There was a nanotechnology conference in 1998. I realise what some may be saying to this. Either 'What nanotechnology conference in 1998?' or 'What is nanotechnology?' or even 'So what - that was ten years ago!' At least at the time of writing this...
Well, whatever, there was such a conference in 1998 and I decided to mention it as there was a similar conference much more recent to this one in June 2003 held between members of the European Council - and so I 'smelt a rat', because frankly, I am certain that the general public at large did not know about either fixture.
Back to 1998. The specific or actual title for this event was, 'Second International conference on Integrated Micro-Nano Technology for Space Applications 1998'. The FIRST conference was apparently in 1995! Intrigued? Surprised? I certainly was. Nothing was said on U.K television at least…
One may ask, 'why write about this'? Well, this recent area of technology is of considerable importance, or at least it soon will be (especially in light of the more recent EC conference on nanotech'), due to the very 'nature' of the subject itself and what it will mean not too far from now. Though as it is already 2008, some of what follows may already be in prototype stage. This is probable fact, it is not scaremongering. But, what is Nanotechnology and Micro-technology (?), irrespective of these or any such conferences.
Each in turn, for the two disciplines, though very closely related, are not exactly the same thing - or one and the same, at least in terms of size.
Nanotechnology is concerned with the concept of 'smart' materials and even semi-autonomous machines or devices, ranging in size from something like an ANT, to near molecular dimensions - small enough to go into a hairline crack in a skirting board, or to be injected into a living host respectively. Micro-technology however, is concerned with 'things' ranging in size from that of an ant to that of a small caterpillar or millipede.
The 'infrastructure' for nanotechnology and micro-technology is already fairly established - and one of the very first (if not the first) 'micro-nano bots' was seen going across our television screens for a few brief seconds, circa 1987-88 (I forget the exact year, but remember seeing it in the late 1980's). This particular 'thing' strongly resembled, and was about the same size as one of those very small hair-clips, only on four tiny 'legs'. Some sort of 'synthesis' between a very small microprocessor and the memory-metal that it was made of, enabled it to move of its' own accord. But that was the late 80's - and this is 2008!
The 'speed' at which micro/nano-technology has developed over the last decade or more since then, is on par with the development of the microprocessor itself during the decade or so before that. Practical experiments have included 'devices' that can be placed within the smallest areas or confines, such as minute cavities in walls, or cracks in pipelines or cable-ducts (for micro-technology) - and for nanotechnology, 'devices' small enough to be implanted into a living organism - the human body for instance. The implications of this will be considerable. It is their small/minute size that makes them powerful.
Imagine an army of 'titanium-steel silverfish', or a synthetic 'germ colony' that could be controlled at will; either directly through a hand-held radio-control unit, or indirectly via a program stored on a 'remote' computer that 'instructs' the micro/nano-bots what to do (also by radio-control/telemetry).
These are currently (at the time of writing this) the limitations of nano and micro-technology. Because of the sizes involved, all-in-one 'on board' designs are not yet possible - and so they are not yet capable of fully autonomous operation. But this will undoubtedly change. It won't be long before we do have micro-controllers small enough to fit onto devices of such size (the smallest one's are in the area of 4.mm-square; although this would already fit into a micro-device the size of say a large caterpillar) - and subsequently micro-bots (if not perhaps nano-bots) that ARE fully autonomous and therefore independent of any host system. This would mean that your synthetic germ-colony could instruct itself to lie dormant for any period of time and to then 'awaken' and perform whatever at a pre-programmed date.
Various scientific institutions around the world have already created working micro-robot (and even some nano-robot) experiments, including devices that can crawl, burrow, go across or under water and even one's that can fly! These developments in both micro and nanotechnology, have drawn great interest from both public and private concerns (government departments and private corporations). This includes the 'space race' authorities that have been quick to realise (in theory at least) both the cost-saving benefits and operational benefits of such devices, especially in maintenance roles - hence the 'First International Conference on Integrated Micro-Nano Technology for Space Applications' in 1995 (!) - and subsequently the second one of 1998!!
The home-page of the website that I visited quite by chance upon a visit to Hove library in 2001 was entitled, 'NanoSpace 98 - to the planets and beyond…' subtitled - 'Call for papers.' This is the truth! I know this sounds 'unreal', but there you have it.
The overall aim of this conference was to continue the revolution in the development of space technology or hardware through a combination of nano-electronics, nano-scale disciplines and Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) for, or as the 'building-blocks' of Application Specific Integrated Micro-instruments - or ASIM's.
International experts in these fields were brought together to determine or ascertain how they could be best applied to space exploration - and to explore the various aspects (hardware, software, protocol, etc) for both unmanned and manned space missions/activities yet to come. The conference was organised by CNST - Centre for Nano Space Technologies, which is a division of the Institute for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research (IAIR) based in Houston, Texas - and was sponsored by NASA and SAIC - the Science Applications International Corporation. Yes, I know what you're thinking, but this really, really is the truth).
This conference was a serious business. It was not a bogus or superficial event. Organisations like NASA and SAIC would never have put themselves forward to the level that they did if it was. The concept of 'smart machines' that could 'investigate' anything, anywhere and operate like any 'full sized' machine, but at micro and even nano scales, was a proposition too good to miss. Because for nearly every form of full-sized robot/device, there is already a prototype equivalent at micro-technology proportions and probably will be at nano proportions relatively soon (again; micro-tech' = ant size to small caterpillar size, nano-tech' = near microscopic size to near molecular size).
For instance, a typical spot-welding robot in a car assembly plant is about five feet tall and six feet long at the armature and there is the same thing at micro-tech' scale approximately one cubic centimetre (overall occupied space). It rotates, it pivots and it welds! The average conventional submarine is forty-feet long and can enter a harbour or a large underwater cave.
There are micro-technology scale/sized submarines three centimetres long and one centimetre wide that can similarly navigate rock-pools and enter cavities in large boulders, or enter the gap between the outer and inner casings of an underwater pipeline to extract/extricate some small organism that has somehow burrowed through! In space exploration, the micro-welder could detect and repair mission-critical apparatus, whilst the 'submarine' could be used to inspect liquid carrying conduits or pipelines, such as for hydraulic equipment.
Most of this is probably hypothetical however. It is not yet certain, even by the space research/exploration people that will use the technology, precisely which micro-scale (MEMS) devices/applications, will be used for what purposes. But what is known for certain, are the specific areas that were covered at great lengths during the conference itself (in 1998).
Main objectives were disciplines for reducing systems costs, adding new capabilities and improving reliability. To identify mission applications and 'enabling technologies' for long-term goals. To hold 'workshops' for the exchange of information/procedures pertinent to space applications of these technologies.
Papers were subsequently submitted (on invitation) by those that attended the conference (many eminent scientists and experts in the fields of micro-technology and or nano-technology) on the following areas:
1. Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) for space applications.
2. Low-power micro-scale devices.
3. Procedures for data processing.
4. Memory types to be deployed or used on devices.
5. Communications standards that would have to be deployed to enable micro-scale devices - and even some nano-scale, to 'talk' to remote or 'standard' devices such as normal computers, but most importantly, to each other!
6. Applications Specific Integrated Micro-instruments (ASIM's), of which the building blocks will be nano/micro-nano scale electronics and Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS).
7. The adding-on of ASIM's to assist or support existing space-systems capabilities. 'Now this is the good one!'
8. Applications Specific Integrated Micro-instruments (ASIM's) as the building blocks for micro-scale SPACECRAFT. And it continues…
9. Operational and applications software for ASIM's.
10. Sensors for space applications.
11. Biomedical applications for human exploration of space (which basically means the idea or concept for physical interaction of nano-scale devices with human operators on space missions; presumably to help combat ailments, viruses, etc).
12. Defining precise manufacturing and packaging platforms and procedures.
13. Software considerations for design, fabrication, administration and general operations.
It is quite obvious that they wanted to take everything into account during this conference. They really, really were serious! There were three days of general presentations and a following one-and-a-half days of practical 'workshop' sessions. Those present focussed on specific conceptual and technological considerations, that led to recommendations for implementations in the future.
The actual decisions reached at, or by the end of the conference, is probably not known to anyone who was not there, as no information regarding this is mentioned on this website that I looked through. But it can be said that a great deal of something was reached. Unless this whole thing was indeed, yet another pass-the-buck, sponsorship stunt… A gravy boat for an unknown inner, inner circle. Who knows?
By pure coincidence, I came across a copy of the 'Sun' a few days after reading this article - and in it was a picture of an ANT with a microchip in its' JAWS! The newspaper was on a table in a Chinese take-away... Initially a scam involving photo-retouching software came to mind, but the article went on to explain that the article was NOT a hoax, but very, very real indeed.
The ant was of the kind found in the U.K and approx' 3.5mm long, which are a lot smaller than those found on the European continent, never mind say Africa or South America, so how small was the microchip!? At that scale/proportion, it must have been in the region of 1.5x1.5mm Square! The article stated that 100,000+ transistors were on it!!
The 'VLSI' (very large scale integration) microchip (a prototype at least) was already conceived as early as 1985-86 (although I herd 'VLSI' even a few years before that), so I totally accept what this article said and its accompanying photograph. Perhaps this microchip in the ant's jaws was the first 'VvLSI' device (very very large scale integration)? The small 'v' by the way, is because two upper-case V's look like a 'W' side by side…' Of all the things you end up discovering...
The gist of what the article said is as follows, and more than backs-up or makes credible, this 'Nano Space-98' conference.
By 2020, micro-scale and nano-scale technology will be as pervasive as current 'normal' microchip/computer technology is today. Apparently, the present (at the time of writing this) so-called pinnacle of ICCT (information, computer + communications technology) forged by the 'old-guard' of IBM, Intel & Microsoft; will become obsolete.
In 2020 a standard cell-phone will be a ring on your finger. An entire computer system of desktop/notebook capability will be a roll-out, roll-up flexi-screen, or button-sized high-resolution projector connected to a 'matchbox' in your pocket.
Smart-bugs in your veins will automatically detect infected cells and carpets will be able to change colour and depth of pile! Flying miniature video-drones moving at twenty, thirty, forty miles-an-hour and powered by the sun, will relay video evidence to the authorities (or to corporations)
A whole new industry will have been created worth £100+billion a year. The world hasn't only just got small, it's getting even smaller. And as to what this is about to begin with, micro/nano-technology in space; is that outer space or INNER space?
And why was there no mention of this conference (and what it implies) to the public at large?
Advancements,Biotechnology,Cell Phones,Communication,Electronics,Gadgets and Gizmos,GPS,Information Technology ,Video Conferencing ,VoIP
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Wavefront Technology
Sounds like something surfers would be interested in, right? Not so. It is actually new technology for the world of ophthalmology.
If you've ever had your eyes checked, you'll remember that weird machine - known as a phoropter - you have to look through, telling your eye doctor which lens is better. "A or B?" "1 or 2?" And, most likely, you've had to just sort of guess at which was really better because A and B seemed pretty much the same. After all, how can you be objective when you can't see clearly?! Quite the conundrum, isn't it?
Well, thanks to wavefront technology , those old phoropters may be going the way of the Dodo bird. Basically, the wavefront system automatically measures vision problems in just a few minutes with much greater detail. This, then, allows your ophthalmologist to better prescribe lens corrections and treat any eye ailments that may be found.
What is Wavefront Technology?
Imagine a bundle of light rays with lines drawn perpendicular to the tips of those rays. Those lines make up the wavefront map. So, in a wavefront machine, for eyes with perfect vision, that map would be flat. Eyes with less than perfect vision have an irregular wavefront map. These maps are produced by when light is passed through various parts of the eye such as the cornea.
Based on the wavefront map of each eye, problems ranging from nearsightedness to farsightedness to halos and double-vision can be diagnosed more precisely.
Wavefront technology is also being used during LASIK vision correction procedures to more accurately restore your vision to 20/20. Plus, it leads to quicker healing and a lower risk of side affects. Wavefront technology and LASIK are a perfect match.
Maybe wavefront technology does have something to do with surfing. After all, if you have improved vision, you can see the waves better and enjoy surfing more. Fortunately, wavefront technology is available to surfers and non-surfers alike. Whether you need an eye exam or are considering LASIK, you should be sure your ophthalmologist uses wavefront technology.
If you've ever had your eyes checked, you'll remember that weird machine - known as a phoropter - you have to look through, telling your eye doctor which lens is better. "A or B?" "1 or 2?" And, most likely, you've had to just sort of guess at which was really better because A and B seemed pretty much the same. After all, how can you be objective when you can't see clearly?! Quite the conundrum, isn't it?
Well, thanks to wavefront technology , those old phoropters may be going the way of the Dodo bird. Basically, the wavefront system automatically measures vision problems in just a few minutes with much greater detail. This, then, allows your ophthalmologist to better prescribe lens corrections and treat any eye ailments that may be found.
What is Wavefront Technology?
Imagine a bundle of light rays with lines drawn perpendicular to the tips of those rays. Those lines make up the wavefront map. So, in a wavefront machine, for eyes with perfect vision, that map would be flat. Eyes with less than perfect vision have an irregular wavefront map. These maps are produced by when light is passed through various parts of the eye such as the cornea.
Based on the wavefront map of each eye, problems ranging from nearsightedness to farsightedness to halos and double-vision can be diagnosed more precisely.
Wavefront technology is also being used during LASIK vision correction procedures to more accurately restore your vision to 20/20. Plus, it leads to quicker healing and a lower risk of side affects. Wavefront technology and LASIK are a perfect match.
Maybe wavefront technology does have something to do with surfing. After all, if you have improved vision, you can see the waves better and enjoy surfing more. Fortunately, wavefront technology is available to surfers and non-surfers alike. Whether you need an eye exam or are considering LASIK, you should be sure your ophthalmologist uses wavefront technology.
Nokia N95 8GB Payg- Explore The Enhanced Version
The Nokia N95 8GB is an enhanced version of the Nokia N95. The Nokia N95 8GB is a Smartphone integrated with a plethora of advanced features. This multimedia device is both fashionable as well as impressive. Thus, the Nokia N95 8GB payg deal has become very popular among the mobile phone users.
Nokia N95 8GB is a perfect mobile phone that can be used for both professional as well as personal purposes. The phone features a high resolution digital camera, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a high quality media player and a headphone jack. These are few of the great advantages that the user of the Nokia N95 8GB payg deal can enjoy.
The Nokia N95 8GB operates on 3G and Symbian technology. The phone has a 5 mega pixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics that will let you capture long cherished moments with brilliance. Besides, all these, the phone come with massive memory storage space of 8GB. The luminous 2.8 inch QVGA screen of the phone facilitates the users with easy viewing of images, videos and maps.
Another innovative feature of the Nokia N95 8GB is that it is incorporated with high speed Web accessing facilities. With enhanced storage power, brilliant display and multi-tasking capabilities, the Nokia N95 8GB will surely drive you crazy. To make mobile communication more affordable and manageable, this handset is made available with payg phone deal.
The payg phone deal is a prepaid deal under which the user does not have to sign any contract. Instead of that, they will have to pay in advance for the talk time that they purchase from the network service providers. The Nokia N95 8GB payg mobile phone is an ideal option if you want to stay safe from sky high phone bills and want to make mobile expenses within limited budget
Nokia N95 8GB is a perfect mobile phone that can be used for both professional as well as personal purposes. The phone features a high resolution digital camera, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a high quality media player and a headphone jack. These are few of the great advantages that the user of the Nokia N95 8GB payg deal can enjoy.
The Nokia N95 8GB operates on 3G and Symbian technology. The phone has a 5 mega pixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics that will let you capture long cherished moments with brilliance. Besides, all these, the phone come with massive memory storage space of 8GB. The luminous 2.8 inch QVGA screen of the phone facilitates the users with easy viewing of images, videos and maps.
Another innovative feature of the Nokia N95 8GB is that it is incorporated with high speed Web accessing facilities. With enhanced storage power, brilliant display and multi-tasking capabilities, the Nokia N95 8GB will surely drive you crazy. To make mobile communication more affordable and manageable, this handset is made available with payg phone deal.
The payg phone deal is a prepaid deal under which the user does not have to sign any contract. Instead of that, they will have to pay in advance for the talk time that they purchase from the network service providers. The Nokia N95 8GB payg mobile phone is an ideal option if you want to stay safe from sky high phone bills and want to make mobile expenses within limited budget
Top Five Tips For Best Use Of The Photo Editing Software
Memories can be captured forever with photographs. More often than not it is an attempt by someone to capture some special moments in your life with the help of the camera. Immense improvements in technology have brought up many new advances in the world of photography. Many experts believe that the Midas touch with the photo editing software can greatly enhance the quality and make the digital photographs look much more professional.
Regular uses for Photo Editing Software
It may be a hefty amount or even a paltry sum; you must have invested money for your Photo Editing Software. The routine works for which you could use your software are resizing, editing, or color balancing in General. You can also add some ordinary special effects with them even if you are not apt in the art of photography or is a novice. However, even with such routine touches you can make your photographs much livelier than the earlier versions.
Uses of the Photo Editing Software are not confined to these routine jobs. You can use the software for many purposes guided by your imagination and professionalism. Not only professionals but even amateur photographers like to enhance their photographic skills with the help of quality editing software.
Best uses of Photo Editing Software
• One of the major uses of this software is cropping and providing special effects to your photographs. Adjustment of brightness is an interesting feature. If your photo editor is the latest version, then you can also create an online store for your photographs.
• You can use the open-source editor for editing your images. These are called free Photoshop and they come free of cost. You can put to best use this type of software when it supports multiple operating systems or is platform independent. You can amplify all types of plug-ins. But paid versions are obviously better and provide you with many more features.
• When the editor supports advanced scripting interface, you can make the complex problem look quite simple with its effective use.
• Some of the editors allow you to edit the images, both basic and invented, online. Such software could also give you the option of printing photos that are easily downloadable.
• If your editor comes free of cost, it is obviously more attractive to you. Many types of free software come with advanced features like export optimizer, image slicing and mapping, smart shape creation, text editing, and third party plug in support, however, all these features are much more optimized in paid versions and so are especially suited for professionals.
• A few editors have the limitation of working on particular operating systems only like the Windows or Linux. However, these editors could be put to best use by experimenting. Many of them have unlimited undo option that helps you to rectify your defects again and again without waiting for the crowded server to response frequently.
• You can use the editors to print photos on matte or waterproof paper that are both becoming extremely popular to day.
• Some of the editors carry custom brush tips and also multiple layers with masking, vector as well as the bitmap based tools for drawing. They also provide for light, color, and tone adjustments. Such software can be used for long term works as there are multiple redoes as there are undoes.
With all the above information at your disposal it becomes pretty easier for you to select your best Photo Editing Software and use it to its best potential.
Regular uses for Photo Editing Software
It may be a hefty amount or even a paltry sum; you must have invested money for your Photo Editing Software. The routine works for which you could use your software are resizing, editing, or color balancing in General. You can also add some ordinary special effects with them even if you are not apt in the art of photography or is a novice. However, even with such routine touches you can make your photographs much livelier than the earlier versions.
Uses of the Photo Editing Software are not confined to these routine jobs. You can use the software for many purposes guided by your imagination and professionalism. Not only professionals but even amateur photographers like to enhance their photographic skills with the help of quality editing software.
Best uses of Photo Editing Software
• One of the major uses of this software is cropping and providing special effects to your photographs. Adjustment of brightness is an interesting feature. If your photo editor is the latest version, then you can also create an online store for your photographs.
• You can use the open-source editor for editing your images. These are called free Photoshop and they come free of cost. You can put to best use this type of software when it supports multiple operating systems or is platform independent. You can amplify all types of plug-ins. But paid versions are obviously better and provide you with many more features.
• When the editor supports advanced scripting interface, you can make the complex problem look quite simple with its effective use.
• Some of the editors allow you to edit the images, both basic and invented, online. Such software could also give you the option of printing photos that are easily downloadable.
• If your editor comes free of cost, it is obviously more attractive to you. Many types of free software come with advanced features like export optimizer, image slicing and mapping, smart shape creation, text editing, and third party plug in support, however, all these features are much more optimized in paid versions and so are especially suited for professionals.
• A few editors have the limitation of working on particular operating systems only like the Windows or Linux. However, these editors could be put to best use by experimenting. Many of them have unlimited undo option that helps you to rectify your defects again and again without waiting for the crowded server to response frequently.
• You can use the editors to print photos on matte or waterproof paper that are both becoming extremely popular to day.
• Some of the editors carry custom brush tips and also multiple layers with masking, vector as well as the bitmap based tools for drawing. They also provide for light, color, and tone adjustments. Such software can be used for long term works as there are multiple redoes as there are undoes.
With all the above information at your disposal it becomes pretty easier for you to select your best Photo Editing Software and use it to its best potential.
How to make homemade solar /wind power // Homemade Solar /wind Electricity Power DIY
You can now save hundreds of dollars by homemade solar and wind electric power. A new illustrated renewable energy power manual is easy to follow and make your own home power.
You can even benefit from renewable energy tax credits by using these simple energy sources that never expire.
This is a good way to stop paying that electricity bill using a do it yourself solar and wind power generation manual . The fun part with this system is that you only need less than $200 to set everything up and start saving over 80% on your monthly electricity bill.
The earth4energy diy kit has full instructions and comes with a video lessons to help you build your own solar and wind power system. Once set up, you can afford to get off the national power grid in a single weekend with this DIY power system.
The new homemade power system manual also tells you were you can get free batteries to store up the energy generated by your home system. This power manual would easily sell for $3000 but the owner gives it ways for far much less than that.
The DIY home power system is offered online and an easy to download file including the illustrated manual and video lessons for $49.97. I doubted it at first until I read the testimonials that come with proof of authenticity
You can even benefit from renewable energy tax credits by using these simple energy sources that never expire.
This is a good way to stop paying that electricity bill using a do it yourself solar and wind power generation manual . The fun part with this system is that you only need less than $200 to set everything up and start saving over 80% on your monthly electricity bill.
The earth4energy diy kit has full instructions and comes with a video lessons to help you build your own solar and wind power system. Once set up, you can afford to get off the national power grid in a single weekend with this DIY power system.
The new homemade power system manual also tells you were you can get free batteries to store up the energy generated by your home system. This power manual would easily sell for $3000 but the owner gives it ways for far much less than that.
The DIY home power system is offered online and an easy to download file including the illustrated manual and video lessons for $49.97. I doubted it at first until I read the testimonials that come with proof of authenticity