Blogs
Preserving Holocaust stories through 3D technology
February 8, 2013 1:06 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | CommentsIt seems that a few groups consistently struggle with how to incorporate and use new technology in a manner that is both appropriate and effective for their brand. They often fall short and take advantage of the “next big thing” only to find it doesn’t work or hasn’t been adopted by enough of the public to make a difference.
Beer: The next great alternative energy source
February 8, 2013 10:10 am | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | CommentsForget solar power. The future of energy is beer power. I’m not talking about beer goggles that make you feel like you can invent the perfect form of alternative energy ... but actually using beer to power a brewery. The Alaskan Brewing Co, is located in Juneau, Alaska...
Power: Less is more for 2013
February 7, 2013 3:10 pm | by Bryon Moyer, Mouser Electronics | Mouser Electronics | CommentsPower has come of age as a defining parameter in electronic systems. Whether maximizing battery life, keeping an enclosure cool, or passing large currents more efficiently, projects now start with power in mind. In 2013, we will see the continued migration of power technologies from research to commercial availability.
Automotive electronics in 2013 and beyond: Batteries bear a burden
February 7, 2013 2:58 pm | by David Carey, Mouser Electronics | Mouser Electronics | CommentsThis year will see automotive electronics designers approach power management (PM) more like their mobile industry counterparts. While it may seem a fringe concern, the burgeoning security, convenience, connectivity, safety, and infotainment features of tomorrow’s vehicles will drive design and component choices that address standby power consumption.
Why your car is a better driver than you
February 7, 2013 2:06 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | CommentsIt came to my attention while working on an article about intelligent systems in cars that people might be a tad touchy when it comes to talking about letting cars do the work when driving. I’m not talking about infotainment systems or fancy doodads, I’m talking about systems that could greatly improve the safety of cars....
Is the atmosphere a giant steam engine?
February 7, 2013 11:40 am | by M. Simon, Technical Contributor | CommentsAs a former Naval Nuke, I was intrigued by a recent paper on climate. It looks at atmospheric circulation in terms of water vapor condensation. A steam engine if you will. The paper claims that winds are driven by the condensation of water vapor, and the resultant variations in local atmospheric pressure that the condensation causes.
Iranian "stealth fighter" looks like a clown car
February 7, 2013 11:09 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | CommentsSo it turns out that the new Iranian stealth fighter may be as genuine as the Islamic Republic’s concern for human rights. The regime unveiled the jet, 'Qaher 313', on Saturday, and the blogosphere immediately went to work debunking what could be one of the laziest forgeries of all time.
Open Source Ecology: Using Open Engineering to Create Economic Benefit
February 7, 2013 12:39 am | by Curious Cat Science and Engineering Blog | CommentsOpen Source Philosophy. from Open Source Ecology on Vimeo. I think the video’s message is overly simplistic and unrealistic (great innovations often seem unrealistic so I don’t mind people trying things I don’t think are likely to succeed in the … Continue reading →
In defense of crazy technology
February 6, 2013 4:22 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | CommentsAlright, I’ll admit it. I’m a bit of a technological dreamer. I’ve seen my fair share of pipe-dream technology—easily created, easily dismissed—but most days are a roving door of surprisingly innovative, potentially life-changing, incredibly awesome designs. In general, I tend to be a bit jaded, some might say curmudgeonly...
Health care reform: Will the medical device tax harm the industry?
February 6, 2013 3:57 pm | by Sean Fenske, Editor-in-Chief, Medical Design Technology | CommentsObviously, the overwhelming majority of the industry is not in favor of the medical device tax associated with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (aka, Obamacare). There are the remote pockets of support within the industry where people say that the tax, as part of the whole picture, will be a positive.
A new U.S. war: Restoring our competitiveness
February 6, 2013 3:26 pm | by Gordon Zuckerman | CommentsIf the United States economy is to restore itself to earlier levels of full employment, prosperity and financial soundness, the American manufacturing community must engage in a national effort to resurrect its global competitiveness.
FTC wanders down the wrong path
February 6, 2013 3:01 pm | by Andrew Berg, Senior Editor, Wireless Week | CommentsFriday’s announcement of Path's settlement is illustrative of the way regulation works when you're trying to safeguard consumers from technology that the regulators themselves don't understand. It's also the way regulation works when you're trying to drum up press that illustrates how you catch the bad guys and make them pay.
SSLs see bright future in automotive platforms
February 6, 2013 2:43 pm | by Chris A. Ciufo, Mouser Electronics | Mouser Electronics | CommentsThe world is positively aglow with rapidly changing technology trends in solid state lighting (SSL) LEDs. According to the Department of Energy (DOE), costs dropped by a third in 2011 to about $12 per thousand lumens and will be on their way down to $2 per thousand lumens by 2015 (Strategies Unlimited, August 2012).
Will 12V solar disappear in 2013?
February 5, 2013 3:08 pm | by Jon Gabay, Mouser Electronics | Mouser Electronics | CommentsThe established solar architecture based on 12V photovoltaic panels, batteries, charge controllers, and inverters will continue to give way to grid-tied inverter architectures. This approach to harvesting solar energy brings with it a lot of key benefits.
Online sales tax is immoral, runs contrary to the free markets
February 5, 2013 2:54 pm | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | CommentsThe central fallacy with crony capitalism is that it ignores the invisible hand of the free marketplace. This is precisely what the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) is doing with their support for "e-fairness" legislation (i.e., an Internet sales tax).
