OLPC’s Second Act Coming in 2009

Picture this: an elegant portable electronic device with dual touchscreens that can be transformed into virtual keyboards, a hinge to allow it to be used horizontally or vertically (like an electronic book), that is extremely energy efficient (running on just one Watt!).  Sounds cool, right?  Well, you’re looking at it.  It’s the XO-2, representing the next generation of Cambridge, MA-based One Laptop Per Child’s (OLPC) XO laptop for children in the developing world, with a proposed launch date of 2010.  Why did the organization decide to announce it so early?  According to founder Nicholas Negroponte, formerly of MIT’s Media Lab, it was to essentially stimulate the market, in the hope that it might actually be copied by other companies, so as to bring costs down, as well as widen the effort in general, to introduce the latest technologies to educational programs in developing countries throughout the world .

Following the introduction begun last year, of the XO into countries including Peru, Uruguay, Mongolia, Haiti, Rwanda, Mexico, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iraq, Afghanistan, and even the US and Canada, OLPC determined that it had to redesign the device and lower its price (to $75, if possible), in order to make it even more accessible for young children.  If the proposed enhancements indeed come to fruition, the XO-2 will certainly have a lot going for it, with the added benefit that it may aid the design and development of super efficient electronics for the developed world as well, especially in light of our ever strained electrical grid.  While you wait for this impressive device to hit the market, OLPC will reintroduce their laptop donation program later this Fall, in case you are interested in supporting their efforts.

For further information, please visit OLPC Wiki for updates and information on how the project is proceeding.

A Great Idea from Moixa Energy Limited

London-based Moixa Energy has developed a NiMH battery that can be recharged using the innate electricity generating power of a computer’s (or monitor’s, game console’s, etc) USB ports, with an embedded LED indicator to reflect status of charge. Currently, the AA cell is the only model available, but the company will soon expand their product line to include AAA, C, D, 9V, and even specialized batteries for cell phones and PDAs. In their “Environment and Recycling FAQs” page, Moixa even speak to the environmental impact of the packaging in which the batteries are shipped, how the cardboard itself is recyclable, and that they are in the process of finding a biodegradable replacement (PLA perhaps?) for the plastic blister pack.

The USBCELL certainly represents a great step forward in making sensible electronics-based products with lower environmental impact, and for that, Moixa Energy won both a Gold award at the 2008 iF Product Design Awards, and a 2008 New Energy Award. However, it is important to keep in mind that for American consumers, the batteries still have a certain carbon footprint due to their shipment from the UK, which is an issue all too common to the majority of consumer electronics today, which are manufactured beyond our borders (that is, until the onset of a substantial U.S.-based green technology sector). Although less environmentally toxic than NiCd (Nickel Cadmium) batteries, it is still important to ensure that USBCELLs be properly disposed of when no longer useful. Moixa Energy will even accept USBCELLs purchased from USBCELL.com back via a freepost address, and one may visit Earth911.com’s Battery Recycling resource page for some great tips on how to recycle those bought elsewhere, as well as links describing the range of battery technologies.

Daryl Dulaney Talks About Environmental Changes in Building

First Business is a nationally syndicated business news television program, produced by a TV station in Chicago. Host Tom Hudson brings business news from the Chicago Board of Trade. The program is designed to be an idea-source for traders: “Not just equities, but any investment moving the market including futures, options and geo-political news.” In this segment he asks Daryl Dulaney, President and CEO at Siemens Building Technologies, “how do you decide to turn a building green or keep it as it is?”

The F3 Factory

SusChem is the European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry. It is a multi-stakeholder body looking to help shape the European research agenda to ensure its alignment with the future requirements of a sustainable chemical industry. SusChem is focusing on three technology areas (Industrial Biotechnology, Materials Technology and Reaction & Process Design) and generic Horizontal Issues affecting innovation in Europe. SusChem is a joint initiative of Cefic and EuropaBio supported by the European Commission.

F3 stands for future, fast, flexible.

They are developing a flexible demonstration plant that will showcase the valuable of efficient, low-impact manufacturing. Their demonstration of technology is an attempt to promote the larger adoption of F³ Factories all over Europe. Their approach “greening” factories and production addresses the entire manufacturing process, including raw materials, energy used, staffing and logistics. They see the F3 factory as a new, crucial step towards future successful and competitive projects centered around sustainability in Europe. While building new facilities, they are also retrofitting high–performance to work with machines in the existing infrastructure. Their initiative aims to analyze the whole production processes, inspiring new technologies and encompassing a products full life-cycle to minimize the use of resources and improve eco-efficiency.

Further information on SusChem activities can be found at suschem.org.

Titanium, How Is It Made?

Discovered in England during 1791 and named after the Titans of Greek mythology, Titanium has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any metal. Industrial Designers and Architects know the amazing reputation and properties of Titanium however few outside of the aerospace and medical industries are well acquainted with the manufacturing process. This video from The Science Channel covers the production process in several steps. For more information about the history and production of this amazing high-tech material, click here…

Benchmarking blackness

You might ask yourself, why are scientists working to create a material that absorbs up to 99.9 percent of visible light? Pulickel Ajayan, who’s working with the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York will tell you that this new material has the potential to be used in solar energy conservation. It has only been tested on visible light but there’s a chance is can be used for infrared detection, astronomical observation. It could also function to block infrared and ultraviolet light as well as radiation. Click here for more information.

Promising Development: Magnetic Refrigerators

What if you could refrigerate your food with 60% greater efficiency meanwhile avoiding harmful chemicals such as HFC (hydroflourocarbons)? Well no need to ask yourself what if, because researchers at the Technical University of Denmark are answering it for you. What if- that would be great; can we- yes. They have taken the technology that made it possible to cool rooms form 20° C to 11° C and applied this to a smaller box- the refrigerator.

By thermodynamically converting the heat energy from opposing magnetic fields into cooler temperatures, researchers are able to create this magnetic refrigerator. They are currently developing a prototype for this refrigeration application that cools with magnets, and magnets alone. Since the cycle is regenerative due to heat transfer and polarity, lots of energy is constantly being transferring creating a much more efficient system. In addition, with magnet technology we finally eliminate the need for DuPont’s infamous Freon.