Perpetuum have released a device to convert vibration into electricity. The device is capable of generating 5mW of power, which is usually sufficient for powering many wireless transmitters.

See the news release for more information.

Mathematicians at Vanderbilt University have created a mathematical model of the cochlea and use the model to show that the spiral shape acts to enhance the low frequency sounds. The researchers led by Daphne Manoussaki and her colleagues, Richard Chadwick and Emilios Dimitriadis of the National Institutes of Health, published their findings in the journal Physical Review Letters.
Read More

Ling Electronics, which make vibration shakers, have been bought by QualMark.

Read the press release on the QualMark web site.

A recently published article in the Annals of Neurology (Volume 59, Issue 1, Pages 4 – 12), by Attila Priplata et. al., shows that vibrating insoles can improve the balance for people suffering from the effects of a stroke or diabetic neuropathy.

Eskom, a South African power company, is planning to build a science and technology center in Kwazulu-Natal, in conjunction with the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The proposed center will consist of a vibration research and testing centre (VRTC), a high voltage laboratory, and a museum.

Avon Automotive have released an active vibration isolator for engines. The isolator will be used on the latest Jaguar XJ6 TDVi.

For more information, read Avon’s Vibramount brochure.

XFX Gear have released a headset for gamers that incorporates a mini-shaker that is powered by the USB port.

For more details see the XFX Web Site.

Sunfire have made a large sub-woofer for mounting in a wall that incorporates an integrated vibration cancellation device that reduces the vibration transmission to the walls in which it is mounted. The ContraBass™ In-Wall Subwoofer has a suggested price of $2,995 each.

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley were able to decode sound recordings of a person typing on a keyboard to recover 96% of the characters.

Read the full news article on the UC Berkeley web site.

Researchers at from Cambridge University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are developing plans for a nearly silent aircraft.

For more information goto the Silent Aircraft web site.