Category Archives: Technology

Analysis: ‘China’s Digital Currency Concerns’ (WSJ)

As China moves closer to rolling out its new digital cash, there are concerns the government will track every transaction––not just of citizens but of foreign companies in the country. WSJ travels to Chengdu to see this money revolution in action. Photo: Lorenz Huber for The Wall Street Journal

Analysis: Boeing Starliner Space Program (Video)

After years of cost overruns, errors and delays, Boeing’s space program is facing a major test: Later this year it will likely make its second attempt to launch its Starliner crew capsule to the International Space Station. WSJ looks at the company’s path to this crucial moment, and what’s riding on the test flight’s success. Illustration: Alex Kuzoian/WSJ

Space Missions: How Mars Rover Searches For Life

NASA’s Perseverance rover landed on Mars more than two weeks ago. Jennifer Trosper from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory explains how the rover will explore the Martian landscape and search for signs of life. Photo: NASA

Top Innovation & Design: ‘Sunne’ – Indoor Window Solar Lamp (Video)

Dutch designer Marjan van Aubel has developed a solar lamp that is designed to be hung in front of windows so it can generate its own energy.

Called Sunne, the light is equipped with photovoltaic cells and an integrated battery, allowing it to harvest and store enough energy throughout the day to light up a room at night. Van Aubel designed the lamp as part of an ongoing project to normalise solar technology by bringing it inside homes.

“To facilitate a shift in our perception towards solar, it also needs to be more accessible to a larger group of people,” she told Dezeen. “People need to be able to familiarise themselves with it and have it in their surroundings. Sunne is a first step to integrating solar energy into our everyday life.”

Read more on Dezeen: https://www.dezeen.com/?p=1619138

Future Of Sailing: The ‘Carbon Fibre Trimaran – Hanstaiger X1’ (Video)

The X1 is an exceptionally well designed trimaran, with all the hydrodynamic advantageous that brings. The sailboat version can reach speeds of 20 knots. The powerboat version can achieve speeds of 30 knots thanks to more powerful engines.

The interior of the X1 is not designed to feel you are in a boat; its designed to feel like you are in luxury home. Natural light fills all areas of boat, thanks to the glass roof structure and oversized lateral windows. There are no narrow corridors or maze like internal structures; the layout is designed to feel open and easy to move around in. The toilets are proper sized,  with all the space, functionality and finishings you would come to expect from a 5 star hotel.

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Space Ventures: Asteroids As Source Of Precious Metals & Elements (Video)

Mining on asteroids sounds like the stuff of science fiction, but it could soon become a reality. Nations and powerful corporations already have plans for such ventures and are hard at work staking their claim to resources from space. How can economic growth continue unfettered once all the earth’s resources have been consumed?

Major companies and governments have long been working on plans to exploit the resources to be found in the vastness of space. How far are humans from achieving this? This documentary examines the technological requirements of space mining. It also assesses how great the desire is to find new sources of raw materials. The film touches on scientific and fundamental societal issues – including humanity’s craving for new territories and our degradation of the Earth as we attempt to exploit all our planet has to offer.

Technology: ‘How Covid Is Boosting Innovation’

Covid-19 has accelerated the adoption of technologies and pushed the world faster into the future. As businesses and organisations look towards the post-pandemic era, what lessons can be learned about innovation?

Read more here: https://econ.st/3t6T7yM

Chapters 00:00​ – How has covid-19 boosted innovation? 01:20​ – Drone deliveries 04:20​ – How crises lead to innovation 06:47​ – How restaurants have innovated 09:29​ – Inequality between companies 10:48​ – Some start-ups have thrived 12:57​ – Working from home 14:15​ – E-learning: benefits and challenges

Analysis: ‘NFT’s And The Digital Art Boom’ (Video)

Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, have exploded onto the digital art scene this past year. Proponents say they are a way to make digital assets scarce, and therefore more valuable. WSJ explains how they work, and why skeptics question whether they’re built to last. Photo Illustration: Jacob Reynolds/WSJ

A non-fungible token is a special type of cryptographic token which represents something unique. NFTs are called non-fungible because they are not mutually interchangeable, since they contain unique information, although it is possible to mint any number of NFTs representing the same object.