Resort Hotel and Casino, a joint venture between the group of
billionaire Andrew Tan and Malaysian investors has been in operation for
more than two years. Its clientele is literally getting bigger by the
year if patronage is any indication.
Tan is smart enough to
realize that the Filipino is basically a gambler, perhaps not as
inveterate as the Chinese. but they do gamble, sometimes with money they
do not even have or earn.
Tan and the Malaysian group must have
realized that the casino-hotel has to attract people, not necessarily
gamblers. It must be for that reason that there is a huge stage in the
center of the gaming area where singers and dancers perform alternately
all night, seven days a week.
The crowd for entertainment is not that huge. In fact it is sparse.
The thinking among the key figures of the joint venture is that gamblers who win or lose do not always go straight home.
They
sit around the stage to ogle at young dancing women scantily clad or
listen to what many describe as opera singers whose voices can burst the
ear drums of older people even if they are at the gaming tables.
Players are offered free coffee, fresh milk, and sodas. Sandwiches and other snacks are sold at reasonably low prices.
On
the second floor of the Resort Casino hotel is a Broadway-type stage
where Philippine versions of Broadway plays are performed. The plays
attract non-gamblers who pay modest admission fees.
There is
always a car or two - neither the most expensive nor the cheapest on
display at the main entrance. They are offered as top prize in regular
raffles.Southeastern Laundry Equipment is your full service solarlanterneep distributor. That might have been designed to attract small gamblers.
Still
there is a secluded, well-guarded private room for high rollers. There
are not too many of them. Maybe they go to Macau or Singapore or even
Las Vegas to avoid being seen by their creditors or to keep a reputation
as no-vice businessmen.
On the ground floor which is supposed
to be the main gaming area, the card tables sometimes sport a couple of
young Orientals. It turns out that they are students in lesser known
schools in Manila.
Most of them are South Koreans or Chinese.
The
fact that they have a few thousand pesos most of the time to spare at
the gaming tables means they are relatively well off.Here you will find a
list of the main pendantlamparound the world. But they do not have big money. They bring P5,000 to P10,000.
The
inveterate gamblers are Filipinos - men and women, young and old – who
have as little as P3,000 to start at the poker table where the royal
flush prize was at one time more than P8 million. It was won by a
Korean.
Like the casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, the
gaming area of Resort Hotel is teeming with young women and old men who
roam around the place looking for what, it is hard to say. Some are in
wheelchairs. They look like they are 80 years. Most of them tinker with
the slot machines.
Many women come in short shorts and seem to
be displaying their wares. Men also come in sneakers and shorts. They
bring small sums to take a chance at the big money.
It is clear that Andrew Tan and his Malaysian partners realize that there is money to make from the small people.Small washerextractor001 are
very different than large wind turbines. They have to be offered
entertainment and other amenities like free coffee and bottled water.
Resort
Hotel & Casino is designed for the low-end clientele. The investors
know the low-end gamblers must be entertained with dances,A crystallight with candle accents can also be updated easily. songs, acrobats,A gardenlighting can
be both modern and vintage, depending on the light fixtures and the
surrounding accent pieces. etc. but they invariably end up at the gaming
table.
2013年3月21日 星期四
2013年2月26日 星期二
MHA Lighting takes unique approach to LED fixture design
MHA
Lighting has developed a unique LED approach that opens up the use of
solid-state lighting (SSL) in new areas and applications which
competitors are failing to address with the same level of efficiency.
Using patented intellectual property (IP), MHA Lighting is the only
known LED lighting manufacturer to shine light sideways into an
encapsulation,Your number one choice for cuttingmachines
and sports eyewear with top brands at competitive prices. rather than
directly outwards. This avoids direct eye-contact of the light source,
and provides a safe and efficient light output.Your council is
responsible for the installation and maintenance of lightingsystems.
The flexibility of its patented technology allows MHA Lighting to
replace fluorescent fittings and other conventional lighting
technologies, in both indoor and outdoor applications,Small solarphotovoltaicssc suitable for for remote or off-grid battery charging. while meeting all relevant standards.
MHA uses a light-waveguide technology in which the LED light is emitted sideways into acrylic rods. This is achieved using specially-designed, linear, printed circuit boards in which the sections containing the LEDs are bent at 90 from the main sections. The PCBs can be interlocked so that two LEDs on vertical sections can sit back to back.
The LED-containing extensions of the PCBs are then inserted into matching holes in an acrylic rod. For obvious reasons, MHA describes its technology as “Rods with Holes.” The LEDs emit sideways into the rod. Emission from the rod is controlled by a reflective coating which is designed according to the desired light distribution. In this way, light is emitted from the length of the rod in a uniform manner.
The technology overcomes the problem of directionality, and achieves a light distribution of such high uniformity that it is better than traditional fittings. Luminaires create a wide, rugby-ball shape of light to provide exceptional uniformity which for most applications, both internal and external, is crucially important.
The light-waveguide technology used by MHA fits in with a growing industry trend of maximizing “useful lumens,Agesteeljewelry offers solarlamps that is unique and incredibly stylish.” where light is directed efficiently to specific locations. This is in contrast to traditional light sources, which are typically omnidirectional and wasteful.
MHA’s light-waveguide technology approach differs from technologies used by other LED luminaire manufacturers, which usually shine light directly out of the fixture or scatter the light through an optical diffuser.
Direct emission: In this approach the LEDs are usually arranged in a cluster or matrix to shine their light directly out of the fitting. The earliest forms of LED-based halogen-replacement downlights and fluorescent-tube replacements utilized this approach with mixed results. The light output was limited and in many cases the LEDs would overheat, or the individual light sources were too bright, leaving an uncomfortable after-image for the viewer.
LEDs obscured by a diffuser: In this approach, the LEDs are located behind a diffuser so that the light source is masked from the observer.Of all the equipment in the laundry the gridsolarsystemm is one of the largest consumers of steam. In principle this approach produces the least amount of glare, as the LEDs are hidden. However, the diffuser introduces losses to the system (reducing the efficiency by 20-30% or more). It also inhibits control of the beam direction, which tends to be dominated by the characteristics and design of the diffuser.
The MHA approach to luminaires differs significantly from either of the above methods. The technology relies on reflecting the light internally and using the optical properties of the acrylic rod before the light is emitted in a uniform manner.
The LEDs are arranged to shine their light sideways within the optic so that only a small proportion of the light is emitted directly from the fitting. The remaining light waves are guided and then subsequently reflected out.
This approach optimizes the utilization of light from the LED source and also allows for an exceptionally good degree of beam control and uniformity of light. This minimizes light wastage and light pollution. The reflector plays a crucial role in MHA’s technology as it is Lambertian in its reflectance, meaning it is diffusely reflective like a matte object, as opposed to a mirror-like reflector that exhibits specular reflection.
MHA uses a light-waveguide technology in which the LED light is emitted sideways into acrylic rods. This is achieved using specially-designed, linear, printed circuit boards in which the sections containing the LEDs are bent at 90 from the main sections. The PCBs can be interlocked so that two LEDs on vertical sections can sit back to back.
The LED-containing extensions of the PCBs are then inserted into matching holes in an acrylic rod. For obvious reasons, MHA describes its technology as “Rods with Holes.” The LEDs emit sideways into the rod. Emission from the rod is controlled by a reflective coating which is designed according to the desired light distribution. In this way, light is emitted from the length of the rod in a uniform manner.
The technology overcomes the problem of directionality, and achieves a light distribution of such high uniformity that it is better than traditional fittings. Luminaires create a wide, rugby-ball shape of light to provide exceptional uniformity which for most applications, both internal and external, is crucially important.
The light-waveguide technology used by MHA fits in with a growing industry trend of maximizing “useful lumens,Agesteeljewelry offers solarlamps that is unique and incredibly stylish.” where light is directed efficiently to specific locations. This is in contrast to traditional light sources, which are typically omnidirectional and wasteful.
MHA’s light-waveguide technology approach differs from technologies used by other LED luminaire manufacturers, which usually shine light directly out of the fixture or scatter the light through an optical diffuser.
Direct emission: In this approach the LEDs are usually arranged in a cluster or matrix to shine their light directly out of the fitting. The earliest forms of LED-based halogen-replacement downlights and fluorescent-tube replacements utilized this approach with mixed results. The light output was limited and in many cases the LEDs would overheat, or the individual light sources were too bright, leaving an uncomfortable after-image for the viewer.
LEDs obscured by a diffuser: In this approach, the LEDs are located behind a diffuser so that the light source is masked from the observer.Of all the equipment in the laundry the gridsolarsystemm is one of the largest consumers of steam. In principle this approach produces the least amount of glare, as the LEDs are hidden. However, the diffuser introduces losses to the system (reducing the efficiency by 20-30% or more). It also inhibits control of the beam direction, which tends to be dominated by the characteristics and design of the diffuser.
The MHA approach to luminaires differs significantly from either of the above methods. The technology relies on reflecting the light internally and using the optical properties of the acrylic rod before the light is emitted in a uniform manner.
The LEDs are arranged to shine their light sideways within the optic so that only a small proportion of the light is emitted directly from the fitting. The remaining light waves are guided and then subsequently reflected out.
This approach optimizes the utilization of light from the LED source and also allows for an exceptionally good degree of beam control and uniformity of light. This minimizes light wastage and light pollution. The reflector plays a crucial role in MHA’s technology as it is Lambertian in its reflectance, meaning it is diffusely reflective like a matte object, as opposed to a mirror-like reflector that exhibits specular reflection.
2012年3月25日 星期日
A 'dark night' that led to light of freedom...
On its 41st Independence Day, the nation is remembering its martyrs done to death by Pakistani forces on Mar 25 1971 midnight and in the days ahead.
It was this very genocide by the occupation forces that had Bangladeshis giving the final war cry, and the nine-month War of Independence followed.
Thousands of people are expected to visit the Savar National Memorial since early morning to commemorate the three million people who made the supreme sacrifice to realise the dream of a new nation.
Several programmes are lined up to mark the day, which also happens to be the National Day of the country.
The day would break with 31 canon shots tearing through the skies at the National Parade Ground.
President Zillur Rahman, prime minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition chief Khaleda Zia are likely to place wreaths at the Savar memorial early in the morning.
A march-past of children has been organised at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in the morning. The prime minister is scheduled to attend the programme.
The president will organise a reception of freedom fighters at Bangabhaban in the afternoon.
National flag will be hoisted at all government and semi-government offices, and all important buildings and streets will be decorated with lights.
Newspapers will publish supplementary issues to mark the day, while Bangladesh Television, Betar and other private radio and TV channels will broadcast special programmes marking the day.
Shilpakala Academy, Shishu Academy and other socio-cultural organisations will also organise special programmes.
All religious centres will hold special prayers, and prisoners, patients at hospitals, orphans and students will be served special diet.
The Bangladeshi embassies abroad will also organise Independence Day programmes.
The announcement followed weeks of protests, violent campaigns, the historic Mar 7 speech at the Race Course Maidan by Sheikh Mujib – the man who came to be known as Bangabandhu – and a bloody, mindless crackdown on innocent civilians on the fateful night of Mar 25, 1971.
Members of the Bangladesh Juba Union and the Chittagong unit of Prajanma 71 lighted candles at the Central Shaheed Minar in port city on Sunday.
Speakers at the programme demanded quick trial of the war criminals and preserving the correct history of the 1971 war.
The president, prime minister and the opposition leader have released separate messages greeting the people on the historical day.
Zillur in his message said, "On this Independence Day, I urge all, living at home and abroad, to work unitedly imbued with the spirit of War of Liberation to expedite economic self-reliance and democratic advancement of the country."
It was this very genocide by the occupation forces that had Bangladeshis giving the final war cry, and the nine-month War of Independence followed.
Thousands of people are expected to visit the Savar National Memorial since early morning to commemorate the three million people who made the supreme sacrifice to realise the dream of a new nation.
Several programmes are lined up to mark the day, which also happens to be the National Day of the country.
The day would break with 31 canon shots tearing through the skies at the National Parade Ground.
President Zillur Rahman, prime minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition chief Khaleda Zia are likely to place wreaths at the Savar memorial early in the morning.
A march-past of children has been organised at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in the morning. The prime minister is scheduled to attend the programme.
The president will organise a reception of freedom fighters at Bangabhaban in the afternoon.
National flag will be hoisted at all government and semi-government offices, and all important buildings and streets will be decorated with lights.
Newspapers will publish supplementary issues to mark the day, while Bangladesh Television, Betar and other private radio and TV channels will broadcast special programmes marking the day.
Shilpakala Academy, Shishu Academy and other socio-cultural organisations will also organise special programmes.
All religious centres will hold special prayers, and prisoners, patients at hospitals, orphans and students will be served special diet.
The Bangladeshi embassies abroad will also organise Independence Day programmes.
The announcement followed weeks of protests, violent campaigns, the historic Mar 7 speech at the Race Course Maidan by Sheikh Mujib – the man who came to be known as Bangabandhu – and a bloody, mindless crackdown on innocent civilians on the fateful night of Mar 25, 1971.
Members of the Bangladesh Juba Union and the Chittagong unit of Prajanma 71 lighted candles at the Central Shaheed Minar in port city on Sunday.
Speakers at the programme demanded quick trial of the war criminals and preserving the correct history of the 1971 war.
The president, prime minister and the opposition leader have released separate messages greeting the people on the historical day.
Zillur in his message said, "On this Independence Day, I urge all, living at home and abroad, to work unitedly imbued with the spirit of War of Liberation to expedite economic self-reliance and democratic advancement of the country."
2012年1月4日 星期三
No rush for resolutions
Friends back home tell me the Christmas displays hit the shops as soon as the schools go back in September, and get into full swing by mid November when the z-list celebs are rolled out to turn on the Christmas lights in market towns everywhere. We were dumbfounded when flying via Lisbon airport in October to see two fully decorated Christmas trees in the international terminal. Having got over the shock of there also being three Harrods establishments in the small shopping and cafe area, we decided to blame the British influence for the premature decorations.
For me, the season really starts to get festive when Spain celebrates Constitution Day and the Immaculate Conception on 6th and 8th December. That's when I start planning my present list, mix the Christmas pudding and bake the Christmas cake so that it can be drowned in fed with brandy regularly up until it's iced nearer to the big day. Christmas 2012 is going to be very disorganised if Mr Rajoy suspends my beloved early December Christmas preparation days off work! He can have the rest of the bank holidays if only he'll just give me these two!
Before you know it, 25th December is rapidly approaching, at least one internet supplier has failed to deliver, you've run out of wrapping paper / sticky tape / gift tags (delete as appropriate) and the guilt is mounting as the Christmas cards continue to flood in despite the fact everyone knows WE NEVER SEND CARDS!
Christmas Day arrives and, in our household at least, presents are unwrapped, paper strewn everywhere, and a true festive feast is duly inhaled by humans and dogs alike and then…
… it's over. Isn't it?
I hanker back to those days working in England (not something I do very often) and long for the shut down week between Christmas and New Year when most office staff don't work because, after all, nothing gets done anyway. Christmas Day bleeds into Boxing Day and the sales drag us all hopping and skipping back to the shops, where we sneakily return those ghastly presents from great Auntie Maud.
We relax, bicker, argue and generally enjoy a break from work before partying on down with the rest of the New Year's Eve revellers and recovering the next day with another feast. No presents to foist upon each other but, instead, the important deliberations, decisions and declarations of our New Year's Resolutions to be made. Festive week over? It's back to work, full of our good intentions and enthusiasm after a good rest and ready to take on the world and a brand new year.
On the Costa del Sol it's back to work on Boxing Day so that clients can come in to pass on their Christmas greetings, use our internet and print off their boarding passes. Bizarrely not so many are interested in buying houses between Christmas and New Year. The phone stays silent, junk emails keep us entertained as there are no others to read and we wade our way through the gifted boxes of chocolates while gazing longingly out of the window at the British tourists enjoying their shut down week. Bah humbug!
New Year revelry is somewhat more sophisticated among the expats and holidaymakers here and New Year's Day passes similarly to a traditional Sunday with everywhere closed except for some hardworking restauranteurs and bar owners.
For me, the season really starts to get festive when Spain celebrates Constitution Day and the Immaculate Conception on 6th and 8th December. That's when I start planning my present list, mix the Christmas pudding and bake the Christmas cake so that it can be drowned in fed with brandy regularly up until it's iced nearer to the big day. Christmas 2012 is going to be very disorganised if Mr Rajoy suspends my beloved early December Christmas preparation days off work! He can have the rest of the bank holidays if only he'll just give me these two!
Before you know it, 25th December is rapidly approaching, at least one internet supplier has failed to deliver, you've run out of wrapping paper / sticky tape / gift tags (delete as appropriate) and the guilt is mounting as the Christmas cards continue to flood in despite the fact everyone knows WE NEVER SEND CARDS!
Christmas Day arrives and, in our household at least, presents are unwrapped, paper strewn everywhere, and a true festive feast is duly inhaled by humans and dogs alike and then…
… it's over. Isn't it?
I hanker back to those days working in England (not something I do very often) and long for the shut down week between Christmas and New Year when most office staff don't work because, after all, nothing gets done anyway. Christmas Day bleeds into Boxing Day and the sales drag us all hopping and skipping back to the shops, where we sneakily return those ghastly presents from great Auntie Maud.
We relax, bicker, argue and generally enjoy a break from work before partying on down with the rest of the New Year's Eve revellers and recovering the next day with another feast. No presents to foist upon each other but, instead, the important deliberations, decisions and declarations of our New Year's Resolutions to be made. Festive week over? It's back to work, full of our good intentions and enthusiasm after a good rest and ready to take on the world and a brand new year.
On the Costa del Sol it's back to work on Boxing Day so that clients can come in to pass on their Christmas greetings, use our internet and print off their boarding passes. Bizarrely not so many are interested in buying houses between Christmas and New Year. The phone stays silent, junk emails keep us entertained as there are no others to read and we wade our way through the gifted boxes of chocolates while gazing longingly out of the window at the British tourists enjoying their shut down week. Bah humbug!
New Year revelry is somewhat more sophisticated among the expats and holidaymakers here and New Year's Day passes similarly to a traditional Sunday with everywhere closed except for some hardworking restauranteurs and bar owners.
2011年12月28日 星期三
Grote Expands Line of SuperNova NexGen LED Lamps Across Several Categories
Grote Industries has announced the expansion of its SuperNova NexGen LED lamp offering, with the introduction of its new integrated flange 4-inch stop/tail/turn and dual-system back-up lamps.
The new lamps feature a one-piece integrated flange design that mounts directly to the surface of a vehicle, eliminating the need for accessory mounting brackets or grommets, the company says. The lighting systems come with a cushioning gasket seal that keeps water and debris from getting behind the lamp while functioning as a shock absorbing mechanism. The design also incorporates a robust, hermetic lens-to-housing seal that resists moisture intrusion that would result in component corrosion.
"The integrated flange design is the most versatile and cost-effective addition to the premium SuperNova NexGen LED product family to date," said Randy Staggs, Grote's business development manager for signal lighting. "OEMs will benefit from improved assembly efficiency, while fleets and other end-users will incur simplified repair and replacement requirements."
Grote's SuperNova line is recognized for its high performance and the lamps are designed to be extremely durable. Each lamp is designed with an environmental encapsulant potting that cradles the lamp's solid-state circuit board and protects it from moisture and vibration.
The lamps' innovative optical lens design reduces theft potential by intentionally resembling incandescent versions, but their performance on the road is nothing like their incandescent predecessors, according to the company. Grote's SuperNova NexGen LEDs illuminate 200 milliseconds faster than incandescent bulbs, the company says, which provides a safety benefit to the driver of the following vehicle, amounting to more than a full car length of extra stopping distance at 65 mph.
Both the flanged four-inch stop/tail/turn and flanged dual-system back-up lamps are available with hard-shell and male-pin termination options, which allow them to make use of existing pigtails for installation flexibility and cost-effective retrofitting.
The flanged 4-inch stop/tail/turn lamps and flanged dual-system back-up lamps have durable acrylic lenses and housings composed of hard-coated polycarbonate material. As new members of the SuperNova NexGen product line, both lamps carry Grote's exclusive 10-year warranty.
According to court paperwork released Wednesday, Gregg Pfeifer began stalking and harassing his ex-girlfriend as well as her family at their home in July.
The victims filed a restraining order against Pfeifer the same month.
Police found that since then, Pfeifer has harassed the victims through phone calls, text messages, email and driving by their home.
"He would call her a 100 times a day and text her 100 times a day," said Dotti Hetzel, whose daughter was stalked.
Police say this led the victims to change their phone numbers, cancel their Facebook and email accounts as well as install a $2,000 surveillance camera system.
The new lamps feature a one-piece integrated flange design that mounts directly to the surface of a vehicle, eliminating the need for accessory mounting brackets or grommets, the company says. The lighting systems come with a cushioning gasket seal that keeps water and debris from getting behind the lamp while functioning as a shock absorbing mechanism. The design also incorporates a robust, hermetic lens-to-housing seal that resists moisture intrusion that would result in component corrosion.
"The integrated flange design is the most versatile and cost-effective addition to the premium SuperNova NexGen LED product family to date," said Randy Staggs, Grote's business development manager for signal lighting. "OEMs will benefit from improved assembly efficiency, while fleets and other end-users will incur simplified repair and replacement requirements."
Grote's SuperNova line is recognized for its high performance and the lamps are designed to be extremely durable. Each lamp is designed with an environmental encapsulant potting that cradles the lamp's solid-state circuit board and protects it from moisture and vibration.
The lamps' innovative optical lens design reduces theft potential by intentionally resembling incandescent versions, but their performance on the road is nothing like their incandescent predecessors, according to the company. Grote's SuperNova NexGen LEDs illuminate 200 milliseconds faster than incandescent bulbs, the company says, which provides a safety benefit to the driver of the following vehicle, amounting to more than a full car length of extra stopping distance at 65 mph.
Both the flanged four-inch stop/tail/turn and flanged dual-system back-up lamps are available with hard-shell and male-pin termination options, which allow them to make use of existing pigtails for installation flexibility and cost-effective retrofitting.
The flanged 4-inch stop/tail/turn lamps and flanged dual-system back-up lamps have durable acrylic lenses and housings composed of hard-coated polycarbonate material. As new members of the SuperNova NexGen product line, both lamps carry Grote's exclusive 10-year warranty.
According to court paperwork released Wednesday, Gregg Pfeifer began stalking and harassing his ex-girlfriend as well as her family at their home in July.
The victims filed a restraining order against Pfeifer the same month.
Police found that since then, Pfeifer has harassed the victims through phone calls, text messages, email and driving by their home.
"He would call her a 100 times a day and text her 100 times a day," said Dotti Hetzel, whose daughter was stalked.
Police say this led the victims to change their phone numbers, cancel their Facebook and email accounts as well as install a $2,000 surveillance camera system.
2011年12月11日 星期日
Forget 3D, here comes the QD TV
Researchers have developed a new form of light-emitting crystals, known as quantum dots, which can be used to produce ultra-thin televisions.
The tiny crystals, which are 100,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair, can be printed onto flexible plastic sheets to produce a paper-thin display that can be easily carried around, or even onto wallpaper to create giant room-size screens.
The scientists hope the first quantum dot televisions – like current flat-screen TVs, but with improved colour and thinner displays – will be available in shops by the end of next year. A flexible version is expected to take at least three years to reach the market.
Michael Edelman, chief executive of Nanoco, a spin out company set up by the scientists behind the technology at Manchester University, said: "We are working with some major Asian electronics companies. The first products we are expecting to come to market using quantum dots will be the next generation of flat-screen televisions.
"Something else we are looking at is reels of wallpaper or curtains made out of a material that has quantum dots printed on it. You can imagine displaying scenes of the sun rising over a beach as you wake up in the morning."
Although Mr Edelman was unable to reveal which companies Nanoco are working with due to commercial agreements, it is believed that electronics giants Sony, Sharp, Samsung and LG are all working on quantum dot television technology.
Most televisions now produced have a liquid-crystal display (LCD) lit by light-emitting diodes (LED), with the screen two to three inches thick. Replacing the LEDs with quantum dots could reduce the thickness.
Shortages of rare earth elements needed in these displays have driven up production costs, driving electronics firms to look for new ways of making them. Quantum dots are made from cheaper semi-conducting materials that emit light when energised by electricity or ultraviolet light.
By changing the size of the crystals, the researchers found they can manipulate the colour of light they produce.
Placing quantum dots on top of regular LEDs can also help to produce a more natural coloured light and Nanoco working to produce new types of energy efficient light bulbs. They also hope to produce solar powered displays using quantum dots.
Professor Paul O'Brien, an inorganic materials chemist at the University of Manchester who helped top develop the quantum dot technology, said: "By altering the size of the crystals we are able to change the colour they produce.
"It is rather like when you twang a ruler on a desk and the noise changes, the same is happening with the light produced by the quantum dots.
"As the colours are very bright and need little energy it has generated huge excitement in the electronics industry – the quality of display they can produce will be far superior to LCD televisions."
The tiny crystals, which are 100,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair, can be printed onto flexible plastic sheets to produce a paper-thin display that can be easily carried around, or even onto wallpaper to create giant room-size screens.
The scientists hope the first quantum dot televisions – like current flat-screen TVs, but with improved colour and thinner displays – will be available in shops by the end of next year. A flexible version is expected to take at least three years to reach the market.
Michael Edelman, chief executive of Nanoco, a spin out company set up by the scientists behind the technology at Manchester University, said: "We are working with some major Asian electronics companies. The first products we are expecting to come to market using quantum dots will be the next generation of flat-screen televisions.
"Something else we are looking at is reels of wallpaper or curtains made out of a material that has quantum dots printed on it. You can imagine displaying scenes of the sun rising over a beach as you wake up in the morning."
Although Mr Edelman was unable to reveal which companies Nanoco are working with due to commercial agreements, it is believed that electronics giants Sony, Sharp, Samsung and LG are all working on quantum dot television technology.
Most televisions now produced have a liquid-crystal display (LCD) lit by light-emitting diodes (LED), with the screen two to three inches thick. Replacing the LEDs with quantum dots could reduce the thickness.
Shortages of rare earth elements needed in these displays have driven up production costs, driving electronics firms to look for new ways of making them. Quantum dots are made from cheaper semi-conducting materials that emit light when energised by electricity or ultraviolet light.
By changing the size of the crystals, the researchers found they can manipulate the colour of light they produce.
Placing quantum dots on top of regular LEDs can also help to produce a more natural coloured light and Nanoco working to produce new types of energy efficient light bulbs. They also hope to produce solar powered displays using quantum dots.
Professor Paul O'Brien, an inorganic materials chemist at the University of Manchester who helped top develop the quantum dot technology, said: "By altering the size of the crystals we are able to change the colour they produce.
"It is rather like when you twang a ruler on a desk and the noise changes, the same is happening with the light produced by the quantum dots.
"As the colours are very bright and need little energy it has generated huge excitement in the electronics industry – the quality of display they can produce will be far superior to LCD televisions."
2011年12月5日 星期一
Lighting Niagara Falls has long, colorful history
You can't take a boat ride into the roar and spray of Niagara Falls in the winter, but this time of year offers a different spectacle: Nighttime illumination of the falls in a changing array of colors — red, white, blue, purple, orange, amber and green.
In spring and summer, the colored lights shine for just three hours, but with less daylight in winter, curtains of color wash over the falls each night for up to seven hours.
Crowds gather along the sidewalk and railing on Niagara Parkway to see the show as mist rises from the falls and basin in front of them; others watch from the windows of hotels and restaurants on the Canadian side.
The display starts with patriotic themes — red, white and blue for the American Falls, red and white for the horseshoe-shaped Canadian Falls — and frequently includes colors to honor a cause. When Niagara Falls hosted the first wedding following New York's legalization of same-sex marriage in July, Mayor Paul Dyster arranged for a rainbow of colors, the symbol of gay pride. On Nov. 16, the falls were lit by white light for 15-minute stretches for lung cancer awareness, a request made by Christine Dwyer, who founded a group called Make Some Noise for Lung Cancer Awareness after losing her best friend to the disease.
"I think it validates us a bit," said Dwyer, of Becket, Mass. She said supporters sent her emails after the lighting saying, "I heard about this, I'm in tears, I'm so grateful."
"I never get tired of it," Gordon, 80, said one night in November, the start of his busy season, when fewer daylight hours mean longer nights to light.
The best views come on crisp winter nights, Gordon said, when the mist is transformed to sparkling ice crystals that catch the soft colors.
For the past year, Gordon and Mann have used a relatively new technology to control the lights — computerized touch screens. But the history of Niagara's illumination goes back more than 150 years. The falls were lit for the first time at 10 p.m. on Sept. 14, 1860, when 200 lights like those used to signal for help at sea were put in place for a visit from the Prince of Wales. Electricity was first used in 1879. An Illumination Tower, still used today, was built in 1899.
Colors appeared in 1907 when gelatin films were included in a 36-light system near the base of the gorge designed by General Electric Co. of Schenectady. Workers, including Peter Gordon's father, were paid $3 a night to change the gels when a foreman shouted cues.
The Niagara Falls Illumination Board, a cross-border body established in 1925, has kept the lights on most nights since with a few exceptions. They were turned off during World War II, for example, to conserve power.
But then there's that million-dollar view. After changing the lights' colors on the touchscreen, the controller can see the result 15 seconds later by looking out the windows or stepping through a door to a platform outside where the lights are mounted.
On the face of the waterfalls, colors fade to white as the next colored gel covers the spotlight and a new hue spills with the water over the falls. With each color change, it's as if someone has dumped dye into the river above as it careens over the edge to the rocks below.
The 4,000-watt spotlights burn with a combined brilliance of 8.2 billion candles, about what NASA used to light the runway for night space shuttle landings. Gordon staggers the lights to avoid repeating color combinations, changing them as often as every five minutes to keep things fresh for tourists milling across the street below.
In spring and summer, the colored lights shine for just three hours, but with less daylight in winter, curtains of color wash over the falls each night for up to seven hours.
Crowds gather along the sidewalk and railing on Niagara Parkway to see the show as mist rises from the falls and basin in front of them; others watch from the windows of hotels and restaurants on the Canadian side.
The display starts with patriotic themes — red, white and blue for the American Falls, red and white for the horseshoe-shaped Canadian Falls — and frequently includes colors to honor a cause. When Niagara Falls hosted the first wedding following New York's legalization of same-sex marriage in July, Mayor Paul Dyster arranged for a rainbow of colors, the symbol of gay pride. On Nov. 16, the falls were lit by white light for 15-minute stretches for lung cancer awareness, a request made by Christine Dwyer, who founded a group called Make Some Noise for Lung Cancer Awareness after losing her best friend to the disease.
"I think it validates us a bit," said Dwyer, of Becket, Mass. She said supporters sent her emails after the lighting saying, "I heard about this, I'm in tears, I'm so grateful."
"I never get tired of it," Gordon, 80, said one night in November, the start of his busy season, when fewer daylight hours mean longer nights to light.
The best views come on crisp winter nights, Gordon said, when the mist is transformed to sparkling ice crystals that catch the soft colors.
For the past year, Gordon and Mann have used a relatively new technology to control the lights — computerized touch screens. But the history of Niagara's illumination goes back more than 150 years. The falls were lit for the first time at 10 p.m. on Sept. 14, 1860, when 200 lights like those used to signal for help at sea were put in place for a visit from the Prince of Wales. Electricity was first used in 1879. An Illumination Tower, still used today, was built in 1899.
Colors appeared in 1907 when gelatin films were included in a 36-light system near the base of the gorge designed by General Electric Co. of Schenectady. Workers, including Peter Gordon's father, were paid $3 a night to change the gels when a foreman shouted cues.
The Niagara Falls Illumination Board, a cross-border body established in 1925, has kept the lights on most nights since with a few exceptions. They were turned off during World War II, for example, to conserve power.
But then there's that million-dollar view. After changing the lights' colors on the touchscreen, the controller can see the result 15 seconds later by looking out the windows or stepping through a door to a platform outside where the lights are mounted.
On the face of the waterfalls, colors fade to white as the next colored gel covers the spotlight and a new hue spills with the water over the falls. With each color change, it's as if someone has dumped dye into the river above as it careens over the edge to the rocks below.
The 4,000-watt spotlights burn with a combined brilliance of 8.2 billion candles, about what NASA used to light the runway for night space shuttle landings. Gordon staggers the lights to avoid repeating color combinations, changing them as often as every five minutes to keep things fresh for tourists milling across the street below.
2011年9月15日 星期四
Boulia revives Min Min light festival
This is to be the first time in 35 years the event will be held.
The festival kicks off tomorrow morning with a morning tea held at the Stonehouse Museum.
Later that night, tourists and residents will gather at the Boulia Rodeo Grounds to dine under the stars.
An expert guide will take them on a tour of the Outback night sky's constellations.
Friday morning's festivities will start with breakfast and target shooting at the gun club before competitors battle it out to be named Outback ironman and woman at the town's aquatic centre and sports centre.
Organiser Shelley Norton said the event would be a test of strength and bush skills.
"We don't want to give away too many details but all the events are to do with the Outback and will have a bush twist," she said.
A street party will cap off Friday's events with a talent show, thong throwing competition and more.
A camel tagging competition will be held Saturday morning as will a dirt bike display.
The event's highlight, the Min Min Gala Ball, will be held on Saturday night.
"We've got four girls doing their debut and we'll have music and entertainment through until late," Ms Norton said.
Ms Norton said it was the first time in recent memory the town had held a debutante ball.
Kalinda Cluff, whose daughter Kayla is one of the four young ladies to make her debut, said she was thrilled to witness her daughter dressed up for the occasion.
"They've all got their white dresses and will be wearing their white gloves," she said.
"It's a nice special occasion for them and it gives us all a chance to get dressed up and get our hair done."
The girls will dance four dances and be presented to several Boulia legends who have returned to the town for the occasion.
"Jim Grimshaw is the oldest one we've got coming back and he's 90," she said.
The festival kicks off tomorrow morning with a morning tea held at the Stonehouse Museum.
Later that night, tourists and residents will gather at the Boulia Rodeo Grounds to dine under the stars.
An expert guide will take them on a tour of the Outback night sky's constellations.
Friday morning's festivities will start with breakfast and target shooting at the gun club before competitors battle it out to be named Outback ironman and woman at the town's aquatic centre and sports centre.
Organiser Shelley Norton said the event would be a test of strength and bush skills.
"We don't want to give away too many details but all the events are to do with the Outback and will have a bush twist," she said.
A street party will cap off Friday's events with a talent show, thong throwing competition and more.
A camel tagging competition will be held Saturday morning as will a dirt bike display.
The event's highlight, the Min Min Gala Ball, will be held on Saturday night.
"We've got four girls doing their debut and we'll have music and entertainment through until late," Ms Norton said.
Ms Norton said it was the first time in recent memory the town had held a debutante ball.
Kalinda Cluff, whose daughter Kayla is one of the four young ladies to make her debut, said she was thrilled to witness her daughter dressed up for the occasion.
"They've all got their white dresses and will be wearing their white gloves," she said.
"It's a nice special occasion for them and it gives us all a chance to get dressed up and get our hair done."
The girls will dance four dances and be presented to several Boulia legends who have returned to the town for the occasion.
"Jim Grimshaw is the oldest one we've got coming back and he's 90," she said.
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