Techies Den

A New Technology to Reduce Carbon Emissions

Automobile manufacturers tend to spend time researching new technologies that can help to make their specific automobile brands a bit better and more enticing to consumers. New technology has been introduced that could substantially reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions from a vehicle. Strataclear could help transportation companies to earn a higher level of income and could make a significant dent in the amount of fuel costs that these companies have.

Strataclear is designed to capture up to 40 percent of the carbon emissions that trucks release. This is regardless of the specific type or model of the engine in the truck. During regular operation, the exhaust gas from a vehicle passes through a catalytic converter before it enters the Strataclear system. In recent tests, the system showed as much as 30 percent in savings on gas. Companies that have an average of about 30 trucks can save tens of thousands of dollars each year on fuel alone. This can help those companies to lower their transportation costs to customers, attracting more clientele than they could with their current costs and expenses.

Typically, trapped carbon is a toxic liquid that is required to be disposed of in a special way. This trapped carbon is normally buried or dumped at sea. Because of the costs associated with disposal, companies generally incur additional expenses that can often be very expensive. Strataclear technology offers a solid residual that is not toxic and can be used in a number of industries as recycled material. This means that instead of having to pay to have this material dumped or disposed of, these companies can simply use that material in other realms such as in construction or road building. The solid carbon residual can be used as a replacement material for sand when producing brick and it is a bit stronger and can resist temperature changes much better than traditional brick making materials.

Companies that offer transportation will be able to provide better contracts for their clients and save money themselves. The patent is still pending for this technology in spite of its obvious benefits. The outlook for transportation companies however is good. The technology would allow those companies to save money and to cut down on the amount of carbon emission that each truck produces which ultimately helps to keep the environment cleaner. More tests and research is being done to determine without doubt if this is a feasible technology that offers benefit to both company and consumer. As of now, it is estimated that the residual carbon can be sold to profit centers which would open up new streams of revenue for transportation companies, allowing them to provide even lower prices to customers.

New technologies are introduced virtually on a daily basis and as those technologies become available, many anticipate even better ways to clean up the environment and help to save on fuel costs and other expenses. If the Strataclear technology is used by transportation companies when it becomes available, there are definite benefits to both the company and its clientele.

New Technologies to Watch for in the Coming Months

New technologies are introduced every day and many wait anxiously to see just what is going to be released next. Technology has already provided things like cars that parallel park themselves, smartphones and a number of other gadgets that some consumers simply do not want to live without. With recent advances in technology, there are a number of new gadgets that could hit markets as early as late 2013.

Google has filed a patent for a smart-watch design although there is no word on when this design will actually be available to consumers. Many smartphone manufacturers are rumored to be working on devices that will work just like a smartphone but come in a handy watch design. Imagine having all of the computing technology available in a watch. This is definitely something that some tech savvy consumers will be watching for earlier next year.

Digital currency is another rumor that could actually come to fruition within the next couple of years. Bitcoin is very popular already and is a secure way to manage online transactions. The only problem right now is that there is no central regulatory authority so the value of Bitcoin fluctuates quite a bit. Values may go from $5 to $200 and then back again quickly but with the right regulations in place and a bit more work, this could definitely be something to watch for.

Brainwave authentication is not new to researchers although consumers may have never heard of this technology. Scientists at the University of California in Berkley have been working on an authentication protocol that is more secure than anything seen thus far. A Bluetooth headset has been developed that will identify the wave patterns and brain activity using concentration and emotion areas within the brain which could unlock their secure systems. More studies and research are currently being done but given the advances in technology over the past five years alone, this is certainly something that consumers may see available within the next year or so.

Finally, 3-D printing is likely a thing of the very near future. 3-D printing involves printing solid objects and doing so with a printing machine that is guided by a computer program. The overall concept has gained much popularity over the past year alone. The concept itself is nothing new but the advancement will be in building huge 3-D printers that can handle multiple tasks which smaller printers cannot handle at the moment.

Technology is going to continue to change and grow and as it does, more and more gadgets will be introduced to consumers. These are all things to watch for in the coming months into the next year or so. Beyond that, there is no way to tell just what scientists and tech savvy researchers are going to come up with that will be the next big thing for consumers to use. Cars that fly may actually not be as far into the future as many believe and as technology increases, so does the possibility of seeing these and other advances.

NFC Technology in the Automotive Industry

Near Field Communication or NFC technology has grown significantly over the last two or three years. So much so in fact that many automobile manufacturers are now working with NFC providers to plan innovative applications for use in future automobiles. NFC providers are continuously working on applications that can be used to stream and transfer data directly inside automobiles.

Most cars today, depending on the manufacturer and brand, offer state of the art features such as infotainment, navigation and others. NFC technology experts have conducted research on using wireless connectivity inside an automobile. This wireless technology is critical in allowing the transfer of content from smart phones and personal tablets to automobile navigation and entertainment systems. Wireless systems will eventually replace the cabling system that is now used for data transfer and communication inside vehicles and will be a much less expensive way of doing things.

Texas Instruments, one of the leading NFC technology developers in the world, has developed an NFC chip that will assist in achieving this wireless connectivity. The system is called WiLink 8Q and integrates such current technologies as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GNSS and NFC in order to achieve a wireless connection between the device that the diver uses and any devices that passengers inside the car may be using as well. NFC enabled smart phones and tablets currently require that an NFC tag is used in order to allow this data communication. NFC tags can be purchased at a number of online shops such as Amazon. Texas Instruments is currently developing a prototype of their equipment model and plans to release this prototype during the 2013 second quarter. Production could begin as early as 2014 and the solution is targeted toward automobile manufacturers that produce vehicles in higher volumes.

Ving Card Elsafe is another company that is developing further NFC technology. The company has partnered with automobile giant BMW to begin development on a device that will allow drivers to book a hotel room directly from their vehicle and then use their own vehicle’s keys to open that room when they arrive. This development is targeted toward business travelers who may need to book last minute hotel rooms and arrive at odd hours of the night.

The navigation system inside the BMW will allow drivers to locate and book their hotel rooms as well as perform various searches for vacancies. Rooms will need to be within a specific range set by NFC standards and once a room is found, the driver can choose the booking directly from his or her vehicle. When the reservation has been confirmed, the navigation system inside the vehicle will alert the driver of their room number and will provide guidance for reaching that hotel. An access code that allows the driver to open the hotel room with their car keys will be downloaded to the car key that is NFC enabled. Drivers will be able to bypass the check-in desk and head straight to their rooms which are paid for during the booking process.

Understanding the Hype Over the Padfone

Tech lovers have found much to be excited about over the past couple of years. During MCW 2013, Asus gave them one more thing to anticipate with their newest technological advance that is another in the line of tablet and phone merging. The Padfone Infinity by Asus is yet another gadget that tech lovers are sure to appreciate.

The Infinity merges the features of a smartphone with those of a tablet. It features 4G LTE connectivity and is powered by Android 4.2 operating system. It also offers a very impressive HD display along with a host of other features. The 5 inch screen has 441ppi so that pictures are viewed in the best possible light. This is a bit better than Apple’s retina display according to most tech savvy experts. Apple currently offers a 326ppi display, so the Infinity has upped the ante just a bit.

The hardware itself is very sturdy with a slider function that allows you to perfectly fit the phone. It features a rubber like finish that keeps the phone in place securely and holds it there safely. The software is very responsive. Users will find no lags in performance when they choose to switch over from the pad screen to their smartphone screen or when docking and undocking.

The Infinity has a 1.7GHz quad core CPU and can support 3G connectivity as well as the 4G LTE. The quad core chip offers optimal performance with absolutely no lag and the device can easily provide up to 19 hours of battery use with its 3G connectivity combined with talk time. The padfone has a slot for the Asus smartphone and will convert it to a Station 10.1 inch tablet. The tablets resolution is 1920X1200 and it offers full HD streaming with 1080p. You will also enjoy the battery pack that gives you up to three times more battery power and there is a 1MP camper mounted on top that allows for video calls and other images to be taken. There is a handy USB port as well.

The unit has an aluminum finish and other features include 64GB flash memory, NFC technology for easier data exchange and 2GB of RAM. The tablet can function as a smartphone and even has a dialer to make calls. You can capture up to 8 still shots per second with the camera that features a burst mode and the Echo technology which is very similar to Siri by Apple, it also included.

The Padfone Infinity by Asus is certainly an attractive device. Those who are constantly on the go and prefer not to carry larger devices with them at all times will find it very useful. The advantages of having a larger screen that is enabled as a phone is also a major attraction. The body itself is very attractive. What may not be attractive however, is the cost. The price is set to be around $1300 which may simply be a bit too steep for most tech lovers. Those who can afford it however, will find the features and capabilities to be well worth it.

Far Cry 3 Review

The hype behind the latest Far Cry game has been massive. Well, the reviews are in, and all seem to unanimously agree that Far Cry 3 has lived up to it. The environment, the gameplay and the story are all stunningly impressive, and it stands a chance to be regarded as one of the greatest first-person shooters of all time.

If you can’t save up for the awesome collector’s edition of the game, try selling some of your older games at www.musicmagpie.com. This review goes over some of the reasons that make Far Cry 3 one of the best first-person shooters that has come out in a while.

Setting

You play as Jason Brody, a tourist who accidentally lands with his friends on an island in the Indian Ocean that’s been dominated by pirates. The pirates kidnap all of his friends and plan to extort their parents for money and then sell them off into slavery.

Jason escapes and teams up with the island’s local natives, who live in fear of the insane, unhinged pirates. Jason transforms from a gap-year college kid into a hardened, brutal warrior who has no qualms about killing pirates.

Gameplay

The game is open-world, like its predecessor – and you have access to the entire island. The sandbox-type setup is great, and the details the developers have applied to the settings are simply breath taking.

Although it’s an FPS, the game features elements of role-playing games, like experience points and skill-building. The action has been enhanced to the level where you can duck behind cover and break your enemy’s line of sight.

The size of the map is absolutely enormous – ten times the size of the maps featured in the old Far Cry games. You can plan your takedowns with lethal precision and even tag your enemies with a camera so you can track their movement.

Verdict

Far Cry 3 is utterly incredible. It’s not so much of a surprise, given that Far Cry 2 was pretty damned awesome as well, but what makes this one stand out is the fact that it has a real emotional punch underneath all the gloss and sheen of its graphics and engine.

In fact, the emotional substance of its script is really what makes it a truly great game. There’s no chance of zoning out during the ‘story’ parts just so you can get to the part where you kill pirates. It’s seriously engrossing, not just as a video game, but as a tale of a man who picks up a gun and doesn’t look back.