Tech Trends- Dec 26-27
The future of drones, a real hoverboard, the ultimate Christmas spirit and more in this week’s Weekend in Tech Trends.
Tech Trends 1) Ink-jet printed images that change when its rotated
Remember holographic cards that kids would buy before the had iPhones? Well they just got taken to the next level. Researchers at the Ecole Polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have one-upped this optical illusion with a 2D printing technique that displays one image when the material is held straight and another image when the material is rotated.
Digital Trends explains that the technology exploits inkjet printing, which use small dots of different colored ink to create a tonal picture. In the EPFL technique, the ink is printed along lines on metallic sheets that display different colors depending on how the metal is held. As light traverses the printed ink lines, some of the colors appear as “strong colors” due to shadowing, while others that are not in a shadow are seen as “weak colors.” When the metal sheet is rotated, the shadows change causing the weak colors to appear strong and the strong color to become weak.
This allows two images to be printed on one piece of metal. One image is visible while the other is hidden, which makes this a perfect technology to be used in increasing the security of things like passports and money. Take a look below to see it in action.
Source: DigitalTrends
Tech Trends 2) The Fleye reimagines the future of drones
A typical drone looks and works like a mini helicopter. But not everyone thinks they should. A team from Belgium has built a drone called Fleye, and its makers call it “the flying robot of the future.”
The Fleye looks like a soccer ball that levitates in the air. With the propellers tucked inside the “ball”, the drone is also taking the title of the “world’s safest drone”. The Fleye can be operated via remote control or it can be switched into autonomous mode and has a flying time of 10 minutes per charge. It’s also equipped with GPS, a dual-core on-board computer running Linux, a Wi-Fi connection and an HD camera.
The Fleye is in a Kickstarter campaign as of now, but will eventually retail for around $1,400. The drone is looking to ship starting September 2016. Check out the video below to see it in action.
Source: Mashable
Tech Trends 3) First “real hoverboard” can now be pre-ordered
In recent years, we have seen many different attempts at creating a working hoverboard. But all of the previous attempts have limits. One company thinks they’ve solved that. The ARCA Space Corporation created the Arcaboard, which is a fan powered hoverboard that has no limits on where it can go.
Ride across any terrain or water with the vehicle that was virtually impossible, until today,” the ArcaBoard website boasts. “Each time you ride the ArcaBoard you will find yourself at the center of a new experience.”
Powered by 36 high-powered, electric ducted fans with a maximum thrust of 430 lbs, the ArcaBoard features a built-in stabilization unit, and allows you to control and navigate by way of your phone. But, the company says, “for the most intense experience you can turn off the stabilization system and steer the ArcaBoard with your body.”
The bad news, it’s only available for pre-order. And the pre-order price is a whopping $19,900. Check out the video below to see what a $20,000 hoverboard looks like.
Source: DigitalTrends
Tech Trends 4) Control Other People’s Christmas Lights
Some people take Christmas spirit to another level. And a couple in Alaska did just that. They connected all of their Christmas lights to the internet and are letting people around the world control them. Ken and Rebecca-Ellen Woods of Fairbanks, Alaska are using this website as a control center for their Christmas light experiment.
“We do this for the fun,” Ken told the Alaska Dispatch News. “I didn’t think it would get as big as it is.” They also have a donation link to help with server costs. Which are around $420 this year. So check it out and flip them a couple of bucks for bringing some joy to the holidays.
Source: TechRadar
