New Midas Rex(R) High-Speed Electric Drill for Surgeons

MINNEAPOLIS, Jun 25, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Medtronic, Inc. /quotes/comstock/13*!mdt/quotes/nls/mdt (MDT 36.13, -0.74, -2.01%) today announced availability of the company's new Midas Rex(R) Legend(R) EHS Stylus Touch(TM) high-speed electric drill for spinal, cranial and orthopaedic surgical procedures. This is the first electric drill from Medtronic with integrated finger control and is based on the well-established Legend EHS Stylus(R) motor. With high torque and a compact size, the Legend EHS Stylus Touch drill offers excellent balance and maneuverability for procedures in tight anatomic spaces. Surgeons can operate the drill using finger control only, footpedal control or both.

"With almost 50 years of leadership and innovation in high-speed surgical drills, we're excited to offer our newest Midas Rex drill for surgeons who prefer the convenience and familiarity of finger control," said Darren Woodruff, product manager for Spinal Power with the Neurologic Technologies division at Medtronic. "The Legend EHS Stylus Touch doesn't require a footpedal at all, which can be advantageous during multi-surgeon procedures and at busy trauma centers."

Additional features of the Legend EHS Stylus Touch drill include:

-- Ergonomic positioning and true variable speed adjustment

-- Easy-to-use design and quick set-up

-- Adjustable speeds from 200 to 75,000 RPM

The Legend EHS Stylus Touch drill is powered by Medtronic's Integrated Power Console (IPC(R)) system, a multispecialty surgical power console that offers improved intraoperative functionality. With the IPC system's intuitive touchscreen interface, surgeons can use saved custom settings, quickly adjust irrigation via simple remote control, and run multiple Medtronic handpieces.

As part of the standardized Legend platform, the Legend EHS Stylus Touch drill works with Medtronic's interchangeable Legend tools and attachments for a broad range of surgical procedures.

"The Legend EHS Stylus Touch drill continues our tradition of innovative, powerful high-speed surgical drills, and is a direct result of listening to our customers' needs," said Bob Blankemeyer, president of the Surgical Technologies business and senior vice president at Medtronic.

About the Surgical Technologies Business at Medtronic The Surgical Technologies business develops products for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases and disorders of the ear, nose and throat; surgical devices and implantable products for the treatment of cranial, spinal and specialty small-bone conditions; and state-of-the-art navigation equipment used in operating rooms to assist physicians in neuro and spinal surgery procedures.

About Medtronic Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in medical technology -- alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for millions of people around the world.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

SOURCE: Medtronic, Inc.

:::::5 Technology Predictions for the New Year

By BECKY WORLEY and KATIE BOSLAND
Jan. 1, 2010

When it comes to gadgets, tech consumers are always eager to know what's next. In 2009, iPhones and Kindles exploded in popularity, but what's going to be the new "it" craze of 2010? Technology investor Guy Kawasaki stopped by "Good Morning America" to take a look at five popular technologies and figure out what's next for the new year.

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Becky Worley looks at what new technologies are coming in the new year.

What's next for e-books?

From phones, to computers, to self-serve ticket counters at airports, touch screens are nothing new. What is new is the increasing competition and variety in ways to use them, and e-books are no exception.

With Sony, Amazon and Barnes and Noble all scrambling to get the largest share of the e-book market, what will happen in 2010? Kawasaki predicts that there will be one winner but that it's still too early to tell who it will be. He also insists it may not just be about who has the nicest hardware, but also who carries what title, "who gets the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, basically the magazine you want."

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In addition, rumors abound that 2010 might be the year of an Apple touch-screen tablet combining an e-reader, music player and web browser.

"I think it'd be great," Kawasaki said. "Journalism and newspaper and that kind of newsgathering need a jump start and I think it's fairly predictable that in the next 10 years or so most of us will be reading our news on Kindle, table, plastic logic kind of things."

He added, however, that it still may be too soon to tell if the technology will actually be on the market this year.

What's Next for Phones?

In addition to e-books, the touch screen iPhone has grown so popular that it too is seeing its fair share of competition. Predictions for 2010? Competition with Verizon's Droid, which is already becoming a real competitor for the iPhone, is only going to increase in the new year.

Although it may be the year for the touch screen phone competition, when it comes to competition between the carriers and the iPhone, all bets are off.

When asked if he thinks the iPhone will ever go to another carrier besides AT&T, Kawasaki jokingly replied, "ask Steve [Jobs] -- I have no idea."

Can cloud ships and space sun shades fix the planet?

By Matt Ford, for CNN
cnnAuthor :By Matt Ford, for CNN


(CNN) -- In order to stop dangerous climate change we may be forced to construct giant solar shades and cover great swathes of land with artificial trees that suck up carbon dioxide.

These are the conclusions of a year-long scientific survey of "geo-engineering" technologies by the UK's Royal Academy published earlier this year. From fake trees to cloud making ships, the ideas are designed to provide planet-scale alterations to our climate if efforts to cut emissions fail.

Bring your voice to world leaders at COP15 -- be part of the CNN-YouTube debate

But while the Royal Society believes some of the technologies show promise, such as firing tiny reflective particles into the atmosphere to reflect sunlight, the report sounds a strong note of caution about the potential unintended consequences of geo-engineering.

Its authors are concerned that excitement about new technology might distract from efforts to cut emissions.

"Geo-engineering is not a magic bullet and nothing we now know about any of these technologies suggests that they will be able to cancel out emissions in the near future," Professor John Shepherd, an oceanographer at Southampton University, and chair of the Royal Society working group, told CNN.

"We are not arguing for the development of these technologies, but for research that will enable us to make a sensible decision about them in the future.
"We were concerned that, particularly in the run up to Copenhagen in December, some of the hype about geo-engineering could have a negative effect on efforts to reduce emissions, which is still absolutely critical."
Bold solutions but with a high price?

But while the Royal Society argues for research rather than action, there is a growing interest in geo-engineering technology and others are much more forthright in their endorsement, even arguing that it offers an alternative to cutting emissions.

"We need to end our fixation on cutting carbon through deals like Kyoto and Copenhagen, because experience shows us that those just aren't working," Bjorn Lomborg, director of the think-tank the Copenhagen Consensus Center and author of "Cool It" and "The Skeptical Environmentalist", told CNN.

Research by Lomborg's own Copenhagen Consensus Center has suggested that spending $9 billion developing cloud whitening technology to reflect solar radiation might be able to cancel out this century's global warming in a relatively short timeframe, while in contrast, he argues, the shift to a low-carbon economy based on green energy could take much longer.

"Consider that electrification of the global economy is still incomplete after more than a century of effort," said Lomborg.

Any attempt at geo-engineering the Earth's climate would require massive industrial projects, and professional engineering institutions point to the potential economic, as well as environmental, benefits.
"We estimate that up to two million new jobs will be created in this sector by 2050," said Dr Tim Fox, Head of Environment and Climate Change at the UK's Institution of Mechanical Engineers, which recently issued a report arguing that geo-engineering technology could pave the way to a greener future.

"At the moment no-one is taking greenhouses gases out of the air and no-one is trying to reflect back solar radiation. If we were to do either of these they would develop into billions of tonnes of gases per year or thousands of square miles of reflective devices. That equates to probably millions not thousands of jobs worldwide."

The Institution is calling for the British Government funding of up to £20 million ($33 million) to help establish a new research center for geo-engineering, and believes both the UK and USA would be well-placed to take advantage of the new industries.

"[Geo-engineering] could operate tomorrow, but it is a double question of scale and cost. We have not done this before, and whilst we don't need any technological inventions to help us succeed, we do need to go up a learning curve," said Fox.

Russian roulette with the future of the planet
But in sharp contrast to this enthusiasm many environmental groups are strongly opposed to geo-engineering,. They argue that it is a dangerous distraction from what they see as the key issue: reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"Geo-engineering is not a plan B for the climate," Greenpeace UK's chief scientist, Dr Doug Parr, said in a press statement.

"It should be used only in desperation, [could have] widespread undesirable impacts, and raises major ethical and political issues of its own. It may be very expensive, and it may well never work.

"Many of these proposals still have risks - there is no simple global thermostat that can be turned up and down and proposals that reflect sunlight can still... have impacts on weather and precipitation leading to exactly the sorts of problems we are trying to avoid by averting climate change.

"Geo-engineering is now being investigated because we have collectively, as a society, failed to take on the fossil fuel interests."
Mike Childs, Head of Climate at Friends of the Earth also remains wary of the impact of many geo-engineering concepts.

"The benefits of geo-engineering are unproven," he told CNN.
"We haven't got time to play Russian roulette with the future of the planet. Science tells us we need to make quick and substantial cuts in global carbon emissions if we have any hope of avoiding runaway climate change."

There is even the risk that even if some geo-engineering projects work, they may draw humanity into further difficulties that we will struggle to manage over the long-term.

"We are not sure that some of the solar technologies are at all sustainable," said Shepherd.

"They are based on balancing one human intervention against another, and we would have to keep maintaining that balance as long as the greenhouse gasses are in the atmosphere, and that could be hundreds of years.

"We shouldn't begin something like that without understanding our exit strategy."

New Intel Processor Fights Rootkits, Virtualization Threats

But experts say new features still aren't true anti-rootkit technologies

By Kelly Jackson Higgins Senior Editor, Dark Reading Intel today rolled out a new desktop processor for business machines with hardware-based security features that it says can help prevent stealth malware attacks and better secure virtual machines. The new vPro 2007 Platform, which was code-named Weybridge by Intel, also comes with an upgraded feature that better tracks and logs network traffic for malicious patterns, as well as support for 802.1x and Cisco NAC platforms so that if the operating system is down, you can still manage the endpoints because network security credentials are stored in hardware. Intel's new vPro platform also comes with new built-in management and energy-efficiency features. Mike Ferrin-Jones, Intel's director of digital office platform marketing, says attackers increasingly are writing stealthier malware that evades detection by software-based tools, and some that even disable them: "That gives them free rein over the system." That has held some enterprises back from going with virtualization technology, he says. Intel's new processor -- via its so-called Trusted Execution Technology (TXT) and Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O features -- can better protect virtualized software from these kinds of attacks by detecting any changes to the virtual machine monitor; restricting memory access by unauthorized software or hardware; and protecting virtual machines from memory-snooping software, according to the company. Stealth malware expert Joanna Rutkowska, founder of Invisible Things Lab, says Intel's new Trusted Execution Technology (TXT) and Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O features sound like a step in the right direction for protecting against stealth malware attacks, as are AMD's SKINIT and External Access Protection features, which were released last year. "I don't believe we can address some problems like kernel rootkits and especially virtualization-based rootkits, without help from the hardware vendors," she says. Rutkowska says based on what she could surmise from the press materials provided to her, Intel's Virtualization for Directed I/O appears "to let you create more secure hypervisors and deploy secure micro kernel-based OSes, she says. Still, these technologies aren't true anti-rootkit technologies, she says. "They are, rather, technologies that [for example] would allow [you] to build better OSes, not prone that much to rootkit infections as the OSes we have today [are]." The key, Rutkowska says, is for OS and software vendors to use Intel's new hardware-based security, as well as AMD's in its new Barcelona processors. "It's all in the hands of software and OS vendors now," she says. "If they don't redesign their products to make use of those new technologies in a proper way, those new technologies will be pretty useless." Intel's Ferrin-Jones says hardware-based security in the new platform, based on Intel's Core 2 Duo processor and Q35 Express chipset, help where software-based security cannot. "Most security applications run inside the OS," he says. "For the systems to be protected and secured, those apps have to be up and running, as does the OS." Features such as "remote wakeup" capabilities aren't secure or available if the OS goes down. Meanwhile, major computer makers and resellers are now selling desktops with the new vPro processor, according to Intel, including Dell, HP, and Lenovo, and the company says 350 organizations have already deployed it. Intel is also currently working with virtual machine monitor and security software vendors to enable their products to work with the new platform, Ferrin-Jones says.

New technologies help autistic children communicate

New technologies are helping autistic children communicate like never before.

At the Pacific Autism Center for Education in Santa Clara, California, each morning begins with a power point presentation, launching a day filled with technology.

Two out of every three students at the center are non-verbal, but thanks to a voice output device 12-year-old Alex is able to get the snacks he craves.

Malique also uses the device to "talk" for him.

"The largest benefit is the ability to give them a voice, gives them a voice that offers a breadth of options and the third benefit is the social interactions that come from having the ability to speak," explained the center's Kurt Ohlfs.

Technology also makes communicating less cumbersome.

Imagine trying to carry around a book with pictures of everything you wanted to convey in a day.

Now the students have all that information at their fingertips.

21-year-old Daniel is using a more advanced, hand held device that offers him a menu with hundreds of icon options.

He selects the ones he wants and the computer talks in sentences, conveying his thoughts.
"It's amazing when we've given some of this technology to our students and it's opened up that door and now the students are suprisingly prolific when it comes to expressing their thoughts," said Ohlfs.

Fujitsu Develops Technology Enabling Real-time Multiple-Point Temperature Measurement

Kawasaki, Japan, Apr 4, 2008 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. announced today the development of a new technology, based on optical fibers, that enables accurate and real-time temperature distribution measurement in large datacenters which have multiple heat sources.

Through a single optical fiber, this technology makes it possible to measure simultaneously the temperature of over 10,000 areas in a facility, thereby enabling visibility of temperature distribution in large datacenters. Combining this technology with an air conditioning control system will enable fine-tune air conditioning, allowing for more energy-efficient large-scale data centers.

With mounting concern over global warming resulting from greenhouse-gas emissions, there is a growing awareness of the importance of reducing the energy consumed by air conditioning, which is one cause behind the increasing consumption of energy in recent years. In the IT industry, with increasingly powerful servers, larger systems installations, and expanded operational times, the waste heat generated by data centers has been on a continuous upward slope.

Thus, in order to lower both energy costs and CO2 emissions, there is a need for more efficient air-conditioning systems in large datacenters. As part of Fujitsu's Green Policy Innovation[1] initiatives, which seek to help customers reduce their environmental footprint, the group is researching ways to help lower the energy demands of IT systems.In the past, air-conditioning systems would monitor temperatures at a few specific points and cool the building to a uniform temperature, which could lead to temporary cold spots. To solve this problem requires not only designing more energy-efficient servers and other heat generators, but also fine-grained temperature control based on multiple-point temperature readings in a large facility.

Technological ChallengesConventional building temperature measurement is executed using semiconductor-based sensors and thermocouple temperature sensors[2] which can only measure the temperature at specific points. Because all these systems use power sources and signal lines, multiple-point temperature measurements would entail a proliferation of cables that would be difficult to manage and be expensive.

Particularly for mid-sized or large data centers, which have numerous server racks, collecting data from multiple points in real time and flexibly adjusting to equipment changes or the addition or subtraction of server racks in response to changes in operational requirements has been extremely difficult.As a currently available technology method for multiple-point temperature measurement, there is a method that entails using optical fibers as sensors to measure the strength of Raman scattering light[3].

However, as this method lacks" position resolution"[2], it is not suited for temperature measurement of multiple heat sources, and thus it is difficult to accurately measure temperature distribution in large data.Newly Developed TechnologyBecause the minute Raman scattering light intensity of an infrared laser shining through an optical fiber changes, the optical fiber itself can be used as a way to measure temperature.

By improving the position resolution, Fujitsu Laboratories developed a practical method technology for measuring with high accuracy the temperature distribution in large data centers.Key features of this technology are as follows:1. By combining the following two technologies, the new technology enables accurate temperature measurement (position resolution of less than 1 meter) of large data centers which have multiple heat sources, such as from severs, within the facility:-

A technology that adjusts variations in measurement that occur depending on the width of a pulse inserted into an optical fiber, or if the pulse widens during transmission- A technology based on thermo-fluid simulation that optimizes the method in which optical fiber is laid2. As the new technology makes it easy to assess positional information about the point being monitored, it can accommodate changes and updates of server racks.ResultsBecause a single strand of optical fiber can measure up to 10,000 locations in real time, large data centers can measure their temperature distribution precisely and inexpensively (assumes optic fiber length of 10 km).

As this system uses only light to take measurements, it imposes no risk of disrupting electrical signals in nearby servers and networking equipment. Because the system can be used to monitor temperature irregularities of servers and air-conditioning systems in real time, it can help lessen the risk of high temperatures creating fires.Future DevelopmentsFujitsu plans to develop this technology for use in air conditioning control systems, as well as complementary technologies to effectively use waste heat, thereby enabling large data centers to consume less energy.

Automakers look for new technology to reinvent the car

Fiona Anderson, Vancouver SunPublished: Thursday, March 13, 2008
Representatives from the big automakers may disagree about which new type of car is best, but they do agree advances in technology are needed before consumers can afford to switch from petroleum-fuelled transportation.

While hybrids can improve fuel efficiency in city driving by as much as 89 per cent, the cars still rely on petroleum, and companies are looking for alternatives.

Next in line may be plug-in hybrids which, as the name implies, plug into regular power sources to recharge. The problem is developing an affordable battery that can be continually recharged.

"The key challenge we yet have to overcome is still technology," said Nancy Gioia, the director of sustainable mobility technologies and hybrid vehicle programs at Ford Motor Co., during a a panel Wednesday at Globe 2008, a business and environment conference taking place in Vancouver.

Andrew Frank, a professor at the University of California, Davis said a plug-in hybrid should run 90 per cent of the time on electricity and 10 per cent on gas.

"We have plugs in the wall and we have gas stations," he said "And we have nothing else. So the plug-in hybrid uses the two infrastructures that we have."

But John German, manager of environmental and energy analyses at the American Honda Motor Co., believes the increased cost of plug-in cars may not be worth the benefit.
And before plug-in hybrids can be affordable, there has to be a breakthrough in battery technology, he said.

But German cautioned against looking for one solution. "There's no silver bullet," he said. "The problem is so immense we need everything and we need to avoid the trap of single solutions."
General Motors was showcasing its hydrogen-fuel cell car at the Globe 2008 trade show. And GM's vice-president of environment, energy and safety policy, Beth Lowery, said the company is currently rolling out cars for customers to test drive. The cars aren't ready for market yet, though GM's target is to have a financially competitive model by 2010, Lowery said. But hydrogen gas stations will have to become more widespread before the cars can become mainstream.

Technology Formerly Known as Bluetooth

You've got ZigBee and Z-Wave for sensor and control networks, Near Field Communications (NFC) for proximity payments, RFID for tracking assets, Ultra Wideband (UWB) for high-speed connections between devices. You might throw Wi-Fi into that mix for networking. And, oh, don't forget about Bluetooth.

Bluetooth has become fairly ubiquitous in today's society. You can't turn around without seeing someone sporting a Bluetooth earpiece and its little blue flashing lights. It's not just geeks and business users. I've seen soccer moms with them. And there are more and more stereo headsets using Bluetooth.

Headsets were the first place Bluetooth found a home, but you're seeing it used in a lot more devices and applications now. There are watches with Bluetooth, even car radios with Bluetooth. The new ways Bluetooth is being used was driven home to me last week when I attended Motorola's annual technology forum for analysts and the press.

Several short-range technologies were part of some demonstrations - NFC to use your phone to pay at the check-out register and ZigBee to create an ad-hoc mesh network for firemen and again to monitor equipment in a hospital. But Bluetooth seemed to be used in more demonstrations as a way to connect not only mobile phones but other equipment like TV monitors, computers and storage devices.

Analysts are forecasting a slowing in the spread of Bluetooth. In-Stat says the number of Bluetooth devices will increase 34% this year, a healthy number but still down substantially from recent years. I think that shows a maturation of the technology. You can't keep doubling every year.

I'm skeptical there will be much slowing in Bluetooth's growth, though. There are some new technologies joining Bluetooth that could push it into more devices and new areas. One is the integration of the Wibree low-power technology, which is under way now with the merger of the two groups. Another advance is Bluetooth 2.1 +EDR (enhanced data rate), which could be in devices by Christmas. Still another is the integration of the UWB broadband technology from the WiMedia Alliance. You haven't heard a lot about the latter, so I have to wonder if that integration is proving to be more difficult than originally thought.

My only concern about the future of Bluetooth is that the technology and the organizations backing it - specifically the Bluetooth Special Interest Group - are becoming unwieldy and cumbersome. Bluetooth is becoming an umbrella of technologies that don't necessarily work together.

A recent report from the analyst group IMS Research says all this expansion of Bluetooth technology may hurt it in certain areas, especially among car manufacturers. Bluetooth was in 4 million vehicles last year, IMS Research says, and it still expects it to grow in the auto segment more than 300% in the next five years. Most of the interest from car makers is for hands-free uses and for audio streaming, IMS says.

But, says the report, some in the automotive industry don't think they can keep up with all the new capabilities on the horizon for Bluetooth, since the design cycle for cars is 4 to 5 years. Incidentally, IMS Research is forecasting 800 million Bluetooth devices will be sold this year, up 40% from 2006.

Detecting Liquid Explosives On A Plane

After the plot to blow up trans-Atlantic airlines with liquid explosives was uncovered in London in August 2006, there has been pressure on the airline industry, and Homeland Security, to find new ways to not only detect liquids in baggage and on airline passengers, but also to figure out what they are. Now, the DHS Science & Technology Directorate (S&T) is teaming with scientists at the Los Alamos National Laboratory to find a possible solution.

"Having to place your consumable liquids through the baggy routine when going through airport security may one day be history," says S&T Program Manager on the project, Mr. Brian Tait, "and that's going to make a lot of people very happy. This is a new screening prototype that definitely shows promise."

In late June, Los Alamos National Laboratory team successfully completed proof of concept of an extremely sensitive future screening technology. The new technology scans the magnetic changes of individual materials at the molecular level and stores them in a database, which then allows the differentiation and identification of many materials that may be packaged together or separately as they go through the screening process.

It uses the same technology that brain scans are performed with, and is based on ultra-low field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which is already being used in medical field for advanced brain imaging. The end goal is to eventually put it next to the current x-ray screener.

The SENSIT technology has already demonstrated the ability to differentiate more than four dozen materials considered "safe" for carrying onto aircraft --from everyday personal items like toothpaste to mouth wash -- to those that are considered hazardous .

"With the MRI signal, we want to distinguish between harmful items, and many common carry-on liquid consumables," says Tait. "The goal is reliable detection of liquids, with high throughput, that is non-contact, non-invasive, requires no radiation, produces no residue and uses the existing airport security portal."

SENSIT is one of S&T's Homeland Innovation Prototypes (HIPS) projects -- high-impact innovative technologies that have shown great promise and are on their way to being transitioned to industry for manufacturing and distribution.

"We're working hard on getting the SENSIT technology to an airport near you very soon," says S&T's Innovation Director, Roger McGinnis.

As IBM Launches Innovation Center to Fuel Entrepreneurship

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced it will open a new IBM Innovation Center to help start-up companies, software developers, and independent software vendors (ISVs) create new software and hardware applications and services.

Located in Dallas, Texas, and serving local companies, the new IBM Innovation Center will provide technical support and expertise to help businesses test, build and optimize applications based on open platforms. The new center is designed to meet the growing demand from Business Partners and venture funded organizations looking to harness IBM expertise around innovative technologies such as System z, Cell Broadband Engine and Service Oriented Architecture (SOA).

This effort is in response to the tremendous growth that the Dallas technology community is achieving. According to the Greater Dallas Chamber Index, Dallas Fort Worth commands the highest concentration of technology activity in Texas with one-third of all tech establishments and 40 percent of the state's technology jobs.

With the introduction of this new center, IBM will now host a network of more than 35 IBM Innovation Centers around the world. Since their inception over ten years ago, IBM Innovation Centers have become a key component of IBM's strategy to help companies build innovative solutions before they expand into new markets. In 2006 alone, more than 6,000 business partners leveraged IBM Innovation Centers worldwide to build and test new solutions.

Growing Network of Global IBM Innovation Centers

The new IBM Innovation Center in Dallas will offer R&D expertise to enable start-ups, software developers, and other small to mid-sized companies to create new software and hardware applications and services. These efforts will provide start-ups an entry-point to IBM's Research network, accelerating innovation by providing insights into emerging technologies.

To meet the demands from companies that are looking to stay up-to-speed on new technology, the center will also sponsor workshops and best practices for local businesses to take advantage of emerging technologies such as SOA and Cell Broadband Engine architecture. Additionally, IBM will also host connection events offering companies unique networking opportunities for business growth.

Building on Global Successes

In addition to local companies, businesses throughout the world will also be able to take advantage of the resources available at the new IBM Innovation Center in Dallas. For example, through IBM's Virtual Loaner Program, Business Partners around the globe gain access to System i, p and x machines, giving them the same benefits as a loaner machine at their own site, but with the added bonus of IBM managing and hosting the hardware.

IBM has also recently added a new component to the IBM Innovation Centers efforts that will now provide a well-connected global support for Business Partners, independent of their location. IBM will enhance the global integration network that will now seamlessly connect its worldwide IBM Innovation Centers, giving instant access to top researchers and technical experts for all companies, regardless of their proximity to a center.

For example, a Business Partner who requests an engagement with their local IBM Innovation Center in Dublin, Ireland may learn that the IBM Innovation Center in Dallas, Texas is better equipped to meet their technical needs. With access to an Internet connection and just a few easy clicks of the mouse, a company will be able to receive hands-on support from their local IBM team while leveraging the technical resources of an IBM Innovation Center halfway around the world.

"With more than 150 IBM Business Partners in the Dallas area, and that number growing each day, this new investment is being led by the demand from these partners for increased expertise in their local region," said Jim Corgel, general manager, ISV & Developer Relations. "As companies continue to look for ways to grow and expand into new markets, IBM is looking to our partners to set the agenda for ensuring that our resources are meeting their specific needs."

Building on Local Successes
Since 1974, ARX Technologies, based just outside of Dallas, Texas, has worked hand-in-hand with utilities and public sector organizations to create and develop an array of software solutions. An IBM business partner for over 30 years, ARX has learned to take full advantage of the many resources IBM offers to its partners. For example, ARX Technologies has worked extensively with the remote assistance provided by the global network of IBM Innovation Centers to test, validate and modernize its solutions.

"As a rapidly growing company, ARX Technologies is always looking for new ways to leverage the wide range of resources IBM offers to its partners, especially on a local level," said Charlotte Foulkes, CTO, ARX Technologies. "By launching a new IBM Innovation Center in Dallas, IBM is making it possible for us to not only use its facilities for application testing and validation, but having a physical location in the Dallas region also provides us with the opportunity for our staff to attend training sessions and maintain their skills and certifications. More importantly, it provides us with a local facility that we can bring our customers to for hands-on support from IBM."

Today's announcement further demonstrates IBM's commitment to the success of its Business Partners.

Asymtek introduces new technologies

Asymtek has introduced two coating/dispensing technologies for applying catalyst inks onto membranes in electrode assemblies of proton exchange and direct methanol fuel cells. Pulse spray coating technology provides quick large area coverage, allowing for uniform film thicknesses. DispenseJet technology deposits the ink with a uniform

thickness and density so lines and patterns are smooth, even, and the same consistency throughout. The consistent and precision application of the ink increases the porosity of the film so fuel and byproducts can pass through the membrane efficiently. Asymtek offers fuel cell manufacturers two types of application technologies for increased dispensing flexibility: spray coating and discrete dot dispensing.

Spray coating is for large areas, for controlled thicknesses, and even film thicknesses. Discrete dot dispensing is used for specific patterns with high edge definition and exact film build up of highly volatile inks. Asymtek has a multiple array of coating and dispensing technologies for catalyst inks, polymer electrolytes, gasketing, and sealing depending on the application.

Catalyst inks are very expensive because of the platinum content. With the Asymtek jet, the ink is deposited precisely where it is programmed to be placed, so there is limited waste. The jet deposits discrete dots in whatever pattern is desired without masking. Asymtek's closed-loop system measures the exact amount of fluid that's deposited.

Process controls and Asymtek's Easy Coat(R) for Windows XP(R) (ECXP) software regulate the volume, size, shape, and viscosity of the dot. "The success of the catalyst ink depends 50% on its chemistry and 50% on its application," said Jim Klocke, Asymtek senior business development manager. "While most application methods use spray technology, the catalyst inks may vary in thickness and density. With Asymtek's jet dispensing, all those problems are eliminated and the ink is deposited precisely, with uniform thickness and density."

Germany: Siemens VDO announces new technologies at Frankfurt motor show

Siemens VDO is displaying a number of technologies at the IAA in Frankfurt.
The PN 4000 and PN 6000 portable navigation devices equipped with a DVB-T receiver as a standard feature: The units offer high-resolution map graphics displayed in a 2D or ...

CNSE and the birth of NanoEconomics

The history of mankind is one of innovation and change. However change does not happen at a constant rate. Historically, each new technology introduced over time has penetrated established markets at a faster rate than its predecessor. The time that it has taken successive technologies to penetrate one quarter of the overall U.S. consumer market has declined from 55 years (for the automobile) to 7 years (for the Internet). For us, this means that today we can witness and study the birth, introduction and impact of many new technologies.

The purpose of new technologies is to solve problems. When we solve a problem using a new technology it is either to improve our quality of life or to help us create more value in our everyday labor. Whatever the case, new technologies drives us to do things in a better manner and consequently, makes us in general more productive.



Productivity is the effectiveness of productive effort. With passing centuries our conception of productivity has changed dramatically. Moreover, with the advent and growth of the computer and information technology industries in the last 40 years we have witnessed a tremendous technological change. The convergence of computing, information and communications is transforming every aspect of society and creating new possibilities for improved productivity. The productivity in the semiconductor industry is and has been, for several decades, a driving force for the economic growth of the world. Productivity growth in the semiconductor industry has averaged 20 percent for the last 10 years, compared to less than 5 percent for all manufacturing industries.

Productivity in this industry is inevitably related to Moore's Law, meaning the regular increase in performance and data processing capabilities in computer chips. Moore's Law is the engine for continued growth, an engine not to be found in any other industry on the planet. Furthermore, this increase in productivity has occurred hand in hand with a decline in consumer prices. The price of a single transistor was $1.00 in 1968 . Today you can buy millions of transistors for $1.00. What other item has declined in price like the transistor?

IBM Instantly Connects People to Free Technology Service

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced a free service that will allow users of any computer or mobile device such as the iPhone to gain real-time access to thousands of technical resources and emerging technologies with a simple click of a button.

This extension of syndication that IBM is making available is bringing the widest range of technical know how to the fingertips of millions of Yahoo!, Google, NetVibes users and owners of mobile devices such as iPhone.

Developer gizmos from IBM aim to help reach a broader set of users and enable them to more easily interface with technology content, to streamline their daily tasks, and to keep up-to-date on new technologies arming them with the right resources to build innovative applications. Now, with a click of a button, any computer or mobile device user can easily gain the power of syndication on a technology topic of their choice with no programming, training or technical expertise required.

The unique syndication tool gives users centralized and mobile access to the widest range of open source technologies across a variety of topics including Web 2.0 technologies, game development, Web innovation and more through a website called IBM developerWorks, the central hub for thousands of technical resources. Developer gizmos are all widgets, gadgets, modules, or any technological items that are customized to display IBM technology content within a browser, operating system, user's desktop or syndication mashup page.

Developer gizmos are an extension of the services offered by Yahoo!, Google, and NetVibes, customizing the publicly available code or processes to allow users to export content from IBM through podcasts, forums, blogs, educational briefings and "how-to" tutorials, instantly, all at the push of a button, with no extra development necessary.

This move is another step by IBM to ensure that early technology adopters, developers and small to mid-sized businesses are able to capitalize on modern technologies such as Web 2.0, and integrate social networking applications into their businesses in a simple, cost-efficient manner. No other vendor is taking such a simplified and open approach to helping users leverage technology and resources to simplify their personal and business requirements.

This functionality further simplifies the user's experience and emphasizes IBM's commitment of giving the community the ability to decide what content is relevant to their needs. It also makes it easy for developers to obtain relevant content without having to conduct several searches. On an average, developers spend 50 percent of their time searching for relevant content to support their efforts to build applications. This new form of syndication alleviates developers from having to conduct web searches for several hours to obtain the right content in real time.

A small business owner can also benefit from this by creating a customized gizmo on their MyYahoo! web page to receive free updates and information on Web 2.0 technologies.

For example, if a small video game company that specializes in Playstation 3 console development wants to increase revenue by making its games more advanced, the game developer could create developerWorks Gizmos to syndicate the latest technical information directly from the game development space on developerWorks right to his iGoogle, Netvibes or MyYahoo! personal page. Having realtime access to up-to-the-minute information on Cell broadband technology enables him to tap into the power of the Playstation 3, so he can build beautiful, more robust visual effects, not to mention smarter and tougher opponents into the game. This in turn gives the small company a competitive advantage in the marketplace, which can translate into higher profits.

"The IBM developerWorks site is a comprehensive resource that covers the technologies most important to developers today, such as the recent tutorial on Yahoo! Pipes," said Chad Dickerson, senior director, Yahoo! Developer Network. "The addition of the Add to MyYahoo! Button will make it even more convenient for developers and users to tap into the vast array of new technologies made available free of charge from IBM."

How it Works

These gizmos provide a simple interface that enables any user to select content from the IBM developerWorks website, the central hub for thousands of technical resources, and export it to customizable web pages, such as MyYahoo! and iGoogle that are used by millions of users on a daily basis. With a simple click of a button, users can now create custom gizmos that allow them to take advantage of IBM technical content without the need for any additional programming skills or registration.

They can also tailor this information to their areas of interest and receive up-to-the minute updates directly to their home page, eliminating the tedious task of searching for information that is critical for their personal interests or organizational needs. IBM is now bringing the information directly to users through their gizmos on a daily basis.

Free for Taking

With today's news, IBM is bringing the power of thousands of new technology resources, free code to create applications on open standards and how-to tutorials from IBM's developerWorks to millions of users worldwide based on their topic of choice.

For example:
-- Gaming enthusiasts can get up-to-date information on how to improve
their online gaming experience. By using a gizmo, the users gain access to
forums and information on the latest technological advances in gaming while
learning how to create better gaming applications. For example, as a result
of using this gizmo, users who enjoy playing Sudoku would receive a
tutorial that shows them how they can create their own version of the game
that automatically generates new puzzles to solve each time you play.

Developer gizmos from IBM will also give early adopters access to emerging software services from IBM research and development labs. For instance, an IT professional working for a small business that is an early adopter of Web 2.0 technologies visits IBM's website for developers on a regular basis to learn about the latest technologies that can provide viable solutions for their business.

With this new functionality, the user can select blogs, forums, wikis, and more and with the push of a button, create a custom Yahoo! Widget, Google Gadget, and NetVibes Module displaying all new content from IBM on their personal page of choice. Users receive updates right to this page in real-time. This allows them to aggregate the topics that are relevant to their business right within their workspace without having to do several searches or visit multiple pages.

IBM is providing four new avenues for custom syndicated content:

-- IBM developerWorks community spaces -- This is a unique channel that
provides an open platform for developers to build communities on a broad
range of topics and business trends, such as Web 2.0 and SaaS. There are
nearly 20 community topics available. Each topic space includes portlets
displaying blogs, forums, wikis, technical resources, feature stories,
tutorials, and podcasts that are related to the topic. Now users can tap
into these resources by exporting any portlet within the space as a Google
Gadget, NetVibes Module or Yahoo! Widget.

-- IBM developerWorks "build your own feeds" application -- Users have
the ability to select any combination of developerWorks open source topics,
technologies or IBM product brands and export the corresponding article or
tutorial feeds as RSS, ATOM, HTML and now, also as a Yahoo! Widget, Google
Gadget, and NetVibes Module.

-- IBM developerWorks Google Desktop Gadget -- By downloading the IBM
developerWorks Google Desktop Gadget, users can view content and search the
developerWorks website right from their desktop.

-- For all Apple iPhone users -- Users can view the top stories from IBM
developerWorks, sorted by topic, through an interface optimized for the
iPhone. http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/iphone.

"With this effort IBM is expanding its ecosystem of IT professionals by bringing new technology resources to the user directly rather than the user having to search for this information," said Kathy Mandelstein, Director of Worldwide Developer Programs for IBM. "This new feature will also allow small businesses and early adopters with no programming skills to take advantage of all the technology resources IBM has to offer to help businesses build innovative solutions."

Car Navigator features 4.3 in. widescreen 16:9 format LCD.

With hands-free calling option, TomTom GO 720 offers voice recording capability, audio options, FM transmitter, dual-audio volume control, and real-time traffic and weather forecasts. It comes with Map Share(TM) technology, safety features, and maps of US and Canada preloaded on 2 GB internal flash memory. Measuring 4.7 x 3.2 x 0.9 in. and weighing 7.7 oz, device features 400 MHz CPU, 64 MB RAM, SD card slot, GPS receiver, RDS-TMC Traffic receiver, and Bluetooth(TM).

The New TomTom GO With Unique New Features and Map Share(TM) Technology is the Ultimate Car Navigator

o Elegant and slim design with high-quality finish

o Latest version of TomTom's award-winning navigation software

o Unique new TomTom Map Share(TM) technology allows users to improve maps instantly and to benefit from all improvements made by other users

o Extra large 4.3 inch touchscreen with high-quality 3D graphics

o Extensive range of safety features

o Enhanced hands-free calling

o Built-in FM Transmitter to transmit sound over car stereo

o New smart & fun extras such as the ability to record driving instructions

CONCORD, Mass., June 5 -- TomTom, the world's largest portable navigation solutions provider, today reveals the TomTom GO 720 US & Canada edition. Ground-breaking new technology allowing for daily map improvements and a host of new features, such as safety extras and the ability to record driving instructions, have been combined into one compact and stylish design, providing users with the ultimate driving experience.

"The new TomTom GO 720 sets the standard in smart car navigation," says Jocelyn Vigreux, president of TomTom Inc. "With this introduction, we are making unique new features and technologies available to our users to deliver the highest performing, most cutting-edge satellite navigation solutions available on the market today. Our unique TomTom Map Share(TM) technology harnesses the power of our large installed user base for the benefit of all our users."

"Next generation navigation users are looking for navigation offerings that provide more than simple directions," said Thilo Koslowski, vice president and Lead Automotive Analyst, Gartner Inc. "These consumers want solutions that improve their individual driving experience and provide daily relevance via innovative personalization options, seamless communication functionality, intelligent safety features and dynamically updated content including map data."

Sleek Design

The TomTom GO 720 features a new elegant slim design with a high-quality finish that allows it to fit perfectly in any car or to be carried in a shirt pocket. The large 4.3 inch touchscreen has TomTom's renowned easy-to-use and intuitive user interface with 3D graphics, including building footprints, that ensures drivers have an even better overview of their surroundings.

Unique TomTom Map Share(TM) Technology

The TomTom GO 720 also introduces TomTom's unique new map improvement technology, TomTom Map Share(TM). This technology enables drivers to easily and instantly improve their own maps. TomTom Map Share(TM) users will always have the most accurate and up-to-date information available. The technology also enables users to share improvements and benefit from all other users' improvements daily, automatically and easily via TomTom HOME - TomTom's free desktop application. TomTom has the world's largest satellite navigation community with over 10 million users. TomTom Map Share(TM) users can contribute and exchange all their improvements amongst each other, making the best maps available for all of them. TomTom Map Share(TM) means TomTom drivers can always have the most up-to-date maps and inside local knowledge at their fingertips (see separate press release for more information on TomTom Map Share(TM)).

Smart and Fun Extras

With the new TomTom GO, drivers can choose from a host of smart extras, ensuring that their destination is reached in a relaxed and enjoyable way. A number of personalization options have been added for the first time, including:

o Voice recording capability, so users can be guided to their destination
with the voices of their children, family or friends
o Millions of points of interest, including over 100 different
recognizable brand icons to help spot favorite coffee shops,
restaurants and more
o Extensive audio options for integration with the car stereo. Dual-
audio volume control allows the user to set navigation instruction
volume level separately from music volume level. Drivers can play their
favorite songs through the integrated MP3 player or by connecting their
iPod® to the TomTom GO. The built-in FM Transmitter enables
navigation instructions and music to be heard through the car stereo
o Real-time traffic, five-day weather forecasts and celebrity voice
downloads*

New Safety Features

Safety is a key priority in the development of all TomTom products. The new TomTom GO comes with uniquely designed safety features so drivers always have direct access to safety and roadside assistance information wherever they go. The extensive 'Help Me!' menu includes information such as the nearest police station, hospital or car repair service center. It also allows the user to quickly identify their location for emergency assistance providers. Another new safety feature is the shortcut menu, so drivers can jump straight to their favorite, most accessed information with just one touch on the screen for even easier and safer navigation (see separate press release for more information on the extensive safety features).

Enhanced Hands-Free Kit

The enhanced hands-free kit features a new high-quality sound system via Bluetooth®. With optimized acoustic design, enhanced noise reduction, echo cancellation and an automatic answer function, the TomTom GO 720 ensures drivers can make and take calls easier while keeping their eyes on the road.

TomTom HOME and TomTom PLUS

As with all TomTom products, the new TomTom GO 720 comes with TomTom HOME, a free desktop application. TomTom HOME is the essential tool to keep devices up-to-date at all times. Customers can easily download new software versions as well as the latest maps. TomTom's large satellite navigation community can contribute and exchange their map corrections with each other through TomTom HOME, making the most accurate maps available to all users. In addition, the new TomTom GO 720 comes pre-installed with a host of other TomTom PLUS services including TomTom Weather and TomTom QuickGPSfix (for extra fast connection between the devices and GPS satellites). Users can also shop for more services and prepare for trips on their computer.

Traffic Ready

The new TomTom GO 720 offers the latest and most up-to-date traffic information through an RDS-TMC Traffic receiver* and TomTom Traffic subscription*, making driving more efficient and stress-free. The enhanced traffic interface monitors current traffic information and gives precise details about traffic incidents.

TomTom GO 720

The TomTom GO 720 comes pre-installed with the most up-to-date maps of the US and Canada stored on the internal memory.

Availability

The new TomTom GO will be available across the US and Canada starting the end of July.

Product technical specifications
o 4.3" widescreen 16:9 format LCD (WQVGA: 480*272 pixels)
o CPU 400 MHz, 64MB RAM
o Maps of US and Canada preloaded on 2GB internal flash memory
o SD card slot
o High-sensitivity GPS receiver
o RDS-TMC traffic information receiver (optional accessory, not included)
o Integrated FM transmitter
o Bluetooth(TM)
o Lithium-polymer battery (5 hours operation)
o Optimized integrated microphone and speaker for high quality hands-free
functionality
o Dimensions: 4.7" x 3.2" x 0.9"
o Weight: 7.7 ounces

* Not included with the TomTom GO720. Available for separate purchase from www.tomtom.com.

For more information please contact:
Karen CK Drake,
TomTom Inc.
Telephone: 978-405-1688
Email: us.publicrelations@tomtom.com

About TomTom

TomTom NV is the world's largest navigation solution provider. TomTom's products are developed with an emphasis on innovation, quality, ease of use and value. TomTom's products include all-in-one navigation devices which enable customers to navigate right out of the box; these are the award-winning TomTom GO family, the TomTom ONE range and the TomTom RIDER. TomTom PLUS, is the location-based content and services offering for TomTom's navigation products easily available through TomTom HOME. TomTom also provides navigation software products which integrate with third party devices; the TomTom NAVIGATOR software for PDA's and smartphones. TomTom WORK combines industry leading communication and smart navigation technology with leading edge tracking and tracing expertise. TomTom's products are sold through a network of leading retailers in 25 countries and online. TomTom was founded in 1991 in Amsterdam and has offices in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. TomTom is listed at Euronext, Amsterdam Stock Exchange in The Netherlands. For more information, go to http://www.tomtom.com/.

Source: TomTom

Web site: http://www.tomtom.com