Skinput

It's called Skinput, and here's how it works: The user wears an armband, which contains a very small projector that projects a menu or keypad onto a person's hand or forearm. The armband also contains an acoustic sensor. Why? Because when you tap different parts of your body, it makes unique sounds based on the area's bone density, soft tissue, joints and other factors.

The software in Skinput is able to analyze the sound frequencies picked up by the acoustic sensor and then determine which button the user has just tapped.

http://news.discovery.com/
filed under: technologies, telecom

Property spectrum: Information
Systems and subsystems tend to evolve from requiring external input to becoming self-controlling through the use of feedback mechanisms. The placement of fingers and skin movements help determine which buttons are pushed.

ThermaHelm

An extraordinary new 'brain-cooling' motorcycle helmet could save thousands of lives each year.

Called the ThermaHelm, the incredible piece of equipment comes with an inbuilt device that acts like an instant ice pack after a sudden impact.

By cooling the brain it is thought the carbon fibre helmet can reduce the risk of long-term brain damage and save lives.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/
filed under: automotive, safety

Property spectrum: State
One of the most prominent property spectra is the state. It describes an evolution of products and processes starting with solid matter and then moving to liquids, gases and finally fields. The liquid inside helps keep the brain cool, reducing brain damage.

Large thermochromic logo

The Rocky Mountains, logo of the Coors Light beer brand, indicates that the beer is nice and cold and at the right drinking temperature. This is the first time that thermochromic ink has been successfully used for a design covering such a large surface area.

Molson Coors Brewing Company uses this technology to support its marketing strategy, which draws attention specifically to the ice-cold refreshment of its premium brands. Ball Packaging Europe and its parent company Ball Corporation are supplying Coors Light with thermochromic cans in the US and now also in Europe.

http://www.foodbev.com/
filed under: food & beverage, packaging

Property spectrum: Colour
The increased use of colour here indicates that the beer is at the correct drinking temperature.

 Recycling robot

Using five laser beams that can detect different types of plastics, this sorting robot puts plastics into six different piles, depending on their content. The robot uses photonics sensing technology developed by IDEC Co., LTD. and PARC, along with robot technology of Mitsubishi Electric Engineering (MEE) Co., LTD.

Right now, Japan recycles only PET and PS, but many more types of plastics are used. The robot could be a big emissions-saver by opening up opportunities for further plastics recycling.

http://www.treehugger.com/
filed under: environment, measuring/testing

Property spectrum: Automation
Automation can vary from human operated to being human aided. Systems tend to become increasingly automated. This system eliminates human error by sorting the plastics itself.

Yale researchers have come up with a new soldering material that could eliminate lead in this area of electronics as well, using magnets, rather than heat, to bond materials.

Because lead has a high strength and a low melting point, it's a preferred metal for soldering in electronics because it can be melted onto components without damaging them. Non-lead alternatives have so far been weaker or require more heat to melt, which of course means electronics manufacturers aren't willing to eliminate lead in this area. At least not yet. Cleantechnica reports that a new "liquid magnet" material from Yale could be a solution for getting lead out of soldering in electronics, and it has a revolutionary way of melding with materials.

Rather than applying heat from an external source, the compound is exposed to a magnetic field. That excites the iron particles, which causes the solder to heat up and melt internally. The result is a highly localized melt that has little or no effect on the components around it.

http://www.treehugger.com/
filed under: building & construction, materials

Property spectrum: State - Liquid
Products evolve from being a solid matter to a liquid, gas and finally a fields. Liquid magnets do not need heat to bond, only the addition of a magnetic field.

Nepenthes Lowii

It is the ultimate in recycling. Meet Nepenthes Lowii, nature's own lavatory.

This is the first time the plant has been captured on camera being used by the mountain tree shrew - animals that rely on the plant both for nourishment and as its very own lavatory.

The plant, which is found in Borneo, is the only one in the world that collects the droppings of animals and uses them to produce a sugary substance, which the shrew then eats.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/
filed under: animals, environment, telecom

Property spectrum: Opposites
Increasing the number of dissimilar elements in a system can bring additional functionality, improved operability, and convenience. This plant recycles the droppings into food for animals.