The number of cryptocurrency patents filed by Bank of America in the past decade—more than any other company—according to the Bitcoin Patent Report earlier this year. The bank is not normally associated with blockchain technology.
Percent
IoT Corner
Semiconductor company Silicon Labs announced its new XPress series of development boards to facilitate creating connected devices. The XPress line, with Bluetooth and Wifi versions, promises to help developers focus on developing their product without having to spend time working on the code to drive wireless protocols.
The devices feature over-the-air updates and are driven by Silicon Labs’ Gecko operating system. Both can be monitored and configured via smartphone apps and can be monitored via USB cable on a PC. The wireless modules are also FCC pre-certified and can be seamlessly integrated into a custom PCB.
Development kits are available through major electronics supply houses for $29-40.
What IS That?
OK, you can either view this as the latest invasion of privacy or something with a strong cool factor. We vote for the latter. It’s a glass doorknob, created by architect Hideyuki Nakayama, that reflects a fish-eye view of the room that is on the other side of the door. The knob was displayed at the DesignTide Tokyo exhibition in 2016.
Wunderkinds
When the 2010 BP oil spill occurred, Keiana Cavé of New Orleans wondered whether hidden environmental damage might result. At 15, she began research to prove that theory and eventually discovered that when UV rays from the sun mixed with the oil on the ocean’s surface, the result was carcinogenic. Now a college junior, Keiana has published two research papers and holds two patents for methods of detecting toxins in ocean water. She aims to create a new dispersant to neutralize the cancer-causing chemicals. Her research received $1.2 million in funding from Chevron.
What Do You Know?
- As reported in this issue, the plagiarism case against Led Zeppelin is headed back to court. Which former Beatle was ruled in 1976 to have plagiarized a song?
- A) Paul McCartney B) John Lennon C) George Harrison D) Ringo Starr
- In which decade was superglue invented—1940s, 1950s, or 1960s?
- True or false: The main difference between a trademark and a copyright involves the kinds of assets they protect.
- Who invented Kevlar, the main ingredient in the production of bulletproof vests?
- A) Stephanie Kwolek B) George Washington Carver C) Lizzie Magie D) Lewis Howard Latimer
- True or false: Thomas Edison tried to mine gold in California.
Click Below For The
ANSWERS
1.C. A judge ruled that in Harrison’s 1970 chart-topper “My Sweet Lord,” he “subconsciously” plagiarized the 1963 Chiffons hit “He’s So Fine.” 2. Also known as cyanoacrylate, superglue was originally discovered in 1942 by Dr. Harry Coover and his team at Eastman Kodak. 3. True. A copyright is usually associated with literary and artistic works (books and videos). A trademark protects items associated with branding, such as its logo. 4. A. 5. False. Edison went to New Mexico in 1898 to try to mine gold but gave up after more than a year.
