Satellite TV offers many solutions to broadcast and cable TV problems. Though satellite TV technology is still evolving, it has already become a popular choice for many TV viewers. In this article, we’ll find out how satellite TV works, from TV station to TV set. We’ll also learn about the changing landscape of TV viewing […]
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Today, night vision is most widely available in security cameras. Some work only at night, while others switch modes based on user input or ambient light. Surveillance rigs can run from $18 for a 0.5-lux low-light camera to $3,670 for a top-of-the-line thermal imaging model (lux measures the minimum light a camera needs to pick
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Microsoft had built up buzz for its Xbox Live service since their console launched in 2001. The Xbox’s Ethernet port was ready and waiting for a broadband connection, and Xbox Live’s yearly subscription fee bought gamers an exclusive Gamertag and friends list they could access in any Live-enabled game. Xbox Live was Microsoft’s big push
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You may have to deal with proprietary cables for multiple devices, meaning each cable will fit one — and only one — of your gadgets. If you aren’t lucky in cable roulette, you have to keep grabbing cables until you find the right one. And if you have to recharge everything at once you’ve got
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You can use an LED as a photoelectric sensor. A previous Design Idea shows that such a switch is highly power-efficient, consuming almost no power (Reference 1). However, you cannot adjust that configuration to switch at the desired light intensity. You can adjust the circuit in this Design Idea to any threshold level of light
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Digital cameras have become extremely common as the prices have come down. One of the drivers behind the falling prices has been the introduction of CMOS image sensors. CMOS sensors are much less expensive to manufacture than CCD sensors. Both CCD (charge-coupled device) and CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) image sensors start at the same point
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It’s hard to think of a customer-oriented business that hasn’t made the switch from live operators to IVR. When you call your credit card company, you can use the IVR to pay your balance or report a fraudulent charge. Airlines use extensive IVRs to book reservations and check the real-time status of flights. Pharmacies use
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First let’s tackle the obvious question: Will that cell phone in your pocket give you cancer? Countless studies continue to tackle the problem, but answers remain elusive — in large part because most cell phone users haven’t had the technology long enough. Tumors typically take 10-20 years to develop [source: Butler]. Yet there’s no denying
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When it’s so easy to get distracted during a busy day, with work, chores and errands all jockeying for our attention, it’s more than likely we sometimes upset some of the simpler pleasures in life. For example, a mug of strong, freshly brewed coffee, or a cup of hot tea. Many like to start off
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I can remember when the first quartz watches came out, they were going to be the end of normal mechanical watches, just like video tape was going to be the end of theaters. Somehow, it hasn’t worked out that way, and self-winding watches are more popular than ever. The following pictures show you the backside
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