Asus Touchscreen PC ready by '09

Asus has just revealed their new 15.6-inch Eee Top touchscreen PC. It is powered by an Intel Atom processor N270 (1.60GHz) and Intel 945 GSE core-logic with built-in graphics core. System features include a 160GB hard drive, 4-in-1 card reader, 1GB of RAM, an integrated camera, Wi-Fi 802.11n controller, and also features the Windows XP Home operating system. The system comes in two versions: The ET1602 and the ET1603. The Asus Eee Top ET1603 features an ATI Mobility Radeon HD3450 which gives it more graphics power, and enables the system to run intensive 3D applications and games better. It features a touch-sensitive screen, but still comes with a keyboard and mouse. Setup is easy as taking it out and plugging in.

With a brilliant, sharp widescreen (16:9) LCD, the Eee Top is a perfect Media Entertainment Center, and features Asus´s patient Splendid Video Intelligence Technology, which gives the video display a clear image in any lighting condition. The touchscreen PC will be first be shipped to Taiwan, Hong Kong and the UK, and Asus will in 2009 also add larger screen models with 20- and 22-inch Asus Eee Top PCs.

Magic of Google Earth 5.0

The latest version of Google Earth 5.0 was released 02 February 2009, and as may be expected, this version has a few new features for users to explore.

Earlier versions were impressive enough, but there was something missing - almost two thirds of the earth's surface - the ocean - was not mapped. This has now all changed with the latest version. Google Earth 5.0 now has a detailed bathymetric map (a map of the ocean floor).

You can now 'dive' into the ocean and explore mapped 3D environments of the earth's ocean floor. You can select "Ocean" on the left of the screen, under the "Layers" section. While below the surface, you can also explore thousands of data points. These include ocean life images and videos, best surf spots, and even logs of true ocean expeditions. But this is not the only new feature that has been added.

The new version now also includes "Historical Imagery". What this basically means is that you can now look at a geographical area over a period of time, move it back and forth, and see the geographical changes that may have taken place in that area.

What's Mechatronics

Mechatronics is the merging of mechanics, electronics and electronic computer control into an incorporated design, which could result in elementary products that cause the technical wonders of yesterday to wither in comparison. 'Nicole' comprises an animated, voice-activated virtual PA who reacts to requests including playing calming music, switching on the lights, giving the time, saying news headlines and seeking data files on the computer.

A boost of nanotech in Blu-ray's

A new nanotechnology manufacturing technique promises to boost storage capacity of Blu-ray discs by as much as twenty-fold and thus enable smaller, more powerful microprocessors.

Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley have invented the 'flying plasmonic head'. This is an array of metal lenses that focus light through excited electrons with a moving head that resembles the stylus on the arm of an old-fashioned LP turntable.

The head's ability to create nano-scale line patterns at high speed should revolutionise the field of optical lithography, a process that determines how small chips can be made, and how much information can be crammed on optical and hard discs.

Cancer Treatment

New Technology for cancer treatments

New technology has made radiation treatment faster and more accurate. Syracuse Radiation Oncology is the first in the state of New York to use 'Rapid Arc'.

It is an addition to a radiation machine that uses a beam to target tumors quickly and accurately.

The image guided therapy is said to be 2 to 8 times faster than traditional radiation treatment. However, this isn't for everyone. Doctors say it is ideal for patients required to have radiation, and it can treat both head and neck tumors.

"This is a major breakthrough in cancer treatment. Because of its precision we're able to to give higher doses of radiation to the tumor and spare normal tissue structure," said radiation oncologist Neil Mariados.

There are only 40 places worldwide that have this technology and doctors expect it to become the standard for radiation treatments.

Future Car Technology

It is interesting to see how much the car industry is starting to catch up to industries such as avaition and automation in recent years. One could actually be forgiven for being of the opinion that car manufacturers have not really been on the forefrunt of technological innovation as pehaps the aviation industry has been.

But the tide does seem to be turning with many car manufacturers now starting to incorporate innovative safety features and designs into their fleets. But one cannot help but wonder: where will technology ultimately lead the car manufacturing industry? Are we moving towards a car of the future that would be able to automatically take us to our destination by simply providing the location of where we want to go, or will the car still be a tool - an interactive tool - in human hands.

Well, the possibilites do not seem to be set in stone. It is one of those rare cases where people have conflicting idealogies when it comes to moving from point A to point B. Some of us would like to maintain a sense of control while driving - sort of using it as a tool to enjoy freedom and the ability to move around at will. Some would prefer to just have a driver taking them to their desired destination.