The news this week was all about power?from the power to create new U.S. jobs to extraterrestrial and excremental power sources.
With initial unemployment claims rising to 417,000 for the week of August 20, the American public is focused anxiously on job creation – including the five million “green jobs” that President Barack Obama promised last January. This week, the president scheduled a speech on the economy for September 8, which is, aptly enough, just three days after the nation celebrates Labor Day. Obama asked for a joint session of the House of Representatives and Senate to lay out his plan to create jobs and boost economic growth. His proposals could include programs to fund infrastructure building, measures to help struggling homeowners, and tax breaks to encourage hiring of new workers.
What would you do if you were 34 million miles from the next filling station or wall plug? Not to worry. The folks at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have got your back. They are developing a suitcase-size nuclear power generator for use at manned or unmanned bases on the Moon, Mars and other planets.
What we all refer to circumspectly as “number two” is being used to power cars at the number-one public fueling station of its type, worldwide. The world's first sewage-powered hydrogen fueling station is now open to drivers of hydrogen-powered cars at Exit 405 off the Freeway at Euclid Avenue in County, California. The converted waste offers the equivalent of 70 miles per gallon.
The Home Gateway Initiative or HGI announced the agenda for its Chicago meeting to be held from September 6-9, 2011. It made special mention of the discussion that was slated for September 7 with executives from the ZigBee Alliance. HGI (News - Alert), founded by nine telecom operators, is devoted to translating broadband service providers’ service plans into published technology requirements for home enablers. Discussions that were left unfinished at the special HGI meeting on Home Energy Management in March, 2011 in Italy are expected to be covered in Chicago. In addition, the meeting will deal with enhancing the broadband experience and Next-Generation communications.
To demonstrate the simplicity, reliability and durability in connectors, Hitachi Cable, Ltd. has launched the world’s smallest compact connectors for use in power harnesses for hybrid electric vehicles and electric vehicles. These connectors are seen to reduce the environmental impact associated with motor vehicles.
The oil and gas well site servicing company Basic Energy Services has selected MiX Telematics to assist with the company's fleet management solutions. Basic Energy will use the MiX Hours of Service driver key, which is unique to each driver. Even when the vehicle is out of communication coverage, the key collects data from the MiX Display and helps drivers stay compliant with Department of Transportation regulations. By storing timely and important data, the key also acts as a back-up to the server.
There is a theory that life on Earth originated from a primordial soup. It is beginning to look as if we might come full circle, as climate change results in rising sea levels; as well as frequent, intense earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, typhoons, and floods. Now, a European project, called FLOATEC, initiated in the Netherlands, has found, aptly enough, a “solution” to the problem: floating, or amphibious, houses.
Panasonic Corporation of North America revealed its decision to offer the latest Lithium Ion battery technologies for use with solar-powered vehicles engineered by undergraduate teams from the University of California at Berkeley and Stanford University in the seven-day drive through Darwin-to-Adelaide, 3,021-kilometer (1,877-mile) 2011 World Solar Challenge in Australia this October.
Finally, scientists are using two of the most abundant resources on our planet–water and sunlight– to make hydrogen that can be used to generate power and produce heat. A joint UK-US team of researchers has determined that an inexpensive semiconductor material can be “tweaked” to generate hydrogen from water using sunlight. The findings could potentially have profound implications for the future of solar energy and alternative fuel.
Want to learn more about the latest in communications and technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO West 2011, taking place Sept. 13-15, 2011, in Austin, Texas. ITEXPO (News - Alert) offers an educational program to help corporate decision makers select the right IP-based voice, video, fax and unified communications solutions to improve their operations. It's also where service providers learn how to profitably roll out the services their subscribers are clamoring for – and where resellers can learn about new growth opportunities. To register, click here.
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Cheryl Kaften is an accomplished communicator who has written for consumer and corporate audiences. She has worked extensively for MasterCard (News - Alert) Worldwide, Philip Morris USA (Altria), and KPMG, and has consulted for Estee Lauder and the Philadelphia Inquirer Newspapers. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.
