Data Traveling by Light (Optical WLAN)

Regular LEDs can be turned into optical WLAN with only a few additional components thanks to visible light communication (in short, VLC). The lights are then not just lighting up, they also transfer data. They send films in HD quality to your iPhone or laptop, with no loss in quality, quickly and safely.Just imagine the following scenario: four people are comfortably ensconced in a room. Each one of them can watch a film from the Internet on his or her laptop, in HD quality. This is made possible thanks to optical WLAN. Light from the LEDs in the overhead lights serves as the transfer medium. For a long time, this was just a vision for the future. However, since scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich Hertz Institute HHI in Berlin, Germany, have developed a new transfer technology for video data within the scope of the OMEGA project of the EU, its implementation in real life is getting markedly closer.

At the end of May, the scientists were able to present the results of the project in Rennes, France. They were able to transfer data at a rate of 100 megabits per second (Mbit/s) without any losses, using LEDs in the ceiling that light up more than ten square meters (90 square feet). The receiver can be placed anywhere within this radius, which is currently the maximum range. "This means that we transferred four videos in HD quality to four different laptops at the same time," says Dr. Anagnostis Paraskevopoulos from the HHI.

"The fundamentals of visible light communication (VLC) were developed together with the industry partners Siemens and France Telecom Orange Labs," said the expert. At HHI, the team of project manager Klaus-Dieter Langer is now further developing the new technology. "For VLC the sources of light -- in this case, white-light LEDs -- provide lighting for the room at the same time they transfer information. With the aid of a special component, the modulator, we turn the LEDs off and on in very rapid succession and transfer the information as ones and zeros. The modulation of the light is imperceptible to the human eye. A simple photo diode on the laptop acts as a receiver.

As Klaus-Dieter Langer explains, "The diode catches the light, electronics decode the information and translate it into electrical impulses, meaning the language of the computer." One advantage is that it takes only a few components to prepare the LEDs so that they function as transfer media. One disadvantage is that as soon as something gets between the light and the photo diode (for example, when someone holds his hand over the diode) the transfer is impaired. Laptops, Palm devices or mobile telephones are all potential end devices.

The scientists emphasize that VLC is not intended to replace regular WLAN, PowerLAN or UMTS. It is best suited as an additional option for data transfer where radio transmission networks are not desired or not possible -- without needing new cables or equipment in the house. Combinations are also possible, such as optical WLAN in one direction and PowerLAN for the return channel. Films can be transferred to the PC like this and also played there, or they can be sent on to another computer.

The new transmission technology is suitable for hospitals, for example, because radio transmissions are not allowed there. Despite this fact, high data rates must be transmitted without losses and unzipped, according to the experts. If part of the communication occurs via the light in the surgical room, this would make it possible to control wireless surgical robots or transmit x-ray images. In airplanes, each passenger could view his own entertainment program on a display, saving aircraft manufacturers miles of cables. Another possible venue for the application of this technology are production facilities, where radio transmissions very often interfere with the processes.

Asus launches Transformer tablet in India

As The Mobile Indian reported earlier, Asus Technology has rolled out its Eee Pad Transformer TF101 tablet in India, which can be made a full-fledged notebook by fitting it into a docking station.

The docking station features a full Qwerty keyboard, a multi-touch touchpad, two USB ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a built-in SD card reader. A key highlight of the docking station is its own batteries which act as a booster enhancing the stand-by time of the whole unit from just 6 hours to 16 hours.

"We are excited to launch the much-awaited ASUS Transformer in India. This latest creation will bring revolution in the field of technology with its magical features and stylish looks. With this innovative product, the Indian consumers would experience cutting edge technology that the world has been talking of," commented Alex Huang, country head, Asus Technology (India).

"This Android tablet employs ASUS's netbook expertise, including a keyboard dock that not only makes typing easier it also doubles the battery life and boosts connectivity," informed Unaez Quraishi, sales and distribution director, system business, Asus Technology (India).

Weighing about 680 gm and powered by NVIDIA Tegra 2 Dual core processor, Transformer browses the web at blazing speeds, providing a snappier response time and better performance when multi-tasking. It comes installed with Google's Android v3.0 Honeycomb operating system.

The surrounding of this glossy, black iPad-like gadget has a strip of bronzed metal. Merely 13mm thick for ultra-portability, Transformer has a touchpad, 3.5mm audio jack, two USB ports as well as a built-in SD Card reader for easy file sharing and storage expandability makes the Transformer a versatile media hub.

The new offering comes preloaded with Polaris Office 3.0, a professional mobile office solution that helps users to edit various types of office documents. This makes the device a suitable option for professionals.

Yet another unique feature of the Transformer is the ultra-convenient Asus WebStorage with one year of unlimited storage space that provides worry-free cloud computing.

Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101 tablet is available in India at a price of Rs 32,999.

Dual degree programme has many benefits - Education

  Students can benefit from a practical and research oriented education format while pursuing a double degree.

Take up a programme that would give exposure both in the Indian condition and as well as in a university overseas, writes Sumit Bhattacharjee

When it comes to study abroad, why not take up a programme that would give exposure both in the Indian condition and as well as in a university in Europe.

The double degree programmes offered by Blekinge Institute of Technology (BIT), Sweden, gives such an opportunity.

BIT has signed MoUs with Andhra University, JNTU-Hyderabad and JNTU-Kakinada for two-year M.Tech/M.Sc. programmes in software engineering, signal processing and telecommunication.

As per the MoU the first semester will be taught at the Indian university and the remaining three will be imparted at BIT. While the Indian university will award an M.Tech degree, BIT will give a M.Sc. degree.

The Project Director of Blekinge, Velpula Gurudutt informs that the tuition fee is only Rs. 1.5 lakh, as BIT has exempted the tuition fee, which normally amounts to Rs. 14 lakh INR, from Indian students under the annual exchange programme.

“The students however have to arrange their living expenses, which normally amounts to about Rs. 4.5 lakh. The visa given is a residence permit, hence the students can also take up part time jobs,” he says.

According to Gurudutt, the students who intend to take up the dual degree programme need not write any qualifying examinations such as GRE, TOEFL or IELTS.

“If he or she has studied in English medium from 10+2 level, that is sufficient to process the application.” Each course caters to 10 seats.

Kiran Kishore and David Hempaul who recently passed out from BIT and AU with dual degrees in telecommunication and software engineering, respectively, say, “The quality of education is very high. The education format is more practical and research oriented.”
Integrated

BIT also offers five-year integrated courses in software engineering, computer science engineering, radio communication, signal processing, telecommunication systems and structural mechanical with JNTU-Hyderabad and JNTU- Kakinada.

Students coming from JNTU-K will be offered B.Tech degree by JNTU-K and M.Sc. degree by BIT.

Students from JNTU-H will be awarded B.Tech and M.Tech degree by the university and M.Sc. degree by BIT.
Programme

Under this programme a student has to study three-and-half-years in any of the JNTUs and the remaining one-and-half-years at BIT.

Details leak out about iPhone 5

iPhone 5

It’s only a few months until the newest generation of iPhone hits stores and details about its features are slowly leaking out.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the fifth iteration of the best—selling smartphone will be thinner than its predecessor and have an eight-pixel, not five, camera. The paper quoted Apple’s suppliers, since the company does not manufacture the iPhone itself.

Two weeks ago, the Bloomberg news agency had reported about the improved camera, as well as about a faster processor. Apple has remained, as usual, mum about its new product, refusing to comment.

But the Wall Street Journal says the new phone will be released in this quarter. Bloomberg, citing informed sources, reported September.

Speculation has been ongoing for months about when the successor to the hugely successful iPhone 4 might hit stores. Until now, new models have been released around midyear, meaning the iPhone 5 is behind schedule.

But Bloomberg reported that Apple wanted to wait until its new iOS5 operating system was ready to go. That’s been promised for the autumn.

However, the Wall Street Journal reports that the iPhone 5 is especially complicated to build, because it’s so thin. That could also lead to delays.

The iPhone 4 was already thinner than the 3GS. The new iPhone will also reportedly include a new wireless chip from Qualcomm. Until now, those chips have been produced by Infineon. Officially, Apple has made no comments about its supplier. Infineon has sold its wireless chip business to Intel, which is getting into smartphones. If the company has indeed lost its contract, that would be a big blow.

There were 18.7 million iPhones sold in the first quarter of 2011 and sales expectations are very high for the new phone, reported the Wall Street Journal, citing an informed source. Projections are for sales of 25 million units by the end of 2011.

Pranav Mistry’s Sixth Sense Technology

Pranav Mistry’s “The thrilling potential of SixthSense technology” is a revolutionary technology that is going to change this world to a real digital sixth-sense world. At TED India Mysore (India), Pranav Mistry demos several tools that help the physical world interact with the world of data(digital world)  – including a deep look at his SixthSense device and a new, paradigm-shifting paper “laptop.” In an onstage Q&A, Pranav Mistry says he’ll open-source the software behind SixthSense, to open its possibilities to all on next month itself. If you are interested in technology that is unbelievable, really you will be a fan of Pranav. This is one of the most viewed video in TED and is my most favorite video. Watch this, you never blame me for recommending this video. Feel free to comment about Pranav Mistry’s idea of sixth sense technology.

Watch this Video:

t02 Concept Phone Slides the Right Way

Swiss designer Matthias Pugin has just solved an issue with sliding phone, by changing the sliding mechanism a bit, as you can see in the images below. The innovation comes through the t02 concept phone, that’s small enough to be hidden in the user’s palm.

But you won’t see any sliding surfaces or steps when it’s open. It looks as it is meant to be open. The black piano finish gives it a classy look and the unusual key pad and the big display give it a modern touch.