Artist Rendering on OLED

Artist Rendering on OLED

http://www.indylabs.net/next-generation-sony-nextep-ultra-portable-computer

Ever since I saw this video here back in 2007 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcAm3KihFho I was just waiting for the technology to hit the shelves.  Obviously it wasn't going to happen over night so I had to be satisfied with the anime-influenced artist renderings.  Strangely enough, however, most of them were designed to be simple concepts and nothing more.  Almost 4 years later I've found the first one to actually be designed with potential use in mind. 

So here we look at the first link where you see a simple wrist design using OLED as the screen.  This isn't just a watch or typical cell phone, however.  This is designed to be a full on computer with full internet access, email capability, and all of you OS program needs.  Equipped with a pull out keyboard (half from both sides of the device) you are able to easily utilize the device with both key strokes and touch screen access.  They even designed a holographic projector inside the device so that you can project a monitor anywhere you are, rather than looking at the screen itself.

That being said I do have a few issues with it.  First off is the holographic projector.  Even the most advanced holographics today is contained within a bulky casing that is both too large and too heavy to carry on your wrist.  The smallest I know of would just look like you are carrying a small box around.  On top of this, we still have yet to surpass the need to project ONTO something rather than into thin air.  There was a design I saw last year where they developed a tri-projector system where it would cast images onto itself, but that was significantly larger than the smallest one I just mentioned.  Even in 9 years, I am not fully convinced we will have fully functional holographics yet.  I think it would be much easier and even more attractive to have a pull out screen on the opposite end, just like the keyboard, that you can tilt up, down, around, etc. 

The 2nd thing I find missing is the functionality of a camera.  My last blog talked about the Nintendo 3DS and its use of not 1, but 2 cameras to encourage 3D photography.  For a design made to be sold in 2020, the lack of a camera seems quite primitive. 

The 3rd issue I have is that a majority of the concept designs I read talk about how the device is made and what it is made out of to promote "water proof" awesomeness and such things like that.  The design for the Nokia Morph, for example (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sp9G3WFOgdg which is by far my favorite concept design for future PDA's), did all this and damn near offer you a bag of chips.  I personally think this device is far superior to this SONY OLED design.  I know this is just an artist rendering to build hype for the OLED technology, but the artist, Hiromi Kiriki, still works for SONY, and that alone should have excuse enough to design like he was in the year 2020. 

I have a few more issues with it but I just realized the wall of text I have already written.  So now I ask for your input.  What do you feel would be a good advancement for future PDA's?  How would you market them?  Many designs today don't even mention 3D television technology (aside from the Nintendo 3DS), why do you think that is? 

Hope you enjoyed the look into future style.  Comment, follow, and enjoy. 

Not Another LotR Joke... and Another Nintendo Handheld

Sorry guys, for not posting sooner.  I have been participating in the 48 Hour Film Festival and boy was that tiring.  Either way I am back to bring you some more cool things to read about. 

Not Another LotR Joke...

http://dvice.com/archives/2011/04/nokia-wants-one.php

Here is an interesting concept.  A ring to control electronics.  Nokia has created a magnetic ring called Nenya (Lord of the Ring reference) that is able to control your cell phone.  By using a bracelet that detects the magnetic field changes, you can move the ring in many ways to send commands to your cell phone. 

I am not sure on testing yet or any demonstrational videos, but this concept seems to be on the right track for how we will be controlling many electronic devices in the near future.  I personally don't think this is the best of methods for "slight-o-hand" cell phone control.  That, and I don't wear bracelets...  And it is really ugly.  But it is a solid start.  I am looking forward to the days of "Minority Report" where we can control an entire screen and all the functionality with similar input methods. 

Other than cell phones what do you think we be great to have control of at the slightest movement of your hand? 

Another Nintendo Handheld

http://www.nintendo.com/3ds

So I am browsing the web and I stumble across this new concept of 3D Holographic technology.  The article was short and rather difficult to understand where they were going with it.  From what I got, it is a new form of holographic technology that could have great potential, BUT it still hasn't passed from it's still image application.  But that isn't what caught my eye.  Instead I noticed a referral link to Nintendo 3DS. 

Now, I used to be a big gamer fan, and I still accept any challenge for any of the Halo series, however, in the last few years I guess you could say I have been growing up.  The only games I play tend to be for storylines and concepts.  But the fact this slipped by me without me knowing just perplexed me.  I had no clue this came out. 

So I am going over what I have researched so far.  It's freakin awesome.  As a photographer the applications for the 3D photo device built into this is amazing.  I don't know the quality, and can't imagine it being super great by my own standards, but the fact it is 3D and on a $250 handheld is just a huge leap forward.  What is SONY going to do?  This thing came with a ton of features that I can only tell you to sit through the rather lengthy intro video they have on their homepage. 

In short, it has a 3D screen with a new stylus detection system.  It can detect movement, browse internet connections, and has backwards capability with the DS.  It now even comes with a 2 gig SD card for additional application use.  I wasn't big on the newer Nintendo handhelds because I felt like they just reinvented the wheel with a 5% stronger rubber.  Not that the dual screens weren't a leap forward either, it just seemed unnecessary.  But I guess you could just call me old school.  This one, however, I will be getting my hands on for sure.  I hate to admit this, but I am now curious to see what the next Pokemon game is going to be like. 

China Smoking Ban... Again and Synthetic Skin

It has been a while since I posted due to my participation int he 48 Hour Film Festival in Las Vegas, NV.  But I am back and bringing you some interesting news on China and some great new technology for Hospitals.

China Smoking Ban...  Again
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21028063.100-china-tries-again-to-stop-smoking.html

China is banning smoking in many enclosed public areas in hopes to encourage people to stop smoking.  Simon Chapman, some Australian I never heard of before, says that past bans in other countries has helped reduce smoking by as much as 20%.  People tend to smoke more before or after going into the public areas, but the over all effect prevents them from smoking during their normal activities, effectively cutting down cigarette consumption. 

This is not the first time they tried banning cigarette consumption, and in past years there were surveys taken showing a vast majority ignored the ban, anyway.  Chapman again claims raising cost on cigarettes would be a more effective way to fight the dirty habit. 

America and Europe has already taken many of these actions in the past and it has worked quite a bit.  I personally couldn't stand eating at restaurants with smokers sitting next to you because it just ruined the taste of food.  Not that I'm bashing any of you dirty smokers out there :P  I am interested to see how this turns out.

Synthetic Skin
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21028063.600-stretchy-patch-could-help-repair-skin-and-arteries.html

From destroying the body to repairing it our next topic involves the next step in medical advancement.  Until now people have been getting skin grafts to repair damaged skin.  However, recent research has shown a new artificial skin to be a potential replacement for grafts.  Tony Weiss, another Australian but this time I've heard of him before, notes to the public that similar attempts have been made in the past using animal fibrin and collagen.  Other than the fibrin, which doesn't help the healing process, none of the animal collagen is found in human skin, so it doesn't encourage healing as well as expected. 

Weiss suggested a new protein to be used called tropoelastin which is found in skin and arteries.  Through a process called electrospinning they create this new artificial skin.  Study in rabbits show improved healing, and studies on 12 healthy people show no negative reactions to the process.  A very positive conclusion.  And with Weiss already receiving financial backing for up scaling production, he expects you to see this new healing band aid in your hospital in the next 3 years. 

This is wonderful news to me because we are nearing the age of advanced medicine where we can treat sever wounds in the field producing less losses of life.  This would be great for military applications and many dangerous jobs involving high risk activities.  Very good step forward.