Bionic Contacts

For my Com 435 poster presentation about an emerging technology, I chose the topic of bionic contacts. It is a very interesting topic and I learned a lot of information that I was able to share with the observers at the poster fair.

Bionic contacts were invented by an assistant professor, Babak Parviz, in electrical engineering at the University of Washington. He has created a prototype that has been tested on rabbits for up to 20 minutes, in which they showed no negative affects. The contact lens creates a display over the wearer's visual field, so images, maps, and date appear to float in mid-air. The lens includes light emitting diodes, basic wiring for electric circuits, and even a tiny antenna. According to Parviz, his group is currently working on the issue of how to run displays or bio sensors without the need for awkward batteries. They want to be able to transmit signals wirelessly, and so far, the prototype's lens-mounted antenna has shown promise in collecting radio signals.

Some of the possible applications of the bionic contact include:
•Being able to zoom in on distant objects (such as scenery)
•Getting useful facts to pop up in your visual field
•Surfing the web on-the-go (such as while traveling via plane)
•Immersive video games
•Monitoring one's health
•Holographic driving control panels (Used for pilots and drivers)
•Visual aids for the vision-impaired

There are so many beneficial applications from bionic contacts; it really is an amazing invention that will hopefully be ready to use for humans in the near future.

During the poster fair, our classmates tweeted about posters they found interesting and eye capturing. It was cool to read tweets about my poster and I also had fun tweeting about other individual’s posters. Having the class tweet about the posters was a great way to incorporate the use of technology into the classroom.

Powermat wireless charging system

In today's world most individuals own multiple electronic and digital devices- mobile phones, ipods, digital cameras, and GPS systems just to name a few. Most people bring all of their electronic and digital devices with them whenever they travel, and along with packing each device, a charger must be packed as well. The powerless wireless charging system virtually gets rid of all of those annoying chargers that go along with each electronic device.

The powerless wireless charging system consists of a plug in charging mat and a receiver embedded in a cover for your portable devices, which allows you to charge your electronics simultaneously without having to to mess with cords. There are two types of mats offered- one for home and office, and a folding portable version for travel. Each mat costs $99.00 and they both lie flat on a desk or table and can hold three to four electronic devices simultaneously. They also both come with a well-designed Powermat Power Adapter that has built-in cord control. Another great feature is that it includes a Powermat Powercube Universal Receiver, eight assorted tips and a bin for storing them. With these tips you can charge hundreds of different devices.

To use the Powermat, you simply take a device that is “wearing” a receiver and place it on the Powermat. Sound and light indicate that a connection has been made and that the device is charging. A second sound indicates when the device is removed from the mat. Once on the mat the device will charge as fast or faster than the stock power adapter. Also, by using the Powermat,you are saving energy because you charge multiple devices from a single outlet.

Check out the link below to learn more about the Powermat wireless charging system:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feoIvrXKaPQ