Appliance Design - August 2008 - (Page 12)

NEwS watch drives are built using the company’s multi-level cell (MLC) and single-level cell (SLC) flash memory. Ultra low-cost PCs are inexpensive handheld laptops, smaller than a conventional notebook computer, but larger than a mobile smart phone. They are easy to carry and cost in the range of $250 to $350. sustainable, energy efficient appliance insulation technology that is now available. These materials are made with low Global Warming Potential (GWP) and zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) blowing agents. The conference will feature more than 100 technical papers and poster presentations, educational seminars, the Annual Innovations Awards, and a Polyurethane Professional Development Program. production facilities. The survey found that sales and services topped the list with 76 percent planning to expand sales in the U.S., 58 percent in Canada and 67 percent in Mexico. Sourcing of raw materials (50 percent in China, 49 percent in the U.S., and 43 percent in Mexico), and production (44 percent in the U.S., 37 percent in Mexico, and 37 percent in China) rounded out the top three priorities. Overall, the vast majority of respondents said that North America will not lose competitive ground in those areas in the next five years, and a significant number said they believe North America will become even more competitive by 2012 in sales and marketing, information technology, customer services, R&D/engineering, and finance/accounting. BIO-PLaStIc PhONE. Japan-based Samsung Electronics Co. has released two bio-plastic phones. The W510 and F268 mobile phones are made from natural material extracted from corn. In addition, the W150 phone does not use any heavy metals such as lead, mercury, or cadmium. The F268, and its accessories, does not contain brominated flame retardants or PVC and has an alarm function to encourage users to unplug their charger when the devices are fully charged. The phones meet Energy Star requirements. tOUch ScR E E N SaLE S G ROw. cEa SEtS I-StaGE. The Consumer Electronics Association announced i-stage, a new technology event and competition designed to uncover the most innovative new consumer technology products coming to market. Entries were accepted until Aug. 1. Co-located with the CEA’s Industry Forum, scheduled for Oct. 19-22 in Las Vegas, i-stage will feature product demonstrations and presentations of cutting-edge technologies that are ready for launch. The top prize for the winning i-stage product will include $50,000 in funding to assist with product deployment and a showcase booth at the 2009 International CES. Products selected for the final round will compete in live demonstrations at the show, and will be highlighted at the association’s web site, www.CESweb.org. Global touchscreen operator terminal shipments are forecast to exceed 2 million units in 2012, more than double the quantity in 2006. Products with displays of less than 5.5 in. and greater than 15.0 in. will grow even faster, according to a new study from IMS Research. The U.K. research company found that machine builders and end users increasingly prefer to use either very compact touchscreen terminals or products with displays at the top end of the range. The rationale for this includes decreased display costs, increasing display performance, and, in the case of larger displays, the ability to display more information. The EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) and Asia Pacific regions are expected to experience the fastest growth for both the smallest and largest categories of touchscreen operator terminals. NON I NVaS IVE M EaS U R E M E Nt. Georgetown University, Gentag Inc., and Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) are developing a new noninvasive method for glucose measurement that could eliminate the need for the fingerpricking use of lancets to draw blood, researchers say. The method under development by the three Washington D.C. area entities uses disposable skin patches with wireless sensors and cell phones. The patches measure the glucose levels and report those levels to a cell phone that could also wirelessly control an insulin pump. The patches would be designed to provide readings once every hour for a 24-hour period. EXPaNDING IN NORth aMERIca. INSULatION cONFERENcE. The American Chemistry Council’s Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) has scheduled its Polyurethanes 2008 Technical Conference for Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 in San Antonio, Texas. The conference will showcase some of the advances in North America is the most desirable region for manufacturing expansion over the next three years, according to a new survey by Deloitte. The survey, Made in North America, targeted top-tier executives of manufacturing companies with North American operations. These companies have expansion plans for a variety of operations, including sales, service, research and development, and sourcing. While expansion plans are global, expansion in North America, particularly the United States, was cited as the most likely location in the short term. These manufacturers seem to have a renewed emphasis on North America as a home for future w Et F I NG E R P I NtS. Auth en Te c , Melbourne, Fla., makers of fingerprint sensors, announced that its TouchStone fingerprint sensor packaging technology can be integrated into waterproof cell phones, including a new phone scheduled to hit the market in the fourth quarter of 2008. According to AuthenTec, the leading cause of cell phone returns not covered under warranty is damage from exposure to excess moisture or immersion in water or other liquids. Driven by consumer demand for more rugged water-resistant designs, cellular handset manufacturers including Casio, Fujitsu, LG, and Toshiba, 12 applianceDESIGN August 2008 www.applianceDESIGN.com http://www.CESweb.org http://www.appliancedesign.com

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Appliance Design - August 2008 Contents Editorial Shipments/Forecasts News Watch Plastics Switches Noise & Vibration Control Joining New Products Design Marts Association Report: CEA Advertiser’s Index

Appliance Design - August 2008

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