Nissan puts its self-healing paint on iPhone case
Japanese automaker Nissan has applied its self-healing paint technology to an iPhone case. The first-of-its-kind case is a tribute to the Juke crossover and was created with the help of the University of Tokyo and Advanced Softmaterials. As on Nissan's cars, any small scratches or scrapes can fix themselves over time.
Flexible organic flash memory prototyped in Japan
Researches at the University of Tokyo have developed what they are calling organic flash memory, which shares its basic structure with flash memory but is made entirely of organic materials. Its erasing and reading voltages are rated at a low 6V and 1V, respectively, though data can only be written and erased more than 1,000 times. Foreseen uses of the new memory include large area sensors, electronic paper and other big electronic devices, though the founders admit the technology's memory retention time of only one day needs to be extended.
Touch holograms shown off
University of Tokyo researchers are demonstrating what they call an Airborne Ultrasound Tactile Display (PDF) at the currently ongoing SIGGRAPH event in New Orleans. The prototype uses ultrasound technology to create holograms that can be touched, or at least feel like they're being touched. Because holograms are nothing but light, the team has developed a way to produce tactile feedback. Instead of placing a physical object in the space of where the hologram is created to produce the touch sensation, as this would take away from the quality of the image, the Tokyo University team's solution is to radiate airborne ultrasound that creates pressure field on user's hands.