innovation | TechieTonics

Protean Electric’s Gearless, Direct-Drive System: An In-Wheel Motor Concept

March 21, 2014May 16, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

Protean Electric, an automotive start-up is paving way towards revolutionizing electric cars with its in-wheel motor design. Beijing roads will first experience this radical technology. Like the EcoMotors, Protean Electric’s preferred the East Asia since the government is very supportive towards technology that evangelizes fuel efficiency and air quality. In-Wheel Motor Concept Generally, central motor in an electric vehicle is under bonnet that transmits power down to the rotating shaft, which further sends torque to the axels. But in the Protean system, small motors, which is responsible for creating power, is…

Gamification is More Than Just Points & Badges: Lord of the Rings

March 19, 2014June 1, 2020 Pooja Kashyap

Recently, I watched Lord of the Rings, second time of course but consciously with a different angle. This time, I translated Frodo Baggins journey in terms Gamification strategy. By introducing the gaming element in the movie, I discovered that the trilogy became all the more interesting and innovative so I thought of penning down my insights and if I’m wrong anywhere please free to rebut my point(s), I’d be of great help, thanks. Introduction to the world of Gamification: Task assigned Frodo Baggins is having a good time at his…

Galactic Gas Stations: Re-fueling Spacecrafts on the Way

March 12, 2014April 15, 2014 Neha Shukla

MIT researchers are planning to build a gas station in space, positioned at some point between the earth and the moon, which can fuel the future spacecraft going on lunar missions. These space-based spacecraft refueling station would involve low cost and require lesser maintenance. The space station will be positioned at Lagrange points, which is that region of space somewhere between the Earth, the moon and the sun that sustain gravitational equilibrium and thus remain at one place with respect to moon and earth.

Robots Might Perform At Live Concerts: Prosthetic on the Sticks

March 7, 2014 Neha Shukla

Robots got advanced and sophisticated in the last few decades after all, they are capable of performing various tasks with precision making our life all the more simpler. Now, Gil Weinberg Professor at Georgia Tech Center for Music Technology has designed an innovative robot that can create music of its own. The bot is not the one that just plays the music instead it has been designed to create music by first ‘carefully’ listening a song or melody and then improvise new tunes. Imagine how interesting it would to have…

EcoMotors’ Opoc Engine: Breaking the Conventional Designs

March 6, 2014May 16, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

EcoMotors, a Michigan-based start-up, is about to revolutionize the internal combustion engines by creating an innovative type of engine, which they claim would pay less stress on wallet and at the same time, might enhance fuel economy by twenty percent with respect to turbo diesel engines. The company has decided to work in co-ordination with China because they feel that China has right market for the technology. Government in East Asia is quite particular when it comes to air quality and fuel efficiency.

Nano Innovation to Cure Macular Degeneration

March 6, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

Until now, treatment for eye disorders and other related problems were administered through injections, which were not only unpleasant but expensive as well. However, this would very soon become obsolete since researchers at University College London (UCL) have come up with eye drops for procuring macular degeneration. Nearly 2 in 10 people over 75 have age-related macular degeneration. And at this point of time, the research would prove a boon in combating the growing numbers of patients, and especially when the escalating demands of eye injections becomes responsible for halting…

Spider Silk for Fixing Broken Bones: No More Additional Surgeries

March 6, 2014March 6, 2014 Neha Shukla

Silk produced by the spiders or silkworm are known to have great tensile strength, elasticity and essentially bio-compatible. Medical researchers would very soon are going to use silk produced from these insects for fixing broken bones. Until now, metal screws, plates or biodegradable ones were being used for mending the bones. But now with this breakthrough invention we can have devices made up of silk for mending bones.

Learning Changes Brain Cell Connectivity

March 1, 2014May 31, 2014 Wa'd Abuzurayk

A new discovery has been achieved in the world of neurology. Scientists have made progress in better understanding what happens inside our brains when we learn or remember information. According to the University of British Columbia research team, molecular changes are observed in the brain when one learns or remembers. Such changes occur in the brain’s chemistry as fatty acids attach to delta-catenin (a protein important for normal cognitive development- Wikipedia) upon learning new things, which ultimately alters brain cell connectivity coupled with learning and memory. The study was conducted…

Predictive User Interface for Cars: The Next Revolution

February 28, 2014May 16, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

In the last 150 years, there has been tremendous escalation in terms of economic and innovative growth in the paraphernalia of automobiles. There are auto-manufacturing companies that are taking giant steps towards the next revolution, and lately Mitsubishi has hit the news with such a breakthrough effort. In an attempt to revolutionize the driving experience in car, Mitsubishi Electric is trying to come up with a predictive user interface. The technology would be able to predict the route of the driver as per the past driving history. In case there…

Neurofeedback And Brain Power

February 10, 2014May 31, 2014 Wa'd Abuzurayk

The advanced brain imaging technology magnetoencephalography (MEG) could be the next big thing in the world of neurology and rehabilitation. “MEG is a new technology that measures the very faint magnetic fields that emanate from the head as a result of brain activity”- PBS.org . MEG measures and captures magnetic fields generated by nerve cell circuits in the brain at a matchless time resolution. This gives us the ability to observe brain activity as it happens, according to Dr. Sylvain Baillet, acting Director of the Brain Imaging Centre at The…

High Haze Paper Might Replace The Plastic Substrates Of Solar Cells

January 24, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

Paper coming from wood fibers would now be replacing plastic substrates that are employed in the manufacturing solar cells. Researchers from University of Maryland, the South China University of Technology, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have proposed this evolutionary step towards future technology. As per the researchers, solar cells gives maximum output when the materials involve have high optical transparency and high optical haze. Diffusion of light is of high quality when the optical transparency is high. And high optical haze helps in increasing the scattering of light which further…

New Device for Transdermal Detection Of Malaria

January 12, 2014January 12, 2014 Wa'd Abuzurayk

In a new breakthrough in the world of medical examination, researchers from Rice University have successfully developed a new way to test Malaria through using a laser pulse, instead of blood testing. Although the new test has only been tried on mice so far, it was found to be safe in humans. Trials on mice have resulted on successful detection of malaria when only one in a million red blood cell was infected. The test inventor, Dmitri O. Lapotko, stated that the invented device could test one person every 20…

Vigo, The Technology’s Answer To Energy Drinks

January 1, 2014January 1, 2014 Neha Shukla

Across the globe, every single day there are road accidents occurring due to drowsy driving. Sleepiness is the major contributor causing fatal road accidents and is generally overlooked by the drivers. Similar to alcohol, drowsiness reduces reflex time, alertness and hampers our decision- making ability. To combat this problem a kickstarter program has come up with a device known as Vigo. The sole aim of the device is to wake you up whenever you are low on energy and show sign of drowsiness and low alertness. In short, Vigo gauges…

First Artificial Leg That Reads Brain Signal To Walk

December 28, 2013December 27, 2013 Pooja Kashyap

Groundbreaking research conducted at RIC has found a way of controlling an artificial leg via brain. Researchers have come up with first of its own kind bionic, mind controlled leg, taking bionics to the next level. This advancement in medical field is still in its testing phase. Although, mind controlled bionic arm has already been available to amputees so far. As per Zac Vawter, 32, who in a bike accident lost his leg 4 years back says, there’s nothing special that he had to learn like giving some tugs or…

Inkjet Technology To Print Eye Cell

December 20, 2013 Neha Shukla

For the first time a team of scientists from UK has pioneered in printing the eye cell taken from the adult eye using the new inkjet printing technology. Earlier scientists were able to print embryonic stem cells but could not create the delicate adult cells. Using the technology scientists now hope to fabricate tissue grafts made up of different cells taken from the retina of adult human eye to cure blindness or to create any replacement for damaged part or organ.