SolidWorks is all about designing better products that in some way do something to enhance our lives. Cambridge based company SplashPower, www.splashpower.com is a great example of designing an innovative new product which will improve the way our mobile devices such as phones or IPOD’s can be charged without having a charger and whilst you are on the move. Ultimately, the technology will get rid of all those messy cables.

The Splashpower Vision is for wireless power that consumers will be able to charge "any device, anywhere, anytime". Ultimately, the technology will enable SplashPower partners to deliver charging in cars, in hotels, in cafes as well as at home and in the office. In fact anywhere you want to top up your battery.

The technology was recently featured on Channel 5’s the Gadget show and you can have a look at the feature by clicking the You Tube link below:-

http://youtube.com/watch?v=5f6ACWFET4Q

SplashPower products are developed in SolidWorks, supplied and supported by Innova Systems, and we are delighted to be part of such new and exciting technology.

Microsoft Research looks 10-15 years beyond

Microsoft Research, based in Cambridge has a brief to look 10-15 years beyond current product-development cycles to identify and invent key technologies that will shape users’ experiences in the future. Microsoft Research use SolidWorks from Innova Systems and were featured with an interesting article on Channel 5’s “the Gadget Show” with their Thinsight product, which features a super sensitive touch screen interface which lets you control your PC’s applications and even “Paint” on the screen with a regular brush.

Users can operate the display with both hands but this screen can also recognise particular hand gestures as well as objects placed within a centimeter of its surface.

It can sense much more than fingers, and is essentially a low resolution scanner and camera. The screen can even communicate wirelessly with other devices nearby using the same infrared technology it uses to see.