Flexible, printed batteries for wearable, & medical devices

A problem with wearable devices is providing a suitable battery. Even in something as big as a watch, incorporating a battery adds considerable bulk. Check the size of most smart watches. A large number of applications are waiting on the availability of smaller batteries. E.g. smart clothing, smart labels & medical devices. Imprint Energy, of Alameda, California believes this need can be filled by its battery, which uses zinc, rather than lithium, & can be printed inexpensively using industrial screen printers.

http://www.technologyreview.com/news/528996/flexible-printed-batteries-for-wearable-devices/ / California startup development develop developing flexible rechargeable batteries battery printed cheaply commonly used industrial screen printers Imprint Energy Alameda California test testing ultrathin zinc-polymer zinc polymer batteries wrist worn wear wearable wrist-worn devices sell manufacturers wearable electronics medical devices smart labels environmental sensors safe for on-body applications small size flexibility product designs impossible with bulkier lithium-based batteries small formats deliver enough current low power low-power wireless communications sensors $6 million funding Phoenix Venture Partners AME Cloud Ventures VC venture capital venture fund Yahoo co-founder cofounder Jerry Yang proprietary chemistry finance batteries’ commercial launch previous investors CIA-backed venture firm In-Q-Tel Dow Chemical research company co-founder Christine Ho graduate student University of California Berkeley collaborate collaborated researcher Japan produce microscopic zinc batteries 3D 3-D printer batteries power laptop smartphone smart phone smart-phone lithium highly reactive protected add size bulk more stable water-based electrolytesform dendrites branch like structures clothes body eye sensors monitor health status /

Renewable energy is ready to supply all of Australia's electricity

Interesting article by Professor Mark Diesendorf, of the University of New South Wales. Amongst other things, he claims that, based on conservative projections to 2030 for the costs of renewable energy by the federal government’s Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics (BREE), an optimal mix of renewable electricity sources to supply all of Australia's electricity needs:

● 46% wind

● 22% concentrated solar thermal (electricity generated by the heat of the sun) with thermal storage

● 20% photovoltaic solar (electricity generated directly from sunlight)

● 6% biofuelled gas turbines

● 6% existing hydro

In Australia (as in many other countries), substantial subsidies are paid to the fossil fuel industry. Professor Diesenforf claims that the cost of the scheme described above could be recouped by ending those existing subsidies.

http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2014/7/22/renewable-energy/renewable-energy-ready-supply-all-australias-electricity?utm_source=exact&utm_medium=email&utm_content=832013&utm_campaign=cs_daily&modapt

A commmon concern about sustainable energy is summed up by: "solar only when the Sun shines, wind only when it blows". It is encouraging that, after running the simulations & doing the maths, Professor Diesendorf concludes that thermal storage inherent in concentrated solar thermal, plus existing hydro will be sufficient, with no need for chemical batteries. / University of Melbourne Frank Larkins Australia’s targets increase renewable energy electricity more expensive problems consistency storage developments renewable energy integration electricity grids technically feasible scenariosAustralian electricity industry 100 per cent renewable energy Sun shine irregular weather patterns uncertain intermittent power output electricity generators retailers money variability renewable energy sources better understood empirical experience wind power electricity grids hourly computer simulations demand states countries global regions South Australia coal fired coal-fired power stations gas fired gas-fired wind farms non-renewable energy supply Germany Schleswig-Holstein Mecklenburg-Vorpommern transmission links neighbouring states supply problems National Electricity Market (NEM) generation Ben Elliston Iain MacGill UNSW meet demand reliably papers published in peer-reviewed international journals, downloaded website mix /

Five myths about HIV

One of the greatest risks to do with HIV & AIDS is lack of knowledge. Check out the article linked below. Focus is the situation in Australia, but the myths are universal.

https://theconversation.com/five-myths-about-hiv-in-australia-29320 / Australian quick effective response HIV epidemic tendency underestimate effort maintaining HIV prevention responses misinformation lazy assumptions quick fixes sustained effective HIV prevention initial response multifaceted safe sex affected communities needle syringe programs program programme health workers injecting drug user clients screening donor blood HIV antibody test interventions saved untold lives health dollars treatment Australian researchers researching effective anti-HIV drugs infection cause death managed a pill a day minimal side effects scary general population campaign sexually-active aware take responsibility sexual health partners men sex with men gay homosexually active men HIV infections key populations include people high-prevalence countries Aboriginal people inject drugs HIV prevention interventions communities telling people what to do use condoms get tested for HIV take treatment engage with the real reasons effective health promotion minimise waiting times increased availability of HIV treatments community pharmacies good health promotion social marketing addresses underlying issues sex workers instituted effective safer sex practices HIV rates in Australian female sex workers are less than 0.1% decriminalisation sex work agency working conditions voluntarily occupational health and safety standard penetrative sex HIV transmission female version different kind of condom inserted vagina femidom barrier protection drugs treatment HIV prevent transmission /

Robocup 2014

Credit: Robocup/Mashable

Robocup is an annual soccer competition for robots. Robocup 2014 is on right now (July 21 to 25) in João Pessoa, Brazil.

Long term goal of Robocup is to create a robot soccer team, capable of winning the World Cup, by 2050. Great strides have been made since Robocup began in 1997, but they still have a long way to go.

Competition involves a large number of classifications. While the humanoid classifications look most interesting at first sight, in practice, they are hampered by the simple need to balance on two legs.

Freed of the restrictions of the humanoid classes, mech classes play a faster game, with an apparent understanding of positional play. This is well illustrated in the video below. Audio won't tell you anything if you don't speak Dutch, but video show the robot's apparent understanding of positional play quite clearly.

/ 2014 RoboCup annual robot-soccer robot soccer football competition develop further robotics technology crown RoboCup champion winner World Cup 2050 robot teams human soccer players teams 45 countries this year's competition teams compete different categories robot size construction humanoid fields Kid Teen Adult sizes divisions fewer restrictions design robot look like android anthropomorphic humanoid Humanoid League matches play playing two 10 minute halves hosted in South America Nao humanoid robots began development French robotics company Aldebran Robotics popular platform increase in processor component speeds matches become faster in pace football /

Tesla Model S hacked at Beijing symposium

You may remember a recent post about the Symposium on Security for Asia Network (SyScan360) in Beijing, which offered a $10,000 prize to any symposium attendee who could hack into a Tesla Model S.

Well, one team was partly successful & has been awarded 10,600 RMB in prize money. They were able to remotely unlock the vehicle, sound the horn, flash the lights, & open the sunroof.

http://chargedevs.com/newswire/security-buffs-win-a-prize-for-hacking-into-a-tesla-model-s/ / hack hacker hacking hacked process cracking software operating system OS computer smart phone smartphone car electric cars challenge hackTesla Model S electric $10,000 prize register registers SyScan conference eligible enter competition rules Tesla Model S experts try their luck learn lessons crack its software entirely-electric Tesla websites central display screen operating major functions of the car from a remote computer web browser 17 inch screen warranty would be void high-tech nature Tesla already takes security very seriously full vulnerability disclosure program allowing users to report any flaws in the car's system ex-Apple security expert Kristin Paget improve digital security research take control of cars hitting brakes jerking the steering wheel fun and games exploited experimentally subtext very sinister advanced hacking virus viruses lessons learned /

LG Chem will supply batteries for 200 mile EV in 2016

Credit: LG Chem/Charged EVs

Both General Motors & Tesla have plans for mass market electric vehicles (EVs) with 200 mile (320 km) range for $30,000, around 2016.

Tesla has called its mass market EV the Model III. Part of the battery price reduction necessary to make the range & price targets will come from its battery Gigafactory project.

Now LG has indicated that it will be supplying batteries for an EV with 200+ mile (320+ km) range in 2016.

With GM planning to produce its next generation of EVs in South Korea, it appears to be a likely LG customer.

http://chargedevs.com/newswire/lg-chem-will-supply-batteries-for-200-mile-ev-in-2016/

EV range has always been limited by battery price. Most existing EVs have limited battery range, because more range means more battery cost, & more sticker shock. As a result, most existing EVs have 100 mile (160km) or less range. Tesla has taken the alternative route: their Model S is a superlative vehicle, with a range up to 320 miles[1] (500 km), at a significantly higher price.

When Elon Musk first announced the 2016-2017 timeframe for its 200 mile range, mass market EV, it represented a breakthrough. By 2016, Tesla may find itself in a crowded market. Two advantages it is likely to retain are the free-to-use Supercharger network & the promise of superior performance.

On the other hand, Tesla has recently opened up its patent portfolio & has suggested it is prepared to negotiate sharing its Supercharger network with other manufacturers[2].
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[1] http://www.teslamotors.com/en_AU/models

[2] http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/06/11/elon-musk-talks-teslas-supercharger-future / LG Chem CFO Cho Suk-jeh Reuters South Korean company supply batteries EV 200 miles range 2016 automaker new cells General Motors GM supply agreement former CEO Dan Akerson 200-mile EV produce its next generation of EVs Bupyeong South Korea plant GM Korea head Sergio Rocha designed from the ground up EV legacy model GM VP Doug Parks AP new EV next-generation Volt MSRP $30,000 Elon Musk LiIon lithium ion range charge recharge /

Apps that don't deliver, until you pay for an in-app purchase

Credit: Google Play/Android Police

We've all been there: you download an app on the understanding that it is free. Then you find out that its functionality is not all that was advertised, unless you pay for an "in-app purchase". Well, things are about to change for the better in the Google Play Store:

http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/07/18/after-pressure-from-the-european-commission-google-will-no-longer-call-games-with-in-app-purchases-free-on-the-play-store/ / Google representative statement European Commission consumer protection agencies Google Play user users better protections children potential changes Play Store US non-European locations consumer unrest in-app purchases free-to-play games Europe European Commission EU EU's legislative arm issued instructions Google Apple more accurately market free games instructed both companies buy virtual items real money complaints consumers Google committed stop referring games in-app purchases free hard rule very little room for interpretation European Commission's press release free games in-app purchases developing targeted guidelines app developers prevent direct exhortation children time-framed measures monitor breaches of EU consumer laws free-to-play games IAP Play Store re-labeled Google will stop referring to them as such IAP games free promotions Play Store home page Top Free list either Top Free Play Store list Android pad tablet phone game developers publishers policies buy virtual items ask their parents to United States US Play Store complaints play playing online /