New Wireless Sensor Detects Explosives

Posted on by
2

Researchers from Georgia Tech have developed a prototype wireless sensor that picks up traces of ammonia and other ingredients often used in constructing explosive devices.

Using standard inkjet printer technology, the lightweight prototype was designed to be printed on paper, reported Discovery News. The sensing component utilizes carbon nanotubes which provide increased sensitivity over previous sensors. Sensor information is relayed by means of a lightweight antenna.

“This prototype represents a significant step toward producing an integrated wireless system for explosives detection,” the project’s lead research scientist, Krishna Naishadham, said in a press release. “It incorporates a sensor and a communications device in a small, low-cost package that could operate almost anywhere.”

The sensors are extremely handy and versatile, capable of detecting materials at a distance, negating the risk of endangering human lives. The technology is relatively inexpensive, doesn’t expend very much energy, and operates and varying temperatures.

“Ink-jet printing is low-cost and convenient compared to other technologies such as wet etching,” said Engineering Professor Manos Tentzeris. “Using the proper inks, a printer can be used almost anywhere to produce custom circuits and components, replacing traditional clean-room approaches.”

The research team harbors an array of situations in which the sensors can be utilized, ranging from counter-terrorism initiatives to humanitarian missions.

“We are focusing on providing standoff detection for those engaged in military or humanitarian missions and other hazardous situations,” Naishadham said. “We believe that it will be possible, and cost-effective, to deploy large numbers of these detectors on vehicles or robots throughout a military engagement zone.”

 

 

 

Cricket Phones Heading to Best Buy

Posted on by
Reply

Come Sunday, Leap Wireless will be making good on their June promise to enter the 4G LTE race, reported Bloomberg Businessweek today. Leap’s Cricket phones will be hitting Best Buy stores and will be adding Dollar General and Wallmart to its repertoire over the next few months.

Leap Wireless, the nation’s 7th largest wireless carrier, recently announced its intention to cash in on the LTE 4G industry popularized by mobile giants Verizon and AT&T. The company has constructed a network of alliances to do so. earlier this year, Leap established a roaming agreement with LightSquared, an wholesale provider of LTE service. In addition, Leap signed on with rival Sprint Nextel in an attempt to expand outside Cricket’s current stomping grounds. According to the deal’s terms, Sprint will provide service where Cricket doesn’t. This strategy was designed to combat the slowing of the prepaid, no-contract wireless network profitability in a market turned fiercely competitive. (In an ironic twist, Sprint is responsible for this increased competition as a result of their subsidiary Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile, and Assurance Wireless brands.) Leap adopted this strategy in a bid to break out of a profits slump that’s been lingering since 2007.

Cricket is based out of San Diego and offers service in cities hosting its own network which include, Cincinnati, OH, Houston, TX, Savannah, GA, and Chattanooga, TN. It’s 4G efforts initially targeted Tucson, AZ, due to its dearth of established competition, and Phoenix, Philadelphia, and Las Vegas are purportedly up next. Cricket currently boasts 5.7 million subscribers.

 

Free Wi-Fi for NYC

Posted on by
Reply

NYC is home to cafés and parks that offer free Wi-Fi but there simply aren’t enough that do so. New Yorkers, known for constantly being on the go, have long been promised free access to the internet but the widespread availability of such service has yet to be visibly implemented. Parks in Manhattan such as Bryant Park are some of the few to offer Wi-Fi to visitors. The other four boroughs are service barren however and that is finally about to change.

The Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) has announced the renewal of the city’s contracts with companies Warner Cable and Cablevision Systems. The contracts include $10 million dedicated to providing Wi-Fi in 32 parks and public spaces. There are however going to be limits on usage that prevent abuse of the “free” service. Those who are already subscribers of Cablevision and Warner Cable will have completely free access to Wi-Fi in parks while non-subscribers will get 30 minutes of free usage each month. The price for exceeding 30 minutes is a mere 99 cents for every 24 hours.

These services will mostly be focused on areas that need it, especially those that are typically underserved. The cable companies are hoping to provide New Yorkers with the technological tools that have become standards of fast paced and progressive cities. They will also be creating 40 public computer centers for low-income areas and providing Internet to local libraries.

It will certainly be a happy day when residents of Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx can sit in their respective parks knowing that free access to the Internet is right at hand. These cable companies are connecting the boroughs on a technological scale while encouraging widespread participation in the digital economy.

How Airlines are offering Wi-Fi Services

Posted on by
Reply

Several Airlines today offer in flight Wi-Fi services to customers around the world. Flyers can stay connected with laptops, mobile devices, and others capable of utilizing the internet. Even at 35,000 feet, customers can make calls, receive emails, and send and receive SMS text messages. The offering of Wi-Fi on planes brings in a decent amount of profit while providing feelings of reassurance for customers.

Some planes use Aircell’s Gogo service which uses air-to-ground connectivity to provide Wi-Fi. This system lets data travel from the plane to towers on the ground. Gogo is providing limitless access to the internet, only blocking one thing, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) calls.

Other services such as Row 44, are turning to satellite connections. This service allows VoIP and cell phone roaming. Antennas on planes send data directly to orbiting satellites and allow internet connections to exist.

It hasn’t yet been decided which system is preferred but regardless, more and more Airline’s are rolling out in flight Wi-Fi services to keep customers happy and generate new sources of income.

Wireless Networks

Posted on by
Reply

Alexander Smallwood,

The term Wireless network refers to any kind of computer network that is not connected through wires or cables of any kind. It is the method most favoured by businesses, as they no longer have to install costly wiring systems. Instead, they can set up a wireless network and transmit signal from their own wireless hotspots. This has proven to be more cost effective and easier to maintain, as engineers no longer need to fiddle with wiring. They now only have to look after wireless network routers and adaptors. It is also much more convenient for users, as they can now access the network via WiFi anywhere within the range of the router, and are no longer bound by the restraining forces of Ethernet cables.

Wireless networks use radio raves just like cell phones and televisions do. Communication through a wireless network works in a very similar way to these technologies. A computer’s wireless adaptor translates data into a radio signal and transmits it using an antenna. A wireless router then receives the signal and decodes it. The router then sends the information to the Internet using a physical, wired Ethernet connection.

There are several different types of Wireless networks, which all connect devices in different ways:

Wireless PAN (Wireless Personal Area Network)- This interconnects devices within a small area, usually within a person’s reach. Bluetooth and infrared light are examples of WPAN connections. WiFi pans are also growing in popularity, and are being integrated into a variety of consumer electronic devices.

Wireless LAN (Local Area Network)- This links two or more devices by using a distribution method; providing a connection through an access point to the rest of the internet. The use of spread-spectrum or OFDM (Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing) gives users the ability to move around within the signal range of the router, whilst still remaining connected to the network. WiFi is a term used to describe  802.11 WLANS. (802.11 is the name given to the set of standards given to implement a WLAN)

Wireless MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)- This is a type of network that connects several Wireless LANs. WiMax for example, is a type of Wireless MAN.

Wireless WAN (Wide Area Networks)- This is a wireless network which covers a large area, such as neighbouring towns and cities, or a city with its’ suburbs. The wireless connections between access points are usually point-to-point microwave links, using parabolic dishes on the 2.4 GHz band, rather than the omnidirectional antennas used with smaller networks. A typical system contains base station gateways, access points and wireless bridging relays.