Looking for the Next Boost in Rechargeable Batteries

An Alteration to Lithium-Sulfur Battery

The USC researchers have come up with a solution for rechargeable batteries. In the January issue of the Journal of the Electrochemical Society, which had been published by Sri Narayan and Derek Moy of the USC Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute, outlines how they had designed a modification to the lithium-sulfur battery which could be more competitive with the industry standard lithium-ion battery.

The lithium sulphur batter which was presumed to be better in energy storage ability than the well=known lithium-ion counterpart had been vulnerable due to its short life span. The lithium=sulphur battery, presently can be recharged 50 to 100 times, unreasonable as an alternative energy source in comparison to 1,000 times, for several rechargeable batteries in the present day market.

The solution planned by Narayan together with lead author and research assistant Moy is what they call the `Mixed Conduction Membrane’, or MCM. This is a small piece of non-porous invented material inserted between two layers of porous separators, soaked in electrolytes which are placed in the midst of two electrodes.

MCM – Essential Movement of Lithium ions

The membrane acts as a block in decreasing the transporting of dissolved polysulfides among anode and cathode. This is a process which tends to increase the type of cycle strain makes use of lithium-sulfur batteries for the purpose of energy storage an experiment.

The MCM enables the essential movement of lithium ions, imitating the procedure as it takes place in lithium-ion batteries. This innovative membrane solution tends to preserve the high-discharge rate ability together with energy density without losing the capacity over a period of time. The researchers had discovered that the lithium-sulfur batteries which have a tendency to make use of MCM at several rates of discharge, had led to 100% capacity retention and had around four times longer life in comparison to batteries without the membrane.

According to Narayan, senior author and professor of chemistry at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Science had stated that this progress removes one of the major technical barriers to the commercialization of the lithium-sulfur battery, enabling them to realize improved options for energy efficiency.

Lithium-Sulfur Batteries/Lithium-ion Batteries

It is said that lithium-sulfur batteries tends to have a lot of advantage over lithium-ion batteries and are made with plenty and cheap sulphur. They are two to three times denser making them both smaller and better at storing charge.

According to researchers, lithium-sulfur battery could be appropriate in saving space in mobile phones as well as computers. Moreover, it would also reduce weight in the forthcoming electric vehicles inclusive of cars, together with planes thereby further reduction in reliance on fossil fuels. The real MCM layer developed by Narayan and Moy is said to be a thin film of lithiated cobalt oxide but future alternate materials may produce much improved effects.

Any alternative material utilised as an MCM, according to Narayan and Moy should satisfy some vitalstandards. The material should be non-porous and should have mixed conduction properties and it should be electrochemically inactive.The research had been financed by USC together with the Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute.

A Future With Robots as Companions Could Be Closer Than You Think

Robot Companions
Robot & Frank the 2012 movie had defined a `near future which would enable us to spend our golden years living `co-dependently independently’ that would be fulfilled by robot companions which would watch for loss of balance and falls, encouraging us to perform constructive household chores such as gardening as well as tend to be something like like best companions. The future could be something we could speculate on or something what the USC Professor Maja Mataric has in mind. After much testing and researching, the progressive effects socially assistive robots could have on helpless population, Mataric visualizes how she could help in speeding this technology into the living rooms and care services.

At the onset in that walk, The vice dean of research of the USC Viterbi Scholl of Engineering and USC Interaction Lab director co-founded the Pasadena company Embodied Inc. that had been functioning in the development and bringing about reasonably socially assistive robots to market. The first `Embodied robot’ would start its testing during the year for consumers. Mataric, a professor of computer science, neuroscience and paediatrics at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, had stated that she would prefer to take the robots out of the lab.

Motivating/Brightening Days of Patients 

She further added that this was essentially important since the users she intends to focus on have special need and the faster they are inclined to help them, the better. The research robots of Mataric had already begun motivating and brightening the days of the patients in the cardiac ward of Los Angeles County + USC Medical Centre, which is the autism clinic at the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles and the Alzheimer’s care unit at Silverado Senior Living together with the special education together and public elementary schools and Be Group retirement homes.

The living presence of a robot - `Embodiment’ is said to be the main difference between the assistive technology Mataric seemed to have designed together with various screens which tend to include our prevailing machine aided lives. The research of Mataric has portrayed that with the presence of human like robots but not so human taking us into `weird areas’, could be adequate in encouraging the elders in exercising in a way which they would not with screen prompts. Moreover it could also be a discussion section which would enable children suffering from autism in relating better to their peers.

Social Element – Make People Change Behaviour

Mataric had informed a recent national gathering for the American Association for the Advancement of Science – AAAS, that social element is said to be the only object which tends to make the people change their behaviour. It makes them lose weight and recover faster.

There is a possibility that screen tend to make us less and not more social and it is here where robotics could make a difference – the fundamental embodiment. The AAAS appearance of Mataric signified something of a target, which came almost 10 years since she had been inducted as a fellow and 20 years after she had stated at USC.

Socially assistive robotics as created by Mataric together with her then graduate researcher David Feil-Seifer 12 years ago, tends to represent a type of mixture of two other areas of development in robotics namely assistive robotics, robots which tend to assist the disabled through direct physical interaction and social robotics which socialize with people.

Intel's $15 Billion Purchase of Mobileye Shakes Up Driverless Car Sector

Inventions of new technologies have seen the rise in the production of self-driving cars. Leading tech companies have been in a constant battle with their inventions to grab the top spot in autonomous driving technology. Amidst all of this, Intel has made a clever and significant move that can mark the company’s venture into the automotive market a huge success.

Intel Corp has been in agreements to buy over the Israeli driverless technology firm Mobileye for a sum of 15.3 billion US dollars. For a while Intel has been trying to expand its market from the computer business. The acquisition of Mobileye can very well push this US chip making company into the frontlines of driverless automotive market with equal footing against rival firms, Nvidia and Qualcomm.

Although the current market for autonomous driving and advanced driver assistance systems can see a potential rise in the next 10 to 20 years, some people are still skeptical about Intel buying Mobileye. Most companies are promising to deliver fully automated cars in the next 4 years but the depth of the promise is questionable. Intel has not been very well known in the automotive industry but however they have funded numerous startups that are developing different components of self-driving automotive.

What does Mobileye offer?

Mobile specializes in developing sensor chips, networking systems for cars, navigation systems, cloud software, machine learning and other data management systems that aid in developing a fully automatic vehicle. The technology offered by Mobileye is critical to the development of driverless systems and with the tie up with a huge company like Intel; it can increase their business opportunities by entering into the global market.

The deal in question 

Experts and analysts from industry are speculating the deal might be an exaggeration as the price involved is too much. The money paid by Intel to acquire Mobileye is apparently 21 times more than the average expected revenue of the firm in the year 2017. Since more and more companies are popping up in the self-driving technology scene, the market is becoming congested and it may be hard for Intel to get back its investment with the final released product.

The fight for supremacy

Intel and Mobileye are already holding talks with popular German automobile manufacturer BMW to produce some 40 odd self-driving test cars and release them. Mobileye has also made progress to manufacture its fifth generation of chips after teaming up with Intel which is to be released in market by 2021. These chips are to be used in full self-driving vehicles.

Meanwhile, Qualcomm has made its move to acquire the largest chip supplier, NXP with a deal of 47 million US Dollars putting immense pressure on Nvidia, Intel and Mobileye as well.

It is only a matter of time before we can see autonomous self-driving vehicle systems on the road at full swing and whether Intel has made a wise decision in buying Mobileye.

Google Maps Users Soon Can Broadcast Their Movements to Friends, Family

Google is known for its highly developed features that provide its users wide varieties of features. On March 2017, Google has launched a privacy detector feature, where its users will actually be able to share their movements with their friends and relatives. Google Maps is that very feature that is ensuring this facility to its users. In these days the act of sharing every detail on social networking site with your friends and relatives by posting pictures and videos has become very common.

So, Google by introducing Google maps have taken a step forward in this regard where people can easily share their exact location with whomsoever it concerns.

This feature is already installed on almost every smartphones and there is an update from Google that says this feature will also be available on personal computers. With the help of this enticing tool it will be more easy for people to let others know where they are without having to opt for text or call. This is a very big advantage as any emergency situation can be avoided.

To this Ruth Glenn, executive director of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence has seconded that this application has both positive and negative connotations. All emergency situations can be avoided being easily able to catch up with people. On a humorous note this can create drastic problems for those who are in relationships, married, as they might have to be constant under the supervision of their partner. Even parents can be sure of where their teenage children are putting up by asking them to turn on the application when they are going out. So, this can be really a boon or a curse for different individuals.

Vice President of Google Maps has accepted that they are not the first brand who have tried to create something like this. As several tracking applications are available on different devices. Glympse which is introduced by Microsoft have been offering this facility to their user since a long time. Apple also puts forward an option called find my friends on their iPhones, iPads, and even watches and this is probably why Google is not expecting any criticisms especially from them who do not want their near and dear ones to locate them. A very intelligent tactics Google have used to camouflage themselves to be on the safer side of the table.

It is very simple to use as the users of this Map will just have to activate the location sharing option by pressing a button available near the search bar and then they can select the person from their contact list whom they want to address their location. They will automatically be informed via a text message. If the receiver does not have the Google Maps application downloaded on their phones, then they will get a link through which they can view the location using a browser.

The one who are unwilling to disclose their whereabouts they can make the desired changes in their setting due to which they can determine for how long their location can be traced.

5 Business Technology Trends to Watch in 2017

Business technology is constantly evolving, and with every new advancement, business owners have the opportunity to improve the way they run their companies. From machine learning to communication innovation, new products are emerging every day. If you want to make these new technologies a part of your business plan this year, there are a few technology trends to watch for this year that may help you reach the goals you have set for your company.

1.     Mobile Payments

Gone are the days when customers had to rush to the nearest ATM to pull out cash for a purchase. Mobile payments are almost everywhere now, from small, locally-owned businesses to larger companies that allow their customers to pay with an electronic signature when goods or services are delivered to their homes. Some businesses are using popular apps, such as Apple or Samsung Pay, while others have adapted other means of letting their customers pay with the touch of a mobile app.

Allowing your customers to take advantage of mobile payments may have several benefits for your business. The biggest advantage is that can boost buying convenience for your clients, which is usually high on the list of customer priorities when it comes to making purchases. It can also help you collect data about the types of purchases your customers are making and which goods and services you may want to promote or scale back.

2.     Smart Apps and Devices

Smart apps are evolving and can do more than ever. While these apps are used for a variety of personal purposes, they can also help organize and prioritize your business. For example, if you run a small business, smart apps and responsive devices that can listen and perform tasks as they are requested may help you save time by digitally ordering supplies and sending messages for you. This could help you streamline duties that might otherwise take up much of your time during the day.

Connecting your employees to new technology may give your business a boost as well. Apps that allow them to communicate a variety of information to you and to their coworkers or to upload it into a secure system that can only be accessed by certain personnel could improve employee productivity, especially for those who work remotely. If your company is located in a major Canadian city, such as Toronto, a business that offers Canadian office phone systems may be able to provide you with communication solutions for clients and remote employees to improve the way you communicate with both.

3.     Data Collection

If you run a small business, you may think that tracking big data technology might be a waste of time. However, even the way you organize your customers’ data can directly impact your sales numbers, and the way you protect it can affect how much trusts your clients put in your company. Being aware of new data trends may allow you to give your customers a more humanized customer service experience and make them feel less like a number and more like someone who matters to your company.

Services like cloud security may help you keep customer information safer than it might be when stored in your company’s main database at the office. Even smaller businesses might be targeted by data thieves, so it may be worth your time to research new technological storage options.

4.     Voice Over IP

Voice over internet protocol is not a brand new technology, but it is one that has changed and evolved since its introduction a little over a decade ago. This type of communication service allows you to make and receive phone calls over a broadband service, whether you are in or out of the office. A VoIP service provider can help you review the needs of your business and what kinds of services you might require.

VoIP technology means much more than making and receiving calls, however. Depending on the nature of your business, a provider could offer you call waiting, conferencing options, and video options that would allow you to communicate with employees and clients over broadband. Many companies are offering more access points than ever, which could result in greater mobility for you and anyone in your company who uses the technology.

As business technology continues to change, you may find that some products and services are a better fit for your company than others. However, staying aware of new tech trends can allow you to pick and choose certain technologies with more confidence and make the best decisions possible for your company.