spectrum.ieee
Author page description
October 21
- Meta's New AR Glasses Come at a High Cost
➀ Meta has unveiled its first pair of 'true' augmented reality glasses, named Orion, which is currently a prototype but may be available to consumers in the future.
➁ Orion's hardware includes glasses, a wristband for gesture control, and a wireless puck for computing, with the glasses being the centerpiece of the technology.
➂ The glasses use custom chips, magnesium frames, and microLED projectors, with the lenses made of silicon carbide (SiC) for better image quality.
➃ The high cost of SiC lenses and specialized manufacturing processes contribute to the glasses' $10,000 price tag.
➄ Meta is working on making the technology more affordable by exploring alternative materials and manufacturing processes.
➅ Privacy concerns and social dynamics are also raised as potential challenges for AR glasses.
October 6
- Wi-Fi Goes Long Range on New WiLo Standard➀ Researchers have developed a hybrid technology called WiLo, combining Wi-Fi with Long Range (LoRa) to enable long-distance wireless communication; ➁ The technology is designed to work with existing Wi-Fi and LoRa hardware, aiming to reduce costs and complexity in IoT deployments; ➂ The WiLo system uses an algorithm to manipulate Wi-Fi's data transmission signals to match LoRa's communication signals, allowing standard Wi-Fi devices to communicate over long distances; ➃ The research team achieved a 96 percent success rate in tests over distances up to 500 meters.
October 1
- Flexible Semiconductor-Based Green Laser Developed➀ Researchers at the National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) have developed a compact green laser that generates the full spectrum of orange, yellow, and green wavelengths; ➁ The technology has potential applications in medical devices, quantum information technologies, and underwater communications; ➂ The laser is created using existing semiconductor laser wavelengths and nonlinear optical processes, with the ability to adjust the output color by changing device geometry and pump wavelength; ➃ The design allows for over 150 different wavelengths within the green gap, offering flexibility for various applications.
- Quantinuum Successfully Teleports a Logical Qubit➀ Quantinuum has achieved a significant milestone in quantum computing by successfully teleporting a logical qubit; ➁ The teleportation was done using a combination of superconducting circuits and photonic technology; ➂ The achievement is a step towards realizing scalable quantum computers that can perform complex computations at unprecedented speeds.
- Quantinuum Successfully Teleports a Logical Qubit➀ Quantinuum has achieved a significant milestone in quantum computing by successfully teleporting a logical qubit; ➁ The teleportation was done using a combination of superconducting circuits and photonic technology; ➂ The achievement is a step towards realizing scalable quantum computers that can perform complex computations at unprecedented speeds.
September 27
- Detachable Robotic Hand Crawls Around on Finger-Legs➀ The Handcrawler, a robotic hand designed by EPFL, can detach from its arm and crawl to reach objects that are otherwise out of reach. It combines the functions of grabbing and mobility. ➁ The hand's fingers can bend backward as well as forward, doubling the ways it can grasp objects. ➂ The Handcrawler attaches to the wrist using magnets and a screw for alignment. ➃ The system is currently controlled manually but has an autonomous version working in the lab.
- A Bendy RISC-V Processor➀ Scientists have created a flexible, programmable chip not made of silicon; ➁ The chip operates while bent and can run machine learning workloads; ➂ The microchip's open-source RISC-V architecture suggests it might cost less than a dollar; ➃ The chip could power wearable healthcare electronics, smart package labels, and other inexpensive items; ➄ The chip is based on the RISC-V instruction set and is programmable, running compiled programs in high-level languages; ➅ Flex-RV microprocessors can run as fast as 60 kilohertz while consuming less than 6 milliwatts of power; ➆ The researchers found that Flex-RV could still execute programs correctly when bent to a curve with a radius of 3 millimeters; ➇ The scientists detailed their findings in the journal Nature.
August 28
- New Laser Could Cram GPS Alternative Into a Shoebox➀ Researchers have developed a new laser system that could miniaturize cold-atom interferometers, potentially enabling them to fit into a shoebox. ➁ Cold-atom interferometers are currently lab-scale and have sensitivities in the range of billionths of a g, with potential for even higher accuracy. ➂ The new laser system uses silicon photonic modulators to reduce size and cost, potentially making these sensors more accessible for various applications.