The 55-inch OLED TV that LG had introduced at CES, has finally been taken wraps off at a Monaco event. The model named 55EM9600 has got a carbon fiber redesign, shrinking it down by 1mm to 4mm (0.16 inches). The model has all the AV connectors neatly stacked at the back, while three USB ports are aligned on one side for media sharing. LG uses 4 Color Pixel technology that relies on a white sub-pixel to perfect the color output, as well as a Color Refiner to enhance the image, resulting in pictures that are vibrant, natural and comfortable for the human eye. For those who are unaware of OLED’s, they basically generate their own light, eliminating the need for backlighting.
LG was reluctant to give out details about the 55-inch OLED TV set just yet, however the rumours doing the rounds suggest that it is likely to be released in July with a pricetag of about €8,000 (10,000 USD).Source: LG
SWŸP--PRONOUNCED “SWIPE”--LETS USERS DRAG FILES FROM ONE DEVICE TO ANOTHER BY SWIPING THEIR FINGER. AND IT ISN’T JUST A COOL IDEA. IT’S REALITY.
Last week, I reported on a cool, if seemingly far-fetched, UI concept that’d let you drag files from your phone to your computer with a swipe of the finger. The idea is “so simple and clever, you wonder why it doesn’t exist already,” we wrote. Hours later, an email appeared in our inbox, subject line: “it exists!”
The message came courtesy of Natan Linder, a PhD student in the Fluid Interfaces group at the MIT Media Lab. Linder and undergraduate researcher Alexander List are developers of Swÿp, a piece of open-source software that facilitates “cross-app, cross-device data exchange using physical ‘swipe’ gestures,” they write on their website. “Our framework allows any number of touch-sensing and collocated devices to establish file-exchange and communications with no pairing other than a physical gesture.” Translation: Dragging files from a phone to a computer with a swipe of the finger isn’t just a cool, far-fetched idea, it’s reality. Watch the demo: Here’s the amazing part: They didn’t hack the iPhone and iPad with IrDA transceivers or anything like that, which would’ve enabled the devices to detect each other in 3-D space, a la Sifteo cubes. Instead, List and Linder exploited the capabilities the devices already had.
Swÿp gathers information such as your phone and iPad’s approximate location (available via WiFi) and account details (via sites like Facebook or Gmail), then ties that information to a real-time gesture, the swipe (or Swÿp). Hold up two Swÿp-enabled devices next to each other, and they’re able to communicate in a language both understand: a hybrid of the digital and physical worlds.
Why should we care? For one thing, it’s a hell of a lot easier to transfer files that way. I’d rather share a photo with a friend sitting next to me by dragging my finger across our screens than slog through a bunch of steps to send it via Dropbox, YouSendIt, or email. In a larger sense, Swÿp takes the mysterious computational process of sharing data--something we do all the time but never see--and externalizes it, giving it a tactile, intuitive interface. It allows users to “immediately grasp the concepts behind device-to-device communications,” Swÿp’s developers says.
“It’s a very smart way to use existing devices without any added technology,” says Ishac Bertran, who developed the UI concept we reported on last week. Though he points out that Swÿp doesn’t enable a completely seamless user interaction. For instance, he says, after swiping to create a connection between two gadgets, you can’t change their position, or they’ll lose their spatial link. A device equipped with spatially aware sensors, as Bertran envisions it, wouldn’t have that problem.
List started Swÿp, then Linder jumped on board. Linder was a member of the Media Lab’s LuminAR project, a desk lamp that can turn any surface into an interactive space (such as a guide for shoppers), and saw Swÿp as a “great fit with the stuff I was working on.”
Swÿp can be used for iOS and LuminAR, but it’s still part of ongoing research, so it’s not available in app form yet. “Our hope is that developers would jump in and contribute to the open-source project, make it better and that app makers will incorporate it into their apps making them Swÿp enabled,’” Linder says.
List and Linder picture a world in which the cumbersome process of sharing digital information with your neighbor is replaced by simple physical gestures. They’ve tried marrying Swÿp and LuminAR to create a new type of experience that lets users collaborate and create digital content together. “Most recently we’ve been deploying a website wherein any Internet-connected device would be able to Swÿp with any other,” Linder says. “Our target is everyone who uses touch- and gesture-enabled devices, counting laptops and iPads, but also screens with a Kinect setup. But we are still early on, and even though we demonstrated the working tech, there is lots to do to fulfill our vision of different devices chatting to each other using nothing but user-generated gestures.”
Writer: Suzanne LabarreSource: Swÿp
Dubai is the destination for architectural wonders. From the Burj Khalifa to the man made islands dubbed Earth, Dubai’s landscape is home to some of the most unbelievable man made creations. The latest architectural wonder to call Dubai its home is none other than a half-submerged hotel, complete with underwater rooms offering views of life below the surface of the sea. Christened the 'Water Discus Hotel' , this spaceship-shaped building is set to be the first of several planned across the region. Designed by Deep Ocean Technology (DOT), this hotel will surely please the so called “water baby’s” who love exploring the depths of the deep blue sea.
The hotel will comprise of two main discs, one above water and one below. These two discs will be connected by three 'legs' which contain lifts and stairways to plunge guests from the sunshine above down beneath the surface of the sea. The underwater section is located up to 10 meters deep and comprises of 21 rooms adjacent to the submerged dive centre and a bar. Offering a view like no other, the designers will make use of special lighting to illuminate the flora and fauna outside. What is more, guests will also be able to zoom in and take a closer look at even the tiniest creatures using macro photography. What is more, the hotel will be built to the highest safety standards. The top disc is built high enough to withstand a tsunami and any flooding, while the underwater disc automatically surfaces at once in the event of any danger. While this is not the first hotel in the world to offer underwater rooms, it will still break quite a few records when it is ready.
Researchers in Australia plan to begin testing a bionic eye prototype on human patients in 2013. The new device is being developed by Bionic Vision Australia, and is aimed at helping patients with genetic eye conditions see large objects like buildings and cars. It includes an implanted chip that uses 98 separate electrodes to stimulate the patient's retina so that they can "perceive vision."
The set-up involves a camera built-in to a pair of glasses, which captures images and then transfers them to an external device (attached by a wire) for processing. The data is then sent to the implant, which stimulates the retina, before the information finally reaches the vision processing centers in the brain. Called the "wide-view device," the implant isn't the only prototype the team is working on — a more accurate "high-acuity device," which could help patients recognize faces and even read large print, is expected to go into testing in 2014.
Writer: Andrew Webster
 Through a process involving thin layers of material deposited on a surface and then selectively etched away, the MIT team produced a surface covered with tiny cones, each five times taller than their width. This pattern prevents reflections, while at the same time repelling water from the surface. Researchers have discovered a way to make glass that is not only glare-free, but is also anti-fogging and can clean itself.
The glass is created by depositing thin layers of material on the surface of the glass and then selectively etching that material away. The end result creates tiny cones on the glass taller than they are wide that allow the glass to prevent reflections and also repel water.
The technology was developed by researchers at MIT, who hope the technology will eventually be used in things like your smartphone or television, or possibly even the windows of your car or office building.
They also hope to use the technology in solar panels. Solar panels lose much of their efficiency as they start to become dirty. The glass would work better because it is self-cleaning and wouldn’t accumulate dust and dirt like other alternatives. The glass would also offer an advantage for its anti-glare properties, allowing more light to be transferred through its surface rather than being reflected away. The glass also repels water better than glass currently used to build solar panels.
This special glass would be exceptionally useful in other devices such as cellphones, allowing you to see the screen even in bright conditions and resisting contamination by sweat while you’re chatting or using your phone’s touchscreen.
What do you think of this new type of glass? Can you think of any other devices that could benefit from a self-cleaning, anti-glare and anti-fog glass? Let us know in the comments.
Writer: David Chandler
Rumored since years, today Google finally launched its cloud storage service, going by the name Google Drive. Drive allows you to simply transfer files to and from your computer. You can simply drag and drop files on both PC and MAC and soon also on the iPhone and iPad.You can get your Google Drive now here. The first 5 GB are for free. It will be interesting to see if users that are currently on services such as Dropbox, will make the switch.
Whether you are a Mac or PC, there’s no denying the Apple’s products are downright cool, and it’s been the one of the main driving forces behind the brand’s success over the years. The brand is constantly looking for ways to improve their current products to keep up with the latest trends, and the Carbon Fiber Magic Mouse s the perfect example of this.
Carbon fiber has become a popular material in the design world as of late, and this Magic Mouse shows exactly why. Carbon fiber is extremely strong, lightweight, and even faux applications look great. The Magic Mouse has been outfitted with a carbon fiber surface, adding an elegant finishing touch to the device.
Price: $99 USD
Purchase: Magic Mouse
Developers are continuing to enhance the iPhone experience, particularly by improving the phone’s photography capabilities. The iPhone Shutter Remote allows you to control when to snap the photo with the touch of a button. This device works up to 30 feet away, allowing a user to record videos and snap photos of themselves. You can pick it up now from
Price: $34.96 USD
Looking to give your living space or work place a tech-packed décor? Behold the FRAMED concept by artist designer Yugo Nakamura from tha ltd, Japan. This fantastic concept has been seen before along with its technological specifications like the fact that these digital frames pack 55 inch Samsung vertical LED displays hooked on to computers. However, the concept of buying digital paintings could take a while to catch on or fail to do so completely, for the simple fact that most users would prefer using multimedia playback on these screens instead of static pictures. Using a FRAMED smartphone application, artworks can be browsed through and purchased for display on these screens. A great way to add a punch of technology to your blank walls, the FRAMED concept could double up as interactive and information screens too when required!Source: Japan Trends
As technology continues to progress, individuals are making a point to search for alternative sources for energy. The first thought that comes to many of our minds for alternative sources of energy is of course solar power.
In the past we have featured several different solar powered chargers, including one of our favorites in the Solar Joos Orange. Items like this were perfect for outdoor excursions, but the XDMODO Solar Window Charger is perfect for everyday use on devices like our smartphones and iPods. This device easily adheres to any window surface charging your mobile device using solar power. Get your hands on the Solar Window Charger by XDModo directly from Design 3000.
Price: 49,95 €
Purchase: Design 3000
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