Power from the people
The biofuel cell, uses glucose and oxygen at concentrations found in the body to generate electricity.
Plugging gadgets into a socket in the wall, or loading them with batteries - or maybe even unfurling a solar panel - is how most of us think of getting electricity. But what about plugging them into your body?
It may sound far fetched, but under the shadow of the Alps, Dr Serge Cosnier and his team at the Joseph Fourier University of Grenoble have built a device to do just that. Their gadget, called a biofuel cell, uses glucose and oxygen at concentrations found in the body to generate electricity.
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Some ideas, some technologies may sound like science fiction, but they are fast becoming science fact. In our eight-part series we will be exploring ideas that are the future of technology.
They are the first group in the world to demonstrate their device working while implanted in a living animal. If all goes to plan, within a decade or two, biofuel cells may be used to power a range of medical implants, from sensors and drug delivery devices to entire artificial organs. All you'll need to do to power them up is eat a candy bar, or drink a coke.
Biofuel cells could kick-start a revolution in artificial organs and prosthetics that would transform tens of thousands of lives every year.
A new range of artificial, electrically-powered organs are now under development, including hearts, kidneys, and bladder sphincter, and work has begun on fully-functioning artificial limbs such as hands, fingers, and even eyes. But they all have one Achilles heel: they need electricity to run.
Batteries are good enough for implants that don't need much power, but they run out fast, and when it comes to implants, that is more than just an inconvenience, it is a fundamental limitation.
Even devices that do not use much power, such as pacemakers, have a fixed lifespan because they rely on batteries.
They usually need their power packs replaced 5 years after implantation. One study in the US found that one in five 70 year-olds implanted with a pacemaker, survived for another 20 years - meaning this group needed around 3 additional operations after the initial implant, just to replace the battery.
Each operation is accompanied by the risk of the complications of surgery, not something anybody should have to face if it is avoidable.
Other devices such as artificial kidneys, limbs or eyes, would have such high energy demands that users would have to change their power source every few weeks to keep them working. It is simply impractical to use batteries in these devices.
That is where biofuel cells come in. Dr Cosnier and his team are one of a growing number of researchers around the world developing the technology in an attempt to side-step this inherent limitation.
Bodily fluids
The fuel cells are made from a compressed push of enzymes and carbon nanotubes. At heart, biofuel cells are incredibly simple. They are made of two special electrodes - one is endowed with the ability to remove electrons from glucose, the other with the ability to donate electrons to molecules of oxygen and hydrogen, producing water.
Pop these electrodes into a solution containing glucose and oxygen, and one will start to rip electrons off the glucose and the other will start dumping electrons onto oxygen. Connect the electrodes to a circuit and they produce a net flow of electrons from one electrode to the other via the circuit - resulting in an electrical current.
Glucose and oxygen are both freely available in the human body, so hypothetically, a biofuel cell could keep working indefinitely. "A battery consumes the energy stored in it, and when it's finished, it's finished. A biofuel cell in theory can work without limits because it consumes substances that come from physiological fluids, and are constantly being replenished," said Dr Cosnier.
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End Quote Dr Serge Cosnier Joseph Fourier UniversityA bio fuel cell in theory can work without limits because it consumes substances that come from physiological fluids.”
The idea of powering fuel cells using glucose and oxygen found in physiological fluids was first suggested in the 1970s, but fell by the wayside because the amount of energy early prototypes produced was too little to be of practical use.
However, in the 2002, advances in biotechnology spurred Itamar Willner, a researcher at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, to dust down the idea and give it a fresh look.
In a paper published in the prestigious journal Science, he speculated that thanks to advances in biotechnology, the day would come when devices such as artificial limbs and organs would soon be powered by biofuel cells that create electricity from bodily fluids.
"Since then biofuel cells have received a huge amount of attention," said Dr Eileen Yu, a researcher at Newcastle University, who is part of UK-wide multi-university project to develop biofuel cells.
Nano technology
The key to the recent breakthroughs has been our understanding of rather special biological molecules called enzymes. Enzymes are naturally occurring molecules that speed up chemical reactions. Researchers studying bio fuel cells have discovered that one particular enzyme, called glucose oxidase, is extremely good at removing electrons from glucose. "It is very efficient at generating electrons," said Prof Willner.
Spurred by new developments in enzyme manipulation, and the growth in availability of carbon nanotubes - which are highly efficient electrical conductors - many groups around the world have developed bio fuel cells capable of producing electricity.
Dr Cosnier and his team decided to take things one step further. "In the last 10 years there has been an exponential increase in research, and some important breakthroughs in enzyme research," he said.
He decided it was time to make the first attempt to take the cumulative knowledge of the last decade of research and engineer it into a device the size of a grain of rice that could generate electricity while implanted inside a rat.
Tiny bio fuel cells sit inside the body turning glucose and oxygen into power. In 2010, they tested their fuel cell in a rat for 40 days and reported that it worked flawlessly, producing a steady electrical current throughout, with no noticeable side effects on the rat's behaviour or physiology.
Their system is surprisingly straightforward. The electrodes are made by compressing a paste of carbon nanotubes mixed with glucose oxidase for one electrode, and glucose and polyphenol oxidase for the other.
The electrodes have a platinum wire inserted in them to carry the current to the circuit. Then the electrodes are wrapped in a special material that prevents any nanotubes or enzymes from escaping into the body.
Finally, the whole package is wrapped in a mesh that protects the electrodes from the body's immune system, while still allowing the free flow of glucose and oxygen to the electrodes. The whole package is then implanted in the rat.
"It is an important step towards demonstrating the translation of basic research into a practical device," said Willner. "It shows the feasibility of making an implantable package."
Implantation in a rat was a good proof of concept, said Dr Cosnier, but it had drawbacks. "Rats are so small that the production of energy is insufficient to power a conventional device."
Next he plans to scale up his fuel cell and implant it in a cow. "There is more space, so a larger fuel cell can be implanted, meaning a greater current will be generated."
Dr Cosnier hopes it will be enough to power a transmitter that will be able to beam out of the cow information about the device and control sensors inside the animal.
More power
Fuel cells are wrapped in a mesh to prevent the body rejecting them. There is still a long way to go. Prof Willner explains that, while the enzyme glucose oxidase has performed optimally, the efficiency of the electron-donating enzymes could still be dramatically improved. He is optimistic that breakthroughs will be made.
"Based on the current rate of progress, I am confident we will see exciting developments in the next decade," said Prof Willner.
Dr Cosnier agrees that there is a lot of room for improvement. "Today we can generate enough power to supply an artificial urinary sphincter, or pacemaker. We are already working on a system that can produce 50 times that amount of power, then we will have enough to supply much more demanding devices," he said.
Implants aren't the only place you may find bio fuel cells in the future. The electronics giant Sony recently announced that it had created a biofuel cell fuelled with glucose and water that was capable of powering an MP3 player. "In 10 years time you may see bio fuel cells in laptops and mobile phones," said Prof Willner.
Dr Cosnier points out that bio fuel cells would be especially useful in places where there is no electricity supply to recharge your batteries. "If you were in a country without electricity, and needed to re-charge a bio fuel cell, all you would have to do is add sugar and water."
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Internet of things: Should you worry if your jeans go smart?
What if those new jeans you've just bought start tweeting about your location as you cross London Bridge?
More and more objects are getting on the webIt sounds far-fetched, but it's possible - if one of your garments is equipped with a tiny radio-frequency identification device (RFID), your location could be revealed without you knowing about it.
RFIDs are chips that use radio waves to send data to a reader - which in turn can be connected to the web.
This technology is just one of the current ways of allowing physical objects to go online - a concept dubbed the "internet of things", which industry insiders have shortened to IoT.
This is when not only your PC, tablet and smartphone can connect to the web, but also your car, your home, your baseball cap and even the sheep and cows on a farm.
And as we switch from IPv4 towards IPv6, which will support some 340 trillion trillion trillion addresses, more and more objects will jump into the web.
Smart buildings and intelligent cars with assigned IP addresses are already making cities smarter - and soon enough, the entire planet may follow.
"A typical city of the future in a full IoT situation could be a matrix-like place with smart cameras everywhere, detectors and non-invasive neurosensors scanning your brain for over-activity in every street," says Rob van Kranenburg, a member of the European Commission's IoT expert group.
Microsoft plans to offer Windows 8 Apps through its Windows StoreMicrosoft has taken the wraps off the next generation of its Windows operating system.
Windows 8 is designed to run on tablet computers, as well as desktop and laptop PCs.
The software, which is due to be released in 2012 will work on the popular ARM-designed low power processors for the first time.
Microsoft has been under pressure to come up with an answer to Apple's iOS and Google's Android platforms.
Unveiling Windows 8 at the Build developers' conference in California, Windows division president Steven Sinofsky declared: "We re-imagined Windows. From the chipset to the user experience."
The system will function through one of two interfaces; a traditional desktop, similar to that seen in previous editions of Windows, and a tablet version, known as Metro.
Metro features larger, chunky controls of the sort that best suit touchscreen use. The current lack of such an input method is widely seen as the reason why few Windows 7 tablets exist.
Microsoft said that it would also be launching its own online marketplace - the Windows Store - to sell downloadable applications.
Chip changesOne of the biggest innovations for Windows 8 will be its compatibility with processors designed by ARM holdings.
Windows 8 has been designed to be used on touchscreen devicesChips based around the ARM architecture typically use very little power, and as a result are found in the vast majority of smartphones and tablets currently available.
To date, Windows devices have required Intel or Intel-compatible processors, with the exception of Microsoft's Windows Phone range.
ARM chips are likely to be predominantly used on Windows 8 Metro devices, and will require ARM-specific versions of applications.
The company has not given details on the chips that will be integrated into desktop and laptop machines.
Tapping into any section of the Windows market will be seen as a huge boost for Cambridge-based ARM Holdings.
The company faces growing competition in the mobile device sector since Intel launched its tablet and smartphone-focused Oak Trail chipset in April 2011.
Tapping into that particular market is seen as vital for hardware manufacturers, and software-makers, such as Microsoft, as the market for traditional computers continues to be eroded.
Industry analysts Gartner predicted in April that the global market for tablets would reach 70 million this year, and grow to 300 million in 2015.
Sales of desktops and laptops are expected to continue growing, but at a much slower rate than in the past.
Intel and Google in Android chip-making partnership
Consumers are increasingly turning to mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computersChipmaker Intel has set up a development partnership with internet giant Google to improve its mobile phone and tablet processors that run on the Android system.
The move is aimed at giving Intel greater access to one of the industry's fastest-growing segments.
Intel is the world's biggest chipmaker in the computer and server market.
However, it has not been as successful when trying to create smaller, more power-efficient chips.
Demand for mobile phone and tablet computers has been on the increase, and Google has been pushing its Android operating system, tying up with manufacturers.
Android has become the world's leading operating system for smartphones.
Intel, though, has faced stiff competition from UK rival ARM Holdings, which has managed to produce chips that are better suited to the smaller, more portable devices.
The hope for Intel is that by working with Google, it will manage to develop the next generation of processors that run on less power and emit less heat.
10 Things You Need to Know about iOS 5
The Apple Worldwide Developers Conference was the place where we finally found out all about the Apple iOS 5. Now this page is where you will find out about it. That’s just how the world works these days.
When will it be available?
If you are American then fall 2011. If you are Australian spring 2011 and if you are British autumn 2011. Hold on, aren’t they all the same?
What will it work with?
The new iPhone, of course. The release date of the iPhone 5 should coincide with the launch of iOS 5, although some industry analysts think the phone might come out first. Apart from this it will work with the iPhone 4 and 3GS, both generations of the iPad and the 3rd and 4th generation of the iPod.
Do I still need my PC?
Maybe not. The cable has been well and truly cut. OS updates, activation and the creation and deletion of iOS calendars and mailboxes are some of the things which no longer need the input of a PC. Speaking of the updates, you now only get what you need and not the whole shooting match. The automatic syncing with iCloud also means that everything you store is going to be automatically brought up to date. Is your PC going to start to gather a pile of dust on it now?
What is iMessage all about?
This is a messaging service which can be used across the OS and seems to be best suited to the iPad and iPod machines. You can send videos, pictures or contacts as well as start up group messages. It works with both 3GS and Wi-Fi and includes real time notifications.
Is the Newsstand any good?
If you like reading newspapers and magazines then this could turn into your favourite feature on the Apple iOS5. You can subscribe to your favourite and the virtual Apple paperboy will deliver them to your device while you are sleeping.
Is Twitter going to be on it?
Indeed it is. iPhone tweeting is now going to become a big feature. It is actually pretty omnipresent on the system and any app can be integrated with it once you log in on the Settings menu.
What about Safari?
The Apple iOS5 version of Safari has a new reading mode which makes scrolling easier and more intuitive. The Reading List option should be good for procrastinators and the improved speed should be good for everyone.
Any advances with the camera?
The camera is now easier to access. You can take snaps using the volume control and there is new photo editing capability which will let you crop, remove red eye and improve your photos. A grid will maybe help you take better pictures as well.
Have notifications been improved?
The push notification centre can be accessed with a swipe and this idea got a warm reception at the presentation. They will all be added here as they arrive, waiting for you to read them at your leisure.
Anything else?
Reminders, mail and the game centre are among the other major improvements on the Apple iOS 5.
Apple iPhone 5 release date tipped for September by Bookmaker
A recent fluctuation in betting odds has suggested that the Apple iPhone 5 could have a September release date and come with a curved screen. The bookmakers sent us an email last week and has since confirmed with us that significant betting has meant they have slashed the odds of the iPhone 5 coming out in September 2011.
Paddy Power explained that prior to this erratic amount of ‘betting activity’ odds for September were set at 9/2, since then they have been changed to 9/4 which is still pretty decent odds.Ken Roberton, a technology betting expert explained “While little was disclosed about iPhone 5 during last week’s iCloud launch[during Apple’s WWDC keynote], our customers seem to be reading between the lines and now seem certain that a Fall launch is on the cards for Apple.”
The likelihood that the iPhone 5 will come with a curved screen, similar to the HTC Sensation has also caused subtle changes at Paddy Power. Before the WWDC keynote odds were set at 6/4 but after these changed to 4/5 which in betting terms makes it a certainty – I wonder where these people are getting their info from?
These changes just go to show people really can’t wait for the Apple iPhone 5 release date, their betting habits have probably been influenced by the iOS release date which has been announced to for autumn 2011. Many feel that the iPhone 5 will either come out before this event (September) or alongside iOS 5 later in the ‘Fall’.
Have you been tempted to put some money on the iPhone 5 release date and are you eagerly waiting for it?
8 Important Things about Apple iCloud
The recent Apple Worldwide Developers Conference is the place where we were expecting to see Steve Jobs give us some details about the much anticipated iCloud service. We weren’t disappointed and here is our summary of what iCloud is going to give us all.
The Idea
Jobs started by pointing out that current ways of storing music and video files no longer work the way we need them to. He even went so far as to say that keeping these files on the device itself is a method which has “broken down” lately and that keeping all the devices synced is “driving us crazy”.
He also pointed out that the idea of cloud storage being simply a “hard drive in the sky” was incorrect and that with iCloud there is going to be a lot more to it than that. Before going on to give the details he admitted that MobileMe wasn’t Apple’s moment of greatest glory.
The Cost
Now the old MobileMe charge has gone and the iCloud service is free. Things such as contacts, calendar reminders and mail will all be brought up to date automatically on all of the user’s devices with no charge at any time.
The Apps
What else can you do with it? What about all those apps you have downloaded and deleted / lost / forgotten about? You can see a list of them on all of your iOS machines and download them again at no charge. As well as that, all of the apps and iBooks purchases will now automatically arrive to all of your devices.
The (No) Daily Back Up
One point which will be particularly well received is the fact that there are now no automatic daily backups to worry about. This means that you don’t run the risk of losing anything which you did after the last one was run.
The Photos
Documents and photos will also find a new home on iCloud. The photos which are taken on one device will automatically make their way onto your other ones, including your Mac or PC. Photos get held on the central server for 30 days. While PCs and Macs don’t have a limit other devices will hold the last thousand.
The Music
So that’s everything you need to know about iCloud then, isn’t it? What’s that? You want to know about the music? Steve Jobs left this to the end of his presentation before talking about “iTunes in the cloud”. Firstly, any song you buy on any of your machines will be sitting waiting for you download on any other device.
The Space
Music isn’t counted toward the free 5GB space you get and neither are photos, apps or books for that matter. If you have songs which you didn’t buy from iTunes jobs gave three different ways of getting them on the service.
The Music Syncing
The first one is to buy them on iTunes – surely set to be the least popular of the three ways. Next up is doing a manual sync. Finally, you can pay for the iTunes Match service to quickly sync them all for you. This will cost and the US price is $25, which at today’s rates is about £15.
That really is now just about everything about the iCloud service. The iTunes part has been launched already and developers have also got access to it now. All we have to do is try out and see if it works for us the way that it should.
But you can’t pick it up from any Carphone Warehouse store, only five will have that privilege including the Westfield centre in London, London’s Oxford Street store, The Trafford Centre in Manchester and our closest store – Bristol, Cribbs Causeway.
Early Blackberry Playbook UK Release Date at
Carphone Warehouse
The official release date for the Blackberry Playbook is 16th June 2011, however keen buyers can snap one up a day earlier in the UK from the Carphone Warehouse. The mobile phone retailer has announced that they have an exclusive deal that has allowed them to set the release date as June 15th 2011.
But you can’t pick it up from any Carphone Warehouse store, only five will have that privilege including the Westfield centre in London, London’s Oxford Street store, The Trafford Centre in Manchester and our closest store – Bristol, Cribbs Causeway.Blackberry has chosen to go the same route as Apple, offering the Playbook in 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB models. Unlike Apple the Playbook offers 3G and Wi-Fi as standard and has branded itself as the world’s first professional grade tablet. It includes a 1GHz dual-core processor, comes with dual cameras and prices start at £399.
Blackberry enjoys a huge user base with their mobile phone division and will be hoping that users make the leap to using their tablets too. The Carphone Warehouse will be mighty chuffed to be selling it for a full 24 hours before other retailers, we’ll have to check out the queues on Wednesday.
Are you looking forward to the Blackberry Playbook, and will you be making a beeline to the Carphone Warehouse next week?
