July 7, 2011 By Karen Stewartson
Volvo is participating in an inductive charging project where one of its new C3 electric models will be altered so energy can be transferred wirelessly to the car’s battery via a charging plate buried in the road’s surface. The self-charging time for a completely discharged battery is about 90 minutes.
Source: Volvo
This collection of essays, artwork and photographs tells the story of the 8.9 magnitude Japan earthquake through the eyes of individuals who endured the disaster and journalists who covered it. Contributions include stories of how Skype and other technologies kept loved ones in touch and abreast of the tragic event. The idea for 2:46 Quakebook, which may be downloaded for free, started on Twitter. Proceeds from sales of printed copies will go to Red Cross Japan.
In May, Nissan’s NV200 won New York City’s Taxi of Tomorrow contest, a quest to find a customized vehicle for the city’s landscape. The vehicle has more passenger room than any city taxi on the road to date, and its smooth ride is designed for passenger comfort, which NYC passengers reported as most important to them. Other features include a transparent roof, charging stations for mobile devices, a high fuel efficiency rating and built-in GPS navigation.
Sources: NYC.gov and Taxioftomorrow.com
… and don’t let the bed bugs bite. After an onslaught of bed bug infestations in Ohio, New York City and Florida, a mechanical engineer created the The Bed Bug Detective — a handheld device that’s programmed to sniff out bedbugs’ pheromones in the air, much like some trained dogs are used to sniff out certain insects. The device costs $200. Source: Cnet.com
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Until recently, there was no alternative to the familiar desktop computer, and its expensive upgrades and maintenance requirements. For cash-strapped local governments, the desktop computer is quickly becoming an unsustainable option for future progress. Now, a technology known as virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) offers an alternative. It can be significantly more affordable than buying individual computers for every employee, and it provides similar capability. This paper shows how VDI is the future of the desktop and is a game-changer for local governments.
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