2012139017 CIS 103 3

Android operating system

devices such as smartphones and tablet computers. Initially developed by Android, Inc., which Google backed nancially and later purchased in 2005, Android was unveiled in 2007 along with the founding of the Open Handset Alliance: a consortium of hardware, software, and telecommunication companies devoted to advancing open standards for mobile devices. The first Android-powered phone was sold in October 2008. Android is open source and Google releases the code under the Apache License. This open source code and permissive licensing allows the software to be freely modified and distributed by device manufacturers, wireless carriers and enthusiast developers. Additionally, Android has a large community of developers writing applications ("apps") that extend the functionality of devices, written primarily in a customized version of the Java programming language. In October 2012, there were approximately 700,000 apps available for Android, and the estimated number of applications downloaded from Google Play, Android's primary app store, was 25 billion. These factors have allowed Android to become the world's most widely used smartphone technology companies who require a low-cost, customizable, lightweight operating system for high tech devices without developing one from scratch. As a result, despite being primarily designed for phones and tablets, it has seen additional applications on televisions, games consoles and other electronics. Android's open nature has further encouraged a large community of developers and enthusiasts to use the open source code as a foundation for community-driven projects, which add new features for advanced users or bring Android to devices which were officially released running other operating systems. Android had a worldwide smartphone market share of 75% during the third quarter of operating system's success has made it a target for patent litigation as part of the so-called "smartphone wars" between technology companies.

Android is a Linux-based operating system designed primarily for touchscreen mobile

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Cloud Computing
computers and software applications.

Cloud computing is the term used to describe technology that will replace how we currently use our

The concept of cloud computing is that any device (computer invention) connected to the internet can utilize a network of computing resources. This would include infrastructure, applications and storage for far less than what it would cost to use your own hardware, software and resources. Additionally, it allows users to have access to applications that they would not have otherwise. Access is as simple as using an interface application or just a web browser from any location. The cloud can allow access to millions of computers in an intelligent, scalable and redundant system with expert support. Similar to outsourcing, the difference and advantages of cloud computing are speed, efficiency, capability and cost, particularly with the increasing popularity of smart phones and tablets. It allows users to work from anywhere, to perform any task with any application, and to pay for only what you use. Cloud computing is comparable to using email or online banking where you log into your account to access and manage your information. The software, applications and storage do not exist on your computer. But unlike your email or online banking services, clouds can perform complicated engineering tasks, schematics, modeling or mathematical computations, and it can do this in a cost effective and efficient manner. Another major advantage to cloud computing is the reliability of service. Servers can crash, temporarily denying you online access to services and data. But cloud computing has multiple servers so you always have access. Some concerns about cloud computing are security and the effect it will have on the computer industry. The security concerns are similar to those regarding email and online banking. These have proven to have reliable security protocols therefore similar advanced technology has been adopted for cloud computing. It's anticipated that computer repair and maintenance, as well as IT employment /contracts will steadily decline as cloud computing rises in popularity. There has been a proliferation of free public clouds appearing on the internet. These services, often referred to as SaaS (software as a service) are easy to use, fast, reliable and very good. You can increase your use of cloud computing to meet a high demand on your resources and you can reduce your usage during low demand. This allows you to adapt to changing conditions without making significant long term investments in personnel, computers, software and operational costs. Hopefully, cloud computing will assist independent inventors and small businesses to be more efficient and cost effective. At the very least, it's a leveling of the playing field. [Source]

Tactus Technology

screen devices. Tactus provides a new dimension of user interface with a fundamentally unique solution: application-controlled, completely transparent physical buttons that rise up from the touch-screen surface on demand. With the buttons enabled, users can push and type or rest their fingers as they would with any physical button or keyboard. When the buttons are disabled, they recede into the screen, becoming invisible and leaving a smooth, seamless flat touch-screen with maximum viewing area. While touchscreens provide a versatile user experience, they provide no tactile experience for consumers. Vibration haptics and similar solutions try to simulate a sensation of touch, but all are "feedback" technologies, vibrating only after touching the screen (even if they are touched in the wrong place or by mistake). In contrast, Tactus' technology creates real, physical buttons, where users can rest their fingers on the buttons, as on a mechanical keyboard, and input data by pressing down on the keys. Tactus is the only solution to both "orientation" and "confirmation" problems that are inherent in touch screens. Our Tactile Layer technology easily integrates with today's touchscreen-based devices (smart phones, tablets, personal navigation systems, gaming devices, etc.) by simply replacing the front layer of the display stack, known as the "lens", "window" or "cover glass". Our dynamic Tactile Layer component is the same thickness as the layer it replaces and requires no change to the underlying display or touch sensor.

Tactus Technology is the developer of a new tactile user interface for touch-

- Tactile Layer touchscreen features:

Replaces window and sits on top of the existing touch screen Works with existing touch sensing and display technologies o Minimal power consumption o Size is scalable (mobile-phone screen to TV screen) o Button layouts, shapes, location and sizes can be customized
o o

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Element four

Technology

Air Into Water

atmospheric water generator. It converts air into fresh water. This latest technology invention produces fresh water at a cost of about 3 cents a liter (1 quart). Originally designed for areas that do not have clean drinking water, the Watermill is for households that prefer an eco-friendly, cost effective alternative to bottled water. Atmospheric water generators convert air into water when the temperature of the air becomes saturated with enough water vapor that it begins to condense (dew point). "What is unique about the Watermill is that it has intelligence," says Ritche. This makes the appliance more ecient. It samples the air every 3 minutes to determine the most efficient time to convert the air into water. It will also tell you when to change the carbon filter and will shut itself off if it cannot make pure clean water.
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Johathan Ritchey has invented the Watermill, which is an

Gorilla Glass

If there is one thing that consumers have in common when it comes to their hi
tech gadgets - it's their concern about cracked and scratched screens. In fact, a whole industry has emerged to fix and replace the screens on smartphones, tablets, e-readers and other hi tech gadgets because they're a one-handed slip away from not being handheld. But a product invented over 40 years ago is poised to become the latest and greatest screen technology for hi tech gadgets. Gorilla glass, invented in the 60's by Corning Inc., is an utlra-thin, lightweight glass extremely difficult to break, dent or scratch. But when it was first invented there was no demand for such a product - until now. It's in demand because of the proliferation of digital devices. Gorilla glass is currently used in more than 40 million mobile devices and is a $170 million a year business and expanding. Beginning next year LCD frameless flat-screen televisions will also start using the glass. Corning expects revenues from their product to reach $200 million this year and over $1 billion next year. Not bad for a product that has been in mothballs for 48 years.
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Skinput Body Interfacing

One of the newest invention ideas in interface devices is Skinput.

This invention allows the sufaces of your body to be used as a touchscreen. This is how it works. An armband projects the image of a menu or keyboard onto your hand or forearm. This armband also contains an bio-acoustic sensor that can detect and analyze sound frequencies. Because of bone density, joints, and soft tissue, different locations on the body have different acoustic properties. When you tap your finger on different parts of your body it creates a unique frequency based on the specific area. Skinput can detect what part of a projected image you are touching and in turn can transmit a wireless signal to a computer, smart phone or other device. Skinput was created by the project team of Desney Tan, a senior researcher in the Visulization and Interaction Area at Microsoft Research; Dan Morris, a researcher in the Computational User Experiences at Microsoft Research; and Chris Harrison, a third year PhD student in the Human-Computer Interaction Institute at Carnegie Mellon University.
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