1) A device that allows PC users to feel images
Ralph A Hollis, a professor at Carnegie Melon’s Robotics University has developed a controller namely “FLOTOR” which will allow the computer users to touch and feel three dimensional images. It uses magnetic fields to give the same effect on the persons hand as the user may have while actually touching the object. Flotor in simple words looks like a block resting on the joy stick. The block is the only movable part in the system. The whole system rests in a bowl shaped structure connected to the computer. Two Flotors can be simultaneously used to pick and move the virtual objects on the monitor. A demonstration was held by the professor and his research team on 4th March 08. The invited visitors were asked to move an image of a pin across various textures; causing the Flotor to bump along ripples, slide along a smooth surface etc.
This device will assist in the field of research, training and other industrial purposes. It will unable a to-be-surgeon to operate on a virtual human organ, a machine designer to sense the feeling of fitting accessories on the machine etc. The cost of the device is approximate to be $50,000. The research team had built the initial version of the Flotor in 1997. The research team then refined it again and lowered its cost. They were helped by National Science Foundation Grant. Such devices which provide the sensation of touch for virtual information are known as haptic devices. Such devices are not new to the market. However the Flotor developed by the Carnegie Melon’s Robotics University differs from others as it’s based on the usage of magnetic fields and not on mechanical links and cables. It eliminates the bulky links cables etc associated with other haptic devices.
2) Mobile technology to measure the environment impact of your travel:
Andreas Zachariah, a post graduate student from Royal College Of Art London has designed a sensor Called “Carbon hero” which uses satellite navigation technology to alert travellers on their cell phones on how much they are contributing to global warming during their journey. It has a special database and algorithm with which it can easily determine the mode of transport and the consequent environment impact without much input by the user. Zachariah came up with idea for a device that measures CO2 emissions in 2006. Nick Burch an Oxford post graduate student joined him in April 20007 and finally the device obtained its finishing touch in February 2008. According to the inventors with carbon hero the traveler would just have to look at his/her mobile phone to check the effect of the journey on their mobile phone. Zachariah and Burch have filed a patent for carbon hero and will be beta testing it by April 2008.They have already tested the device on Nokia platform. They will be next testing it on blackberry platform. The inventors hope that carbon hero will generate environment awareness and help in reducing global warming.
3) A Helping Helmet
Bryan Spencer, an Engineering student at the University Of Massachusetts Amherst, has developed a Helmet which will help the wearer in case of an accident. The helmet has a device “Wireless Impact Guardian” or WIG which will signal for help even when the wearer is unconscious. WIG gets activated as soon as it’s buckled. If there is an accident and the wearer is hit at head, the helmet will detect it and beep for a minute. If the wearer does not turn it off, WIG will send for help directly to the emergency number. It will detect the location of the wearer through GPS and send it at the emergency number. The invention of WIG comes as a boon to the motorcyclists, bicyclists etc; especially those who venture in remote areas. All the electronics used in the WIG are small and therefore it can be easily fitted in the current helmet configuration with little changes. The overall increase in the helmet price will be very small as the electronics used in WIG are cheap and inexpensive. The invention of WIG is a giant leap in helmet safety and will considerably lower the death rate in accidents due to delay in medical services.
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