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Future Tech

The Future of Home Broadband Speed

Broadband technology has certainly come a long way. No one uses dial-up anymore. If anyone wants to connect to the Internet its through one of the many broadband technologies available to people. Compared to the old dial-up technology, broadband is faster and more secure. But people aren’t just contented with this. A lot of innovations are coming in the future and each one promises more speed, wider coverage, and a more secure way of connecting.

A good example of the innovations for the future concerns DSL, one of the most commonly used broadband connection at homes. A new technology is being developed overseas with the capability to increase DSL speeds dramatically – up to 30 times that of its current speed or more. The new DSL protocol, called “G.fast”, can be applied on existing DSL networks and improve its speed without the need to change existing cables. This means that if successfully developed, it can be deployed fast to anywhere that has an existing DSL network making it cheap.

DSL isn’t the only one getting an upgrade with speed using G.fast. Mobile company, Nokia is currently testing out its XG.fast technology, derived from the G.fast technology they developed. They rolled out XG.fast in the UK last year. Nokia hopes that they can get as much as ten million households subscribed if their technology proves successful.

Speaking of mobile broadband, 5G technology, the next standard for mobile and wireless networks is predicted to be fully deployed in 2020, according to The Next Generation Mobile Network Alliance and Broadband Commission, offering faster mobile Internet, wider coverage, and more stable connection. Right now, a few companies like Samsung and Google have already been developing 5G technology while Qualcomm had presented the Snapdragon X50, the first 5G modem in October last year.

Fiber Optic technology, too, is getting possible innovations. In 2014 there’s a report about a new fiber technology that could let users experience speeds up to 21 times faster than the current home fiber-broadband speeds, that have reached around 30 Mbps (not bad a for a typical home connection). This so called “multicore fiber optics” is described as “turning a one way road into a seven-lane highway”. This is because ordinary fiber today has only one core. As the name implies, multi-core fibers have multiple cores, enabling much more data to be sent through. Though this technology hasn’t been made commercial yet, according to the Journal of Lightwave Technology in its 34th volume, published in January of last year, it is already “expected as a good candidate for overcoming the capacity limit of a current optical communication system”.

Another innovation currently in development concerning fiber speed is coded modulation. In a technique similar to how wireless devices sort out signals, scientists at the University College London have created a special device made to catch different light pulses sent in different wavelengths through the optical fiber. It creates a so-called “super channel”, enabling data to be sent at speeds of around 1.125Tbps.

Finally another possible improvement in fiber concerns how much the light pulses need to be renewed as they travels through a medium before they deteriorate to keep the signal reliable. In fiber broadband this is done every 60 miles. In 2015 however researchers were able to find a way to increase the accuracy of data being sent via a frequency comb which uses signals that are precise and spaced evenly to encode information before it is transmitted, enabling them to transmit data over farther distances without the need for data to be regenerated. This would also increase the capacity of sent data and is said it might make be less expensive compared to other networks as the need to renew the light signals is reduced.

Though these improvements look exciting, we may need to wait a bit more time to see them commercially available. Bring on 2017.

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Future Tech

Most Popular Electric Bikes in Europe in 2017

2017 has been quite an exciting year for electric bikes. Be it the open country roads or the challenging mountain roads or even the crowded city roads, electric bikes give you added power to make your ride’s a lot more fun! Battery strength and range are some of the important characteristics to be considered for choosing an e-bike. Electric bikes can be chosen based on the purpose of use and also the terrain!

Here are some of the most popular electric bikes in Europe in 2017. These include the best-designed bikes, lightest bikes and so much more.

1. Raleigh Motus Hub Low Step

Electric bikes 2017

Talking about the most popular electric bikes in Europe, we land on to the Raleigh Motus Hub Lowstep, a machine which has proved its worth amongst the users. The one aspect that makes it famous is the use of Bosch batteries which can work well up to 110 miles in Eco mode. It also comes with a Turbo mode and you can switch between the two modes very easily. Some of the accessories that make the bike a popular one include a separate luggage rack along with lights and mudguards. Besides, the Walk button is especially helpful when you are merely pushing the bike along.

2. Specialized Turbo Levo HT

Specialized turbo levo ht
Up next is an exciting new product from Evans Cycles, a brand well known in the mountain bike industry but has ventured into electric bikes pretty recently. This particular product is a combination of mountain bikes and electric bikes to form one of the best electric mountain bikes. The whole frame gives a pretty sturdy appearance with the battery and motor well fitted within the frame. The batteries are rechargeable and can last for about 3-4 hours.

3. Coyote Commute Folding Electric Bike

JetStream Folded 1 The reason why this bike fits into the list of the most popular electric bikes is because of its foldable design. Yes, you heard that right! The sturdy and agile bike can be folded in order to carry it around on trains or cars or even to save storage space at home. Apart from that, the another exciting aspect of the electric bike is the battery which is made from cells from Panasonic which promises a range of about 30 miles or more!

4. Elby Bike

Elby bike How would you like a bike that can be shared among different people starting from heights of 5 feet to 6’ 5”? It does really sound like a great idea! The idea has been brought to fruition in the form of this Elby Bike- the one bike for the entire household! It might not be the classiest looking electric bike but proves to be a very effective machine for running errands. It comes with a Super Nova lighting system and a rear carrier.

5. Woosh Krieger

Woosh Krieger
The next product that fits into our list is a power packed performer from the house of Woosh. This is why it paves the way for power cycling that can be managed even without working on the pedal. The fact that it can move up smoothly along most decently steep hills is a testimony to the power of this machine. Its range extends to about 70 miles which are pretty impressive as compared to its competitors. In spite of the electric bike being a heavy device, you can manage it without any assisted power.

6. Faraday Porteur

Faraday Porteur
This particular electric bike is popular merely because it is the most stylishly designed electric bike in 2017! The designing can be described with two words: sleek and streamlined. It is rather inexpensive and proves to be a great choice for the enthusiasts. Once you are on the bike, you can ride it very easily without the electrical assist. The bike does not only look smooth but gives you some of the smoothest riding experiences as well! Very different from a conventional e-bike, it proves to be an instant hit!

7. Volt Kensington

Volt Kensington
This electric bike comes from the house of UK-based cycle brand Volt and looks a real stunner! It comes with a number of advantages. For instance, it has five levels of power, all thanks to the Panasonic battery! With accessories like mudguards, lights, and a conventional storage rack, it can work well up to 60 miles on a single charge of the battery.

8. Italjet Ascot

Italjet Ascot
If vintage bikes are your forte, then the Italjet Ascot is your best friend in 2017! With a retro look, the bike defines a class in every possible way! The leather handlebar tape is a testament to the class that this bike possesses. The brown bubble tires are complemented by the classic old gold chain and a perfectly designed leather saddle. Running on the battery, the bike can manage up to 15 miles per hour. Any performance beyond that has to be the work of your legs.

9. Gocycle G3

GoCycle G3
The Gocycle G3 is one of the most intelligently designed electric bikes and that is what makes it a popular choice among riders. The precision makes it an attractive buy. For instance, the handlebars come with special daytime lights to help the machine stand out. The whole frame is made from magnesium that keeps the weight of the bike in check to only a little above 16 kg. Talking about storage, the wheels can be detached for best results. Also, it works for a range of 50 miles!

10. Infineum Extreme

Infineum Extreme
This is another interesting addition to the list of the most popular electric bikes. This product runs on a battery that can give around 25-30 miles per cell. The best part is that there is a separate system to store some extra batteries on the rear wheel whenever required. The speed and battery strength is clearly shown on the backlit display on the handlebar. The presence of the throttle gives you the chance to ride without actually pedaling. On the whole, it gives you a decent ride at affordable prices!

Author Bio: Thamina Jannat is a tech journalist and blogger on ProTechSourced.com – At ProTechSourced we provide you with all the latest information on technology related stories, products and much more .

Categories
Future Tech Gadgets

Could Implanted Smartphones Be A Reality In Future

Came across this interesting infographic highlighting the history of smartphones along with a brief on what the future could probably hold for the smartphones. It seems pretty reasonable to assume the smartphone sales to exceed that of personal computers in the near future. But what is the next level of technological innovation that could happen with the smartphones? Could we be wearing them one day as a fashion accessory? Better, could we be implanting them to offer more seamless augmented reality? You never know. Check out the infographic below and tell in the comments what you think of the possibilities.

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Apple Future Tech Gadgets

New iPad To Feature Gesture Controls Like Kinect?

The second generation iPad that is speculated to launch next year may not feature something as  revolutionary as this, but from what we see, a gesture based navigation system – like Kinect – could definitely be coming somewhere down the line. Earlier this month, a number of patents in the area of gesture-controlling were acquired by Apple that signalled that such a feature could be coming to iDevices somewhere down the line.

Now, Elliptic Labs, a Norway based company is learned to be demoing such a technology for the iPad at the Consumer Electronics Show scheduled for early next month. Now, it must be noted that Elliptic Labs is organizing this demo independently without any apparent partnership with Apple. However, considering that Apple has already expressed interest in the area, the demo will give us an idea of where the iPad is headed to in the future.

Here is a video preview of the technology developed by Elliptic Labs.

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Dashboard Tech Future Tech

Car Remote Control Application For Android Devices Launched

Viper, the popular manufacturer of remote start systems for automobiles has launched a new application that will bring remote car start, lock and unlock to Android handsets. It may be worth noting that a similar application was already made available for the iPhone back in October last year and was also made available for Blackberry early this year.

The application works in conjunction with a Viper SmartStart security hardware that needs to be installed on your car. The hardware comes at a price of $499. Additionally, users will also need to shell out an additional security service fee of $29.99 a year. The Android app itself is free and can be downloaded either from the Android marketplace or from the Viper website. Once done, the app can be used to remotely lock and unlock your car, start ignition, open trunk or even press the Panic button in case of any emergency.

Viper Smartstart for Android

Does this app and the price tag get you interested?

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black box Future Tech intel toyota

Intel Black Box For Cars To Assist Police And Insurance Cos. During Accidents

Thanks to the acceleration malfunction reported on Toyota, the US Congress has succeeded in pushing forward for a legislation that will make it mandatory for car manufacturers to equip their cars with a data event recorder – more commonly known as black box.

According to a report on the New York Times, Intel is working on an event recorder that will take note of basic telemetry like whether the seat belts were on, location using GPS, speed, etc. Also, Intel has expressed intent to incorporate video recording into the black box so that the last 30 seconds would be recorded. Intel says that this could come handy during accidents not just for police investigations, but also for insurance companies to make better judgement on the compensation.

The Intel black box for cars is likely to be more sophisticated than those used today on aircrafts. However, the company says that the company is focusing on reducing costs in order to retain the affordability of cars.