Smart Takes

Archive: 08-2011

• Hewlett Packard eyes appliances, cars for its operating system

  Tech giant Hewlett-Packard is working to convince vendors in the home appliance and automotive industries that its mobile operating system, webOS, can help them make their products smarter.

  August 16, 2011, 9:59 AM PDT | By Andrew Nusca

• Cars will top computers as No. 1 lithium battery market by 2015

  The automotive industry — specifically, electric vehicles — will be the leading market for lithium-ion batteries by 2015, surpassing the current top application, laptop computers.

  August 16, 2011, 7:49 AM PDT | By Andrew Nusca

• With A0 unicycle concept, Audi brings tech, design to cities

  Luxury automaker Audi is working with German and Mexican engineering and design students to develop the “A0,” an electric unicycle that’s both high-tech and high-design.

  August 16, 2011, 6:59 AM PDT | By Andrew Nusca

• Dow kicks off ‘near-zero’ energy home design challenge

  Chemical giant Dow is holding an international competition challenging architecture, design and engineering students and professionals to develop near-zero energy homes.

  August 16, 2011, 6:28 AM PDT | By Andrew Nusca

• Electric motorcycle breaks 200mph land speed record

  Lightning Motorcycles blew through the land speed record for production electric bikes to become the first in the world to exceed 200mph.

  August 16, 2011, 5:58 AM PDT | By Andrew Nusca

• Chicago drafts first-ever plan for pedestrians

  Chicago, land of wide avenues and wider cars, is working to craft its first-ever vision for pedestrians.

  August 15, 2011, 12:45 PM PDT | By Andrew Nusca

• Discovering a more accurate path between brain, motion

  Stanford researchers have built a model that shows how the brain’s neurons give rise to movement in limbs. The advancement could help amputees better control artificial limbs with their brains.

  August 15, 2011, 11:08 AM PDT | By Andrew Nusca

• Toyota, Leviton ink deal for EV charging infrastructure

  Toyota brings on Leviton to make electric vehicle charging infrastructure for its Prius Plug-In Hybrid and RAV4 EV models. Meanwhile, the company opens a new station for IEEE employees.

  August 15, 2011, 8:55 AM PDT | By Andrew Nusca

• Single stream recycling coming to Detroit

  Waste Management will construct a single stream recycling facility in Detroit, allowing residents to dispose of all recyclables in a single container.

  August 15, 2011, 8:38 AM PDT | By Andrew Nusca

• Despite retired shuttle, NASA ponders human space exploration

  Just because we don’t have a ride to space doesn’t mean we’re not thinking about sending a human there again, NASA says.

  August 12, 2011, 10:29 AM PDT | By Andrew Nusca