Raj Agrawal

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Stretching and Wirelessly Charging a Lithium-ion Battery

April 3, 2013 by Raj Agrawal Leave a Comment

Stretchable/ Elastic batteries have two primary purposes – medical and consumer electronics. Stretchable lithium-ion batteries can power tiny medical electronics that can be implanted inside the human body (monitoring heart rate for instance). And on the other hand, these batteries can well address the need of stretchable/ flexible electronics – an upcoming technology in the consumer industry.

This is more of a solution to a problem approach. A number of electronic devices are coming up with stretchable properties; the currently available line-up of batteries are simply not suitable for them. Only recently, suitable stretchable lithium-ion batteries have been successfully tested to address this concern.

Via – [NorthWestern.EDU]

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: stretchable

Adobe Photoshop Touch – [Android] [iOS]

March 21, 2013 by Raj Agrawal Leave a Comment

[Android] [iOS] – iOS and Android users have access to a never ending list of apps for download. The App Store and Google Play are one of the most visited websites through internet enabled and compatible devices. Well known desktop apps have been ported to iOS/ Android platforms and some of the popular names include Skype, MSN Messenger and FX Movie Maker. Now Adobe Photoshop, a popular photo-editing tool that’s used by millions of developers and consumers around the world, is now available for Android and iOS smartphones as Adobe Photoshop Touch.

A bit of history

This isn’t the first launch of Adobe Photoshop Touch – it was already available for iPad and Android tablets. Due to the growing popularity among the platforms, the app has now been extended to smartphones too. The tablet version went mainstream quickly after the more features were picked up from the desktop version.

The smartphone version, however, doesn’t contain any new additions from the developers and is almost similar to its tablet counterpart. The only difference was the re-sizing and re-engineering that developers at Adobe did to make the app work smoothly on the phones with smaller screens. The app is also optimized for the taller display of the sixth-generation iPhone.

Photoshop users who have been using the desktop version of Photoshop can quickly grasp the concept and features of the app.

Runtime

Once the app is launched, the user will be presented with an option to proceed with a new project or whether or not to follow a tutorial. The tutorial is helpful to locate the tools and the positioning of the toolset isn’t similar to the desktop version of the software. This will also help first-time users to get accustomed to the user interface.

There are 13 tutorials in total, and they guide the user through different functions of the app such as how to use different effects, shadows, blends, colors and background effects. A small banner appears at the top of the screen displaying the instructions, and the user also receives a pop up notification stating the required tool on certain occasions.

With respect to the user interface, some tools are on the main screen, while others are located at the bottom corner. However, a small arrow can be swiped to display them. There’s also a layers palette on the right side of the screen. The top layer is the one that’s the top in the stack, just like on the desktop version of the Adobe Photoshop. There’s also a 3D view feature that can be accessed by double-tapping any layer.

Users will be able to add a photo as a layer, use the pencil, deselect options, edit levels and saturation, add different effects and customize images.

The app is available on (Android and iOS app stores) for $4.99.

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: adobe, Android, iOS

7 Powerful Computers That You Can Wear On Face!

March 2, 2013 by Raj Agrawal 1 Comment

UPCOMING TECHNOLOGY – What is Augmented reality? It is a technology aimed to enrich the experience and interaction with real life environment. An augmented reality device would produce computer generated layers of graphics and information over what you would see in the real world. It’s just like the scene from Minority Report. “Oh cool! That’s like the Virtual Reality thingy, right?”. Augmented reality is NOT virtual reality. Virtual reality is where your vision is completely surrounded by a computer simulated environment. Just you finding yourself completely inside a video game world. There is a subtle difference between the two. But I digress. This article will talk about a number of ‘augmented reality’ computing devices announced in recent times; what seem like high-tech accessories from sci-fi themes, but are powerful-wearable computers in reality. Each of the following devices have been made with certain type of users in mind, and they are potent enough find a warm place in the consumer industry.

Golden-i

Golden-i
Golden-i illustration

The makers of Golden-i call it a headset than an eyewear. But structurally, it can be thought of as a combination of both. Golden-i simply a USB, Camera, phone, Wi-Fi and bluetooth enabled computer with a near-eye heads-up display (HUD) and speakers. It runs on Windows CE operating system and is driven by user’s voice commands. The device is also powered with a head-tracking functionality. So when Golden-i is connected to a camera located elsewhere, the user can easily look around those corners by manipulating the viewing angle of the camera. Golden-i is specifically meant for heavy and light industry professions like for instance – fire fighters, security personnel and even health care. It’s said to release this year, in 2013, with a price tag of $2,500 (₹1,25,000).


 Google Glass

Google Glass
Google Glass illustration

Google Glass is probably the most talked about product after their search engine. They recently released a breathtaking video showcasing the Glass in action. You can take photographs, shoot videos, make phone calls, text, search, remind you of events, guide you through locations, etceteras – all of it with a simple voice command, at any moment. The device is connected to Google servers and all of the interactions will be communicated with Google’s cloud (privacy concerns?). While using the glass, you can scroll up and down on the software window on the heads-up display, just by tilting your head. Mind that Google glass works independently as a standalone device, but additionally, it can tether to an iPhone and Android too.

Google Glass is expected to release by the end of 2013 for consumers. Yes! You can very soon move around wearing a smartphone on your face! Currently, Google glass is currently selling exclusively for developers for a price of $1,500 (approximately ₹75, 000). Google has promised the final consumer version to be significantly cheaper.


 Microsoft’s own HUD glasses

Microsoft's HUD glass - United States patent application 20120293548
Microsoft’s HUD glass – United States patent application 20120293548

Microsoft had filed a patent for it’s own idea of HUD glasses as per the news in late 2012. There isn’t any official information about this product, it’s target users or it’s functions. Speculations are that the device could probably be to improve their Gaming console’s experience. However, it’s sure that Microsoft is definitely cooking something on the lines of augmented reality. We’ll have to wait and watch on this one.


 VuZix Smartglasses M100

Vuzix M100
Vuzix M100 illustration

The Vuzix M100 appears like an elongated bluetooth device, but contains a virtual display with an integrated camera (capable of recording at 720p), bluetooth, Wi-fi, GPS, Accelerometer and a 16:9 aspect ratio with WQVGA display. The device is quite powerful too. It packs a 1GHz OMAP4430 processor, 4GB of flash storage and 1GB of RAM. The device primarily runs on Android OS 4.0 (ICS) and can connect to a secondary iOS and Android device wirelessly. So while the device is connected to a secondary device, the user can perform all major functions through the M100 like texting, making phone calls, shooting videos, etceteras. Wait what? Doesn’t all of this sound similar to Google glass? Though it does, unless Google actually reveals it’s hardware specs and more importantly, unless both of these devices are out in the market, it’s quite hard to tell if they are really similar. VuZix M100 is meant for general consumers and professionals. The M100 is scheduled for commercial release in late 2013. It is said to be around $500 (₹25,000)


 Pranav Mistry’s Sixth Sense – What happened?

Pravav Mistry's Sixth Sense Project
Pravav Mistry’s Sixth Sense Project

Remember Pranav Mistry and his Sixth Sense project? Some of us may not know that the project isn’t really a message of an upcoming product, but only a concept. The concept is fabulous, but far fetched and a bit ahead of the time. Some of the current hardware technologies are not evolved enough to complete the exact product. It’s being said that Microsoft will use a part of Pranav Mistry’s project in it’s upcoming HUD glass. If you want to know more on the whereabouts about this project, head over to an interesting discussion at Quora.


 Oculus rift

oculus rift
Image Credit: popularmechanics.com

Oculus Rift is a gaming accessory. If the rumours about the Microsoft’s HUD glasses being a gaming device hold true, that both of these could stand on a competing position. We recently covered an article titled ‘Leap Motion And Oculus Rift – Augmented Reality, Now And The Future‘.


 Motorola HC1

morotola hc1
Image Credit: YouTube.com

Motorola HC1 is on the same lines as the Golden-i. Interestingly, Motorola had initially collaborated with Golden-i, but now they have brought out their own device. Full details and specs about the HC1. The device is priced around $4,000 – $5,000 (₹2,00,000 – ₹2,50,000).

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: augmented, Oculus Rift, sixth sense

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