Devices used

Fuel Burn Enhancers This category of devices includes vapor injectors, fuel and engine ionizers, fuel-line magnets and metallic catalysts inserted into the fuel tank. All of these devices are marketed on the claim that they cause the fuel to behave differently, essentially making it possible to burn fuel with more efficiency. Some of these devices use magnets, electromagnetic fields or so-called "ionic corona generators" to allegedly change the molecular structure of the gasoline or diesel fuel. These products' manufacturers claim that this change makes fuel burn faster and more completely in the combustion chamber. Other products claim to have a similar effect by injecting fuel vapor into the engine upstream of the fuel injectors. The claim behind these devices is that they introduce fuel into the engine in a more burnable state. Beyond the question of whether these devices actually can change the composition of fuel, the idea of making fuel burn faster or better is a bit of a … [Read more...] about Do most gas-saving devices really work?

Problems with Portable Internet Devices Portable Internet devices like the Lifebook U810 from Fujitsu feature a keyboard that slides out from the screen. Image courtesy of Fujitsu Problems with portable Internet devices may convince you that another option, like a smartphone or a laptop, works better for your needs. Or you may choose one portable Internet device over another based on reviews. Issues to consider include: software company compatibility, power limitations, duplication of existing technology, speed and cost. UMPCs are not a new concept, just one that never succeeded before. Early portable devices were expensive for the limited functions they offered and had the added disadvantage of short battery life. The arrival of broadband brought speed to the portable Web device, increasing its usefulness and appealing to consumers looking for a fast, easy way to access information or communicate away from home or the office [source: CBC News]. But some problems remain, … [Read more...] about How Portable Internet Devices Work

Scientists have found a way to make water as clean as this, thanks to a tiny gadget. Atomic Imagery/Getty Images Water purification is a big-time problem in the developing world, where clean running water cannot be taken for granted. Current methods involve either boiling water (which uses precious resources) or relying on the sun, which is free but takes several hours to work. However, this issue could someday be fixable thanks to an itsy-bitsy device. Although it's still a long way off from the market, the nanostructured device, created by the bright minds at the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University, hopes to make much slower purification techniques obsolete. A researcher holds a small, nanostructured device that uses sunlight to disinfect water Xie/Stanford University At half the size of a postage stamp, the device uses visible light to get the job done. Visible light, a type of electromagnetic radiation, is pretty much … [Read more...] about Postage Stamp-sized Device Traps More Solar Energy to Purify Water Faster

Google's motion sensors are in the making. The search giant on Monday was granted approval from the Federal Communications Commission to deploy radar-based motion sensors, also known as Project Soli, according to Reuters. The sensors reportedly allow users to operate electronic devices using hand gestures. The FCC's approval lets the search giant to operate the sensors at higher power levels than currently allowed and the sensors will be allowed aboard aircraft. "Grant of the waiver will serve the public interest by providing for innovative device control features using touchless hand gesture technology," Julius Knapp, the FCC's chief of Engineering and Technology, wrote in the order. Google in March asked FCC to grant its waiver, according to the order. The sensor captures motion in a three-dimensional space using a radar beam to enable touchless control of device features. The search giant unvealed Project Soli in 2016 with a video showing that you can control your smartwatches and … [Read more...] about Google gets FCC approval to use radar-based motion sensor