Garry Golden

More on terahertz…carbon transistors, Google’s ‘geo’ push, video telepresence, online video tools, WiMAX, OLEDs, MEMs, ‘chain link’ clothing (!), ‘black hole’ optical coatings, ultrahydrophobic coatings, etc…

I’ll be posting specifically on energy related news another day…!

Continue…

Tera Era of Computing
I didn’t expect to be seeing the this day so soon… but it seems that the age of the teraflop computing is approaching faster than expected. Intel’s recent announcement of 80 core processors is now being followed by news from AMD’s Terahertz breakthrough (Link from Businesswire.com) The cynics will say – ‘why do I need that much processing power to do email and surf the web’ – and they are correct. But the entrepreneurs are saying – ‘with this much processing power, what can consumers do tomorrow that they don’t do today!’ I think that the entrepreneurs are going to win this debate – and we’ll see widespread adoption of Terahertz chips within a decade. I’m drafting an article on this – looking at video in particular!

Also - the fundamental research related to the post-silicon age doesn’t seem to be slowing down… Carbon based transistors seems to be the preferred long term path… University of Machestor researchers created details of graphene transistors that are one atom thick and less than 50 atoms wide…?!!?! (Link from Eureka Alert)

Location based Services / Geo
Google continues to build on its location based delivery and organization of information… In recent months it has release real-time traffic monitoring services (via cell phones) in a few test cities. Now they are adding subway maps and creating a standard tagging system based on the Keyhole mapping system they purchased years ago…! (Varied sources- including O’Reilly Radar) Google Earth and Dodgeball are the core services of this new era … more on that later!!

Video and Telepresence
We are clearly coming out of the ‘Trough of Disillusionment’ in the Hype Cycle! And I do believe that the corporate world is on the edge of embracing telepresence systems based on video conferencing – that are intimate and cost effective. These experiences will make today’s systems look like black & white compared to color televisions. It is a leap for video driven communication…!

Digital media pundits are correct in saying that ‘we are drowing in video data’ over the networks. And I don’t expect that to stop. Beyond the money associated with video media – there are profits waiting to be drawn from enterprise video telepresence.

Cisco is pushing hard in this space…. As are HP, IBM and other enterprise software companies. Random - Nice post from the Human Productivity Lab blog… (Link) Great images of systems and their applications in conference rooms and classrooms.]

Other video notes…
Online video editing tools are the ‘new new thing’ – TechCrunch has a great overview of the players… (Link from TechCrunch)

WiMAX - Wireless broadband
A few notes on WiMax developments – again, I don’t believe it will be a threat to land lines (thanks to the explosion of video content)- but wireless broadband could increase mobile access and geolocation based services.

1) Work begins on 1Gbps Mobile WiMAX spec (Link from Arstechnica)
2) Patent issues are being worked out… by small players and giants such as Qualcomm, Samsung, Motorola (with Intel whisperingin their ears…!) (Link from EETimes)

OLEDs
I must post an overview of OLEDs – and why I am so excited about this platform for video displays and lighting…

1) Interview with Professor Dr. Karl Leo of the IAPP (Institute for applied photo physics) in Dresden. (Link fro OLED-Displaynet)

2) GE Global Research signed agreement with Japanese OLED manufacturer— GE’s goal with OLEDs is not necessarily for video displays but for indoor lighting. These are two very different applications – and most agree that displays will evolve faster than indoor lighting applications. But this partnership is great news for GE…. Encapsulation is a critical step – and they must be confident in other areas to be moving towards this stage of development. Link from EDN.com

3) New from Show Denko – on gallium nitride – used from blue/white LEDs. (Link from Azom.com)

Materials Science
1) MEMS switches are creeping into consumer and industrial processes. The Wii Nintendo stick is a great example. There are tremendous gains in efficiencies and peformances around these microelectromechanical systems – especially in automobiles and telecommunications infrastructure. TeraVicta Technologies has just announced the ‘fastest’ MEMS switch in the world.

2) Beyond today’s applications- I think the more interesting uses will be in clothing and augmented living technologies. Check ou this article on a nanoscale sized ‘chain-link’ armor MEMS system developed at the University of Illinois. It’s fascinating…! The picture is close to sci fi…!

Two interesting reports on our ability to manipulate light and water…

3) A ‘black hole for light’ coating
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (… a giant in the world of materials research) ‘…has created the world’s first material that reflects virtually no light. Reporting in the March issue of Nature Photonics, they describe an optical coating made from the material that enables vastly improved control over the basic properties of light. The research could open the door to much brighter LEDs, more efficient solar cells, and a new class of “smart” light sources that adjust to specific environments, among many other potential applications.‘ (Link from PhysOrg.com)

4) Ultrahydrophoic materials created at Queen’s University Belfast. “….Future practical applications of this discovery are likely to include biomedical devices, liquid separation, and reducing turbulent flow in water-bearing pipes, among others.” (Link from Azom.com)