Archive for January, 2010
TV Makers Looking to New Designs and Features to Break out of Commodity Trap
by karen on Jan.04, 2010, under Displays News
According to display market research, average selling prices for TVs are expected to be down in Q4 2009 for the first time since the flat-panel TV transition began, and TV manufacturers are developing a wide variety of design elements and performance features to differentiate products and slow price declines.
A key aspect in development of the above-mentioned differentiation is the interplay of performance, capabilities, cost, and power consumption. Most features and performance improvements carry cost premiums and increased power consumption, but intelligent design and utilization of new technologies may enable simultaneous improvements. Key examples of this trend are LED backlights and 240Hz frame rate operation in LCD TVs.
Research indicates that LED backlighting and 240Hz LCDs will serve as an enabling technology for new feature developments in TVs in 2010, specifically for 3-D TVs, an area of intense interest to TV manufacturers.
Power consumption is also becoming an increasingly important issue in consumer electronics, with energy regulations increasing in all regions — most recently in California. LED backlighting will continue to serve as a critical enabler of reduced power consumption. In the “Q4′09 Quarterly TV Design and Features Report,” energy regulations are examined with detailed descriptions of national regulations and ‘point of sale’ labeling policies.
(See full article at: www.informationdisplay.org)
South Korea Develops Human-Powered Aircraft
by karen on Jan.04, 2010, under Avionics
The South Korean Air Force has successfully developed a human-powered aircraft (HPA), which is powdered by direct human energy.
The HPA, known as Sky Runner, weighing 40kg, has a wingspan of 30m, and relies solely on thrust provided by the pilot pedalling during take-off and flight, according to Xinhua news agency.
The Sky Runner, during two separate preliminary flight tests held last September at the air force academy in central South Korea, had successfully covered 150m and 100m.
Lt. Col. Choi Seong-ok said the flying distance was short but could be improved through systematic pilot training.
The South Korean Air Force has become the fifth nation in the world to develop an HPA, after the US, Britain, Japan and Germany.
(See full article at: www.airforce-technology.com)
