Indoor Navigation System for Blind

University of Nevada, Reno computer science engineering team Kostas Bekris and Eelke Folmer presented their indoor navigation system for people with visual impairments at two national conferences in the past two weeks. The researchers explained how a combination of human-computer interaction and motion-planning research was used to build a low-cost accessible navigation system, called Navatar, which can run on a standard smartphone.

A Fine Brine: New Desalination Technique Yields More Drinkable Water

More than a third of the world already suffers from shortages of potable water—with a rise to 50 percent expected by 2025. Desalination of seawater can help coastal communities can address local shortfalls, although the process is costly, and releasing leftover brine back to the ocean has environmental implications. Now a new system promises to produce more drinkable water with less salty effluent.

Getting in Tune: Researchers Solve Tuning Problem for Wireless Power Transfer Systems

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a new way to fine-tune wireless power transfer (WPT) receivers, making the systems more efficient and functional. WPT systems hold promise for charging electric vehicles, electronic devices and other technologies.

Compañía estadounidense lanza tejas que absorben el aire contaminante

Una compañía en EE.UU. lanzó una línea de tejas para el techo que, según sus creadores, ayudará a limpiar el aire de los gases contaminantes.

Tranvía Flexity de Berlín gana Premio de Diseño Universal 2012

El tranvía Flexity de Berlín recibió el Premio de Diseño Universal 2012 en la reciente feria Hannover Messe 2012 celebrada del 23 al 27 de abril. El galardón fue recogido por Klaus Dietrich Matschke, director de Tranvías de la empresa pública de transporte urbano BVG, ahora Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe y antes Berliner Verkehrs-AG, y por Siegfried Cross, director de Ventas de Tranvías de Bombardier Transportation en Alemania.

Social Networks for Scientists

New social networks and media are improving the connectivity of researchers, engineers, PhD candidates, post-docs, and students. Today, several offer solutions to problems faced by researchers, but are still often considered time consuming. As an online extension of the work of your team or as a catalyst for new collaborations, each of these networks has its own special features. Do you need to optimize your literature review, share or obtain information, dialogue with an instructor, or even reinforce your network of contacts? Whether researcher or student, MyScienceWork presents an overview of the new scientific social networks dedicated to your needs.

ICA firma contrato por 218 mdd para infraestructura carretera

Empresas ICA, la mayor constructora de México, dijo este martes que firmó con el gobierno federal un contrato por 218 millones de dólares para la modernización y mantenimiento de 797.4 kilómetros de carreteras en el norteño estado de Sonora.