Sony has just announced the BDP-S1 Blu-ray disc player and VAIO RC desktop. The BDP-S1 ($1,000), set for a July release, features 1920 x 1080p output, uncompressed multi-channel linear PCM digital audio output via HDMI, and support for standard DVDs. Shipping this summer is Sony’s VAIO RC ($2,300) desktop PC which is the first to offer a built-in Blu-ray disc drive. Each computer will ship with a blank 25GB BD-RE (rewritable) disc.
KOMMERZ has developed an MRI (Mixed Reality Interface) system that can be used in a variety of applications – including presentations, games, architecture and landscape planning . This interface allows you to control virtual 3D models using real objects (such as toys, blocks, special characters, etc.). Three video clips after the jump.
Sharp has just unveiled a tiny WLAN module measuring only10 x 10 x 1.6 mm for use in mobile devices. It’s IEEE802.11b/g compliant and ideal for ultracompact cell phones. Samples will begin shipping later this month.
“Sharp is able to reduce the size by using high frequency power amplifier technology and small-sized mounted module technology. A single high frequency analog signal processing unit can handle the power management unit and media access control.”
Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co Ltd (SEL) and TDK Corp have developed the first bendable RFID tag. At only 195um thick, this 8-bit microcontroller with an onboard radio circuit can be embedded into credit cards, business cards, etc. for a variety of uses.
“If successful, the thickness of the current prototype non-contact smart card (about 800um) would be roughly halved, and it would be as bendable as common magnetic cards. It could also be embedded into paper, without changing the paper’s look and feel until it was bent.”
Remember the brain-to-computer interface we covered yesterday? Now here’s a video of this technology in action which shows two players enjoying a friendly game of Pong, using only their thoughts to control paddle movements.
Weighing a very manageable 1.7 pounds, the Q1 is Samsung’s first foray into the Ultra Mobile PC market. It crams everything you need into a sleek portable package, including a 7-inch touchscreen display, 20GB HDD (minimum), Bluetooth, GPS, 802.11a/b/g WLAN, and a host of other multimedia features. The Q1 runs on a 900MHz Intel Celeron M ULV processor with 512MB of DDR2 400MHz memory. Video review after the jump. [BIOS]
We have seen the future and it’s the “Mental Typewriter”. This brain-to-computer interface converts your thoughts into cursor movements on screen. Put simply, 128 electrodes are placed on your scalp and software than decodes EEG-like signals into usable information. Since this technology is still in its early stages, it takes 5 – 10 minutes to type out a simple sentence, with electrodes taking about an hour to apply.
From the article: “…but eventually researchers hope to make it possible for people with severe disabilities such as extensive paralysis, to communicate through computers.”
Facial recognition time clocks become a reality with NEC’s NeoFace. Housed in a large metal cabinet, the NeoFace has an integrated camera that makes sure you’re the one who’s really clocking in. So taking an extra long lunch and getting your co-workers to tick you in is not an option now…sadly. [Akihabara]
Want to keep track of time but hate wearing bulky watches? Check out Timeflex, this nifty self-gumming watch sticks to your skin/clothes and can be rolled up like paper when not in use. Based on flexible screen technology, you control the menu via touchscreen. It’s powered by ultra small batteries that are invisible to the naked eye.