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After much anticipation, Windows 7

has finally arrived on new PCs and as

a shrink-wrapped upgrade on Octo-

ber 22, has a minimalist feel and at-

tempts to fix annoyances old and

new. The poor performance of

Vista had forced Microsoft CEO

Steve Ballmer to go on record saying

that Microsofts reputation never

recovered after the way Vista per-

formed. As a result, Microsoft is ex-

pecting a lot from this new version.

Lets have a look as to whats new in

this OS and what the areas where

glitches persist.

Gems in Windows 7

Smarter windows:

Shaking a win-

dow minimizes all

the other win-

dows.

Reduced clutter on screen, letting

you focus on the one window you

care about.

Shake it again and the other win-

dows reappear.

Larger driver database:

New kernel ensuring

most hardware pluggedinto the computer does

not require device driver software.

Faster startups:

Windows 7

boots much

faster than Win-

dows Vista.

Tests have

shown that Windows 7 boots about

twice as fast as Vista.

Snappier when resuming from a sleep

state after the screen has dimmed; in

fact, it's almost

instantaneous.

Better Graphics:

Developers will soon start releasing

games built on DirectX 11, a game en-

gine that provides more detailed graph-

ics. DX11 is an integral part of Win-

dows 7.

Speed Boost:

"DirectCompute

- technology that

controls where

computers dotheir calculations,

moving some math-heavy processing

onto the graphics card.

Results in as much as a hundredfold

speed increase in photo and video edit-

ing, and faster computing overall.

Move on Vista, Windows 7 is here!!!Quirks in Windows 7

Transition: Windows 7 fails to

offer a smooth transition from

XP as there is no upgrade option.

Users will have to go for a fresh

install. This fact becomes much

more relevant considering that

80% of the world's computers

run on Windows XP.

UAC: One of the most contro-

versial and much maligned feature

of Vista, UAC or User Account

Control is a part of Windows 7

too. Though users can switch off

this feature but the default op-

tions remain the same as in Vista.

Price is seen as one of biggest

issue that may dampen the Win-

dows 7 release. In India, the

Home Basic package will cost

about Rs 5,899, while the Win-

dows 7 Ultimate will be available

for Rs 11,799. Though this should

be the last concern for BITSians :)

Hardware could turn out to be

another damper. Its said that

computers which could run Vista

will handle Windows 7 with ease.

But it should not be forgotten

that many users still use XP. Its

to be seen whether Windows 7

can run smoothly on computers

which presently use XP.

"We're putting

in all the right

ingredients:

simplicity,

reliability and

speed"

- Steve Ballmer, CEO

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"Some manufacturers are already incorporating the UCS in their de-

vices," it said. The proposed charger is expected to help reduce waste

by cutting down on the number of chargers produced and then thrown away with the purchase of a new

handset. And the announcement comes as ITU lobbies hard to have the essential role of information and

communication technologies (ICTs) recognized in the draft Copenhagen Agreement as a key part of the solu-tion towards mitigating climate change. "ICTs are an essential element of an effective Copenhagen climate

agreement," said ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Tour. In addition to dramatically cutting the number of

chargers produced, shipped and subsequently discarded as new models become available, the new standard

will mean users worldwide will be able to charge their mobiles anywhere from any available charger, while

also reducing the energy consumed while charging.

Researchers have designed a strap that will cap-

ture the energy generated by the up-and-down

movement of a hiker's pack and turn it into

enough voltage to power small electrical devices.

The stress and strain absorbed by the backpack

could recharge your cell phone.

In simpler words, its like harnessing free energy

that would normally be lost. And is part of a newfield called "energy harvesting."

Researchers have designed straps made of a pie-

zoelectric material that can convert mechanical

strain into electrical energy making it suitable for

use with devices that require small amounts of

electricity, such as a GPS unit. The straps are

made of a nylon-like polymer that produces a fluctu-

ating AC current that could be stored in a battery

or a capacitor. The beauty of the design is that it

requires no extra effort on the part of the user,

unlike other devices that transform mechanical en-

ergy into electricity.

For instance someone shouldering a heavy pack,

such as a soldier in the field, could generate 45.6milliwatts of power walking two or three miles per

hour. In addition to this if you could walk for 20

minutes then you would have enough power to talk

for 2.5 minutes on your cell phone.

So put on your shoes along with your backpack and

get going to produce some cheap electricity.

Recharging Your Mobiles Made Easy!!!Four billion mobile users around the world may breathe a sigh of

relief with a one-charger-fits-all phone solution on the way. Approval

to this effect to an energy-efficient charger has been given by the

International Telecommunication Union (ITU). "Every mobile phoneuser will benefit from the new Universal Charging Solution (UCS),

which enables the same charger to be used for all future handsets,

regardless of make and model," the ITU said in a statement from

Another Innovative Way to Recharge

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TRACKING MINER: Different location tracking technology relies on

many different components, including geographic information systems,

global positioning systems (GPS), wireless local area networks and the

infrastructure that has evolved around cellular phones and personal data

assistants (PDAs). The mining system features transmitters with GPS ca-

pability and inertial motion sensors which send signals out. The transceiv-ers bolted to the roof of the mine detect the signal and relay positions to

a central computer outside of the mine, which tracks and plots the posi-

tion of each miner. The system also uses an algorithm to help correct for

a problem called drift which occurs when small inaccuracies in the motion

sensor add up over time.

New Electronics GadgetsSMART PENS: The Smartpen is a pen and a computer that allows users to

write, record audio, record what is written and access that information in a

unique way. Covering paper with a pattern of dots makes each location

unique and recognizable by a tiny camera mounted in the pen. If reviewing

notes taken during a lecture, students can find diagrams they made and then

command the pen to play back what was said while the diagram was drawn.

Using special paper, the camera is able to read where it is on the page and

find the corresponding spot in the audio, making it easy to play it back.

SEEING THROUGH WALLS: New technology that is likely to be used by

law enforcement and the military. This technology provides Through the Wall

vision, allowing the user to rapidly and reliably observe one or more people in a

room and monitor their movements, while positioned outside the rooms walls.The system uses sound waves at a particular frequency ultra-wide radio

waves, which pass through wood and concrete -- to capture images, much like

ultrasound imaging captures the image of a fetus through the mother's skin. Sen-

sors detect the reflected waves. That mechanical motion is translated into elec-

trical signals. Then the computer software algorithms process the signals and

create a 3D image of the people or objects.

DANCING WITH ROBOTS: A robot has been designed to shoot X-

ray video of sufferers of orthopedic injuries as they walk. A patient wears

an LED-lit patch on the body part to be studied, and several cameras

placed around the room command the robot to hone in and track the

joint. The computer then analyzes the collected data. The mechanical arm

of the robot will eventually hold lightweight equipment for shooting X-ray

video. A second robot will be added to the system to hold the sensor that

captures images of the body as moving videos. The robots are attached to

a fixed base, but if placed on wheels, they will be able to follow the person.

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Charles K. Kao

1/2 of the prize

Standard Telecommunication Labora-

tories Harlow, United Kingdom; Chi-

nese University of Hong Kong, China

Noble Prize for achievements con-

cerning the transmission of light in

optical fibers.

The Nobel Prize

Willard S. Boyle

1/4 of the prize

Bell Laboratories

Murray Hill, NJ, USA

George E. Smith

1/4 of the prize

Bell Laboratories

Murray Hill, NJ, USA

Awarded the Noble Prize for the invention of an imaging semiconduc-

tor circuitthe CCD sensor or the Charge Coupled Device. CCDs

now fill digital cameras by the millions.

The mastery of light through technology was the theme of this years Nobel Prize in Physics as the Royal

Swedish Academy of Sciences honoured breakthroughs in fiber optics and digital photography.

Half of the $1.4 million prize went to Charles K. Kao for insights in the mid-1960s about how to get light to travel

long distances through glass strands, leading to a revolution in fiber optic cables. The development of optical fibers

fine threads of glass that can transmit light for communication made great strides when Charles Kuen Kao, while

working at the Standard Telephones and Cables laboratories in Harlow, England, realised that light loss could be kept

down to acceptable levels by removing impurities in the glass. The 3 million kilometers of optical fiber that has been

laid in the UK is what brings broadband internet connection to UK households and offices and, in recognition of

Kaos key developments, he takes half of this years prize.

The other half of the prize was shared by two researchers at Bell Labs, Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith,

for inventing the semiconductor sensor known as a charge-coupled device, or CCD. CCD is capable of turning light

into electric signals, thereby eliminating the need for film, as images can be captured on the device making the digital

camera possible.

Editorial Team, Instrumentation Forum