Braille, in its original form, has been helping the blind read since 1821. It’s static, plain and unmoving. Sounds like it’s also time for a change. A blend of technologies from the National Institute for Standards and Technology hopes to push the threshold of reading to seeing by incorporating images and simple animations.

A computer translates images into thousands of tiny pins called a tactile graphic display. They, in turn, create a physical image that can be felt on the fingertips. These pins can be raised in any pattern and can simulate Web pages, printed material and scanned images. Animations could be outlined as a succession of images that continuously refresh on the device.

An even more exciting prospect straps to fingertips and allows the user to scan any item to be translated on the fly. The fingertip graphic reader immediately develops that image into tiny pin-receptors that are raised against the skin. This type of technology turns any computer screen, book or photo into a tactile object.

So where is technology that helps the blind see get its inspiration from? You remember as a child, that bed of nails toy that you could press your face or hand to and it would replicate it? Simply add a field of electric signals with a complicated translation device and, voilà, childhood toy turned modern miracle.

The same technology when applied to future tech could yield some very interesting byproducts. Imagine having the ability to transport tactile simulations through the internet to another person (wink, wink). Or being able to feel, with uncanny accuracy, the same thing a robot is touching. It puts a whole new spin on virtual reality.

[gizmag]

The U.S. Army has commissioned an ultra futuristic machine that weaves microscopic fibers into soldier’s uniforms in order to generate and store power. The fibers will cross section with up to three different materials such as plastic, metal and fabric to create rechargeable batteries and wearable fuel cells.

As of now a five day mission for a platoon consumes up to nine hundred batteries on average. This is the logical path to alienating unnecessary burdens while increasing mobility.

In order to understand the scale, some of these fibers are thinner than a human hair and are divided into dozens of separate nanotubes.

There is no doubt that eventually suits like this will cross over to consumers. As of now they are being made specifically to power devices like radios, night vision goggles and range finders.

Within less than a decade we may have jeans and t-shirts that will plug directly into our cell phones, MP3 players and laptops.

[Technology Review]

Heath care records have just gone to the next level, or at least IBM wants it that way. They have developed software that turns medical data into a visual 3D image for doctors.

The Anatomic and Symbolic Mapper Engine allows doctors to look under the skin to review previous injuries, the cardiovascular system and muscle tissue. All this from old text records that are already stored in the system from when you were a wee little one. They can also update via the image itself.

Soon when you go in to complain about the old trick elbow the doc will simply click a few buttons and see all of the scar tissue, previous tension and surgical procedures that have been preformed.

Comprehensive records are hard to compile and review upon examination, especially for a busy office or ER. This truly revolutionary model will allow for better diagnoses and decisions in future actions.

[Gizmag]

Those wacky kids over at MIT’s Biomechatronics Group have begun to test a product that transfers the weight of a backpack directly into the ground. It’s called exoskeleton and it takes up to 80% of the packs weight straight into the ground and off your back.

First uses are for soldiers in the field but the developer of the device hopes that everyone might get their hands on them to run faster without losing their breath, carry heavy loads and say things like “Dead or alive, you’re coming with me…” Ok, so maybe that last one is looking a bit too far in the future. But even Robocop had to start somewhere.

The wearer of the exoskeleton has boots attached to springs and a series of tubes that eventually plug into a power source fueled currently by gasoline. At the moment the design is not ready for further testing. The team is going to be working diligently on mimicking the real movement of the human leg for a normal and relaxed feel while rehashing the design to consume less energy.

Keep your eyes out for these bad boys at the Olympics of 2060.

[Physorg]

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Last week I was talking about how the world’s first spaceport was to be built by 2009. Leave it to innovators to push the envelope… all the way to the moon.

Google has issued the next X Prize and announced its payout amounts. The first competitors to land a robot on the moon and beam back panoramic photos along with YouTube videos gets $20 million from the search giant. Making that lander survey the lunar night, move over long distances and take pictures of historic sites will net another $5 million. There is even a consolidation prize, $5 million for second place.

Peter Diamandis, the founder and chairman of the X Prize foundation told Wired, “How cool would it be to do what NASA does at a tenth the cost? Or a hundredth? The technologies are there. What we need is a competitive model that can make it happen.”

The interest in space travel is back and in my opinion it is in the right hands. Big budgets that governments bring to the table are sometimes necessary to create technology and perform research. Now the ball is in the hands of the entrepreneurs and they have all the data and technology they need.

Science has had a bad marketing campaign and this is the perfect way to reignite the fire and wonder that we once held for man’s final frontier. This is an exciting time in our history and I simply can’t wait to see what happens next. I’m on the edge of my seat and I hope you’re with me.

[Wired]