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The idea is to develop a way to produce synthetic fuels cleanly and efficiently - bringing us a step closer to weaning ourselves from coal and petroleum-based fuels. The process will convert carbon monoxide and hydrogen into liquid hydrocarbons using the Fischer-Tropsch process and solid oxide electrolyser cells. The machine will be powered by alternative energy and convert water to steam, from which oxygen will then removed to create hydrogen. The hydrogen will be used to...
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The idea is to develop a lithium-ion battery with an early warning system that will alert the user before bursting into flames. Lithium-ion batteries are becoming increasingly common in electronic devices as well as cars and airplanes, but they have the annoying risk of exploding if their electrodes accidentally touch. This accidental contact can happen when the lithium ions gather on the anode and pile up to form chains of lithium metal known as dendrites. When these dendrites...
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A new digital system that will allow the visually-impaired to 'read' graphs could provide them with more learning and employment opportunities while also making day-to-day business a bit easier. The system will provide a way for the visually-impaired to read the graphs and statistics that are so commonly used today. The device will use pattern recognition, machine learning and segmentation methods to identify blocks of texts or pictures and arrange them in the proper reading order....
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The idea is to develop a software program that will detect when an individual's mind has wandered and will send an alert to get them back on task. The system will use commercially available eye tracker technology to observe the user's eye movements and determine if they are concentrating as expected. If the system decides the user's mind has wandered, it can pause the work session, highlight the missed content, or display the content in a different way. The device could have...
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The idea is to have a lighting system that will mimic the sun's movement and the temperature of sunlight to provide some sun-drenched relief to office workers and apartment dwellers. The surface of the system will be enhanced by nano-technology to replicate the same light-scattering process as the atmosphere (which creates our blue sky). When LED lights are placed behind these panels, the result will be a realistic 'skylight' that can add natural light to hard-to-reach interior...
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Wearable PC will be controlled by facial movements, such as winking or grinding the teeth. The tiny computer will weigh just 17 grams and will be equipped with a GPS, compass, gyro-sensor, battery, barometer, speaker and microphone. Infrared sensors in the ear clip will monitor the small movements in the ear, which vary according to the movements from the eyes or mouth. Once linked with other gadgets via Bluetooth, such as an iPod or smartphone, the device will allow users to...
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A new material that harnesses the vibrations from a surface, such as inside a moving vehicle, could allow drivers to charge their phones simply by placing them inside the car. The material is made of a piezoelectric polymer called ployvinylidene fluoride (PVFD). By depositing nanoparticles of zinc oxide onto a thin film of the polymer and the etching them off, it is possible to create pores in the polymer that gave it a sponge-like consistency. It is this spongy consistency that...
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The new digital stethoscope will be equipped with a visual display and the world's first heart murmur indicator, designed to help physicians pinpoint sounds of potential cardiac issues. The device will work in the same way as a conventional stethoscope, but will also feature a screen that will display the phonocardiogram of the patient's heartbeat, allowing a measure of visual confirmation. More exciting may be its embedded algorithm, which will allow physicians to screen for heart...
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An implantable device able to provide a real time reading of the amount of medication in a person's bloodstream could allow doctors to fine-tune medication doses for each individual patient. The microfluidic device will feature a central chamber lined with gold electrodes with DNA strands extending from them. These strands, called aptamers, will be set to recognize specific drug molecules as the blood moves through the chamber. As the molecules of the target drug flow through the...
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The new device will expand the horizons of wearable sensors, and will be programmed to handle wide range of tasks. It will be equipped with an accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, barometer, thermometer and microphone as well as 2 GB of storage and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. Because its functions will not be pre-set, the device can be programmed by the user with "when/do" statements to recognize gestures or certain conditions, and then react accordingly. Some examples of its...