Filed under: 3D Technology,Video Games — pmirek @ 6:40 pm
The big push in 3DTV has been to figure out how to achieve 3D effects without glasses. In June, Nintendo brought forward its own two cents on the subject: the new Nintendo 3DS, which can produce a stereoscopic 3D effect without requiring glasses. There’s a slider at the top where players can vary the level of the 3D effect to the point of eliminating it completely. People upgrading to the system will be able to play all DS and DSi games, and there will also be a slot for an SD memory card. There’s no firm release date set, but it’s expected before April 2011.Some Japanese developers have already gotten their hands on software development kits for the system, most notably Nintendo stalwart The Pokemon Company. In February, one unnamed source has said that the 3DS will have a “tilt” function similar to the iPhone. The system also has a Slide Pad analog input for the first time, an accelerometer, and a gyroscope currently confirmed. Nintendo also has deals with Warner Bros., Disney, and Dreamworks to bring 3D movies to the system. (more…)
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Filed under: Energy Technology — pmirek @ 5:55 pm
There’s good news on the horizon for environmentally-concerned garbage truck drivers (and anybody else who drives a large, heavy-duty vehicle). A new technology will allow garbage trucks to store energy via hydraulics rather than batteries, saving up to 30 of fuel. Even better, the system is significantly cheaper than hybrid battery technology. The science is referred to as hydraulic launch assist, and consists of two main components: a pump motor and an accumulator tank. The accumulator stores energy by compressing nitrogen gas using the pump during deceleration. When the driver accelerates, the energy in the compressed gas is released to drive the car.The system is being tested in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with four new garbage trucks. The U.S. DOE Clean Cities Program offered funding to the city. Clean Cities has been operating since 1993 to help local governments reduce their use of petroleum in transportation. The EPA National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory, which developed the technology, is marketing it with the help of Eaton, a global power management company. (more…)
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