Communications

An example page showing details of the BepiColombo Mercury mission communicating with the New Norcia ground station in Australia

Space

ESA tool tracks spacecraft talking to ground stations

ESA has released a tool that lets space enthusiasts track probes in real time as they communicate with ground stations on Earth.

The Trulifi system uses light for wireless comms, with a version available that's capable of a steady 250 Mbps up and down

Telecommunications

Signify uses office lights for 250 Mbps wireless data transfer

Though most of make use of radio waves to wirelessly transfer data to and from our work mobile devices and computers, there is another way. Signify has just launched a new lighting range called Trulifi that leverages light waves to send and receive wireless data throughout the workplace.

Space

NASA to test X-ray communication system on the ISS

Radio waves are still the main way to communicate with spacecraft, but that aging technology could soon get an upgrade that will allow faster data downloads from space. NASA is currently preparing to test out an x-ray communication system on the International Space Station.

The Oceans S1 Supersonic dive computer can send and receive underwater ultrasound signals

Marine

Ultrasonic dive computer lets divers communicate through "pings"

As any scuba diver knows, communicating while underwater is difficult. Although it's possible to use hand signals, you still have to get other divers' attention so that they see those signals. The Oceans S1 Supersonic dive computer is made to address that problem, using an ultrasonic comms system.

he researchers use water vapor in the air to absorb light and create sound. By sweeping the laser they can create an audio signal that can only be heard at a certain distance from the transmitter, allowing it to be localized to one person.

Telecommunications

Breakthrough experiment beams audio messages across the room using only lasers

In the modern day, we’re used to sending messages to people over long distances, usually by way of a phone. But now, scientists at MIT have developed a way to use a laser to beam an audible message through thin air to a person standing on the other side of a room, so that only they can hear it.

The Facing Emotions app detects and displays peoples' emotions, plus it alerts blind users to them using musical cues

Good Thinking

Huawei app lets blind users hear other people's emotions

Most people will agree that phone conversations are more awkward than face-to-face chats, since you can't gauge the other person's mood by seeing their facial expressions. This is a constant challenge for the blind, which is why Huawei has developed the "face-reading" Facing Emotions app.

The RidingToo RT1 host unit (shown here) and the Bluetooth remote are both IP67 waterproof

Outdoors

Remote-operated walkie-talkie provides riders with off-grid comms

If you're mountain biking, quading or otherwise wheelin' in the backcountry, then there's a good chance that cellular service may not be available. So, how do you keep in touch with your fellow riders? Well, the RidingToo RT1 sports walkie talkie looks like it could be a good way to go.

A new laser-pointing platform developed at MIT may help launch CubeSats into the high-rate data game

Space

Lasers help keep CubeSats on target to handle large data downlinks

An MIT team is working on a new aiming system that will allow CubeSats to use lasers for high-bandwidth communications with Earth. The new laser-pointing platform uses a second directional beam to keep the primary data beam on focus, allowing the CubeSat to transmit large amounts of data.

Australian researchers have developed a device that can decode information from "twisted" light through fiber optics

Telecommunications

Tiny device speeds up the internet 100 times over by reading "twisted" light

Fiber optics allows for ultra-fast communication systems, and more data can be crammed in by "twisting" the light. Now, Australian researchers have developed a device to decode beams that’s small enough to fit over the end of a fiber optic cable.

The first steps towards brain-to-brain interfaces for collaborative problem solving are being made in the laboratory

Science

First direct brain-to-brain "social network" is a true meeting of minds

The internet has made it easy for groups to collaborate from pretty much anywhere, but this experimental brain-to-brain "social network" could be the beginning of a whole new ballgame.

The Molar Mic clips to the back teeth and allows for two-way radio communications

Telecommunications

Molar Mic puts a wireless comms system inside the mouth

Back in 2010, Sonitus Technologies introduced a novel in-mouth hearing aid called the SoundBite. Now the US Department of Defense has awarded the company a contract to develop a wireless two-way comms system that clips to a user's back teeth.

MIT Media Lab researchers have designed a system that allows underwater and airborne sensors to directly share data

Telecommunications

MIT system lets planes and subs communicate wirelessly

MIT's Translational Acoustic-RF (TARF) system uses a combination of acoustics and radar to allow messages transmitted underwater to be directly received in the air without the need for any sort of physical link. The technology holds the promise of making the "silent world" not so silent.