Is it just me or have you noticed that we are being taken over by American sounds and language? Slowly but surely, Americanese is invading our lives from voices over television advertisements to the prostitution of the written and spoken word. [ + ]

Neuroinformatics researchers from the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich together with colleagues from the EU and US demonstrate how complex cognitive abilities can be incorporated into electronic systems made with so-called neuromorphic chips - they show how to assemble and configure these electronic systems to function in a way similar to an actual brain. [ + ]

The University of Akron researchers have developed new materials that function on a nanoscale, which could lead to the creation of lighter laptops, slimmer televisions and crisper smartphone visual displays. [ + ]

A*STAR Institute of Microelectronics (IME) and Taiwan-based OPUS Microsystems Corporation have signed an agreement to refine and develop a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) scanning mirror for smartphone applications. This would enable phones to project photos and videos on any surface, and with no constraints on the viewing screen size on the mobile devices. [ + ]

British scientists have developed a novel way of charging mobile phones using urine as the power source to generate electricity. [ + ]

Graphical system design is an integrated hardware and software approach to increase productivity as you develop any measurement or control system. [ + ]

Linde Electronics, the global electronics business of The Linde Group, has launched a revolutionary new carbon nanotube ink to drive innovation in the development of next-generation displays, sensors and other electronic devices. [ + ]

An unlikely material, cubic boron arsenide, could deliver an extraordinarily high thermal conductivity on par with the industry standard set by costly diamond, according to researchers from Boston College and the Naval Research Laboratory. [ + ]

Ludwig van Beethoven wrote a frenetic piece of piano music that was entitled Rage Over a Lost Penny and the composition reflected his impotence at not being able to find the coin. While not so elegantly executed, I have a similar frustration with trying to extract common objects from fiendish and devious packets that enclose many of today’s products. And many of these packets contain electric items from batteries to memory sticks. [ + ]

While the initial enthusiasm for renewable energies might have receded somewhat, energy efficiency is still a major concern for manufacturers and consumers. This article outlines the contribution of specially developed mini power supplies to achieve energy savings. [ + ]

Dutch brewer Heineken has introduced the world’s first smart beer bottle - Ignite - that can interact with other Ignite bottles, its environment and the people around it. The interactive bottle uses microsensors and wireless networking technology to sense the moment when a bottle is being used to say ‘cheers’. [ + ]

It is now possible - even routine - to place millions of transistors on a single silicon chip. But at the rate the technology is progressing, in 10 or 20 years, transistors won’t get any smaller. [ + ]

Philips Research engineers have developed audio beamforming technology that varies the TV sound levels for two people in the same room. [ + ]

A team of researchers has developed a new method for creating thin films of boron-doped diamond at temperatures low enough to coat electronic devices. [ + ]

Newly revised IEEE 1149.1 ‘JTAG’ standard intends to enable transfer of critical domain expertise from intellectual property (IP) providers to downstream customers. [ + ]