Work Samples
Sticky Power – New Peel And Stick Solar Cells Could Give TFSCs A New Lease Of Life
The solar panel has always been the undisputed icon of clean, limitless energy. However, though they have been around since the 1950s, their adoption has been hindered by technological and cost barriers.
Most solar panels you see on rooftops and solar power stations are made from crystalline silicon (c-Si), which is expensive to procure and work with.
They are also very rigid in construction, which limits their installation to flat surfaces only.
(Howwegettonext.com / Pinterest)
To get around this problem, researchers in the 1970s began experimenting with other substances which demonstrated photovoltaic properties -- amorphous silicon (a-Si), cadmium telluride (CdTe) and copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) showed promise. Solar cells made from any of these can be adapted to stick to a variety of different flexible substrates allowing them to be transported, and installed with greater ease.
The first TFSCs or thin film solar cells thus rolled out, and their adoption has been steadily increasing. Today, thin film solar cell represents 10% of the global solar power market.
One of the bigger advantages TFSCs offer over conventional solar cells is that they are about 30% cheaper, mainly due to the ease with which they can be installed. By 2009, TFSCs had won a respectable 18% of the market and it looked like they were well on their way to seeing widespread usage.
However, this was before cheaper c-Si solar panels from manufacturers in China began making inroads into the solar power market. Despite their higher price tag, traditional silicon-based solar cells still offer efficiencies much superior to what TFSCs can (commercially) provide. As Chinese manufacturers ramped up production, the cost of solar panels declined rapidly, making them a very attractive option for commercial and residential usage alike.
By 2012, the share of TFSC had slumped to 11%, and many manufacturers ended up declaring bankruptcy. In fact, the global market share of TFSC is expected to fall to 7% by 2017.
Innovative new peel and stick TFSCs promise a brighter future
This situation might change if a new type of sticker like TFSC developed by a team of enterprising researchers at Stanford University, US and Hanyang University, China finds its way to the manufacturing lines.
Led by Xiaolin Zheng at Stanford, and Professor Dong Rip Kim at Hanyang, the teams announced they had developed a way to create TFSCs which could be stuck to virtually any flexible surface. These cells not only have the potential to bring down the cost of manufacturing and installation even further, but open up a whole new way of using solar cells.
Imagine solar cells stuck to a window in your home, which can be removed when they are needed elsewhere. Solar cells can also be strapped to the back of a cell phone to recharge them on the go. Apparel with flxible cells weaved into them could be designed to power wearable technology…sky’s the limit really! Speaking of skies, flexible solar cells can also be incorporated into the aerodynamic body of an airplane to power it.
Xiaolin’s original motivation to work on this new type of solar cell stems from a comment made by her father in her hometown of Anshan in northeastern China.
“One day my father mentioned how great it would be if a building’s entire surface could be used for solar power, not just the roof, but also walls and windows”, says Zheng.
A decade later in 2010, Zheng was further inspired to pursue the idea after she read about an experiment in which nanometer graphene was successfully grown on the top of a silicon wafer. When the wafer was submerged in water, the nickel and graphene separated from the surface.
“It sounded unbelievable, like a magic trick, but they had achieved very reliable results” she recalls. Zheng tried to emulate the process for developing thin, flexible solar cells and found immediate success.
Conventional solar cells, unconventional manufacturing method
Regular solar cells are made on glass or silicon wafers which are heavy and rigid, limiting their use. Other surfaces such as paper or plastic are far more flexible; however they cannot withstand the high temperatures required for creating solar cells. If this new method of manufacturing flexible TFSCs is successfully replicated on an industrial scale, then flexible materials can be used for distribution, bringing down the cost of installation incredibly.
Zheng and her team began by applying a 300 nanometer layer of nickel to a silicon/silicon dioxide wafer. TFSCs were then deposited on the nickel. Another layer of protective polymer was applied on top of the TFSCs, followed by a layer of thermal release tape over it.
Next, the sandwich was submerged in room temperature water. One edge of the tape was peeled back so that water could seep between the nickel and the silicon/silicon dioxide wafer. Once the nickel was completely separated from the wafer, the researchers were left with a bare silicon wafer and the tape to which the polymer, TFSC and nickel layering remain attached.
The thermal tape along with its content were then heated to 90ºC (194ºF) for a few seconds. An adhesive was applied to the nickel; when the thermal tape was peeled off, all that was left was the polymer covered TFSC which could be stuck to any surface like a decal.
This process resulted in a solar cell that is no more than a couple microns thick and is flexible enough to be attached to any surface. The researchers also stated that their bendable solar cells have the potential to provide more or less the same power efficiencies their rigid counterparts do.
Besides offering a great new way to harness solar power, this method of making solar cells will also yield significant savings as it allows the silicon or glass substrate to be reused. More savings can be expected as these flexible cells do not require a rigid base material which accounts for about 25% of the solar cell’s cost.
Significant challenges ahead
Of course, this does not mean there are no challenges to overcome. Right now, the researchers are trying to find out if the process can be replicated on solar cells with higher efficiencies. They also have to figure out a way to ensure the peeling process can be done mechanically on large scales, as opposed to by hand, as is being done in the lab.
Because of their poorer power conversion efficiency, TFSCs need nearly twice as much installation space compared to regular c-Si cells, and their flexibility really isn’t anything to write home about.
The sticker like TFSCs, on the other hand, presents an entirely new dimension to the solar power industry. Sure, the rooftops may belong to high efficiency c-Si cells for the foreseeable future, but that does not mean there is no light to be harnessed from the side of the buildings, windows, shingles etc. Even if their efficiency does not catch up with regular rigid first gen solar cells, the fact that they will be much easier to make, and can be installed on any surface will open up plenty of options in the future.
Most solar panels you see on rooftops and solar power stations are made from crystalline silicon (c-Si), which is expensive to procure and work with.
They are also very rigid in construction, which limits their installation to flat surfaces only.
(Howwegettonext.com / Pinterest)
To get around this problem, researchers in the 1970s began experimenting with other substances which demonstrated photovoltaic properties -- amorphous silicon (a-Si), cadmium telluride (CdTe) and copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) showed promise. Solar cells made from any of these can be adapted to stick to a variety of different flexible substrates allowing them to be transported, and installed with greater ease.
The first TFSCs or thin film solar cells thus rolled out, and their adoption has been steadily increasing. Today, thin film solar cell represents 10% of the global solar power market.
One of the bigger advantages TFSCs offer over conventional solar cells is that they are about 30% cheaper, mainly due to the ease with which they can be installed. By 2009, TFSCs had won a respectable 18% of the market and it looked like they were well on their way to seeing widespread usage.
However, this was before cheaper c-Si solar panels from manufacturers in China began making inroads into the solar power market. Despite their higher price tag, traditional silicon-based solar cells still offer efficiencies much superior to what TFSCs can (commercially) provide. As Chinese manufacturers ramped up production, the cost of solar panels declined rapidly, making them a very attractive option for commercial and residential usage alike.
By 2012, the share of TFSC had slumped to 11%, and many manufacturers ended up declaring bankruptcy. In fact, the global market share of TFSC is expected to fall to 7% by 2017.
Innovative new peel and stick TFSCs promise a brighter future
This situation might change if a new type of sticker like TFSC developed by a team of enterprising researchers at Stanford University, US and Hanyang University, China finds its way to the manufacturing lines.
Led by Xiaolin Zheng at Stanford, and Professor Dong Rip Kim at Hanyang, the teams announced they had developed a way to create TFSCs which could be stuck to virtually any flexible surface. These cells not only have the potential to bring down the cost of manufacturing and installation even further, but open up a whole new way of using solar cells.
Imagine solar cells stuck to a window in your home, which can be removed when they are needed elsewhere. Solar cells can also be strapped to the back of a cell phone to recharge them on the go. Apparel with flxible cells weaved into them could be designed to power wearable technology…sky’s the limit really! Speaking of skies, flexible solar cells can also be incorporated into the aerodynamic body of an airplane to power it.
Xiaolin’s original motivation to work on this new type of solar cell stems from a comment made by her father in her hometown of Anshan in northeastern China.
“One day my father mentioned how great it would be if a building’s entire surface could be used for solar power, not just the roof, but also walls and windows”, says Zheng.
A decade later in 2010, Zheng was further inspired to pursue the idea after she read about an experiment in which nanometer graphene was successfully grown on the top of a silicon wafer. When the wafer was submerged in water, the nickel and graphene separated from the surface.
“It sounded unbelievable, like a magic trick, but they had achieved very reliable results” she recalls. Zheng tried to emulate the process for developing thin, flexible solar cells and found immediate success.
Conventional solar cells, unconventional manufacturing method
Regular solar cells are made on glass or silicon wafers which are heavy and rigid, limiting their use. Other surfaces such as paper or plastic are far more flexible; however they cannot withstand the high temperatures required for creating solar cells. If this new method of manufacturing flexible TFSCs is successfully replicated on an industrial scale, then flexible materials can be used for distribution, bringing down the cost of installation incredibly.
Zheng and her team began by applying a 300 nanometer layer of nickel to a silicon/silicon dioxide wafer. TFSCs were then deposited on the nickel. Another layer of protective polymer was applied on top of the TFSCs, followed by a layer of thermal release tape over it.
Next, the sandwich was submerged in room temperature water. One edge of the tape was peeled back so that water could seep between the nickel and the silicon/silicon dioxide wafer. Once the nickel was completely separated from the wafer, the researchers were left with a bare silicon wafer and the tape to which the polymer, TFSC and nickel layering remain attached.
The thermal tape along with its content were then heated to 90ºC (194ºF) for a few seconds. An adhesive was applied to the nickel; when the thermal tape was peeled off, all that was left was the polymer covered TFSC which could be stuck to any surface like a decal.
This process resulted in a solar cell that is no more than a couple microns thick and is flexible enough to be attached to any surface. The researchers also stated that their bendable solar cells have the potential to provide more or less the same power efficiencies their rigid counterparts do.
Besides offering a great new way to harness solar power, this method of making solar cells will also yield significant savings as it allows the silicon or glass substrate to be reused. More savings can be expected as these flexible cells do not require a rigid base material which accounts for about 25% of the solar cell’s cost.
Significant challenges ahead
Of course, this does not mean there are no challenges to overcome. Right now, the researchers are trying to find out if the process can be replicated on solar cells with higher efficiencies. They also have to figure out a way to ensure the peeling process can be done mechanically on large scales, as opposed to by hand, as is being done in the lab.
Because of their poorer power conversion efficiency, TFSCs need nearly twice as much installation space compared to regular c-Si cells, and their flexibility really isn’t anything to write home about.
The sticker like TFSCs, on the other hand, presents an entirely new dimension to the solar power industry. Sure, the rooftops may belong to high efficiency c-Si cells for the foreseeable future, but that does not mean there is no light to be harnessed from the side of the buildings, windows, shingles etc. Even if their efficiency does not catch up with regular rigid first gen solar cells, the fact that they will be much easier to make, and can be installed on any surface will open up plenty of options in the future.
3 Biggest Misconceptions About Renewable Energy
The 21st century has brought with it various advancements which are impressive; be those cell phones which can access the internet, or new, insanely fast forms of travel such as the hyperloop.
But even as our technology is progressing by heaps and bounds, most of our devices and ways of life are powered by antiquated fossil fuels which are leaving a trail of destruction of the likes our world has never known.
(Fabiennew / FreeImages)
Right now we are at a crossroad where fossil fuels are beginning to look like they are better of relegated to the annals of history, and renewable sources of energy such as solar power, geothermal and wind, are what we should be taking more seriously.
Despite the fact that renewable energy helps overcome many of the problems that fossil fuels present, there are still a lot of misconceptions doing the rounds regarding it.
Let’s take a look at 3 of the top myths about renewable energy:
Misconception #1 -– Clean coal:
Coal accounts for a major part of the world energy production and is also one of the dirtiest ways we can produce power. For example, power generation from coal is responsible for 59% of United States sulfur dioxide pollution.
Pollution from coal-fired plants also leads to smog, depletion of ozone and health problems among residents living near coal-fired plants. Of course, let’s not forget about the dangers of mining it.
Clean coal technology was thus recommended as an alternative until a suitable replacement could be found. However right from its inception, clean coal has been criticized for being a facelift rather than a real solution to the pollution coal causes.
A large portion of making coal clean requires capturing its polluting agents and storing it away, usually in dried up oil fields or under the sea.
Critics have pointed that this is redirection of pollution, not its elimination. These deposits also have to be observed constantly to ensure they are not endangering the eco-system, which they eventually do.
Misconception #2 -- Solar power is too weak
We don’t see too many fast cars or bikes with solar panels on them, which has given people to the idea that solar power simply isn’t powerful enough. True, in its current iteration solar power contributes to a very minuscule 0.8% of the entire world’s power production. But think about it for a second, this is energy from our neighboring star we are talking about!
In fact, all life on earth has solar energy to thank for its existence, so clearly our effort to convert the energy from the sun into usable power is somewhat lacking.
However, with each passing year, the efficiency of solar or photovoltaic cells is rising and it can become an increasingly dominant source of energy down the line. Solar power adoption in the US, as well as around the world is increasing exponentially. In US alone, photovoltaic operating capacity has touched 15.9 gigawatts, enough to power over 3.2 million homes.
New generation light harvesters such as those using perovskite and quantum dots are paving the way to a cleaner tomorrow. While both of these are still at least a decade away from seeing the light of day (pun intended), the conversion efficiency and cost effectiveness they promise are far greater than what is commercially available right now.
Misconception #3 –- Government subsidies are wasted on renewable energy technologies
Most critics of renewable energy say that had it not been for government grants, most projects such as solar power would have died out long ago. However, they conveniently ignore even non-renewable sources of energy such as oil and gas are heavily subsidized by governments in order to make them more economically viable. It is because of government subsidization that trillions of dollars worth of infrastructure needed to sustain fossil fuel entrenchment occurred in the first place.
Simply put, a program receiving financial help from governments does not mean it will fail in its absence. Currently, the entry barriers to new technologies in the energy market are higher than in any other industry. Federal subsidies are provided so that emerging technologies can catch up with existing energy production methods.
US government’s policies also have been very successful so far. For instance, Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), Net Energy Metering (NEM) and Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) have allowed renewable sources of energy such as solar power to become more popular, and are paying back $15 billion per year worth of dividends to the US economy.
Ultimately the subsidization of renewable sources of energy only serves to diversify and strengthen the energy market by providing more options to the consumer. More sources of energy will also protect against price shocks and keep energy prices down via competition. The benefits that we stand to reap from renewable sources of energies are well worth the subsidies, especially since they only cost the government a small percentage of its total budget expenditure.
But even as our technology is progressing by heaps and bounds, most of our devices and ways of life are powered by antiquated fossil fuels which are leaving a trail of destruction of the likes our world has never known.
(Fabiennew / FreeImages)
Right now we are at a crossroad where fossil fuels are beginning to look like they are better of relegated to the annals of history, and renewable sources of energy such as solar power, geothermal and wind, are what we should be taking more seriously.
Despite the fact that renewable energy helps overcome many of the problems that fossil fuels present, there are still a lot of misconceptions doing the rounds regarding it.
Let’s take a look at 3 of the top myths about renewable energy:
Misconception #1 -– Clean coal:
Coal accounts for a major part of the world energy production and is also one of the dirtiest ways we can produce power. For example, power generation from coal is responsible for 59% of United States sulfur dioxide pollution.
Pollution from coal-fired plants also leads to smog, depletion of ozone and health problems among residents living near coal-fired plants. Of course, let’s not forget about the dangers of mining it.
Clean coal technology was thus recommended as an alternative until a suitable replacement could be found. However right from its inception, clean coal has been criticized for being a facelift rather than a real solution to the pollution coal causes.
A large portion of making coal clean requires capturing its polluting agents and storing it away, usually in dried up oil fields or under the sea.
Critics have pointed that this is redirection of pollution, not its elimination. These deposits also have to be observed constantly to ensure they are not endangering the eco-system, which they eventually do.
Misconception #2 -- Solar power is too weak
We don’t see too many fast cars or bikes with solar panels on them, which has given people to the idea that solar power simply isn’t powerful enough. True, in its current iteration solar power contributes to a very minuscule 0.8% of the entire world’s power production. But think about it for a second, this is energy from our neighboring star we are talking about!
In fact, all life on earth has solar energy to thank for its existence, so clearly our effort to convert the energy from the sun into usable power is somewhat lacking.
However, with each passing year, the efficiency of solar or photovoltaic cells is rising and it can become an increasingly dominant source of energy down the line. Solar power adoption in the US, as well as around the world is increasing exponentially. In US alone, photovoltaic operating capacity has touched 15.9 gigawatts, enough to power over 3.2 million homes.
New generation light harvesters such as those using perovskite and quantum dots are paving the way to a cleaner tomorrow. While both of these are still at least a decade away from seeing the light of day (pun intended), the conversion efficiency and cost effectiveness they promise are far greater than what is commercially available right now.
Misconception #3 –- Government subsidies are wasted on renewable energy technologies
Most critics of renewable energy say that had it not been for government grants, most projects such as solar power would have died out long ago. However, they conveniently ignore even non-renewable sources of energy such as oil and gas are heavily subsidized by governments in order to make them more economically viable. It is because of government subsidization that trillions of dollars worth of infrastructure needed to sustain fossil fuel entrenchment occurred in the first place.
Simply put, a program receiving financial help from governments does not mean it will fail in its absence. Currently, the entry barriers to new technologies in the energy market are higher than in any other industry. Federal subsidies are provided so that emerging technologies can catch up with existing energy production methods.
US government’s policies also have been very successful so far. For instance, Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), Net Energy Metering (NEM) and Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) have allowed renewable sources of energy such as solar power to become more popular, and are paying back $15 billion per year worth of dividends to the US economy.
Ultimately the subsidization of renewable sources of energy only serves to diversify and strengthen the energy market by providing more options to the consumer. More sources of energy will also protect against price shocks and keep energy prices down via competition. The benefits that we stand to reap from renewable sources of energies are well worth the subsidies, especially since they only cost the government a small percentage of its total budget expenditure.
Explode Your Social Media Fandom With These 3 Tips!
A good, responsive and respectfully large social media fan base is becoming more and more important for a business these days; however knowing how to create one takes skill, time and creativity. Now, you can very easily go buy yourself some fans/followers of Fiverr, or maybe you found the idea of “exchanging” fans online too tempting; but none of these are exactly a business building investment.
In fact trying something sneaky can put your Facebook fan page or Twitter account in their respective administrator’s crosshairs.
(Bruno Cordioli / Flickr / CC-BY-SA)
So how can you ensure that the number of your fans grows like it was meant to? Here are a few tips that can help you increase your social media presence both organically, and fast!
#1 -- Be less salsey, and more friendly
In other words, lighten up. Too many businesses are still looking at social media as if it was yet another sales channel and paying dearly in terms of lost opportunities and wasted time. While using social media to generate transactions is the ultimate goal, it is a lot higher in the sales funnel, so it almost never responds well to a sales pitch.
Social media is best thought of as a gathering of friends and family rather than a convention where you are actively trying to sell. Think how you will act and talk if you were in a party, you will not try to sell directly, maybe let people know what you do during a conversation and then move on to other topics.
As a business man/woman or an executive, you will know how important having an active social life is to expanding your contacts and maybe finding new opportunities, keep the same mindset here!
#2 -- Post a variety of different content
Mix it up, don’t just keep telling your followers how good your product is, tell them an interesting trivia, post a funny (but decent) picture, anything that will bring a smile to their faces or make them feel elated. If what you have to say sounds boring, overly corporate or tediously full of information, it will most likely get ignored.
The best content for social media is that which is short, imaginatively written and easy to understand.
#3 -- Throw a contest
Nothing gets a person’s attention better than the prospect of getting something for free. You are only limited by your imagination here! Tell your fans to post something interesting on your fan page and the post with the most number of likes and/or shares will win a free whatever you can offer them – a coupon, free dinner at a posh restaurant, a giveaway etc.
This is by far the best way to go viral too; a person posting on your fan page not only tells their friends about your business, but also exposes them to your offer. When your fan’s friends find out there is a chance to win something, then they throw in their own post on your page, which in turn tells their friends….you get the picture.
Social media is a GREAT and FUN way to engage both your existing clients and prospects. Done right, it can add to your bottom line by ensuring repeat customers, brand loyalty and good word of mouth advertising.
Try these tips and see for yourself how powerful social media can be as a marketing tool.
In fact trying something sneaky can put your Facebook fan page or Twitter account in their respective administrator’s crosshairs.
(Bruno Cordioli / Flickr / CC-BY-SA)
So how can you ensure that the number of your fans grows like it was meant to? Here are a few tips that can help you increase your social media presence both organically, and fast!
#1 -- Be less salsey, and more friendly
In other words, lighten up. Too many businesses are still looking at social media as if it was yet another sales channel and paying dearly in terms of lost opportunities and wasted time. While using social media to generate transactions is the ultimate goal, it is a lot higher in the sales funnel, so it almost never responds well to a sales pitch.
Social media is best thought of as a gathering of friends and family rather than a convention where you are actively trying to sell. Think how you will act and talk if you were in a party, you will not try to sell directly, maybe let people know what you do during a conversation and then move on to other topics.
As a business man/woman or an executive, you will know how important having an active social life is to expanding your contacts and maybe finding new opportunities, keep the same mindset here!
#2 -- Post a variety of different content
Mix it up, don’t just keep telling your followers how good your product is, tell them an interesting trivia, post a funny (but decent) picture, anything that will bring a smile to their faces or make them feel elated. If what you have to say sounds boring, overly corporate or tediously full of information, it will most likely get ignored.
The best content for social media is that which is short, imaginatively written and easy to understand.
#3 -- Throw a contest
Nothing gets a person’s attention better than the prospect of getting something for free. You are only limited by your imagination here! Tell your fans to post something interesting on your fan page and the post with the most number of likes and/or shares will win a free whatever you can offer them – a coupon, free dinner at a posh restaurant, a giveaway etc.
This is by far the best way to go viral too; a person posting on your fan page not only tells their friends about your business, but also exposes them to your offer. When your fan’s friends find out there is a chance to win something, then they throw in their own post on your page, which in turn tells their friends….you get the picture.
Social media is a GREAT and FUN way to engage both your existing clients and prospects. Done right, it can add to your bottom line by ensuring repeat customers, brand loyalty and good word of mouth advertising.
Try these tips and see for yourself how powerful social media can be as a marketing tool.
Is Oculus Rift Virtual Reality Headset A Hint Of The Future?
In a word, yes, and if the recently announced $2 billion Facebook acquisition of Oculus Rift is any indication, then hell yes! Virtual Reality has long been that gray area between science fiction and reality; it looked very futuristic, and it was also a technology that was commercially available.
However being costly and still not quite there yet (low res displays, poor field of view and lack of total immersion) meant that it never gained any traction.
(Sergey Galyonkin / Flickr / CC-BY-SA)
Oculus Rift is being designed to address ALL of the issues that other headsets couldn’t overcome – it will be affordable, offers HD resolution and a respectable field of view lending an extremely immersive experience (if the independent developer reviews are to be believed).
While the Rift was solely being developed for gaming, such technology, when made cheap and accessible has the potential to change a lot of other things as well; imagine going to a virtual movie theater wearing your Rift and enjoying the latest flick, online.
Or how about having a conference with every member of your team in a fantastic 3D room? You could also attend virtual sporting events wearing your Rift! Facebook’s interest and investment in this technology definitely point to such applications in times to come.
The technical nitty gritty of virtual reality
With conventional monitors, our immersion is limited to the resolution that can be displayed. However in virtual reality, resolution plays second fiddle to the Diagonal Field of View (dFOV). Since virtual reality headsets display a picture only inches away, the more your eye’s field of view is utilized, the better the immersion becomes.
The human eye’s field of view is 180 degrees; up till now, most virtual reality devices offered dFOV of 30 degrees to 45 degrees, which left a lot of viewing space wasted, leading to a tunnel vision type of experience. Most of them also only support resolutions up to 800X600 pixels, a far cry from what today’s monitors can crank out.
Finally, even these VR headsets are ridiculously hard to find and insanely expensive, with some of them costing as much as $10,000 per piece!
The Oculus Rift advantage
While the device is still under development, the consumer version is expected to offer a dFOV of 110 degrees which is more than twice as much as what is currently available. It will support resolution up to 1920X1080 pixels (Full HD) and will also have stereoscopic imaging (Real 3D).
The headset will have low latency head tracking, meaning when you turn your head, your view in the 3D environment will change correspondingly without any lag. Although its price has not been officially disclosed, sources close to the team developing the product are betting it will be below $500 per piece.
The Rift is currently available as a kit for developers at a price of $300 so that they can tune their software to utilize the hardware to the best of its abilities, and also report any bugs that might be there. If you are a developer with an interest in the subject, go over to www.oculusvr.com and order your unit today.
Remember! Most of the games and 3D software, today do not support the device so don’t order thinking you can just plug it in and start playing Counter-Strike right off the bat.
The first reports coming on to developer blogs who are tinkering with the Rift seem promising. Many of them are calling it the best visual aid device that could possibly exist! It has been well received by the IT community with many industry bigwigs wigs such as Gabe Newell of Valve Software and John Carmack of id Software endorsing the product and giving it their fullest support.
However being costly and still not quite there yet (low res displays, poor field of view and lack of total immersion) meant that it never gained any traction.
(Sergey Galyonkin / Flickr / CC-BY-SA)
Oculus Rift is being designed to address ALL of the issues that other headsets couldn’t overcome – it will be affordable, offers HD resolution and a respectable field of view lending an extremely immersive experience (if the independent developer reviews are to be believed).
While the Rift was solely being developed for gaming, such technology, when made cheap and accessible has the potential to change a lot of other things as well; imagine going to a virtual movie theater wearing your Rift and enjoying the latest flick, online.
Or how about having a conference with every member of your team in a fantastic 3D room? You could also attend virtual sporting events wearing your Rift! Facebook’s interest and investment in this technology definitely point to such applications in times to come.
The technical nitty gritty of virtual reality
With conventional monitors, our immersion is limited to the resolution that can be displayed. However in virtual reality, resolution plays second fiddle to the Diagonal Field of View (dFOV). Since virtual reality headsets display a picture only inches away, the more your eye’s field of view is utilized, the better the immersion becomes.
The human eye’s field of view is 180 degrees; up till now, most virtual reality devices offered dFOV of 30 degrees to 45 degrees, which left a lot of viewing space wasted, leading to a tunnel vision type of experience. Most of them also only support resolutions up to 800X600 pixels, a far cry from what today’s monitors can crank out.
Finally, even these VR headsets are ridiculously hard to find and insanely expensive, with some of them costing as much as $10,000 per piece!
The Oculus Rift advantage
While the device is still under development, the consumer version is expected to offer a dFOV of 110 degrees which is more than twice as much as what is currently available. It will support resolution up to 1920X1080 pixels (Full HD) and will also have stereoscopic imaging (Real 3D).
The headset will have low latency head tracking, meaning when you turn your head, your view in the 3D environment will change correspondingly without any lag. Although its price has not been officially disclosed, sources close to the team developing the product are betting it will be below $500 per piece.
The Rift is currently available as a kit for developers at a price of $300 so that they can tune their software to utilize the hardware to the best of its abilities, and also report any bugs that might be there. If you are a developer with an interest in the subject, go over to www.oculusvr.com and order your unit today.
Remember! Most of the games and 3D software, today do not support the device so don’t order thinking you can just plug it in and start playing Counter-Strike right off the bat.
The first reports coming on to developer blogs who are tinkering with the Rift seem promising. Many of them are calling it the best visual aid device that could possibly exist! It has been well received by the IT community with many industry bigwigs wigs such as Gabe Newell of Valve Software and John Carmack of id Software endorsing the product and giving it their fullest support.
Microsoft Does A 180 On Internet Connection Requirement For Xbox One
In a major win for console gamers, Microsoft recently announced that their upcoming gaming console, the Xbox One will not require an internet connection periodically (every 24 hours) in order to work, as had been stated before.
They didn’t stop there, Microsoft’s draconian used games restriction policy according to which users couldn’t swap, lend or sell games has also been reportedly backtracked as gamers and critics were rather unhappy with it.
(Luke Hayfield / Flickr / CC-BY-SA)
It sure looks like that the guys in Redmond are sitting up and taking notice of what their consumers are asking for, good for them, and us.
Where did all this start?
Well, according to this page, an Xbox One console could be played in offline mode for no more than 24 hours at a stretch on a console which a user owned and 1 hour if he/she was logged on with another one, after that, an internet connection will be required in order to go on playing. “Offline gaming is not possible after these prescribed times until you re-establish a connection, but you can still watch live TV and enjoy Blu-ray and DVD movies,” says the page.
However all that has reportedly been changed after Don Mattrick, the man behind Xbox set the record straight - "An Internet connection will not be required to play offline Xbox One games. After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One, you can play any disc-based game without ever connecting online again. There is no 24-hour connection requirement and you can take your Xbox One anywhere you want and play your games, just like on Xbox 360.”
Why a perpetual internet connection was required in the first place was both confusing and annoying. What about service men and women, or those who did not have a reliable connection asked gamers? Way back in May when the console was announced, the official Microsoft statement was that an internet connection was required in order to allow the users to use the cloud and also to let Xbox One verify if game and console updates were available.
This apparently lent the audience to the impression that most games for Xbox One were being designed around the cloud. Well, since now all that is history, we are left to wonder if this was just fluff to cover up Microsoft’s attempts at masking their DRM enforcement.
So when do we really need an internet connection
With all that said, there is no doubt that there will be occasions where your Xbox One will need to be connected to the internet. For instance, next-gen games which will use the cloud in order to function will require an internet connection, and of course if you are going to be playing multiplayer games, then you need to be logged online.
Additionally, just like in Xbox 360, you can purchase and download games and Blu-ray movies via Xbox Live when they are released and store them on your console or watch Live TV as well. Finally, Xbox One, like its predecessor will allow you to surf the internet using the internet explorer app.
With the kind of history that Microsoft has, we won’t be surprised if there are more such backtracks or new policies waiting for us before the console is released in November this year. Here’s a sum-up of all the changes which have taken place since Xbox One was announced:
Do these policy changes improve Microsoft’s odds against Sony’s Playstation 4? This is certainly an interesting question and one we will have to wait for an answer to. For the time being, Microsoft has leveled the playing field against Sony on all accounts save for the price (Xbox One is still about $100 more expensive than Playstation 4). Which one of these two beasts will you prefer to go with?
They didn’t stop there, Microsoft’s draconian used games restriction policy according to which users couldn’t swap, lend or sell games has also been reportedly backtracked as gamers and critics were rather unhappy with it.
(Luke Hayfield / Flickr / CC-BY-SA)
It sure looks like that the guys in Redmond are sitting up and taking notice of what their consumers are asking for, good for them, and us.
Where did all this start?
Well, according to this page, an Xbox One console could be played in offline mode for no more than 24 hours at a stretch on a console which a user owned and 1 hour if he/she was logged on with another one, after that, an internet connection will be required in order to go on playing. “Offline gaming is not possible after these prescribed times until you re-establish a connection, but you can still watch live TV and enjoy Blu-ray and DVD movies,” says the page.
However all that has reportedly been changed after Don Mattrick, the man behind Xbox set the record straight - "An Internet connection will not be required to play offline Xbox One games. After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One, you can play any disc-based game without ever connecting online again. There is no 24-hour connection requirement and you can take your Xbox One anywhere you want and play your games, just like on Xbox 360.”
Why a perpetual internet connection was required in the first place was both confusing and annoying. What about service men and women, or those who did not have a reliable connection asked gamers? Way back in May when the console was announced, the official Microsoft statement was that an internet connection was required in order to allow the users to use the cloud and also to let Xbox One verify if game and console updates were available.
This apparently lent the audience to the impression that most games for Xbox One were being designed around the cloud. Well, since now all that is history, we are left to wonder if this was just fluff to cover up Microsoft’s attempts at masking their DRM enforcement.
So when do we really need an internet connection
With all that said, there is no doubt that there will be occasions where your Xbox One will need to be connected to the internet. For instance, next-gen games which will use the cloud in order to function will require an internet connection, and of course if you are going to be playing multiplayer games, then you need to be logged online.
Additionally, just like in Xbox 360, you can purchase and download games and Blu-ray movies via Xbox Live when they are released and store them on your console or watch Live TV as well. Finally, Xbox One, like its predecessor will allow you to surf the internet using the internet explorer app.
With the kind of history that Microsoft has, we won’t be surprised if there are more such backtracks or new policies waiting for us before the console is released in November this year. Here’s a sum-up of all the changes which have taken place since Xbox One was announced:
- No need to be logged online in order to play single player games.
- The console will not check in with Microsoft every 24 hours.
- Regional locks have been discarded; you can take your Xbox anywhere you go and still play any game.
- Plans to put DRM restrictions on sharing games have been dropped as well and you may lend games to, or borrow them from whoever you want.
Do these policy changes improve Microsoft’s odds against Sony’s Playstation 4? This is certainly an interesting question and one we will have to wait for an answer to. For the time being, Microsoft has leveled the playing field against Sony on all accounts save for the price (Xbox One is still about $100 more expensive than Playstation 4). Which one of these two beasts will you prefer to go with?
Garmin Introduces Heads Up Display Based Navigation Device
The HUD or Heads Up Displays have always been thought of as one of the coolest pieces of technologies ever created; they can superimpose information on a transparent piece of glass which is both functional and pretty impressive to look at.
HUDs are usually synonymous with modern combat aircraft, in which they are used to display information vital to the pilot. However Garmin, which is renowned for making GPS devices, has recently introduced a portable GPS device which can project turn by turn navigation onto a vehicle’s windshield
(Jef Filcox / Flickr / CC-BY-SA)
in much the same as those installed on a fighter do and while you won’t be able to lock onto passing cars, you will get a fair idea on how to reach your destination faster without needing to look anywhere except the road.
Drive without taking your eyes of the road
The philosophy behind a Heads Up Display is fairly straightforward; give drivers all the relevant information they require without needing them to take their head off the objective. Using such a technology actually makes a lot of sense on the road where dials and screens can act as distractions competing for the driver’s attention which needs to be focused on the road itself.
Many of the high-end cars from BMW, Audi, and Toyota are already offering a Heads Up Display which projects important information such as speed, gear number, and GPS navigation instructions onto the vehicle’s windshield. The portable GPS unit from Garmin, which it simply calls HUD can display navigation instructions such as turn arrows, distance to next turn, current speed, area speed limit and estimated time of arrival onto the lower end of the driver’s line of sight. Furthermore, the device can also recommend best lanes and can even warn you about traffic delays and upcoming safety camera installations.
Smartphone connectivity required
The HUD receives its navigation via Bluetooth from a smartphone such as an iPhone or an Android phone which needs to be running the Garmin Street Pilot 1 or NAVIGON App. The HUD then visually displays this information onto your vehicle’s windshield while also giving verbal turn by turn instructions either through your car’s speakers or your phone’s.
The Garmin HUD will be available for purchase shortly and will be priced at $129.99.
HUDs are usually synonymous with modern combat aircraft, in which they are used to display information vital to the pilot. However Garmin, which is renowned for making GPS devices, has recently introduced a portable GPS device which can project turn by turn navigation onto a vehicle’s windshield
(Jef Filcox / Flickr / CC-BY-SA)
in much the same as those installed on a fighter do and while you won’t be able to lock onto passing cars, you will get a fair idea on how to reach your destination faster without needing to look anywhere except the road.
Drive without taking your eyes of the road
The philosophy behind a Heads Up Display is fairly straightforward; give drivers all the relevant information they require without needing them to take their head off the objective. Using such a technology actually makes a lot of sense on the road where dials and screens can act as distractions competing for the driver’s attention which needs to be focused on the road itself.
Many of the high-end cars from BMW, Audi, and Toyota are already offering a Heads Up Display which projects important information such as speed, gear number, and GPS navigation instructions onto the vehicle’s windshield. The portable GPS unit from Garmin, which it simply calls HUD can display navigation instructions such as turn arrows, distance to next turn, current speed, area speed limit and estimated time of arrival onto the lower end of the driver’s line of sight. Furthermore, the device can also recommend best lanes and can even warn you about traffic delays and upcoming safety camera installations.
Smartphone connectivity required
The HUD receives its navigation via Bluetooth from a smartphone such as an iPhone or an Android phone which needs to be running the Garmin Street Pilot 1 or NAVIGON App. The HUD then visually displays this information onto your vehicle’s windshield while also giving verbal turn by turn instructions either through your car’s speakers or your phone’s.
The Garmin HUD will be available for purchase shortly and will be priced at $129.99.
Forex Trading 101 - Understanding How Forex Works
Forex Trading is simple enough; you are buying and selling currencies. The fundamentals of trade in the Foreign Exchange Market are not all that different from the Stock Market so if you have experience trading there, you will catch on quick with Currency Exchange.
The aim in Forex Trading is to exchange one currency for another expecting the value of the currency you purchased to
appreciate on a future date so that you can sell it and make a profit.
(EpSos .de / Flickr / CC-BY-SA)
Forex trading is carried out in pairs. There are 7 major currency pairs (all of which have USD in them), although there are many other pairs available with different currencies from which you can choose. A pair is essentially made up of a base currency on the left side of the “/” and the quote currency on the right side of it:
Base Currency/Quote (or) Counter Currency
Some examples of currency pairs are EUR/USD, USD/JPY, AUD/USD.
When you execute a trade, you will receive a Forex quote which gives you an exchange rate between the two currencies in the pair. It looks something like:
EUR/USD = 1.2866
In the quote above, EUR or Euro is the base currency while USD or US Dollar is the counter currency. The quote states that you need to spend 1.2866 dollars to purchase 1 Euro. Alternatively, if you were selling here, you will get 1.2866 USD for every 1 Euro that you sell.
A working example:
You decide to execute a trade in the EUR/USD pair and buy 10,000 Euros at an exchange rate of 1.2866. You pay up 12,866 USD (10,000 Euro X 1.2866).
3 Weeks on you find that the exchange rate for EUR/USD has gone up from 1.2866 to 1.3300. You quickly sell the 10,000 Euros you had purchased and buy back US Dollars. You will now be in possession of USD 13,300, earning a net profit of USD 434.
Here’s another example:
Let’s say that you are trading in EUR/USD. You realize that the US economy is not doing so well, so in all probability, the value of USD will depreciate within 1 week or so. In such a case, you will buy EUR/USD, meaning you will purchase Euros by selling your Dollars in the hopes that when the value of the Dollar falls, you can sell EUR/USD and make a profit.
And that is essentially how you make money in Forex. But just how do you predict if a certain quote is going to appreciate? Now we are getting into the right of stuff!
Accurately predicting how the Forex market will evolve (or devolve) is how people become millionaires. You need to understand that every time you purchase a currency, you are essentially investing in the country or countries to which it belongs. Therefore, learning as much as possible about the financial situation of the markets that you are invested in is pivotally important.
As different markets often affect one another, having a good grasp on the latest global economic scenario will also help you get more winning trades under your belt. The best Forex traders are the most fervent news followers on the planet and if you want to join their ranks, then this is a habit that you will have to develop.
Most broker websites, where you buy and sell currency, will also offer relevant news feeds so that you can keep yourself as up to date as possible while you are placing your trades, so make sure you use that feature.
The aim in Forex Trading is to exchange one currency for another expecting the value of the currency you purchased to
appreciate on a future date so that you can sell it and make a profit.
(EpSos .de / Flickr / CC-BY-SA)
Forex trading is carried out in pairs. There are 7 major currency pairs (all of which have USD in them), although there are many other pairs available with different currencies from which you can choose. A pair is essentially made up of a base currency on the left side of the “/” and the quote currency on the right side of it:
Base Currency/Quote (or) Counter Currency
Some examples of currency pairs are EUR/USD, USD/JPY, AUD/USD.
When you execute a trade, you will receive a Forex quote which gives you an exchange rate between the two currencies in the pair. It looks something like:
EUR/USD = 1.2866
In the quote above, EUR or Euro is the base currency while USD or US Dollar is the counter currency. The quote states that you need to spend 1.2866 dollars to purchase 1 Euro. Alternatively, if you were selling here, you will get 1.2866 USD for every 1 Euro that you sell.
A working example:
You decide to execute a trade in the EUR/USD pair and buy 10,000 Euros at an exchange rate of 1.2866. You pay up 12,866 USD (10,000 Euro X 1.2866).
3 Weeks on you find that the exchange rate for EUR/USD has gone up from 1.2866 to 1.3300. You quickly sell the 10,000 Euros you had purchased and buy back US Dollars. You will now be in possession of USD 13,300, earning a net profit of USD 434.
Here’s another example:
Let’s say that you are trading in EUR/USD. You realize that the US economy is not doing so well, so in all probability, the value of USD will depreciate within 1 week or so. In such a case, you will buy EUR/USD, meaning you will purchase Euros by selling your Dollars in the hopes that when the value of the Dollar falls, you can sell EUR/USD and make a profit.
And that is essentially how you make money in Forex. But just how do you predict if a certain quote is going to appreciate? Now we are getting into the right of stuff!
Accurately predicting how the Forex market will evolve (or devolve) is how people become millionaires. You need to understand that every time you purchase a currency, you are essentially investing in the country or countries to which it belongs. Therefore, learning as much as possible about the financial situation of the markets that you are invested in is pivotally important.
As different markets often affect one another, having a good grasp on the latest global economic scenario will also help you get more winning trades under your belt. The best Forex traders are the most fervent news followers on the planet and if you want to join their ranks, then this is a habit that you will have to develop.
Most broker websites, where you buy and sell currency, will also offer relevant news feeds so that you can keep yourself as up to date as possible while you are placing your trades, so make sure you use that feature.
Different Types of Thai Visas And How To Get Them
The land of smiles draws in millions of tourists every year, many of whom decide to extend their stay and if you are planning to be one of them, then here are some insider’s tips. For the record, I have been living in Thailand for over 7 years; coming here on an exchange program, I fell in love with the place and have been staying here ever since.
Now if you are going to stay here for more than a month, you need to arrange for a visa. There are many different types of visas in Thailand which you can apply for depending on what you intend to do here.
(Sergey / Flickr / CC-BY-SA)
#1 -- Tourist Visa
The first month for persons of most western countries is free, although this rule does vary depending on the relationship between your home country and Thailand. People of Chinese, African and some Middle Eastern countries will need to buy a visa on arrival which is valid for 15 days or a regular visa from a Thai embassy in their country which is typically valid for 30 or 60 days.
The majority of foreigners who are living here choose to get a tourist visa, which is renewed every 60 days by doing what is popularly known as a – “visa run”, let me explain - If your free 30 day period has elapsed, you can cross borders into a neighboring country such as Cambodia, Laos or Singapore and get a new visa and return back to Thailand. These visa runs typically cost around 3,000 to 10,000 Bahts ($90 to $310) per trip. The tourist visa itself will cost $30 and can be extended in an immigration center once for another 1,900 Bahts.
#2 -- Non-Immigrant Education Visa
On the other hand, if you cannot be bothered with visa runs, then you can also enrol into a language school which will entitle you to a 1 year education visa, costing 2,000 Bahts ($62) paid at the local embassy and 1,900 Bahts ($59) every 3 months for extension.
The only hassle you will have to put up with, in this case, will be to go to the friendly immigration center in the town that you are staying every 90 days and pay the extension fee.
#3 -- Non-Immigrant Business Visa
There are other ways to stay here too; you can get a job in Thailand which will both secure you financially, while helping you develop a better feel for the place. To land a job, you are required to purchase a Type “B” non-immigrant visa, along with a work permit; the latter will be provided by the organization you sign up with. These visas are valid for 3 months from the time of purchase, after which they are extended to a year.
A single entry Type “B” visa costs 2,000 Bahts ($62), and a multiple entry version costs 5,000 Bahts ($155). Most foreigners choose to teach English, mathematics or sciences in an educational or vocational institute here.
There is a huge demand for teachers and you can quickly get absorbed into a school, college, university or private training facility.
#4 -- Type "O" Marriage Visa
Finally, for the lucky few who have found their better half in Thailand, there is a marriage visa as well. A marriage visa is called Type “O” and is valid for a year. It has certain financial requirements attached to it which include a minimum monthly income of 40,000 Bahts ($1,245), you must also have at least 400,000 Bahts ($12,450) in a local bank account for 2 months before you apply for the visa.
Finally, you will need to pass a police clearance and produce a medical certificate, for the immigration authorities.
Each of the visas mentioned above has its own rules and allows you to stay for a certain period of time. It is crucial that you adhere to the rules laid out for the visa you apply for, as the Thai immigration does not look kindly upon those who try to snivel their way around them. There are plenty of horror stories from foreigners who thought they could pull a fast one, only to end up in a jail cell, or being deported. Not trying to scare you away but if you really want to enjoy your time here, then be sure to prepare yourself mentally, and financially before you arrive. This will go a long way in ensuring that your stay here is a pleasant one.
Now if you are going to stay here for more than a month, you need to arrange for a visa. There are many different types of visas in Thailand which you can apply for depending on what you intend to do here.
(Sergey / Flickr / CC-BY-SA)
#1 -- Tourist Visa
The first month for persons of most western countries is free, although this rule does vary depending on the relationship between your home country and Thailand. People of Chinese, African and some Middle Eastern countries will need to buy a visa on arrival which is valid for 15 days or a regular visa from a Thai embassy in their country which is typically valid for 30 or 60 days.
The majority of foreigners who are living here choose to get a tourist visa, which is renewed every 60 days by doing what is popularly known as a – “visa run”, let me explain - If your free 30 day period has elapsed, you can cross borders into a neighboring country such as Cambodia, Laos or Singapore and get a new visa and return back to Thailand. These visa runs typically cost around 3,000 to 10,000 Bahts ($90 to $310) per trip. The tourist visa itself will cost $30 and can be extended in an immigration center once for another 1,900 Bahts.
#2 -- Non-Immigrant Education Visa
On the other hand, if you cannot be bothered with visa runs, then you can also enrol into a language school which will entitle you to a 1 year education visa, costing 2,000 Bahts ($62) paid at the local embassy and 1,900 Bahts ($59) every 3 months for extension.
The only hassle you will have to put up with, in this case, will be to go to the friendly immigration center in the town that you are staying every 90 days and pay the extension fee.
#3 -- Non-Immigrant Business Visa
There are other ways to stay here too; you can get a job in Thailand which will both secure you financially, while helping you develop a better feel for the place. To land a job, you are required to purchase a Type “B” non-immigrant visa, along with a work permit; the latter will be provided by the organization you sign up with. These visas are valid for 3 months from the time of purchase, after which they are extended to a year.
A single entry Type “B” visa costs 2,000 Bahts ($62), and a multiple entry version costs 5,000 Bahts ($155). Most foreigners choose to teach English, mathematics or sciences in an educational or vocational institute here.
There is a huge demand for teachers and you can quickly get absorbed into a school, college, university or private training facility.
#4 -- Type "O" Marriage Visa
Finally, for the lucky few who have found their better half in Thailand, there is a marriage visa as well. A marriage visa is called Type “O” and is valid for a year. It has certain financial requirements attached to it which include a minimum monthly income of 40,000 Bahts ($1,245), you must also have at least 400,000 Bahts ($12,450) in a local bank account for 2 months before you apply for the visa.
Finally, you will need to pass a police clearance and produce a medical certificate, for the immigration authorities.
Each of the visas mentioned above has its own rules and allows you to stay for a certain period of time. It is crucial that you adhere to the rules laid out for the visa you apply for, as the Thai immigration does not look kindly upon those who try to snivel their way around them. There are plenty of horror stories from foreigners who thought they could pull a fast one, only to end up in a jail cell, or being deported. Not trying to scare you away but if you really want to enjoy your time here, then be sure to prepare yourself mentally, and financially before you arrive. This will go a long way in ensuring that your stay here is a pleasant one.
Interested in something specific? I can provide more samples upon request, drop me a line and I will get back to you as soon as possible.