new service by google: Gmail threading a choice

GOOGlE! what do you think about Google ? this is the most profitable website and business in WEB area. Now I will not talk about it’s growing topic. 

Which E-mail account is using you? If you are not using Gmail (Google) than you are doing big mistake. Yes, that's right. Now a days most problem on E-mail account is 

To managing e-mail. Google is launching new service for Gmail. Google is addressing one of the biggest complaints new Gmail users have about the service: it's giving users a way to turn off threaded messages.

So, google is planning to letting start users toogle between Gmail's threaded "conversation" view which groups messages with the same subject in the in-box and an old-school in box style in which incoming e-mails are displayed in the order they were received.

And yes this service is for regular free users and also for  corporate google application users.

GOoGle has created G-mail as just for E-mail Account but as new technology and new science of WWW and WEB in computer science it  has changed some options and service provided in G-mail account.

Google has already given one option in gmail said “classic” option for unthreaded messages.

Now you will ask this type of questions: 

                                         How to turn off gmail threading?

is there a way to unthread a "conversation"? check out this "conversation" submitted by google users in forum click here for How to turn off gmail threading? click here for Is there a way to unthread a "conversation"?

latest Antivirus:AVG ANTI VIRUS FREE EDITION 2011 !

Now a days there are too many virus and hacking tricks developed ! so, more security at all sections. mostly banking place. And AVG is understanding this matter very specially! so, I will talk about latest version of AVG antivirus. 

In this newer version of AVG antivirus, there is faster scan, easier to use, batter performance and lot of most new features. The main interface of AVG Anti-Virus Free 2011 opens with an ad to upgrade, but that can be hidden via the button on the bottom left. it has faster installation process, it's batter on a feature of zippy minute long installations.

this version offers which is called by AVG is smart scanning with that you can scan safe files once and you don't need to rescan until you edit it. The smart scanning tech also gives you a built-in system resource manager that prioritizes scans. If a scan is scheduled to begin while the computer is in use, it will automatically restrict the scan so that it runs slower but doesn't interfere with the computer's other tasks. When it detects the computer idling, it will then allocate more power to the scan. The feature comes with a slider so you can customize how sensitive it is.

One more thing is "AVG Linkscanner". yes, you are thinking right. that is able to scan links which like facebook and myspace people upload there. But this feature installation is have to be download on internet. And it is completely free of charge.AVG Anti-Virus Free 2011 contains plenty of options for advanced users to customize their security.

                                                       there is also the threat detection engines in AVG's free version. so, my friend I have personally reviwed this software and like to tell you that this is really good anti virus. and best thing is this is freeware software!

Downalod here AVG Anti Virus 2011

Pranav Mistry’s Sixth Sense Technology.

Sixth sense! you know all about sixth sense very well. Till now you were completely aware of five sense. but now a days as technology is growing up very fast, there is more space at the bottom. New technology is now sixth sense?

 I will say in answer about this is latest new tech for your future is sixth sense. now you are reading this article on your pc or laptop or on your mobile, but after some days, you will read in on any surface. YES, sixth sense means that you can do anything without pc, means you can make any surface ad monitor, keyboard, or mouse. your palm will be used as your photo frame, your table surface can be used as keyboard. with sixth sense you can see video in your news paper! ! !

 Now, we use the projector to project the visual information by using some surface like white curtain or may be walls and the moving objects around us can be used as interfaces. In the meantime, the camera recognizes and feeds the user’s hand gestures and physical objects on the screen using computer-vision based techniques, somewhat like a touchscreen 

So strange ? don't be that. this is all right. And credit goes to Mr. Pranav Mistry . Pranav Mistry has redefined the meaning of this word using visual tracking fiducials, which is going to change the whole dynamics of how the digital world and the real world operate. He is a MIT’s Media Lab PhD student in the Fluid Interfaces Group. The technology says, that we can bridge the gap between the real and virtual world.

And the news is the model based on above theory will be in market soon. I think it's price will be around $350. Ya, that's right! you think it's costly ! but it's beginning. 

Know pranav mistry seeing this video. And wait pranav mistry is basically  from india (gujarat). 

now see this video:

google growing at all: Google Chrome 7.0.517.8 Beta

As you know google is most growing company in internet, it has more plan to make company great. so, google has started many services , And particular that I will talk about google chrome! 

Fastest browser ever !

first google launched its own browser and than seeing popularity, it has launched new google chrome 7.0517.8 beta version. YES, that's right. type in the address bar and get suggestions for both search and web pages. Access your favorite pages instantly with lightning speed from any new tab. Don't want pages you visit to show up in your web history? Choose incognito mode for private browsing. Google Chrome warns you if you're about to visit a suspected phishing, malware or otherwise unsafe website.

 that's all feature of google chrome, and chck out more features with more smart and of course more fastest browser of google. try it out today!

download here  Google Chrome 7.0.517.8 Beta

4G & the Dawn of Service-based Pricing

As you know technology is going on thw way at its own increasing speed! Now a days you already know about 3G technology, that was unknown for some days. And now there is a new technology that's called 4g technology. If you want to know about 4G technology check out this articles about 4G technology here. 

Now I will talk about issue on 4G technology pricing.The Coming Wireless Broadband Revolution

It is clear that wireless broadband or 4G has the potential to significantly change the way we live and work — possibly even to the same extent that the mobile phone has changed the way billions of people live and work today.

To really drive growth in 4G wireless broadband usage, and to maximize the opportunity for 4G revenue, service providers should consider treating their 4G networks as "service pipes" over which they can make a wide range of services available to the end users — from tiered packages of “service channels” to one-time, pay-as-you-go offerings. In concert with this strategy, as demand for new 4G services grows, the smooth delivery, configuration, security and management of a wide range of services on every single 4G-capable device will become increasingly key to the success of the 4G service offerings. This means that the service enablement and device management platform will become a critical success factor in the launch of 4G networks and services.

As I said to make life faster  service provide has to make this service valuable at low price. so, hope in just some days you would have 4g technology in your palm at low price.

Android Tablet PC: Samsung Galaxy Tab shows its advantages (in comparison to iPad) in a video on YouTube

Right now, Samsung is promoting Galaxy Tab, the expected tablet of the company which has been scheduled to hit the stores in Europe and United States in a few weeks. Also, it will roll out to more regions of the world before the end of the year (for example some countries of Latin America). The announcement of the launch of Galaxy Tab has received an excellent reception from the press and an unexpected interest from potential users.

Everything began with the Apple iPad, which was first announced in January 2010, receiving mixed reactions. There was positive opinions focused on three aspects: The product quality that Apple always offers, the Apps platform which had already a growing number of developers of iPhone and iPod Touch applications, and the effectiveness of Apple when the company introduces new products. On the other hand, with the negative opinions, the usefulness of the product was put in doubt; iPad attracted criticism due to the lack of support for Adobe Flash (that is a real problem if you want to browse some websites), and the lack of cameras which makes impossible the implementation of several functionalities (such as video call).

At this time, Samsung is getting ready  to launch the major competitor of the iPad, and this company has made a decision that apparently would be the right decision according to some analysts: Its Galaxy Tab is smaller than iPad and comes with a 7-inch screen (the iPad has a 9.7-inch screen); for that reason, the Samsung tablet would be carried in a more easy way and would be grasped with only one hand, which is something difficult with the Apple product.

The rest of the features include several missing features in the iPad: Adobe Flash to browse the web without restrictions, two cameras with video call functionality, and Android 2.2 as operating system, which is the OS that is growing faster than any other in the market today.

VIDEO:

Social-media malware hurting small businesses

A third of small and medium businesses surveyed by Panda Security have been hit by malware from social networks, according to a study released on Wednesday.

Panda's "Social Media Risk Index for Small to Medium Sized Businesses" (PDF) also found that 35 percent of the companies hurt by social-media malware suffered financial losses, with more than a third losing in excess of $5,000. Further, a quarter of the businesses said they lost sensitive data due to employees who violated company policy by revealing certain information via a social network.

(Credit: Panda Security)

The report was based on surveys Panda conducted in July of 315 small and medium businesses (SMBs) with up to 1,000 employees.

Among social networks, Facebook took the dubious honor of being the top spot for malware infections (71 percent) and privacy violations (73 percent). Next on the list was YouTube followed by Twitter. Those businesses that took financial losses from malware attacks also tagged Facebook as the most problematic site, followed by Twitter, YouTube, and finally LinkedIn.

Despite the threat of social malware, many companies still see social networks as a huge benefit to business. Among those surveyed, 78 percent said they use Facebook, Twitter, and other sites to conduct research, improve customer service, push marketing and PR initiatives, and ultimately boost sales. In these areas, Facebook again proved the most popular--69 percent of the SMBs said they have active Facebook accounts. Twitter was the next most popular social-media tool, followed by YouTube and finally LinkedIn.

To address the malware and privacy risks from social networks, 57 percent of those surveyed have social media policies in place. And most said they use staff to actively enforce those policies. Further, 64 percent have formal training classes to teach employees the risks and rewards of social networks. Most don't allow social media on the job to be used for personal reasons, while 25 percent reported that they block Facebook and other popular sites.

"Social media is now ubiquitous among SMBs because of its many obvious business benefits, yet these tools don't come without serious risks," Sean-Paul Correll, threat researcher at Panda Security, said in a statement. "While a relatively high number of SMBs have been infected by malware from social sites, we were pleased to see that the majority of companies already have formal governance and education programs in place."

OnLive adds beta Wi-Fi support

Addressing one of the many criticisms leveled at its cloud-gaming service, OnLive today announced beta support for using to its service over a wireless network connection.

According to the OnLive Wi-Fi FAQ, you simply need to get your system online via your wireless connection, log in to OnLive, and then select the Wi-Fi Beta option. I can't try this myself at the moment, unfortunately, as the various wireless networks in the CNET New York office aren't fast enough. OnLive recommends a sustained 3Mbps wireless connection; the best I can get here is just under 1.5Mbps. Hopefully I'll have better luck at home and can report back on the experience later this weekend.

OnLive also states in its FAQ that you'll need to disable your bridged wireless connection if you've been using that as an unofficial workaround to connect to the previously wired-only service. The FAQ also provides a few useful tips for troubleshooting your connection.

Dan Ackerman and I both professed our early appreciation for OnLive when it launched at the end of June, but the service is not without its issues. Even Wi-Fi support won't assuage those who want to play games at resolutions higher than 720p, or those who prefer owning physical game media. And though public and commercial wireless networks with many concurrent users won't likely be fast enough to support ubiquitous OnLive gaming, untethering the service for those with adequate Wi-Fi connections will only help OnLive win over more customers.

The latest scoop on Android phones and Froyo

ast six weeks have been relatively busy in the world of Froyo and Android phones. New devices, such as the Droid 2 are launching with the latest release of the Android OS, and others are getting over-the-air updates. In fact, Google's most recent figures show Android 2.2 running on 28.7 percent of handsets actively accessing the Android Market.

As we gear up for the release of the G2, MyTouch HD, and other devices launching with Froyo, I thought it was worthwhile to check back in with some of the Android handsets that are currently on the market. We're starting get a clearer picture of when those devices will taste Froyo.

Any day now
Considring they were promised Froyo by late summer, Droid Xowners have been waiting patiently for their 2.2 update. Summer officially ends next week, and though a leaked version of the ROM has found its way online, neither Motorola nor Verizon has made announcements. However, a support page has quietly gone online. Based on the carrier's history of Android updates, I'd look for something soon.

Cloudy future
As we've told you, Motorola is having a particularly difficult time keeping its early MotoBlur handsets relevant. For a couple of devices the timeline keeps sliding even for Android 2.1 so I'd rule out anything beyond Eclair. If you own a Cliq, Cliq XT, or Backflip, you'll likely see Android 2.1 late in the year.

Though T-Mobile customers were told back in June that the myTouch series of phones would get Android 2.2, nothing has been said since. The MyTouch HD is rumored for a November release so I might look for an update to existing devices around the same time.

I'm not sure what will happen with the LG Ally, but I still expect at least one or two supported updates. It's tough to forecast at this point as LG has struggled to release a runaway hit Android phone. Taking a page out of Samsung's book, LG is now releasing a line of its own handsets with the Optimus series. Perhaps it's because the company has been so busy with new phones, but LG has yet to say anything on record about the Verizon device.

Samsung now has a Galaxy S handset on all four major wireless providers, but each runs Android 2.1 under the hood. As they were promised 2.2 when they debuted, I hope to see Samsung and the respective carriers push something out before the year ends.

Definitely not getting 2.2
Though in August we weren't sure what would happen with the Droid Eris, today Verizon confirmed that the HTC device would not see an update beyond OS 2.1. Expect a similar fate for Sprint's Hero as well.

Motorola has put the proverbial fork in the Devour, deciding that Android 1.6 would be the last supported release. This phone, like the Samsung Behold II and T-Mobile G1, will die with Donut.

Creative image projects and driving with zombies: iPhone apps of the week

The big news this week in the world of iOS devices is that we are drawing ever closer to iOS 4.2, the update that will add new features and bring the iPad up to speed with the feature set on the iPhone 4.

As noted by our own Josh Lowensohn a couple of days ago, iOS 4.2 for iPad has been seeded to developers so they can get started bringing their apps up to date. With iOS 4.2 on your iPad, you'll be able to multitask like the iPhone, make folders for your apps, get connected with Apple's Game Center, and get an updated interface for iPad e-mail. Josh also pointed out in another story this week that the 4.2 update will turn the iPad's rotation-lock switch into a volume-mute switch just like on the iPhone.

Even more exciting, both the iPhone and iPad will receive AirPrint, a service that automatically locates connected printers on a network and over Wi-Fi without additional driver software. iOS 4.2 will also bring AirPlay to all iOS devices, letting you stream all of your multimedia to multiple TVs, computers, and set-top boxes.

iOS 4.2 is set to be released in November, but you can bet that Apple will have more tweaks before then.

This week's apps include an image collage maker with a ton of features and a driving game where the undead try to make you crash.

Select a border, color correct, and adjust your images during the Edit phase.

(Credit: Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET)

PhotoShake ($1.99) is an easy-to-use program for creating various types of collages with your images complete with effects and plenty of ways to customize. Start by picking the theme of the project you want to make: Single photo for single shots; MultiPhoto for collages of about six images; Grid photo for larger collages of images; Widephoto for a stylish strip of images; or WallPaper to make a background for your iOS device. Then, choose photos from your library, take fresh photos with your camera, or paste an image into the app that you previously copied. At this point you're directed to shake your iPhone to quick preview the result of your theme and photo selections. I have to admit the physical shaking of the iPhone seems a bit unnecessary to me, but multiple shakes will bring up different looks to give you more options. It just seems like a button would be better here, but I guess they would have to change the name of the app...PhotoButton doesn't really have the same ring.

Once you have the basic project in front of you, PhotoShake goes into Edit mode giving you a number of options to edit your images and adjust how they are displayed. You can adjust the framing of each image in the collage, color correct each image, change the border type color and how they line up, add effects and color tints to images, and much more. I wasn't too excited by the choices for borders (they seemed simplistic in most cases), but otherwise the multitude of options for adjusting your images are great. Once the colors are how you like them, you can add speech and thought balloons in various shapes and even select fonts.

The final step in PhotoShake is to choose what you want to do with your project. You can preview the final product, save it to your device, or share on Flickr, Twitter, FaceBook, tumblr, or me2DAY. Overall, PhotoShake provides an easy way to create quick collages of your photos and either save them or share them quickly on popular social Web sites. If you want to make something more out of your images, check out this app.

Touch the red arrows on the sides of the screen to shoot the corresponding zombie on your car.

(Credit: Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET)

Zombie Highway (99 cents) is a very silly idea made into a great game and if you love zombie-related games (I do!), this app makes a nice addition to your app collection. The object of the game is simple: drive as far as you can on a post-apocalyptic road strewn with broken down carswhile zombies try to jump on your car and run you off the road. Drive your black SUV by tilting your iPhone to steer--there are no buttons in this game for gas or brake. As you drive, zombies will jump from the side of the road and latch on to the sides of your car. If you fail to remove the zombies from the sides of your car, the undead will rock your car back and forth to try to make you crash.

Zombie Highway is very addictive, mostly because the steering controls are so fluid and it's fun to begin to master the various ways of removing zombies from your car. You can steer close to crashed cars to side-swipe the zombies off, or you can use one of several unlockable weapons to slowly shoot them from their perch. Everything from 44 revolvers to machine guns can be used to dislodge the zombies. I think they missed an opportunity by not including a flame thrower, but maybe that will come in future updates.

You're not up against just one type of zombie either. As you drive, stronger zombies will jump on your car that take much more to shake free--often making you side-swipe cars multiple times to dislodge one. Your game ends when either the zombies have managed to flip your car over or you lose control and slam into a crashed car.

Overall, Zombie Highway is not terribly complicated and doesn't offer much beyond the basic mechanic--fortunately, the basic mechanic is very fun and addictive. Anyone who likes zombie games and wants something different from the usual first-person shooter fare should check out this fun (and cheap) game.

What's your favorite iPhone app? What do you think of PhotoShake? Does Zombie Highway have enough variation with weapons and zombie types to keep you coming back for more? Let me know in the comments!

iPad used to paint ghostly midair messages

Who ya gonna call? iPad painting creates moving 3D letters and objects.

(Credit: Dentsu London)

Ever spell out words in the air with your finger? Now you can do it with an iPad. The result is spooky 3D letters that seem to hover in midair. Casper would love it.

We've seen iPads used to create touch-screen art, but this goes a step beyond. The folks at communications agency Dentsu London and design consultancy Berg teamed up to produce an series of otherworldly animations seen in the vid below. Dentsu says it's part of its Making Future Magic project.

The photographic technique is a kind of stop-frame animation. Hand-held iPads are imaged moving through space with long exposure times, creating a ghostly message in the air.

(Credit: Berg)

3D models of letters and objects are first rendered in cross sections in a kind of "virtual CAT scan," as Berg's Jack Schulze explains in the video. Then they're played back as movies on the iPad screen while it moves through the air.

These are imaged in low-light environments as long-exposure photos of 3 to 6 seconds, and each pic is one of many frames in the animation sequence.

The team created luminescent words that seem to hover, as well as walking robots and other 3D shapes (but no ghosts). In one sequence, the word "making" seems to jump off a table and climb a staircase. In another, "future" floats over a puddle. "Magic," meanwhile, dances and skips impishly in a shadowy garden.

 The iPad handlers appear as faint shadows in the background. Some objects seem to be suspended in a sort of aerogel. Berg's post explains: "This is produced by the black areas of the iPad screen which aren't entirely dark, and affected by the balance between exposure, the speed of the movies and screen angle."

Check out more pics from the project here; there's even a book on it here.

I'd love to see a special animation for Halloween.

Making Future Magic: iPad light painting from Dentsu London on Vimeo.

Molecular "robot" built from DNA

Scientists from Columbia University, Arizona State University, the University of Michigan, and Caltech have programmed an autonomous molecular "robot" made out of DNA to start, move, turn, and stop while following a DNA track.

"The development could ultimately lead to molecular systems that might one day be used for medical therapeutic devices and molecular-scale reconfigurable robots—robots made of many simple units that can reposition or even rebuild themselves to accomplish different tasks. A paper describing the work in Naturesuggests the research could lead to molecular-scale reconfigurable robots made of many simple units that can rebuild themselves to accomplish different tasks."

Caltech's Erik Winfree explained that shrinking robots down to the molecular scale would provide, for molecular processes, the same kinds of benefits that classical robotics and automation provide at the macroscopic scale. Molecular robots, in theory, could be programmed to sense their environment (say, the presence of disease markers on a cell), make a decision (that the cell is cancerous and needs to be neutralized), and act on that decision (deliver a cargo of cancer-killing drugs).

But with that promise comes a practical problem: how do you program a molecule to perform complex behaviors? In normal robotics, the robot itself contains the knowledge about the commands. But with individual molecules, information storage in the "robot" is impossible. Columbia's Milan Stojanovic says the solution is to imbue the molecule's environment with informational cues.

"We were able to create such a programmed or 'prescribed' environment using DNA origami," explains Hao Yan, from Arizona State. DNA origami is a type of self-assembled structure made from DNA that can be programmed to form nearly limitless shapes and patterns. Exploiting the sequence-recognition properties of DNA base pairing, DNA origami are created from a long single strand of DNA and a mixture of different short synthetic DNA strands that bind to and "staple" the long DNA into the desired shape. The origami used in this case was a rectangle that was 2 nanometers thick and roughly 100 nanometers on each side.

The researchers then constructed a trail of molecular "bread crumbs" on the DNA origami track by stringing additional single-stranded DNA molecules, or oligonucleotides, off the ends of the staples. These represent the cues that tell the molecular robots what to do - start, walk, turn left, turn right, or stop, for example - akin to the commands given to traditional robots.

To build the 4 nanometer diameter molecular robot, the researchers started with a common protein called streptavidin, which has four symmetrically placed binding pockets for a chemical moiety called biotin. Each robot leg is a short biotin-labeled strand of DNA. "It's a four-legged spider," quips Stojanovic. Three of the legs are made of enzymatic DNA, which is DNA that binds to and cuts a particular sequence of DNA. The spider also is outfitted with a "start strand" - the fourth leg - that tethers the spider to the start site (one particular oligonucleotide on the DNA origami track). "After the robot is released from its start site by a trigger strand, it follows the track by binding to and then cutting the DNA strands extending off of the staple strands on the molecular track," Stojanovic explained.

"Once it cleaves," adds Yan, "the product will dissociate, and the leg will start searching for the next substrate." In this way, the spider is guided down the path laid out by the researchers. Finally, explains Yan, "the robot stops when it encounters a patch of DNA that it can bind to but that it cannot cut," which acts as a sort of flypaper.

Although other DNA walkers have been developed before, they've never ventured farther than about three steps. "This one," says Yan, "can walk up to about 100 nanometers. That's roughly 50 steps."

Stojanovic is aware of the current system's limitations. "Interactions are restricted to the walker and the environment. Our next step is to add a second walker, so the walkers can communicate with each other directly and via the environment. The spiders will work together to accomplish a goal," he explained.

Such collaboration ultimately could be the basis for developing molecular-scale reconfigurable robots - complicated machines that are made of many simple units that can reorganize themselves into any shape - to accomplish different tasks, or fix themselves if they break. "The idea is to have molecular robots build a structure or repair damaged tissues," says Stojanovic. "You could imagine the spider carrying a drug and bonding to a two-dimensional surface like a cell membrane, finding the receptors and, depending on the local environment," adds Yan, "triggering the activation of this drug."

NEW in space: Astronomers detect distant solar system with five planets

Astronomers working at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) have discovered a planetary system 127 light-years away that contains at least five planets that orbit the star HD 10180 at distances that follow a regular pattern much like our own solar system.

"We have found what is most likely the system with the most planets yet discovered," said Christophe Lovis, lead author of the paper reporting the result. "This remarkable discovery also highlights the fact that we are now entering a new era in exoplanet research: the study of complex planetary systems and not just of individual planets."

The team of astronomers used ESO's 3.6-metre telescope at La Silla, Chile, for a six-year-long study of HD 10180 located in the southern constellation of Hydrus (the Male Water Snake). The astronomers detected the tiny back and forth motions of the star caused by the complex gravitational attractions from five or more planets. The five strongest signals correspond to planets with Neptune-like masses - between 13 and 25 Earth masses - which orbit the star with periods ranging from about 6 to 600 days. These planets are located between 0.06 and 1.4 times the Earth-Sun distance from their central star.

"We also have good reasons to believe that two other planets are present," says Lovis, adding that one would be a Saturn-like planet and the other would be the least massive exoplanet ever discovered, with a mass of about 1.4 times that of the Earth. The smaller planet is believed to be very close to its host star, at just 2 percent of the Earth-Sun distance. A year on this planet would last only 1.18 Earth-days."

The newly discovered system of planets around HD 10180 is unique in several respects. With at least five Neptune-like planets lying within a distance equivalent to the orbit of Mars, the system is more populated than our solar system in its inner region, and has many more massive planets there. Additionally, the system probably has no Jupiter-like gas giant. In addition, all the planets seem to have almost circular orbits.

Using the new discovery as well as data for other planetary systems, the astronomers found an equivalent of the Titius-Bode law that exists in our solar system: the distances of the planets from their star seem to follow a regular pattern. "This could be a signature of the formation process of these planetary systems," says team member Michel Mayor.

Pressure-sensitive crystalline semiconductor used to create artificial skin

Engineers at the University of California, Berkeley, have developed a pressure-sensitive electronic material from semiconductor nanowires that will help overcome a key challenge in robotics: adapting the amount of force needed to hold and manipulate a wide range of objects. The artificial skin has been dubbed "e-skin" and the researchers say it is the first such material made out of inorganic single crystalline semiconductors.

"The idea is to have a material that functions like the human skin, which means incorporating the ability to feel and touch objects," said Ali Javey, head of the UC Berkeley research team developing the artificial skin.

"Humans generally know how to hold a fragile egg without breaking it," said Javey. "If we ever wanted a robot that could unload the dishes, for instance, we'd want to make sure it doesn't break the wine glasses in the process. But we'd also want the robot to be able to grip a stock pot without dropping it."

Previous attempts to develop an artificial skin relied upon organic materials because they are flexible and easier to process. "The problem is that organic materials are poor semiconductors, which means electronic devices made out of them would often require high voltages to operate the circuitry," said Javey. "Inorganic materials, such as crystalline silicon, on the other hand, have excellent electrical properties and can operate on low power. They are also more chemically stable. But historically, they have been inflexible and easy to crack. In this regard, works by various groups, including ours, have recently shown that miniaturized strips or wires of inorganics can be made highly flexible - ideal for high performance, mechanically bendable electronics and sensors."

The UC Berkeley engineers utilized an innovative fabrication technique where the nanowires are "grown" on a cylindrical drum and then rolled onto a sticky substrate. The substrate used was a polyimide film, but the researchers said the technique can work with a variety of materials, including other plastics, paper or glass. As the drum rolled, the nanowires were deposited, or "printed," onto the substrate in an orderly fashion, forming the basis from which thin, flexible sheets of electronic materials could be built. 

For the e-skin, the engineers printed the nanowires onto an 18-by-19 pixel square matrix measuring 7 centimeters on each side. Each pixel contained a transistor made up of hundreds of semiconductor nanowires. Nanowire transistors were then integrated with a pressure sensitive rubber on top to provide the sensing functionality. The matrix required less than 5 volts of power to operate and maintained its robustness after being subjected to more than 2,000 bending cycles. The researchers demonstrated the ability of the e-skin to detect pressure from 0 to 15 kilopascals, a range comparable to the force used for such daily activities as typing on a keyboard or holding an object.