little scientist

 Discover the mystery of science with Future Geniuses!

Join Valentia, the little scientist, and her cat, Plank, as they learn why Plank can never seem to catch the laser he loves to play with.

To do this, they must shrink down to the smallest size imaginable. Once they’re tiny, they can better learn about quantum physics, discovering secrets that are invisible to those of us who are full sized!

Valentina teaches Plank all about molecules, atoms, particles, photons, and matter., as well as solids, liquids, and gasses—and fusion and fission!

Future Geniuses is a collection that will help families spend time reading and learning together. Through simple text and fun illustrations, author and scientist Carlos Pazos makes the subjects of quantum physics approachable and easy to understand for even the smallest scientists.

smart home or building (home automation or domotics)

 A smart home is a residence that uses internet-connected devices to enable the remote monitoring and management of appliances and systems, such as lighting and heating.

Smart home technology, also often referred to as home automation or domotics (from the Latin "domus" meaning home), provides homeowners security, comfort, convenience and energy efficiency by allowing them to control smart devices, often by a smart home app on their smartphone or other networked device. A part of the internet of things (IoT), smart home systems and devices often operate together, sharing consumer usage data among themselves and automating actions based on the homeowners' preferences.

Examples of smart home technologies

Nearly every aspect of life where technology has entered the domestic space (lightbulbs, dishwashers and so on) has seen the introduction of a smart home alternative:

• Smart TVs connect to the internet to access content through applications, such as on-demand video and music. Some smart TVs also include voice or gesture recognition.
• In addition to being able to be controlled remotely and customized, smart lighting systems, such as Hue from Philips Lighting Holding B.V., can detect when occupants are in the room and adjust lighting as needed. Smart lightbulbs can also regulate themselves based on daylight availability.
• Smart thermostats, such as Nest from Nest Labs Inc., come with integrated Wi-Fi, allowing users to schedule, monitor and remotely control home temperatures. These devices also learn homeowners' behaviors and automatically modify settings to provide residents with maximum comfort and efficiency. Smart thermostats can also report energy use and remind users to change filters, among other things.
• Using smart locks and garage-door openers, users can grant or deny access to visitors. Smart locks can also detect when residents are near and unlock the doors for them.
• With smart security cameras, residents can monitor their homes when they are away or on vacation. Smart motion sensors are also able to identify the difference between residents, visitors, pets and burglars, and can notify authorities if suspicious behavior is detected.
• Pet care can be automated with connected feeders. Houseplants and lawns can be watered by way of connected timers.
• Kitchen appliances of all sorts are available, including smart coffee makers that can brew a fresh cup automatically at a programmed time; smart refrigerators that keep track of expiration dates, make shopping lists or even create recipes based on ingredients currently on hand; slower cookers and toasters; and, in the laundry room, washing machines and dryers.
• Household system monitors may, for example, sense an electric surge and turn off appliances or sense water failures or freezing pipes and turn off the water so the basement doesn't flood, for example.

PHILIPS LIGHTING

Philips Hue smart light kit

Smart home pros and cons

One of the most touted benefits of home automation is providing peace of mind to homeowners, allowing them to monitor their homes remotely, countering dangers such as a forgotten coffee maker left on or a front door left unlocked.

Domotics are also beneficial for the elderly, providing monitoring that can help seniors to remain at home comfortably and safely, rather than moving to a nursing home or requiring 24/7 home care.

Smart homes can accommodate user preferences for convenience. For example, user's can program their garage door to open, the lights to go on, the fireplace to turn on and their favorite tunes to play upon their arrival.

Home automation also helps consumers improve efficiency. Instead of leaving the air conditioning on all day, a smart home system can learn behaviors and make sure the house is cooled down by the time homeowners arrive home from work. The same goes for appliances. With a smart irrigation system, the lawn will only be watered when needed and with the exact amount of water necessary. With home automation, energy, water and other resources are used more efficiently, which helps save both natural resources and money for the consumer.

However, home automation systems have struggled to become mainstream, in part due to their technical nature. A drawback of smart homes is their perceived complexity; some people have difficulty with technology or will give up on it with the first inconvenience. Smart home manufacturers and alliances are working on reducing complexity and improving the user experience to make it enjoyable and beneficial for users of all types and technical levels.

For home automation systems to be truly effective, devices must be interoperable regardless of manufacturer, and use the same protocol or, at least, complementary ones. As it is a relatively new market, there is no gold standard for home automation yet. However, standard alliances are partnering with manufacturers and protocols to ensure interoperability and a seamless user experience.

Another major issue is smart home security. A 2016 NTT Data Corp. report found that 80% of U.S. consumers are concerned about the security of their smart home data. If hackers are able to infiltrate a smart device, they could potentially turn off the lights and alarms and unlock the doors, leaving a home defenseless to a break-in. Further, hackers could potentially access the homeowner's network, leading to worse attacks or data exfiltration. In October 2016, the Mirai IoT botnet was able to bring down parts of the internet in a series of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks using badly secured cameras, DVRs and routers as entry points.

In addition to home security, many smart home opponents worry about data privacy. The NTT Data report found 73% of consumers are concerned about the privacy of the data shared by their smart home devices. While smart home device and platform manufacturers may collect consumer data to better tailor their products or offer new and improved services to customers, trust and transparency are critical to manufacturers looking to gain new customers.

How smart homes work/smart home implementation

Newly built homes are often constructed with smart home infrastructure in place. Older homes, on the other hand, can be retrofitted with smart technologies. While many smart home systems still run on X10 or Insteon, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi have grown in popularity.

Zigbee and Z-Wave are two of the most common home automation communications protocols in use today. Both use mesh network technologies, short-range, low-power radio signals to connect smart home systems. Though both target the same smart home applications, Z-Wave has a range of 30 meters to Zigbee's 10 meters, with Zigbee often perceived as the more complex of the two. Zigbee chips are available from multiple companies, while Z-Wave chips are only available from Sigma Designs.

A smart home is not a collection of disparate smart devices and appliances, but ones that work together to create a remotely controllable network. All devices are controlled by a master home automation controller, often called a smart home hub. The smart home hub is a hardware device that acts as the central point of the smart home system and is able to sense, process data and communicate wirelessly. It combines all of the disparate apps into a single smart home app that can be controlled remotely by homeowners. Examples of smart home hubs include Amazon Echo, Google Home, Insteon Hub Pro, Samsung SmartThings and Wink Hub.

Some smart home systems can be created from scratch, for example, using a Raspberry Pi or other prototyping board. Others can be purchased as a bundled smart home kit -- also known as a smart home platform -- that contains the pieces needed to start a home automation project.

In simple smart home scenarios, events can be timed or triggered. Timed events are based on a clock, for example, lowering the blinds at 6:00 p.m., while triggered events depend on actions in the automated system; for example, when the owner's smartphone approaches the door, the smart lock unlocks and the smart lights go on.

Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) are becoming increasingly popular in smart home systems, allowing home automation applications to adapt to their environments. For example, voice-activated systems, such as Amazon Echo or Google Home, contain virtual assistants that learn and personalize the smart home to the residents' preferences and patterns.

Smart buildings

While every smart home is a smart building, not every smart building is a smart home. Enterprise, commercial, industrial and residential buildings of all shapes and sizes -- including offices, skyscrapers, apartment buildings, and multi-tenant offices and residences -- are deploying IoT technologies to improve building efficiency, reduce energy costs and environmental impact, and ensure security, as well as improve occupant satisfaction.

Many of the same smart technologies used in the smart home are deployed in smart buildings, including lighting, energy, heating and air conditioning, and security and building access systems.

For example, a smart building can reduce energy costs using sensors that detect how many occupants are in a room. The temperature can automatically adjust, putting cool air on if sensors detect a full conference room, or turning the heat down if everyone in the office has gone home for the day.

Smart buildings can also connect to the smart grid. Here, smart building components and the electric grid can "talk" and "listen" to each other. With this technology, energy distribution can be managed efficiently, maintenance can be handled proactively and power outages can be responded to more quickly.

Beyond these benefits, smart buildings can provide building owners and managers the benefit of Predictive maintenance. Janitors, for example, can refill restroom supplies when usage sensors monitor the soap or paper towel dispensers are low. Or maintenance and failures can be predicted on building refrigeration, elevators and lighting systems.

The origins of the smart home

With the 1975 release of X10, a communication protocol for home automation, the smart home, once a pipe dream a la The Jetsons, came to life. X10 sends 120 kHz radio frequency (RF) bursts of digital information onto a home's existing electric wiring to programmable outlets or switches. These signals convey commands to corresponding devices, controlling how and when the devices operate. A transmitter could, for example, send a signal along the house's electric wiring, telling a device to turn on at a specific time.

However, as electrical wiring isn't designed to be free from radio-band "noise," X10 was not always fully reliable. Signals would be lost and, in some cases, signals wouldn't cross circuits that were wired on different polarities, created when 220-volt service is split into a pair of 100-volt feeds, as is common in the U.S. Additionally, X10 was initially a one-way technology, so while smart devices can take commands, they cannot send data back to a central network. Later, however, two-way X10 devices became available, albeit at a higher cost.

When home automation company Insteon came on the scene in 2005, it introduced technology that combined electric wiring with wireless signals. Other protocols, including Zigbee and Z-Wave, have since emerged to counter the problems prone to X10, though X10 remains a widely installed communications protocol to this day.

Nest Labs was founded in 2010 and released its first smart product, the Nest Learning Thermostat, in 2011. The company also created smart smoke/carbon monoxide detectors and security cameras. After being acquired by Google in 2015, it became a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. in the same year.

NEST LABS

Third-generation Nest Thermostat

In 2012, SmartThings Inc. launched a Kickstarter campaign, raising $1.2 million to fund its smart home system. Following additional funding, the company came on the market in August 2013 and was acquired by Samsung in 2014.

More recently, companies including Amazon, Apple and Google have released their own smart home products and domotics platforms, including Amazon Echo, Apple HomeKit and Google Home.

 Researchers from The Faculty of Engineering, TAU University, the Technion and MIT shed new light on quantum mechanics

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• Overview

Quantum mechanics affects light emission

Researchers from The Faculty of Engineering, TAU University, the Technion and MIT shed new light on quantum mechanics

A new series of studies led by researchers from Tel Aviv University, the Technion and MIT has found that some properties of light waves emitted from particles depend on the wave properties of the emitting particles. In other words: quantum mechanics influence the process of light emission. The studies were led by Prof. Ady Arie, Incumbent of the Marko and Lucie Chaoul Chair in Nano-Photonics at Tel Aviv University and Prof. Ido Kaminer from the Technion's Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The researchers demonstrated how light waves change, depending on the quantum properties of the particles emitting them, and that this light emission can be interpreted as the manifestation of a counter-intuitive quantum phenomenon: the collapse of the wavefunction. A direct connection was found between light emission and quantum entanglement – the property at the core of quantum encryption and computation technologies.

 

The researchers explain: "Imagine that you are looking at a water wave striking a breakwater with two slits, so that two new waves, each emerging from one of the slits, are formed at the other side. Looking closely at the new waves you will notice that at some points they are higher than the original wave– while in other places they are lower. This phenomenon is called wave interference: the two waves add up at certain points and cancel each other at other points. Now, imagine tennis balls thrown at a wall with two slits. Clearly, some of the balls will go through one slit, and some through the other. But the balls will not add up or cancel each other, like waves do.

 

In contrast, quantum mechanics – the theory describing the properties of tiny particles – claims that such particles can sometimes behave like waves. If we perform the two-slit experiment with quantum particles, we will see that the quantum particle is capable of passing through both slits in the wall simultaneously. In this experiment, we will observe an interference pattern consisting of alternating strips: bright strips where the particles have hit the screen, and  dark strips where they did not. The brightness of these lines is very similar to the height of the water waves after hitting the two-slit breakwater. However, there is a substantial difference between the water waves and the particle waves of quantum mechanics. If we try to watch one of the slits through which the quantum particle passes, the stripe pattern on the screen will vanish. By merely watching the particle's location in one of the slits we ensure that it will actually pass through this slit: suddenly, the quantum particle behaves like the tennis ball. This strange phenomenon goes by the name of "the wavefunction collapse".

 the two-slit experiment with a quantum particle.

 

Despite our tremendous advancement in understanding quantum mechanics, we still find alleged contradictions between this theory and classical physics. For example, in classical physics it is possible to determine the trajectory and velocity of a light-emitting particle and from these data predict the characteristics of the emitted light. In contrast, in quantum mechanics it is impossible to determine both the position and velocity of a particle simultaneously (this is the famous Heisenberg's uncertainty principle). In addition, quantum particles have wave properties, which change when the particles are being 'watched' (the wave function collapse).

 

A series of studies led by researchers from Tel Aviv University, the Technion and MIT has demonstrated how these properties of quantum mechanics affect the way particles emit light. The researchers demonstrated that many phenomena related to light emission, which have been explain in the same manner for the past century, can actually behave very differently than expected. This is due to the influence of the quantum nature of the particles on the light emitted from them.

 

In their first study in 2019, the researchers tried to measure the interference of light waves emitted from an electron beam (quantum subatomic particles that carry electric charges). The study, co-led by Dr. Roei Remez and PhD student Aviv Karnieli from the labs of Prof. Ady Arie at Tel Aviv University, and Prof. Ido Kaminer at the Technion, was published in the prestigious journal Physical Review Letters. Dr. Sivan Trajtenberg-Mills, Master's student Niv Shapira and Dr. Yossi Lereah from Tel Aviv University also participated in the study. In their experiment, the researchers showed that the expected interference of the emitted light is not observed. Using quantum mechanics to describe their results, they found that it predicts an effect very similar to the wavefunction collapse. At the moment of light emission, the electron's wavefunction collapses to a specific point in space, as if someone was 'watching' the electron at that exact position. Therefore, the light is no longer emitted from different points simultaneously, and the interference of the light waves disappears.

Light emission in quantum physics (right) vs. classical physics. Under certain conditions, the shockwave does not form in the quantum case.

 

A follow-up study recently published in the prestigious journal Science Advances showed that the interference capability of light waves in time, which is responsible for the generation of very short and intense light waves (pulses), can also disappear due to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. The new study, led by PhD student Aviv Karnieli from the labs of Prof. Arie and Prof. Kaminer, was conducted in collaboration with PhD student Nicholas Rivera from MIT, USA. The researchers demonstrated theoretically the disappearance of light interference using another effect, called Cherenkov radiation – usually explained by using an analogy to jet planes surpassing the speed of sound in air and creating a 'sonic boom', also known as a shockwave. Similarly, in the Cherenkov effect, a particle exceeding the speed of light inside a transparent material should create a shockwave - an 'optic boom'. The researchers' surprising new discovery indicates, however, that Cherenkov radiation is not a shockwave after all – unlike the way it has been perceived by scientists since its discovery in 1934. The analogy between the jet plane and the quantum particle is incorrect: only under certain conditions – depending on the uncertainty properties of the quantum particle emitting the light – would the radiation create a shockwave.

Left to right: Dr. Roei Remez, Aviv Karnieli, Prof. Ady Arie, Nicholas Rivera and Prof. Ido Kaminer

 

Finally, in another study also published recently in Physical Review Letters, led by Aviv Karnieli, Prof. Arie, Prof. Kaminer and Nicholas Rivera, the researchers were able to demonstrate that when light is emitted simultaneously from two electrons, the quantum properties of the electrons can dramatically affect the emitted light. For example, two paired electrons that are 'quantum-entangled' – namely, possessing a probabilistic quantum relation between them, which is at the heart of quantum technologies such as quantum cryptography and computing – will, under certain circumstances, emit light waves simultaneously, generating an interference pattern that is directly dependent on how  the electrons are entangled. In this manner, claim the researchers, observing the light emitted from entangled particles could indicate the amount of entanglement between them, without the need to measure them directly. This possibility may prove important for future uses of electrons as carriers of quantum information.

 

Loving the problem is the greatest way to invent

20 Smart Home Technology Gadgets That Will Leave You Spellbound

With advancement in technology, scores of cool gadgets are adorning every home that has changed people’s lifestyle. The gadgets are not just fancy; they provide quick solutions to everyday problems. The simple design and improved functions reduce human effort and conserve space.

1. Robot vacuum cleaners

Floor cleaning and vacuuming are easier with a range of Deebot from Ecovacs, a pioneer in the field of engineering robotic vacuum cleaners. D77, the latest Deebot is a 3-dimensional home cleaning solution that has smart technology to detect and navigate obstacles. It has the capability to automatically empty its dust bin. It has different modes for cleaning all types of flooring. Even when you are not at home, you can pre-set it to clean your floors with its intelligent time scheduling feature. This smart device will ease your cleaning woes.

2. Clocky robotic alarm

Have you felt the need for an alarm that can outsmart and wake you instantaneously? Clocky will make you run around the room before you can turn it off. This smart alarm clock runs away and hides as it continues to beep until you get off your bed. You can no longer snooze and go back to bed. Clocky will ensure you never oversleep again.

 

3. Wireless LED light bulbs

Lighting at home has become convenient with the intelligent Philips Hue LED Lighting System. You can say goodbye to the conventional on/off wall switch and experience the new-age smart lighting system that can be controlled through your smartphone. The lighting system is controlled with the help of a mobile app through a Wi-Fi bridge. You can turn the lights on or off remotely, or schedule them to turn on or off with your phone or tablet. The high-quality energy saving LED lights are ideally suited for home and office environments.

4. Bediator

Bediator uses an intelligent room heating technology that provides the ideal room temperature during bitter winter season. Unlike traditional radiators, Bediator is energy efficient and can help you save on your bills. It is a stylish radiator that turns into a bed with just a flip. Once you push the button on the side, it flips and slides onto the floor. The LED display provides information such as date and the current room temperature.

5. Smart Faucet

This environment friendly faucet saves up to 15,000 gallons per unit per year. You can save water with this innovative technology and help conserve water sources. It also conserves energy with its intelligent design. By conserving water and energy, you can leave behind a reduced carbon footprint. Smart Faucet is hygienic and contamination free, as there is no need to touch the faucet valves. It is well-suited for children, the elderly, and the disabled. It is an inexpensive means to conserve water and preserve our environment.

 

 

6. Wireless speakers

Stand-alone Wi-Fi home speakers enhance your music pleasure. These speakers can be controlled with a smartphone app. The apps provide access to your iTunes library and other streaming services offering great flexibility. You can play your music from any device that is loaded with the app.  The compact design conserves space and provides a classy look to your décor. The audio quality is exemplary rendering crisp and clear high frequency response. If you enjoy music, wireless speakers are a must-have at your home.

7. Book Light

Are you worried that your habit of reading books before you hit the bed will disturb your partner? Book Light is an integrated LED display encased in a plastic body that provides discreet lighting to suit your reading needs. You can clip the Book Light to your book easily. You can also adjust the brightness and viewing angle. The product is suited for long distance travel. You can read your favorite book while you are in an airplane or a train with this light-weight product.

8. Solar-powered path light

Solar-powered LED path lights are an ideal eco-solution for your garden. They are powered by solar energy and do not require any wiring or electricity. You can conserve energy and save money on your electricity bills with this smart technology that uses solar energy to illuminate your garden. These lights automatically turn on at dusk and off at dawn. You will never have to worry about a dark garden or a patio when you are away from home by installing these energy efficient lights.

9. Z-Wave Wireless Door/Window Sensor

Z-wave enabled devices that monitor your doors and windows provide the perfect security for your home and office. It is a cost effective security system that alerts you to any intrusive activity detected. You can easily monitor your doors remotely with the help of smartphone apps. It sends a text message and an email when any activity is detected, alerting you on time. You can also verify if all doors are closed from anywhere you are located.

10. Thermal leak detector

Thermal leak detectors help you detect leaks and fix the insulation in your home. They are an efficient means to monitor the ducts, windows and other vulnerable insulation spots. You can scan the area with the detector, which changes to red for warmer spots and blue for colder spots. You will be able to save up to 20% on your heating or cooling bills by improving the insulation in your house. You can also use the thermal leak detectors to check the efficiency of your refrigerators, freezers and automobile coolant system. You will be amazed to find the number of leaks in your house with this smart gadget.

 

11. Shower meter

Amphiro A1 is a self-powered energy and water meter for your shower that helps conserve resources. You can conveniently save 440 kWh of energy and 8,500 liters of water every year with this smart device. The device does not require any battery or electricity to run. It gets charged from the energy generated by water flow and is truly energy efficient. It displays real-time information of the water temperature, volume of water used and a climate animation. You can install this device easily, as it does not require any tools. 

12. Smart Body Analyzer

Withings Smart Body Analyzer is a complete health tracking scale. Though it appears like a normal weighing scale, it provides a detailed health data. It measures body fat percentage, heart rate and room air quality, along with your weight. The data can be synced with the server using a mobile app. You can easily set goals and track your progress. The app can plot graphs of the air quality, instructing you to clean the room as and when required. It is a holistic health scale that helps you care of your body.

13. Resuable dryer ball

You can soften your clothes and reduce the drying time by 25 percent with these reusable dryer balls for your machine. They are a natural way to maintain the softness of your fabric without the use of any chemicals. Dryer balls tumble along with your clothes while your machine spins, separating the fabric. They allow air to flow freely, which helps in faster drying. Dryer balls are made from recycled plastic and are safe to use with all types of materials.

14. Motion Sensor PowerStrip with 8 Outlets

This smart PowerStrip conserves energy by detecting movement in the surrounding area. Four outlets automatically turn off if it does not detect human movement for 30 minutes in an adjoining space of 20 feet. It also features three “always-on” outlets that stay on irrespective of movement. This feature allows essential equipments, such as a router, to be left powered on. With this smart technology, you can save energy by switching off peripheral devices when they are not in use. It is ideal for networking equipments and entertainment consoles.

15. LG ThinQ Refrigerator

ThinQ is a super capacity 3-door refrigerator with an eight-inch Wi-Fi LCD screen. It has an impressive design that provides storage options, such as a Glide and Serve drawer. The touch screen monitor interacts with your smartphone app. It serves a dual role of a controller and an information server. It allows you to keep an inventory of all perishable food. Along with these details, the refrigerator’s energy-consumption details are available. It has several apps, such as Food Manager and Grocery App, which allow you to make your shopping list based on the stock available.

16. Sony SmartWatch

You can leverage the experience of your smartphone with Sony SmartWatch, which offers innumerable ways to interact with other applications. You can receive notifications, control music and monitor gadgets with the help of Bluetooth technology and different mobile apps. You can text, chat, email and track your calendar directly from your watch with this innovative gadget.  The SmartWatch is suitable for all kinds of weather. It has a sunlight readable display and is water-resistant. It is a high-tech watch that makes your world smart by communicating with your phone.

17. Sony Eclipse

Sony Eclipse is an innovative media player that gets charged through the use of photovoltaic cells. You can stick the media player on a window with a help of a suction cup. The idea of using solar energy to power up the gadget makes it self-reliant. It has a touch screen and supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and has a USB port, making it portable. It is a great companion while you are on the move. You will never see a ‘Battery Low’ sign, as it gets charged by the sun and will not need batteries.

18. Eco Dish Cleaner

The Eco cleaner uses ultrasonic waves to clean dishes by ionizing the food particles. This new technology coverts food waste on plates into reusable compost for plants. It is an eco-friendly gadget that provides healthy soil for your plants from your food waste. The Electrolux Eco Cleaner is a portable and compact gadget that will revolutionize the family’s dining ritual. You will be able to meet the demands of a modern life with this gadget. It uses solar technology for charging the battery, making it easily sustainable for urban lifestyle.

19. OneBowl Utensil

OneBowl is kitchenware that makes it easy to boil pasta or noodles. With traditional bowls, you will need to boil pasta in a separate bowl and use a strainer to drain the water. OneBowl has a built-in strainer, which makes cooking, straining and eating convenient. The hybrid design allows you to drain the water from the bottom by twisting the handle. You will no longer burn your fingers while transferring hot pasta from the cooking bowl. It also has a cover that allows you to store the food.

20. Air purifier

Ecomgear is a compact gadget that purifies air and helps maintain appropriate humidity in the room. It also features an aroma diffusion function that removes bad odors from the room. It comes with a USB cable and is extremely portable–it can be used inside cars as well as in the home or office. It consumes less power and is energy efficient. A removable tank makes refilling easy. It is a great lifestyle gadget for the home or office that regulates humidity and circulation of high-quality air.