The Future of Wireless Charging

While Android and IOS dominate the operating systems in today's smartphones, Nokia stays in the game with its innovative hardware. The inclusion of wireless charging in the recently released Lumia 920 made wireless charging a hot topic. Although wireless charging may sound like a modern breakthrough in technology, it is a pretty old concept. For starters, we tend not to realize that our radio sets are actually receiving energy wirelessly. The purpose of external power in radios is to amplify the signal and to play it back with clarity. The simplest radios-crystal radios operate without any external power.

Wireless charging by inductive coupling has been used in Oral-B toothbrushes since the early 1990s. But wireless charging was not common in consumer electronics such as mobile phones and laptop computers due to constraints in efficiency and rate of power transfer.  However with new improved technologies and standards such as "Qi" and Qualcomms's WiPower, wireless charging has started to make its way into modern smartphones and tablets. Intel's upcoming ultrabooks will come with the ability to charge smartphones that are placed beside them.

source : qualcomm

Wireless charging of consumer electronics is primarily classified into two categories.
1. Inductive Coupling.
2. Resonance Charging.

Inductive coupling uses the theory of electromagnetic induction to transfer power from one source to another without physical contact - like the power transfer from the primary winding to the secondary winding in a transformer. Because the strength of a magnetic field diminishes rapidly with distance, inductive coupling requires the charging source and the device to be very close or in contact with each other.

Resonance charging improves the above concept by using electromagnetic resonance. The coils are made to resonate at the same frequency and this enables power transmission through a greater distance. This means that the device only needs to be in the vicinity of the power source. This method has been found to be effective over distances of several feet.

source : intel

So what will the future of Wireless charging look like? Current areas under research provide clues about it. Major computer manufactures are already in the process of introducing remotely powered phones, laptops and tablets. The idea would be eventually to make charging as simple connecting to a WiFi network. Wireless power transfer using Resonance Charging has already proved successful in charging several devices in a room simultaneously. In the future coffee shops and other public areas will be equipped with the facility of wireless charging and our smartphones and computers will power themselves automatically using these "charging hotspots".

Moving on to a larger scale in wireless power transfer, a prototype aircraft called SHARP which flies using energy transmitted from the ground has been developed. Laser propelled spacecraft is another field under research. The company Lightcraft Technologies aims at developing spacecraft which will be powered by laser beams directed from the earth. The idea is to use the laser beam to rapidly heat and expand air which in turn will propel the spacecraft. This eliminates the need to carry fuel, which is the heaviest component in a space craft.

source : popular science

Using microwaves to beam power from solar power stations in space to the earth is another idea that is under consideration. Beaming power to earth from space has some environmental benefits but it poses a lot of challenges. Safety also would be a major concern in such an arrangement. Starting from handheld devices, wireless power transfer will one day be used in all our energy needs and will give rise to a truly wireless future.

Iron Man 3 at Savoy

UPDATE : Showing once again how misinformed the people at EAP movies are, Iron Man 3 has been removed from  the upcoming movies section of their website. So it seems like the only hope of seeing Iron Man 3 in Sri Lanka will be at the MC Cineplex. But this being Sri Lanka, that is also quite uncertain.. Will keep this post updated. 

Iron Man 3 will be screened at MC Platinum 3D from 10th May 2013, according to ticketslk.com.

Iron Man 3 is the most anticipated 3D blockbuster of 2013 and chances are that it will hit cinemas in Sri Lanka just like The Avengers did. The EAP movies website has listed Iron Man 3 under their upcoming movies section with a release date of 3rd May, which is the worldwide release date as well. So there is a very good chance that it will be screened at Savoy 3D, although the release date may change.

From the looks of it, Iron Man 3 promises to be a great movie and a huge improvement from Iron Man 2. The plot is based on the Extremis story arc and Sir Ben Kingsley will play the villain, Mandarin. Given below are some plot details that are known so far, so spoilers ahead-read at your own risk ;)

"Extremis" is a scientific technology that gives super human abilities to its users by altering the "biological code" of the human body. Aldrich Killian, played by Guy Pearce works for the Mandarin and uses this technology for evil purposes. So iron man is most likely to fight superhumans this time around.

Tony Stark develops technology that gives him the ability to control his suits of armor using only his mind. He also builds an entire fleet of these suits which operate on his command. Col. James Rhodes has a customized suit of his own and is called the Iron Patriot.

The new trailer shows a new massive suit, possibly the "Hulkbuster" but it is not confirmed. There is also a possibility of the space suit appearing in the movie as well. Since Iron Man 3 is expected to set the stage for Avengers 2, a post credits scene connecting the storylines is also expected.

image from : http://marvel.com/ironman3

Hulkbuster?

Free gems in Android

The Android Market or Play Store has loads of free applications available. But most of them are either limited in function or riddled with advertisements. But there are a few good free applications available which are as good as most paid versions and most importantly, without annoying advertisements. Given below are some them

1. Google products
All google android apps are free of charge. Most of them are well designed and apps such as gmail, maps, voice actions and google drive are the best in their respective categories.

Although not developed by Google inc, "Sky Map" is free application worth checking out. It turns your phone into a dynamic start chart. Just point your phone to the sky and it will show the names and details of stars and other heavenly bodies. The application uses the phone's magnetic and accelerometer sensors and location details to orient itself in the virtual celestial sphere. It is an open source application supported by Google.

2. Temple Run 2
The Highly addictive successor to Temple Run, is better than the first game. While keeping the same game mechanics, the developers have improved the game environments and the graphics.

3. Swiss Army Knife
Swiss Army Knife has a very useful set of tools like compass, level, ruler, unit converter, stop watch and timer. While being ad-free, due to its simple and clutter free construction, it is of a very small size- in fact, it is smaller than most standalone tools.

4. Fb Reader
Probably the best free e-book reader on Android. It supports the integration of dictionaries and has a vast searchable catalogue of e-books built into it.

5. Evernote
Evernote is an excellent note taking app. With the ability to attach recorded audio and pictures and synchronize with an online server, it is arguably the most feature packed application in its category.

 * Note : At the time of writing this post all of the above apps were free of charge and ad-free. However there is no guarantee that they will remain that way in the future.

Turtles at Chaaya Tranz

The coral reef in front of Chaaya Tranz Hikkaduwa, formerly known as Hotel Coral Gardens is one of the best preserved coral reefs in Sri Lanka and is a perfect spot for snorkeling. Lots of colourful fish and turtles can be seen close to the shore. Despite fears in the early 2000s that the reef was shrinking, it is in good condition today. Especially when comparing it with the reef in Beruwala which has deteriorated considerably, Hikkaduwa still has a variety of healthy corals and reef fish in abundance.

On my recent visit to Chaaya Tranz, I got to see some of the familiar reef fish and turtles that I saw when snorkeling there a couple of years ago. The types and numbers of fish have not decreased. There were hundreds of colourful fish including a lion fish. Unfortunately I did not have an underwater camera to take pictures of the fish. But the turtles came wandering towards the shore in search of food, and I was able to take plenty of pictures of them.

Hopefully this place will remain as it is in the future. It is important that relevant authorities take required measures to prevent actions such as illegal sand mining which could harm this reef, in order to preserve it for future generations.

Geochemical Environment

The Geochemical Environment is defined by the surrounding conditions of pressure, temperature, and abundance of chemical components. The geochemical environment influences the ore body formation and dispersion. Therefore a clear understanding of the geochemical environment is essential in mineral exploration.

The geochemical environment can be classified into two types based on the conditions of temperature, pressure and chemistry. They are,
1. Endogenic Environment.
2. Exogenic Environment.

The Endogenic Environment is the deep-seated environment in which forces driven by earth's internal heat predominate. Since rock formation often takes place in this environment, it is also called the "Primary Environment". Metamorphic conditions, magmatic, igneous conditions, activities in the vicinity of plate boundaries and sometimes deep seated sedimentary conditions are geological activities that are prominent in the endogenic environment. The endogenic environment can be characterized by,
- high temperature
- high pressure
- lack of free oxygen
- lack of free water and CO2
- restricted movement of fluids

The Exogenic Environment is the surficial environment in which forces are mainly driven by solar energy. It is also termed the "Secondary Environment". Geological activities present in the exogenic environment are, weathering, erosion, transportation and sedimentation. The exogenic environment can be characterized by,
- low temperature
- low pressure
- abundant free oxygen
- abundant water and CO2
- free movement of solutions

These two environments are connected to each other and material gets transported from one to another creating a closed system. Driven by the natural forces described above this dynamic system can be simplified and depicted in the diagram below. A good understanding of this cycle can help decision making in the mineral exploration process.

the geochemical cycle(Image from "Geochemistry in Mineral Exploration" by Rose et al)

The Hobbit at Savoy 3D

"The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey" will be screened at Savoy 3D cinema from the 15th of December 2012. "Savoy 3D" is Sri Lanka's largest 3D cinema and is equipped with the latest RealD XLS digital 3D projection system. The movie has been shot in 3D (not a post conversion) and therefore fans can expect a better and immersive experience in the Lord of the Rings universe. However like in certain previous occasions, the release date given above may change unexpectedly. So it's better to be ready for something like that to avoid disappointment.

The movie is based on J.R.R. Tolkein's novel "The Hobbit". This book was written before the much acclaimed Lord of the Rings trilogy and serves as a prequel to it. It relates the adventures of a Hobbit called Bilbo Baggins. This movie, "The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey" will be the first of a new trilogy set in the same universe and is expected to be followed by the two movies subtitled as "The Desolation of Smaug" and "there and Back Again".

Ardent fans of Lord of the Rings trilogy will be counting days until the release of this movie, while those who are new to the Lord of the Rings Universe like myself, will probably read the book before going to see the movie.

Official site : http://www.thehobbit.com/

Basics of Photogeology

The interpretation of Aerial Photographs for geological purposes is termed Photogeology. This a form of Remote Sensing. The primary objective of Photogeology is, to identify geological structures and rock types of an area and to prepare a geological map of the area. Photogeology is usually employed before field geological work in order to get a general idea of the geological features of the area. The observations and inferences obtained from Photogeology are then confirmed by using field data.

The analysis of aerial photographs in photogeology is done using the same elements of interpretation. "Tone" is used in the identification of rock type. Generally lighter tones indicate rock types like Quartzite. Tone is also used in the identification of the density of vegetation which in turn provides clues about the underlying rock. Usually dense vegetation can be seen in area where the rock Khondalite is present and in areas where Quartzite is abundant, very little or no vegetation is present.

By using a stereoscope to view the three dimensional topography of the area structural features such as ridges, valleys and slopes can be identified. Due to differences in hardness and the extent of weathering, certain rock types show characteristic structural features. For example, Marble and Hornblendebiotite Gniess are found at the bottom of valleys because they are highly prone to weathering. Rocks that are much harder and are resistant to weathering like Quartzite, Granite and Granitic Gneiss usually form ridges.

geological features in an aerial photograph

When viewing outcrops from above, for example in a ridge like structure, by looking at the texture on either side of the ridge, the direction of dip and strike can be inferred. Since the side where multiple layers of rock are exposed undergoes differential weathering that side become ragged and rough. This side is termed the escarpment face. The side on which a single layer of rock is exposed undergoes uniform weathering and therefore is relatively smooth. This side is the Dip slope. Therefore, generally the side of a ridge that has a relatively smooth texture indicates the direction of dip.

cross section of a ridge

The drainage pattern and shapes of marshes lakes etc also provide clues about the geological structure of the area. A drainage pattern like shown in the first diagram indicates a homogeneous and relatively flat rock while a pattern like in the second diagram indicates a highly jointed rock. In addition to this, the displacement of any feature along a line indicates a rock fault.

Once all possible features are identified form the aerial photograph, a geological map of the area is plotted. This map is referred and then the data is confirmed by using field data.