New Technologies
Smart TV - There's a lot of talk out there about "Smart TV", "Google TV" "Internet TV". The list goes on. So what does this all mean? Are they similar? The SGNL by Sony team put together a 5 minute guide on the world of Smart TVs and what Sony's options are. If you're in the market for a TV and looking for some tips on how to understand the new features these TVs offer like apps, content services and internet access, it's a great video to check out.
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Our display screens will change dramatically!
Over the years we've watched the CRT displays disappear - replaced by LCD and LED screens that are now up to 100+ inches diagonally. But another technology - OLED (organic light emitting diodes) will be eventually replacing those. The advantage of OLED is that the display can be incredibly thin, and yet still be vibrantly beautiful. Currently there are OLED TVs available up to 105 inches. Even larger displays are coming soon.
Over the years we've watched the CRT displays disappear - replaced by LCD and LED screens that are now up to 100+ inches diagonally. But another technology - OLED (organic light emitting diodes) will be eventually replacing those. The advantage of OLED is that the display can be incredibly thin, and yet still be vibrantly beautiful. Currently there are OLED TVs available up to 105 inches. Even larger displays are coming soon.
New Technology and the Human Body
Google is developing contact lenses that constantly monitor blood glucose levels for diabetics via tears.
Google is developing contact lenses that constantly monitor blood glucose levels for diabetics via tears.
Who needs a touch screen?
This year, a number of new hardware devices were introduced that sense what the user is doing without having to physically touch any hardware. Leap Motion represents an entirely new way to interact with your computers. It's more accurate than a mouse, as reliable as a keyboard and more sensitive than a touchscreen. For the first time, you can control a computer in three dimensions with your natural hand and finger movements.
Tobii software allows handicapped persons to control their computers with their eyes.
This year, a number of new hardware devices were introduced that sense what the user is doing without having to physically touch any hardware. Leap Motion represents an entirely new way to interact with your computers. It's more accurate than a mouse, as reliable as a keyboard and more sensitive than a touchscreen. For the first time, you can control a computer in three dimensions with your natural hand and finger movements.
Tobii software allows handicapped persons to control their computers with their eyes.
Pens that record what you write, and what you hear at the same time.
Record everything you write and hear. Tap anywhere on your notes to replay the audio from that moment in time. Automatically, your recorded notes and audio are wirelessly sent and securely stored in your Evernote® account. Your exclusive Livescribe plan for Evernote includes 500MB of additional upload capacity for smartpen notes and audio. Using Evernote, quickly search and share your lectures, meetings and ideas any time on nearly any device. Simply tap on your notes in Evernote and interactive versions of your pencasts play back within Livescribe Player. |
Pico Projectors - projectors that are smaller than your fingertip!
You'll be seeing LED and Laser-based projectors in more products in the near future. Microvision's ShowWX+ is one example of an iPhone sized laser projector. As each year brings new advancements in this technology, you'll be seeing ever brighter projectors built into cameras, smart phones, laptops, and tablets. |
Interacting with Projected Images
Interactive whiteboards have been a staple in classrooms for several years now. However, that is changing. Projectors are now being produced that have the same interactivity built right into the projector itself. Hardware that watches what you do also can control the projected images by touch. |
Terabyte Flash Drive? Yes!
Source: C|NET News - "Want to back up your entire computer and more on a single flash drive? You'll be able to do that courtesy of the latest gadget from Kingston. The DataTraveler HyperX Predator 3.0 USB flash drive is currently shipping with 512 gigabytes of storage. But the next generation due out this quarter will ramp up the capacity to a full terabyte, making it the largest USB drive available on the market. Kingston is also touting the drive as fast. With SuperSpeed USB 3.0 support, the HyperX Predator offers transfer speeds of up to 240MB per second when reading data and up to 160MB per second when writing data. And with a zinc alloy metal casing, the drive is made to be durable as well. It also comes with a five-year warranty." |
Soon, You Will Be Wearing Your Computer!
CES 2015 showcased many new and upcoming technologies. One theme that ran through much of them was technology that we could wear. For those of us old enough to remember the Dick Tracy cartoons in the mid-1900s may recall his two-way wrist TV. He could talk to his crew wirelessly! We're reaching a time where that may no longer be fiction. Smart watches that connect you to the internet, glasses that do the same, running shoes that track your heartrate, distance, and speed, and more are coming out soon.
Printing in 3D!
Here's a technology that will certainly make it into the classroom. I have seen prices come down drastically over the past few years. Students will have the opportunity to print actual three dimensional objects with movable parts... Another important advancement will be in the medical field. Using 3D printing technologies, doctors will be able to print a replacement organ from stem cells |
So what will the future look like?
Here's one vision... The following videos show one company's vision of the near future - Corning Glass. I think you'll find these interesting to watch.
Here's one vision... The following videos show one company's vision of the near future - Corning Glass. I think you'll find these interesting to watch.