Next generation LED TV's on the horizon

Combining the advantages of organic with inorganic LED TV's, a team of researchers at the University of Illinois believe they have developed what will prove to be the next big step forward for LED and TV technology.

The research team have developed a new process to create tiny (up to 100 times smaller than existing LEDs), ultrathin inorganic light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that have the advantage of shining brighter and lasting longer than conventional LEDs. The new technology composes a stretchable micro-LED display with an interconnected mesh of printed micro LEDs bonded to a rubber substrate.

The new technology raises the prospect of see-through construction and mechanical flexibility, that would be impossible to achieve with existing technologies. TV's that are flexible enough to roll-up are one of the tantalizing prospects of the new process.

A range of applications are planned for these new LED arrays, which can be printed onto flat or flexible substrates such as glass to plastic and rubber. A wearable health monitor which is composed of micro LEDs printed on a thin film of plastic, wrapped round a finger is just one of those applications.

John Rogers, a professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois commented: "Our goal is to marry some of the advantages of inorganic LED technology with the scalability, ease of processing and resolution of organic LEDs,” said Rogers. “By printing large arrays of ultrathin, ultrasmall inorganic LEDs and interconnecting them using thin-film processing, we can create general lighting and high-resolution display systems that otherwise could not be built with the conventional ways that inorganic LEDs are made, manipulated, and assembled".

If you would like to find out more about LED technology you might like to read the LED TV Introduction below:

Commercial Buildings Energy Management

Sustainable Planet brings you details of one of the the latest generation of energy management systems from NoWatt.

About NoWatt

NoWatt is a rapidly expanding energy monitoring solution provider who appears to be emerging as a technology leader in their sector. As well as offering a hardware solution to monitor energy usage, NoWatt also analyse collected data with a specially written software package capable of highlighting possible issues with excess usage or flag unusual changes in energy consumption. Most problems behind increased energy usage or waste, are not enabling action to be taken. NoWatt?s energy management system is an example of using technology to reduce energy consumption. Customers are encouraged to review collected web statistics and to monitor changes in consumption to help them take action to reduce energy costs. NoWatt?s easy to use interface also allows the export of data for more advanced data analysis.

View the NoWatt V4 Demo

NoWatt?s Business Philosophy

NoWatt started with a very simple philosophy: to help customers understand the detail behind their energy usage so as to drive down energy spend. Energy is one of the largest overheads for many businesses, yet it is still billed like a telephone in the 1960s. NoWatt provides the level of detail required to manage energy in the way that you would manage any other significant business cost. NoWatt doesn?t wait to tell you what you have already used ? we show what you are using and, more importantly, where it is being used. NoWatt helps businesses take the guess-work out of managing energy costs.

The Business case for commercial consumers

With NoWatt its easier to see that energy is a major area where costs can be reduced. It is generally accepted that energy prices are set to rise dramatically, so the need to develop strong management capabilities is becoming ever more pressing.

Historically energy cost management has been done by comparison with past performance and instigating policies at a macro level. The reason for this is that it has been difficult and costly to monitor detail in real time. Measurement has been based around expensive meters which tend to be installed at an early stage of the supply, looking at the energy that has been used by a whole area. More recently the time period of reporting has come down to ½ hour intervals, but this is still at a macro level and certainly does not allow the review of the performance of individual devices effectively where they use a sub-30 minute cycle. Examples typically include devices that cool or heat such as freezers, chillers, water heaters etc..

The NoWatt Solution for Business

NoWatt?s technology comprises simple, non-invasive hardware and hosted software which analyses and presents information via the web. The hardware sends sub-second readings to a central database where NoWatt stores, analyses and delivers energy usage information for any period, location or appliance. NoWatt?s software has simple navigation, allowing customers and consultants to drill down to circuits and appliances to find exactly where energy is being consumed, instantly.

NoWatt?s sophisticated data mining software enables any business to view their usage in a variety of ways (for example, by floor, building or department), to recognize individual appliances, to set alerts and rules for equipment operation, and to test new policies and equipment in real-time.

NoWatt provides a new level of detail. Working with each business to generate an ?as is? discovery of current energy usage as part of an initial cost-saving initiative. After collecting data, they analyse it, create reports on findings and recommend targets as part of a long term strategy. NoWatt provides regular reviews to track progress.

See The Difference?

Current Business

NoWatt has brought its solution to market (the software is at version 4.0) and has an installed base of customers across a number of sectors including government, industry, education, offices, restaurants, printers and public transport. NoWatt has proven the value of its technology with these customers. NoWatt?s solution is a significant differentiator, because it delivers real value in the short-term (helping customers reduce energy spend now) while also collecting the information needed to help customers define and measure longer-term energy saving and sustainability strategies.

SustainablePlanet

Sense and Sustainability

the Copenhagen Wheel, a smart phone controlled electric bike with the change of a wheel.

The batteries in the hub of the Copenhagen Wheel power the sensors that provide location and local environmental information  such as CO, NOx, noise, temperature and humidity. Cyclists can also use this information to determine the health impacts and distances traveled and for connecting with friends and other cyclists on the go.
Collected information is also useful for gaining an insight into the aggregate movements of bicycles in cities helping civil engineers and city planners to propose and build better cycle routes , work towards accommodating cyclists and assess the impact of cycling in the city SENSEable City Lab has developed a variety of applications that use the data collected by the Wheel. One example is the Green Mileage Scheme which provides incentives for cyclists when they reach a certain number of ?green miles?. In the future such a scheme could also allow cities to enter carbon-trading schemes, by helping prove that a city is increasing the amount of ?green miles? being traveled.

MIT?s SENSEable City Lab and the Mayor?s office of Copenhagen have joined forces to develop a leapfrog sustainable transportation system for bicycles. The Copenhagen Wheel, which will be unveiled during the Mayor?s Summit as part of the OP15 United Nations Climate Conference is an electric ?hybrid? bicycle which is also a smart mobile sensing device that can map eal-time flows and environmental conditions in cities.

An Improved biking experience

all components packaged into the hub easily retro-fit-able into any bike monitors air quality regeneration and assist modes intelligent locking mechanism
real-time feedback controlled through your smart phone;

Battery Level
Real Time Data
Change Gears + / -
Change Mode + / -
Mode: Assist 1/2/3 | Regeneration 1/2/3
Bluetooth connection
Gears: 1/2/3

The Copenhagen Wheel aims to improve the experience of cycling for two types of people: those that already cycle and those who don?t ordinarily consider using a bike for their daily commute. It also is a tool for harvesting information about the city: the environmental sensors in the wheel provide both riders and cities (if the cyclist opts in) with real-time feedback about pollution, miles travelled, effort spent and route choice. Cities can use this information to make more informed transport related decisions and better allocate resources.
The Copenhagen Wheel is controlled by your Smart Phone. Here you can choose your mode - regeneration or assist - change gears and receive real-time feedback about your riding and the environment. The wheel can be easily retrofitted into any standard bicycle. Unlike the majority of electric bicycles, all components, including the batteries, motor, and location and environmental sensors are packed into a small hub that is located in the back wheel of the bike.

MIT Senseable City Lab, Cambridge, MA

The Copenhagen Wheel , Fall 2009

Analyzed and modified the mechanical design of a hybrid (human-powered/electric) bicycle wheel to be presented at the 2009 UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen. Advised on the construction of a functional prototype at MIT and of the finished wheel by Ducati Energia in Torino, Italy.

The Copenhagen Wheel aims to transform bicycle use in Denmark?s largest city through promoting urban sustainability and building new connections between the city?s cyclists. In this work, bicycles become smart mobile sensing devices that map the real-time flow of people and environmental conditions in Copenhagen. This is achieved through strategically placing small location and environmental sensors on bicycles to gather information as people ride through the city. This data then powers applications of benefit to citizens, city municipalities and researchers interested in understanding more about city dynamics.

The components of the project are an electric bicycle wheel that can be easily retrofitted into any regular bicycle and location and environmental sensors which are powered by the bike wheel and in turn provide data for a variety of applications.

The Copenhagen Wheel project demonstrates that small intelligent implementations can lead to major changes. This work will be displayed at the 2009 Cop 15 UN Climate Summit where the next version of the Kyoto Protocol will be signed.

SENSEable City Lab

The device will supporting a portion of user's body weight whether they're crouching, walking or climbing stairs and is meant to help both those physically weakened with age or injury as well as workers who would need to reduce the stress on their bodies from heavy work or unusual positions. The device will support users within two inches of its preset 5-foot, 7-inch user height. The entire system, including its lithium ion battery and shoes, weighs 14.3lbs, and uses two electric motors to assist users' leg movement for up to two hours before a re-charge is required.