As soldiers, hikers and students can testify, it takes energy to haul around a heavy backpack. Now, researchers have developed a backpack that turns that energy into electricity.
It doesn't crank out a lot of juice -- just a bit more than 7 watts -- but that's enough to run things like an MP3 player, a personal data assistant, night vision goggles, a handheld global positioning system or a GSM cell phone.
The development could eventually allow field scientists, hikers, explorers, soldiers and disaster workers to produce their own electricity.
The researchers used a backpack fastened to the carrying frame by springs. The up-and-down motion caused by walking powers a small generator, producing electricity that can be used directly or stored in a capacitor or battery.
The electricity-generating frame weighs about 10 pounds, researcher Lawrence C. Rome, of the University of Pennsylvania, said in a telephone interview. He's working to lighten it, so it will weigh only a couple of pounds more than a standard backpack. Power generated increases as the load in the backpack gets heavier, he said. Tests ranged from loads of about 40 pounds to about 80 pounds.
- - -
Palmed by Access: Japanese software developer Access said it would make U.S. software company PalmSource wholly owned in a $324 million cash deal to strengthen development of mobile-phone software.
The Japanese company, strong in development of software for personal digital assistants and internet access, said it would offer $18.50 per share, an 83 percent premium to Thursday's closing price of PalmSource, the maker of the popular Palm operating system.
With the acquisition, Access will also gain Linux development resources for mobile devices in the United States, France and China.
PalmSource developed the Palm software used in devices made by PalmOne and more than 40 other manufacturers, including Sony (SNE), Kyocera and Samsung.
The company, however, has been struggling to win new licensees in the face of increased competition from Microsoft (MSFT) and sold all rights to the Palm brand to PalmOne in May for $26.7 million.
- - -
Search chauffeur: Microsoft is releasing several new tools to help developers build software applications that work with its online search and communication products.
The hope is that such add-ons will draw more users to Microsoft products and help the company better compete with market leaders such as Google and America Online. The tools will mostly be released at a Microsoft developer conference next week in Los Angeles.
For example, one developer is working on a tool that would automatically translate instant messages from one language to another as they are being sent. Other tools are aimed at letting developers build specialized programs on top of its search engine, so that people could more easily conduct specialized searches from smaller data pools.
The releases include tools to build specialized products for its localized search function called Virtual Earth, which will allow results from multiple searches to be layered atop a single map. The tools will be free to some developers, in a bid to jump-start interest in the developing technology.
- - -
Live on in 5 to 7 minutes: Video screens have shown up all over in recent years -- cell phones, bathrooms, car head rests, subway cars, even elevators. Next up: a solar-powered video panel embedded in a tombstone that plays a clip reminiscent of "This Is Your Life."
Sergio Aguirre's Serenity Panel is all about helping families celebrate the life of a lost loved one.
The device plays a 5- to 7-minute video featuring special moments from someone's life. The Serenity Panel's screen is covered by a solar panel, which can be flipped open by visitors. Once opened, the video starts.
The device includes two standard headphone jacks to listen to the audio. The solar panel protects the screen from sun damage and charges a battery inside. Four hours of sun provides enough juice to play the video continuously for up to 90 minutes.
The 7-inch, shatter-resistant LCD screen is designed to last for 15 years, when it can either be replaced with a newer device or covered with a bronze plaque. It will come with a one-year warranty; extended coverage for 10 years is about another $200.
- - -
Compiled by Keith Axline. AP and Reuters contributed to this report.
