Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Fraunhofer's Full-HD Voice brings high fidelity VoLTE to Android smartphones]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/24/fraunhofer-full-hd-voice-for-volte/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/24/fraunhofer-full-hd-voice-for-volte/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/24/fraunhofer-full-hd-voice-for-volte/#comments Fraunhofer's Full-HD Voice brings high fidelity VoLTE to Android smartphonesThe audio nerds at Fraunhofer are set to raise the bar for Voice over LTE next week in Barcelona, as the company has announced a new technology known as Full-HD Voice. By leveraging the AAC-ELD codec, Fraunhofer claims that consumers will experience audio quality that rivals the experience of chatting face-to-face. Technically speaking, it's said the codec offers four times the audio bandwidth of regular phone calls and twice the bandwidth of HD voice services, all without an increase in bit rate. The technology will only be available for Android phones initially, but that seems like a fine place to start. The full PR is after the break -- presented in Full HD, of course.

Continue reading Fraunhofer's Full-HD Voice brings high fidelity VoLTE to Android smartphones

Fraunhofer's Full-HD Voice brings high fidelity VoLTE to Android smartphones originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 08:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aacaac-eldcodecfraunhoferfraunhofer iisFraunhoferIisfull hdfull hd voiceFullHdFullHdVoicehdltemobilepostcrossmwcmwc 2012Mwc2012voicevoice over lteVoiceOverLtevolteFri, 24 Feb 2012 08:19:00 EST<![CDATA[DASH promises stutter free streaming video over LTE, hopes you don't care about quality]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/05/dash-promises-stutter-free-streaming-video-over-lte/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/05/dash-promises-stutter-free-streaming-video-over-lte/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/05/dash-promises-stutter-free-streaming-video-over-lte/#comments YouTubeWe've all been there: fire up a clip from YouTube or a movie on Netflix and things start out great. But, then, after just a few moments, that LTE connection starts to give up the ghost and suddenly you're faced with unbearable stuttering or a video that just dies mid stream. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications are looking to solve that conundrum with DASH, or Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP. The idea is actually surprisingly simple -- files of different sizes and qualities will be available depending on signal strength and network load, and the stream will be able to seamlessly switch between them as these variables change. While this sounds like a win for both consumer and carriers, we're sure there are a few of you out there who just want the highest quality possible, even if that means waiting forever for that HD clip of the all accordion cover of Take On Me to buffer. Full PR is after the break.

Continue reading DASH promises stutter free streaming video over LTE, hopes you don't care about quality

DASH promises stutter free streaming video over LTE, hopes you don't care about quality originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dashDynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTPDynamicAdaptiveStreamingOverHttpFraunhoferfraunhofer instituteFraunhoferInstituteltelte dashLteDashmobilepostministreamingstreaming videoStreamingVideovideoSun, 05 Feb 2012 19:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Fraunhofer's STAN: four cameras, three dimensions, no glasses]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/15/fraunhofers-stan-four-cameras-three-dimensions-no-glasses/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/15/fraunhofers-stan-four-cameras-three-dimensions-no-glasses/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/15/fraunhofers-stan-four-cameras-three-dimensions-no-glasses/#comments
There are some glasses-free 3D TVs around, but their limited viewing angles and poor picture quality aren't very inspiring -- so Fraunhofer's latest project is a welcome endeavor. It's developed STAN (STereoscopic ANalyzer), a system that lets broadcasters easily use four cameras instead of the usual two, for 3D recording. 3D needs a minimum of two lenses to register depth and keeping multiple shooters in sync is tough and expensive. That's led to the industry relying on two, which is why glasses-free (autostereoscopic) 3D TVs get such a poor picture; more cameras means more viewing angles. STAN co-ordinates the setup of the four cameras and then uses a feature detector to identify common elements in the pictures and merges them into a 3D image. Four cameras provide much more depth, which means more viewing angles, which means that if STAN gets picked up, these guys can throw away the sunglasses, even for live broadcasts.

Fraunhofer's STAN: four cameras, three dimensions, no glasses originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3D3D TV3DTVAutostereoscopicAutostereoscopic 3DAutostereoscopic3dFraunhoferFraunhofer STANFraunhofer Stereoscopic AnalyzerFraunhoferStanFraunhoferStereoscopicAnalyzerFrederik ZillyFrederikZillyGlasses FreeGlasses Free 3DGlasses LessGlasses-freeGlasses-free 3DGlasses-free3dGlasses-lessGlassesFreeGlassesFree3dGlassesLessSTANSTereoscopic ANalyzerStereoscopicAnalyzerThu, 15 Sep 2011 15:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Viatag NFC system pays parking lot fees with an RFID tag, saves lives]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/05/viatag-nfc-system-pays-parking-lot-fees-with-an-rfid-tag-saves/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/05/viatag-nfc-system-pays-parking-lot-fees-with-an-rfid-tag-saves/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/05/viatag-nfc-system-pays-parking-lot-fees-with-an-rfid-tag-saves/#comments Paying for parking isn't exactly a fun experience, but Germany's Fraunhofer Institute is doing its best to make it slightly less painful, with Viatag -- an NFC system that allows you shell out your hard earned cash without even reaching for your wallet. The setup is relatively simple, consisting of a small RFID tag, compatible transceivers and a centralized database. Once attached to your car's windshield, the tag communicates with the transceivers installed within a given parking lot, alerting the system whenever your vehicle enters or leaves. An application running on the central server, meanwhile, keeps track of how much time you spend in the lot, and charges your debit card accordingly. Researchers have already installed Viatag at car parks in Essen, Duisburg and Munich, and are hoping to expand it to other locations. It might not be as sophisticated as some of the other automotive communications systems we've seen, but it could come in handy during those moments when you really don't feel like swearing at a parking meter. Cruise past the break for the full PR.

Continue reading Viatag NFC system pays parking lot fees with an RFID tag, saves lives

Viatag NFC system pays parking lot fees with an RFID tag, saves lives originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 08:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carconveniencefraunhoferfraunhofer instituteFraunhoferInstitutegermanymoneynear field communicationnear-field communicationNear-fieldCommunicationNearFieldCommunicationnfcparkparkingparking lotsParkingLotspaymentrfidrfid tagRfidTagtransportFri, 05 Aug 2011 08:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Wimbledon NetMix lets you turn down on-court grunts in favor of staid commentary]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/30/wimbledon-netmix-lets-you-turn-down-on-court-grunts-in-favor-of/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/30/wimbledon-netmix-lets-you-turn-down-on-court-grunts-in-favor-of/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/30/wimbledon-netmix-lets-you-turn-down-on-court-grunts-in-favor-of/#comments Wimbledon, typically a quiet leafy suburb in the great urban sprawl of London, tends to get a little noisier around this time of the year as the world's top tennis players descend upon it with a grunt and a huff of exertion. It's precisely those un-British howls of effort that the BBC is offering to filter out for you with a new Wimbledon NetMix tool. It's a simple audio mixing slider, available to BBC Radio 5 Live listeners, that adjusts the balance between ambient on-court sound and the soothing timbre of commentators' voices. The technology's enabled by the guys and gals at Fraunhofer, who were nice enough to do it for free, and is being introduced in response to a great many complaints received by broadcasters about the primal screaming that's accompanied this year's matches. If the reaction to the NetMix slider is positive, it could find further job opportunities on the Beeb's iPlayer or in coverage of other sporting events.

Wimbledon NetMix lets you turn down on-court grunts in favor of staid commentary originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 04:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiobbccommentaryfraunhofergruntgruntingnetmixradiosoundsportsportstenniswimbledonwimbledon netmixWimbledonNetmixThu, 30 Jun 2011 04:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Ultra-thin handheld microscope could sniff out skin cancer, forged documents]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/05/ultra-thin-handheld-microscope-could-sniff-out-skin-cancer-forg/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/05/ultra-thin-handheld-microscope-could-sniff-out-skin-cancer-forg/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/05/ultra-thin-handheld-microscope-could-sniff-out-skin-cancer-forg/#comments It may not look like it, but that sleek black thing pictured above is actually a microscope. Designed by engineers at Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF, this little guy boasts a 5.3mm optical length, rendering it slim enough to fit in the palm of your hand, yet powerful enough to deliver images at a scanner-like resolution of five micrometers, over a wide surface area. Fraunhofer's researchers achieved this balance by essentially tossing out the manual on traditional microscope design. Whereas most devices slowly scan areas and construct images on a piecemeal basis, this handheld uses several small imaging channels and a collection of tiny lenses to record equal sized fragments of a given surface. Unlike conventional scanner microscopes, all of these 300 x 300 square micrometer imaging channels are captured at the same time. With a single swipe, then, users can record 36 x 24 square mm shots of matchbox-sized objects, without even worrying about blurring the images with their shaky hands. The prototype is still two years away from going into production, but once it does, engineers say it could help doctors scan patients for skin cancer more easily, while also allowing bureaucrats to quickly confirm the authenticity of official documents. We can only imagine what it could do for Pac-Man. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Ultra-thin handheld microscope could sniff out skin cancer, forged documents

Ultra-thin handheld microscope could sniff out skin cancer, forged documents originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 May 2011 09:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancerdocumentsengineeringfraunhoferfraunhofer instituteFraunhofer-GesellschaftFraunhoferInstitutegermanyhandheldhealthimageslaser world of phototonicsLaserWorldOfPhototonicsmelanomamicroscopeopticalopticsphototonicsprototyperesearchscanslimultrathinThu, 05 May 2011 09:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Eye-tracking microdisplay delivers Terminator vision, distracts joggers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/20/eye-tracking-microdisplay-delivers-terminator-vision-distracts/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/20/eye-tracking-microdisplay-delivers-terminator-vision-distracts/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/20/eye-tracking-microdisplay-delivers-terminator-vision-distracts/#commentsFraunhofer IPMS Eye-Tracking Display The folks at Fraunhofer IPMS have done it! After years of tireless research and promises of Borg-like eyewear, the group has delivered a prototype of the world's first bidirectional, eye-tracking OLED microdisplay (got all that?) at SID 2011. The rig is much like a monocle, except with a transparent OLED display inside, which overlays digital information on top of the reflected light that usually hits your eyeballs. What's more, there are integrated photodetectors inside and special software to monitor the direction of your gaze, allowing you to interact with your newfound augmented reality using only the flick of an eyeball. Fraunhofer foresees joggers taking in movies while out for a run, which sounds more than just a little dangerous. We, on the other hand, envision a world in which the first thing anyone does upon meeting someone new is discreetly check their relationship status on Facebook -- finally fulfilling the social network's full creep potential. One more pic and the poorly translated PR after the break.

Continue reading Eye-tracking microdisplay delivers Terminator vision, distracts joggers

Eye-tracking microdisplay delivers Terminator vision, distracts joggers originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 21:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bidirectionalborgeye trackingeye-trackingEyeTrackingfraunhoferfraunhofer institute for photonic microsystemsFraunhofer ipmsFraunhoferInstituteForPhotonicMicrosystemsFraunhoferIpmshead mounted displayHeadMountedDisplayheads up displayHeadsUpDisplayhmdhudmicrodisplayoledSIDSID 2011Sid2011terminatortransparent OLEDTransparentOledWed, 20 Apr 2011 21:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers steal iPhone passwords in six minutes (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/10/researchers-steal-lost-iphone-passwords-in-6-minutes-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/10/researchers-steal-lost-iphone-passwords-in-6-minutes-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/10/researchers-steal-lost-iphone-passwords-in-6-minutes-video/#comments Losing your smarpthone is bad enough. But if you lose your iPhone and don't issue a remote wipe command (available for free with the Find My iPhone app) then you could find yourself in a world of hurt. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute Secure Information Technology (Fraunhofer SIT) can jailbreak and decrypt passwords from the iPhone's keychain -- for say, your Gmail account, corporate VPN, home WiFi, and MS Exchange -- in about six minutes using existing, known exploits. Sorry kids, your flimsy lockscreen passcode won't help. Video proof, after the break.

Continue reading Researchers steal iPhone passwords in six minutes (video)

Researchers steal iPhone passwords in six minutes (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 06:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exploitFraunhoferFraunhofer Institute Secure Information TechnologyFraunhofer sitFraunhoferInstituteSecureInformationTechnologyFraunhoferSithackiosiphonekeychainsecurityvideowhite hatWhiteHatThu, 10 Feb 2011 06:16:00 EST<![CDATA[German researchers prototype 6mm thick pico projector]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/29/german-researchers-prototype-6mm-thick-pico-projector/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/29/german-researchers-prototype-6mm-thick-pico-projector/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/29/german-researchers-prototype-6mm-thick-pico-projector/#comments Pico projectors just keep shrinking, and a new prototype developed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Engineering is helping said shrinking along pretty strikingly. The team has developed a prototype pico which is just 6mm thick, making it the world's slimmest ever. Better yet, the projected image is 10 times brighter than a pico projector of its size would have previously been -- had it existed. The new lens on the projector is so small that it could potentially be integrated into smart phones without boosting size or weight. The new prototype is made of 45 red, green or blue microlenses, each with a 200 x 200 pixel LCD, inspired by a microlens array called a fly's eye condenser. The resulting resolution is nearly, but not quite, WVGA with 11 lumens of brightness. The prototype will be shown off at Nano Tech 2011 in Tokyo.

[Image credit: Fraunhofer Institute]

German researchers prototype 6mm thick pico projector originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 29 Jan 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>displayfraunhoferfraunhofer instituteFraunhoferInstitutegermanypicoprojectorprojectorsprototyperesearchtinySat, 29 Jan 2011 12:31:00 EST<![CDATA['Trilobite' compound eye puts a Paleozoic spin on mobile camera design]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/22/trilobite-compound-eye-puts-a-paleozoic-spin-on-mobile-camera/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/22/trilobite-compound-eye-puts-a-paleozoic-spin-on-mobile-camera/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/22/trilobite-compound-eye-puts-a-paleozoic-spin-on-mobile-camera/#commentsExtinct marine arthropods make for great design references -- just ask Andreas Brückner. The Fraunhofer Institute of Applied Optics and Precision Engineering researcher has taken a cue from the trilobite in creating a 1.4mm thin "cluster eye" camera to take 221 images at 39 pixels per side to form a 700 x 550 (0.38 megapixel) composite. At this point, it's also capable of recording 13 frames per second for video, and with a size like that, if they can bump up the specs it could pave way for smaller camera components in mobile phones. Not anytime soon, of course, as it's still in the research state (and it's just one of many camera research projects out there). The next step for Brückner and company is shrinking the aforementioned design to 1mm thin (and up the video to 30fps), as well as 1.5mm variant with one megapixel resolution.

'Trilobite' compound eye puts a Paleozoic spin on mobile camera design originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 02:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Andreas BrücknerAndreas BrucknerAndreasBrücknerAndreasBrucknerarthropodbrücknerBrucknercompound eyeCompoundEyedesignfraunhoferfraunhofer instituteFraunhoferInstituteresearchtrilobitetrilopodWed, 22 Dec 2010 02:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Fraunhofer IIS uses Awiloc indoor positioning magic to guide museum patrons]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/13/fraunhofer-iis-uses-awiloc-indoor-positioning-magic-to-guide-mus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/13/fraunhofer-iis-uses-awiloc-indoor-positioning-magic-to-guide-mus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/13/fraunhofer-iis-uses-awiloc-indoor-positioning-magic-to-guide-mus/#comments If you've been to a museum in the past year and change, chances are you've been coerced into ponying up an extra five bones for some sort of handheld apparatus. Supposedly, these things accompany patrons and enhance the experience, but more often than not, you're stuck with a grimy audio device that tells you little more than you brother Bob, who is undoubtedly tagging along behind and educating everyone in a 50 foot radius. Folks who choose to spend their time waltzing through the Museum of Industrial Culture in Nuremberg, however, have it better. The Fraunhofer IIS has developed a new technology for WLAN-based positioning, and unlike conventional GPS approaches, Awiloc actually works indoors. As the story goes, visitors to the museum can grab a handheld that follows their movement and then shows them what they're facing (or aren't facing, for that matter) in detail. Of course, they could also use the tracking data to see which exhibits were drawing the most attention if they were smart, but how exactly would the privacy advocate in you feel about that?

Continue reading Fraunhofer IIS uses Awiloc indoor positioning magic to guide museum patrons

Fraunhofer IIS uses Awiloc indoor positioning magic to guide museum patrons originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 13:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awilocfraunhofergermanygpshybrid gpsHybridGpsindoor gpsIndoorGpsindoors gpsIndoorsGpsmuseumNurembergpositioningtourwirelesswlanMon, 13 Dec 2010 13:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Fraunhofer working to make HD video conferencing a little less laggy]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/30/fraunhofer-working-to-make-hd-video-conferencing-a-little-less-l/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/30/fraunhofer-working-to-make-hd-video-conferencing-a-little-less-l/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/30/fraunhofer-working-to-make-hd-video-conferencing-a-little-less-l/#commentsFraunhofer working to make HD video conferencing a little less laggy The early days of VOIP calling required a lot of patience, as the half-second or more delay between you speaking and your conversation partner receiving often turned the convo into a start and stop mess. Those days are gone for voice, but we're right back there again when it comes to HD video calls. However, random product researcher Fraunhofer is working on a new device to kill the lag and speed up your two-way monologues. It's basically an encoder card able to do hardware squashing of HD video via H.264 and audio via AAC, not unlike the sort of tech Skype requires for its SkypeHD-compatible video cameras. Fraunhofer's tech is also said to remove boomy room echoes and even handle network hiccups to keep you streamin' in style. The result is said to be sub-100ms lag, which would be more or less playable for a shooter. Expect more on this development soon from IFA.

Continue reading Fraunhofer working to make HD video conferencing a little less laggy

Fraunhofer working to make HD video conferencing a little less laggy originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aacencodingfraunhoferh.264hardware encodingHardwareEncodinghd video conferencingHdVideoConferencingta2video conferencingVideoConferencingvoipMon, 30 Aug 2010 11:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Fraunhofer FIT touch-free gesture-control for multiple users (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/21/fraunhofer-fit-touch-free-gesture-control-for-multiple-users-vi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/21/fraunhofer-fit-touch-free-gesture-control-for-multiple-users-vi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/21/fraunhofer-fit-touch-free-gesture-control-for-multiple-users-vi/#comments It seems like everyone is cooking up their own touch-free gesture-based control technology, just like every blogger is destined to refer to it as "Minority Report-like" or "Minority Report-esque," or "Tom Cruise-tastic!" Fraunhofer's FIT, the newest such project, has recently appeared on the YouTubes, where we must say it looks pretty darn good. Not only does it not require special gloves or markers, this thing also works in real time and can support multiple users (and multiple fingers). The researchers hope to use this for working with complex simulation data and in education, although there are some kinks to be worked out: currently elements like the reflections caused by wristwatches and the orientation of the palm confuses the system. That said, the demo is pretty rad! See for yourself after the break.

Continue reading Fraunhofer FIT touch-free gesture-control for multiple users (video)

Fraunhofer FIT touch-free gesture-control for multiple users (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fitfraunhoferfraunhofer fitFraunhoferFitGesture ControlGesture recognitionGestureControlGestureRecognitionminority reportMinorityReportvideoWed, 21 Jul 2010 19:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Fraunhofer developing bike helmets (and other products) that stink when damaged]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/03/fraunhofer-developing-bike-helmets-and-other-products-that-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/03/fraunhofer-developing-bike-helmets-and-other-products-that-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/03/fraunhofer-developing-bike-helmets-and-other-products-that-sti/#comments
We're glad you're using a bike helmet (and we're glad you've opted for that really scary one we first saw in 2007). You do realize, however, that the more blows to the head you receive, the less effective the headgear is, right? Researchers at Germany's Fraunhofer Institute have developed a manufacturing process that injects microcapsules containing malodorous oils into the helmet itself, causing it to stink when damaged -- alerting you that it's time to replace it (and making it difficult to try and make do with a less than safe one, at that). Indeed, the process, which a thick foil made of polypropylene to house the microcapsules, extends to other products as well, including: pressure hoses, water, and gas pipes (in which case the odor can be detected by automated "smell sensors"). As for the lids, they're still trying to decide exactly which scent to use, but we have a suggestion -- smelling salts. Seems logical, right?

Continue reading Fraunhofer developing bike helmets (and other products) that stink when damaged

Fraunhofer developing bike helmets (and other products) that stink when damaged originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 20:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bicyclebikebike helmetsBikeHelmetschemistryfraunhoferhelmetodorolfactorystinkyThu, 03 Jun 2010 20:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Fraunhofer's 3D posters make your fish-based advertising really pop]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/04/fraunhofers-3d-posters-make-your-fish-based-advertising-really/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/04/fraunhofers-3d-posters-make-your-fish-based-advertising-really/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/04/fraunhofers-3d-posters-make-your-fish-based-advertising-really/#commentsFraunhofer's 3D posters make your fish-based advertising really pop The pinnacle of 3D-based content? Glasses-free, of course, and Fraunhofer has reached that level for static images -- and it plans to use it for advertising, of course. The company is talking up its new 3D posters that rely on 250,000 lenses embedded in a grooved sheet, each lens with a 2mm diameter. The effect is said to be similar to those simple "3D" lenticular postcards and cereal boxes we've all seen, but Fraunhofer promises that improved accuracy used in manufacturing here will make the resulting images far clearer, enabling the effect to be clearly seen on these five meter posters even from across the street. That's good, because when was the last time you walked up to a billboard to get a closer look?

Fraunhofer's 3D posters make your fish-based advertising really pop originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d display3dDisplayfraunhoferglasses-free 3dGlasses-free3dlenslenticularposterTue, 04 May 2010 09:04:00 EST<![CDATA[German researchers develop biotech sensor bracelet, disposable blood lab]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/20/german-researchers-develop-biotech-sensor-bracelet-disposable-b/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/20/german-researchers-develop-biotech-sensor-bracelet-disposable-b/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/20/german-researchers-develop-biotech-sensor-bracelet-disposable-b/#comments Biochips -- flexible, disposable plastic circuits that "compute" via chemical reaction -- have been nearing reality for over a decade, but for obvious reasons we don't always pay attention. German research institute Fraunhofer IZM has just convinced us it's high time we did. This week, the organization announced that it's on the verge of creating a lab-on-a-chip that can diagnose deep vein thrombosis from a single drop of blood, as well as a wristband that can measure body temperature, skin moisture and electromagnetic radiation using plastic chips and sensors only micrometers thick. Impressive, yes, but the real news is the production process -- these gadgets can be printed in reels and sheets. The organization imagines the tools will be so cheap they'll be disposable; rather than wait for lab results, worried individuals will just take one out, test and toss to feel confident about their bloodwork, before hopefully going back to their normal lives.

German researchers develop biotech sensor bracelet, disposable blood lab originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 02:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biochipbiochipsbloodblood testBloodTestbloodworkchemicalfraunhoferfraunhofer institutefraunhofer izmFraunhofer-GesellschaftFraunhoferInstituteFraunhoferIzmmedicalmedicineplastic chipplastic chipsPlasticChipPlasticChipsprintable circuitsprintable electronicsPrintableCircuitsPrintableElectronicssciencewristbandTue, 20 Apr 2010 02:32:00 EST<![CDATA[HYPOLED develops mega-tiny VGA projector display, has a tiny coin in the photo to prove it]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/hypoled-develops-mega-tiny-vga-projector-display-has-a-penny-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/hypoled-develops-mega-tiny-vga-projector-display-has-a-penny-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/hypoled-develops-mega-tiny-vga-projector-display-has-a-penny-in/#comments
HYPOLED, an 18-month-old project tasked with creating OLED microdisplays for upcoming pico projectors, has just released a report of its recent progress. Among the advances is a Fraunhofer IPMS-designed all digital VGA, full color OLED microdisplay backplane with matching pico projector optics. The display measures just 0.18-mm thick and is already in prototype manufacturing. The super miniscule display is connected to a MediaBox enabling it to operate via WiFi. Fraunhofer is now expected to begin developing a prototype of the full projector, meaning that with any luck, our picos should be getting a teensy, tiny bit cooler in the near future.

[Via About Projectors]

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HYPOLED develops mega-tiny VGA projector display, has a tiny coin in the photo to prove it originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fraunhoferfraunhofer ipmsFraunhoferIpmshypoledledpicopico projectorpico projectorsPicoProjectorPicoProjectorsprojectorprojectorsresearchMon, 05 Oct 2009 10:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Tiny, printable batteries promise to change the face of obnoxious greeting cards forever]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/02/tiny-printable-batteries-promise-to-change-the-face-of-obnoxiou/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/02/tiny-printable-batteries-promise-to-change-the-face-of-obnoxiou/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/02/tiny-printable-batteries-promise-to-change-the-face-of-obnoxiou/#comments
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Electronic Nano Systems ENAS in Chemnitz led by Prof. Dr. Reinhard Baumann have unveiled tiny, printable batteries that they hope to put into production for pennies apiece. The new battery prototype is primarily composed of a zinc anode and a manganese cathode that can be screen printed and covered with a non-printed template cover. Each mercury-free battery weighs less than one gram, and can individually produce about 1.5 volts of electricity. By placing several batteries side by side, however, up to 6 volts can be generated. The institute has already produced these little power houses in the lab, and hopes to see them into production by the end of the year. The batteries have a relatively short lifespan, making them suitable for applications such as powering greeting cards. All we can say is that this battery would have made the card we got two years ago that sang "Word Up" much, much awesomer.

[Via Physorg]

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Tiny, printable batteries promise to change the face of obnoxious greeting cards forever originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteriesbatteryENASfraunhoferfraunhofer instituteFraunhoferInstitutenanonano technano technologyNanoTechNanoTechnologyprintable batteriesPrintableBatteriesReinhard BaumannReinhardBaumannThu, 02 Jul 2009 16:10:00 EST<![CDATA[OLED mini projector prototype for mobile phones using a series of lenses developed]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/oled-mini-projector-prototype-for-mobile-phones-using-a-series-o/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/oled-mini-projector-prototype-for-mobile-phones-using-a-series-o/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/oled-mini-projector-prototype-for-mobile-phones-using-a-series-o/#comments
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute -- partnered with project HYPOLED -- have created an OLED mini projector prototype for mobile phones. Unlike many previous iterations of similar technologies, this new prototype doesn't need an additional illumination system, instead relying on a lens system to project images produced by an OLED onto a screen or wall -- making it both smaller and more energy efficient. The prototype currently displays a monochrome image with a brightness of 10,000 candelas per square meter, and color images with a brightness of about half of that. The lenses are also made of glass at this point, though cheaper and simpler plastic ones are in the works. No word on when we might see these prototypes hitting the streets in actual projector phones, though.

[Via Gizmag]

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OLED mini projector prototype for mobile phones using a series of lenses developed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonesdisplaydisplaysfraunhoferfraunhofer instituteFraunhoferInstitutelensmini projectorMiniProjectormobileoledoled mini projectorOledMiniProjectorphoneprojectorprojector phonesProjectorPhonesprototypeMon, 29 Jun 2009 19:19:00 EST<![CDATA[OLED mini projector prototype for mobile phones using a series of lenses developed]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/oled-mini-projector-prototype-for-mobile-phones-using-a-series-o/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/oled-mini-projector-prototype-for-mobile-phones-using-a-series-o/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/oled-mini-projector-prototype-for-mobile-phones-using-a-series-o/#comments
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute -- partnered with project HYPOLED -- have created an OLED mini projector prototype for mobile phones. Unlike many previous iterations of similar technologies, this new prototype doesn't need an additional illumination system, instead relying on a lens system to project images produced by an OLED onto a screen or wall -- making it both smaller and more energy efficient. The prototype currently displays a monochrome image with a brightness of 10,000 candelas per square meter, and color images with a brightness of about half of that. The lenses are also made of glass at this point, though cheaper and simpler plastic ones are in the works. No word on when we might see these prototypes hitting the streets in actual projector phones, though.

[Via Gizmag]

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OLED mini projector prototype for mobile phones using a series of lenses developed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonesdisplaydisplaysfraunhoferfraunhofer instituteFraunhoferInstitutelensmini projectorMiniProjectoroledoled mini projectorOledMiniProjectorphoneprojectorprojector phonesProjectorPhonesprototypeMon, 29 Jun 2009 19:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Interactive data eyeglasses could bring the PC to your face, won't fix nearsightedness]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/interactive-data-eyeglasses-could-bring-the-pc-to-your-face-won/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/interactive-data-eyeglasses-could-bring-the-pc-to-your-face-won/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/interactive-data-eyeglasses-could-bring-the-pc-to-your-face-won/#comments
Leave it the mad scientists at Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft to concoct this one. Rather than just figuring out a way to read back information in one-way fashion on one's glasses (think Sixth Sense, but with eyewear), these folks are diving right in to the real stuff: bidirectional communication. In essence, their goal for the interactive data eyeglasses is to track eye movement in order to allow ones retinas to scroll through menus, flip through options and zoom in / out on a map. Obviously, a microdisplay will be necessary as well, but that's just half the battle. We'll confess -- we're still not humble enough to take our Vuzix HMD out in public, but we just might swap our Transitions[TM] for a set of these.

[Via OLED-Display]

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Interactive data eyeglasses could bring the PC to your face, won't fix nearsightedness originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CMOSdata eyeglassesDataEyeglasseseye trackereyeglassesEyeTrackereyewearFraunhoferFraunhofer-Gesellschaftglasseshead-mounted displayHead-mountedDisplayHMDinteractivemicrodisplayoledresearchThu, 04 Jun 2009 08:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Underwater robot has sense of touch, class and style]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/07/underwater-robot-has-sense-of-touch-class-and-style/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/07/underwater-robot-has-sense-of-touch-class-and-style/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/07/underwater-robot-has-sense-of-touch-class-and-style/#comments
At the Fraunhofer Institute in Bremen, Germany, a group of researchers, in conjunction with the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence DFKI, is developing an underwater robot with a sense of touch. The octopus-esque robot is equipped with a strain gauge which triggers electrical resistance changes when an obstacle is encountered. The strain gauges -- which are printed onto the robot -- which are ten micrometers wide (about half the width of a human hair), are made up of atomized nanoparticles, and are extremely sensitive. The researchers intend for the robot to be able to distinguish between actual obstacles and water currents. The robot's first stop will be a public trade show at the end of May in Nuremberg, after which it will presumably make it's way to the dark depths of the sea to meet up with Captain Nemo and the giant squid.

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Underwater robot has sense of touch, class and style originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 May 2009 10:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oh sure, liquid cooling rigs are all the rage, but they aren't too useful within minuscule things like netbooks, MIDs and pocket projectors. The always churning minds over at Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft are already on the issue, recently conjuring up a new material designed to "efficiently dissipate heat even in devices with densely packed components and that can give increasingly miniaturized electronics a longer life." Researchers at the entity's Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Applied Materials Research have teamed with gurus from Siemens and Plansee to create the substance as part of the EU project "ExtreMat." Unfortunately, details beyond that are few and far between, but given that demonstrations have reportedly "already been produced," we'd say it's well on its way to infiltrating things far smaller than your mind can grasp.

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New cooling material keeps heat down in densely packed electronics originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The brain geniuses at Fraunhofer are back on the scene with a security device that takes the window alarm to the next level. The Vigilant window sees the ol' glass panel coated with a nanoparticle material which converts light into fluorescent radiation. When the system is switched on, a UV lamp is aimed at the window, which is outfitted with sensors along its edges. As long as the lamp is unobstructed, everything is goldie. However, if a cat burglar should come by in his trademark all-black out fit and obstruct the beam, the alarm is activated -- sending your elite security team into action. If you don't have an elite security team, perhaps you can send your T-34 to snare him in its net. Either way, it's clear they messed with the wrong folks this time. A prototype already exists, no word yet on when this will become available.

[Via Oh Gizmo!]

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Fraunhofer's new security device turns your window into a motion detector originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 09:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fraunhofermotion detectorMotionDetectornanotechnologysecurityVigilant windowVigilantWindowwindowWed, 11 Mar 2009 09:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft's iPoint 3D Pong match gets heated]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/03/video-fraunhofer-gesellschafts-ipoint-3d-pong-match-get/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/03/video-fraunhofer-gesellschafts-ipoint-3d-pong-match-get/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/03/video-fraunhofer-gesellschafts-ipoint-3d-pong-match-get/#commentsAfter hearing that Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft was bringing its newfangled iPoint 3D setup to CeBIT, we simply had to make the 5.9 mile hike from Hall 26 to Hall 9 to check things out. As with most things that this outfit touches, iPoint 3D was also a sight to behold. Without any goofy glasses, players and onlookers alike could easily detect depth in the display, and while we're some of the toughest 3D critics you'll find, even we were taken aback at just how not-gimmicky it was. An overhead motion detecting system fed signals to a nearby computer, which then translated the hand gestures into paddle movements within the simple two player Pong game. The gals we recorded seemed to have a pretty good time with it, and if you don't believe us, just check out the winner's victory dance at the end of the clip -- it'll make your day, and that's a Billy Mays guarantee.

Gallery: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft's iPoint 3D paddle ball match gets heated

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Video: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft's iPoint 3D Pong match gets heated originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The sheer amount of technology companies are willing to throw at your car's dashboard is amazing (well, maybe not your car -- after all, you're still driving a '76 Gremlin). Taking things up a notch, the folks at Fraunhofer have developed a dash that displays your location and the surrounding area in 3D, in real time. The system uses cameras to keep track of the location of your eyes, so the depth imaging effect can be achieved without using those funny glasses. In addition to the GPS, the dashboard only displays the information that is most relevant to the driver at any time -- fuel gauge, tire pressure, route information or the title of the song can be displayed, depending on user preferences. It's only a prototype at this point -- be sure to check it out when you hit CeBIT in Hanover this March.

[Via The Raw Feed]

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Fraunhofer's 3D dashboard prototype originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Granted, we've no idea what it takes to really push the efficiency level of a solar cell, but we're getting pretty bored with these incremental improvements year after year. If you'll recall, the record for solar cell efficiency sat at 40.7 percent in 2006, and that was raised to an amazing 40.8 percent last August. Today, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems have announced an all new milestone: 41.1 percent efficiency. According to team head Frank Dimroth, the crew is simply "elated by this breakthrough." Meanwhile, the rest of planet Earth is suddenly depressed by the thought of perishing from old age before this data point ever breaks the big five-oh.

[Via Gizmag]

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Baby steps: new solar cell efficiency record isn't awe-inspiring originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternative energyAlternativeEnergyeco-friendlyefficiencyEfficiency RecordefficientenergyFraunhoferFraunhofer ISEFraunhoferIsegreenphotovoltaicsciencesolarsolar cellsolar cellssolar energySolarCellSolarCellsSolarEnergySolarPowerworld recordWorldRecordTue, 27 Jan 2009 14:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Fraunhofer IPMS demonstrates OLED with touch control]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/10/fraunhofer-ipms-demonstrates-oled-with-touch-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/10/fraunhofer-ipms-demonstrates-oled-with-touch-control/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/10/fraunhofer-ipms-demonstrates-oled-with-touch-control/#comments
Look, we're not going to argue that those chintzy clap lamps weren't pretty sweet in their heyday. And we're also not going to put up a fuss when you assert that snap bracelets were equally adorable in the early 90s. Nostalgia aside, Fraunhofer IPMS is headed straight for the future with its latest OLED breakthrough. Reportedly, the company has devised an OLED display that can be controlled via human touch or by simply waving one's hand in front of the panel. Unlike similar applications that have come before it, there's no additional hardware needed -- and therein lies the magic. The outfit is currently showing off the design at the Plastic Electronic 2008 show, though it yet to reveal anything close to a release plan.

[Via OLED-Display]

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Fraunhofer IPMS demonstrates OLED with touch control originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>displayFraunhoferFraunhofer IPMSFraunhoferIpmshaptichome automationHomeAutomationlightlightingOLEDtouchtouch controlTouchControlFri, 10 Oct 2008 11:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Virtual mirror destroys all the fun you have trying on outfits]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/27/virtual-mirror-destroys-all-the-fun-you-have-trying-on-outfits/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/27/virtual-mirror-destroys-all-the-fun-you-have-trying-on-outfits/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/27/virtual-mirror-destroys-all-the-fun-you-have-trying-on-outfits/#commentsThe always-imaginative gurus at Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft never cease to amaze, and at this year's IFA, they're delivering once more. The so-called "virtual mirror" gives to-be garb buyers an accurate look at what different outfits look like on their person without requiring them to try a single thing on. Granted, shopaholics are apt to detest this thing, but anyone with better things to do than try on four sweaters to see which one makes them look fat should be completely in love. The concept here is far from new, as we've seen both virtual makeover machines and fitting room enhancers before. Still, Fraunhofer's dream of getting you suited up and out of the store in mere minutes is one we'd love to see come true. Just don't ditch the traditional stalls too soon -- we wouldn't want any kind of worldwide uprising.

[Via Physorg, image courtesy of Flickr]

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Virtual mirror destroys all the fun you have trying on outfits originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clothesclothingFraunhoferFraunhofer-GesellschaftgarbIFaIFA 2008Ifa2008magic mirrorMagicMirrormirrorWed, 27 Aug 2008 09:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Fraunhofer takes a stab at non-exploding lithium-ion batteries]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/10/fraunhofer-takes-a-stab-at-non-exploding-lithium-ion-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/10/fraunhofer-takes-a-stab-at-non-exploding-lithium-ion-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/10/fraunhofer-takes-a-stab-at-non-exploding-lithium-ion-batteries/#commentsIt's hardly the only one working on making lithium-ion batteries a little less likely to blow up in your face, but the prolific folks at Fraunhofer Institute seem to think that they've come up with a solid contender for your future laptop or cellphone, and they're now set to take the wraps off it at the Hannover Messe conference later this month. The key to their solution, it seems, is the use of a non-flammable polymer electrolyte instead of the liquid electrolyte now commonly used in lithium-ion batteries. While that switch cuts down on the explosiveness, it also introduced a fair number of challenges, not the least of which is the fact that polymer becomes less conductive as it gets more solid. Fraunhofer's apparently made some significant progress on that front, however, and while they're still not completely satisfied with the conductivity, they say the batteries could be ready for commercial use in three to five years. They also, not surprisingly, see no end to the uses for 'em, saying that they could not only wind up in laptops and cellphones, but power tools, lawnmowers, and potentially even cars.

[Thanks, Mademoiselle Y]

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Fraunhofer takes a stab at non-exploding lithium-ion batteries originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[Via About Projectors]

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Fraunhofer's Kolibri Cordless sensor snaps 3D images on the go originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Apr 2008 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d camera3dCamerafraunhoferkolibristripe projectionStripeProjectionFri, 04 Apr 2008 09:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Fraunhofer says HD-ACC will make CDs "obsolete"]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/08/fraunhofer-says-hd-acc-will-make-cds-obsolete/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/08/fraunhofer-says-hd-acc-will-make-cds-obsolete/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/08/fraunhofer-says-hd-acc-will-make-cds-obsolete/#commentsThose Fraunhofer folks are nothing if not prolific, and it now looks like they're getting a little boastful as well, as evidenced by some comments reps from the group made at CES this week. As MacWorld reports, Fraunhofer IIS is not only saying that its new HD-ACC codec is "better than CD," but that it "makes CDs obsolete." That is apparently due to the codec's lossless compression of 24-bit music content, as opposed to the 16-bit, 44.1 kHz quality now found on CDs. What's more, the HD-AAC encoding process embeds a so-called "core layer" on any device that supports plain old AACs, although you'll obviously need a player with an HD-AAC decoder in order to take advantage of the fully lossless signal. Of course, some formats have a tendency to take off more quickly than others, so we'll just have to wait and see how HD-ACC plays out in the grander scheme of things.

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Fraunhofer says HD-ACC will make CDs "obsolete" originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thought-controlled appendages are far from new, but an international team of researchers have apparently created an apparatus that aims to make the lives of paralyzed individuals a tad easier. The Brain2Robot project utilizes electroencephalograph (EEG) signals in order to give patients the ability to control a robotic arm, which could eventually be used to do everything from hold periodicals to lift a cup of coffee. Reportedly, the arm could be ready for commercial use within just a few years, but there's no mention of an expected price range. Granted, we'd be a bit more excited about all of this if the technology were somehow made mobile, but it's hard to kvetch about a helping hand, regardless.

[Via Primidi]

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Brain2Robot project creates EEG-controlled robot arm originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Nov 2007 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brainbrain-computer interfaceBrain-computerInterfacebrain-controlledBrain2RobotEEGelectroencephalographFraunhoferhandicaphandicappedmedicalparalysisrobotic armRoboticArmthoughtthought-controlledMon, 26 Nov 2007 08:02:00 EST<![CDATA[3D medical display utilizes gesture-controlled interface]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/08/3d-medical-display-utilizes-gesture-controlled-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/08/3d-medical-display-utilizes-gesture-controlled-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/08/3d-medical-display-utilizes-gesture-controlled-interface/#comments
Though not quite as intense as HD surgery, we'd say this thing could still project some pretty startling results. The display shown above, which was developed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich-Hertz-Institut HHI in Berlin, relies on a pair of cameras mounted overhead and a single one integrated into its frame to capture exactly what angle the physician is gazing in at. Subsequently, the doctor can simply wave his / her finger and the image will rotate and shift as commanded in order to provide a more detailed look while keeping things as sterile as possible. Essentially, this system weds your average 3D display with a less common non-contact user interface, and while hard pricing deets weren't disclosed, the team suggested that even smaller medical practices should be able to squeeze this into their budget.

[Via medGadget]

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3D medical display utilizes gesture-controlled interface originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Nov 2007 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Those prolific folks at the Fraunhofer Institute recently took the wraps off yet another invention of theirs, this one promising to let projectors do things they've never done before (or at least let 'em do it more easily). More specifically, its "Surround Vision" software will automatically calibrate projectors to allow for images to be projected on surfaces of any shape with "pixel-precise accuracy". What's more, according to Gizmag, the system can apparently be used "in principle" with any type of projector. While it seems unlikely that many folks will be reworking their home theaters to take advantage of the system, the Fraunhofer folk see no shortage of other applications for the technology, including trade show booths, theme parks, simulators, and planitariums, to name a few.

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Fraunhofer's Surround Vision lets projectors get curvy originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Aug 2007 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's not often you see a piece of tech touted by its developer as being inspired by something "long, gray, and soft," but that's exactly how the researchers at Germany's prolific Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Institute are describing their ISELLA robotic arms. Inspired by the finesse and power of an elephant's trunk, the team developed a unique redundant motorized "muscle" called DOHELIX, consisting of dual drive shafts intertwined around each other in a double helix, resulting in a system that can be scaled from micrometer-scale muscles to cranes in container seaports. The protoype ISELLA unit (pictured) has ten DOHELIX muscles, enough to mimic the flexibility of the human arm, but the team expects even better results when the system is ready to ship in two years -- here's hoping some enterprising carnie rigs up the next generation of elephant rides.

[Via MedGadget]

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Elephant trunks inspire ISELLA robotic arm originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jul 2007 13:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dohelixFraunhoferFraunhofer-Gesellschaftisellaprosthetic armProstheticArmprotheticrobot armsRobotArmsrobotic armsRoboticArmsFri, 06 Jul 2007 13:41:00 EST<![CDATA[German researchers create zooming liquid lenses]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/12/german-researchers-create-zooming-liquid-lenses/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/12/german-researchers-create-zooming-liquid-lenses/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/12/german-researchers-create-zooming-liquid-lenses/#commentsLiquid lenses have been kicking around as the Next Big Thing for a while, but outside of cameo appearances in a couple Samsung cellphones, they haven't exactly made waves in the market. That may be in part due to the fact that they can be made smaller and cheaper than conventional optics, but haven't been able to provide zoom or particularly high resolution. All that might be changing, however, as a Fraunhofer Institute team working in conjunction with French firm Varioptic has developed a system of 4 liquid lenses that can snap from 1 - 2.5x magnification at the touch of a button. The system isn't quite ready for primetime yet -- exposure times are still a little long, it can't zoom continuously, and the assembly is a little big at 29mm -- but the team is already considering solutions to those problems and is ready to go to the prototype stage. With all the interest from cellphone manufacturers, we'll bet they solve those problems right quick.

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German researchers create zooming liquid lenses originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2007 16:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The research kids in Germany's Fraunhofer Institute just announced a tiny new video camera capable of shooting at a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution and a variable frame rate up to 60 frames per second. The MicroHDTV is said to measure a scant 4 x 4 x 8-cm. So either that picture above is not to scale (a Euro is about the size of a US quarter) or they don't include the housing, lens, transmitter, etc. in their dimensions. We'll assume the former since it's said to be small enough to fit in a racing-car cockpit, helmet, or any other tiny space you'd like to broadcast HDTV from. It operates using "standard optical systems" and can be controlled via a web interface across the Internet. It'll be on display at CeBIT in march where we'll see what this baby can do.

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Tiny camera shoots HDTV originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Feb 2007 09:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The research kids in Germany's Fraunhofer Institute just announced a tiny new video camera capable of shooting at a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution and a variable frame rate up to 60 frames per second. The MicroHDTV is said to measure a scant 4 x 4 x 8-cm. So either that picture above is not to scale (a Euro is about the size of a US quarter) or they don't include the housing, lens, transmitter, etc. in their dimensions. We'll assume the former since it's said to be small enough to fit in a racing-car cockpit, helmet, or any other tiny space you'd like to broadcast HDTV from. It operates using "standard optical systems" and can be controlled via a web interface across the Internet. It'll be on display at CeBIT in march where we'll see what this baby can do.

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Tiny camera shoots HDTV originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Feb 2007 09:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FraunhoferFraunhofer InstituteFraunhoferInstitutegermanyhdmicrohdtvother hardwareotherhardwareFri, 02 Feb 2007 09:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Fraunhofer Institute's i-Stick will call for help if dropped]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/21/fraunhofer-institutes-i-stick-will-call-for-help-if-dropped/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/21/fraunhofer-institutes-i-stick-will-call-for-help-if-dropped/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/21/fraunhofer-institutes-i-stick-will-call-for-help-if-dropped/#commentsThere's probably never been a better time for gadget-oriented elderly folks, given that there's all kinds of gear designed to keep an eye health-wise on 'em while out and about. Well, our friends at the Fraunhofer Institute have just invented what they're calling the i-Stick, a walking stick that will call an ambulance if it registers that it's laying horizontally on the ground for too long, thereby sending for medical aid to its carrier. (We're still trying to figure out what happens if the cat tips it over in the middle of the night.) So, If you're looking for something for your parents, grandparents, or just some folks that you'd like to keep an eye on, we think that the combination of that Bluetooth life-saving shirt and this i-Stick would be the perfect holiday gifts. Furthermore, the i-Stick's built-in life-saving feature will come in handy when street thugs get beaten down with one of these, giving Grandpa an easy way to call for an ambulance without breaking a sweat. Fraunhofer is apparently still looking for a distributor, so we may have to wait until beyond this winter to actually buy one.

[Via Textually]

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Fraunhofer Institute's i-Stick will call for help if dropped originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Nov 2006 05:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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