future technology
New McLaren Automotive MP4-12C Road Car Preview
March 17, 2010
High performance motor car manufacturer McLaren, perhaps most famous for their success in the Formula 1 area, have only twice ventured into the road car market before producing two of the highest performance cars in the world at their respective times of release. Tomorrow however, they are set to launch the MP4-12C that comes under a new brand of motor car named ‘McLaren Automotive’.
It is good to see a proper British car manufacturer still flourishing. Since the fall of manufacturers such as Leyland Cars and more recently the likes of TVR, British motor car manufacturing has not exactly been fruitful in recent years. Although McLaren cars may not be ten a penny, what they have produced in the past has done our nation proud with the quality and performance they offer, whatever the price.
Continue reading »Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid Concept Car
March 5, 2010
The world, as you probably know, has in recent years developed somewhat of an obsession with ‘going green’. Renewable energy sources, reducing packaging, but one of the most major breakthroughs in terms of being environmentally friendly must be the development of the hybrid car. A car that can happily switch between a roaring, gas guzzling petrol engine, and a silent (but deadly?) electric one.
Electric concept cars are all the rage now, many have tried their hand in this market, most notably Toyota with the Prius and Tesla with their prestigous Roadster. Now however, there is a new player. Porsche. Well known for their reasonably priced high performance sports cars and a spatter of other vehicles. Certainly, I would never have expected such a manufacturer to unveil not one, but three hybrids. But never fear, they still do the earth shattering speeds you may be used to.
Continue reading »Garia LSV Concept Car – A Road-Legal Golf Buggy?
February 25, 2010
Across the world golfers opt to travel around the course in electrical car’s specifically designed to navigate the course fairly quickly without destroying the necessary tranquility and pumping fumes around the course. For some while now, companies have been striving to create similar hi-tech future cars that are fit for the road.
The demand for fully electrical, or hybrid cars has gone through the roof in recent years and as a result, manufacturers have responded with cars such as the Toyota Prius and at the other end of the market, the Tesla Roadster, both of these examples are helping to spur on development of other environmentally friendly cars like the Fiat Eco-Drive.
Well at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, a less well known manufacturer called Garia, have displayed a street-legal electrical golf car so you can combine your leisure activities with your travel arrangements. Nothing could be more convenient for any golfer I’m sure.
Continue reading »Eye-Controlled Earphones For MP3 Players?
February 17, 2010
Occasionally you stumble upon things that just look too weird, futuristic or downright bizarre that you have to look around to double check that it’s not just someone having a joke, and the new ‘eye sensing’ earphones which have been demonstrated by NTT Docomo Inc fit into that category quite well.
The two earphones effectively track the movement of the eye, which is then recorded and used to do whatever it is you had in mind using some pretty nifty technology borrowed from the methods used in the medical fields to achieve the same outcome – measuring the movement of the eye.
Continue reading »Cars To Become Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspots? Audi A8 Features 3G Internet Access
February 15, 2010
Just the other day I was pondering whether there would be any benefit to including 3G mobile broadband connectivity into cars. Then today I log onto the Internet and do the usual rounds, before I stumble across an interesting article telling me that Audi have joined up with Qualcomm and done this very thing. The navigation system in the new Audi A8’s will now include 3G capability in which a driver just shoves in a connected sim card and it opens him up to a whole host of features previously unheard of in motor cars.
Ok so you’re not going to sit browsing the net whilst in the driver seat, that would be more dangerous than using your phone, but the features are somewhat impressive. For example, when you pass a landmark or spot an interesting building, or a historical venue, the navigation system will give the driver the simple option of pulling information from sources such as Wikipedia regarding that spot. Great eh?
Continue reading »Sony Vaio L Series Review
February 9, 2010
Pretty much since the mouse and keyboard were put into mainstream use people have been looking for alternative ways for input that would be more flexible, efficient or fun. As of yet they’ve all pretty much failed (head tracker anyone?) but perhaps the latest idea will slowly start to slip into general use, the touchscreen interface – and here it is implemented in the Sony Vaio L Series.
Now they have been around for quite a while, but as we look at the Sony Vaio L series we’ll not only look at the machine by itself but also at the use of the touchscreen and how practical it actually is.
But firstly: the Vaio L Series. It works on the same principle as the Apple iMac in the way that it’s an ‘all in one’ PC, with a 24” screen surrounded by a glossy black frame which has an integrated ‘U’ shaped bottom and stand on the back both of which come in the standard silver colour that you can expect to see along with anything black!
Continue reading »Scientists Create Paper Batteries!
December 16, 2009
Just when you think science can’t get any smaller they go and build something half the size!
Now scientists have created batteries that are made from copier paper and thus are very thin. This method is not only small like the nanotubes that have already been demonstrated but it is also very cheap.
This however is not the only reason for using paper. It is able to bend and fold much more than its metal and plastic counterparts due to its millions of interconnected fibres which fortunately also is a perfect scaffold for carbon nanotubes and potentially mounting devices although on a small scale.
Continue reading »Virgin Galactic’s ‘Spaceship Two’ Offers Space Tourism By 2012
December 8, 2009
For years people have dreamed about space travel for the masses. But now Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic has unveiled his SpaceShip Two. It may seem like something out of a Star Trek series, but it seems like in just 2 or 3 years time, it will be possible for man to travel to outer space for reasons other than science, namely to be a space tourist. The project reports to have had $400 million invested in it by Sir Richard Branson and already has 300 interested parties ready to get sent up into space.
So how much will it cost? I can’t imagine that taking a holiday in space will be cheap! And, no, I would be right in assuming so as it will cost around $200,000 for a 3 days travel package including all the necessary training which I guess is quite a considerable amount bearing in mind that this not something the health and safety people can turn their backs on.
Continue reading »Self Assembling HUD Contact Lenses For Soldiers? (Future Tech)
November 28, 2009
Ever since the head up displays (HUD’s) were used in the Second World War people have always speculated of an ‘in-eye’ head up display. Now we are closer than ever to this, what seems to be, very futuristic technology.
Researchers at the University of Washington have been tackling the huge task of integrating the electronics required into a contact lens. The answer lies in getting the lens to assemble itself. The lens which looks like a fine white powder consists of sensors, antennae, semiconductor circuits and LEDs which must all be a certain shape.
Continue reading »3 Hi-Tech Cars Of Today Creating The Future Of Motoring?
October 17, 2009
Here at Zath, we obviously love using hi-tech gadgets, thinking about future artificial intelligence developments and any other cool implementation of technology, so whenever our cars feature a new gadget or gizmo, we approve! However, just take a look at these 3 great hi-tech cars of today that could well influence future car design to the point where we are all driving around in cars that include a combination of all these car technologies!…
Assisted Parallel Parking – AUDI
The new range of AUDI’s have an optional extra, an automatic parking system. In theory, it sounds pretty simple, but the technology behind manufacturing it is something which I personally, wouldn’t begin to try and explain. Basically, the lower body of the car is surrounded in tiny camera’s, similar to those you see on the rear of some cars used for parking sensors.
