In this week's wrap, 3D printing is all the rage as designers print couture and architects attempt to print two-storey buildings; and Apple has patented technology that will alert athletes when their shoes need to be replaced. Get the details on these stories and more below.
Phone, meet food
Appropriately called The Anti-Loneliness Ramen Bowl, ifans can now eat from a noodle bowl that features a built-in iPhone dock. The smart bowl allows users to keep in contact with friends and loved ones while enjoying their dinner, with the angle of the dock perfectly positioned for video chatting using the iPhone's front-facing camera. Designed by MisoSoupDesign, there is no word yet on pricing or availability for the multifunctional bowl.
Via: TIME Techland
3D printing craze
In the latest tech trend, researchers and scientists are attempting to 3D-print everything from food to fashion. Modern Meadow wants to take 3D printing to a new level by making artificial raw meat using a 3D bio-printer. At present, producing a whole hamburger using his method would cost about £200 000.
Meanwhile, a Dutch architect is interested in 3D-printing a home, with the hopes that it will be ready by 2014. The final product will comprise a flowing design two-storey building.
Also, Iris van Herpen's Haute Couture show at Paris Fashion Week will feature two 3D-printed ensembles.
Via: BBC, The Verge and Tech Crunch
Smart shoes inform users when to replace them
Apple has filed for a "Shoe Wear-Out Sensor" patent, which will alert wearers when their running shoes need to be replaced. According to the patent, the technology could be used for shoes "rated" for a certain number of steps or for a period of time, after which they will "expire". The patent has three main components, including a detector, which senses when the shoe wears out; a processor to measure the detector's data; and an alarm for alerting the user when the shoe is no longer stable. Data is processed through an algorithm, which can be set according to specifications from the shoe manufacturer, that determines at what point a shoe needs to be replaced.
Via: Venture Beat
DNA to replace the hard drive?
Researchers at the European Bioinformatics Institute in Hinxton are investigating new methods for reliably encoding common computer file formats on DNA. They predict DNA could house vast collections of documents, music or video in an impossibly compact format in the future. The research comes as the price of sequencing and synthesising DNA drops, making this biological storage medium more competitive within the next few decades. DNA storage poses an interesting opportunity for the market because it remains stable over time, unlike conventional storage formats, which are always changing.
Via: Mashable
Bendable battery breakthrough
Malleable lithium-ion batteries that will eventually be used to build bendable mobile phones and other electronics could soon become a reality as a group of Korean scientists claim to have created flexible lithium-ion batteries. According to the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, the new approach replaces liquid electrolytes with polymer electrolytes that are "fluid-like" but solid. Apart from being able to bend, the batteries will also be more stable, resilient and faster to manufacture.
Via: Wired
iPhone to get fingerprint scanner?
Speculation is rife that the upcoming iPhone will include a fingerprint sensor or scanner. According to analysts, this technology will make the device more secure and differentiate it from rival products. Fingerprint authentication would make NFC transactions more secure and could make Apple's plans for an iWallet a reality.
Via: Huffington Post
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