Toshiba introduces its first 14” USB powered DisplayLink Monitor

Toshiba has introduced this morning a new external monitor with the PA3923U-1LC3. Announced at around $199.99 USD, this 14" Monitor features DisplayLink technology and can be connected to any kind of PC whether they are running on Linux, Windows 7 or even Mac OS (PC = Personal Computer) via USB.
The PA3923U-1LC3 comes with a 1366×768 resolution, a 400:1 contrast ration, 220cd/m2 brightness, a 16ms response time and sold with an elegant carrying cover making it easier to carry around.

Samsung introduces Thinner Galaxy Tab 10.1 and new Galaxy Tab 8.9 at CTIA 2011

We were all waiting for it, and the day has finally come! Introduced earlier this morning in the USA, the two new Android 3.0 Tablet from Samsung will finally give the company an edge on Apple supremacy, or at least this is what Samsung hope for anyway.
The first model is the highly expected Galaxy Tab 8.9 and its 8.9" screen that offer a stunning 1280×600 resolution, comes with a Dual Core 1GHz CPU, 1080HD Video, WiFi ABGN, a 3Mpix front and rear camera on just 470g and with a 6000mAh battery. The Galaxy Tab 8.9 will be sold in the US in two different versions including a 16GB one sold at $469 USD and a 32GB version sold at $569 USD.
The second model is the Galaxy Tab 10.1", a device now even slimmer (8.6mm) and lighter (595g) than the iPad 2 for example. This new Galaxy Tab 10.1" comes like the 8.9 with a dual Core 1Ghz CPU, a 1280 x 800 resolution, WiFi ABGN, a 2Mpix front Camera capable to shoot 720p videos and a 3Mpix rear camera capable to shoot 1080p videos.
Finally the Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be sold at $499 in its 16GB and $599 in its 32GB Version.

Search & rescue robots, the high tech tsunami heroes (Sendai, earthquake, Japan)

Japan's rescue teams were just not enough after the razing tsunami and a massive earthquake brought destruction to many coastline villages. The manned teams can use searchdogs and perform basic first aid operations such as searching for survivors and helping them medically. But what when the survivors are below a big pile of debrids/carriage caused by a collapsed house?
This is where multiple robot-aided teams came to the rescue. The first team was led by Prof. Eiji Koyanagi from Chiba Institute of Technology, the second led by Prof. Fumitoshi Matsuno from Kyoto University, who's vice president of the International Rescue System Institute. 2 other teams based in Tokyo and Sendai are currently on Standby.
Both professors are highly renowned names in the field of roboticism. They split up into 2 teams to cover as much ground as possible. Their gear consisted out of highly advanced instant-deployable ground and snake-like robots. When needed, the teams are ready to travel anywhere their services are required.
Team 1 led by Prof. Koyanagi is equiped with a robot that can inspect underwater infrastructure. We can not give you many specifics about the robots, nor was the company that produces them mentioned when asked. Team 2 was in charge to help inspect a building with collapsed ceiling. Working together with the Hachinohe Institute of Technology they send in a ground robot called KOHGA3.
More and more robotized units are being mobilized in Japan since they can crawl into places most of the time unreachable to human possibility. Although the primary nature of these robots isn't what most people would expect, they are mainly used to infiltrate their way into highly damaged buildings to check how they can be repaired or reconstructed. Highly useful for buildings and facilities containing dangerous substances such as chemical plants and certain nuclear areas.
One of the robots used in the rescue is called "Quince", a part of the NEDO project (Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization) who is an all terrain crawler used to access and report back remote areas inhospitable to humans.
You can find a small youtube clip of the KOHGA3 robot in action during a recent exercise in Disaster City. This is a simulation held in Texas where world's largest training facility for urban search & rescue is located.

Panasonic Introduce Solar Table Concept with wireless power transmission

Panasonic introduced at the 2011 Security Show in Tokyo a new concept of Wireless power transmission station with a solar panel tablet and dedicated wireless charging pads.

Based on QI Wirless Power transmission technology, this table will allow any phones or mobile devices supporting QI technology to be charged thanks to a set of solar panel placed on the center of the table.

While Panasonic staff could not gave us much details on how long it will take you to charge your phone with such table, they however, confirmed that this Solar Table with Wireless power transmission will be available later this year or early 2012 with a set of dedicated QI Batteries that will fit on Panasonic's Mobile phones.

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