World’s First Single-Electron Transistor Works Like a Teeny, Tiny Etch-A-Sketch [Quantum Computing]

It’s amazing what an electron can do. Researchers, lead by a team from the University of Pittsburg, have built the world’s first operational single-electron transistor, the SketchSET, which could become an essential component of all sorts of futuristic technologies; from super-dense, high-capacity solid-state drives to quantum processors. More

Fujitsu Develops World’s Smallest And Thinnest Palm Vein Sensor

Fujitsu today announced it has developed the world’s smallest and thinnest palm vein sensor used for authentication purposes. The device is sized at just 29mm on a side and 11.2mm high, which makes it nearly 70% smaller than the smallest sensor that’s currently in Fujitsu’s line-up. It can capture the user’s palm veins at 20 frames per second.

The contact-less sensor was developed in cooperation with subsidiary Fujitsu Frontech, which produces equipment for a variety of industries (including ATMs). The first device to incorporate the sensor will be a laptop aimed at businesses before possibly offering it in computers for the consumer market as well, according to a report in Japanese business daily The Nikkei.

Fujitsu told the Nikkei that the business notebook will be $242 more expensive than comparable devices that don’t come with the sensor (but didn’t reveal when and in which market it will be launched).

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Fujitsu Develops World’s Smallest And Thinnest Palm Vein Sensor

Gigabyte motherboard with Intel Z68 Express chipset on sale in Taiwan ahead of schedule

Intel’s Z68 Express chipset and its SATA 6Gb/s connections, CPU and memory overclocking, and SSD caching capability weren’t supposed to hit store shelves until the eighth of May. But, at least one Taiwanese retailer didn’t get the memo — or maybe it’s just another instance of Intel’s early far-east distribution on the down-low — because pics from across the Pacific show a shiny new Z68 Express motherboard from Gigabyte can already be had for the princely sum of NT $11,900 (about $407 here in the land of greenbacks). That’s quite a stack of cash for a place to put your speedy Sandy Bridge CPU, but perhaps its expeditious performance can be had for a more reasonable price once it lands on western shores… or maybe we should just start saving now.

[Thanks, Daz]

Gigabyte motherboard with Intel Z68 Express chipset on sale in Taiwan ahead of schedule originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 01:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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