Top TechTop Tech #64: Printed limbs, electric planes, free content from space
Important innovations in science and technology, every day
By Paul Worthington
Today’s Top Tech:
• Printed limbs: Google to fund Disability developments
• Beaming content from space, free
• Ten-engine electric plane aces flight test
Printed limbs: Google to fund Disability developments
This column’s covered a lot of interesting bionic and prosthetics products in just the last two months — and now Google is aiming to accelerate that development with a new fund for nonprofits.
“We’re putting $20 million in Google.org grants behind nonprofits using emerging technologies to increase independence for people living with disabilities,” the company says, “and today we’re issuing an open call to identify new areas of opportunity.”
There are one billion people with disabilities in the world, Google reports — fifteen percent of the world’s population. “One in seven people on the planet.”
The search and advertising company says it’s “working closely with teams of innovators, technologists and people with disabilities who are experimenting with unconventional solutions that can change the quality of life for millions.”
One of the first parts of The Google Impact Challenge is “Making Prosthetics Affordable.” Google gave a grant to Mission Arm “to scale the use of prosthetic limbs in partnership with the prosthetic manufacturer Exiii. Exiii uses 3D printing technology to create a prosthetic hand that dramatically reduces the cost of traditional prosthetics. This not only makes prosthetics affordable and more accessible to those who need them, but 3D printed parts can quickly and easily be replaced when needed.”
Beaming content from space, free
A content delivery system makes use of existing satellites, and delivers important data to the poorest people — for free.
Outernet says it “takes the best of the web and broadcasts it from space for every human on Earth. The content we broadcast is determined by anyone who chooses to vote on the most important things to share with humanity.”
Outernet rents communications satellites to reach half the glove. It’s signal carries Wikipedia, Centers for Disease Control health info, and more.
The key is its cheap receiver that can work with any TV that it’s testing now; the Pillar design will also be provided free “to build a DIY-receiver.”
Next will come the Lantern, a portable solar-powered receiver for areas with no electricity infrastructure.
Here’s more information from the company.
Technology Review covers the company here.
Ten-engine electric plane aces flight test
NASA reports its engineers successfully flew a battery-powered, 10-engine remotely piloted aircraft.
The Greased Lightning GL-10 prototype has a 10-foot wingspan and can take off like a helicopter and fly efficiently like an airplane, NASA adds.
“A scaled up version – much larger than what we are testing now – would make also a great one to four person size personal air vehicle,” the scientists add.
There’s a video of the flight here.
Unwind in the Mountains
(Sponsor) Enjoy the natural beauty of a private home in the Sierra Nevada, and experience Yosemite National Park now in the Spring — free from the crowds of Summer!
You’ll be comfortable in a large and fully-stocked house with a deck, great view, sunroom patio — all on 15 acres of mountain forest.
Just added: a new indoor hot tub, and outdoor pool.
