If wireless power were possible would you invest in the idea? Students at MIT have tested the impossible thought, and they say it is possible to transfer power ‘wirelessly’. Think of it, no more wires to charge your mp3 players, cellphones, laptops, alarm clocks etc. A team from MIT’s Department of Physics, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (ISN) has experimentally demonstrated an important step toward accomplishing this vision of the future. While the concept does seem to be futuristic, a scientist from the 1900 had developed and tested this theory. His name.. Nicola Tesla!

Radiation methods

Various methods of transmitting power wirelessly have been known for centuries. Perhaps the best known example is electromagnetic radiation, such as radio waves. While such radiation is excellent for wireless transmission of information, it is not feasible to use it for power transmission. Since radiation spreads in all directions, a vast majority of power would end up being wasted into free space. One can envision using directed electromagnetic radiation, such as lasers, but this is not very practical and can even be dangerous. It requires an uninterrupted line of sight between the source and the device, as well as a sophisticated tracking mechanism when the device is mobile. Continue reading »

written by Juan Perez \\ tags: Department, device, energy, example, Features, frequency, MIT, Nicola Tesla, Physics, Power, Radiation, resonance, swing, Team, theory, transmission, WiTricity

Numerous people have sent me messages today asking why there’s a big “Not Legal For Trade” stamp on the bottom of every Wii Fit device.  It’s pretty simple really.  ”Not Legal For Trade” will be found on the bottom of any scale that’s not legal for trade.  The Wii Fit is basically a scale, so it fits into legal requirements for general scales.  By “trade” they are talking about business.  A “Legal For Trade” scale means that it’s balanced and calibrated with a certification.  

For those of you that think this means you can’t trade it back to GameStop or wherever you shop, that’s not the case.  Check any bathroom scale in your house.  I’m sure it has the same stamp unless you own a really expensive one.  In that case, you’d probably already know the meaning.  So basically, don’t use the Wii Fit to professionally weigh gold or whatever else you might be selling or weighing that requires an official scale.

written by Will Snizek \\ tags: bathroom, bottom, business, certification, device, Fit, Gamestop, house, Legal, Nintendo Wii, not legal for trade, Scale, shop, stamp, Today, Trade

I have personally owned pretty much every home console and portable system since the Atari 2600.  For some reason, I had never seen the above portable system until today when I saw it on Flickr.  From a design standpoint, it looks like a really neat idea.  The controllers are neatly snapped into the back of the device when being transported.

There’s really not much information out there on this system, so I’m still in the dark when it comes to knowing the history of it.  Apparently, there were numerous games for the system including ‘Donkey Kong 3′ and ‘Boxing’.   If anyone knows about these, feel free to email us.  I’d love to learn more…

written by Will Snizek \\ tags: Atari, back, design, device, Flickr, Gadgets, Home, idea, information, Micro, Nintendo, reason, standpoint, system, Today

With all the latest developments in a technology world, those “I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up” infomercials are yesteryears news. Bluetooth has now moved into the medical field. Just like a laptop within a wireless signal, your “in-body network” would immediately send an alert when a heart attack is happening.

“The communications regulator said that sensors could be implanted into people at risk of heart attack or diabetic collapse that would allow doctors to monitor them remotely.

If the “in-body network” recorded that the person had suddenly collapsed, it would send an alert, via a nearby base station at their home, to a surgery or hospital.

However, Ofcom also gave warning in its report, Tomorrow’s Wireless World, that the impact of such technology on personal privacy would require more debate.

The technology, which is being tested now in Portsmouth, could also be used if a patient failed to take his or her medicines. A pill dispenser would send an automatic reminder and, if the pills were not taken within a certain time, an alarm would sound and a message would be sent to the patient’s family or carers.

However, health experts say that they are skeptical about the level of take-up of “in-body” sensors while research into the possible radiation impact of wi-fi networks is going on.”

“Be sure to stay in range when your having the “Big One” Pops!”

This topic brings up a huge debate. On the one side, you’ll have a great healthcare system that monitors you and can assist those patients in need. On the other side, you’ll have Big Brother telling you when to take your horse pills and don’t sit on the toilet bowl for long periods of time because your hemorrhoids might pop out.

I now ask you, the viewer, what is your take?
A. Let the Gob’ment and Doctor’s monitor..
B. I don’t need no stinkin pills

Via Times Online

written by Juan Perez \\ tags: A. Let, alert, attack, B. I, Bluetooth, bluetooth devices, Bluetooth medical, debate, device, Heart, iMPACT, in-body network, Network, news, patient, Portsmouth, side, Suppository, Technology, time, world

An incorrect July launch for Sony’s PlayStation 3 PlayTV service mooted by Amazon earlier this week has now been shifted to later in 2008.  It seems that HD problems have caused the launch to be delayed.

In case you’ve never heard of PlayTV, I’ve included a description of what it’s all about here:

Continue reading »

written by Juan Perez \\ tags: Amazon, device, DVR, July, launch, Playstation, PlayTV, service, software, Sony, Sony PSP, television, TiVo, USB, Week