Tech Design News for Early 2013
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Posted On :
Mar-19-2013
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Article Word Count :
551
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The technology industry is making a strong start this year with energy improvements and consumer information devices. Here are a few of the developments that have been making waves in design technology news so far in 2013.
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The technology industry is making a strong start this year with energy improvements and consumer information devices. Here are a few of the developments that have been making waves in design technology news so far in 2013.
Monitoring Heating Consumption: Heat Meter
Relevant in cold-area Pennsylvania tech news, a new device, the Heat Meter, being produced now will monitor a home’s heat consumption and even compare it to the consumption of other homes in the area. This eliminates heating bill surprises at the end of the month by allowing consumers to track their use of it. The device magnetically sticks to a home’s furnace and detects through vibrations when the flame turns on and off. Homes consume propane, gas, and oil at a constant rate when the flame is burning, so the device is able to calculate how much energy is being spent. It then connects to a home’s wireless network, so users can see in real time what their consumption is. Although the Heat Meter is not commercially available yet, there are early projections of a July release.
Personal Shopping Assistant App
After taking a picture, the app recognizes the packaging on boxes and gives customers more information on product data, including prices, nutritional information, ingredients, gluten-free or vegetarian labels, etc. The app uses technology similar to facial recognition software, but it also takes cues identifying products from other surrounding items. The app is planned to be released as part of a bundle with grocery store customer loyalty programs. Currently, some apps allow users to scan a products bar code to access information, but this new app will allow users to see the information much more quickly.
Tourist Information Glasses
Taking its inspiration from Google Glass, a new eyewear set in development is being designed to give tourists information in real time about the sights they are taking in. By using gaze-tracking software, the headset presents information about the spot the user is looking at on the inside of the device’s lenses. A similar device is being used as an exhibit in the German museum, Pfalzgalerie Kaiserslautern, in which visitors look at other exhibits in the museum to obtain more information about them through a set of headphones connected to the headset.
Improved Solar Cells
Parc, a Xerox company, started looking into how printing could be used in the energy field. The researchers there have since found a way to improve solar printing techniques to produce a more efficient cell. A silver paste is squeezed between two layers of a sacrificial material, which will eventually be burned off. The material allows for greater flexibility when setting the photovoltaic cells in place, allowing them to hug the contours of a given mount. This material also shapes the silver into a very fine line. Researchers are able to get a much finer silver grid line between the light-sensitive portions of a solar cell with this new technique than was previously possible. The light-sensitive areas compete for space with the silver grid lines. By narrowing those grid lines, the light-sensitive areas receive more exposure to sunlight, allowing the cell to produce more power. With this new design, the improved cells are 5% more efficient that previous cells. The system is currently in pilot production.
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Tech Design News for Early 2013_256675.aspx
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Author Resource :
The author has an immense knowledge on Pennsylvania tech news. Know more about design technology news related info in his website.
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Keywords :
Pennsylvania tech news, design technology news,
Category :
Business
:
Business
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