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  • Sony Files Patent for Skin-Powered Headphones

    According to a representative at Sony the company initially sought alternatives to the peculiar skin-driven system, but these posed more problems than one would think. An infrared system would require sensors on both the headset and transmitter to be in direct line of sight at all times, posing a number of usage issues that could render the headset useless. IrDA systems (Infrared transmission protocol) can also malfunction when being used in daylight (the folks at Nintendo had to learn that one the hard way.

    Sony also said that Bluetooth would be considered for such a wireless headset, but despite its popularity the protocol poses its share of problems as well. As Bluetooth can broadcast a signal to distances of up to 30 feet, eavesdroppers could easily listen in to whatever was being played on audio source that the transmitter is connected to. And even with deliberate interference, a Bluetooth headset could be easily disrupted by errant Bluetooth signals from other devices in the immediate vicinity.

    As such Sony has taken the road less traveled, using the human skin for the first time ever as a transmission medium for consumer electronics. Whether consumers warm up to the notion of voluntarily sending electrical signals through their body remains to be seen, but it seems as though one key design flaw could make that a moot point.

    As indicated earlier, the system must be close to or in contact with the human body in order for the signal to be effective. While this would be a very useful technology for athletes, whom might wear their audio devices on an arm band or similar thing, the headset is rendered useless for users who don’t stow their iPod on arm or in pocket. This appears to be a drastic price to pay in the interest of nixing a cable, which can only be so disruptive.

    Perhaps Sony is aiming this one specifically toward nano-equipped joggers and similar folk. But even if that’s the case the whole thing begs the question — why not put out a product that’s suitable for everyone? The very entity of the Playstation 3 may prove this to be a question that Sony is incapable of answering.

    Via ars technica
    Check out Sony’s patent filing.

  • Kite-Powered Generator to Rival Nuclear

    The KiteGen improves upon inefficient windmill systems that use a single propeller to generate energy. Unlike these static generators, the dynamic movement of the KiteGen’s kites allow it to use an autopilot-like system to adjust to wind conditions in order to achieve the highest possible speed, and therefore the greatest output. The efficiency of the system would be so great, in fact, that Sequoia estimates KiteGen could produce one gigawatt of power for just 1.5 euros per megawatt hour. Were it able to achieve these theoretical figures, KiteGen would be nearly 30 times more efficient than other European energy production techniques, which which cost about 43 euros per megawat hour. Sequoia believes it can produce a working model of the KiteGen within two years.

    But even with the promise that the project has shown, Italian pundits and lawmakers alike are a bit dubious about the future of KiteGen. Invasion of air space seems to be an especially touchy matter, as KiteGen’s kites, which can fly higher than a mile above the ground, could interfere with the flight paths of planes, helicopters, or even birds. Said Luciano Pirazzi, an energy expert for the Italian government agency ENEA:

    It’s a fascinating project, for the amount of power it promises and the low cost. But — and there are a series of buts — it is still basically a concept on the drawing board. Feasibility has to be proven.

    Sequoia is acommodating for the concern with the development of a radar system that would detect such flying objects, automatically moving KiteGen’s kites out of the way. Were the project a success, KiteGen could help Italy meet standards set by the EU Renewable Energy Directive, which require that the country run on at least 22 percent renewable energy by 2010.

  • New Toyota hybrids announced

    Toyota is also planning on introducing clean-diesel versions of its Tundra pickup and Sequoia full-sized sports utility vehicle to the US market "in the near future", he said.

    These new vehicles will help Toyota comply with new rules requiring automakers to ensure that the vehicles they sell in the United States have an average fuel economy of 35 miles per gallon by 2020, he said.

    "Toyota strongly supports this long overdue legislation," he said. "We will not wait until the deadline to comply. I have issued a challenge to our engineers to meet the new standards well in advance of 2020. I believe it can be done, it should be done and that Toyota is capable of doing it."

    Toyota is also working on developing cleaner and more efficient methods of producing ethanol from wood-waste rather than food crops, he said.

    Toyota plans on introducing flex-fuel vehicles capable of running on fuel with up to an 85 percent ethanol content to the US market in 2009.

    But there is not sufficient ethanol production capacity for most owners of these vehicles to use the fuel and it is also not yet available in many markets.

    Furthermore, the current methods of producing ethanol require large energy inputs and have resulted in sharp increases in corn prices.

    General Motors, which currently produces more than a million flex-fuel vehicles a year, also announced plans Sunday to develop more efficient biofuels.

    It has partnered with an Illinois-based company, Coskata Inc., which will open a test plant in the fourth quarter of this year capable of producing ethanol from practically any renewable source, including garbage, old tires and plant waste.

    Toyota delivered the first two Prius plug-in hybrids in November to universities in California to be tested in real-world conditions, Watanabe said.

    It is currently in the planning phase of expanding a battery factory it operates as a joint-venture with Panasonic to build lithium batteries for automotive operations, he added.

    A fleet of hundreds of the plug-in hybrids will be delivered to "a wide variety of global commercial customers, with many coming to the United States," he added.

  • General Motors plans for oil depletion

    From the Sydney Morning Herald  

    THE world’s biggest car maker, General Motors, believes global oil supply has peaked and a switch to electric cars is inevitable.

    In a stunning announcement at the opening of the Detroit motor show, Rick Wagoner, GM’s chairman and chief executive, also said ethanol was an "important interim solution" to the world’s demand for oil, until battery technology improved to give electric cars the same driving range as petrol-powered cars.

    GM is working on an electric car, called the Volt, which is due in showrooms in 2010, but delays in suitable battery technology have slowed the project.

    Mr Wagoner cited US Department of Energy figures which show the world is consuming roughly 1000 barrels of oil every second of the day, and yet demand for oil is likely to increase by 70 per cent over the next 20 years. Some experts believe the supply of oil peaked in 2006.

    The remaining oil reserves are deeper below the Earth’s surface and therefore more costly to mine and refine.

    "There is no doubt demand for oil is outpacing supply at a rapid pace, and has been for some time now," Mr Wagoner said. "As a business necessity and an obligation to society we need to develop alternative sources of propulsion."

    He added: "So, are electrically driven vehicles the answer for the mid- and long-term? Yes, for sure. But … we need something else to significantly reduce our reliance on petroleum in the interim."

    GM is so convinced about ethanol it has signed an agreement with a supplier that claims to have come up with a way of producing ethanol that is cheaper and more efficient than refining oil. The supplier claims it can produce ethanol from "almost any material" such as farm waste, municipal waste, discarded plastics – even old tyres.

     

  • Australia backs out of Uranium for India deal

    Foreign Minister Stephen Smith told India’s nuclear envoy Shyam Saran this week that the Labor party had campaigned prior to the November election against nuclear proliferation.

    "We went into the election with a strong policy commitment we would not export uranium to nation states who are not members of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty," Smith said after the meeting with Saran. "It’s a long standing commitment of the Australian Labor Party that we don’t authorize the export of uranium to countries who are not parties to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

    "India is a nation state that is not a party to the nonproliferation treaty. I don’t think there’s any expectation in the international community that it will become a member," he said.

    India had successfully lobbied the previous conservative government under John Howard to reverse a ban on sales of the resource to India pointing to its excellent record in preventing proliferation of nuclear material and technology despite being a non-signatory of the N.P.T.

    The Indian High Commission in Canberra referred to this record in a press release following the announcement of the Australian government’s decision.

    "The special envoy, while noting the Labor government’s position in this regard, emphasized India’s impeccable record in nonproliferation, a record that has been universally acknowledged and appreciated," said the statement.

    "While seeking Australian support in the N.S.G. [Nuclear Suppliers Group], India expressed the hope that when the nuclear energy market in the country opens up, Australia would also become a valued partner," it added.

    The reversal of the Howard government’s decision has angered some of India’s media with the conservative Indian Express likening the Australian Labor Party’s left to India’s own "communists and peaceniks."

    The editorial said: "Just as our communists can’t be made to see reason, there is no way of explaining to Labor’s disarmament activists that the N.P.T. does not in any way prohibit Australia from selling uranium to India. Like ‘anti-imperialism’ to our communists, ‘N.P.T.’ is a mantra for the Australian left."

    In New Delhi for the opening of the new chancery of the Australian High Commission, Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean was quick to defend his government’s decision, calling the editorial "strident and over the top." When asked if he supported the decision to reverse the Howard government’s uranium trade with India he answered, "Yes, that’s the policy of the A.L.P. [Australian Labor Party]," but said a change in the policy was "not likely."

    However, the Indian government said it remained confident it would be able to import Australian uranium under a special safeguard system to be negotiated with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

    Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said his government was adopting a "wait and see" approach to the discussions.

    "The government has not yet made a decision on future steps on implementing the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative, approval of the I.A.E.A. safeguards agreement when negotiated, and consideration by the Nuclear Suppliers Group of an exception to the N.S.G. guidelines to enable civil-nuclear cooperation with India," he said.

    Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on a visit to China, has called for the two countries to cooperate in developing each other’s nuclear energy needs despite long-standing differences between the two economic powerhouses.

    "India seeks international cooperation in the field of civilian nuclear energy, including with China," Singh said, giving a speech at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. "The rapid growth of India and China will lead to expanding demand for energy. We have no choice but to widen our options for energy availability and develop viable strategies for energy security."

    Australia has around 40 percent of the world’s known reserves of uranium and exports to 36 countries though the issue of nuclear exports has long been a controversial one in the country.

  • Solar Cities event for Adelaide

    he International Solar Cities Congress is part of the International Solar Cities Initiative and the 2008 Congress will be the third solar cities congress.  

     

    The objectives of the International Solar Cities Initiative are to support UN energy and climate policies by stimulating the interest of cities into becoming benchmark cities that commit to ambitious emission reduction goals; help cities systematically integrate renewable energy and energy efficient technologies and industries into environmental, economic and city planning; and provide scientific support for the validation and design of effective measures and policies for Solar Cities.

     

    The 3rd Congress will appeal to all professionals and individuals with an interest in sustainable energy and its role in our urban environment. The International Solar Cities Initiative (ISCI) has been formed to address climate change through effective measurable action at the urban community level. The members of ISCI are cities, institutions and individuals who want to help each other in this task.

     

    Business is a major focus of the Congress, and anyone in the business of sustainability, market growth and forecasts will find the information presented throughout the program invaluable, particularly on the Wednesday, which has been designed as a special business day and features Robert F Kennedy Jr.

     

    A three day program is planned in association with a mayoral forum, field trips and the opportunity for all delegates to enjoy pre and post Conference tours to some of South Australia’s major attractions.