7 years of iPhone ads (2007-2014)

Interesting to look back at how mobile phones, not just the iPhone, have changed in 7 years. When the iPhone was announced, my phone had a VGA resolution camera, which overwhelmed the 320 x 320 screen resolution, a browser unworthy of the name ...

/ iPhone smartphone Android Apple Google Siri Google N ow hardware software development Skype Voip video audio music iTunes malware security Touch ID fingerprint scanner Applecare /

Cooper promises a complete tire from a desert shrub in 2017

Parthenium argentatum Gray, commonly known as guayule, native to the south western United States & northern Mexico⁴
Credit: US Department of Agriculture/Flickr/Green Car Reports

A substantial part of the cost & environmental impact of many products is the energy used in transporting raw materials to the site of manufacture.

Rubber is produced commercially from petroleum (synthetic rubber) & sap of the Hevea brasiliensis¹ tree (natural rubber). 94% of natural rubber is sourced from Asia².

As a strategically important material, rubber supply has security implications for many nations.

A number of plants, apart from Hevea have been used as a source of natural rubber in the past^2,3. One such, is Parthenium argentatum Gray⁴, commonly known as guayule, native to the south western United States & northern Mexico.

As a desert plant, one of its advantages is that it can be grown on land which is good for little else.

A number of prominent companies, including Bridgestone, Ford & Cooper, together with Ohio State University, have recently been researching guayule rubber for automotive use. Cooper has already made some tire components from guayule rubber & has promised a complete tire in 2017.

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1099704_cooper-tire-we-will-make-complete-tire-from-desert-shrub-in-2017
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¹ "Hevea", https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hevea

² "Natural rubber", https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_rubber#Current_sources

³ "History of attempts to commercialize Guayule in South Australia as a source of natural rubber", http://pir.sa.gov.au/aghistory/minor_crops/guayule

⁴ "Parthenium argentatum", https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenium_argentatum / lowering environmental impact car changing materials components U.S. tire industry substitutes imported natural rubber petroleum synthetic rubber Cooper Tire demonstrate tires components made from the guayule plant a desert shrub Southwestern United States Mexico make a complete tire guayule-sourced rubber 2017 PanAridus plants manufactures rubber Cornell University Clemson University guayule substitute costly imported rubber environmentally questionable petroleum Bridgestone bio-rubber research manufacturing center Ford partnership Ohio State University find automotive uses startup Yulex Cooper tire project PanAridus working use guayule rubber consumer products wet suits Patagonia Cooper's project $6.9 million Biomass Research and Development Initiative grant administered jointly U.S. Department of Energy US Department of Agriculture yielding latex processed into rubber produces resin used in adhesives flavors fragrances biofuel fibrous material plant made into biofuel construction materials cultivating guayule alternative hevea source of natural rubber early 1900s World War II advancing Japanese forces cut off U.S. access to hevea Guayule grows much faster than hevea advantages Hevea less prone to cracking less heat buildup rubber guayule some tire components from 100-percent guayule rubber replacing domestically-sourced material tyres
tires 70 percent of global rubber use demand is expected to grow countries fully industrialize industrial /

How much does air conditioning impact electric vehicle range?

Credit: Volkswagen/Plug In Cars

For the time being, range of electric vehicles will continue to be limited, unless you have Tesla money to spend, or buy something with a fossil fueled range extender (GM Volt, BMW i3). Use of ancillaries reduces range further.

Green Car Reports has measured the impact of air conditioner use on range of an electric powered Volkswagen Golf.

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1099693_volkswagen-e-golf-climate-control-how-much-does-a-c-impact-range / Volkswagen e-Golf test hottest summers on record summer of 2015 more than 25 days 90 degrees 100-degree days serious heatwaves e-Golf’s climate control gasoline-engine versions start pushing out cold air electrically driven A/C compressor maintain a constant comfortable temperature cost of A/C in efficiency and range about 15 percent charge energy use 4.5 miles per kilowatt-hour 3.9 mi/kWh 3.7 mi/kWh particularly hot afternoon max A/C button 15-percent reduction in efficiency max mode full charge estimated range number climate control off 100 miles turn on the A/C real-world numbers 84 miles after a full charge air conditioning A/C low-charge warnings modes Normal driving mode three efficiency modes Eco mode reduced reduces air-conditioning output motor output top speed Eco+ mode limiting power 56-mph limit on top speed pre-cooling heat pump e-Golf SEL Premium model heat-pump heating recover heat from the ambient air waste heat battery pack drivetrain components improves efficiency heater system cold season compromising hot-weather comfort range LiIon lithium ion charge recharge range battery charge recharge quick charge /

Formula E season two — pre-season testing at Donnington

Formula E, season 1, was effectively a single make formula. All parts, including drivetrains, were fixed. This season, inverter, electric motor & gearbox can be the individual team's design, but the battery is still controlled.

Most interesting is gearboxes, or the lack thereof. Multiple ratio gearboxes are employed in internal combustion engine vehicles, because of the narrow range of engine speeds over which they can produce useful amounts of power. Electric motors are much less limited. For this reason, almost all commercial electric vehicles have only one forward gear. Two exceptions are Brammo motorcycles¹ & General Motors’ Volt².

However, all is not rosy with electric drive.

“... a problem with any electric motor is that as rpm rises, it begins to act as a generator & produce a turning effect (torque) in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation. Naturally, this reduces power & torque at the output shaft. This is the reason why some Tesla Roadster prototypes had a two speed gearbox. When rising motor rpm began to reduce torque, a change to the higher gear reduced both rpm & the reverse torque effect. Problem was, Tesla couldn't source a 2 speed gearbox which was light enough, small enough & also strong enough to withstand the Roadster's huge torque output, so production vehicles had only one forward ratio. Practical outcome: despite its huge acceleration (0 to 97 km/h (0 to 60 mph) in 3.7 or 3.9 seconds depending on the model), top speed is limited to 200 kph (125 mph).” — My Holden Volt²

For season 2, teams have taken advantage of the new gearbox rules. Every number of ratios from one (i.e. no variable ratio), to five, is being utilized.

1 gear: DS Virgin & NEXTEV TCR (formerly known as China Racing)
2 gears: Renault
3 gears: Abt
4 gears: Mahindra & Venturi
5 gears: Team Aguri



http://electriccarsreport.com/2015/08/formula-e-test-one-what-we-learn/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
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¹ AOL Autos/Translogic: “Brammo Empulse R Electric Motorcycle”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZjQjQUjgPs

² My Holden Volt: “Does the ICE ever directly drive the wheels of the Volt?”, http://myholdenvolt.blogspot.com/2012/09/does-ice-ever-directly-drive-wheels-of_28.html / Sebastien Buemi Renault team first pre-season Formula E test Donington Park fastest Daniel Abt fastest first second sectors traffic final corners slowed down limited number of qualifying laps topping the timesheets lap time pre-season tests new technical changes season two teams design manufacture powertrain components energy battery turn the wheels inverter electric motor gearbox using the same battery speed pace efficiency manufacturers number of gears ratios electric motor instant torque power last year’s car five forward gears last year’s powertrain upgraded McLaren motor Mahindra four gears Venturi NEXTEV TCR DS Virgin direct drive system one gear gear changes per lap no power being delivered to the wheels regen braking slowing gear changes time different solutions Renault Abt last season electric motor sound one make series development is key defending champion Nelson Piquet Jr Andretti Trulli track Simona de Silvestro Old Hairpin grinding to a halt team corners Trulli team Jarno pre-season testing battery energy percentages manufacturer most efficient solution Renault e.dams Abt DS Virgin season starts in Beijing /

Is there an autism epidemic?

Los Angeles skyline
Credit: Stephen Wiltshire — an artist recognised as being on the autistic spectrum. More images at http://izismile.com/2011/03/07/autistic_artist_draws_complex_images_from_memory_19_pics.html

Is there an autism epidemic?

Short answer: “No.”

Slightly longer answer: In recent times, “autism”, has been recognised as the extreme end of a spectrum of conditions, including Asperger’s & “Pervasive Development Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.” Any perceived epidemic is a result of broadening the definition. Adults at the extreme mild end of the spectrum may be simply seen as, “focused”. The stereotypical, “absent minded professor”, has been suggested as on the autistic spectrum^1,2.

Longer answer: http://www.wired.com/2015/08/neurotribes-with-steve-silberman/?mbid=nl_82015
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¹ “Asperger’s Syndrome”, http://www.brainhe.com/staff/types/Aspergerssyndrometext.html

² "Did Einstein & Newton Have Asperger’s Syndrome?", http://www.autism-help.org/points-%20aspergers-einstein-newton.htm / Centers for Disease Control and Prevention one in 68 children in the US on the autism spectrum autism epidemic the human experience NeuroTribes The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity recognize autistic people helped shape the modern world Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger early work on autism Asperger’s conception of autism subset of humanity accelerated the evolution of science and technology hidden thread in the weave of culture not just a childhood disorder discovering autism Leo Kanner autism childhood psychosis caused by bad parenting refrigerator mothers /

Australian innovator cracks tyre recycling conundrum

Tyre fire
Credit: http://www.express.co.uk/

World tyre production is expected to reach 3.3 billion units this year¹. A few years down the track, this becomes a major environmental problem:

● when dumped, including burial, leaching will release zinc, chromium, lead, copper, cadmium & sulphur²
● fire hazard — a tyre fire is difficult to extinguish & may burn for years³
● burning tyres release, “dark, thick smoke that contains carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, & products of butadiene & styrene”⁴

Green Distillation Technologies, an unlisted public company in Australia, has developed a process which converts tyres back into the carbon, oil & steel used in their manufacture. No mention of the other chemicals used in manufacture in the article linked below, although the article specifically claims, “without producing emissions”.

http://www.brw.com.au/p/entrepreneurs/aussie_innovator_cracks_tyre_recycling_COyG96PgOrPR0gyVsNCzQL?eid=cpc:nnn-14omn2225-optim-nnn:outbrain-outbrain_paid-dom-displayad-nnn-brw-nnn&campaign_code=15caf011&promote_channel=sem&utm_source=outbrain&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=paid%20outbrain
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¹ “Global Demand For Tires To Reach 3.3 Billion Units In 2015”, http://www.rubberworld.com/RWmarket_report.asp?id=750

² “Dumped on”, http://www.theguardian.com/society/2002/may/15/environment.waste

³ “The Hugest Tire Fires in History”, http://thmirror.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/the-hugest-tire-fires-in-history.html

⁴ “Tire fire”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tire_fire / Australian company world-first method recycling tyres raise capital overseas local investors green technology current political climate Green Distillation Technologies open its first plant central NSW committed building second plant regional Tasmania GDT unlisted public company commercialise innovation converts tyres carbon oil steel Australia produces 24 million end-of-life tyres every year burnt buried dumped GDT chief executive Craig Dunn recycle tyres small percentage crumbled synthetic grass dealing with tyres landfill exported brick or cement kilns burnt raw tyres emit toxic fumes burned huge stockpiles environmental disaster caught fire land planning permissions build recycling plant Stawell funding constructing recycling plant Longford, Tasmania stockpile tyres provide employment plant Warren NSW capacity recycle pilot projects commercially capable plant testing secure investment test facility recycling process converts tyres 40 per cent carbon 35 per cent oil 15 per cent steel by weight sell final products steel sell oil carbon Denis Randall Carbon Black Investments raised $14 million private equity sources recycling plants build tyre recycling plants USA sovereign risk green sector renewable energy funds carbon footprint renewable energy trade penalty Clean Energy Finance Commission Australian Renewable Energy Agency tyre recycling CEFC investment mandate financing projects environmental benefit /

Titanic — what really happened

Credit: Kevin Gómez Rodríguez/YouTube / RMS Titanic was a British passenger liner which sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on its maiden voyage, early in the morning of 15 April 1912. collide collision colliding iceberg maiden voyage Southampton UK New York City USA sinking loss of more than 1,500 passengers crew maritime disaster Titanic largest ship afloat Olympic class ocean liners White Star Line built Harland and Wolff shipyard Belfast Thomas Andrews naval architect maiden voyage carried 2,224 passengers and crew command Edward Smith ship's passengers emigrants Great Britain Ireland Scandinavia Europe North America high-power radiotelegraph transmitter passenger marconigram advanced safety features watertight compartments remotely activated watertight doors not enough lifeboats outdated maritime safety regulations leave Southampton 10 April 1912 Newfoundland hit an iceberg collision ship's hull plates buckle inwards starboard side opened five of her sixteen watertight compartments to the sea ship gradually filled with water passengers and crew members evacuated in lifeboats women and children first officers loading lifeboats 2:20 a.m. broke apart foundered Titanic foundered Cunard liner RMS Carpathia arrived /