Laser cutting machinery leaders, Spartanics, will be showcasing their in-line and offline laser cutting solutions at the 2013 Labelexpo Europe Show in Brussels. Spartanics (Stand #9G38), celebrating 50 years manufacturing die cutting systems, is anticipating their biggest presence yet in Europe with a new technology unveiling.
Mike Bacon VP of Sales and Marketing says, “Laser die cutting is gaining momentum in the label market and we feel that offering a variety of solutions is key to technology acceptance. By showcasing laser capabilities and educating the label market on certified materials for laser cutting, we feel that attendees will walk away from the show better informed.”
Spartanics will showcase two of their latest innovations for the label, packaging and converting markets; the Spartanics L350 Laser Cutting Machine and the NW140 UV Inkjet Digital Narrow Web Press. The Spartanics L350 is a modernized laser cutting system that can cut configurations on the fly with speeds up to 100+ meters per minute. One of the most fascinating capabilities of this cutting edge technology is the amount of flexibility it offers to the market through converting options, such as: UV Coating, Rotary Die Cutting Station, Rotary Sheeting, Hot Stamping, Lamination, Knife Slitting and more. The L350 is also equipped with Spartanics Optimization Software and XY registration, as well as, bar code automatic changeover capabilities.
The NW140 UV Inkjet Digital Narrow Web Press powered by JETInx will also be showcased in the Spartanics Stand (#9G38). This system offers an all in one solution for today's print and label converters. It comes equipped with XAAR 1001 Print heads that offer 6 channel print modes, including: White, CMYK and Clear Varnish. The affordable NW140 prints jobs in line with the Spartanics X140 Laser Cutting Station. This system comes complete with low heat UV LED Pinning and Curing lamps, as well as, environmentally friendly inks.
Spartanics laser cutting technology will also be featured in the Durst Stand #9H57. Durst and Spartanics have integrated their expertise and technology to engineer one of the finest additions to the market; the Durst Tau 330 UV Inkjet Digital Label Press with In-Line Laser Finishing System LFS 330 and it will be unveiled at the 2013 Labelexpo Europe Show! This advanced technology is able to operate as a fully integrated in line solution, as well as, an offline system. The Durst Tau 330 UV Inkjet Digital Label Press is capable of printing at excessive speeds of 157 linear feet per minute and offers flexible converting options.
Read the full story at www.careel-laser-engraving-machine.com web! Four product
lines to meet your Laser
engraver, laser
cutting machine, Laser marking, welding and carving application. If need any
help, please contact our Sales Team or Technical Team, they can support you
well.
2013年8月29日 星期四
2013年8月16日 星期五
Mine is an early rifle
Three-gun shooting is the fastest growing competitive shooting sport in the nation. As the name suggests, competitors use three guns; pistol, shotgun and rifle. Of the three, the rifle is called on for the widest range of use. A shooter might engage multiple close range targets very fast, and within seconds transition to precision targets at long range. I have shot at rifle targets from as close as 18 inches to as far away as 800 yards in a single match. The key is to do it with speed and precision, as the guy who hits all the targets the fastest wins the match.
For a long time competitors had to spend time and money to modify their rifles to make them suitable for competition. But rifle makers have noticed the growth in the sport and several are now offering “competition ready” rifles in their catalogs. Here are three that I have been lucky enough to test.
Colt Competition was started with the concept that 3-gun competitors needed rifles that were ready to shoot. The Pro model is the higher grade of the two Colt Competition .223 Remington rifles offered. It was designed by hardcore shooters and tested extensively at national 3-gun matches.
It has an 18-inch long, match-grade stainless steel barrel. The custom fluting on the barrel is unique and exotic looking with a series of interrupted flutes. The barrel is six-groove button rifled with a 1:8 RH Twist. The 1:8 twist is preferred by most 3-gun shooters as it will stabilize heavy bullets but also handle light bullets, so it provides the widest range of ammo options for shooters.
The gun has a .223 Wylde Match Chamber and uses a rifle-length gas system. This longer system is more reliable and smoother than a short “carbine” length gas system. It has the Colt Competition Fully-Adjustable Gas Block, which allows the shooter to tune the rifle to the specific ammo used. The result is a smoother action cycle, which can aid in speed and accuracy. The smoother the gun runs, the less disturbance on target and the faster the next shot can be taken. Those tenths of a second in split times add up in a game that’s won or lost by seconds.
Mine is an early rifle and came with a Sure-Fire muzzle brake. This is a very effective brake that’s also designed to attach a suppressor. The current rifles are being shipped with the new Colt Competition Triple-Chamber Muzzle Brake while the Sure-Fire is still offered as an option.
The Colt Competition uses a proprietary 15-inch floating handguard, which is the perfect length for the extended arm grip favored by a lot of shooters.
The upper and lower receivers are forged and machined for a precision fit. The upper is a flat-top with a Picatinny rail on top. The lower has the Colt Competition logo laser engraved into the side of the magwell.
The rifle has a proofed and magnetic particle (MP) inspected bolt. The charging handle has an extended latch for fast operation. Meanwhile, the two-stage trigger on my gun breaks at 2 pounds, 12 ounces; lighter than the advertised 3.5-pound trigger and great for precision long-range shooting. It has a short and positive reset for fast work.
The gun has a Magpul CTR 6-Position Adjustable Stock, Magpul arched Trigger Guard and a Magpul Grip. As you might guess, it comes with a Magpul 30-round magazine. The safety is a standard, two position AR-15 safety.
The rifle is extremely accurate and with the light trigger it’s easy to use for precision long-range work. The average for 12, five-shot groups at 100 yards with three different ammo products was just .9-inch. The best groups were .65-inch for five shots.
When shooting speed drills to test my time, my best effort with this rifle was 1.6 seconds, which is the second best I have ever done.
This is a gun that you can take out of the box, add optics and ammo and win matches. I know that to be true, not just hype; because I have several shooting buddies who have done it.
Read the full story at www.careel-laser-engraving-machine.com web! Four product lines to meet your Laser engraving, Laser cutting, Laser marking, welding and carving application. If need any help, please contact our Sales Team or Technical Team, they can support you well.
For a long time competitors had to spend time and money to modify their rifles to make them suitable for competition. But rifle makers have noticed the growth in the sport and several are now offering “competition ready” rifles in their catalogs. Here are three that I have been lucky enough to test.
Colt Competition was started with the concept that 3-gun competitors needed rifles that were ready to shoot. The Pro model is the higher grade of the two Colt Competition .223 Remington rifles offered. It was designed by hardcore shooters and tested extensively at national 3-gun matches.
It has an 18-inch long, match-grade stainless steel barrel. The custom fluting on the barrel is unique and exotic looking with a series of interrupted flutes. The barrel is six-groove button rifled with a 1:8 RH Twist. The 1:8 twist is preferred by most 3-gun shooters as it will stabilize heavy bullets but also handle light bullets, so it provides the widest range of ammo options for shooters.
The gun has a .223 Wylde Match Chamber and uses a rifle-length gas system. This longer system is more reliable and smoother than a short “carbine” length gas system. It has the Colt Competition Fully-Adjustable Gas Block, which allows the shooter to tune the rifle to the specific ammo used. The result is a smoother action cycle, which can aid in speed and accuracy. The smoother the gun runs, the less disturbance on target and the faster the next shot can be taken. Those tenths of a second in split times add up in a game that’s won or lost by seconds.
Mine is an early rifle and came with a Sure-Fire muzzle brake. This is a very effective brake that’s also designed to attach a suppressor. The current rifles are being shipped with the new Colt Competition Triple-Chamber Muzzle Brake while the Sure-Fire is still offered as an option.
The Colt Competition uses a proprietary 15-inch floating handguard, which is the perfect length for the extended arm grip favored by a lot of shooters.
The upper and lower receivers are forged and machined for a precision fit. The upper is a flat-top with a Picatinny rail on top. The lower has the Colt Competition logo laser engraved into the side of the magwell.
The rifle has a proofed and magnetic particle (MP) inspected bolt. The charging handle has an extended latch for fast operation. Meanwhile, the two-stage trigger on my gun breaks at 2 pounds, 12 ounces; lighter than the advertised 3.5-pound trigger and great for precision long-range shooting. It has a short and positive reset for fast work.
The gun has a Magpul CTR 6-Position Adjustable Stock, Magpul arched Trigger Guard and a Magpul Grip. As you might guess, it comes with a Magpul 30-round magazine. The safety is a standard, two position AR-15 safety.
The rifle is extremely accurate and with the light trigger it’s easy to use for precision long-range work. The average for 12, five-shot groups at 100 yards with three different ammo products was just .9-inch. The best groups were .65-inch for five shots.
When shooting speed drills to test my time, my best effort with this rifle was 1.6 seconds, which is the second best I have ever done.
This is a gun that you can take out of the box, add optics and ammo and win matches. I know that to be true, not just hype; because I have several shooting buddies who have done it.
Read the full story at www.careel-laser-engraving-machine.com web! Four product lines to meet your Laser engraving, Laser cutting, Laser marking, welding and carving application. If need any help, please contact our Sales Team or Technical Team, they can support you well.
2013年8月12日 星期一
Peer's wind farm
Later, as leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats,hedeclaredrenewables firms should be raking in “big profits”.
Now Nicol Stephen, or Baron Stephen of Lower Deeside, appears to have taken his own advice and sits at the head of a rapidly expanding turbine empire worth more than ￡1.5million.
The Lib Dem peer is a director of 10 renewable energy companies, seven of them incorporated within the past five months, with four wind farms in the planning stages across Scotland.
More seriously, some observers believe he is using his powerful position in the House of Lords to lobby for the renewable energy industry.
Last month, he put forward three amendmentstoWestminster’snew Energy Bill – although two were withdrawn and one was left to lie on the file.
One amendment called for more UK Governmentsupportforrenewable electricity storage, one of the biggest problems facing wind farm operators as their turbines work only when the wind is blowing and not when demand for energy is greatest.
A second amendment related to proposed changes to the generous publicsubsidyregime,withLord Stephen calling for greater “certainty” over whether or not the payments “could be relied upon” to continue in the future.
The third called for an announcement on a “decarbonisation target” – the date by which fossil fuels must be eradicated from Britain’s power grid – to be brought forward.
Calling for greater unity within the Coalition over the Bill, he said: “Unless we show certainty and get away from the divisions and the delay that have clearly existed within government, we will send out the wrong messages to companies involved in this sector and we will fail to achieve that ￡100billion of investment that is so vital to driving the future of the industry.”
The House of Lords rules state that Members must be “especially cautious in deciding whether to speak or vote” in debates which relate to their private business interests.
Graham Lang, from pressure group Scotland Against Spin, said: “Lord Stephen has had a career in politics paid for by the taxpayer and is continuing to attempt to hoover up consumerpaidsubsidieswith speculativeanddeeplyunpopular wind farm proposals.
“As a Scot, he will know full well that rural communities have had enough of industrial turbines desecrating the environment for risible and very expensive amounts of electricity.”
Nine of Lord Stephen’s firms are part of the Renewable Energy Ventures (REV) network, which he set up with former Body Shop director Michael Ross, from Edinburgh, after retiring from Holyrood in 2009.
A REV “holding company” has ￡1.4million in capital according to the latest Companies House documents.
His other energy company – Pilot Offshore Renewables Ltd – was formed in April with industry expert Allan MacAskill as co-director.
Mr MacAskill, whose brother is Justice Secretary Kenny, saw a previous offshore energy venture sold to Spanish giants Repsol for ￡49million.
In the House of Lords register of interests, the former MSP for Aberdeen South currently declares his involvement only in parent company Renewable Energy Ventures Ltd.
Last year, it emerged the peer had made ￡110,000 when he sold a house in Edinburgh that had been partly paid for by the taxpayer under the now defunct Holyrood housing scheme.
REV’s first wind farm will see three 326ft turbines built at Clentrie Farm near Auchtertool, Fife.
It won planning permission in April, despite a survey which found 93 per cent of locals were against the plan.
James Glen, secretary of Lochgelly Community Council, said: “There are mixed views in the area, some support wind turbines but others are upset.
“They think that we have got enough with the Mossmorran petrochemical works on our doorstep and the nine turbines already at the Little Raith wind farm.
“I feel if any politician has a connection with a renewable energy company he should not be taking part in any debate about new legislation.”
Another REV subsidiary relates to a live planning application for eight 360ft wind turbines near Kellas in Moray.
Three further companies are connected to sites in Aberdeenshire, including a proposal for two 326ft turbines at Paul Matthew Hill, near Montrose, and another for two 326ft turbines at Cushnie, near Alford.
This is Lord Stephen’s fourth attempt to win planning permission at this site, with opponents claiming his application has been deliberately submitted during the summer holidays when many opponents are away.
Caroline Gerrie, from Stop Turbines in Cushnie, said: “In our opinion, this is not about farming wind nor about fighting for the rights of the people of the North-east.
“It is about farming subsidy for commercial gain, ignoring the advice of planning whilst damaging the lives of the people Lord Stephen once promised to fight for.
“Lord Stephen is, in fact, showing a total disregard for the opinions of the people in this community.”
She added: “This is the sixth application for wind turbines in this beautiful valley that the people of Cushnie have had to deal with in the last two and-a-half years, and the fourth from Lord Stephen’s company REV Ltd.
Despite repeated requests for an interview, neither Lord Stephen or the Liberal Democrats had anything to say.
Read the full story at www.careel-laser-engraving-machine.com web! Four product lines to meet your Laser engraving, Laser cutting, Laser marking, welding and carving application. If need any help, please contact our Sales Team or Technical Team, they can support you well.
Now Nicol Stephen, or Baron Stephen of Lower Deeside, appears to have taken his own advice and sits at the head of a rapidly expanding turbine empire worth more than ￡1.5million.
The Lib Dem peer is a director of 10 renewable energy companies, seven of them incorporated within the past five months, with four wind farms in the planning stages across Scotland.
More seriously, some observers believe he is using his powerful position in the House of Lords to lobby for the renewable energy industry.
Last month, he put forward three amendmentstoWestminster’snew Energy Bill – although two were withdrawn and one was left to lie on the file.
One amendment called for more UK Governmentsupportforrenewable electricity storage, one of the biggest problems facing wind farm operators as their turbines work only when the wind is blowing and not when demand for energy is greatest.
A second amendment related to proposed changes to the generous publicsubsidyregime,withLord Stephen calling for greater “certainty” over whether or not the payments “could be relied upon” to continue in the future.
The third called for an announcement on a “decarbonisation target” – the date by which fossil fuels must be eradicated from Britain’s power grid – to be brought forward.
Calling for greater unity within the Coalition over the Bill, he said: “Unless we show certainty and get away from the divisions and the delay that have clearly existed within government, we will send out the wrong messages to companies involved in this sector and we will fail to achieve that ￡100billion of investment that is so vital to driving the future of the industry.”
The House of Lords rules state that Members must be “especially cautious in deciding whether to speak or vote” in debates which relate to their private business interests.
Graham Lang, from pressure group Scotland Against Spin, said: “Lord Stephen has had a career in politics paid for by the taxpayer and is continuing to attempt to hoover up consumerpaidsubsidieswith speculativeanddeeplyunpopular wind farm proposals.
“As a Scot, he will know full well that rural communities have had enough of industrial turbines desecrating the environment for risible and very expensive amounts of electricity.”
Nine of Lord Stephen’s firms are part of the Renewable Energy Ventures (REV) network, which he set up with former Body Shop director Michael Ross, from Edinburgh, after retiring from Holyrood in 2009.
A REV “holding company” has ￡1.4million in capital according to the latest Companies House documents.
His other energy company – Pilot Offshore Renewables Ltd – was formed in April with industry expert Allan MacAskill as co-director.
Mr MacAskill, whose brother is Justice Secretary Kenny, saw a previous offshore energy venture sold to Spanish giants Repsol for ￡49million.
In the House of Lords register of interests, the former MSP for Aberdeen South currently declares his involvement only in parent company Renewable Energy Ventures Ltd.
Last year, it emerged the peer had made ￡110,000 when he sold a house in Edinburgh that had been partly paid for by the taxpayer under the now defunct Holyrood housing scheme.
REV’s first wind farm will see three 326ft turbines built at Clentrie Farm near Auchtertool, Fife.
It won planning permission in April, despite a survey which found 93 per cent of locals were against the plan.
James Glen, secretary of Lochgelly Community Council, said: “There are mixed views in the area, some support wind turbines but others are upset.
“They think that we have got enough with the Mossmorran petrochemical works on our doorstep and the nine turbines already at the Little Raith wind farm.
“I feel if any politician has a connection with a renewable energy company he should not be taking part in any debate about new legislation.”
Another REV subsidiary relates to a live planning application for eight 360ft wind turbines near Kellas in Moray.
Three further companies are connected to sites in Aberdeenshire, including a proposal for two 326ft turbines at Paul Matthew Hill, near Montrose, and another for two 326ft turbines at Cushnie, near Alford.
This is Lord Stephen’s fourth attempt to win planning permission at this site, with opponents claiming his application has been deliberately submitted during the summer holidays when many opponents are away.
Caroline Gerrie, from Stop Turbines in Cushnie, said: “In our opinion, this is not about farming wind nor about fighting for the rights of the people of the North-east.
“It is about farming subsidy for commercial gain, ignoring the advice of planning whilst damaging the lives of the people Lord Stephen once promised to fight for.
“Lord Stephen is, in fact, showing a total disregard for the opinions of the people in this community.”
She added: “This is the sixth application for wind turbines in this beautiful valley that the people of Cushnie have had to deal with in the last two and-a-half years, and the fourth from Lord Stephen’s company REV Ltd.
Despite repeated requests for an interview, neither Lord Stephen or the Liberal Democrats had anything to say.
Read the full story at www.careel-laser-engraving-machine.com web! Four product lines to meet your Laser engraving, Laser cutting, Laser marking, welding and carving application. If need any help, please contact our Sales Team or Technical Team, they can support you well.
$5 million lawsuit
A year ago, Dan Williams moved from his home near Ione's Willow Creek wind farm to Walterville, Ore. He said he couldn't take the noise of whipping turbine blades any longer.
"It's hard to explain it to people unless you experience it," Williams said. "There's the actual noise that wakes you, but there's also the infrasound you can't hear but your body feels. The best I can describe it is like a train or an airplane coming and going."
Williams filed a lawsuit Friday against Invenergy, the Illinois-based company behind the wind farm, for non-economic losses up to $5 million, as well as economic losses — mostly related to property value depreciation — for $170,000.
Since Invenergy began construction on the 50 wind turbines at Willow Creek in 2008, it has fought in the courts over noise compliance.
First, the fight was over the actual noise limits. Invenergy said the Morrow County noise limit of 50 dBa was acceptable, Williams and a few neighbors argued that the wind farm had to comply with the state limit of 36 dBa.
Although neither enforced it, both the county and the state upheld the 36 dBa limit in seven different court findings.
"I'm extremely disappointed that county and state of Oregon both agree that there's violations but won't do anything about them," Williams said.
After a 2009 noise study conducted on Williams' property by Invenergy showed turbine noise levels reaching 42 dBa, the wind company embarked on an effort to comply with the noise levels through methods such as triggering turbine shut-downs at certain noise levels. Williams is also claiming the current technology takes too long to shut down after the noise limits are reached.
In the complaint filed Friday, Williams claims "emotional distress, deteriorating physical and emotional health, dizziness, inability to sleep, drowsiness, fatigue, headaches, difficulty thinking, irritation and lethargy" as a result of the turbines' noise and flickering glare.
In a statement issued Friday, Invenergy said it wasn't aware of any alleged health impacts to Williams until he filed the lawsuit and would "vigorously defend" itself against his claims.
"Notwithstanding the non-specific nature of these claims, it's important to reiterate that numerous rigorous studies ... have found no evidence to support a link between adverse health effects and sound emitted from wind turbines," the company stated.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a noise level of 40 dBA is equal to a running stream or refrigerator humming, 30 dBa is a whisper and 50 to 60 dBa is a quiet office.
But Williams' attorney, Jim McClandish, who did not want to talk specifically about the case, argued new research shows low-frequency wind turbine noise could be dangerous. While "wind turbine syndrome" was once pure speculation, recent studies show the low-frequency infrasound can cause symptoms such as the dizziness and nausea Williams said he experienced.
"The reverberation at low frequencies affects people's inner ears. It impacts their ability to sleep, their concentration," McClandish said.
The lawsuit is expected to take at least a year to make its way through the courts. Williams still owns his Ione home. He said even though he has left the property, he has no plans to stand down.
"What other option do I have?" Williams said. "I was there first. This was forced upon me. I'm a human being with strong convictions."
Read the full story at www.careel-laser-engraving-machine.com web! Four product lines to meet your Laser engraver, laser cutting machine, Laser marking, welding and carving application. If need any help, please contact our Sales Team or Technical Team, they can support you well.
"It's hard to explain it to people unless you experience it," Williams said. "There's the actual noise that wakes you, but there's also the infrasound you can't hear but your body feels. The best I can describe it is like a train or an airplane coming and going."
Williams filed a lawsuit Friday against Invenergy, the Illinois-based company behind the wind farm, for non-economic losses up to $5 million, as well as economic losses — mostly related to property value depreciation — for $170,000.
Since Invenergy began construction on the 50 wind turbines at Willow Creek in 2008, it has fought in the courts over noise compliance.
First, the fight was over the actual noise limits. Invenergy said the Morrow County noise limit of 50 dBa was acceptable, Williams and a few neighbors argued that the wind farm had to comply with the state limit of 36 dBa.
Although neither enforced it, both the county and the state upheld the 36 dBa limit in seven different court findings.
"I'm extremely disappointed that county and state of Oregon both agree that there's violations but won't do anything about them," Williams said.
After a 2009 noise study conducted on Williams' property by Invenergy showed turbine noise levels reaching 42 dBa, the wind company embarked on an effort to comply with the noise levels through methods such as triggering turbine shut-downs at certain noise levels. Williams is also claiming the current technology takes too long to shut down after the noise limits are reached.
In the complaint filed Friday, Williams claims "emotional distress, deteriorating physical and emotional health, dizziness, inability to sleep, drowsiness, fatigue, headaches, difficulty thinking, irritation and lethargy" as a result of the turbines' noise and flickering glare.
In a statement issued Friday, Invenergy said it wasn't aware of any alleged health impacts to Williams until he filed the lawsuit and would "vigorously defend" itself against his claims.
"Notwithstanding the non-specific nature of these claims, it's important to reiterate that numerous rigorous studies ... have found no evidence to support a link between adverse health effects and sound emitted from wind turbines," the company stated.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a noise level of 40 dBA is equal to a running stream or refrigerator humming, 30 dBa is a whisper and 50 to 60 dBa is a quiet office.
But Williams' attorney, Jim McClandish, who did not want to talk specifically about the case, argued new research shows low-frequency wind turbine noise could be dangerous. While "wind turbine syndrome" was once pure speculation, recent studies show the low-frequency infrasound can cause symptoms such as the dizziness and nausea Williams said he experienced.
"The reverberation at low frequencies affects people's inner ears. It impacts their ability to sleep, their concentration," McClandish said.
The lawsuit is expected to take at least a year to make its way through the courts. Williams still owns his Ione home. He said even though he has left the property, he has no plans to stand down.
"What other option do I have?" Williams said. "I was there first. This was forced upon me. I'm a human being with strong convictions."
Read the full story at www.careel-laser-engraving-machine.com web! Four product lines to meet your Laser engraver, laser cutting machine, Laser marking, welding and carving application. If need any help, please contact our Sales Team or Technical Team, they can support you well.
2013年2月17日 星期日
Future could be very similar to science fiction
Homes in the future could look very different with clothes washed in a high-tech waterless washing machine and a bathroom that will tell you if you are sick.
The down side, however, is that there is not much space because much of the population now lives in multi-generational households with property prices soaring to an average of 423,000 pounds.
Such an outlandish vision could come straight from a science fiction novel but it’s actually what life could be like in less than 20 years.
The consumer champion has just published a report predicting what the technological breakthroughs and the social and economic trends could be by 2030, the Daily Express reported.
Most eye-catching of all their forecasts is a Rechargeable Kids System that would go some way to tackling childhood obesity and rising energy costs.
Youngsters in the future could be wearing special trainers that generate and store energy as they run around outside, which would then be used to power electronic goods such as TVs and games consoles.
A shoe rack would double up as an electricity distribution hub so when a child places the trainers on the rack, their energy transfers straight to their bedroom.
The Which? Consumers In 2030 report states: “Data contained within the trainer may also be uploaded into virtual games – telling children and their parents how fast and how far they’ve run.
“The one drawback is that they have to make sure the trainers don’t get too muddy as this interferes with the shoes’ ability to convert sunlight into electricity,” the report said.
Another space-age advance that could have an impact on our lives by 2030 is the “Bathroom GP”.
Sensors in the toilet and sink would take biological readings and screen them for illnesses such as viruses, as well as check for kidney function, glucose levels and digestive health.
The data would be sent to a microchip embedded in a wristband where it is analysed against a users’ medical records and individual DNA patterns
All the analysis would be displayed on the bathroom mirror, which is activated by mobile phone so the user has control of when and where they want to view it.
According to Which?, and think-tank Forum for the Future, which it worked with, “the microchip measures vital signs like body temperature, calories burned, heart rate and sleep quality so all this information is collated.
“It also provides a full consultation and recommendations every month, with an extra option of adding dietary recommendations to your online shopping list to help you plan meals around the nutrients your body needs,” they said.
With the earth’s natural resources running thin, conservation will be the buzz word in 17 years time, Which? predicts.
Water companies, in particular, will start searching for ways to cut water demand to lift pressure on supplies.
One possibility is that customers will be given the opportunity to switch from a traditional water tariff to one that includes a washing machine that cleans clothes by using a chemical solvent and only a tiny amount of water.
By 2030, recycling is likely to be even more prominent than it is today. Scientists could invent a handheld device that scans objects to identify what materials they contain and then offers ideas of what they could be transformed into.
The down side, however, is that there is not much space because much of the population now lives in multi-generational households with property prices soaring to an average of 423,000 pounds.
Such an outlandish vision could come straight from a science fiction novel but it’s actually what life could be like in less than 20 years.
The consumer champion has just published a report predicting what the technological breakthroughs and the social and economic trends could be by 2030, the Daily Express reported.
Most eye-catching of all their forecasts is a Rechargeable Kids System that would go some way to tackling childhood obesity and rising energy costs.
Youngsters in the future could be wearing special trainers that generate and store energy as they run around outside, which would then be used to power electronic goods such as TVs and games consoles.
A shoe rack would double up as an electricity distribution hub so when a child places the trainers on the rack, their energy transfers straight to their bedroom.
The Which? Consumers In 2030 report states: “Data contained within the trainer may also be uploaded into virtual games – telling children and their parents how fast and how far they’ve run.
“The one drawback is that they have to make sure the trainers don’t get too muddy as this interferes with the shoes’ ability to convert sunlight into electricity,” the report said.
Another space-age advance that could have an impact on our lives by 2030 is the “Bathroom GP”.
Sensors in the toilet and sink would take biological readings and screen them for illnesses such as viruses, as well as check for kidney function, glucose levels and digestive health.
The data would be sent to a microchip embedded in a wristband where it is analysed against a users’ medical records and individual DNA patterns
All the analysis would be displayed on the bathroom mirror, which is activated by mobile phone so the user has control of when and where they want to view it.
According to Which?, and think-tank Forum for the Future, which it worked with, “the microchip measures vital signs like body temperature, calories burned, heart rate and sleep quality so all this information is collated.
“It also provides a full consultation and recommendations every month, with an extra option of adding dietary recommendations to your online shopping list to help you plan meals around the nutrients your body needs,” they said.
With the earth’s natural resources running thin, conservation will be the buzz word in 17 years time, Which? predicts.
Water companies, in particular, will start searching for ways to cut water demand to lift pressure on supplies.
One possibility is that customers will be given the opportunity to switch from a traditional water tariff to one that includes a washing machine that cleans clothes by using a chemical solvent and only a tiny amount of water.
By 2030, recycling is likely to be even more prominent than it is today. Scientists could invent a handheld device that scans objects to identify what materials they contain and then offers ideas of what they could be transformed into.
2012年10月29日 星期一
ZOL Startup Challenge 2011 winners
Last month, as we prepared to hold the ZOL Jumpstart Challenge 2012, we contacted the winners and finalists of the challenge in 2011 to check on the progress of their products and companies. The 2011 winner was Mukela Travel, a startup building an online reservation and hospitality management platform. The runner-ups were Softwarehouse with a product called Hardware Inventory, and Sadomba Mahari who were working on 3D animation software.
From interaction with the Zimbabwe based leader of the Mukela Travel team, Takudzwa Mhlanga, the startup has not made much progress commercially since 2011. According to them, they have had difficulties raising money to proceed at the pace they should have.
We didn’t get a response from the Sadomba-Mahari team on the state of their project. We did manage to get in touch Matthew Hood, founder of Softwarehouse, and below are the responses he provided on the state of the product and the difficulties they have faced so far.
Softwarehouse is doing well, unfortunately we have not had the time or man power to dedicate to making Hardware Inventory (rebranded NetSnitch) the success we feel it can still be. Softwarehouse is currently involved in a number of very exciting projects for clients in the horticultural and financial services sectors, unfortunately NDAs mean I cannot go into details on any of the financial products at this time. We have also released a Premium and Micro Finance application and a Procurement and Stock Handling system, both of which have started being adopted by clients here and replacing their existing systems.
With so much on we have unfortunately not been able to push NetSnitch hard to the market. We have however made a few sales and it is currently running on a couple of hundred machines at various organisations. We found the most interest from an IT support individual who maintains a number of Private School’s IT infrastructure, their main need was to monitor hardware changes and easily create asset registers for their regular audits and budgeting sessions.
Based on his requirements we are working on a number of improvements to the system and added further functionality, when time permits, for example monitoring all printer usage by user on the network. We are hoping to have all the changes completed by the end of the year and still want to push sales of NetSnitch in the new year.
Up until now our main business has been focused on bespoke, one off development and while there is a great need for this service in Zimbabwe we, as a company, are starting to move towards Software As A Service as a more profitable long term model, we have a number of applications which would be suitable for resale in Zimbabwe and externally, NetSnitch included, and are now in a position to take this plunge, probably in a partnership with another Zimbabwean company better suited to the sales and support side of a Software As A Service business, the exact arrangements are not finalised but we are very excited about the possibilities.
Probably the biggest problem we faced was trying to devise a pricing structure. We wanted to bill NetSnitch on an on-going license basis and keep the per machine cost very low so it was available to any company. However such a model is only profitable when you have a large install base.
From interaction with the Zimbabwe based leader of the Mukela Travel team, Takudzwa Mhlanga, the startup has not made much progress commercially since 2011. According to them, they have had difficulties raising money to proceed at the pace they should have.
We didn’t get a response from the Sadomba-Mahari team on the state of their project. We did manage to get in touch Matthew Hood, founder of Softwarehouse, and below are the responses he provided on the state of the product and the difficulties they have faced so far.
Softwarehouse is doing well, unfortunately we have not had the time or man power to dedicate to making Hardware Inventory (rebranded NetSnitch) the success we feel it can still be. Softwarehouse is currently involved in a number of very exciting projects for clients in the horticultural and financial services sectors, unfortunately NDAs mean I cannot go into details on any of the financial products at this time. We have also released a Premium and Micro Finance application and a Procurement and Stock Handling system, both of which have started being adopted by clients here and replacing their existing systems.
With so much on we have unfortunately not been able to push NetSnitch hard to the market. We have however made a few sales and it is currently running on a couple of hundred machines at various organisations. We found the most interest from an IT support individual who maintains a number of Private School’s IT infrastructure, their main need was to monitor hardware changes and easily create asset registers for their regular audits and budgeting sessions.
Based on his requirements we are working on a number of improvements to the system and added further functionality, when time permits, for example monitoring all printer usage by user on the network. We are hoping to have all the changes completed by the end of the year and still want to push sales of NetSnitch in the new year.
Up until now our main business has been focused on bespoke, one off development and while there is a great need for this service in Zimbabwe we, as a company, are starting to move towards Software As A Service as a more profitable long term model, we have a number of applications which would be suitable for resale in Zimbabwe and externally, NetSnitch included, and are now in a position to take this plunge, probably in a partnership with another Zimbabwean company better suited to the sales and support side of a Software As A Service business, the exact arrangements are not finalised but we are very excited about the possibilities.
Probably the biggest problem we faced was trying to devise a pricing structure. We wanted to bill NetSnitch on an on-going license basis and keep the per machine cost very low so it was available to any company. However such a model is only profitable when you have a large install base.
訂閱：
文章 (Atom)