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What if your clothes could play music? What if your clothes could act as a guitar? If you’re interested in both the two ideas, you must thank MIT’s Research Lab of Electronics. During the past decade, the lab has been working hard to develop fibers so that they can interact with the environment, and in the August issue of Nature Materials, the lab announced a new kind of fibers that can detect and produce sound. The heart of the acoustic fibers is a plastic used in microphones, and it can change shapes when an electric field is applied to it. So it’s not a fantasy to apply these fibers into clothes, though we may still have to wait for years to see the real acoustic coats and shirts in the store. [Read the rest of this entry...]

The Copenhagen Wheel—an advanced wheel unveiled by MIT at the Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change in Denmark—is designed to work with your power to make your trip on the bike easier. In the scientists’ opinion, whenever you brake, certain power is created, which could be used to charge the internal battery inside the wheel. And when you’re faced with some difficulty, for example, in peddling up a hill, the internal battery will then power the internal motor to help you.

Moreover, with your iPhone app connected to the wheel’s sensors, you will get detailed information of your speed, direction and other data on your phone. Isn’t that amazing? If possible, I’d like a bike with wheels like this. [Read the rest of this entry...]

No, this so-called SixthSense is not the one psychology thing but a new wearable data interface from MIT. Actually, you will be a superman after wearing it.

Video demonstration after the break

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This is an innovative MDS (Mobile/Dexterous/Social) robot from MIT media lab.

Wanna know the advantages of this robot? Just watch the video after the break. [Read the rest of this entry...]

This sensor developed by researchers from MIT and other research organization could be a cheap alternative. It uses microphones worn on the torso pick up beeps from the emitters, rather than special camera, to locate your limbs as you flail about. [Read the rest of this entry...]

You think MIT is always preparing to resolve the most difficult technology problem in the world? You are wrong! A student from MIT have developed a voice-controlled blender which could follow your voice pitch rather than voice commands. In other words, as you yell louder into the blender, the faster it will blend. [Read the rest of this entry...]

MIT researchers are developing a new stylish mini CITY CAR. Six to eight folded and stacked City Cars can fit into one conventional parking space. Plus, it’s power motor is very eco-friendly. [Read the rest of this entry...]

This is a MIT project funded by DARPA, which could help soldiers to carry more device with less energy. The advantage of this gadget better than other similar ones is that it is only based on one watt power source. [Read the rest of this entry...]

This is an exiting idea from two MIT graduate students. They plan to install system generating power driven by the footsteps of walkers. Although it’s not a big source, we will still receive enough power for street lamps based on commuter-heavy areas. [Read the rest of this entry...]

This pavilion is designed by MIT for Expo Saragossa next year. It could display text and graphic by waterfall and even detect the people who wanna walk into the expo area. It’s magic. Video after the jump [Read the rest of this entry...]

Do you believe a lamp could follow you like a robot and even find something for you? In other words, you gonna have a relationship with your lamp. Unbelievable huh? Just watch the video. [Read the rest of this entry...]

June 7, 2007 The possibility of wireless power transfer was come true this week. A team of scientists at MIT demonstrated it by lighting a bulb which is 7 feet away without any wire. The breakthrough moved us one step closer to the point where devices such as cell phones, mp3 players and laptop computers might not even need their bulky batteries to operate.

A team from MIT’s Department of Physics, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (ISN) has experimentally demonstrated an important step toward accomplishing this vision of the future.

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