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Top 10 technologies the next 3 years

2011-11-08T05:18:00.000-08:00

Analysts called the 10 technologies that have the greatest impact on enterprise development in the next 3 years. Gartner has identified the top 10 strategic technologies for enterprises in 2012-2014. By Strategic Technology Gartner analysts attributed technologies that can have a significant impact on the company for 3 years to come. Both positive (if the company has time to time to take advantage of technology) and negative (in case of neglect).

To include strategic as existing technology, and technology at an early stage of development, can become a competitive advantage the first agencies to pay attention to them, or significantly change the market.

"These top-10 technology will be strategically important for most organizations - said vice-president at Gartner, David Kyrle (David Cearley). - Why CIOs should pay careful attention to this list in the process of drafting the plan and understand how these technologies can help achieve the desired results. "

1. Mediaplanshety and other form factors

In the first place Gartner has placed a variety of supported form factors. "There will be no dominant platform, or the dominant form factor, no dominant technology - say at Gartner. - Companies will have to simultaneously support the work of its employees on 2-4 client devices, but also allow employees to use in their personal gadgets. "

According to analysts, companies have to maintain just two mobile strategy: Business to employee (B2E) and Business to consumer (B2C). In the first strategy companies will organize the most flexible working to employees, in the second - to provide maximum flexibility to access their resources from without.

2. Mobile applications and interfaces

Over the past 20 years, the principles of constructing user interfaces have changed dramatically, experts say. Currently popular are interfaces that are optimized for mobile devices, which are the main functionality includes the ability to read and touch gestures, improved search technology, management of voice and multimedia capabilities. Handle is the one who will be able to learn cross-platform application development and cope with a wide variety of devices.

3. Context and social services

Contextual systems are able to anticipate the user's needs in advance and collect the necessary data. In Gartner predicts the development of this direction. The main applications context technologies are mobile phones, social networking, mobile commerce and augmented reality.

4. Internet of Things

The concept of "internet of things" refers to global connectivity

almost any object with the ability to obtain information from them and manage them. According to analysts Gartner, technology in this field reached a critical mass in the next few years will see a breakthrough in this direction.

5. Application Stores

In Gartner predicts that by 2015 the annual number of downloads of all available applications stores will exceed 70 billion Moreover, if such stores are mostly run on ordinary consumers, in the coming years will be open to shop for businesses.

Ten strategic technologies enclose:

6. A new generation of analytics (analysis of historical data, forecast of future events)

7. Large amounts of data (fragmentation of data to be processed)

8. Calculations of RAM (In-Memory Computing)

9. Servers with ultra-low power

10. Cloud Computing

Refinancing of loans

2011-11-08T05:17:00.000-08:00

As usual, we are refinancing explain it simply, what is called "on the fingers." Thus, the borrower took out a loan. Took out a loan at a sufficiently high interest rates and a relatively short period of time. Regularly paid on the loan, as he sees that the interest rates at different banks are lower than in "his" bank. What does the borrower?

Of course, he can not "jerk", and pay as paid, but may try to reduce the interest rate, and give for the loan is less. How do I do? You can come to "own" the bank and ask them to lower interest rates. What will happen?

Option two:

- Or leave interest rates unchanged. (Of course! Interest - this is income of the bank! Who will give up on the income?)

- Either the interest rate will drop. (Miracles happen sometimes!)

Cases where the bank is ready to lower interest rates and when the bank is not ready to drop - a closer look.

Let's say the bank is ready to lower interest rates.

You can do this in two ways:

If the loan agreement between the Borrower and the Bank provides for changes in interest rates, the bank will simply change the interest rate and all. This application is made to the loan agreement.

If the credit agreement does not provide for changes in interest rates, the bank issues a new loan on different terms. Due to the new loan is extinguished the old loan and the borrower pays in accordance with the terms contained in the new credit agreement.

If "your" bank is not willing to lower the interest rate or some other way change the terms of the loan agreement, you can go to another bank and get a new loan there. Due to the new loan can pay off "their" bank continue to pay for a new loan on new terms.

Getting a new loan, through which you can repay the old loan, and just called the refinancing (or refinancing).

Complexity of refinancing

So, imagine that you have come to the bank for a new loan to get him to pay with your bank, where first credited.

And, let's say you need a loan of $ 100 thousand (maybe more). The amount - a substantial bank and is ready to give credit only for mortgages. But real estate is already pledged to "own bank": the one that has issued the credit and loan refinancing which we have. In order to "own bank" agreed to take a pledge, it is necessary that you have returned to him the money, but to a new creditor bank would give you money, you need to have you laid him real estate.

It turns out "vicious circle", which does not break so easily.

What to do?

Different ways of refinancing

- "The curve diagram" - for its implementation needs a "good uncle" (aunt, organization, winning the lottery, an unexpected inheritance, the treasure, the money from the business and so on).

If the "good uncle" there is, then everything is simple.

- The classical scheme of refinancing - a new bank gives the money to repay the money with the same creditor bank.

What is needed to refinance?

Usually (at least as assumed), the refinancing needed to reduce the interest rate and, consequently, reduce financial losses. But there was a case where we have to their customers refinanced loan, resulting in interest rate does not become smaller, but quite the contrary. And anyway, it was profitable.

This case struck me as so interesting that I want to tell us more about it. Asked me my former clients who have bought an apartment a year ago with my help. Addressed in order to buy another apartment so by renting a new apartment to rent, pay off the bank not only your money, but money and tenants.

And everything is good: the monthly income of my clients is enough to get a new loan and pay for it, if not a "but": my clients managed to collect consumer loans in different banks. So, given: There is a mortgage, obtained at 10 years old, under 11%.

Bank to pay the remaining 64 000 dollars. The monthly payment is 1100 dollars. There are four consumer credit, combined with 12 - 14% per annum, the balance of the debt which is 26 000. Although the amount of debt on consumer credit is not great, but since the loans were taken at 3 - 5 years, the monthly payment by him of 810 dollars.

Thus, the existing loan borrowers are already paying 1100 + 810 = 1910 U.S. dollars.

The task: to do so to replace all the existing loans to one and get the money for a down payment to buy another apartment.

A decision to refinance loans. Loans secured by the apartment, under which has already received a mortgage, you take another loan. The market value of the apartment on the date of refinancing - 260 000 dollars, so easy to take a loan of U.S. $ 130 000 at 12% per annum for 15 years.

Note:

The interest rate on your mortgage has become more: 12% instead of 11% per annum;

But:

- Borrowers were 130 000, of which 90,000 took to the "close" all the existing loans;

- there were

More than 35 000 in cash, which can be sent as a down payment when purchasing another apartment, (probably counting it all yourself, you decide that I was wrong because: 130 000 - 64 000 - 26 000 = 40 000.

But if there are overhead-lending.

- Payment of borrowers decreased: the total payment for all loans was 1910, became a form 1560.

- When before, with a bunch of loans, the banks did not want to see them as borrowers, now, when the loan is only one, glad to see them as their customers, many banks.

This incident occurred a couple of years ago. Now, in response to the crisis, the stakes rose, lending terms and refinance loans - have changed. So, unfortunately, what is described here now is not possible ...

While it is not possible ..

Art in the house according to Feng Shui

2011-11-03T03:33:00.001-07:00

Not so long ago I encountered a woman (let's call it, for example, Kate), which equips her apartment on the requirements of Feng Shui. I confess to this "Feng Shui" I'm very, very skeptical. But in order to check the hot assurances of his favor, she decided to learn more about the principles of Chinese teachings and its compatibility with the visual arts.

Art in the bedroom according to Feng Shui

It turned out at once that the room was far from Katie fenshuevskaya. Pay taxes to sleep, not enough - we said Chinese scientists.

Assurance of the benefits of the red zone in the bed of feng shui confirmed. Just - oh, horror! - Katya wallpaper with red flowers! No, no, you can not - categorically claims the ancient teachings. The bedroom can not be placed not so much painted, even fresh flowers!

In part, this claim has arisen from quite natural reasons - the flowers at night pull oxygen from the air, so you may have problems with sleep. Although I wonder how many should there be flowers in the room to become a man nothing to breathe? Chinese doctrine is opposed to another plant due to the fact that they draw energy from the sleeping man. Even painted. Feng Shui is strongly advised to hang in the bedroom paintings of flowers. Especially over the headboard.

But every other picture in front of the bed will be very much appropriate. Especially if you wake up, you'll see something cheerful on the canvas. A small correction - this cheerful in any case should not be autumn landscape, even the most light and beautiful. Better summer.

Who is not nice to fall asleep to the sound of murmuring water, running on the beach or the lake ... and again no! There are no fountains in the room, Chinese scholars also reject the Universe. Alas, this is again applied to the picture. You can not place the product in the bedroom with waterfalls, fountains, rivers or seas. This will lead to confusion in the family.

The list is not recommended image is still ongoing. The ban applies to photographs of children, parents or friends, and generally someone else's portraits, as well as pictures of animals.

By the way, not only painting suffered disgrace. Ill keep in the bedroom stuffed animals and dolls (even collectable and very expensive). They supposedly make the atmosphere of childhood emotions and distract from love.

What can be? It turns out that the paintings can only be his portraits, preferably on a canvas and painted with oil. Landscapes of the spring, summer and winter, and fruit still lifes. Recommend an image of something the pair. This will strengthen family life.

Will be useful ceramic vases, vessels, figurines and plates. It strengthens family values.

Living room. Feng Shui in the zones

Glory to the Chinese gods that area in the apartment have a positive value - Zone money, health, etc. This is something interesting.

In the living room puts a lot of figures of animals! If you can see from the window of a hospital or other institution negatively - turtle figurine on a windowsill will be just right. No money? Put the figures on the shelves of three-toed frog or dragon with a pearl in the mouth.

If you have a mind for some reason comes - calm the nerves of collectible figurine of an owl.

And if you want kids - get a stork. Do not live, of course. Although not yet proven, by a stork will be more confusing.

Sculpture and plastic arts in the form of almost all known animals will benefit. Fish, elephants, tigers, dragons will provide you with happiness, "according to Feng Shui." By the way, is particularly useful wooden sculpture. As well as images of water fountains and plants. And live, and in pictures.

In the south-western wall of the room in any case do not hang a picture with the theme of loneliness, the better they hang a picture with bright colors (red or orange). But on the north wall should hang mountain or water views.

In the southwest, a better place now with a shiny sea view.

Take note that there are no crosses, monsters and items like ornaments in furniture and paintings is also better not to do, and then come vicious Shah and energy you sharahnet negative.

Digestion of "Feng Shui": kitchen

In the area where the stove is better to use an image or object is green. Painting with wood or decorative ornaments.

In the south-east of the kitchen do not hang pictures of silver, gold and white tones. In the south, avoid the blue and black shades on south-west is also green. While that's done, if it is in the southwest is plaque, which simply requires the presence of green - Feng Shui diplomatically silent. And for good reason.

In the northeast, refuse rectangular paintings and objects, and in the north of the square. And in the east allowed the red image.

A little side note, not related to art: cook a meal - ventilate the kitchen. Because the smell of food (even delicious) you can also sharahnut negative energy Sha. That's it. Maybe it is better not to cook?

Although not worry, friendly kitchen floral designs in pastel colors can win and Sha Tsiknut it.

More precisely, to draw friendly energy Chi.

Feng shui is not a child. Children's rooms

The room should be a different color is divided into areas - the playing, training and sleeping.

If your child is sitting at his desk - follow strictly to mischief did not hang on the wall behind the drawn cartoon monsters. And do not place a picture there with wild animals and water.

Bright wallpaper, colored furniture, posters - everything is good for kids. So if the walls are covered with colorful posters of children, rejoice - it means that your child's sense of Qi energy.

So if you're partisan exercise, "Feng Shui", better refrain from acquisitions pictures spontaneously, and refer to the art consultant who will help you make the right choice.

Color reading room

2011-11-03T03:28:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that many owners with screen readers E-Ink (electronic ink) reacted to the popularization of color TFT-chitalok with a fair degree of skepticism. Indeed, the main advantages of the classic E-Ink-readers - the possibility of a long read without injury to the eye and stand-alone operation for up to a month - with the ordinary reader of TFT-LCD (like netbooks and tablets) are not peculiar. So, the prospect of competition from TFT-reader tablet / smartphones (whose functions for reading and multimedia are not limited to) seemed very vague. And yet, at the end of 2010 the share of non-ferrous chitalok of total sales of e-readers was almost 10 percent. And despite the fact that the first models of these devices were sold only in the second half of the year, and E-Ink'om producers sold the entire year since its inception.

"Swim to the surface" of these devices to help, first of all, price. Earlier we talked about the difference in the cost of the screen, made by technology E-Ink, and conventional TFT-display - that's $ 50 vs. $ 25-30. In this colorful reading room can offer features that are not possible in conventional E-Ink-reader. With regard to competition from TFT-reader tablet, then, of course, to the functional and they do not stand next to - but the most popular features of tablets (even expensive and heaped plates of Apple and Samsung are often purchased just for the sake of reading, watching videos and listening to music) in low-cost TFT reader implemented at a high enough level.

Cheap and sad

However, given the fact that most actively interested in development of new niche Chinese developers (as well as working in partnership with Russian brands), the quality of most readers of color corresponds to all the stereotypes about electronics from the Middle Kingdom. Official statistics on the "battle" of devices that go with pipelines nameless Chinese factories, no. However, you can make its own impression on the reviews on the Web: the dignity of the vast majority of low cost TFT-readers are described in one word ("Cheap!"), And these deficiencies is a very long sheet of text. Among the problems cited most frequently encountered "bad interface design," "a lot of typos in the menu," "touch screen is not enough accurate and sensitive," "build quality - bad," "supported format small", "no normal firmware."

Of course, the representatives of the famous brands that rule does not apply: there is a reader with color LCD displays the model number of Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble, also colored readers "A" class are sold under the brand name PocketBook (leader of the Russian market with a share of electronic chitalok 40 %). All these gadgets combines high quality production, the relatively high price and a common platform - Android.

Ebuki and tablets

One relatively recent development of the American company Barnes & Noble (very, very large publishing house) - Model Nook Color - a color touchscreen TFT-LCD with 7-inch. The device running Android. Of course, the developers have created it, with an emphasis on reading, but in fact this product is a real tablet.

In September 2011 came another color reader for one of the largest "chitalochnyh" brands - Amazon Kindle. Powerful 7-inch tablet running Android 2.3 is called the Amazon Kindle Fire. Color eReader truly "burn": a combination of powerful processor and high-quality IPS-display (IPS - is perhaps the most qualitative species TFT-screen) make it suitable for the colorful games, almost all applications and video playback in HD-quality.

Thus the main drawback Readers Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble - in Russia, they can only be purchased on a "gray" channels, that is the official sales of these devices is not here and probably will not. The reason for this - the development of piracy in our country: to implement in Russia intended to sell content (electronic books and periodicals) gadgets simply unprofitable.

Among the officially sold in Russia color reader for the Android platform in the lead PocketBook IQ 701. Reader in a bright glossy package has a 7-inch touch screen, can connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi and has a functional full-fledged Tablet Android-secondary level. In fact, some experts believe this model is a Tablet PC, not reader. And according to the analytical group SmartMarketing PocketBook company's second-largest supplier after Apple "tablet" in Russia - just because modeliPocketBook IQ 701, sales of which began in November 2010.

In mid-November 2011 to start selling a new 10-inch multimedia reader (read - almost too full plate) PocketBook A 10''platform Android 2.3.4. Novelty is equipped with a powerful gigahertz processor has access to the Internet and the Web front camera for video calls. Quality devices PocketBook no worse than in the same Kindle and Nook, because their assembly is done at the new plant Taiwanese company Foxconn Electronics - the world's largest contract electronics manufacturer, which produces also the iPhone and iPad for Apple, xBox 360 for Microsoft, and phones for Nokia.

In general, Android-readers have a right to exist - and they are much more interesting than usual chitalok with color TFT-LCD, which does not allow you to download books directly from the Internet, install games and applications.

Live with music smartphone Walkman

2011-08-25T09:21:00.000-07:00

It seems that the rumors of premature death in the Walkman brand products Sony Ericsson have been greatly exaggerated. The company saturated the segment of branded products in all categories of smartphones. Today she has a flagship solution, the solution of the upper, middle and lower price ranges. It's time to think about the soul, that is to release a narrow product was such a music smartphone Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman.

The smartphone is equipped with a powerful processor with 1 GHz and running the operating system Google Android 2.3 Gingerbread with a proprietary interface Timescape, it is aimed at closer integration with the service Facebook, as well as advanced music functions. Infinite button function opens the holder instant access to complete collection of songs by that artist through the company service Sony Qriocity. There is also access to services TrackID, allowing you to quickly find artist and title of any song you hear in dannyymoment.

In addition to the powerful processor is a 3.2-inch display with a resolution of 480x320 pixels, 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and video recording in the resolution of 720p. There is a frontal VGA-camera for video conferencing. Memory size is 320 MB ROM, is there also a slot for microSD card capacity of 32 GB (2 GB included). The manufacturer has not forgotten about the full arsenal of wireless standards, including the network of the second and third generation protocols Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (supporting DLNA), and GPS-navigation. For music lovers are invited feature Sony xLOUD, which provides a clear sound when playing music through the built-in speakers. Battery capacity is 1200 mAh. Smartphone Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman goes on sale in the fourth quarter of this year, the price is not specified.

A machine that causes the rain

2011-01-19T09:02:00.000-08:00

But not in every desert it can earn. From observations made during the experiment, it was found that this process can be started only when the humidity rises to 30 percent. This indeed is often the case in the United Arab Emirates, located on the coastline. But in the deserts like the famous Atacama in Chile, where the humidity is at 0 percent, above the lamp Chizhevskogo unlikely to be able to cause even a "mushroom" rain.

In addition, another disadvantage design is that it uses a lot of electricity. This, as you know, not a problem for the oil-rich United Arab Emirates, but hardly like "rain" of the machine can be operated in the African desert, because many of the state on whose territory they are located, are poor in energy resources. However, the developers can not exclude the possibility of modifying plants so that they worked on power plants, operated by the so-called alternative energy sources.

It is interesting that such experiments were immediately concerned with the different greens, who have decided that under constant irrigation of desert rainfall to climate may change, which entails the extinction of living there, unique animals and plants, the spirit of not tolerate high humidity. But the creators of the installation calmed fighters for the preservation of nature, stating that no one intends to keep the "rain" of the machine is constantly switched on, since it is not enough money even for rich United Arab Emirates. It is just about to call from time to time a rain, when it will take to local residents.

Despite the fact that between experts from different countries were received warnings that the experience of Swiss firms are required to be subjected to additional testing, the results were good reviews of colleagues, including the prestigious Institute of Meteorology of the Max Planck in Berlin. Developers were told that in two years maybe mass production of such "storm" of machines. Maybe it was then that the cherished dream of people finally be able to be realized.
It remains only to regret that Russian specialists whose efforts had the first lamp Chizhevskogo, and could not come up on it "rain" car. But such a setup would be very useful during the abnormally hot summer last year! It remains only to hope that they will be able to construct something like this in the near future ...

Sand Glass - stoplight hourglass

2011-01-19T08:58:00.001-08:00

In many cities, traffic on highways regulated by modern lights, which counts the time until the change of the signal. There are both audible traffic lights (they are most commonly used on pedestrian crossings, which facilitates the passage of streets for pedestrians with impaired vision), and digital versions, showing the electronic dials the number of seconds left before the regime change movement.
Recently there was yet another unusual idea of a traffic light, which is used to indicate the time of the hourglass model. It's - Sand Glass. In addition to the LED hourglass image of red, yellow or green on the main board of the traffic light is located and an electronic timer that displays seconds remaining in the figures. It is only at first glance, it seems superfluous and unnecessary luxury. Meanwhile, it is counting in the figures allows drivers as clearly as possible to know the time of regime change and prepare to stop or contrary to the motion - in advance.
Certainly, many of you have a question - how expensive to manufacture such a creative fun on the road? Cost Sand Glass is lower than that of any traffic on the LED matrix. Indeed, in the Sand Glass yellow (left developers, apparently as a tribute to tradition), in fact, is losing its relevance and, hence, production costs can be reduced. After deciding not to yellow, and there will be no need for a yellow light-emitting diodes. Agree, always a pleasure to enjoy comfort appliances, knowing that they are even cheaper than the old.

Machine screw-rotor type

2011-01-19T08:56:00.000-08:00

Since the invention of the first car of mankind constantly seeks to introduce a variety of auto-variation in the daily life in order to facilitate the most complex tasks. However, not all inventions are coming into production, as happened with the screw-rotor-terrain vehicles. Despite their potential utility, their use in the home was simply impossible, due to the fact that the support of such units was necessary not to track or wheels, and the sharp horizontal cylinders. On the one hand it is not possible to get bogged down a car or in a quagmire, no matter razmyakshem ground, or even in the overgrown underbrush coast shallow water. On the other hand, the cylinders with twin screws were absolutely useless on the asphalt. "Arhimetovy screws, located on the surface of the cylinder is simply slipped on the asphalt, uttering at the same time an eerie rasp, barely moving the car away.
However, not so long ago in St. Petersburg was created by the project "Transformable screws or Tesh drive. Its initiator and inspirer made inventor Alex Burdin, who as a result of numerous trial and error, managed to make the screw-rotor suitable for travel on public roads. Achieve this was made possible through the combined on one frame of wheel and spiral motion mechanism. Between the turns of the screw-rotor inventor placed the so-called element with variable geometry - rubber sleeve, which in the expanded state allows the vehicle to move in a rolling mode. In this mode, Tesch Drive can roll up until his path does not have any obstacles podvlasnye only screw mode. So, as soon as the route appears loose gravel, deep snow, or other water-ground obstacles, the driver is enough to transfer the car into screw mode. At the same time deflates, the sleeve is pressed against the body of the rotor, and the car starts to go sideways. " In addition, due to a water jet engine such auger has a high buoyancy and can force the major water obstacles.
Once again, the soil becomes sufficiently dense and smooth, we can again move the car in the rolling mode, and switching time is planned to be automated, making the operation of the car extremely easy and convenient. Meanwhile, the prototype switch is carried out manually.

Scope of this vehicle is extremely high. By maneuverability and high cross in both directions, it can be used rescue services, hunting and fishing, and even to take the conveyor as a military transport. After all, Tesh drive than any of the foregoing, features, and enhanced survivability. Even if the flexible element, placed on the cylinders, completely out of order - the vehicle retains the ability to move and leave the danger zone. Hopefully, the domestic industry interested in the invention earlier than the foreign engineers and investors.

The evolution of the solar car in five generations

2011-01-14T07:59:00.000-08:00

Polygon World Solar Challenge for 20 years is a testing ground for the latest ideas and technologies, engineers and scientists in the field of construction materials, tires, aerodynamics, traction batteries and solar panels of course. The main constraints are the capacity of the battery, envelope machines and space solar cells. Fills the battery with excessive sun on the slopes or during braking, and then helps accelerate the car or when clouds move. Capacity to a maximum of 5 kilowatt hours. Charge it fully only at the start, and fill it only from the sun during the race. Battery can not be changed, as credited time penalty.

Solnemobili externally all alike. The final shape of such a machine was formed in mid-1990: Body flat, the wing looks like, the entire surface of the free solar panels, cockpit pilot Delicate, almost to the ground wheel fairings. In such a machine three wheels: two in front and lead back, which is equipped with an electric motor built into the hub - the drive line. However, the creators solntsemobiley are many subtleties that distinguish their vehicle from a car rivals, since no matter where the winners come from? One of those winning teams Nuon Solar Team Technical University of Delft. In 2001, one hundred percent of their solar car Nuna was the fastest. Speed averaged 91.81 miles per hour. At the next race in 2003 Nuna2 won at a rate of 97.02 km / h. At the three-kilometer race in 2005 Nuna3 won at a rate of 102.75 km/h. Nuna4 won first place in 2007 with the result of the speed of 90.87 km / h, while it was entirely of its predecessor. This was due to race regulations, which decreased by 25% allowable area of solar panels. This happened due to the fact that the maximum speed on those sections of the route is 110 km / h on local traffic rules, and participants in the race to develop the already speed in excess of 130 km / h. Therefore, the organizers of the contest decided that the primary goal, ie, the emergence of a solar-powered cars has been achieved. Now the challenge for the participants of the other - to build in more severe conditions such as fast cars for daily travel. Nuon Solar Team in June 2009 presented officially solar car Nuna 5, the most advanced solar car in the world.

Vehicle weight 160 kg. Trehperehodnye solar cells based on gallium arsenide photovoltaic cells installed in 2120 on a new car. Battery Lithium-polymer is responsible for the conservation of energy. Body Nuna May around the cell safety of titanium is built, consists of panels created from aramid and carbon fibers. Made of lightweight materials and chassis: carbon fiber suspension arms, aluminum other elements on ceramic bearings, aluminum wheels. The front brake discs are ceramic, rear wheel only braking regenerative.

On two wheels and Hydrogen

2011-01-14T07:57:00.001-08:00

A new breakthrough in hydrogen energy: the other day a group of inventors in New York was presented moped engine which runs on clean fuel - hydrogen. One filling a novelty, according to the sponsors, enough for 160 kilometers, and soon after this miracle of technology they plan to create a hydrogen engine for the car, on which work is already underway.

The basis of the motor scooter is a miracle cartridge filled with sodium silicide and dense metal powders. In fact, this kind of battery, but with a different algorithm. It is necessary to pour water into the cartridge - and inside it starts a chemical reaction, which resulted in the generated electricity. Moreover, the fluid does not need to be clear: You can even use water from a nearby puddle! The principle of hydrogen batteries is fairly simple and understandable to all who remember their high-school physics and chemistry. It consists of a set of elementary cells, each of which has approximately 1 cm thick and consists of a pair of electrodes made of carbon with the addition of platinum catalyst. It should be noted that the inventors were able to significantly reduce the cost of construction, replacing the commonly used in such batteries platinum catalysts analogues made from an alloy of platinum with other, cheaper metals. Electrodes separated by an electrolyte, in which can act as a polymer or a solution. One of the electrodes of fuel supply (which is hydrogen), and the second - an oxidizing agent, which acts as extracted from the air oxygen. Electrolyte ions are missing, but does not transmit electrons. On the first of the electrodes (the anode) hydrogen splits into protons and electrons, the last pass through the electrolyte to the second electrode (cathode), where there is a connection with oxygen - water is formed. At the same time, electrons move to the outside of the cell, the electrical circuit is connected to the load - the electric motor.

To make this scheme work, it is necessary that hydrogen is continuously fed into the fuel cell. This is the basic problem of hydrogen engines in the world: where to find so much hydrogen, which, unlike oil and gas, you can not get out of the ground, you can only get an artificial way. Lack of hydrogen filling stations became one of the factors slowing the development of transport in this type of fuel. Do hydrogen moped shortcomings, in addition to problems with dressing? Of course there is, and one of them is called ... almost complete silence during the movement. Engineers are already thinking about how to add engine noise by artificial means, as silent vehicle can be dangerous to other road users. Developers hydrogen moped intending to solve the problem installing the "clappers", which will operate in urban environments, and while driving through the countryside it can be turned off. Perhaps, in quietness and ends with a list of new items of serious shortcomings, which are of practical value and can be a serious argument in favor of hydrogen technologies in the debate, which began in the 80 years of the last century. After all exhausts of internal combustion engines can not endlessly pollute the environment, not least because that oil and gas resources on the planet does not last forever! Hydrogen moped has all the chances of getting into production and will soon be available to buyers, so far only in the United States.

Full Circle - Bicycle Concept for the metropolis

2011-01-14T07:56:00.003-08:00

Jun-Tae Park, and Sanghyun Jeong from South Korea, following the eternal desire designer "invent the wheel" given its concept simple to transport and compact bicycle "Full Circle". They believe this model will be popular in large metropolitan areas, where people often change their modes of transport and to make long trekking between points transplant. Use for this purpose bike might be the most reasonable solution. But ordinary bike does not fit mobility in urban transport. A folding "Full Circle", the owner will take with him his office or easily protisnetsya in full subway car. Dominant idea, which allows the bike to lay down the simplest method - is the absence of chain transfer. The location of the pedals - directly to the front wheels as 3ehkolesnyh bicycles for children. This is a dubious decision does not seem very practical in terms of the accompanying physical effort. But compared with the usual pedestrian master "Full Cirlce" will still have an advantage. It should be noted that the model as a whole looks very original, and the impressions of a foreign blogger, in expanded form, like a lemur.

The engine on the air

2011-01-14T07:54:00.001-08:00

To date, a special interest turned to renewable energy sources and a variety of "green". At the same time work in these areas is developing steadily and without delay. Followed suit, and two scientists from India who have published work on the implementation engine for motorcycles, differing environmental friendliness.

Scientists study the possibility and efficiency of air turbines, which differ from each other by number and characteristics of the blades. The operation of all motor runs on compressed air. New development of scientists in the theory shows forty minutes of riding a motorcycle that left tested in practice. If all calculations are correct, then that invention will help reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere at times. It's worth noting that India has a lot of places, where the motorcycle is the most popular means of transportation. As told in an interview Bharat Raja Singh, one of the researchers, in some cases can reduce emissions by more than 50%!

But not yet resolved all technical issues, to introduce the concept of mass use. So far that has not yet devised a compact but capacious tank of compressed air, which is the fuel for a new type of engine. Motorcycles are used for long trips, so 40 minutes is unlikely to be sufficient time for travel. To date, there are tanks, instead of allowing the fuel only for the 30-kilometer trip, which greatly complicates the use of the engine. It is hoped that researchers can solve the problems of fuel storage to shortly motorcycles in India and around the world being refurbished into clean technology.

Concept of bicycle path in the air

2011-01-14T07:52:00.000-08:00

In an effort to quickly reach a specified part of the city, the road closes traffic jams. But like so without delay to go to a desired point that there is a desire to climb up and reach the goal, rushing to her nonstop. Martin Angelov, with its concept, possibly in the near future will embody the desire into reality. His project, titled Kolelinia, provides an opportunity to go above ground travel arrangements, using a bicycle. Itself to develop a system based on the principle structure of chair lifts, which are equipped with ski resorts. The author claims that it was studying building principle cableway gave rise to his project. The very idea is very ingenious and very simple to implement it. In this system the bike is set in a special chute and wheel attached to a rope. For the safety of cyclists, there is a strap that attaches to the rope. Unlike the developed system of aerial cableway in the fact that there has to make himself a cyclist in force for the movement. Martin Angelov refused to use electricians in your project, to reduce its cost.

I believe - I do not believe - being treated

2011-01-14T07:50:00.000-08:00

Experimentally proved that the placebo effect, in some measure, will appear even when the patient is notified that the pills that he takes it just a useless and harmless drugs (dummy pill). The placebo effect - a method of treating a patient, where as a medicinal drug use is completely safe and useless products (dummy pill), and the patient is convinced that taking the right medication and expects a positive effect from treatment. "Positive Thinking" - the basis on which underlies this effect. Get rid of a serious illness in the treatment using the placebo effect is very difficult, but still the cases are different. Widespread use of the placebo effect is when new developments come pharmacological drugs.

The statistics in the U.S. half of all specialists regularly prescribe useless reception of drugs, while patients did not suspect, and convinced that taking the right medication to cure. This fact is evidence that the placebo effect is really effective in the treatment of diseases. Recently, Professor Ted Kapchuk (Ted Kaptchuk) with his group of experimenters conducted the study: patients treated with placebo, while patients are aware that taking drugs disinterested. The results showed that even if patients knew about the pill-dummy, treatment effect did not disappear. For the experiment, selected group of patients, about 80 people, with a very common disease - irritable bowel syndrome (a pain), which has an unknown etiology. Patients were divided into two groups. The first group did not recognize any of the drugs. The second group of people assigned placebo, on a regular basis - 2 times a day. In this case, they were warned that any medical ingredients, tablets contain no data. On the package with the drug in large letters printed - "placebo". Patients were warned that rely on the placebo effect is useless, you just need to take medications provided.
The study lasted for three weeks. At the end of the experiment was the following fact: the number of patients emerged from irritable bowel syndrome with a "placebo" was 59%, with the group, whose products do not apply to rid itself of disease 35% of patients. The professor said that he did not realize that using the placebo effect can be achieved such results. The authors themselves, who conducted an experiment, consider that the data collected is not quite claim therapeutic properties "placebo effect" because the duration of the experiment was not large, since the number of people selected for the experiment. In order to finally bring the therapeutic effect of the pill, pacifiers, require more extensive research. Also, the authors are inclined to believe that in addition to the placebo effect, a significant contribution to the recovery of patients makes contact with the patient's physician.

The invention is not blown tire

2010-12-16T06:52:00.001-08:00

These tires are made of 800 springs intertwined. Inventors design, which does not require support by air, presented the award for the development of research. For inventors such award is equivalent to Oscar, they say, get it - a great honor. These tires have been developed on the basis of Goodyear, which manufactures tires, in conjunction with NASA. To apply such a complicated design plan for difficult road conditions and possibly on the moon. Earlier tires used on the moon were made of rubber, which in its structure to cope with bad swings heat and cold, and solar radiation. But such an invention would help to resolve such problems.
Rounding surface, spring tire deformed, acquiring shape of the envelope surface, and then, under the influence of energy from within, returned to its original position. According Vivaka Asani, NASA researchers, these tires do not have any particular point, which can cause fatal damage. If a strong shock, where the pneumatic tire would get a puncture, this will damage only one spring of 800. In conjunction with these positive qualities, these tires have the hardness and elasticity, is passed directly to Transport, through which SUVs can travel faster over rough terrain during small movements.
Goodyear is the largest tire manufacturer. This company employs about 7000 people, has 56 plants and offices located in 21 countries worldwide.

On the moon by 2020, planned the construction of plants for extraction of resources

2010-12-16T06:50:00.001-08:00

Mankind has not yet been able to engage in extra-terrestrial civilizations, the first plan to produce on the moon, because there are relatively affordable and very rich reserves of water ice.
Such conclusion was a big part of scientists and engineers who are entrusted with and defining the place of extraction of extraterrestrial deposits.
In addition to satellite, scientists have considered as a variant of the asteroids and Mars, but thanks to the proximity of the Moon and large reserves of resources such as water, ammonia and methane.
Chief Technician robotics firm Penguin Automated Systems Greg Biden believes that the moon is the obvious choice. In his view, the getters of lunar resources, and pioneers in this business, to a greater extent will private firms, as it can be very lucrative, though, and not exclude state aid.
Recent discoveries have shown that the moon are significant reserves of water. Cold craters, which are likely to accumulate water billions of years old, have a relatively clean water, and extract it to specialists in the cellar.
The value of water not only in what may in the future to support the existence of the settlers of the Moon, but it can be decomposed into oxygen and hydrogen - natural components. These elements can be key components of the fuel. Just imagine what the lunar water could produce rocket fuel, which is subsequently sold at gas stations built on the lower orbit of the planet Earth. This invention will allow satellites and spacecraft to carry out refueling directly in space.
According to the scientific community and the private sector the project will carry out a revolution in space by mankind. From an economic point of view of delivery of fuel from the Moon will be very advantageous, since the lunar gravity and Earth have a difference of six times in favor of the moon, but it significantly reduce the cost of the rocket launch.
After hearing the information about the extraction of water on the moon with the aim of further profitable, some companies are beginning to make plans. Shackleton Energy Company founder Bill Stone says that plans to sell missile fuel directly in orbit by 2020.
Plans, of course, grandiose, and seem to be unrealistic, but almost all of the technology needed to begin operations on the Moon for the extraction of resources, ready and waiting their turn. A robotic miners can operate from Earth.
Due to the closeness to the earth connection between machines and humans can be done almost instantly. The delay will be negligible - 1-2sekundy.
When space exploration will be apparent to many businessmen will be clear what earnings they can get, and space will be more accessible to humanity.

Conquest of Mars - soon

2010-12-16T06:48:00.001-08:00

Americans are going to colonize Mars.
Recently, there have been two developments that suggest that America is going to colonize Mars. And when you consider that these events occurred almost simultaneously, there is reason to believe that they are rather strongly.
The journal Journal of Cosmology, published an article under the unambiguous title "Boldly Forward: non-refundable mission to Mars." Authors of articles planetary Dirk Schulze-Makuch, Washington State University and cosmologist Paul Davies Arizona State University, argue that while the colonization of Mars, it is.
The main idea of the article is based on the fact that the colonization of Mars will be on non-refundable basis, those who go to conquer the planet back will not return. Since returning from Mars will cost a lot more expensive than the entire mission as a whole.
The article shows that a rough plan of colonization of the planet. The essence is to support the colonists from Earth, in regular food supplies, equipment and other supplies necessary for setting up and development of the colony.
As the colony on the planet will be arriving, new professionals, as well as the first settlers, they will fly to Mars permanently. After some time, the colony will be able to produce supplies (food and water) on their own. In this, the colonists will synthetic biology Craig Venter, the biologist who first read the human genome. In the end, after some time, the base of the colonists, will move to full self-reliance and abolished to need the support of the Earth. From now on, and begin the colonization of Mars.
According to scientists, the process of colonization of Mars would be expensive and dangerous undertaking, but despite this, many people want to move to Mars, there is a possibility even of a "red fever", this does not interfere with even the conditions on the planet where the temperature is close to zero and there atmosphere.
The article may be, and would have remained unnoticed, because sometimes you can read magazines and such, but it was reported that NASA is developing a program called (Hundred Year Starship) «starship century, the foundation of this program is the option of irrevocable sending people to Mars.
The program is designed for several billion dollars, and is a way to colonize not only Mars but also his companions, as well as the moon.
Statement by the Director of Research tsenra Ames Research Center research organization, NASA, Simon "Pete" Worden confirms the foregoing. Details about the new mission, Worden did not specifically disclose because he knows little about the KGS program. Known preliminary amount that would be required to implement the program (seven billion dollars), the availability of funds, there is only six hundred thousand. The remainder of the sum, NASA expects to receive from wealthy individuals from around the world and is already negotiating on this issue. It is already known that one of the owners of Google, Larry Page, is interested in this proposal.
According to Ward, Larry Page was interested in the amount that will need to implement the program. Learn what you need an amount of about ten billion dollars, the billionaire asked: "Can you pull up to the amount of 1.2 billion?". The result is a slight dispute about the price, which can play a fairly significant role in the implementation of the "Star Ship of the century". Although we can assume that the amount of seven and ten billion dollars, called Uordenom for project implementation will be much higher.
Russian Academician Lev Zeleny, who is director of the Space Research Institute, reacted to the idea of colonizing Mars, with a large grain of salt. According to him, the implementation of this program is impossible to date due to technical possibilities of mankind. Low temperatures, lack of atmosphere, and a strong background radiation, prevent colonization.
In his statement, Worden also said he did not know how to influence these factors, but promised in a while, to show a spaceship on which the colonists could get to Mars.
In the minds of many people, from childhood lies the dream of conquering the red planet, due to which some respond and assist in the implementation of the "Star Ship of the century", who is a technical point of view, and who finances. And most of all humanity will make the creators of the program, perform promises made by funding and creating new technologies. And over time, at one point, few people will be surprised when people fly to the red planet to conquer it, even if this is impossible, and there is no such colonization of special need.

Vehicle speed 1,600 mph - a reality!

2010-12-16T06:46:00.001-08:00

In the next year planned to complete the construction vehicle capable of speeds up to 1,600 km / h. The goal set itself the project of "Bloodhound SSC", developed in the UK.
According to Richard Noble, Project Manager, full-sized version of the car to be established in January 2011 and will attempt to set a speed record in 2012. Noble himself once already had the record for the highest speed, but now he aims with this project to promote science and art of engineering among young people.
The material body is planned to use a thin alloy, a 90-centimeter-wheel weighing 97 kg will be cast from aluminum alloy. On the choice of the alloy depends on many things, so research on its election is still last. Wheel speed will be a record for our time of 10 200 rpm (170 revolutions per second), while the rim will have an impact load of 150 MPa.
Importance of choosing the alloy due to the fact that the race will be scheduled on the surface of a dried-up lake, and therefore damage the surface of the wheels are inevitable. That would protect the alloy wheels from damage, especially since the planned number of races. Now the walls of the Cambridge University Cavendish Laboratory Specialists make tests to identify the impact of sand on the different types of alloys.
As the motion speed car will result in two engines: a jet engine fitted to fighter Eurofighter Typhoon, and the rocket engine Falcon. The first way to create thrust at nine tons, the second will add an additional 12 tons of thrust.
As a platform for establishing a new world record will be used dried-up lake bottom Hakskeen Pan, which is in South Africa (Northern Cape). To determine the speed record for an hour will be two-dimensional distance of the race at a mile, then their results will be determined by the average velocity. After the first arrival will be replaced by a jet engine, the wheels also hope to save at the second race.
Route length of 20 kilometers, width - 1.5 km. At a speed of 1,600 km / h any clash with stone would have disastrous consequences not only for the wheels, but for a car. Therefore, to clean up the highway from the stones have already begun about 300 workers who were hired by the local population. At the same time in the UK has started a company search assistants predlagyuschaya "free and hard work in conditions of constant heat, in a remote but beautiful place."
The current speed record was set at 19,997, the Thrust SuperSonic Car, and is 1 228 km / h. People working at the time of Thrust, now working in the project Bloodhound. This is a project manager, Richard Noble, an expert on aerodynamics, Ron Ayres and pilot car Andy Green.
Wishing to sponsor the project has more than enough, so the project does not suffer from a lack of funding. Although the project is private and not commercial, it nevertheless received support from the government and the United Kingdom, which provided two jet engines Typhoon. Among other sponsors are present Hampson Industries, manufacturer of engines F1 Cosworth, aerospace company Lockheed Martin.

Environmentally-friendly bus of the future

2010-11-27T01:40:00.000-08:00

In the town of Twente (Netherlands), a group of university students UT Delft developed a prototype bus of the future, which once could carry 23 passengers at a speed of 250 km / h, while remaining absolutely clean. The presentation of this Dutch miracle technology that runs on battery power, to be held shortly in Germany.

Superbus, the so-called this futuristic bus, the shape of a limousine and a six-wheeled platform. Its body is made of ultralight carbon fiber. The bus is also equipped with air suspension, which automatically adjusts the illumination of a road. He also has four electric motor.
As befits a bus of the future, Superbus meets all international standards of comfort. Its interior has similar features with business-class airplane. Naturally, the cost of travel in this bus will be slightly higher than in the ordinary public transport.

At this point, the brainchild of inventor Wubbo Okkelsona and his team of engineers and students who have already held the first test. The maximum speed that could develop Superbus, is 80 km / h. However, the goal of developers - 250 km / h.
Development of this concept is supported by the Dutch government is willing to invest in the project from 7.5 to 8.4 million pounds. The country's authorities are interested in that as soon as possible to establish mass production of environmentally friendly buses.

Miracle insole to help the elderly avoid falls

2010-11-27T01:37:00.000-08:00

Joint Program at MIT and Harvard University aims to develop a device that helps the elderly avoid falls, related to violation of motor coordination and lead to serious injury. This instrument is an insole for shoes, which, since a variety of sensors that allows you to record and analyze changes in motor coordination.

Inventor of the wonderful insoles - Herizo Lieberman, who is a graduate student at Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute. During an internship at NASA, Lieberman has been included in a group of scientists involved in the problem of recovering the coordination of movements of astronauts for a long time, stayed in orbit. That's when the idea came to her to use these developments to help the elderly.

Miracle insole is a device the size of a regular footbed insole, stuffed with various sensors that are accumulating data about the pressure on different parts of the foot. Enough to provide this data to analyze the doctor and he will be able to determine whether the high probability of an accident with an elderly man.

Invented an artificial vestibular apparatus

2010-11-27T01:35:00.000-08:00

John Hopkins (Johns Hopkins University) and his colleague at the university, Charles Santina Cause (Charles C. Della Santina) created an electronic prosthesis vestibular apparatus. It is designed for people suffering from violation of a sense of balance.
The device is the size of a matchbook secured to the head. It consists of a control circuit, battery, and motion sensors, the parallel channels of the inner ear. The inner ear patient implanted eight electrodes. According to him on the vestibular nerve endings signal, which creates a chip. Thus, a three-dimensional sensation of head movement.

Processor in the use of a unique program that was developed Santina and his team. The principle of operation is quite simple - the device creates a millisecond pulses, which are very similar to the real thing, which must come from the inner ear.

As a consequence, the device is fully simulates the vestibular apparatus, thereby replacing damaged.
As noted by the authors of the project, this is not the first development in this area. However, all previous work with only one channel and one plane of perception of space. The uniqueness of the new device is that it completely replaces the three-dimensional perception of the world and creates an artificial sense of balance, while reacting to the rotation in all three planes in any direction.

At the moment the device has not been tested on humans. Experimental animals are chinchillas, who with the help of huge doses of gentamicin have been damaged cells of the inner ear, which destroys the spatial orientation and the vestibular apparatus. Signs of such violations in this case were: staggering gait, trembling movement, trembling eye movements. The experiments showed that chinchillas have lost the ability to stabilize the eye. After implantation of the device, the animals regained some lost reflexes.
Authors of the project have set themselves ambitious goals. Before prescribing the device for people he wants to significantly reduce its size to make it easier and sealed so that you can install it under the skin, rather than mounted on the head.
Another direction of work on the device, this reduction of interference, which have an impact on neighboring nerves, as well as the creation of stimulating pulses, which are most similar to natural ones.

This invention is still under development, but it can help hundreds and thousands of people affected by a violation of the vestibular apparatus, which is due to the impact of viruses, chemotherapy, the use of large doses of antibiotics, stroke or other head injury. Also, patients are prescribed high doses of gentamicin due to illness, may no longer be afraid of losing orientation in space.

Mental system control computer should appear in the Rostov

2010-11-27T01:34:00.000-08:00

Grant to develop a system of mental control computer, a $17 million rubles, was sent scientists to the Southern Federal University (SFU). Director of Research Neurocybernetics SFU professor Boris Vladimirsky noted that the software will be developed jointly with the St. Petersburg Taganrog and colleagues, and should be ready by October 2009 and will be carried out relevant studies. The result of the work should be a system of mental control your computer.

Electrical signals of the cerebral cortex detected by using a helmet with electrodes, which is suited to a man's head, and for strengthening is done through the computer. This system can greatly ease the lives of people with disabilities.
With this development paralyzed people could, for example, hover your mouse over the picture, "Writing of water", thus explaining their needs. Also, they can write emails and even control a wheelchair. To manage the system need only correctly and accurately articulate their thoughts, thus moving the cursor on the computer screen.

Vladimir added that the development of the lot, entitled "Building the methods of conjugation signals the brain healthy and sick person with a computer for non-verbal communication" from the Agency for Science and Innovations of Russia, he received 17 million rubles, and for about four million to add SFU.

On two wheels and ... Hydrogen

2010-11-27T01:30:00.000-08:00

A new breakthrough in hydrogen energy: the other day a group of inventors in New York was presented moped engine which runs on clean fuel - hydrogen. One filling a novelty, according to the sponsors, enough for 160 kilometers, and soon after this miracle of technology they plan to create a hydrogen engine for the car, on which work is already underway.

The basis of the motor scooter is a miracle cartridge filled with sodium silicide and dense metal powders. In fact, this kind of battery, but with a different algorithm. It is necessary to pour water into the cartridge - and inside it starts a chemical reaction, which resulted in the generated electricity. Moreover, the fluid does not need to be clear: You can even use water from a nearby puddle!
The principle of hydrogen batteries is fairly simple and understandable to all who remember their high-school physics and chemistry. It consists of a set of elementary cells, each of which has approximately 1 cm thick and consists of a pair of electrodes made of carbon with the addition of platinum catalyst. It should be noted that the inventors were able to significantly reduce the cost of construction, replacing the commonly used in such batteries platinum catalysts analogues made from an alloy of platinum with other, cheaper metals. Electrodes separated by an electrolyte, in which can act as a polymer or a solution. One of the electrodes of fuel supply (which is hydrogen), and the second - an oxidizing agent, which acts as extracted from the air oxygen. Electrolyte ions are missing, but does not transmit electrons. On the first of the electrodes (the anode) hydrogen splits into protons and electrons, the last pass through the electrolyte to the second electrode (cathode), where there is a connection with oxygen - water is formed. At the same time, electrons move to the outside of the cell, the electrical circuit is connected to the load - the electric motor.

To make this scheme work, it is necessary that hydrogen is continuously fed into the fuel cell. This is the basic problem of hydrogen engines in the world: where to find so much hydrogen, which, unlike oil and gas, you can not get out of the ground, you can only get an artificial way. Lack of hydrogen filling stations became one of the factors slowing the development of transport in this type of fuel.

Do hydrogen moped shortcomings, in addition to problems with dressing? Of course there is, and one of them is called ... almost complete silence during the movement. Engineers are already thinking about how to add engine noise by artificial means, as silent vehicle can be dangerous to other road users. Developers hydrogen moped intending to solve the problem installing the "clappers", which will operate in urban environments, and while driving through the countryside it can be turned off. Perhaps, in quietness and ends with a list of new items of serious shortcomings, which are of practical value and can be a serious argument in favor of hydrogen technologies in the debate, which began in the 80 years of the last century. After all exhausts of internal combustion engines can not endlessly pollute the environment, not least because that oil and gas resources on the planet does not last forever!
Hydrogen moped has all the chances of getting into production and will soon be available to buyers, so far only in the United States.

Built by the implant, which helps blind people see

2010-11-27T01:23:00.000-08:00

It became known that the Protocols of the Royal Society published a study that was developed by a team of researchers from Germany. They have developed a new retinal implant, the aldehyde form of retinol. This implant is installed in three people who were deprived of due to some reasons, and he has helped these people to discern the outlines and determine the shape of objects.

The result of a stunning, one of blind people could even identify and find items that were placed before him on the table. Also, he turned to move independently around the room, approach people and even to distinguish some shades of gray. This device was developed by the Institute of ophthalmologic research and Tyubingemskim University together with Retinal Implant AG. This is undoubtedly a great advance in ophthalmic prosthetics because of anything like blind people could not dream. This invention could completely change the lives of more than 200,000 people around the world who have become blind due to a hereditary eye disease or retinitis pigmentosa. Other than blind people some people use powerful spectacle for their eye disease

This disease occurs due to the fact that the receptors in the eye completely cease to function. Dr Eberhart Zrenner in his opinions published in the Protocols of the Royal Society, emphasizes that patients who had lost his sight in consequence of retinal degeneration, I have hope for partial recovery, after using the innovations can restore visual function and the person can reasonably well guided in their daily lives.
The implant, which has the name Subretinal implant placed under the retina, thus replacing non-functioning light receptor. This device uses a completely natural process of detecting light and create an image, it helps to enhance visual perception.

There are also other types of implants, they are called epiretinal implants. This species differs from the subretinal implant that they have outside of the retina, so they require the patient to wear the processors and the external device camera. In the documentary record of research there is a description of the implant, it marked properties, such as achieving clarity. This occurs because the implant is very closely connected with the light receptors.
Dr. Zrenner the following conclusions: "Our analysis - is not nothing but a direct proof of exactly what these devices can regain visual capability in people who have lost their vision due to retinitis pigmentosa. This is possible even if the results for clinical application will require the expenditure of large amounts of time. "

A hybrid of Russian cars

2010-11-27T01:17:00.000-08:00

Among the so many transports like bus, car, train, plane etc. car is most popular for personal use. Mikhail Prokhorov, who is the creator of ONEXIM, decided together with Yarovit Motors for the Russians to create an eco-friendly car, also make it energy efficient. This project is very relevant within the whole of Russia. Perhaps it would be a good alternative to conventional cars, and will become a very popular means of transportation.

By the end of 2010, will create several prototypes of "city car", they will be the basis for further improvements. Even scheduled starting date of production and construction of the striations of the production line. By 2012, these machines already have to go into series production. In addition to the network were presented renderings then 2 solutions for the body of this long-awaited "City Car"

The exterior design - it is something special that requires an individual approach. As they say, every man to his own taste. Nevertheless, this car really looks good thanks to the smooth lines. Also noticeable body color, which consists of two shades. Priglyanuvshiysya more closely, one can find similarities with European cars, and a lot of the Japanese. But it is certainly only a plus. In the first place because people are not always well received something new, so the experiment in this case is not recommended.

Also, this car was able to surprise his skeleton is in principle could be called something new around the Russian automotive industry. Deserves attention that 70-horsepower electric motor gets its power from lithium - ion batteries. Obbem DIC is 0,6 liters. His chip and that he is able to run on both natural gas and gasoline. But the maximum speed all only about 120 km / h.
Projected to make this car completely and exclusively Russian. Over its design, the company operates Cardi, who works in Moscow. Crossover - variant was also developed by Russian offices. Will be implemented once a couple of variants of this car. Therefore, it remains only to wait to finally see the miracle of the Russian automotive industry.

New glasses

2010-11-27T01:16:00.000-08:00

Created new multi-purpose glasses - absolutely any vision correction.
The need for bifocal lenses in the near future may disappear and are replaced by a new generation coming glasses. Already established glasses lens through which the objects are clearly visible to any person suffering from any degree of nearsightedness or farsightedness.

Over the years, there are different processes and lenses in the eyes often lose the ability to change shape, and it is necessary to properly configure the focus on close objects. This disease is called presbyopia, or otherwise it is called presbyopia, and this situation should seek a way out, so people started working on the development of optics. Consider this situation - the person to the disease suffered from myopia, while the use of points, he will quickly be able to focus on close or distant subjects a bit. For people aged and created bifocals. The lenses of these glasses are from two lenses, which are located one on top, and the second at the bottom. Upper order to be able to focus on distant objects, and the lower order to focus on nearby objects, but there are different situations where close objects must not be regarded at the bottom and just above, or distant objects at the bottom and it needs to be raised or lowered head, which creates a big problem.

Israeli scholar from Bar-Ilan University, Zeev Zalevsky invented a technique that allows you to create a lens focuses light and well at a distance of 33 centimeters to a distance horizon. For such purposes on a normal lens creates a lattice of 25 circular structures, each has a size of two millimeters, and is 2 concentrated ring, but the exact size of the ring will be different for a particular lens, and it depends on the shape and size, but on average a few hundred microns in width and a micrometer in depth, telling Zalewski.

The rings serve as a displacement phase oscillations of light waves that pass through the lens and simultaneously cause sicken and amplifying the interference. When using a computer model Zalewski created another model that generates reinforcing channel interference, which is perpendicular to the lens of any of the 25 structures. As a result of these transformations, the light is focused axial channel, not the focal point. If the retina is in the area of the channel, then the object can always be seen in focus. In the sequel to confirm their achievements Zalewski, attached to the camera lens of your phone, and also experienced his invention at the twelve volunteers. Shortly based company Xceed Imaging, which perfected the technology. In any new invention has its pluses and minuses, it is also a plus that the person sees well, and the disadvantage is that the adventures of the world through the lens loses contrast. In turn, Spanish scientist Pablo Art from the University of Murcia said that at too high a decrease in contrast, the brain will be difficult to process information coming from the eye, but Zalewski says that those people who wear glasses are not noticed a significant change in contrast as eyes well adapted to the light of low intensity light, and it happens a few seconds. But the brain needs to get used not only to change the contrast, but also by unanimous decision, because the lenses do not move the changing angle of view and, therefore, concentrated between the image circle will be defocused. At the time of movement of the eyeball from one structure to another carved holes appear and the brain fills them and creates the effect of continuity - said Zalewski.

People learn to grow a limb

2010-11-27T01:14:00.000-08:00

American scientists Wistar Institute discovered the mechanism that stimulates the growth of amputated limbs in humans. Helped uncover the mechanism geneticists lizards, which differ in ability to re-grow lost tails or other extremity.

Thanks to studies by geneticists revealed the presence of a particular gene p21 in the body lizards, which blocks existing in the body recovery potential. With a considerable amount of effort, scientists have managed to block the gene, and these experiments eventually produced results. Laboratory rodents were able to restore the badly damaged tissue. While normal mice delayed wound and scar, the experimental mice to form new tissue by the rapid growth of cells.

These experimental results, Professor Ellen Heber-Katu, leading the research team explained that, without a gene found in cells of the body begin to behave like stem, they have the ability to turn into any kind of tissue. According to scientists, the gene p21 in the future may be temporarily blocked and people have a period of treatment, and maybe even get off the gene directly into the wound area.

To avoid potential side effects, to reach off the gene will be using local administration of drugs. This discovery will change the lives of a significant number of people who were left without any limbs, the better.

3D printer will allow printing space objects

2010-11-19T23:59:00.000-08:00

Three-dimensional printing - a completely new technology printing industry. With such a printing can print structures and artificial replacements for human organs. Grand stage will be to use three-dimensional printing in outer space. It remains to be the development of this technology to a high level. Today the organization Made in Space (done in space) began to attract investment needed to launch a project to create a print in the cosmos.

According to the staff of this organization, the emergence of three-dimensional space print will significantly improve and facilitate the production of components for space satellites. In addition, the emergence of space to print a few times will reduce the number of cargo flights into space. The main product, which will need to send into orbit, will be the material needed to operate the printer. The important point is that, for the manufacture of parts of the failed printer will use the materials previously sent into orbit. That is, processing of raw materials will occur. This in turn will reduce costs for new parts for the 3D printer.

Departures of people on other planets is not far off. When that moment comes, the new printers will play a role. The fact is the construction of the space base will be possible with the help of materials used in the printer. Raw materials These printers will also help in creating devices for the development of new planets.

Plans of the company Made in Space is really daunting. But, unfortunately, the company is only the first step in the development of print space. Employees have already been made several tests of new printers. Were printed out some of the details of space objects. In further promotion of the company is testing the printer is operating in complete weightlessness. Let's hope that this test will be successful. Indeed, in the case of a positive result of further testing will already take place in outer space.

U.S. forces provide little Sky net

2010-11-19T23:57:00.000-08:00

U.S. forces have confirmed that under their supervision are carried out new developments in the perception of signals of artificial intelligence. These studies will be aimed at obtaining processing signals received from different sensors. This development will enable detection signal sources and to characterize their actions.
The growth of various kinds of sensors feeding signals is rapidly growing. Respectively, and develops information obtained from them. Such a rapid development of information requires the emergence of more and more processing devices. New technologies should be qualitatively and quickly process the information. Currently, this work can only be done people. Therefore, the aim of the Pentagon to provide a device that could completely replace the human in this area.
For this purpose, the Pentagon has developed a special program called «Deep Learning». The purpose of this program is not complete copying of human abilities to process information. Important - is to create a system that could constantly improve themselves and without much effort to process information. According to the head of this program since Pentagon have the necessary resources to build such a machine.
The result here is sort of creating a system for processing information "artificial intelligence" high. That is, the machine must handle their own information, conduct analysis and make the necessary decisions without human intervention. Naturally at the beginning of a person would need to participate in this system. Originally it was a person will be given responsibility for control over decisions taken by the computer. Although the possibility of such a system has its dangers. The fact is that if endow the system "brain", it is unknown how it will turn back to the people. After all, in fact, "smart" car could come any thoughts in her computer "head". It is worth remembering movie Terminator and disappointing picture of the power of machines at once begin to come to mind.

Robot first made man operation

2010-11-18T09:53:00.001-08:00

The Moscow Institute of Surgery named after Vishnevsky first time in human history had surgery to remove a lobe of the liver, in which was used robotic surgical center. Most likely the operation will be the most important step in the history of medicine.

Performed robotic intervention, pre-made five small punctures in the anterior abdominal wall of the body. Since the surgery surgical dissection is not performed, the patient on the day after surgery could not even move independently. In addition, physical activity of the patient within two days after removal of the liver was restored to normal levels, as well as missing completely the need for medicines. Employees of the Institute of Surgery named after Vishnevsky watched over the health of a patient who underwent surgery using the robotic surgical complex.

In the process of observation, they found that after this surgery recovery period runs a lot easier and faster than after conventional surgery. According to doctors, after the robotic surgery is much easier and quicker recovery. "The patient was two days longer in need of medicines, besides physical activity during this period was restored to certain standards - so specified staff assistant robotic surgical complex.

Slowest cruise ship in the world has become a floating hotel

2010-11-18T09:50:00.000-08:00

This avant-garde project represents a synthesis of the hotel on the water and infraslow cruise ship. The design of the technical achievements of thought involved in the Italian architect J. Santozuosso who has received an order from the leadership of the Greater Mumbai (Indin Navy Docks of Mumbai). Upon completion of construction activities Morphtel, this unusual hotel will go into an endless journey, only occasionally making stops near major ports to replenish food and water. And the guests of this unusual hotel is planned to bring on board a ship or aircraft.
Basic structural element of the floating hotel will be flexible "backbone", because of the properties which Morthotel can change their shape to adapt to the weather and more successful and safer fit into the shape of the coastline during the rare stops in ports. To ensure the comfort of living persons on board this floating hotel, it would appear all that equip modern and comfortable cruise ships. To provide passengers with any type of leisure and entertainment spots will be widely represented restaurants, bars, sports and movie theaters, swimming pools. Unusual cruising will remain unforgettable.

People are built into wireless networks

2010-11-18T09:46:00.000-08:00

Stunning forecast recently issued specialists of the Institute of Electronics, Communications and Information Technology at Queen's University Belfast (UK): a body of people can become the basis for future communication networks at the expense of many wearable sensors. A team of researchers led by Simon Cotton, which develops high-speed wireless networks of the future generation, believes that the human body is perfect for the role of receiving and transmitting stations and may serve as a basis for creating wireless networks.

"These networks" from body to body "have a lot of advantages - convinced Dr. Simon, - and they can significantly reduce costs as the construction of costly, multiple base stations, and on health services. People used to send data over the wire, then learned how to communicate through the air, and now the human body becomes the medium of communication ".

This optimistic forecast was made after an interesting experiment conducted by scientists from Korea University in Seoul. It happened this spring. I recall that when a team of researchers led by Dr. Lee Sang-Hoon transmits data at speeds of 10 megabits per second through the man's hand between two electrodes placed in the skin at a distance of 30 centimeters.

Why, as a medium for "wireless" were chosen human veils? According to many experts, low-frequency electromagnetic waves pass through the skin with little attenuation, especially its well protected "network" from outside influence. Therefore, as an "information" was used precisely these types of waves (as you know, in these wireless networks is mainly used radio microwave.)

"If we had used for each broadcast the measured vital signs, then we would need to use a variety of batteries for each sensor - explained study leader Lee Sang-hoon. - Broadband in the skin would reduce energy demand and, consequently, in power supplies approximately by 90 percent. "

In the experiment, Dr. Li and colleagues used a fairly harmless skin metal electrodes coated with a flexible polymer, which is enriched with silicon. They asked volunteers to wear an electrode on the shoulder or behind the ear for a week and made sure that option is really safe for the body.

Additionally, tests were run cytotoxicity (ie, the poison is a substance the cell surface of the electrodes or not), using cultures of human cells. It turned out that no toxic effects on epithelial cells does not render the device.

There were no abrasions and heavy feeling this device also does not call, because its thickness is only 300 micrometers, as three human hairs, and it weighs about the same. In addition, the device withstands the test flexion at 90 degrees about 700 thousand times.

What data was sent across the skin a wireless network? It was about the pulse of the human heart. However, Korean biologists believe that the spectrum of the transmitted data can be much wider. Over time, they note, so you can send every second report on the status of all human organs. This is especially important for patients suffering from diseases of the heart, kidneys, liver and pancreas, in fact in violation of the functioning of these bodies requires constant monitoring of their condition, and the traditional ways to hold it quite difficult.

"New versions might even implanted under the skin for longer-term and deep monitoring of various indicators of health of the body, such as electrocardiography (ECG) or electroencephalography (EEG)," - describes the development prospects of this technique Dr. Lee. From his point of view, in the future every physician will be able to monitor the health of his patient, being away at a considerable distance. And this will help him "corporal" wireless network.

But how can transmit information from the body on display, located in the doctor's office. After all, here low-frequency electromagnetic waves will be very inefficient. But Simon Cotton proposes a scheme of combining the two technologies of wireless networks. According to his idea that the human skin will be placed receiver that collects information from all the "physical" sensors on the skin. This receiver will be associated with microtransmitter working on traditional microwave radio waves. It was he who would liaise between the patient and doctor.
In addition, on the same principle can also "connect" the two people to each other. It is not excluded that this will be true for parents who are concerned about the health of your child, being at this time far away from him. The truth is not quite clear whether it wants the child.

What if a person can breathe a liquid?

2010-11-18T09:45:00.000-08:00

Impressive, is not it? This possibility opens up some future prospects. If the person can breathe a liquid, which will be saturated with oxygen it will enable the diver is at a depth of 900 meters and not feel awkward and uncomfortable in a larger diving equipment.

Then we can not be afraid of the bends, which occurs due to saturation of the human body with nitrogen. But to achieve success in this business need to spend over your body wants to risk a very serious work. This idea of breathing in the aquatic environment using liquid, which is very well dissolve oxygen, has long been developed by scientists. Back in the 80's navy in large experiments were conducted on mice.

Through which scientists have had some effect, and demonstrated that mice can breathe in water. The very first experiment, the participants were white mouse. During the experiment, mice were immersed in a closed container filled with saline solution. In this tank at a pressure of 8 atmospheres of oxygen took place (such a pressure equivalent to normal air breathing). After some time after immersion test animals was as if nothing had happened unfamiliar environment and without interference to breathe oxygen in salt water.

The experiment lasted for 10-15 hours, except that one of the mice could survive 18 hours. In one experiment, young participants in the study under pressure of 160 atmospheres, which is equivalent to what they would be lowered into the water at 1600 meters. However, after the mice returned to a normal environment, most of them died. Scientists have noticed that it happened because of small respiratory animals, when the mice returned to normal conditions excess water does not come out and stuck in the lung tissue, which subsequently led to suffocation and death.

Unfortunately, the physical body can not cope when you inhale and exhale with the liquid so quickly that it led to the assimilation of oxygen and release carbon dioxide. However, according to one of the scientists as possible, but if the subject will be some very unpleasant procedures. To start divers will need to wear a helmet with a perforated liquid medium saturated with oxygen. The problem is that the liquid will have to breathe, but so as not to choke on, and it is possible either by duration of training, any medical intervention or by placing a special tube down his throat.

Lungs must be filled with fluid using a special breast-shell, on the principle of the pump will make a quick breath in order to prevent asphyxia. But that's not all, because the problem with the release of carbon dioxide have not been resolved. Through a catheter inserted into the femoral artery, blood will pass through a special membrane filter for removal of carbon dioxide. As you are now the prospect of free breathing underwater? Would you dive to a depth of a helmet with a tube in his throat, a membrane filter on the thigh and with a special pump on the chest in the shape of the carapace. You have not changed your mind?

Snowbird:Aircraft

2010-11-18T09:40:00.000-08:00

In one of the monologues known satirist was this phrase: "Why do airplanes fly, but do not flap their wings!". This joke has lost its relevance after the graduates and students of Aerospace, University of Toronto, led by Todd Reichert and Professor James D. DeLaurier was invented by an aircraft that its wings. Or rather not the plane, and Ornithopter Snowbird.

That is the name given to this unique design, weighing 94 kg and a wingspan of 32 meters. Through the muscular traction Ornithopter was kept in air 19.3 seconds and flying during this time 145 meters at a speed of 25.6 km h

To disperse Ornithopter was used normal car, which at first hauled construction. Then the rope that Snowbird was attached to the car was uncoupled and the unit moved into a state of free flight, holding in the air only at the expense of their long flexible wings. In order to design set in motion the muscular force pilot who uses cunning system of cables. Emerging horizontal and vertical thrust lead design in motion and keep it in the air.

Snowbird inventor says his creation is perhaps the most significant invention in the aircraft industry over the last decade. Despite the fact that Ornithopter is hardly a practical mode of transport, he embodies the dream of many generations of people - fly like a bird. In order to maximize ease device with a pilot on board, most Reichert had to lose 18 kg, sitting on a rigid diet.
Design, which is the first step in the development Ornithopter was designed under the project Human-Powered Ornithopter (HPO). For the construction of Snowbird were used balsa, polymers and carbon fiber.

A new read on DNA sequencing

2010-11-14T19:24:00.000-08:00

A new technique for reading the DNA code relies on a fundamental property of matter known as quantum tunneling, which operates at the subatomic scale. The current paper shows that single bases inside a DNA chain can indeed be read with tunneling, without interference from neighboring bases, pointing the way to low cost, rapid DNA sequencing.

The twisting, ladder-like form of the DNA molecule—the architectural floor plan of life—contains a universe of information critical to human health. Enormous effort has been invested in deciphering the genetic code, including, most famously, the Human Genome Project. Nevertheless, the process of reading some three-billion nucleotide "letters" to reveal an individual's full genome remains a costly and complex undertaking.

Now biophysicist Stuart Lindsay, of the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, has demonstrated a technique that may lead to rapid, low cost reading of whole genomes, through recognition of the basic chemical units—the nucleotide bases that make up the DNA double helix. An affordable technique for DNA sequencing would be a tremendous advance for medicine, allowing routine clinical genomic screening for diagnostic purposes; the design of a new generation of custom-fit pharmaceuticals; and even genomic tinkering to enhance cellular resistance to viral or bacterial infection.

Lindsay is an ASU Regents' Professor and Carson Presidential Chair of Physics and Chemistry as well as director of the Biodesign Institute's Center for Single Molecule Biophysics. His group's research appears in the current issue of the journal Nature Nanotechnology.

Lindsay's technique for reading the DNA code relies on a fundamental property of matter known as quantum tunneling, which operates at the subatomic scale. According to quantum theory, elementary particles like electrons can do some very strange and counter-intuitive things, in defiance of classical laws of physics. Such sub-atomic, quantum entities possess both a particle and a wave-like nature. Part of the consequence of this is that an electron has some probability of moving from one side of a barrier to the other, regardless of the height or width of such a barrier.

Remarkably, an electron can accomplish this feat, even when the potential energy of the barrier exceeds the kinetic energy of the particle. Such behavior is known as quantum tunneling, and the flow of electrons is a tunneling current. Tunneling is confined to small distances—so small that a tunnel junction should be able to read one DNA base (there are four of them in the gentic code, A,T,C and G) at a time without interference from flanking bases. But the same sensitivity to distance means that vibrations of the DNA, or intervening water molecules, ruin the tunneling signal. So the Lindsay group has developed "recognition molecules" that "grab hold" of each base in turn, clutching the base against the electrodes that read out the signal. They call this new method "recognition tunneling."

The current paper in Nature Nanotechnology shows that single bases inside a DNA chain can indeed be read with tunneling, without interference from neighboring bases. Each base generates a distinct electronic signal, current spikes of a particular size and frequency that serve to identify each base. Surprisingly, the technique even recognizes a small chemical change that nature sometimes uses to fine-tune the expression of genes, the so called "epigenetic" code. While an individual's genetic code is the same in every cell, the epigenetic code is tissue and cell specific and unlike the genome itself, the epigenome can respond to environmental changes during an individual's life.

To read longer lengths of DNA, Lindsay's group is working to couple the tunneling readout to a nanopore—a tiny hole through which DNA is dragged, one base at a time, by an electric field. The paper in Nature Nanotechnology has something to say about this problem too. "It has always been believed that the problem with passing DNA through a nanopore is that it flies through so quickly that there is no time to read the sequence" Lindsay says. Surprisingly, the tunneling signals reported in the Nanture Nanotechnology paper last for a long time—nearly a second per base read.

To test this result, Lindsay teamed with a colleague, Robert Ros, to measure how hard one has to pull to break the complex of a DNA base plus the recognition molecules. They did this with an atomic force microscope. "These measurements confirmed the long lifetime of the complex, and also showed that the reading time could be speeded up at will by the application of a small additional pulling force" says Ros. "Thus the stage is set for combining tunneling reads with a device that passes DNA through a nanopore" says Lindsay.

Sequencing through recognition tunneling, if proven successful for whole genome reading, could represent a substantial savings in cost and hopefully, in time as well. Existing methods of DNA sequencing typically rely on cutting the full molecule into thousands of component bits, snipping apart the ladder of complementary bases and reading these fragments. Later, the pieces must be meticulously re-assembled, with the aid of massive computing power. "Direct readout of the epigenetic code holds the key to understanding why cells in different tissues are different, despite having the same genome" Lindsay adds, a reference to the new ability to read epigenetic modifications with tunneling.

Lindsay stresses much work remains to be done before the application of sequencing by recognition can become a clinical reality. "Right now, we can only read two or three bases as the tunneling probe drifts over them, and some bases are more accurately identified than others," he says. However, the group expects this to improve as future generations of recognition molecules are synthesized.

"The basic physics is now demonstrated" Lindsay says, adding "perhaps it will soon be possible to incorporate these principles into mass produced computer chips." The day of the "genome on a lap-top" might be coming sooner than previously thought possible.

New Saudi train ready to shuttle hajj pilgrims

2010-11-14T19:20:00.000-08:00

The Mashair Railway, also known as Mecca Metro, rolls out on Sunday to serve pilgrims beginning the annual hajj rituals near the Muslim holy city, bringing a new solution to crowding.
The dual-track light railway, with its initial number of nine stations, connects the three holy sites of Mina, Muzdalifah and Mount Arafat -- areas that see massive congestion during the five-day pilgrimage.It will replace 4,000 buses previously used.
The first official trip will set off from Mina at 8:00 pm (1700 GMT), as pilgrims gather there, outside Mecca on the Tarwiah Day to prepare for the peak day of Arafat, when some 2.5 million are expected to gather on Mount Arafat and its surrounding plain. The Chinese-built railway, only to be used for five days a year now, will only operate at 35 percent of its full final capacity in the first phase.

It will be open only to Saudi and Gulf pilgrims, forecast at some 130,000 Saudis, 10,000 Kuwaitis and 10,000 Bahrainis, said Saeed al-Qurashi, head of the Hajj and Umra Committee at the Mecca Chamber of Commerce. The number is modest in comparison with the total number of pilgrims, but other nationalities will be able to use the train in the second phase. While all pilgrims begin the journey in Mecca, the train initially will run only from Mina, to the east, and on to Muzdalifah and Mount Arafat further east. All pilgrims leave Mina for Arafat by the 9th of the Dhul Hijja month of the Muslim lunar calendar, which is Monday this year. Later Monday they all descend by train back to Muzdalifah, halfway between Arafat and Mina, and Tuesday they all head back to Mina, where they stay up to three nights. The railway will eventually stretch the extra few kilometres to Mecca, home of the Muslim holiest shrine. At Arafat 1 station, the light-green train pulled in during one of the trial runs conducted to test its readiness. Chinese workers were seen still working to fix a ventilation system on the 10-metre- (33 feet) wide marble platform. "The platform has a capacity to accommodate 3,000 passengers at a time," said Yasser al-Sibaei, a Saudi supervisor at the station. He said the plan is to get 3,000 passengers into the train, and then bring the same number onto the platform for the next journey.
Platforms are protected by glass barriers whose doors open simultaneously with the train doors to ensure the security of waiting passengers.

The elevated stations also have wide ramps for pilgrims to flow out smoothly, backed by lifts that can carry up to 50 persons at a time.
Most of the station agents appear to be Egyptian and Saudis. Egyptians with experience in running the metro of Cairo were recruited to operate the control rooms. "It is an honour to serve the pilgrims and represent our country," said Saber Bernawi, a Saudi agent said. Mansur al-Blushi, a Meccan who is at university in South Africa said he took up the seasonal work to make some pocket money. "I study abroad. It is a chance to come to see my family and make some pocket money," he told AFP. Station agents are paid 5,000 riyals (1,333 dollars/970 euros) for the two-week contract. British Serco service firm has been contracted to provide operations and maintenance consultancy, in cooperation with China Railway Construction Corp (CRCC).

The 1.8-billion-dollar project is the first of two rail links aimed at easing pilgrim traffic. The much larger Haramain High Speed Rail is set to stretch 444 kilometres (275 miles) between Mecca and Medina, the second Muslim holy site. Local Al-Rajhi construction group together with France's Alstom and China Railway Engineering won the first-phase of the 6.8-billion-riyal (1.8-billion-dollar) contract for civil works. The train which will travel through the Red Sea city of Jeddah is planned to run at a high speed reaching 360 kilometres (225 miles) per hour and ease traffic of pilgrims between the two sites.(c) 2010 AFP

Facebook may launch e-mail services

2010-11-13T01:49:00.000-08:00

Facebook, whispered for some time to planning their own email service, finally may be about to do it in a move that sent a shot in the bow of Google, Yahoo and Microsoft.
TechCrunch, a leading technology blog Silicon Valley, reported Friday that the network plans to announce a service of Web-based email address complete with@facebook.com at an event in San Francisco on Monday.

Agence France-Presse and other media have been invited to the event on Facebook, but have not said what is coming. Facebook has more than 500 million members worldwide and offers a personal email set a powerful challenge to the mail order giant - Microsoft's Hotmail, Yahoo Mail and Google Gmail. Hotmail currently has the most users, 361.7 million in September, according to tracking firm comScore online, followed by Yahoo with 273.1 million and Gmail, with 193.3 million. TechCrunch said Facebook planned service Web-based email is part of a secret project known as "Project Titan" that is "unofficially referred to internally as" murderer of Gmail. '"

"And while it can only be in the early stages of its launch coming Monday, is a huge amount of potential here," said Jason Kincaid from TechCrunch. The report comes amid recent fighting a battle between Facebook and Google to exchange data and Silicon Valley engineering talent.Google last week blocked from Facebook Gmail import contact information through Palo Alto, the refusal of the network based in California to exchange and share data about their users. And The Wall Street Journal reported that Internet search king Google, in an attempt to stop defections to rival technology companies like Facebook, has all its 23,000 employees a wage increase of 10 percent. According to the newspaper, about 10 percent of Facebook employees are veterans of Google. Kincaid TechCrunch and others noted the benefits of Facebook could lead to a battle of e-mail. "Facebook is the world's most popular photo products, the product most popular events, and will soon have a local product is so popular," said Kincaid. "You can modify the design of their web mail client to display the contents of each of these in a perfect manner.

"And there is the social aspect: Facebook knows who your friends and how close it is connected with them, but that is probably a pretty good job to find out what personal email messages you want to read more and prioritize accordingly "he said. Gadget blog Gizmodo said the prospect of an email service should Facebook Google, Yahoo and Microsoft "very nervous." "Facebook mail could be a murderer, not only for its instant size potential, but because of its natural advantage in making email more useful," said Jesus Diaz Gizmodo blogger. "It can actually become the mail service 100 percent only useful out there, just e-mail shows that really matters," said Diaz. "Since Facebook knows how to interact with all your contacts, it would be perfectly able to separate what is important from what is not." "Of course, not all Facebook users will jump in your car email," said Diaz. "But more likely is that a large percentage of the user base."

How to return sent email?

2010-09-04T06:51:00.000-07:00

Google is introducing new services frequently. The distinction of gmail is different from the first time it launched. Some of the distinctions are under process and those can be used from Google labs. “Undo Send” is one of the under process service which will launched soon, but it will be open for all very soon. But you can use the “Undo Sent” service from Google labs.

When we press send button then the mail is sent to the destination email address and delivered within a second. But the mail can be sent in wrong email address or without complete. We may send the mail without attaching any file in mistake. Whether the mail sent willingly or unwillingly to any email address, it cannot be returned. But you can now return the sent mail using Google labs. You can find labs in settings after login your gmail account. Use undo sent send option to return your sent mail. If you active “Undo Send” you can see a massage above Inbox asking whether you want to return the sent mail. Pres undo link to return the mail in editor again. But this can be done within a few seconds. When you active the “Undo Send” option, select your desired time 5, 10, 20 or 30 seconds. If you select 30 seconds then you can return the mail within 30 seconds after send to any destination email address.

Invisible Tree House: Tree Hotel in Sweden

2010-08-30T07:51:00.000-07:00

Building house on the tree is not new in this world. Tree house is built for tourists to stay and it is built in so many countries, even in Disneyland there is also a tree house. Ten storied building has also been made on tree with woods. But recently in Sweden, a tree house is made which is invisible. Earlier before this type of house was designed by two architects namely Than and Videgard. Then their act was taunted by many critics and they used to say that it was nothing but computer tricks. If such a house is made then it would be danger for birds. Many of them have thrown the idea of building such houses on the tree. But this has been really come true. The tree hotel, having six rooms, it is built of woods and is very strong. The rooms and toilets are environmental friendly. This tree hotel is build 40km far from Arctic Circle of Sweden. The house is glass cube, which is surrounded by 4 meter mirror. The mirror glass cube is fitted on the tree in such a technique that when the shadow of tree reflects on the glass, then it will seem there is tree. When clouds reflect on the mirror then it will seem there is also cloud in the sky.

One of the owners of the house Kent Lindvol said that the mirror wall of the house reflects trees, birds, clouds, sun everything. That’s why it looks like invisible house in the tree. He also said, there is such a film on the mirror which only birds can see. So the birds will not face any problem when flying near the tree house. Human can only see the mirror but the house is not fully invisible for birds. The owner said, he does not want to damage the nature of the forest and to keep the animals moving fearlessly in the forest. Thus he has built such an invisible tree hotel. He further said tourists also can stay peacefully and safely in the tree hotel.