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"We are no longer limited or constrained by Nature"- PP*

"Human applied and used the technologies to conquer Nature"- PP*

"We can do whatever we want with Nature because we got Technology"- PP*

*PP - Paveena & Pornrudee

Globalization: The Process

In the period of globalization, the world is interconnected. It simply means that we are living in a world of borderless societies. All the states and world societies are interdependent, i.e. they depend on each one another for benefits since they are interconnected. In other words, globalization is a process of integrating world societies and creating interdependence. Hence, a problem for one is a problem for all.

Globalization is not new. There have been global trades, wars and colonies long time before. Today, in Thailand, globalization has come and has changed its form. It enables the flow of trade, people, information, interconnectedness and interdependence which leads to the lost of states’ boundaries. It’s the changes that technologies bring about. Technology brings wealth and power to those who knows its usefulness, i.e. how to make money and benefits out of it.

Globalization is an outcome of the interactions between countries and people through communication and higher technology. Communicating media like news on television, radio, mobile phones and the internet have brought people around the world closer. They have narrowed down the gaps between them and have made the world a smaller place where everything and anyone could reach one another by various means of communication in a relatively short span of time.

Lithium Ion Battery

Researchers have developed a new advanced Lithium Ion battery that will allow mobile phone and laptop computers to be fully charged in seconds. Electric car batteries may be charged in as little as five minutes. Solar and wind power generation could also benefit as better batteries could be used to store surplus energy.

Speed of charging in typical lithium-ion cells is slowed by virtue of the fact that it takes time for the lithium ion to move off the cathode material. Various techniques have been tried to increase that speed including the nanoparticle doping strategy that A123 Systems uses.

This new ability to charge and discharge lithium-ion batteries within seconds blurs the distinction between batteries and ultracapacitors. Besides being able to charge one’s cellphone in seconds, this will have a major impact on electric cars. If electric grid power was available, an electric car with a 15kWh battery could be charged in five minutes. This would require the delivery of 180 kw of energy in that time frame.

It involves a new approach to manufacturing lithium-ion battery materials, rather than a new material, it could be ready within two to three years.

Laundry POD

Laundry POD is a portable, hand-powered laundry machine that is stylish, easy to use, saving energy and water, and is perfect for delicate items.

- There’s no wasting of water and energy by using big machines for small loads
- Gray water can be re-used for watering plants, flushing, etc
- It’s made from recycled materials but looks stylish
- It can be used anywhere
- Great for apartment dwellers and students
- It’s big enough for a small load, but small enough for easy storage

High-Tech, Wine Cooler

This is a wine cooler with an in-built microprocessor which might surprise you. The Kalorik Wine Cooler is programmed to maintain the ideal drinking temperature for two bottles of wine, and gauges the temperature of the wine itself, not the bottle. It has an LCD, screen and wireless links to two temperature probes inserted into the bottles. This cool device is both stylish and smart.

Kalorik are known mostly in Europe for their array of kitchen appliances and it’s easy to see that when they do things, even if it’s a blender, it’s done with style. The Kalorik Wine Cooler has a Perfect-Temp system and two wireless probes that are inserted into the bottles that seal them and gauge their temperatures even when you take them away from the cooler.

There is a manual mode to set your own preferences either for red or white sparkling wine. Different settings can be changed for either bottle, or one bottle can be chilled at a time. The temperature is displayed on the unit even if the bottles are not in the wine bar (via wireless link) and there is an alert when the ideal temperature falls out of range (in Fahrenheit or Celsius). The lights will indicate when they’re not ready (red) and when they’re at the perfect temperature (green). It also has a quick ‘ice chill mode’ for champagne.

Retail price of the wine cooler is USD$199.99.

New Technology Introduces Lip Readers

An assistive technology that helps lip readers interpret some of the subtleties of speech may soon be available in convenient, personal devices.

Many people with hearing loss read lips. Even the best lip readers, however, have some difficulty distinguishing between very similar sounds such as B and P. The lip readers translate sound waves into vibrations so that the lip readers can also feel speech.

This technology could be incorporated into everyday electronics such as wristwatches or cell phones. In that way, lip readers could get the benefits of the new technology without displaying any kind of interfering device.

Dulux PaintPod - The Fast and Mess-Free Painting

The Dulux PaintPod is a revolutionary product that will allow you to get a room painted quickly, without drips or ruined carpets and still have time to do other things.

Painting with a roller certainly makes things easier but the main thing is that you have to keep re-filling the tray and climbing down the ladder to do so. The PaintPod is unique because you simply pre-load an emulsion pack filled with paint and you wou won’t have to refill the paint tray or re-load the roller. You simply squeeze the trigger and within thirty seconds, a measured amount of paint is released on to the roller. You won’t have to keep climbing up and down a ladder an there's an integrated cleaning system which will clean both the roller sleeve and the PaintPod unit in just ten minutes.

The PaintPod is about the same size as a small vacuum cleaner and accessories including an extra reach handle, a brush which helps you get into tight spaces around doors and windows.

The PaintPod is approx. USD$135 at time of publication and the paint packs retail between approx. USD$40 approx. USD$60.

PowerBuddy Portable Charger

This is portable chargers, which uses lithium ion batteries to charge up to two electronic devices simultaneously, the USD$40 PowerBuddy comes with 11 adapters for cell phones, personal media players, PDAs and portable gaming units.

The 11 i adapters are designed for Motorola, Samsung, LG, Sanyo, Sprint, Kyocera, Audiovox, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Blackberry and Palm One Treo cell phone and PDAs, the PSP, Game Boy Advance SP, Micro, DS and DS Lite, portable gaming devices and most devices that charge via USB.

Frozen Smoke Will Change The World

A miracle material for the 21st century could protect your home against bomb blasts, mop up oil spillages and even help man to fly to Mars.

Aerogel, one of the world’s lightest solids, can withstand a direct blast of 1kg of dynamite and protect against heat Aerogel is nicknamed “frozen smoke” and is made by extracting water from a silica gel, then replacing it with gas such as carbon dioxide.

The result is a substance that is capable of insulating against extreme temperatures and of absorbing pollutants such as crude oil. Aerogel is also being tested for future bombproof housing and armour for military vehicles.

In the laboratory, a metal plate coated in 6mm of aerogel was left almost unscathed by a direct dynamite blast. Aerogel is also being used for everyday applications. Dunlop, the sports equipment company, has developed a range of squash and tennis rackets strengthened with aerogel, which are said to deliver more power.

Although aerogel is classed as a solid, 99% of the substance is made up of gas, which gives it a cloudy appearance. Researchers believe that some versions of aerogel which are made from platinum can be used to speed up the production of hydrogen. As a result, aerogel can be used to make hydrogen-based fuels.

Plug-in plate for good taste

This self-heating dinner plate uses silk-screened gold and free-form metal films to keep your food warm in case you are suddenly called from the table. You simply plug the plate into an electrical source and the current heats the ornate graphic pattern and hence your food. The logistics of having a number of these on a dining table does seem problematic, not to mention the environmental and safety issues, but it would make a great conversation starter at your next dinner party. Not recommended for salads or ice cream.

Professional Cordless Wine Opener

This is a last minute gift idea for the hard working waiter or the wine-lover who does a great deal of entertaining. Featuring one touch operation and a soft rubber handle, the new Waring Professional Cordless Wine Opener can remove up to 80 corks on one charge.The £40 unit works on natural or synthetic corks, includes a recharging station an comes with a foil cutter.

iPhone Refrigerator

An emerging prestige manufacturer and designer of quality and innovative household goods, Slovenia’s Gorenje graced our pages earlier this year with its wow-factor SmarTable, and has backed up with two prototypes (modern and retro) of a very clever iPod refrigerator and the news that the soon-to-be-available production versions will be followed by an iPhone refrigerator in 2009.

Slip your iPod into the dock on the front and it’ll charge, play music and video through the refrigerator’s two built-in 7 watt speakers, and connect to the internet if you have wifi The iPod fridge will cost around EUR1200 and comes with an iPod Touch.

Quicksnap ice block tray

A better ice block tray Quicksnap is simple but effective ice cube tray. So that single ice cubes can be popped out without the normal problems associated with twisting an ice tray. With those who know their way around the kitchen increasingly freezing fruit pulps, curry paste and other sauces that take a lot of time to make.