VISHNU ERA 12
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18<br />
ON THE HORIZON<br />
A QUARTERLY NEWS PUBLICATION FROM SRI <strong>VISHNU</strong> EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY<br />
Futur<br />
Compiled by<br />
Technolo<br />
Simpi Kumari<br />
4 ECE, BVRIT<br />
Technology never<br />
stands still: it's always<br />
changing, adapting and<br />
progressing, and often<br />
times things that<br />
seemed improbable (or<br />
even impossible) one<br />
year can quickly start<br />
becoming possible only<br />
a few short years later.<br />
Wearable computers<br />
seemed like a fanciful<br />
idea only recently, but<br />
now they're pretty much<br />
the next big thing to go<br />
mainstream. The<br />
emergence of the<br />
Oculus Rift could<br />
probably catapult virtual<br />
and augmented reality<br />
into literal reality.<br />
With this in mind,<br />
here's a list of 10<br />
interesting futuristic<br />
technologies that we'll<br />
most probably be seeing<br />
in the near future.<br />
Although these are<br />
mostly still in the very<br />
early stages, they're at<br />
something of a middle<br />
ground. While you won't<br />
see these readily<br />
available everywhere<br />
yet, but at least we now<br />
know that in due time,<br />
they will become actual<br />
products we can see,<br />
touch and utilize.<br />
Without further ado,<br />
here's the list.<br />
1<br />
TALOS<br />
Jet Pack<br />
International<br />
H202<br />
Jet Pack International is making great<br />
strides in jetpack technology H202 and<br />
H202-Z jetpacks. As the name suggests,<br />
both the H202 and H202-Z are hydrogen<br />
peroxide-fuelled jetpacks that will allow<br />
users to fly at up to 77 miles per hour at a<br />
maximum height of 250 feet. So far thought,<br />
the higher-capacity H202-Z is only capable<br />
of a maximum flight length of 33 seconds<br />
and a maximum travel distance of 3,300<br />
feet.<br />
The Jet Pack International H202 and H202-Z<br />
are actually currently available, albeit not<br />
commercially: you can assemble the jetpack<br />
yourself, if you have$100,000 lying around.<br />
2 Aero-X<br />
Aerofex<br />
5<br />
If you're a Star Wars fan, the Aerofex Aero-<br />
X, a real-life equivalent of the Star Wars<br />
speeder bike, is definitely something you'll<br />
want to keep your eyes on. The Aero-X is the<br />
result of more than 15 years of research and<br />
development. Powered by a water-cooled<br />
240 horsepower engine and two large<br />
rotors, the Aero-Xcan hover at an altitude of<br />
<strong>12</strong> feet and at speeds of up to 45 miles per<br />
hour power. It can also carry up to 310<br />
pounds. Think of the potential. Also, as a<br />
result of this extended research and<br />
development period, Aerofex claims to have<br />
overcome the dangerous coupling effect<br />
that can arise due to using two rotors,<br />
ensuring that the Aero-X will be safe and<br />
easy to control.<br />
3 a Prosthetics Sense of Touch<br />
with<br />
6<br />
In March 2013, Denis Aabo Sorensen had the privilege<br />
of testing a new type of prosthetic hand, created by a<br />
group of European engineers and scientists. Unlike<br />
conventional prosthetics, the new prosthetic hand<br />
connects directly to the remaining nerves in Denis'<br />
upper arm. This means that the "hand" has a sense of<br />
touch and is actually controllable. Blindfolded tests<br />
showed that Denis was indeed able to differentiate<br />
between different items such as a bottle, a baseball<br />
and a mandarin orange. It also could exert different<br />
levels of pressure, allowing Denis to touch, hold or<br />
grab something.<br />
While this prosthetic hand is indeed a great leap<br />
forward, it's still far from ready for widespread use:<br />
the arm required electrodes to be implanted directly<br />
into Sorensen, and tests still need to be carried out to<br />
determine the durability of these electrodes.<br />
4<br />
TALOS<br />
"Iron Ma<br />
stands for Tactical Assault Light O<br />
Army hopes will become a reality within t<br />
ballistic, shock and fire protection for Spe<br />
The aim is to provide these soldiers with<br />
protection than what currently exists. The<br />
a collaborative effort between univ<br />
corporations.<br />
While there is yet to be a working proto<br />
rapid pace. The head of the US Special<br />
McRaven is confident that unpowered pr<br />
also the goal of testing a complete workin<br />
Titan Ar<br />
Super<br />
Maglev