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Technology Quarterly

Quarter

The dream of the medical tricorder

Dec 1st, 2012

Medical tricorders

The dream of the medical tricorder

Medical technology: The hand-held diagnostic devices seen on “Star Trek” are inspiring a host of medical add-ons for smartphones

Detecting oil spills

Trouble beneath the ice

Energy technology: As oil exploration moves into the Arctic, new methods are being developed to detect and handle spills

Indoor positioning

Finding the way inside

Navigation technology: Using satellites to determine your position only works outside. A new approach is needed indoors

Eye tracking

The eyes have it

Computer interfaces: The ability to determine the location of a person’s gaze is opening up an enormous range of new applications

Brain scan

The dronefather

Abe Karem created the robotic plane that transformed the way modern warfare is waged—and continues to pioneer other airborne innovations

Monitor

An internet of airborne things

Networking: Enthusiasts dream of building a drone-powered internet to carry objects rather than data. Are they mad?

Hook’s law

Materials: “Auxetic” substances, which get fatter rather than thinner when stretched, could be useful in a wide range of applications

March of the Lettuce Bot

Robotics: A machine that helps lettuce farmers is just one of several robots intended to automate aspects of agriculture and horticulture

Bend it like Juninho

Sports technology: A clever new motion-capture system should help footballers work out how to take better free kicks

Re-cycling

Transport: A cardboard bicycle sounds as plausible as a chocolate teapot. But that has not stopped one inventor from building one

Trading devices for dollars

Recycling technology: A robot kiosk will assess the value of your unwanted electronic devices and dispense hard cash

Changing focus

Optics: A novel type of lens that exploits quantum-mechanical effects is completely flat, unlike glass lenses that bulge in the middle

And the winners were…

Innovation awards: Our annual prizes recognise successful innovators in eight categories. Here are this year’s winners

The PC all over again?

Difference engine: Just as computers make it easy to copy music, 3D printers will soon allow easy copying of certain kinds of objects. Proponents of the technology should be prepared for toymakers and other manufacturers to fight back