Future Technologies April - Printed Electronics

I've decided to make life more difficult for myself and add a monthly feature to my blog that will be vaguely related to future technology / predictions / cool technology of the month - type thing.

This month I thought i'd focus on Printed Electronics... (Photo courtesy of Thin Film Electronics listed below)

It seems everyone is predicting massive increases in printed electronics and the potential affect on various everyday products are huge. Being able to print electronics will eventually change almost everything but current research seems to be focusing on:


Displays / screens
Think mobile phones, laptops and TVs. The latest idea I just came across being wallpaper TVs (for when flatscreen just isn't flat enough)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/4786367/Japanese-develop-television-wallpaper.html

Lighting
Leading on from that you can obviously see the connection with lighting. I have already heard of examples of lights without bulbs, i.e. the lighting electronics are printed into the lampshade, apparently they're not very bright yet but that's just a matter of time.
The first OLED lamp has been prototyped already:
http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/1523/

Batteries
Everyone's looking into batteries but i've come across quite a few articles about reserch MIT is doing around this area - it doesn't take a genius to realise the commercial opportunities are huge and that as devices get smaller and better batteries need to too.

MIT's most recent press release regarding battery research:
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2009/virus-battery-0402.html

Note: "The prototype is packaged as a typical coin cell battery, but the technology allows for the assembly of very lightweight, flexible and conformable batteries that can take the shape of their container."

Memory / storage (rfid)
An example here could be printed security tags that contain information in the memory contained within the label and can be printed onto any surface, as described by Thin Film Electronics based in Sweden:
http://www.thinfilm.se/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=52&Itemid=54


Another example would be interactive scratchcards that have several goes (the card can be wiped so several 'scratches' are included on one card).


So then I decided to brainstorm it myself and came up with the following product ideas:


Leaflet laptops taking netbooks to the extreme!
Bathroom cabinet organisers (online diary on half the mirror so you can see what you've got that day while brushing your teeth!)
Instant messaging business cards (message a person instantly through their business card)
Re-ordering through labels (i.e. you need a new hoover bag so you press an area on the label on the bag and you've automatically ordered a new bag, just like that)
Menus in fast food outlets that submit your order electronically
Printed runway lighting at airports, maybe even lighting that's contained within paint in the distance future!


Some of these, maybe all of these, have probably already been thought of but I thought it demonstrates the many, many applications that this will bring into our lives.


If anyone out there is seriously interested in printed electronics in Yorkshire just drop me a line as it's something we're working on through the Northern Way partnership.

Get Connected to Investors

An opportunity for businesses that are classed as high growth and technology based to get in front of some investors / venture capatalists is being held by Connect Yorkshire:

http://www.connectyorkshire.org/?page=presenting%20companies

You have to fill in an application form which can also be found at the above link. It's not as scary as it might sound because Connect Yorkshire will help you prepare your pitch in advance of the actual event - so even if you don't get any cash out of it the advice is worth having. It's good to know how to pitch your business for funding and get some feedback.

IT Apprenticeships Event - Leeds 22nd April

There will be an event in Leeds on the 22nd April specifically for IT companies to find out about apprenticeships. The event is free and you get fed - what more could you ask for :-)

I'm particularly supportive of this as I was first employed through a University placement (not quite the same but sort of) at Hewlett Packard and if it hadn't been for that I would never have gotten my first job after university at Planet Online, and if it hadn't been for that I would never have ended up at RIPE NCC, and on and on!

So if you're an IT organisation I encourage you to sign up for the event at:

http://www.digital2020.org.uk/skills/strands/apprenticeships

Places are limited.

Electric Works Opening Party

Just a quick blog to let people know about the Electric Works opening party on Friday 27th March 5pm - 9pm. The event will include a one-off sky bar with views over the city, a Wii bowling competition, various installations and an opportunity to have a tour around the building.

For anyone who hasn't been to see the building I really recommend going for a look round, not just for people who are thinking of office space but also for the conference / event facilities which are really great and I think will become a very well used venue.

Of course the icing on the cake is the very well publicised helter skelter and i've been reliably informed that you will be able to try it out on the night - again I can't recommend this enough, it's so fast it took my breath away!!

If you want to attend you can RSVP at openingparty@electric-works.net or call 0114 286 6200

Digital Awards - the shortlisted nominees

Well the shortlists for the Yorkshire Digital Awards are finally in and congratulations to everyone who has made it this far:

Best Web Design Company
Shortlist: Quba, Numiko, Coolpink, twentysix Leeds, Clever Clover

Best IT Consultancy
Shortlist: P2 Technologies, Sleek Networks, Save9, NetConstruct, Blue Chip

Best Business-to-Business Website
Shortlist: www.myjobgroup.co.uk, www.9xb.com, www.vivid-display.com, www.mckinnon-clarke.co.uk, www.openpaymentsystem.com

Best Business-to-Consumer Website
Shortlist: www.subspecies.co.uk, www.yorkshirecancerresearch.org.uk, www.lafitness.co.uk, www.streetshirts.co.uk, www.mind-the-gap.org.uk

Best Application of Internet Technology
Shortlist: Pilot Theatre, Harvard Engineering, aql, Patient Opinion, H2R

Best Digital Start-Up
Shortlist: BrandNew, The Precious Monkey Jewellery, Tierlinear/s3crm, The Digital Consortium

Best Game
Shortlist: Harry Putter’s Crazy Golf (Limelight Software), Pencil Rebel (Model No 1)

Best Entertainment Site
Shortlist: www.pilot–theatre.com, www.getyourheadroundit.co.uk, www.britanniahigh.com, www.freebingo.co.uk, celebrity.itv.com

Best E-learning Initiative
Shortlist: www.training-pod.com (Mezzo Films), www.getyourheadroundit.co.uk (Get Your Head Round It), www.asda-thebinks.co.uk (MadeByPi), www.radiowaves.co.uk (Synergy TV), www.ecgskills.net (Medcom)

Best Application of Mobile Technology
Shortlist: Blink, An Agency Called England, Sense Internet, 3Squared

Best New Talent
For the first time this year we have been working with tutors in colleges and universities across the Yorkshire and Humber region for this award and the winner will be announced at the award ceremony.

There is certainly a good mix of companies amongst the shortlists, demonstrating just how many exciting companies are here in the region. I shall of course keep you posted on the winners to be announced in May.

IT Suppliers Database

I have recently sent some mails out through contacts trying to get IT organisations to sign up for a supplier database and i've had such a great response I realised I should make more effort to reach even more companies!

The idea is to have a database of IT organisations in the Yorkshire & Humberside region that is publicly available and promoted to companies in all industries in order to help them find a company to work with. The database will contain information about the kinds of products and services organisations can deliver and any specialities of interest. We can then direct other companies to the database to help them find a company that not only delivers what they want but is within the region.

If anyone has any ideas for reaching more companies drop me a line, or if you're an IT company and you'd like to be included in the database mail me: emma dot frost at yorkshire-forward dot com please include your name, organisation name and phone number.

Digital Britain

(Obviously i'm a bit behind with blogging about this, but better late than never.)

The Government has published an interim report (which means it will be followed by a full report) entitled Digital Britain which looks at Britain and the digital economy. You can download the report at:

http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/broadcasting/5631.aspx


I won't lie, it's long (about 90 pages) and covers such a variety of topics from broadband to digital radio that it's hard to imagine there are many people out there who are interested in all of it, but you can just read the Executive Summary for an overview.

To give you a very quick idea of what is covered the report details five objectives for 2012:

• Upgrading and modernising our digital networks – wired, wireless and broadcast – so that Britain has an infrastructure that enables it to remain globally competitive in the digital world;
• A dynamic investment climate for UK digital content, applications and services, that makes the UK an attractive place for both domestic and inward investment in our digital economy;
• UK content for UK users: content of quality and scale that serves the interests, experiences and needs of all UK citizens; in particular impartial news, comment and analysis;
• Fairness and access for all: universal availability coupled with the skills and digital literacy to enable near-universal participation in the digital economy and digital society; and
• Developing the infrastructure, skills and take-up to enable the widespread online delivery of public services and business interface with Government.

I shall keep you posted about any developments with Digital Britain as and when they appear. The full report will be published sometime in June.