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Worldwide wrap

Joanne Carew
By Joanne Carew, ITWeb Cape-based contributor.
Johannesburg, 13 Dec 2012

In this week's wrap, Syrian rebels have built a homemade tank that operates using a PlayStation controller; and this year, Queen Elizabeth ll will be sending her festive greetings to the British public in 3D. Get the details on these stories and more below.

View texts in the blink of an eye

A team from the Ghent University's Centre of Microsystems Technology has developed a tiny, curved LCD display that can be embedded into a contact lens and project images. At present, the prototype only has the graphical ability of a pocket calculator and can only display very simple symbols. According to the team, the lenses won't replace cinema screens, but the technology could eventually be used to create a heads-up display to guide users with road direction, or project text messages from smartphones.

Via: Tech Radar

Burrito Bomber parachutes dinner to your location

The Burrito Bomber, the latest aerial Mexican food delivery idea, is a DIY project by the guys at Darwin Aerospace. The team has crafted a drone with a burrito slot that promises a speedy delivery. The burrito is loaded into a tube, which is then lifted into the sky and flown via drone to a specified location. When the drone nears the drop-off point, it floats the burrito tube down to the ground with a parachute, where it would ideally land on the dinner table of the person who ordered it.

Via: Huffington Post

Syrian rebels make homemade tank

The Sham II is a homemade tank, controlled by a PlayStation remote and created by Syrian rebels. According to AFP, an engineer based near the city of Aleppo spent several weeks building the armored vehicle around a re-purposed car chassis. At 4m long and 2m wide, the vehicle is also fitted with a 7.62mm PKM machine gun with a camera hooked onto it. The armored vehicle is said to cost about $10 000, not including the gun.

Via: Wired

Military backs invisibility fabric

The US military is backing the development of camouflage fabrics that could make their soldiers completely invisible. The "Quantum Stealth" renders the wearer completely invisible by bending light waves around them. According to Guy Cramer, CEO of Hyperstealth Biotechnology, the company cannot disclose any details about the fabric but asserts that it could be used in various situations and has the backing of the US military. Cramer also notes that the fabric can even fool night-vision goggles.

Via: Daily Mail

Queen of England now in 3D

Queen Elizabeth II has agreed to be filmed using 3D cameras for this year's royal Christmas message. Those who want to view the festive message will need a pair of 3D glasses or a 3D-ready TV. According to Buckingham Palace, only a small group will enjoy the royal 3D experience, as the size for the format is "relatively small". Although this is the first time a royal will be captured in 3D, it is not the first time the Queen will be embracing technology. A holographic portrait of Her Royal Highness was projected onto buildings throughout England by artist Chris Levine just a few months ago.

Via: Mashable

Dissolvable fabric could replace condoms

A team of bioengineers from the University of Washington have developed a dissolvable fabric that could serve as a method of birth control and prevent various STDs. The nanofibre cloth is generated through electro-spinning and can physically block sperm or release chemical contraceptives and anti-virals. According to the developers, the cloth can be manipulated to be as soluble or strong as necessary, and can be adapted to carry different drugs. The team behind the dissolvable material has been awarded $1 million by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for research and development.

Via: Mashable

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