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Magnetic soap could make your next oil spill less oily

Amar Toor — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:24:00 EST

Instead of spending millions upon millions to clean up the next oil spill, why don't we just all pitch in and buy some soap? That's basically what researchers at the University of Bristol are proposing, with a new kind of soap that's apparently like no other. This soap, you see, is magnetic, which means it could be easily removed from water without leaving behind any hazardous chemicals -- a potentially major selling point for cleanup crews and environmentalists alike. To create it, the team collected water with chlorine and bromine ions, and used it to dissolve iron particles, creating a metallic core. They proceeded to test their creation by placing the soapy particles within a test tube, underneath layers of water and oil. Much to their delight, they were able to remove the particles with only a magnet, ostensibly providing a template upon which disaster response crews may build.

Magnetic soap could make your next oil spill less oily originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google's new Street View feature provides eerie glimpse of post-tsunami Japan

Amar Toor — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:44:00 EST

Google has put the devastation of March's Japanese tsunami in hauntingly stark relief, with the release of a new Street View feature that covers the country's most ravaged regions. It's all part of an initiative to "digitally archive" the aftermath of this year's earthquake and tsunami, with Street View images captured across some 44,000 kilometers of Northeastern Japan. The panoramic, 360-degree photos cover both inland and coastal regions, allowing users to retroactively trace the path of destruction across Fukushima and other areas, while placing them at ground level amidst a graveyard of battered homes and abandoned buildings. Google hopes this archive will help scientists to gain a better understanding of the damage wreaked by natural disasters, while preserving the memory of those who suffered most. It's viscerally eerie, powerful and, above all, tragic. Be sure to check it out at the source link below.

Google's new Street View feature provides eerie glimpse of post-tsunami Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint plans Emergency Alert messaging system in New York City, claims this is only a test

Joseph Volpe — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 01:47:00 EST

Know those emergency alerts that always seem to crop up when your sports team of choice is about to score a crucial goal? Yeah, well they're headed to a Sprint phone near you, signature auditory tone and all. After successfully testing the service in San Diego last fall, the carrier's gearing up for round two of the FCC and Mayor Bloomberg-approved system in New York City later this year, issuing FEMA alerts from the President, National Weather Service and local emergency operators to over a dozen compliant Android phones. If you're sporting a compatible handset, you can opt-in for the service by either dialing ##CMAS## or selecting the appropriate settings prompt, after which you'll receive geographically-specific texts of up to 90 characters. And don't worry about dismissing these warning messages as any 'ol SMS or racking up additional fees, they'll arrive free-of-charge bearing a unique "vibration cadence" and inbox icon. Curious to see if your phone's made the cut? The skip on past the break for the official PR.

Continue reading Sprint plans Emergency Alert messaging system in New York City, claims this is only a test

Sprint plans Emergency Alert messaging system in New York City, claims this is only a test originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 01:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: FEMA to test nationwide Emergency Alert System today, emphasis on 'test'

Amar Toor — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 06:13:00 EST

Don't freak out or anything, but at 2 PM EST today, the US government will sound a nationwide alarm. Barring a coincidence of cataclysmic proportion, however, it will only be a test. It's all part of FEMA and the FCC's Emergency Alert System (EAS), which is slated to be tried out on a nationwide level for the very first time. If, like us, you've spent a healthy portion of your life sitting in front of the TV, you're probably familiar with those monthly local alerts that tend to flash across the screen smack dab in the middle of a Saved by the Bell rerun. That's basically what's gonna happen today across the nation's television and radio networks. Some TV viewers will hear that familiar "this is a test" message during the trial, though most will simply see the word "test" run across their screens. The EAS would allow the president to disseminate information to the public in times of real emergency, which is why the government is so eager to make sure it actually works. All told, it'll last about 30 seconds, so plan your End of the World party accordingly. For more details, hit up the source links below.

PSA: FEMA to test nationwide Emergency Alert System today, emphasis on 'test' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 06:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel shows disaster management tech at IDF, casts fireballs

Myriam Joire — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 04:53:00 EST

Intel put some disaster management tech on display during a pre-IDF event yesterday and lucky for you, we got some hands-on time. The showcase focused on three main areas of disaster management: mitigation, preparedness and response. It included technologies such as connectivity provisions for disabled networks, energy management for distressed power grids, and -- by far to most impressive item on display -- fireballs! These spherical, rugged, low-cost, autonomous sensors are designed to be thrown into a fire and report data such as temperature, free-volatiles and air quality to first responder trucks via WiFi. Vital information such as the hottest spot and the chemical composition of a fire can be sent to both the firefighters' smartphones and the backend offices. Initial readings make it easier to assess the situation before sending in human life. Check out the fireballs and more of this disaster management tech in our gallery below.

Gallery: IDF disaster management tech showcase

Dante Cesa contributed to this report.

Intel shows disaster management tech at IDF, casts fireballs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 04:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gemini-Scout robot can scope out mining accidents, may save lives (video)

Amar Toor — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 08:29:00 EST

We've seen robots capable of entering hazardous nuclear plants and dangerous buildings, but engineers at Sandia Labs have now unveiled a new rescue bot that's explicitly designed to enter and investigate collapsed mines, as well. Measuring just two feet tall and less than four feet in length, the Gemini-Scout Mine Rescue Robot packs a set of gas sensors, a thermal camera and a two-way radio, allowing it to detect dangerous underground materials and relay critical information to above-ground rescue workers. Its can also navigate across rocky terrain, tight quarters, or flooded tunnels, and is sturdy enough to carry food and other supplies to trapped miners. Operators, meanwhile, can manipulate the Gemini-Scout using only an Xbox 360 controller, which was incorporated into the system on the strength of its intuitive design and UI. Sandia's engineers demoed their bot last week in DC and are hoping to begin licensing it to rescue agencies by the end of next year. Crawl past the break for a video of their creation, along with a full press release.

Continue reading Gemini-Scout robot can scope out mining accidents, may save lives (video)

Gemini-Scout robot can scope out mining accidents, may save lives (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony intros 200-pound battery to power businesses, government agencies during a blackout

Dana Wollman — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 11:17:00 EST

In the five months since a tsunami and 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit Japan, we've seen various technology companies struggle to get their manufacturing operations back in order, but Sony appears to be the first to introduce a product seemingly inspired by the disaster itself. The outfit's Japanese division just announced the ESSP-2000, a 90kg (198-pound)battery whose 2.4kWh of power should keep businesses and government agencies afloat for at least a few hours in the event of a blackout or natural disaster. All told, the battery can support a maximum load of 1000VA, and can recharge to 95 percent in about two hours -- not bad, considering the capacity of this thing. Sony also went with olivine-type lithium-ion iron phosphate batteries, which it says will last ten years. With a price of ¥2 million ($25,700), this battery's clearly not meant to be a savior for home users, though for businesses it could be a small price to pay for an uninterrupted power supply.

Sony intros 200-pound battery to power businesses, government agencies during a blackout originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 11:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Parrot AR.Drone floats into damaged New Zealand cathedral, returns with haunting video

Amar Toor — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 10:14:00 EST

Whenever disaster strikes, robots are among the first to scope out the damage. Rarely, however, do they return with footage as eerie as what this Parrot AR.Drone recorded in Christchurch, New Zealand. In the wake of Monday's 6.0-magnitude earthquake, engineers sent the $500 bot into the city's Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament -- a 106-year-old Roman Catholic church that had sustained significant damage, rendering it too dangerous for humans to enter. The iPad-controlled quadrocopter swooped in and captured rather depressing images of the cathedral's battered interior. The video's quality may be low, but its creepy quotient is high: shattered stained-glass windows, piles of debris, stray pieces of iconography -- it's all quite heavy. Head past the break to see it for yourself.

[Thanks, Ross]

Continue reading Parrot AR.Drone floats into damaged New Zealand cathedral, returns with haunting video

Parrot AR.Drone floats into damaged New Zealand cathedral, returns with haunting video originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 10:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Australia trialing new emergency finder system with centimeter accuracy

Richard Lai — Tue, 03 May 2011 09:27:00 EST

This year has seen the evil doings of many powerful natural disasters around the world, and while the capable organisations are doing their best to provide relief, many lives could've been saved if the stranded victims were able to provide their precise positions for quicker rescue. Having seen the number of recent floods and cyclones in Queensland, Australia, Ergon Energy started trialing a new emergency tracking system earlier this year, which utilises pole-mounted mobile GPS stations to pinpoint cellphones equipped with special but cheap location-based chips -- Samsung and Nokia are said to be participants in this project. Over the next 12 to 18 months, said energy firm will be deploying 1,000 of these stations to cover 95 percent of the state, in order to let emergency services track down calling victims within centimeters -- that's a huge leap from conventional GPS devices' 10 to 20 meters, though an updated land database with matching accuracy is still required before the system reaches its full potential. Regardless, here's hoping that this brilliant project will be brought over to many more disaster-prone areas sooner rather than later.

[Thanks, Justin]

Australia trialing new emergency finder system with centimeter accuracy originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 May 2011 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iRobot Packbots enter Fukushima nuclear plant to gather data, take photos, save lives (video)

Amar Toor — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 10:56:00 EST

iRobot recently deployed a pair of robots to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan, where intense levels of radiation have made it increasingly dangerous for human rescue workers to operate. The remote-controlled Packbots entered one of Fukushima's reactor buildings on Sunday morning, in the hopes of providing authorities with a better idea of what's going on inside the plant's nether regions. Each Packbot entered the facility with an attached video camera, allowing Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) to receive live interior images and temperature readings of the troubled reactor building. It would certainly be a daunting task for any human to undertake, but the Packbot is specially designed to cope with hazardous conditions (in the past, it's been used to defuse bombs for the U.S. Army). And the Packbot isn't alone, either. Authorities are also using a mechanical excavator and transporter to wipe away some of the debris outside the plant, while an unmanned helicopter has been hoisted skyward, to take aerial photos of the area. TEPCO has yet to release information on the Packbots' findings, but if Sunday's mission proves to be a success, they'll be sent in to two other reactor buildings, to do it all over again. Check out a video and an extra image of the Packbot, after the break.

Continue reading iRobot Packbots enter Fukushima nuclear plant to gather data, take photos, save lives (video)

iRobot Packbots enter Fukushima nuclear plant to gather data, take photos, save lives (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Apr 2011 10:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TALON robot gets declawed, helps Japan sniff out radiation (video)

Sean Buckley — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 23:58:00 EST

Robotics experts at the Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory just taught an old war machine some new tricks, namely radiation detection -- a timely acquisition of knowledge, for sure. Swapping out rocket launchers and machine guns for a suite of radiological sensors, digital cameras, and a GPS device, this modified TALON will be used to map the radiation levels (and create a visual output) surrounding the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The newly modified TALON landed in Japan just last week, joining an existing team of robot helpers already in use in the disaster area, including two additional TALONs equipped with sensors that can identify more than 7500 environmental hazards. Guns for Geiger counters seems like a good trade to us; check the video up top to watch the 'bot try out its treads.

[Thanks, John]

TALON robot gets declawed, helps Japan sniff out radiation (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 16 Apr 2011 23:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iRobot, QinetiQ machines to assist in Japan relief effort

Christopher Trout — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 03:25:00 EST

A few weeks ago, it looked like robots would play a relatively small role in recovery efforts following the earthquake and subsequent nuclear crisis in Japan, but as concern grows over radiation leaks, robotics companies are positioning their mechanical offspring to do jobs deemed unsafe for humans. We've already heard of Aldebaran's plans for a fleet of rescue bots, and now QinetiQ and iRobot are lending automated assistance to the cause. QinetiQ plans to send in a set of Robotic Applique Kits -- used to convert Bobcat loaders into unmanned vehicles -- along with sensor machines like the TALON and Dragon. Meanwhile, iRobot's enlisted two each of its PackBots and Warriors to help aid in recovery -- the former is used by the US military for bomb disposal. Both companies have already deployed teams to Japan for training.

iRobot, QinetiQ machines to assist in Japan relief effort originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 03:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Softbank to offer free phones to earthquake orphans, free replacement for lost iPhones

Richard Lai — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 09:14:00 EST

Following the catastrophic earthquakes and tsunami in Japan, surviving victims from the affected region are going to face a tough time over the coming months, if not years. Many of those who are more fortunate have been actively contributing in one way or another, regardless of distance, to help put Japan on its road to recovery. Back in the country, one such generous person is non other than Softbank founder and CEO Masayoshi Son, who's recently visited Tamura, one of the cities most affected by the Fukushima nuclear disaster. During that trip, Son announced that Softbank will cover a year's worth of living costs (commute and food) and provide job positions for the 1,200 people to be relocated to Takeo in Saga, the prefecture where Son originated.

Additionally, Son is using Softbank's "Let's Do It" campaign site -- a tracker for his "Let's Do It" tasks posted on Twitter, each accompanied by a completion status indicator -- to crowdsource requests for supporting earthquake victims. So far, these requests are mainly about ways to increase efficiency for donation efforts (like publishing a live list of item shortages for each shelter, and setting up new mobile networks at the shelters), but there were two that caught our attention. Last week, one of Son's followers suggested that Softbank should provide orphaned children free phone credit for a limited time, so that they could contact their friends and other family members. Son then retweeted this idea and announced that all earthquake orphans will receive free phones, along with call costs waived until they reach the age of 18. Another gadget-related initiative came in earlier today with Son promising free replacement for all lost or damaged iPhones due to the earthquake, with details to follow later.

Obviously, anyone providing aid to Japan in any way, shape, or form deserves just as much credit, but Softbank's extra mileage and cunning use of social networking is certainly praiseworthy in its own right. Here's hoping that Son's actions will inspire others for even greater causes.

[Thanks, Tres]

Update: It's worth pointing out that Son said he's also happy to help pay phone bills for earthquake orphans who are already on other networks, including DoCoMo. Good on ya, sir!

Softbank to offer free phones to earthquake orphans, free replacement for lost iPhones originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 09:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aldebaran to create all-terrain disaster relief robots, make a hero of Nao?

Christopher Trout — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 09:11:00 EST

We've seen Nao bust a move and play a little footy, and now its creator is making plans to take its bots off-roading in the name of disaster relief. Aldebaran robotics recently announced its intention to invest in and develop a range of robots that can traverse rocky roads to help in hazardous situations, citing the tsunami in Japan as a catalyst for the move. The company's yet to state how it will make this happen, but says it's already made contributions to Cap Robotique, the "French cluster dedicated to the development and innovation in the field of service robotics." If you ask us, we're all for Nao gettin' a little dirt under its nails, as long as it can still serve Fosse. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Aldebaran to create all-terrain disaster relief robots, make a hero of Nao?

Aldebaran to create all-terrain disaster relief robots, make a hero of Nao? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 09:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba and Hitachi LCD plants damaged, will shut down for a month

Sean Hollister — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:39:00 EST

You can't have a 9.0 magnitude earthquake without breaking a few factories, particularly ones that produce fragile liquid crystal screens, and this week Toshiba, Hitachi and Panasonic are each reporting damages that have forced them to close LCD production facilities affected by the tsunami and quake. Panasonic isn't sure when its plant in Chiba prefecture might resume carving up the glass sandwiches, telling Bloomberg that "there has been some damage, though not a fire or a collapse," but both Hitachi and Toshiba will reportedly halt some assembly lines for around a month to deal with damages. It's probably still too soon to talk about panel shortages -- though they seem likely soon -- but we'll let you know how things progress.

Toshiba and Hitachi LCD plants damaged, will shut down for a month originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony, Subaru, and Toyota close factories in wake of earthquake, other companies check in

Tim Stevens — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:07:00 EST

Our thoughts this morning are with the folks in Japan and the other Pacific areas affected by the massive 8.9 earthquake that struck about 230 miles East of Tokyo. Reports of damage are flooding in from the country, and indeed many familiar manufacturers are checking in. Sony and Toyota have both stopped operations in their factories due to damage. Tragically, one Honda worker lost his life after a wall collapsed, while several Panasonic workers are said to have suffered minor injuries. It remains to be seen exactly what impacts this will have on consumers, but Sony's closed factories were responsible for the production of Blu-ray discs and batteries, while the numerous automotive shutdowns could result in short-term shortages. This bad news sent stocks downward, with German share prices for Sony dropping 2.5 percent and Honda 4.5 percent. We're still watching with concern to see what other impacts the resultant tsunamis could have, but for now we'll keep hoping for the best.

Update: Some further news from Smarthouse, which indicates that Sharp's new 10G LCD plant in Sakai City shut itself down automatically upon first signs of a quake. Hooray for technology.

Sony, Subaru, and Toyota close factories in wake of earthquake, other companies check in originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google reacts to Japanese tsunami with a Person Finder tool

Vlad Savov — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 07:59:00 EST

Now this is the sort of activity you'd expect from a true search giant. Instead of sitting on its hands during the tsunami that has stricken Japan today, Google has put together a Person Finder tool where people worried about the plight of their loved ones can look them up by name. There are only a few thousand records up on the site at the moment, but it should still be a useful repository for missing person data, particularly since mobile networks were taken down by the tsunami's damage earlier this morning. Information should also start piling up as recovery efforts continue. Let's just hope this Person Finder won't have to be used for too long and things can be brought back to normal soon.

Continue reading Google reacts to Japanese tsunami with a Person Finder tool

Google reacts to Japanese tsunami with a Person Finder tool originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Space Shuttle Atlantis ends its run of predicting disaster for other NASA shuttles

Chad Mumm — Thu, 27 May 2010 12:44:00 EST

And then there were two...

After 25 years, 32 successful missions, and more than 120-million miles traveled, space shuttle Atlantis made what's likely to be its last landing yesterday at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Of course, being the astute follower of space tech that you are, you knew this already. But did you also know that Atlantis had an uncanny knack for predicting disaster?

Way back in November of 1985, on just its second mission, Atlantis experienced a blow-back of hot gases past the primary O-rings in one of its solid rocket boosters, resulting in serious erosion of said O-ring. NASA noticed the problem, but didn't recognize the danger -- three months later a similar O-ring failure led to the loss of the Challenger and her crew.

Three years later during STS-27, Atlantis' heat shield sustained severe damage from a piece of insulation that broke off of the right solid rocket booster during launch. Since this was a classified mission for the Department of Defense (you know, to handle super secret military stuff), the shuttle's crew was forced to encrypt the images of the damaged tiles it sent back to NASA, which lowered the resolution of the images enough that the ground crew wrote off the damage as a trick of the light. Looking at the clear images onboard the spacecraft, the crew's commander Robert "Hoot" Gibson was so certain of the damage, he remarked that "we are going to die." Fortunately, Atlantis survived reentry, and the ground crew stared in shock at the missing, cracked, and broken tiles while likely getting a serious dose of "I told you so" from the crew. Years later in 2003, the exact same thing happened to the shuttle Columbia on launch; needless to say, her crew wasn't so lucky.

The second-youngest orbiter, named after the world's longest-serving scientific research vessel (the RV Atlantis), first blasted into space on October 3, 1985 on a military mission for the Department of Defense -- yet again to do secret military stuff. Oh, how the times have changed... its final mission saw Atlantis successfully deliver the Russian Mini-Research Module Rassvet to the ISS. She'll be prepped one last time to stand-by as a rescue ship for the upcoming (and final) missions of Endeavor and Discovery, but Atlantis' days in space are likely over. All gussied up with nowhere to go, Atlantis will finally be laid to rest. And yes, we'll shed a tear or two.

Space Shuttle Atlantis ends its run of predicting disaster for other NASA shuttles originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 May 2010 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ReCellular will recycle your phone and donate all proceeds to Haiti disaster relief

Vlad Savov — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:43:00 EST

It might've been hard to watch pictures of the latest natural disaster striking the island of Haiti recently, but lending a hand in the relief effort shouldn't be. If you've got an older cellphone -- functioning or otherwise -- batteries, chargers, or other accessories, ReCellular wants to hear from you. The cellphone recycling company has launched a Phones for Haiti program, whereby you can donate your unwanted handsets and rest assured that 100 percent of the revenue raised from them will go to helping Haiti survivors rebuild. Partnering with the American Red Cross, ReCellular will even pay for the shipping of your castoff electronics, so really, how much easier do you want it?

ReCellular will recycle your phone and donate all proceeds to Haiti disaster relief originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ioSafe Solo hard drive places a 2TB bet on all kinds of disasters

Richard Lai — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:08:00 EST

It's Friday the 13th, and ioSafe couldn't have chosen a better time to update their Solo fireproof and waterproof hard drive line with a 2TB model. Sure, it'll cost you $399 for a USB 2.0 connection instead of eSATA, FireWire 800 or USB 3.0, but you'll never know when your yacht sinks or burns down, sending that precious Kenny G collection to oblivion. Don't go thinking you can just get the $149 500GB model and upgrade it yourself either -- you'll have to destroy the waterproof seal to get to the hard drive, as demonstrated before. Yeah, life's tough.

Filed under: Storage

ioSafe Solo hard drive places a 2TB bet on all kinds of disasters originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Researchers develop flying WiFi robots for disaster relief

Joseph L. Flatley — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:59:00 EST

Researchers at Germany's Ilmenau University of Technology are developing flying quadcopter robots that can be used to form a self-assembling ad-hoc wireless network in the event of disaster. Built with off-the-shelf parts (including VIA's Pico-ITX hardware and a GPS unit) the robots are designed to provide both mobile phone and WiFi access -- and they can do it far more quickly than a technician on the ground might be able to. The device comes in a kit for €300 (about $380), which includes all but the battery -- the batteries currently run around €1,000 (over $1200) and only offer up 20 minutes of flight time. Once the device has found a perch, however, it can operate for "several hours." If you'd like to see some more of this guy, be sure to head on over to FutureParc hall at CeBIT. Either that, or check out the additional picture after the break.

[Thanks, David]

Continue reading Researchers develop flying WiFi robots for disaster relief

Filed under: Robots, Wireless

Researchers develop flying WiFi robots for disaster relief originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E-paper signs being tested in Tokyo for disaster prevention

Joseph L. Flatley — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 03:38:00 EST

While we're still waiting for our electronic broadsheet (hell, we'll settle for a tabloid) it looks like folks in Toshima will be seeing quite a bit of the e-paper as they hit the streets of this Tokyo ward. In a test conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the signage has been installed in the proximity of the Toshima Life and Industry Plaza, where a wireless network was established to provide updates in case of an emergency. There are currently two signs: one in the lobby of the post office measures over three meters across and sports 240 x 768 resolution (the paper has 4mm pixels), and holds down power consumption at about 24W. Stationed at the Higashi-Ikebukuro bus stop, the second sign is 60 x 40 centimeters with 144 x 96 resolution, and power consumption here is about 9W. The test will run until January 29th, after which point the city will have to rely upon its usual civil defense repertoire -- which is believed to include the vigilant eye of Honda's 49-foot ASIMO.

Filed under: Displays

E-paper signs being tested in Tokyo for disaster prevention originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 03:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japanese mobiles could make satellite calls to massive dish

Darren Murph — Sat, 05 May 2007 04:45:00 EST

When you're already tracking every kid out there to make sure no one gets into too much mischief, you definitely need a way to make a call whilst in "mountainous areas or at sea," right? Apparently the Japanese government thinks so, as it's planning on bringing satellite calling to the masses by launching a bird that's 50-meters in diameter in order to enable "ordinary handsets" (you know, the ones without the mile-long antennas) to make satellite calls in times of emergency with just slight modifications. The aforementioned sat would be over twice the size of the 19-meter Kiku No. 8, which currently holds the crown for the largest launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, meaning that the newfangled equipment would fit nicely within the confines of today's increasingly shrinking cellphone and still find signal. Interestingly, the ministry isn't looking to get the service going before 2015, so we just might be looking at mainstream antenna-less iterations by that time anyway.

[Via DigitalWorldTokyo, photo courtesy of SatellitePhones]

Filed under: Cellphones

Japanese mobiles could make satellite calls to massive dish originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 05 May 2007 04:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japanese mobiles could make satellite calls to massive dish

Darren Murph — Sat, 05 May 2007 04:45:00 EST

Filed under: Handsets, Studies, Misc

Japanese mobiles could make satellite calls to massive dish originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 05 May 2007 04:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Modded flashlight doubles as cellphone charger

Darren Murph — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 10:05:00 EST

Although most modern phones can go quite a few hours sans an AC outlet, we understand the need for juice in unexpected emergencies, and while the solar-powered charger does a fair job at high noon, you'll probably need a different approach come nightfall. Tackling two issues in one fell swoop is the cellphone-charging flashlight mod, which not only provides a beacon of light for those dim excursions, but also offers up hand crank recharging abilities for your fading mobile. Of course, hacking your flashlight to pull double duty as a manually powered charger is a bit more complex than just picking up a hamster or bicycle-powered option, but you've got to admit, crafting a makeshift charger with spliced cables and a soldering iron is totally MacGyver-approved. So if you're interested in giving yourself (and your handset) a bit longer life when robotic overlords eventually invade our domiciles, be sure to hit the read link for a video demonstration, and do mind the managerial cat on duty.

[Thanks, Kipkay]

Filed under: Cellphones

Modded flashlight doubles as cellphone charger originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Feb 2007 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Modded flashlight doubles as cellphone charger

Darren Murph — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 10:05:00 EST

Filed under: Misc

Modded flashlight doubles as cellphone charger originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Feb 2007 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japan rescuers to get water jet cutters for debris slicing

Darren Murph — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 02:24:00 EST

While Japan is fairly well equipped to notify citizens of impending doom, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency is taking another step to preparing its rescue forces for anything in times of emergency, and the forthcoming water jet cutter should help slice through debris without the risk of starting a fire in the process. Due to a railway disaster in April of 2005 which forced rescuers to find an alternate way of cutting metal with gasoline sloshed about, the water jet cutters were moved up in priority, and now the powerful streams can output a high-pressure blast of water / sand in order to make a "1.5-centimeter cut through a 2-centimeter-thick steel plate in just a single minute." Of course, the biggest boon here is the device's inability to spark a fire, but the pressure cutter can also be used in instances where flammability isn't an issue, and it has already been demonstrated to local reporters last week. Although we're not sure just how soon these slicers, along with high-powered "blowers" to whisk away harmful fumes, will be put into action, they'll be hitting the fire departments of Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Sapporo first.

[Via Fark]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Japan rescuers to get water jet cutters for debris slicing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Jan 2007 02:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TiVo fundraising with self-branded toasters / snowglobes

Darren Murph — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 16:34:00 EST

While just about everyone has experienced their fair share of ups and downs with TiVo, it's great to see the smiley TV box raising funds for two meaningful causes. The firm is offering up self-branded toasters and snowglobes (for $45 and $28, respectively) to its employees in order to raise money for the James Kim Memorial Fund and The Katrina Fund. Of course, it could be slightly difficult to get your hands on either of these adornments if you can't badge into TiVo HQ everyday, but perhaps a saintly reader could be a liaison for a group buy? Regardless, even if you're still using one of the eight toasters you got as a graduation gift or you've severed all ties with TiVo (and jumped ship), here's to lending a helping hand to those in need. Keep reading for a taste of TiVo toast...

[Via PVRWire]

Continue reading TiVo fundraising with self-branded toasters / snowglobes

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Home Entertainment

TiVo fundraising with self-branded toasters / snowglobes originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Dec 2006 16:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Punchscan incorporates cryptography into e-voting

Darren Murph — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 10:21:00 EST

Considering the disaster that has been e-voting, we're not surprised to see another firm stepping forward with a slightly less complex alternative to confidently casting your ballot. Reverting back to the less problematic methods of paper-and-pencil voting, yet offering up a way to electronically store and track each vote, David Chaum and his research team have unveiled the Punchscan system to hopefully solve the world's e-voting woes. The cryptographic solution involves a double-sided ballot which is split into two halves using a hole punch, giving you one side to take home. The "receipt" reportedly doesn't disclose which candidate you voted for, and allows you to logon once home to verify that your vote was indeed cast, and cast for the intended party. So if you're worried that your hard-earned vote may be heading to File 13 rather than being counted, maybe you should start politicking to get Punchscan going in your neck of the woods, and if you're still confused about how this two-faced encryption dealio works, just peep the video, yeah?

[Via Slashdot]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Punchscan incorporates cryptography into e-voting originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Nov 2006 10:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Discovery HD Yogyakarta Earthquake special: Panic in the Ring of Fire

Richard Lawler — Wed, 31 May 2006 20:36:00 EST

During last weeks devastating earthquake in Indonesia, Discovery HD was actually on the ground filming a television special about the (still) ready-to-erupt volcano Mount Merapi. The morning of the quake they got to the affected area, Yogyakarta, within minutes and recorded the destruction all in HD. The one hour special airs Sunday at 7 p.m. on Discovery HD.

[For more information on how you can help the victims of the earthquake, you can check out the Red Cross' website]

Filed under: Discovery-HD

Discovery HD Yogyakarta Earthquake special: Panic in the Ring of Fire originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 May 2006 20:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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