Tag Archives: technologies

Innovative technologies can lower costs and improve sustainability of refrigerators | Technology

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A new technology application has been reported to potentially reduce costs and improve environmental friendliness of refrigerators.

In 2019, domestic refrigerators and freezers accounted for nearly 4% of global electricity consumption. One quote states that simply innovating to decrease power usage is no longer sufficient.

Research from Huazhong Science and Technology University suggests that thermal galvanic technology shows promise as a sustainable cooling alternative to the commonly-used steam compression technology in refrigerators.

According to the findings, “Thermal galvanic cooling offers an environmentally friendly solution with low carbon emissions, potentially contributing to carbon neutrality if widely adopted.”

The research also indicates that this technology can be applied across various sectors, from wearable cooling devices to industrial settings.

Duan mentions, “Thermal galvanic technology is making its way into our lives through efficient electricity or low-power cooling. Both the research and commercial communities should take note.”

Heat galvanic cells generate electricity from thermal energy produced by a chemical reaction. Researchers have found heat galvanic hydrogel that can aid in cooling mobile phone batteries while converting waste heat into electricity.

Optimizing the chemicals in the process has led to a 70% improvement in cooling efficiency of the galvanic cells.

The electricity used to power refrigerators, coupled with gas leaks from refrigeration units, is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. In the UK, 50% of refrigeration-related emissions are from electricity usage, with 37% from household refrigerators.

Future research efforts will focus on enhancing system design and exploring additional commercial applications.

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Duan states, “Our advanced electrolytes have commercial potential, but further efforts are needed to enhance design, scalability, and stability for practical implementation of this technology.”

“Moving forward, we aim to enhance heat galvanic cooling performance through new mechanisms and advanced materials, along with developing various refrigerator prototypes for potential applications. Collaborations with companies are being pursued to promote the commercialization of heat galvanic technology.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Can artificial intelligence and new technologies solve the issues in our broken democracies?

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Many of us entered this so-called super-election year with a sense of foreboding. So far, not much has happened to allay these fears. Russia’s war against Ukraine has exacerbated the perception that democracy is under threat in Europe and beyond. In the United States, presidential candidate Donald Trump self-proclaimed dictatorial tendencies facing two assassination attempts. And more broadly, people seem to be losing faith in politics. A 2024 report from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance states that “most citizens in diverse countries around the world have no confidence in the performance of their political institutions.”

By many objective measures, democracy is not functioning as it should. The systems we call democracies tend to favor the wealthy. Political violence is on the rise, legislative gridlock is severe, and elections are becoming less free and fair around the world. Nearly 30 years have passed since pundits proclaimed the triumph of Western liberal democracy, but their predictions seem further away than ever from coming true. what happened?

According to Rex Paulson At the Mohammed VI Institute of Technology in Rabat, Morocco, we have lost sight of what democracy is. “We have created a terrible confusion between the system known as a republic, which relies on elections, political parties, and a permanent ruling class, and the system known as democracy, where the people directly participate in decisions and change power. The good news, he says, is that the original dream of government by the people and for the people can be revived. That’s what he and other researchers are trying to do…

Source: www.newscientist.com

Is the influence of digital technologies on voters compromising democracy?

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A monster looms, threatening our democracy. The monster comes in many forms, from online misinformation networks and deepfakes, to social media bots and psychological microtargeting that uses our personal data to customize political messages to our interests, attitudes and demographics.

Considering that roughly half of the world's population will go to the polls in 2024, democracy may seem to be in good health. But many worry that it is being undermined by powerful new digital technologies that can target individuals, manipulate voters, and influence elections. Fears about digital influence stem in part from the novelty of the technology. We're still so new to the online age that no one fully understands what's going on, much less what's coming. Every new technology is unfamiliar, and it can sometimes feel like the rules of the game are being rewritten. But are these concerns justified?

We are one of a growing number of researchers with expertise in political science and psychology who are trying to drag these monsters out of the shadows. Our research aims to shed light on how new technologies are being used, by whom, and how effective they are as tools of propaganda. By carefully defining the concept of digital manipulation, we can better understand than ever the threat it poses to democracy. While some lobbying groups loudly warn about its dangers, our research points to more surprising conclusions. Moreover, our findings can help society better prepare to confront digital demons, by telling us exactly what we should worry about and what are just ghosts of our imagination.

In the UK in 2010…

Source: www.newscientist.com

Climate change cannot be averted by new technologies – here’s what will occur

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When I was young, I had a fascination with science fiction TV shows like Star Trek and Doctor Who. These captivating stories thrilled my inner geek.

The typical plot of these shows involved a crisis that seemed insurmountable, only to be miraculously solved by the hero at the last moment. Whether it was Scotty’s engineering wizardry on the USS Enterprise or the Doctor’s clever use of a sonic screwdriver, one thing was certain: technology would save the day.

As a child, I adored these narratives, and a part of me still holds onto that love. I wish that some futuristic technology could swoop in and rescue us from the global crisis of climate change. Unfortunately, reality tells a different story.

One fundamental reason why high-tech solutions won’t be our savior in the face of climate change is the issue of time. Time is a crucial factor that technology cannot simply create more of. Climate change is a cumulative problem that has been fueled by years of greenhouse gas emissions accumulating in our atmosphere.

Over the years, billions of tons of greenhouse gases have been released into the atmosphere, fundamentally altering our climate system. To combat the devastating effects of climate change, we need to focus on reducing emissions immediately and consistently to mitigate future impacts.

Today, we already have solutions to address climate change, including increasing efficiency, reducing waste, electrifying homes and vehicles, and transitioning to renewable energy sources. These quick-acting solutions can help buy us time to implement long-term strategies to combat climate change effectively.

Waiting for a new, perfect solution to emerge is not an option. We must act now with the tools we have at our disposal. Fusion energy, advanced nuclear power, and industrial carbon capture technologies may hold promise for the future, but we cannot afford to wait for them to save us from the imminent crisis of climate change.

Credit: Justin Padgett

In the battle against climate change, time is of the essence. We must focus on implementing existing solutions rather than waiting for a hypothetical technological breakthrough. Science-fiction dreams of miraculous solutions won’t save us now. It’s time to act with the tools we have today.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Top Technologies at CES 2024: Transparent TV and AI-Enabled Cat Flap

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TNext year's tech industry will be dominated by a new era of spatial computing brought about by upgrades to everything from cathoppers to binoculars to cars, devices that disappear into your home, including transparent TVs, and even very expensive goggles. right.

These are the predictions from the annual CES technology show in Las Vegas, which concluded this week. Unlike previous years, the event was not dominated by big tech and auto companies, with a record 1,400 startups displaying prototypes to capture the attention of consumers and investors.

Despite countless promises to the contrary, many of these novel gadgets may never reach store shelves. But they all show how technology is progressing and give us a glimpse of what's coming next.

disappearing device




LG's Signature OLED T is the first transparent TV to be released later this year.Photo: LG

After years of showing off prototypes of its see-through display, LG is finally turning it into a TV.of Signature OLED T is a 77-inch (196 cm) transparent television that looks like glass. With the push of a button, you can raise the black film to block out what's behind your TV on movie night. LG said it would ship the TV this year, but did not say how much it would cost, which is expected to be in the thousands of dollars.

South Korean rival Samsung also displayed transparent micro-LED panels, but only in prototype form. There was also another type of disappearing technology, using a new Music Frame that hides the speaker behind a picture, similar to Ikea and Sonos' 2021 Symphonisque Frame speakers.

Meanwhile, new GL.i Net Marble Hide your necessary but unsightly internet router in plain sight. Marble hides behind a photo frame that can be placed on your desk or wall, discreetly transmitting broadband throughout your home.

Daily necessities using AI




Oliver Widler and Dennis Widler show off Flappie AI Catflap at CES 2024. Photo: James Atoa/UPI/Rex/Shutterstock

2023 may be the year of AI chatbots, but 2024 is likely to be the year of AI in everything else.

aptly named Swiss startup Flappie It has an AI-powered cat flap that can detect if your furry friend is trying to bring some unfortunate prey into your home. When the camera discovers the mouse in the cat's mouth, it will block the door until the cat friend drops the door. There is an app that allows you to remotely control the cat flap and track your pet's comings and goings. It is priced at CHF 449 (£414) and will ship in the spring.

AI was also applied to binoculars that can identify more than 9,000 bird species when pointed at them. 3,820 pounds ($4,799) Swarovski Optic AX Visio The has a built-in 13MP camera that can also shoot HD video.




Rabbit R1 AI companion device Photo provided by: Rabbit Co., Ltd.

One of the most interesting gadgets is rabbit r1: A $199 orange rectangle with a screen, camera, and scroll wheel that allows you to remotely control your phone and free yourself from boring doomscrolling. Rabbit says its AI understands how apps and websites work, so when you tell it to buy something, order a taxi, or edit a photo, it launches the appropriate app. It automatically performs tasks such as clicking the button and pressing all the appropriate buttons. You can also repeat the process hands-free by teaching them how to operate it.

Mixed reality goggles and smart glasses

www.theguardian.com

Labrys Technologies Cultivates Versatile Seeds for Humanitarian and Military Applications

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When Hellsing raised $223 million in a Series B round, the tech industry saw it as continued confirmation that defense is definitely back on the investment agenda.

Further confirmation came today in the form of a $5.5 million seed round for the British defense technology startup, in news shared exclusively with TechCrunch. Labris Technologies, led by Germany’s Project A Ventures. MD One Ventures, Marque VC, Offset Ventures and Expeditions Fund also participated. The funding will be used to expand the development and research and development team, as well as strengthen the commercial sales team.

Labrys is perhaps best described as a service that blends Slack, location, and payments for both military and humanitarian scenarios. This may seem a bit tedious, but it starts to make more sense when you look at the problem the product is intended to solve.

WhatsApp is commonly used in fast-moving situations like humanitarian crises. And although I declare some interest in this subject, I have personal experience with this. Since 2015, when I founded the nonprofit Techfugees, we found that refugees and humanitarian workers almost always use WhatsApp to coordinate their responses. It was simple, worked even on bad networks, was fast, and could reveal my location. However, its limitations are all too obvious. How do you know you’re dealing with a legitimate humanitarian worker? What if they don’t reveal their location? How can we provide them with resources and money? These are important questions to solve.

Co-founder and CEO August Larsten said in an interview: In some cases, it can be very difficult to actually verify and see who the person on the other end of the phone is actually talking to. And you can’t integrate all these different chats into something called a network coordination tree. If he wants to talk to 133 people in Indonesia, he doesn’t necessarily want 133 individual communications. ”

Therefore, the Labrys client displays on-screen dashboards that allow users of apps like Slack and Microsoft Teams to send messages to entire teams or individuals, and see where they are. And you can (fashionably) pay for it.

Labrys Technologies mobile platform. Image credits: Labris Technologies

The veteran-owned startup’s platform effectively “scratched an itch” that the founders discovered through their own work “on the ground.” Mr Larsten is a former Royal Marine Special Forces officer who led teams across Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Luke Wattam (Co-Founder and COO) has worked across the UK Ministry of Defence, the FCDO and the UK’s Allies.

The Labrys platform, Axiom C2 and Axiom Communicator, enables KYC/E verification, encrypted communications, task management, and geographic location of individual users. Finally, it also encompasses digital payments via crypto stablecoins. In other words, you know who you’re dealing with, where they are located, and how you can pay them. This is especially important when dealing with humanitarian disasters.

Larsten said to me: “I see people through a geospatial interface. Having that interface differentiates me from communication channels like WhatsApp or Slack. The second element is that no matter where they are in Afghanistan, for example, those And we want to pay our employees, all through the same interface in USD stablecoins.”

Labrys claims the platform has already proven its value in the field.

It was used in Afghanistan to help evacuate 5,000 persecuted Afghan minorities, as well as by the Ukrainian National Emergency Service during the Kakhovka Dam collapse.

Mykola Taranenko, commander of the Kherson regional emergency response team of the Ukrainian Red Cross (also a Labrys customer), told TechCrunch in an email: High-risk environments like Ukraine. With the help of Axiom, you can securely monitor your team’s location and status, manage donations, quickly translate digital payments into real-world impact, and purchase equipment locally. [and] Donors can see where their money went. ”

Labrys operates in a unique environment where many civilian and military solutions overlap. for example, everbridge is an enterprise software solution that provides users (often military or NGOs) with an understanding of global flashpoints. However, unlike Labrys, it does not have the equipment to connect with humans “on the ground” so to speak. Another of his TAKs is known as the “Blue Force” tracking system. meanwhile, Premises datahas raised $146 million and has a software platform for humanitarian organizations that provides analytics on assets on the ground.

This latest funding is one of the largest seed rounds ever for a European defense tech startup and symbolizes that defense is no longer off-limits for investors, as we saw this year at TechCrunch Disrupt. ing.

Additionally, “dual-use” products that coordinate either civilian or military teams are a growing market. As of 2022, the global command and control systems market will be Estimation Its size is $22 billion and is expected to reach $28 billion by 2028.

Meanwhile, Improbable, EclecticIQ, Living Optics, and Preligens are all European companies that have raised tens of millions of dollars, and in some cases more, in the past year or so.

The news reflects an established trend from last year, when venture capital-backed companies injected $7 billion into U.S. aerospace and defense companies.

Source: techcrunch.com