Scientists Create Technology That Could Allow Humans to Communicate Through Echolocation - http://clapway.com/2015/07/11/scientists-create-technology-that-could-allow-humans-to-communicate-through-echolocation567/

With over 6,000 languages spoken in the world, communication can often be convoluted to say the least. Whether traveling, communicating online, or trying to perform business in another country communication barriers create tension, and make conversing difficult. Scientists at University of California Berkley have developed technology which will allow humans to communicate through echolocation in the same way that bats and dolphins communicate with each other.

 

The significance of being able to communicate through echolocation

This could change the way that we travel, but also change the way we communicate across distances. There are potential military applications to the invention of this device. Using high frequency waves could allow communication from far distances with decreased chance of enemy interception of messages, and less chance that the enemy will be able to interpret the message being transmitted. Additionally, echolocation will allow ease of communication through thick walls and in underwater situations.

How can this type of communication be possible for humans?

Using advanced graphene sheets will enable the communication of these echolocation microphones. Berkley physicist Alex Zettl describes how this is the right time for this technology, “Until now, we have not had good wideband ultrasound transmitters or receivers. These new devices are a technology opportunity.” The technology uses graphene sheets as the diaphragm for speakers and microphones instead of the paper or plastic that they are usually composed of.

What is graphene?

Graphene is a material that, until recently, was very difficult and expensive to produce large quantities of, but thanks to recent innovations graphene has become easier to produce and cost less than ever to make. While Zettl doesn’t necessarily believe that the technology is ready for smart phones yet, he saw the advancements in graphene as a perfect chance to create the communication systems, “There’s a lot of talk about using graphene in electronics and small nanoscale devices, but they’re all a ways away. The microphone and loudspeaker are some of the closest devices to commercial viability, because we’ve worked out how to make the graphene and mount it, and it’s easy to scale up.” Graphene is becoming more and more important in current tech, and soon will be in numerous devices that we use every day. This type of communication using echolocation may not be viable for consumer use in any way yet, but in the near future it could be a technology that we use every day.

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Scientists Create Technology That Could Allow Humans to Communicate Through Echolocation

And they use less energy than the normal household incandescent light bulb! - http://clapway.com/2015/06/15/if-youre-in-the-market-for-a-new-light-bulb-try-graphene-bulbs-145/

If you like many others are in the market for a new light bulb, learn more about the latest in light bulb technology. This new material is nothing if not durable, a surely useful quality in any home good.

First There Were Incandescent Bulbs…

First there were the incandescent bulbs, then LED bulbs. Now? The latest new lightbulb is a graphene light bulb. Researchers from both the U.S. and South Korea have been working on an on-chip visible light source using filaments made of graphene. Small strips of this carbon allotrope are attached to metal electrodes. The strips of graphene were then suspended above a silicon substance and then passed through an electric current in the filaments. The strips would then heat up and emit light.

Light-emitting Filaments Create The World’s Thinnest Light Bulb

The principle of light-emitting filaments works well, creating the world’s thinnest light bulb. Professor of Engineering at Columbia University, James Hone comments on the light emitting technology: “This new type of broadband light emitter can be integrated into chips and will pave the way towards the realization of atomically thin, flexible and transparent displays, and graphene-based, on-chip optical communications.”

Hone emphases the new uses light-emitting filament technology has in our every day world. It is this ability to create light within smaller structures that opens the world of possibility. Researchers have long been testing and hoping to approach the possibilities. One reason is that being able to create light on the surface of microchips is a step forward in the development and betterment of photonic circuits.

Perhaps the reason they have failed to put a light source on a microchip is that they have been using incandescent light bulbs–the classic light bulb–all this time. This doesn’t work because incandescent light bulb filaments need to be extremely hot (think 1000s+ Celsius, if possible) in order for light to even be visible; non-graphene microwires cannot withstand the heat necessary for this. Microchips would surely be damaged.

Enter Graphene…

Graphene light bulbs feature a material that is unique and perfect for its job. It can withstand very, very high temperature without melting the substrate nor the metal electrodes. This is actually due to one of the matter’s very interesting properties: as this material heats up, it becomes a poorer conductor of heat. What happens is that the high temperature stays in its central confined space. Thanks to the unique thermal properties of graphene, researchers have been able to heat it up to half the temperature of the sun. How can one go wrong with such a durable light bulb as a graphene light bulb? The light is said to be so intense, it is visible to the naked eye even in its micro-size–and they use less energy, too.

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If You"re in The Market for a New Light Bulb, Try Graphene Bulbs