laser
Latest
HDMI 1.3 on deck for 2007
Unless you've got a PlayStation 3, we can probably peg the number of HDMI 1.3-equipped devices in your home right now at exactly zero. However, if you've been waiting for Deep Color displays and receivers that support all next generation audio codecs like DTS-HD Master, Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus there are plenty of devices on their way in 2007. According to EETimes online, Sony and Mitsubishi will be debuting new TVs (like Mitsu's Laser rear projecting HDTV) that take advantage of the wider color gamut afforded by HDMI 1.3. Besides xvYCC, 32-bit Deep Color support will increase color accuracy on upcoming TVs. Denon might not be ready to jump into the HD DVD / Blu-ray battle, but it's got several 1080p and HDMI 1.3-compatible receivers on the way including advanced audio and video processing capabilities. We should see one more HDMI 1.3 device this year when Toshiba releases the HD-XA2 HD DVD player, but the real treats will be waiting at CES 2007.[Thanks, Brian]Read - HDMI 1.3: Better DTV images, sound in 2007Read - Denon's HDMI 1.3 Receivers "scheduled for mid-year introduction"Read - Why today's best HDTVs aren't worth buying
ATRS to make entering / exiting vehicles easier for handicapped individuals
While there's certainly smart enough wheelchairs to get you around town without mauling a lamppost or taking out a crowd of bystanders, a Pennsylvania-based team has developed a system to get wheelchair-bound individuals in and out of their cars a lot easier. Engineers at Lehigh and Carnegie Mellon have partnered with robotic startup Freedom Sciences LLC and Freedom Lift Corporation to unveil the Automatic Transport and Retrieval System, which will supposedly "enable wheelchair users to drive while sitting in standard automobile seats that meet federal safety regulations." Currently, motorists are forced to use cumbersome, bolt-in attachments that typically require heavy modifications to the car in order to operate; the ATRS system, however, uses remote controls, wireless technologies, and "lasers" to assist drivers into a standard seat, roll their wheelchair "autonomously" to the loading dock, and close up the rear door, all while parked in the driver's seat. Sensational as it may sound, the system doesn't come cheap (nor with a wheelchair), and will cost handicapped individuals (or insurance companies) between "$15,000 and $20,000" when it goes on sale next spring.
Coming soon: DIY laser hair removal
It looks like its booming days for the hair-removal business, with Philips recently scoring a patent for its light-based razor technology and Palomar now snagging the all-important FDA approval needed to market its StarLux laser hair removal system for home use. It's not the first time the company's done the FDA dance, however, initially getting the go-ahead to start eradicating unwanted body hair in 1997, although the technology was strictly was limited to professional use at that time. This new home version apparently boasts the same core technology that the pros use, employing pulses of intense light emitted into the hair follicles to wipe 'em out and prevent new hair from growing. What's not so clear is when the system will actually be available to the general public, or how much it'll cost, although it will apparently be an over-the-counter deal. [Via Medgadget]
Sony patents Wii-like pointer tech (20 months ago)
God bless the U.S. Patent and Trademark office. While the archaic system of idea protection might indeed stifle creativity and lead to what some call "legalized extortion," its publicly accessible patent filings give us some of the best early glimpses into the internal plans of some highly secretive companies.The latest bit of insider information comes from a Sony patent filed for "an input device providing users with a pointing capability [which] includes a sender portion and a receiver portion." According to the patent, filed way back in May 2005, a user-operated unit sends a beam of light to one or more receiver units, which interpret the input as a "target point" on the screen.You'd be forgiven for thinking this sounds a lot like the remote and sensor bar combo used in a competing video game system, but there's nothing in the patent limiting the device to just the PS3. In fact, the patent explicitly states the pointer should be easily integrated with "televisions, DVD players and recorders, digital or personal video recorders, cable and satellite set-top boxes, and video game consoles." A universal remote/pointer? An intriguing idea, but one that sounds hard to implement.Which isn't to say Sony is necessarily planning on implementing it at all. Just because a patent has been filed doesn't mean a product is pending -- indeed, there hasn't been a public peep on the subject from Sony since the patent was filed months ago. Still, don't be surprised if and when you hear about Sony's revolutionary new control device.Previously: WIPO patent on similar Sony tech.[Via Digg, MaxConsole]
Arizona implements Lidar gun to nab tailgaters
While we can't say we're exactly fond of notorious tailgaters ourselves, we won't be the first to agree that fines in "the hundreds of dollars" are exactly fitting for those who like follow closely. Nevertheless, the Arizona Department of Public Safety is taking a note from Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, and Oregon by implementing a radar-based tracking system to calculate just how far back a car is from another while cruising on the freeway. Laser Technology's Lidar (no known connection to Liger) works essentially like a speed gun, except it boasts a higher level of accuracy and the ability to calculate the distance between passing cars down to the tenth of a second. Arizona cops are reportedly loving the new machine, as it's "basically impossible" to argue with, and supposedly "educates the people who get pulled" because of it. So if you get a thrill from seeing just how close you can come to kissing that bumper ahead of you, or you just get a testosterone rush every time you get behind the wheel, you may want to put a few seconds (at least) between you and your closest roadmate when rolling through AZ.[Via Slashdot]
Sonar Blu-ray laser pen is made out of gutted players
There's no question that the guys over at Wicked Lasers are completely laser obsessed, and their most recent laser-based endeavor -- extracting the Blue laser from a Blu-ray player to create what they call the "Sonar laser" -- is a testament to this fact. Apparently the supply of the Blu-ray diode is so short (we wonder why) that their team of laser engineers were driven to ripping apart a retail Blu-ray player in order to extract its most valuable component. Presumably this extreme method is the justification behind the $1999.99 price tag that Wicked Lasers has placed on the Sonar laser, although we wouldn't bet on them getting every diode this way. Personally, we're left wondering why Wicked Lasers didn't up the exclusivity factor by using gutted PS3s. That way they could've charged $2599.98, geddit?
Silicon wafers to solve blue laser supply problem?
Blue lasers. The little diode is at the heart of Blu-ray and HD DVD technology, and its scarcity is the reason you might be reading this while camping out for a PlayStation 3 right now. Shimei Semiconductor Co. thinks it's found an easier way to make them by growing the gallium nitride LEDs on a silicon wafer instead of the sapphire-based process used currently. The predicted lower cost and longer lifespan of the components sounds great ...too bad these aren't expected to be available until April of 2007. Still, those waiting for a dual-format player -- or maybe a European PS3 -- might have one of these blue lasers in their future.[Via CNet]
Boeing's laser-equipped 747-400F ready for testing
It looks like scenes from Independence Day and Star Wars may not be so futuristic after all, especially considering Boeing's recent unveiling of its heavily modified (and laser-equipped) 747-400F. Following the recent "first light" phase on its ATL-packin' C-130H, the "airborne laser (ABL) aircraft" was officially introduced at a ceremony in the firm's integrated defense systems facility in Wichita, and it was announced that all systems were go for "testing." Even the branch's director, General Henry Obering III, threw in a Skywalker reference as he insinuated that the forthcoming plane represented "the forces of good," and unleashing it was akin to "giving the American people their first light saber." Just be careful where you bust that bad boy out, Mr. Obering. [Via FARK]
Mazu Kan's "contact-free" Laser Martial Arts game
If you've got the bank credentials to back it up, you can build your own robotic fighting machine, or hop in the "squishy ball shooting" Land Walker and (slowly) mow down neighborhood pests as you please. But if you've only got $60, and don't feel like sustaining any major injuries when releasing that pent-up rage, Mazu Kan's Laser Martial Arts game has you covered. This two-person, "contact-free" slugfest contains a pair of wearable sensors that track your punches, dodges, and uppercuts to determine who loses their "10 life points" first. The built-in "sound and rumble" effects supposedly help you forget that you're not in an actual brawl, while the "two levels of combat" should put those newly-acquired cagefighting skills to the test. Red vs Blue tees not included.[Via Uber-Review]
How to cram three terabytes onto a CD-R
Okay, so there's no magic product (yet) that will literally burn three terabytes onto a writeable CD, but Harvard researchers are certainly getting closer to making it happen. The group has developed an "optical nano antenna" that's built onto an inexpensive, off-the-shelf antenna in order to bypass that pesky diffraction limit that prevents current lasers from focusing light onto a smaller spot than half its native wavelength. By utilizing two gold "nano rods" separated by a 30 nanometer gap, they have devised a method for a laser sporting an 830 nanometer wavelength to focus its beam onto a 40 nanometer area, allowing for mind boggling amounts of data to be written to an optical disc. While the integrity of the burn is more than sketchy using such a high resolution beam, the team of engineers are hard at work trying to improve and perfect the space-saving process. Until then, we suppose we're still stuck paying an arm and a leg (or two) for those spacious, burnable Blu-ray / HD DVD discs.[Thanks, Adam]
Inventor patents laser microphone
It seems folks are just incessant in the quest to create new kinds of microphones, with a California-based inventor patenting the latest attempt in the form of the sure-to-be-Mini-Me-approved laser microphone. While most venues have those run-of-the-mill mics -- which typically enlarge diaphragm size to increase sensitivity -- David Schwartz thinks he has a better idea for picking up even the slightest peeps without introducing distortion. His device will reportedly stream damp air containing microscopic water particles through a tube, while a laser diode beams light through the vessel onto a sensor located on the opposite side. When sound waves enter the tube, the vibration of the droplets will cause the sensor to detect changes optically as the beam is disturbed, supposedly resulting in near-perfect vocal reproduction. While confident that the setup wouldn't induce wild fits of feedback, Schwartz's invention would presumably cost a pretty penny, and would likely only make a difference to those professional karaoke singers out there anyway.[Via New Scientist Tech]
Laser microchips set to speed computing
Silicon-and-wire-based computer chips not fast enough for you? Your gaming rig may one day be supercharged by chips that communicate by laser light.The New York Times has a report on a new study in academic journal Optics Express that details how using lasers rather than electrical pulses to send data could result in transfer rates up to 100 times what is currently possible. The technology could allow computer makers to pack chips even tighter inside a case and remove a significant bottleneck in the download of broadband data from the internet.Commercial applications aren't likely before the end of the decade, the article says, and affordable consumer versions will likely take even longer. As gamers know better than anyone, when it comes to hot new technology, patience is a virtue.
Intel embedding lasers into silicon for speedy data
In what's being marked as a breakthrough in the world of "photonics," Intel has managed to squeeze laser beam functionality into silicon-based chips, allowing for high speed data transfer between chips on the cheap. The new technology should be a boon to both high-end computer manufacturers and the fiber-optics industry, allowing for cheaper, smaller and faster optical switching of high volumes of data. Intel managed the feat by bonding some light-emitting indium phosphide to the surface of a regular ol' silicon chip that has been etched with light-directing channels. With billions of lasers in one place, the chips should help with the "last mile" problem of bringing fiber to the home, and resolve most bandwidth bottlenecks inside your computer -- though that type of consumer application could be quite a few years down the road. Commercial versions of the chips are still years away, but we're liking where this is headed.
Laser system promises to help keep trains on the tracks
The US Federal Railroad Administration is turning to lasers to help keep the country's railways in tip top shape. The system, developed by researchers at the University of California, San Diego, effectively "taps" the railroad tracks with a laser pulse while it flies along the rails at speeds up to 70 miles per hour, checking for both surface cuts and internal cracks with, well, laser-like accuracy. Current track-inspection systems top out at just 30 miles per hour and, according to the researchers, can often miss the more dangerous internal cracks in the track that can lead to derailings. The first tests of the system done back in March were apparently promising, although there are still more tests planned before the admin makes a final decision. But you already know our position: everything's better with lasers.[Via Futurismic]
Unboxing the new Mighty Mouse
While we're certainly not rushing out to snatch up Apple's new Wireless Mighty Mouse, the heavy response to this Bluetooth-equipped rodent makes us think that a lot of you Macheads out there are eager to learn more before laying down your $70. With that in mind, we figured a full gallery of unboxing photos would be just the cure for your Mighty Mouse jones. Keep on reading for a few more pics -- including a comparative shot with the wired version (spoiler: they look exactly alike, save for the "tail") -- and then hit up the Read link to check out the entire set...
Bluetooth Mighty Mouse already available
Well now we know why Apple "forgot" to file for ye olde confidentiality agreement on the Bluetooth Mighty Mouse FCC filing: they were planning on releasing the wireless rodent into the wild just hours after the documents went live. That's right, if you're looking to cut the cord and add some sweet laser-guided precision to your first-gen Mighty Mouse, you can pick up one of these models immediately for $69 (compared to $49 for the wired version). About the only new bit of information revealed on the official product page is the fact that this mouse will operate with either two or just one AA batteries -- you know, for those times when you're looking to shave every conceivable gram off of your travel weight. As much as we love Apple products, the Mighty Mouse has just never been all that comfortable to use; Bluetooth and laser-tracking are certainly nice additions, but until they make these things more ergonomic, we're holding on to our Logitech gear.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Ricoh shows off their Blu-ray/HD DVD/DVD/CD capable laser at Interopto 2006
As previously mentioned Ricoh is working on a way to read all four formats with a single adjustable laser, and they came to Interopto 2006 to show it off. Of course with their panels written in Japanese it's a little hard to understand the details, but the idea is clear. They claim they will be able to provide samples to OEMs this year, but don't anticipate players on shelves until the end of 2007. Of course some people think the Blu-ray and HD DVD format war could be over by then, and we still have the unknowns of license restrictions and price to deal with before this is a realistic alternative to existing standalone players and recorders.
New lasers from Ricoh read both HD DVD and Blu-ray
We've been tempering our enthusiasm about the possibility of next-gen hybrid HD DVD / Blu-ray player -- mostly because of Samsung and their fear of commitment -- but Ricoh's new lasers have got us feeling a little more optimistic. Using a 1mm thick diffraction plate with concentric grooves on each side, the new lasers can recognize what kind of disc you've inserted into a drive (be it CD, DVD, HD DVD or BD) and adjust the beam to play it. The ability to write data is further off because of the extra fire power necessary to make up for light lost to diffraction, but until the price of blank media comes down, we won't be worrying about that too much anyway. Ricoh is hoping to start supplying manufacturers with these by the end of this year, so barring any legal and or licensing nonsense, Samsung (or others) could actually make good on their original plan to be the "world's first" to market with a hybrid player by early 2007. We won't be holding our breath, though, not on this one. [Via HDBeat, thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Starfire Optical Range -- a death ray for science's sake
We're rather impressed with the US Air Force and their Starfire project. It's not every day you get to build a death ray on a desert hill in New Mexico and write it off as a scientific endeavor. The premise is that since the atmosphere diffracts light, messing up the view of ground-based optical telescopes, the Starfire shoots a laser 56 miles into the mesosphere and measures the distortion to adjust the telescope optics. Images from the Starfire are 40 times more accurate than regular, but the laser technology is coincidentally multi-purpose: "We don't hide the fact that it could help build an anti-satellite weapon," says the installation's chief, "if you choose to do it." Our thoughts exactly.
Air Force pushing for ground-based, satellite-killing lasers
In a proposal that would surely bring a tear to the late Ronald Reagan's eye, Air Force officials are attempting to co-opt $5.7 million from the 2007 budget for developing high-energy lasers that could be used to destroy enemy satellites (because, you know, al Qaeda is launching birds left and right). So far a subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee has "shot down" the program, which would build on a 1997 Pentagon study of a two-million-watt laser, although the full committee could reinstate the provision following analysis of the entire bill. While certain military interests have pushed for anti-satellite weapons since the Cold War, concern over the space junk that destroyed sats would create has kept the international community from serious pursuit of any "Star Wars"-like programs. Although we're always keen on new military tech (hey, it gives us something to write about), we're gonna have to side with the Doubting Thomases on this one, because the impending "ROBO-ONE in the Space" satellite is simply too important to risk even a single stray laser strike.
