China Makes Steps Towards A Moon Base

In December of 2013, China landed a rover on the moon's surface to explore but also to make the first step towards building a base there. The United States has been working on the same idea with Mars. So why are the nations of the earth worried about building bases on different moons and planets? Early in the search to explore space, it was evident space travel is to be close behind. Discovering the needs of space travel like hydrogen for power and water for nourishment, has become a real concern. Think of it like when you travel on earth. You need fuel and nourishment to make the trip. Energy companies on earth are funding the exploration technologies for space as the next concern to find hydrogen fuel stations in space. If you own the only spot in that area of space for fuel or water, you charge what you want. Taking it to down to another level with the moon, China could be providing a lot of the needed essentials for the next step of local space station developments, or asteroid defense systems for earth. It all seems like some science fiction movie, but when nations spend a part of their treasuries, it is no longer fiction. It is a plan, the basis for the completion of any innovation.

Inductive Charging Soon To Be Used In Electric Cars In your Town

Cities in their efforts to encourage electric cars are installing chargers near parking stalls. The first units have been poles with plug-ins which require cords and leave them open to vandalism. Items like electric tooth brushes and cell phones have started using inductive charging to charge up their batteries already. Toothbrushes use the technology for safety so the user don't get electrocuted plugging in a cord. Inductive charging, often called wireless charging uses magnetism to get the power from the power grid to the batteries without cords. The manhole cover in this case has a coil that creates a magnetic field that the electric cars coil can pickup and transfer the power to the battery.

The vehicle has to equipped with the coil for the system to work. The system will eliminate the need for poles. The system can be fully automated to identify the users and activate the system from inside the vehicle before leaving. New Yorkers will be a great place to try this out. Manhole covers will be a bit harder to vandalize. This technology makes electric cars even more easier to maintain power.

Resembling a manhole cover allows for the surrounding aesthetics to not be affected by the technology. 

Visit Hevo Power, the company behind the product!

Smarter Windows for Smart Homes and Smart Business

Windows can be a very important part to the Smart Home idea that was proposed as the future goals of companies like Microsoft. A smart home will be able to save building owners and occupants, energy by auto darkening in hot sunny times. Auto opening windows allow cooling or heating changes. Better visual and comfort conditions will be improved by smart windows. Up to now it has been difficult to have the window do all the things they want it to do while generating electricity. But now engineers have figured out a way to generate electricity at the same time they are using the smart windows. By incorporating another film on the glass the sun can be used to generate electricity and not effect the other functions of the window. Check out these links, Smart windows generate electricity , Solar cells in windows , Science reports breakthrough!

Smart homes controlled by your computer can use several different methods to cool, heat or control ultra-violet penetration in the living or work space. Can you think of other ways a computer controlled home can positively affect your life while leaving a smaller carbon foot print? Will this idea be carried over to automobiles?

Boston Dynamics Creates The Wildcat - Perfecting Robotic Mobilization

Duplication of human, insect and animal motions to accompany robotic abilities is what this company is pursuing. The Boston Dynamics company is hoping this could be used in assisting Fire and Police Departments rescue people. The military and agriculture could also find uses for this unique robotic transportation. The robot carries its own power source and is able to handle all types of terrain. The Wild Cat can do 16 mph with amazing agility and can use different gates and gallops to achieve its destination. Check out the other fascinating robots at Boston Dynamics website. The Sand Flea is amazing for its size. BostonDynamics.com

The Sand Flea, small in size yet can leap on to roof tops or high cliffs.

Affordable Healthcare Is Here! An Innovation/ Change Lesson

There are politically contentious, argumentative discussions and concerns about the Affordable Care Act from those who are finding change difficult. No matter what camp you are in, this change has great lessons for helping all change for innovations happen. Like any change with innovation there are people who will oppose or do not want change because it’s not the way we have done things in the past. Change can be scary. With change there are new parameters to live and think. But that is not a reason to resist change. Fear of doing nothing to solve the world’s problems should be the scariest of all. Humans are hardwired to find consistency and repetition as a sense of comfort. I remember when my children were small and in school, systematic timing and procedures helped them feel secure and more teachable. So the question is how do we teach change? Communication is key.

Could we just imagine if before my children left for school I would have told my children, "school is very scary", "the teacher is going to play tricks on you", or "the other kids are going to laugh at you." The chances my children would want to go to school would be very slim. We are seeing this take play in the USA with the Affordable Care Act. Communication takes place in many arenas. Depending on the innovation you are trying to implement and to whom it effects depends on the venues you will use to help change happen.

Depending on which state you reside in the USA, it will depend on the communication you have received on the Affordable Care Act. If your in a state like Wisconsin with majority political leaders that want to see the Affordable Care Act fail, you will hear the scary stories and have people resort to the Federal website to get your information. See the Federal website at: Federal Affordable Healthcare Act Website.

Other states that have bought into the change have accelerated the communication process. Because of the state involvement, the USA Today newspaper reported that people could purchase health care insurance for less than $100 a month in their panels.USA Today - $100 a month?!  New York Reports 50% Decrease! Minnesotas own Health Care Website In Wisconsin the people in charge are saying prices are going to rise. WI Insurance Commissioner Faq Sheet The communication makes a huge difference when exciting change and promoting innovation. Simple WEB MED Video Explanation.

 

3-D Printers Move Forward Building Their Own Components

As the evolution of the 3-D printers moves forward the Internet community is playing its part. Sharing product programs seems to be still working. G-Max has developed a long awaited affordable 3-D printer to help this continue at a larger scale. This unique machine is printing its own parts. Need to modify a car part or a make your own shoe design, this printer is big enough to do it. When I first reported of the new 3-D phenomenon and its possibilities the products were small. Its exciting to see its transformation unfold. This machine does not have the multi product components yet to print the metal solder material for printed circuits to be embedded in the plastic for electrical features or product strength components needs. I think that is the next step in its evolution. We are stepping closer to robots creating themselves, but we are not there yet!. Check out its website: GMAX printer

Drone Wars in Next Big Conflict?

The next big conflict could bring lasers and drones from friction movies to reality. Drones have been in the news as the US uses the technology to eliminate terrorist threats. USA is not alone in this technology. Iran captured a US drone and is trying to duplicate the technology themselves. Watch Iranian video: Iranian video of captured drone. China has been perfecting their own. Many reports show they resemble the US aircrafts, but they design their crafts to target the USA Naval destroyers. Kamikaze pilots inflicted great damage in World War II skirmishes. US Destroyers are equipped to use lasers to stop drone attacks. Checkout Laser strike video:Laser destroys drone.  As global conflicts arise, United Nations negotiations become more important. Gone is the "jump to conflict" philosophy once thought as a smart idea. Technologies can give the smaller radical groups the ability to inflict substantial damage. While drones spare pilot deaths they also add a different dimension to moving Naval destroyers into arms way.

Chinese Show of Drone Power.