Recently, I came across two very important and inspiring articles that spoke to the ongoing will of the human spirit to triumph even under the most trying circumstances. That usually means change on such a large scale that it’s almost monumental. However, I believe that those changes also take little steps. Some of these changes will be barely noticeable, among everything else that is going on in this exciting time. Beginning in the 2009 RLTA will provide Leeds (Sustainable Building) consultation services as well construction management as part of its ongoing design/ build consulting services. This is a minor step for us since our move from Autocad to BIM (Building information modeling). In the meantime the following items will be changing our designs for the better without some Owners even noticing the difference. But what a wonderful difference they will make.
Finally, a stud friendly television.
Super thin televisions
The Hitachi ultraline1.5in deep Series LCD 36 that costs $2,299.00 and requires a cable satellite box or Hitachi’s optional Audio Center. It comes in 37in or 42 in. Also available is the JVC 1.5 in LT-46SL89. The price $2399.95 and comes in 46”.
Wireless TV
The Belkin’s Flywire 999 for the AV69003 or 699 for the R1; allows wireless connectivity within range 20-30 feet . Another option is the GEFENTV wireless HDMI extender; with a range 33 feet up to 480 feet. The Monster Wireless Digital Express HD will transmit 30 feet. Wireless is also available with a distance of up 330 feet via coax.
Wireless audio through I-pod docking station
The Wadia 170i Transport costs $379.00. It’s a docking device; the right speakers will transport favorite tunes to the speaker terminals for surround sound.
Wireless Electricity
No longer will I need to worry about those unsightly wires. Simply place the outlets behind furniture and Walla; lights.
A team from MIT's Department of Physics, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (ISN) has experimentally accomplished an important step toward accomplishing this goal.
Realizing their theoretical prediction, they were able to light a 60W light bulb from a power source seven feet away with no physical connection between power source and device. The MIT team refers to its concept as "WiTricity" (as in wireless electricity).
Still, for laptop-sized coils, the power level is more than sufficient to run a laptop and can be transferred over room-sized distances nearly in any direction regardless of the geometry of the surrounding space, even when objects completely obstruct the line-of-sight between the laptop coils. As long as the device is fitted with a wireless component, in the case of a laptop, there will be no need for a battery. In the long run, this could reduce our society's dependence on batteries.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
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