Transparent HDTV

Does your HDTV just not seem as sleek and sexy as it once was? Now having a flat-panel display mounted to your wall just isn't enough anymore, the completely see-through Loewe Invisio might be just what you're looking for. Designed by Michael Friebe, the transparent television made a big splash in the 2011 iF Concept Design competition, and if we're lucky we may soon see it in our own homes.

Loewe is well known in Europe for its high-end televisions and audio hardware. In fact, the company is said to be in talks with Apple about a possible acquisition. This would give Apple a huge head start if the company decides to release a long-rumored Apple-branded HDTV, and would mean products like the futuristic Invisio could arrive stateside sooner rather than later.

The Invsio looks absolutely stunning — well, as stunning as a see-through television can look. The clear LCD technology allows the display to pop to life when you hit the power button, but then disappear the instant you shut it off. The bottom portion of the set houses all the important bits, and the entire unit can be mounted on a wall if you're not a fan of the shiny silver tabletop stand.





Without a border or frame of any kind, the screen is meant to blend in seamlessly with its surroundings when not in use. The Invisio is clearly meant for TV lovers who want their living rooms to have an air of sophistication on nights when must-see-TV isn't a priority. Of course, if the rear of your entertainment center is littered with cords, you're going to want to clean them up before showing off a new transparent TV.

But don't start saving for this futuristic display just yet — the Invisio isn't yet a Loewe's retail offering, and because it's still considered a concept, it may never be. Of course, one look at the company's plans for other future products — including a TV with two screens and a mirror with built-in social displays (pictured below) — should be enough to tell you that the Invisio may very well see the light of day.






If the Inviso concept sounds like something out of science fiction, don't forget that transparent LCD technology has been around for a while now. Samsung has already shown off its own see-through "Smart Window" technology which allows users to interact with apps, or even pull down a set of virtual shades to dim the daylight. The Invisio would likely work in a similar fashion, though without the addition of touchscreen controls.
Regardless of whether or not it ever becomes a reality, the fact that we have the technology available to make see-through televisions is enough to make us feel like we're living in the future.

Mind Controlled Wheel Chair

Imagine, that a completely paralyzed person could control a motorized wheelchair simply by thinking about it. By bypassing damaged nerves, such a device could open many doors to independence for disabled people.
Whenever you perform a physical action, neurons in your brain generate minute electric signals. These signals move from the brain and travel along axons and dendrites, passing through your nervous system. When they reach the right area of the body, motor neurons activate the necessary muscles to complete the action.

Almost every signal passes through the bundle of nerves inside the spinal cord before moving on to other parts of the body. When the spinal cord is severely damaged or cut, the break in the nervous system prevents the signals from getting where they need to be. In the case of neuromuscular disease, the motor neurons stop functioning -- the signals are still being sent, but there's no way for the body to translate them into actual muscle action.

One way to solve the problem of a faulty nervous system is to intercept signals from the brain before they are interrupted by a break in the spinal cord or degenerated neurons. This is the solution that the thought-controlled wheelchair will put to use.

STEPHEN HAWKING'S WHEELCHAIR

Physicist Stephen Hawking suffers from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Hawking has near complete paralysis but retains enough muscle­ control to allow him to press a button with his right hand. A computer screen displays a series of icons that allow control of his wheelchair, doors and appliances in his house. He can select items on the screen by pressing the button when a moving cursor passes over the correct area of the screen. ­

Hawking speaks in a similar manner. The screen displays the alphabet, with a cursor moving over it. He presses the button at the appropriate letter. Once he has constructed a complete sentence, he can send the text to the voice synthesizer built into his chair. Hawking’s ability to move a finger on his right hand differentiates him from many other victims of paralysis or disease, who are unable to communicate or interact with control systems at all. ­