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Coolest University Tech Lab Projects in the Works

Posted by timothy on from the tuition-begets-intuition dept.

NW writes "While universities like MIT, Berkeley and CMU don't tend to shout as loudly about their latest tech innovations as do Google, Cisco and other big vendors, their results are no less impressive in what they could mean for faster, more secure and more useful networks, computers, etc. Here's a good roundup of 25 of them, from studies on putting T-Rays to use in computers to advancing wireless to the next level to outsmarting terrorists on the Web."

4 of 53 comments (clear)

  1. 55 saves gas by tirerim · · Score: 2, Informative

    Number 23 claims that driving more slowly due to cell phone use costs fuel. That's patently ridiculous -- on the highway, driving more slowly saves fuel, which is why highway speed limits were set to 55 during the last oil crisis. Driving while on the phone is still a bad idea, but not because you're going slower.

    1. Re:55 saves gas by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      My experience with the old V8s was that keeping a steady pressure on the gas pedal such that the engine is in its "balanced state" was the best way to go for gas mileage. Trying to hold some of those at 55 was a total waste of gas as you were constantly either letting off the gas (even applying the brake in some cases) or giving it some gas. Many of these were balanced for the older higher or non-existant speed limits that were around before the Nationwide 55 forced speed limit by the Federal government.

      Generally back then I drove with respect to conditions present. IE traffic, weather and general road condition which also included location and type of road. The speed of the vehicle I allowed to vary as long as the engine continued its sweet "hum" indicating it was at its balance point. Most of the speed variation came from inclines and declines in the levelness of the highway and as long as traffic and road conditions permitted I didn't try to force it to go slower or faster, thus avoiding the variations in gas flow and RPMs as much as was practical.

      Back when could still get leaded gasoline, I have actually gotten better then 30MPG in a pickup with a 351 under the hood. Whereas that balance point on the pickup seemed to put it in the 65-75 range (on level ground) the Ford 351C in some cars, especially a 70 Mustang was a bit scarey at the speeds it seemed to find balance, unless you were in the wide open spaces like from West Texas through Arizona.

    2. Re:55 saves gas by imsabbel · · Score: 2, Informative

      Sadly, the aerodynamic laws have changed little lince 72.

      55 vs 75 makes an easy 10-15% difference in fuel consumption. Just try it out, both over a 10 or 20 km with cruise control.

      --
      HI O WISE PRINCE. WHT TOOK U SO DAM LONG?
  2. Re:Skull by evanbd · · Score: 4, Informative

    Step 1: Take generic TV / Stereo remote, complete with low power infrared LED (not even a laser).

    Step 2: Put hand over LED.

    Step 3: Place remote and hand directly in front of detector.

    Step 4: Observe that enough IR gets through your hand for the remote to work.

    Of course, I have no idea how much IR is needed to have an effect on the brain, or how well it propagates through your skull. But if the answers are "not much" and "more than zero" then this is plausible.