at the University of Arizona (UA) that were able to switch focus electronically. Unlike manually adjustable focus glasses, such as TruFocals, that place a flexible liquid lens between two rigid lenses, the lenses of the prototype glasses consisted of a layer of liquid crystals sandwiched between two pieces of glass. By applying an electric charge, the orientation of the liquid crystals – and therefore the optical path length through the lens – was able to be changed, resulting in glasses that changed focus electronically. This technology is now on its way to consumers with PixelOptics showing its emPower! glasses at CES 2011.

Relying on liquid crystals, the glasses, which PixelOptics will bring to market under the brand name emPower!, are able to switch focus in the blink of an eye and with no moving parts – unless you count the reorientation of the liquid crystals. Being electronically activated also allows for a neat feature. While the wearer is able to manually activate the change of focus by touching the arm of the emPower! glasses, thanks to an accelerometer embedded in the arm, with a swipe they can also set the glasses to change focus automatically when they look down to read.

Being electronic also means batteries. The battery embedded in the glasses can be recharged in around two hours using an inductive charger and is good for two to three days, depending on usage patterns.

Calling them the “world’s first electronic focusing eyewear,” PixelOptics' emPower! glasses are based on the technology originally developed at UA, which licensed three patents to Johnson & Johnson, who then sold the patent licenses to PixelOptics to commercialize the technology. That commercialization is set to happen some time this year when PixelOptics plans to launch its emPower! glasses in around 36 different styles for around US$1,000 to $1,200.

(GIZMAG)

CES 2011：Sony HomeShare RMN-U1 萬用遙控器動手玩

http://chinese.engadget.com/2011/01/10/sony-homeshare-rmn-u1-universal-remote-hands-on/

CES 2011年國際消費電子展體驗：五大最佳和五大最差

http://tech.weiphone.com/2011-01-09/CES_2011_Experience_five_best_and_five_worst_229080.shtml

CES 2011的贏家輸家盤點：微軟、英特爾、索尼成輸家

http://tech.weiphone.com/2011-01-10/CES_winners_losers_Count_Microsoft_Sony_Intel_into_losers_229099.shtml

CES 2011 Part 2

http://www.yankodesign.com/2011/01/07/ces-2011-part-2/

CES 2011 Part 3

http://www.yankodesign.com/2011/01/08/ces-2011-part-3/

CES 2011 Part 1

http://www.yankodesign.com/2011/01/06/ces-2011-part-1/

New dyes to benefit solar electricity and hydrogen fuel production

Researchers at the University of Buffalo have announced a breakthrough that promises to improve both solar energy and hydrogen fuel production

Spiral Garden System Fit for Urbanites

Another awesome concept from IIDA, the Spiral Garden System is a proposal for a sustainable public garden that’s totally self-sufficient. The architecture adds interest to the urban landscape with its transparent, yet suggestive mesh cage. Native vegetation greenhouses coexist with urban orchards along a walkway that just beckons to be used. It’s a great “twist” on the typical urban garden and looks to be well suited for any plot size. Hat tip to Designboom.

Designers: Benet Dalmau, Saida Dalmau, Anna Julibert & Carmen Vilar

(yankodesign)

nPowerPEG Converts Kinetic Energy to Power for your Gadgets

http://technabob.com/blog/2011/01/04/npowerpeg-kinetic-charger/

The microchip is used as the base and the solar panels are grafted onto the chip in layers to build the finished product. To avoid damaging the chip the researcher used CIGS or amorphous silicon for the solar panels.

According to the research team, the chips can be self-powered as long as they consume less than 1 milliwatt of power. The panels also allow the chips to work without a power source in doors. The process can make all sorts of chips for different uses like a wireless networking sensor that has its antenna and power supply in one unit.

[University of Twente via SlashDot]

(technabob)

Oasis at sea: The Ark hotel concept

Oasis at sea: The Ark hotel concept

Russian architectural firm Remistudio has taken the concept of a man-made biosphere and gone to sea with its vision for the floating "Ark Hotel." Designed to withstand floods, tidal waves and rising ocean levels as well as earthquakes and other natural disasters, the hotel concept would float and function independently on the surface of a body of water, providing a green, self-sustaining environment for guests who presumably, would never have to leave.

The shell-inspired Ark design has a load-bearing system of arches and cables which maintain an even weight distribution to withstand earthquakes, whilst the prefabricated frame allows for a fast and easy construction.

The internal garden provides a lush escape for guests by acting as a greenhouse and enough daylight is filtered throughout the internal rooms to reduce the need for lighting.

The design also integrates photovoltaic solar cells, a rainwater collection system and a frame that is protected with layer of self-cleaning and recyclable ethyltetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) – the same material used in the Beijing National Aquatic Center.

Aside from the eco-credentials, it's a stunning design that seems to jump straight out of a science-fiction film. We can only hope that the worst global warming predictions prove inaccurate and it doesn't become the 22nd Century's holiday destination of choice.

The Ark was designed by Remistudio with the assistance of the International Union of Architects’ program “Architecture for Disaster Relief.”

Via Inhabitat.

(gizmag)

Solar powered microchips put batteries in the shade

In a new, more efficient approach to solar powered microelectronics, researchers have produced a microchip which directly integrates photovoltaic cells. While harnessing sunlight to power microelectronics isn't new, conventional set-ups use a separate solar cell and battery. What sets this device apart from is that high-efficiency solar cells are placed straight onto the electronics, producing self-sufficient, low-power devices which are highly suitable for industrial serial production and can even operate indoors.

The autonomous microsystem was developed by the Semiconductor Components group at the University of Twente's MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology led by Professor Jurriaan Schmitz. The researchers collaborated with colleagues from Nankai University in Tianjin, China and the Debye Institute of Utrecht University. The research was made possible by the STW Technology Foundation.

Instead of manufacturing the solar cell separately, the design sees the chip used as a base and the solar cell applied to it layer by layer. According to the UT release, this results in a more efficient production process, uses fewer materials and ultimately performs better.

The production process has not been trouble-free with the researchers finding that the fragile electronics can easily be damaged. For this reason it was decided to use amorphous silicon or CIGS (copper - indium - gallium – selenide) solar cells. The manufacturing of these cells does not influence the electronics, and these types of solar cells also produce sufficient power to allow the microprocessors to operate in low-light or indoors. There is a catch though – the chip's energy use must be well below 1 milliwatt.

Tests have shown that the electronics and the solar cells function properly, and the manufacturing process is also highly suitable for industrial serial production with the use of standard processes.

The paper Above-CMOS a-Si and CIGS Solar Cells for Powering Autonomous Microsystems by J. Lu, W. Liu, C.H.M. van der Werf, A.Y. Kovalgin, Y. Sun, R.E.I. Schropp and J. Schmitz was presented at the International Electron Device Meeting in San Francisco in December.

(gizmag)

Precision glass microlens arrays produced using hot embossing technique

A new technique makes the production of precision glass microlens arrays possible, using a hot embossing technique (Photo: Fraunhofer)

When it comes to lenses for digital pico projectors, there’s currently something of a trade-off. Traditional lenses, where multiple glass magnifiers are placed one in front of the other, are long and bulky. Microlens arrays, in which many tiny lenses are assembled together on one flat surface, are a much more compact, lightweight alternative. However, so far such arrays have mostly been made out of plastic, which the bulbs in some projectors are capable of melting. Now, researchers from Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology have come up with what they say is a solution: microlens arrays made from glass, using a hot embossing technique.

2000 VS. 2010

South Korea rolls out first commercial electric bus service, we are green with envy

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has just rolled out a world first by instating commercial, all electric bus service in the city. We've previously seen pilot programs and trials, but actual working commercial service has never been previously implemented. The program, developed in agreement with Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hankuk Fiber, and the buses themselves can run up to about 52 miles on a single charge (which takes about 30 minutes), and have a maximum speed of about 62 miles per hour. Though several other cities have small fleets of electric public transportation, Seoul has announced that half of its massive fleet of buses will be electric by 2020.

Gizmag

日拚減碳 單人電動車「輕」快

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/101228/4/2js1u.html

Public Poster : Solar Powered Electronic Public Bulletin Board

Designer : Cheng Ya-Fang and Lin Nien-An

Public Poster uses e-paper to save energy and reduce the consumption of paper and ink. Its display contains several different grid sizes, and the appropriate format and combination can be selected according to need. People can use the Internet or Bluetooth gadgets to dispatch images (in standard formats ranging from A5 to A2 size) or video to Public Poster. The public can easily browse the various pieces of information. Advertisers can simply launch their advertisement at will. When the ad expires, the e-paper will become transparent to indicate that space is available for others to use.

Click the image for bigger view

New solar machine could generate hydrogen fuel, food for your future vehicle

We're hesitant to file this one in the folder marked "Awesome Things That'll Never Happen," but it's definitely on the watch list. A new prototype solar device has been concocted to convert sunlight into fuel, much in the same way a plant does. Eco-minded folks will probably understand that conventional photovoltaic panels "must use the electricity they generate in situ," and thus, cannot deliver energy at night; this here device takes a rather unorthodox approach, using the sun's rays along with ceria (a magical, marvelous metal oxide) to "break down carbon dioxide or water into fuels which can be stored and transported." In theory, at least, the device could be used to create hydrogen and / or carbon monoxide, with the former being obviously useful for fueling up hydrogen-based cars of the future. Sadly, the existing prototype is horribly inefficient -- only around 0.7 percent of the solar energy can be converted into fuel -- but researchers are adamant that they can boost that to nearly 20 percent in time. We'll check back in a decade or so to see how things are progressing.

BBC, UPI

太陽能 Vox的環保型太陽能充電器

http://tech.weiphone.com/2010-12-25/Video_Solar_Vox_environmentally_friendly_solar_charger_228406.shtml

新太陽能燃料機 仿效植物生態發電

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/101227/78/2jpth.html

Cambridge developing 'mind reading' computer interface with the countenance of Charles Babbage

For years now, researchers have been exploring ways to create devices that understand the nonverbal cues that we take for granted in human-human interaction. One of the more interesting projects we've seen of late is led by Professor Peter Robinson at the Computer Laboratory at the University of Cambridge, who is working on what he calls "mind-reading machines," which can infer mental states of people from their body language. By analyzing faces, gestures, and tone of voice, it is hoped that machines could be made to be more helpful (hell, we'd settle for "less frustrating"). Peep the video after the break to see Robinson using a traditional (and annoying) satnav device, versus one that features both the Cambridge "mind-reading" interface and a humanoid head modeled on that of Charles Babbage. "The way that Charles and I can communicate," Robinson says, "shows us the future of how people will interact with machines." Next stop: uncanny valley!

IEEE Spectrum

Solar Radio Doubles As USB Charging Multitool for Adventurers

Eton's Raptor doesn't know if it's a radio, a weather-gauge or a bottle opener. An inbuilt solar-panel charges the li-Ion battery, powers the AM/FM/digital tuner, and also juices-up your phone through the miniUSB port.

Planning an expedition through uncharted territory? You also get a compass, chronograph, altimeter and barometer to keep you on track and informed of atmospheric conditions. There's a clip for your utility belt and of course, it's rubberized for waterproofing and shock protection. There's even a line-input for amplifying your iPod, too.

And the feature you'll probably end up using the most? The bottle opener of course. On sale soon, for an unspecified amount. [Eton via Engadget via Inhabitat]

(gizmodo)

帶太陽能板的褲子

http://www.patent-cn.com/2010/12/21/48967.shtml

太陽光電收購 政府被批護航台電

http://news.chinatimes.com/tech/0,5249,12050902x112010122100108,00.html

YikeBike foldable electric bike now available for the low, low price of $3,595 (video)

Oh Gizmo! YikeBike

新型彩色太陽能玻璃

落實節水 「水計算器」有iPhone版免費下載

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/101216/1/2j4ni.html

Inside the green box, that whacking motion generates electricity that can be used to power up your gadgets like your phone or camera while you ride. I bet you get a cool motorcycle sound effect too as the thing goes around.

I wonder how well the charger would work. It’s been my experience that most devices that try to charge a battery or device with power harvested from motion do a bad job of it. I have a flashlight you shake for power. Apparently, for every one minute you shake it you get one second of light.

[via Yanko Design]

(technabob)

The Best of Green Tech: Solar Cells

For every small step we take towards responsible living—buying eco-friendly light bulbs, and so on—there are gadgets that help us make giant leaps in our quest for sustainability. This week in our Green Tech series, we check out those little panels that do big things: solar cells.

Any kid who has ever tried to explode ants with a well-placed magnifying glass has a basic understanding of the mechanics behind solar cells (and, probably a need for some good kiddie therapy...but that's another story). Basically, as long as we've been basking in the light of Earth's yellow sun, we have been trying to find a way to harness its power. Archimedes supposedly defended Greece from Rome by using mirrors to focus light upon the Roman fleet's sails, causing them to burn and the boats to retreat. And certain Native American tribes used passive solar power to heat their homes—by building into the sides of cliffs or hills, they were able to store heat during the day and release it at night. However, it wasn't until 1883 with the invention of the solar cell that solar energy storage began to resemble its modern incarnation: the solar panel. Here are some of our favorite innovations, served to you sunny-side up!

Sunny With a Chance of Bad Politics

For a while it seemed as if the 20th century would be the golden era (pun intended) of solar technology. From homes, to cars, to toys, the sun spread its rays wide as people experimented with a number of applications of solar power. Here is a stunning gallery from Life that includes an utterly otherworldly shot of a '50s "solar furnace" built on top of a 17th-century French fortress. Around the same time, the Eames brothers were designing the very practical and aptly named "Do Nothing Machine." This solar paneled whirlygig served no other function than to spin whimsically in the sun. And so it seemed like the solar panel's future was bright. That is, until the '80s when Reagan came in to the White House like a rain cloud, and tried to kill everyone's vitamin D buzz by tearing down the panels installed by the Carter administration.

Apparently, Solar Is the New Black

Leave it to the sun to, well, power everything, including remote controls, keyboards, and toothbrushes. They can even inspire the clothes we wear. Oregon's SolarWorld, the country's largest solar energy manufacturing plant donated a mess of black solar panels to designers who showed at Portland's Fashion Week, including Project Runway winner Seth Aaron Henderson, whose line would make Lady Gaga herself burn with envy. As for the future of solar tech, this company has invented a spray paint that can turn any window into a solar panel, Glaswegians considered floating "solar lily pads" down the River Clyde, and this Swiss guy thinks your dog should make itself useful by charging your cell phone on its afternoon jaunt.

That's it for our Best in Green Tech Series! Continued research in sustainable technology is the only way we can responsibly move into the next decade. GE has become a leader in developing and funding projects that help actualize a green future—so GE and its venture capital partners have made a $200 million commitment to invest in the best ideas to develop and deploy digital energy technologies. Head to the GE ecomagination challenge to check out the next great green ideas!

(gizmodo)

台灣獨步全球 研發出9奈米超節能奈米記憶體

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/101214/135/2izah.html

鐵軌上的發電裝置

http://www.patent-cn.com/2010/12/10/48566.shtml

無線充電器即將上市

http://www.patent-cn.com/2010/12/09/48504.shtml

自動駕駛之機器人公路火車技術



為了讓自助出行更加便捷，不少公司都在開發自動駕駛技術，而谷歌公司則是公認的技術先鋒。現在，除了自動駕駛，另一種便捷的概念駕駛技術也進入了我們的視野，那就是“機器人公路火車”技術。該技術若能實現，那麼一輛帶有導航功能，並由專業司機駕駛的“火車頭”引導汽車就可以借助通訊溝通，帶動自助加入“公路火車”行列的汽車向前行駛。除了“火車頭”汽車司機，其他的“車廂”汽車司機只要將駕駛系統與導航汽車互聯，就可以放心地讓汽車向前行駛了。當然，在到達目的地，或是需要切換路徑的時候，“車廂”司機可以自行切斷與導航汽車的聯繫，將車輛開出隊伍，十分方便。根據技術設計人員描述，一輛“火車頭”汽車可以拖掛，引導 6到8輛“車廂”汽車，而因為車隊是由專業司機領導駕駛的，那麼道路安全指數想必可以提高不少呢！

(Patent.cn)

World record efficiency for organic based photovoltaic solar cells

Konarka's flexible and lightweight Power Plastic

Scientists find natural photovoltaic cell in hornet, and copy it

An Oriental hornet, whose yellow and brown exoskeleton is able to turn sunlight into electricity (Photo: Matti Paavola)

Textured substrate increases efficiency of polymer solar cells by 20 percent

Researchers have created a process to produce a light-absorbing layer on textured substrates to improve the efficiency of polymer solar cells (Image: Jeremy Levine Design via Flickr)

Image Gallery (2 images)

The idea of boosting the performance of solar cells by coating them with a textured substrate is commonly used in silicon-based cells. The idea is to traps more light so that it bounces around inside the cell instead of reflecting back out, but for a number of reasons, attempts to use textured substrates in polymer solar cells have failed. Now researchers from Iowa State University and the Ames Laboratory have developed a process of producing a thin and uniform light-absorbing layer on textured substrates that improves the efficiency of polymer solar cells by 20 percent.

Previous attempts to use textured substrates in polymer solar cells have proven problematic because they require extra processing steps or technically challenging coating technologies. Some attempts produced a light-absorbing layer with air gaps, a too-thin layer over the ridges, or a too-thick layer over the valleys. These issues resulted in a loss of charges and short-circuiting at the valleys and ridges, which in turn led to poor solar cell performance.

By getting the substrate texture and the solution-based coating just right, the researchers were able to produce a textured substrate pattern consisting of flat-topped ridges less than a millionth of a meter high. The result is a polymer solar cell that captures more light within those ridges – including light that’s reflected from one ridge to another. The cell is also able to maintain the good electrical transport properties of a thin, uniform light-absorbing layer.

According to Sumit Chaudhary, Iowa State assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering and an associate of the Ames Laboratory, tests indicated that the team’s light-trapping cells increased power conversion efficiency by 20 percent over flat solar cells made from polymers. Tests also indicated that light captured at the red/near infrared band edge increased by 100 percent.

 

 

This isn’t the only breakthrough in light-trapping technology for solar cells we’ve seen recently. In September, researchers at Stanford University reported that nanoscale solar cells with a patterned rough-surfaced layer could absorb as much as 10 times more energy from sunlight than predicted by conventional theory.

While there’s no word on when we can expect to see solar cells taking advantage of the Stanford University research, the Iowa State University and Ames Laboratory research could soon be headed to commercially available solar cells. The Iowa State University Research Foundation Inc. has filed a patent for the substrate and coating technology and is working to license it to solar cell manufacturers.

Details of the team’s fabrication technology were recently published online in the journal Advanced Materials.

(gizmag)

Wind-powered iPhone battery charger concept

Dutch designer Tjeerd Veenhoven has constructed a prototype wind-powered iPhone charger called the iFan from a custom rubber case and computer fan

Image Gallery (3 images)

As we demand more and more of our smartphones, the up time between charges suffers. Case in point – the iPhone. Chargers come in all shapes and sizes but few offer to power up the batteries using air, or more precisely – wind. Dutch designer Tjeerd Veenhoven has crafted just such a charger where his favored Apple device slides into the soft rubber outer skin and fan blades capture energy from the wind, which tops up the battery.

We've seen the idea of wind-powered charging floated before in devices like the HYmini portable charger and another concept piece, the Gotwind portable charger. Veenhoven's iFan lends itself to comparison with the K2 from Kinesis, albeit minus the solar panel, but is said to take some six hours to charge up an iPhone. That's not bad going for a modified computer fan and a custom-made case.

 

 

The designer thinks that with a bit more modification, the iFan could be made more efficient at harnessing power from the wind. He has just recently been tinkering with a bicycle mount design for the device which should allow users to top up their smartphones while out and about.

It's perhaps not the most convenient or efficient way to charge a smartphone, but very handy for those who like nothing better than camping out in the middle of nowhere or trekking up the side of a mountain.

(gizmag)

Phenom II X6 1100T review roundup: AMD's 六核 fastest desktop processor to date

When it comes to GPU and CPU releases, there are quantum leaps, and then there are baby steps. Based on the web's collective views on AMD's newest slab of silicon -- the Phenom II X6 1100T -- it seems as if this chip is a better example of the latter. According to TechSpot, the device "does little to improve upon the performance of AMD's hexa-core CPU series, [but] it does help improve the value of these high-end desktop processors by making the 1090T BE model even cheaper." By and large, that sentiment was mirrored throughout. Hot Hardware found that while it was easily "the fastest desktop processor released from AMD to date," it still couldn't topple Intel's (admittedly more expensive) six-core chips in terms of performance. But of course, AMD rarely competes strictly on benchmarks -- the 1100T lists for just $265, making it one of the more affordable desktop CPU options for this level of oomph. Those really looking for a bargain could snap up the now-deflated 1090T or 1075T, and while the bulk of the reviews below focus primarily on today's new flagship, the 3.4GHz Phenom II X2 565 Black Edition ($115) and 3.3GHz Athlon II X3 455 ($87) are also touched on.

3D堆疊技術打造：三星發布綠色8GB DDR3內存

http://tech.weiphone.com/2010-12-07/3D_stacking_technology_to_build_Samsung_8GB_DDR3_memory_green_227602.shtml

建築大師為蘋果設計環保新園區
來自：weiphone


儘管蘋果上個月剛剛斥資3億美元從惠普手中購得一塊面積98公頃的土地，但據國外媒體報導，世界著名建築大師Norman Foster已經開始著手設計蘋果總部的新園區。


Norman Poster已經想出一些絕妙的點子，包括一條可連接新舊兩個園區的地下隧道系統。事實上，整個交通系統將通過隧道網絡來運行，這樣就能騰出園區的空間來種植綠色植物。工程師大樓和研究開發大樓必須是多功能的，將採用尖端技術的材料，安裝頂尖的儀器，當然還有可不斷更新的能源。


蘋果只是不斷重複說建造新園區將能擴展蘋果總部的容納空間。據悉，新園區的設計將模仿阿聯酋首都阿布扎比的Masdar城（亦是Foster大師的傑作），可能會是世界上第一座無碳排放或汽車的城市。報導還多次提到“蘋果城”一詞，目前還無法證實這是否正式的名稱。

(WeiPhone)

Overflying closely the “crapgadget” category, the Audiobot is a cute speaker that can wear a striped knit ski beanie on its head. Why? To keep its head from catching a chill? It seems to me all it would do is distort the sound. Anyway, the thing can connect to any music player thanks to its 3.5mm jack, and charges via USB to give you enough juice for 4 hours of playtime.

You can get the Audiobot Speaker from Urban Outfitters for $16 (USD). Hats off, I say.

[via Geek Alerts]

(technabob)

Micron embeds error correction in flash memory chips, calls it ClearNAND

Solid state storage is fantastic stuff, durable and lightning-quick, but it's got its fair share of quirks -- bits fail, pages fill up, and cells deteriorate over time. Typically, the onus is on a beefy controller to take care of your drive and make sure it lasts a good long while (which is why brand names like SandForce can make or break an SSD) but it looks like Micron is planning to usurp some of that responsibility with its new ClearNAND chips. Simply put, each ClearNAND memory module has a built-in 24-bit error correction engine, so your drive's host controller doesn't have to shoulder that load, and can focus on the good stuff -- like getting your data delivered at speeds that would obliterate traditional hard drives. Micron says the new chips are available right now in 25nm sizes. Want a more technical rundown? Hit up our more coverage link to hear what this might mean for the error-prone future of the medium. PR after the break.

Show full PR text

Micron Unveils Innovative Flash Memory Devices That Extend the Life of NAND

New ClearNAND(TM) Products Incorporate NAND Error Correction Intelligence, Paving the Way for Further NAND Technology Scaling

BOISE, Idaho, Dec. 2, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Micron Technology, Inc. today introduced a portfolio of high-capacity flash memory products that will lengthen the life of NAND for years to come. By integrating the error management techniques in the same NAND package, the new Micron® ClearNAND™ devices alleviate the challenges traditionally found in NAND process shrinks. Micron's ClearNAND portfolio extends the opportunities for more advanced NAND process generations to be used in enterprise servers, tablet PCs, portable media players, and dozens of other consumer applications.

"The pace of NAND scaling is largely responsible for the incredible growth and success the industry has seen to date, and for helping to create new flash-based storage solutions," said Glen Hawk, vice president of Micron's NAND Solutions Group. "While the advantages in NAND scaling are evident, so are the challenges with the technology becoming increasingly more difficult to manage. Micron's ClearNAND products remove this management burden for our customers and extend the life of this all-important technology."

Micron's ClearNAND products utilize a traditional raw NAND interface, and include new features that are optimized for high-capacity and high-performance applications. As the industry progresses past 20-nanometer (nm), flash management gets more challenging because the amount of bit errors increases dramatically, impacting NAND performance and reliability. By tightly coupling the error management with the NAND devices in a single package, Micron's customers can continue to take advantage of the highest capacity and lowest cost-per-bit flash memory solution. Micron's ClearNAND products are first designed using its 25nm multi-level cell (MLC) process, and are available in two versions: Standard and Enhanced.

Micron's Standard ClearNAND products come in 8 to 32 gigabyte (GB) packages, and are intended to remove the error correction code (ECC) burden from the host processor with minimal protocol changes compared to raw NAND. The Standard ClearNAND portfolio is targeted for portable media players and other consumer electronic devices.

Micron's Enhanced ClearNAND products, in addition to removing the ECC burden from the host processor, also provide new enterprise specific features to enable high-capacity designs, delivering improved performance and reliability. Capacities are available in 16 to 64GB packages. The Enhanced ClearNAND products are targeted at enterprise and computing applications, and allows leading-edge 25nm MLC NAND to be used in these applications for the first time.

Both Micron Standard ClearNAND and Enhanced ClearNAND products are available now.

"As the industry continues to reduce costs by moving to smaller and smaller geometries, the challenge has been to maintain equivalent system performance and endurance as the previous process generation," said Greg Wong, founder and principal analyst at Forward Insights. "With its ClearNAND portfolio, Micron has developed a solution that overcomes these challenges, enabling customers to utilize the most advanced NAND technology in even the most demanding applications."

A Broad NAND Portfolio – From Raw Flash Memory to Fully Managed Solutions

With wireless, consumer, computing and enterprise manufacturers moving toward NAND flash as their primary storage medium, most designers require a broad selection of technology solutions to fit a vast array of end-product designs. From tablet PCs to flash-based notebooks, to high-end smartphones and data center servers, all of these applications are very distinct and call for a different type of NAND flash. The ClearNAND products strengthen Micron's NAND flash portfolio, providing the company with a broad offering of solid-state storage solutions.

PhysOrg Micron

登機牌機場導航針

New Age Bodhi Tree

You don’t need to be in Bodh Gaya to attain enlightenment, a relaxation Tree Bench built in white corian and peaceful surroundings is all that one requires! Talking of this bench, its one that weaves in natural elements like trees, soil and grass with modern amenities like a bench and lighting. Adaptable to a number of settings, I’d like to see one on my street!

Designer: Marko Vuckovic

(yankodesign)

This Generator the Size of a Pencil Tip Shakes Up Big Power

Japanese researchers have cooked up a minuscule kinetic battery capable of generating more energy than anything of its kind. Through only the slightest vibrations, the tiny device cranks out 22 milliwatts—20 times more than anything similar before it.

Twenty two milliwatts might not sound like terribly much—certainly a long way from powering your PS3—but could revolutionize the way we use smaller, button-sized batteries—just imagine a tiny way to store and generate power that could be tucked away anywhere. Devices that suck small amounts of juice could power themselves just by being in your pocket.

The secret behind the microgenerator lies in its use of Galfenol, a magnetic material developed by the US Naval Research Laboratory in 1998—it's super tough, and can take temperatures over 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit. [Tech-On via Inhabitat]

(gizmodo)

概念設計：柔軟的遙控器

http://tech.weiphone.com/2010-11-29/Conceptual_design_a_soft_remote_control_227190.shtml

阿凡達“生物發光樹”問世  有望替換現有路燈

http://tech.weiphone.com/2010-11-29/Avatar_bioluminescence_tree_is_expected_to_replace_the_existing_street_lights_came_227191.shtml

Intel 研究室賦予樂高積木生命，讓我們能與雜貨互動

http://chinese.engadget.com/2010/11/28/intel-research-projects-bring-legos-to-life-make-groceries-inte/

台灣獲獎設計：BRS淋浴系統

http://tech.weiphone.com/2010-11-25/Taiwan_s_award-winning_design_BRS_Shower_System_227044.shtml

USB碗泡麵加濕熱器



美味的泡麵總是陪伴忙碌或是孤獨的人度過了不少用餐時光，讓人難以忘懷。這款模仿碗麵外形的加濕器小巧可愛，您只需加入熱水，再等待3分鐘，蒸汽就會源源不斷地釋放出來。它可以由的USB接口供電或是電源供電，輕鬆幫您驅除辦公桌邊的乾燥空氣。

售價：5980日元

(patent-cn)

There Has to Be a Quicker Way to Get Around the UAE, Right?

I'm sure many are impressed by this UAE inventor who's about to travel 200 miles across the desert in a solar-powered wheelchair. Me? Nah. When he straps a 1000 MPH rocket on the back of that, then I'll be impressed.

OK, OK. Fine. Travelling at 12 MPH across all seven emirates and breaking obscure world records over a period of 11 days in some hot-ass weather and breaking obscure world records is pretty rugged, especially when it's totally carbon-neutral. But next time, this thing better be powered by cold fusion and brainwaves. [Treehugger via Pop Sci]

(gizmodo)

The Viva Light Tower

The Viva Light Tower is a lamp post but totally independent from the grid. It derives its power from three natural sources; sun, wind, and biochemical. Seems like an interesting idea but looks quite expensive to implement, but hey – lamp posts and street lights need a massive upgrade if we’re to cut emissions by the year 2020. This is one idea that could see our way there.

Designer: Chelles Hayashi Designs

(yankodesign)

太陽 +花=太陽能飯盒

http://tech.weiphone.com/2010-11-21/Sun__flower__solar_boxes_226815.shtml