N-e-at! The coolest new technology of 2009

Some of them are likely to find their way into your home; others are just nice to have around. In either case, here are some of the most interesting technologies that Flow covered in 2009.

Turning sea water into jet fuel

US Navy scientists have found a way to turn sea water into jet fuel by extracting carbon dioxide and then refining the resulting product. Not exactly a water-powered car, but there’s always 2010, right?

Software

Science fiction’s taught us to be wary of robot intelligences, but a little help in being more energy efficient can’t get too evil, right? Take PecoBOO, a program that uses face detection software to turn off your monitor when you’re not at your desk, or Microsoft’s Hohm, a more general home energy monitoring tool. So long as neither of them starts saying “I’m sorry, Dave,” it’s just a good idea.

Biodegradable computers

We looked at iameco’s biodegradable computers as part of a larger trend toward more environmentally responsible systems. With most computers full of (often toxic) components that otherwise end up mouldering in landfills, it’s comforting to know that our web-surfing ways can also be more eco-friendly. And while those greener computers are still operating, this algorithm will allow smart power strips to shut off electronic devices in standby mode. Double smart.

Low carbon ice cream

Lower your carbon footprint by increasing your calorie intake. Ben & Jerry’s has created an ice cream that doesn’t have to be frozen until it’s brings home, meaning it needs less time being cooled in store freezers. If only all new technology were delicious.

Smart fridges

If you need a place to store your many, many cartons of low-carbon ice cream, consider a smart fridge capable of using “dynamic demand” technology to “automatically adjust [its] power consumption to account for second-by-second changes in demand on the national grid.” Of course, the fridges in question are still being used on a trial basis in the UK, but it’s only a matter of time before every appliance we use here gets smarter.

Air conditioning with ice

Speaking of keeping cool, Canadians should appreciate an air conditioning unit that uses dynamic changes in the electricity grid’s to keep a block of ice frozen as a kind of frigid backup (you can’t store “cold,” of course, but it’s close enough). After all, what’s more Canadian than spending half your time freezing and the other half thawing out?

Solar, solar and more solar

There’s always a flurry of interesting solar gizmos being released, and this year we looked at a few including the smallest ever solar cells, a method of solar cooking that you can potentially build yourself and using molten salt to store solar energy. In fact, let’s go a step further and design the world’s smallest solar oven that stores its energy in the same seasoning you use to cook your tasty treats. We have the technology!

Computer programs that mimic genetics to provide the optimal solvent-steam recipe

All right, the heading doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, but steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) is an essential part of the heavy oil extraction process. The carbon intensity of the process, though, is a consistent sticking point. By improving the efficiency of the process, Genetic Algorithms (GA) programs reduce the carbon footprint of the process while also making the process more cost-effective. Cheap and efficient: now that does roll off the tongue.

What’s new in tidal power?

Canada currently has North America’s only tidal generating station, but the possibilities of Dartmouth Wave Energy’s Searaser, which is designed to make the intermittent power source more predictable, are still exciting. Add to that the possibilities of integrated wind and tidal generation and you’ve got one exciting set of technologies.

A piezoelectric cell phone

We didn’t know what “piezoelectricity” meant either until we tackled this story on technologies that can covert kinetic energy into electricity. Is your battery indicator only showing a few bars remaining? Just talk up a storm.