649 replies to this topic

[vinceliang]

Technologies of Anticipation: How Chinese Typists Invented “Predictive Text” during the Height of Maoism

Thomas S. Mullaney of Stanford University will present “Technologies of Anticipation: How Chinese Typists Invented ‘Predictive Text’ during the Height of Maoism,” in Stanford’s Seminar on Science, Technology, and Society (STS).

Abstract: When mechanical Chinese typewriters first entered the marketplace in the 1910s, they featured tray beds containing approximately 2450 free-floating metal characters arranged within a rectangular matrix. Characters were arranged according to the Qing dynasty reference, the Kangxi Dictionary, whose “radical-stroke” system had for centuries formed the basis of an immense and highly diverse information infrastructure encompassing dictionaries, indexes, catalogs, name lists, telegraph codes, typewriters, and more. Beginning in the Republican period (1911-1949), linguists and engineers experimented with alternate organization and retrieval systems, witnessing a proliferation of competing taxonomic systems.

It was not until the early Communist period (1949-present), however, that a decentralized network of largely anonymous typists broke with tradition and began to develop natural-language systems of categorizing Chinese characters. Rather than following the radical-stroke system, they sought to maximize the proximity – if not adjacency – of those characters that, when paired together, formed the most commonly used two-character compounds (known in Chinese as ci) and political phrases. What these typists conceptualized and created, this paper will argue, was a technology of probabilistically anticipating the instantly immediate future - or, in other words, the conceptual and practical foundations of what is now referred to as “predictive text” or “autocompletion.” This paper will examine the epistemological, technological, and sociopolitical foundations of this technology, one that has become central to modern computing, commerce, and governmentality.

http://thechinesetyp...ight-of-maoism/

[vinceliang]

Pens which the Chinese Invented

• Digital pen input device that does not require special paper or special ink
  
  • http://books.google....epage&q&f=false
• Quran Pen
  
  • 
    A pen that can read Quran verse aloud is one of the more unusual products on display at the 4th China Sourcing Fair, which has opened in Dubai.
    Retailing for $33, the pen rolls over the verse of the Quran and reads the words aloud, said Eric Wang, sales manager with Shenzhen Hexie Mei'an Electronic, the Chinese technology firm that invented the pen.
    
  • 
    "We aim to serve 1.6bn Muslims worldwide with our products. One of my colleagues is a Muslim engineer from Pakistan and... he helps us design new products to benefit Muslims," Wang added.
    
  • 
    The trade fair was opened by the Chinese Consul-General to Dubai Gao Youzhen and UAE Foreign Trade Minister Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi and organsiers said they have seen the number of exhibitors rise eighteen percent to 1,310 this year.
    
  • 
    "The growth of the China Sourcing Fair over the years in Dubai reflects the expanding demand for China-made products throughout the Middle East," said Helal Almarri, CEO of the Dubai World Trade Centre.
    
  • 
    Last year, trade between China and the UAE reached $28.2bn in 2008 at the height of the boom. However, the global financial downturn saw it fall to $21.2bn last year.
    
  • 
    Earlier this month, the chief executive of Invest AD, the Abu Dhabi based financial services firm, said that China and the Middle East were likely to expand two-way capital flows rapidly in the coming years, as investment catches up with recent fast growth in trade.
    
  • 
    In the last five years two-way trade between China and the Middle East had tripled to $107bn in 2009. Chinese companies have been most active in the infrastructure sector of the Middle East, winning $2.1bn worth of construction deals in the UAE alone, in 2008.
    
  • 
    Al Kudsi, chief executive officer, Invest AD, said: "There are exciting opportunities for both sides, and as China looks at MENA, Abu Dhabi is emerging as the easiest and most attractive route into the region."
    
  • 
    http://www.timeoutdo...an-pen-launched

[vinceliang]

Huawei Introduces World’s Fastest Smartphone: The Ascend D quad


Barcelona, Spain, February 26, 2012: Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, today introduced the world's fastest quad-core smartphone, the Huawei Ascend D quad. Powered by Huawei's K3V2 quad-core 1.2GHz/1.5GHz processor and boasting the most compact design among 4.5-inch smartphones, the Ascend D quad expands the realm of possibilities for consumers with an Android 4.0 operating system and Huawei's proprietary power management system which provides up to 30% in energy savings.

"We've listened to people's top demands from smartphones: speed, long-battery life, high quality visual and audio capabilities, and a compact, lightweight handset. The Huawei Ascend D quad exceeds these expectations," said Richard Yu, Chairman of Huawei Device. "In January at the Consumer Electronics Show at Las Vegas, we achieved a world record for the world's slimmest smartphone with the Huawei Ascend P1 S. We are proud to once again introduce a world-first at the 2012 Mobile World Congress with the Ascend D quad, the fastest smartphone."

The Ascend D quad is an entertainment dynamo with its 4.5-inch 720P high definition touchscreen, and the industry's most powerful 32-bit true colour graphic processor. Its PPI 330 screen providing crystal clear display even under direct sunlight, is complemented by its Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound and Audience earSmartTM voice technology for an experience which excels across the senses. Its 8-megapixel BSI rear-facing camera, 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, and 1080p full HD video-capture and playback capabilities enables you to record your special moments in clearer, richer detail.

The Ascend D quad comes with an 1800mAh battery, which lasts for one to two days with normal usage. The smartphone's prowess is enhanced by Huawei Device's proprietary power management technology which provides a longer battery life of up to 30% compared to industry average by adjusting power consumption according to usage needs. It also ensures higher chipset performance and efficiency by maintaining a low chip temperature.

Measuring 64mm narrow and 8.9mm slim, the Ascend D quad is proof that good things do come in small packages. With an ultra-thin frame, the lightweight and compact smartphone's 4.5-inch touchscreen seems to vanish into the edge, creating an "infinity" feel and allowing an exceptionally narrow body.

In addition to innovative hardware design, the Ascend D quad also has outstanding software design. In addition to its Android 4.0 operating system, the Ascend D quad optimizes the user experience, ensuring greater ease of use.

As part of the Ascend D series, Huawei also introduced the Ascend D quad XL and the Ascend D1 smartphones. The Ascend D quad XL comes with a 2500mAh battery, which provides two to three days of normal usage. With the same specifications as the Ascend D quad, the Ascend D quad XL measures 10.9 mm slim. The Ascend D1 runs on a 1.5 GHz dual-core CPU and has a 1670mAh battery.

The Ascend D quad series will be available in China, Australia, Europe, Asia-Pacific, North and South America, and the Middle East in Q2 2012. The Ascend D1 will be available in the above markets from April 2012.

About Huawei Device

Huawei Device believes that everyone can be the center of information and that the world would be a better place if access and information barriers were knocked down. Its strong suite of mobile phones, mobile broadband devices and home devices is testimony to Huawei Device's focus on customers and its commitment to providing user-friendly mobile internet experiences through ongoing innovation. Based on more than two decades of success in the information and communications industry, and with our own channel expertise, operational capabilities and global partner resources, Huawei Device is transforming from a company that sells millions of devices in single transactions to large businesses, to a "Business-to-People" (B2P) brand that also sells individual devices directly to millions of people. As at the end of 2011, Huawei Device serves more than 500 operators all over the world. For more information, visit Huawei Device online: www.huaweidevice.com.

http://www.chinesede...end-d-quad.html

[vinceliang]

China Develops World first 3D ship-hull plate bending machine | China's Great Science and Technology

3D ship-hull Plate bending machine which is developed by Surele company in Shandong Province in China,

Advantages include:

1. Instead of Line-heating;
2. Will not destroy the plate material;
3. Green ship buliding;
4. Increasing efficiency of the processing of outside plate;
5. Cost saving;
6. Saving shipbuilding time;
7. Could bend the plate to saddle-shaped and sail-shaped;
8. The maximum bending thickness is 25mm;
9. The maximum bending width is 2000mm;
10. Connect with TRIBON/HDSHM system.

http://www.chinesede...ciences-51.html

[vinceliang]

China invented chrome-plating technology 2,200 years ago

Archeologists have unearthed roughly 40,000 bronze weapons from the terracotta pits. From spears to battle axes, crossbows to arrowheads, these exquisitely made pieces have been preserved with the help of a protective chromium coating. Though both the Germans and Americans invented this chrome-plating technology in 1937 and 1950, respectively, it existed in China 2,200 years ago.

Chrome plating requires A STRONG CONTINUOUS ELECTRICAL CURRENT. This is solid evidence that Chinese actually "invented / discovered" electricity. Wonder what the Euro-centrists will say to that?! First negroid Africans were the TRUE designers and built civilization in Egypt. Now this. Their "ego" is getting battered!

http://www.chinesede...ciences-47.html

[mohistManiac]

China invented chrome-plating technology 2,200 years ago

Archeologists have unearthed roughly 40,000 bronze weapons from the terracotta pits. From spears to battle axes, crossbows to arrowheads, these exquisitely made pieces have been preserved with the help of a protective chromium coating. Though both the Germans and Americans invented this chrome-plating technology in 1937 and 1950, respectively, it existed in China 2,200 years ago.

Chrome plating requires A STRONG CONTINUOUS ELECTRICAL CURRENT. This is solid evidence that Chinese actually "invented / discovered" electricity. Wonder what the Euro-centrists will say to that?! First negroid Africans were the TRUE designers and built civilization in Egypt. Now this. Their "ego" is getting battered!

http://www.chinesede...ciences-47.html

This is the kind of thing that shows China "died" thousands of years ago when it had its own reserved uses for specific technologies any other civilization would have applied differently. For the west, electricity meant the light bulb. For the east it meant coatings on weapons. Very different.

[vinceliang]

Physical Metallurgist: Wu Ziliang

Wu Ziliang was born in Pujiang County, Zhejiang Province in Dec. 1917. He graduated in 1939 from Beiyang University.
During 1939-1942 he worked in the Engineering Department of Sino-American Aircraft Manufacturing Co. as a junior designer. From 1942 to 1943 he was employed by the Kunming Machinery Works as a junior engineer.
Later, Wu was admitted to Carnegie Institute of Technology, Pittsburgh, USA as a graduate student in the Department of Metallurgy majoring in physical metallurgy. He graduated in 1948 with a D. Sc. degree and joined the research staff of Carnegie Tech. as a Post-Doctorate right after his graduation.
During 1949-1950 he was employed by the Department of Material Science and Engineering, Syracuse University as a project engineer in charge a naval research project concerning with the fundamental studies of damping capacity and fatigue properties in mild steel.
Early in 1951 Wu Ziliang joined the faculty of the Department of Metallurgical Engineering, Northern Jiaotong University, China, as a professor of physical metallurgy. He was transferred to the Shanghai Institute of Metallurgy (SIM), Academia Sinica (later known as Chinese Academy of Sciences) in the fall of 1951 as a research professor, and was promoted to associated director in 1960.
Wu’s work was acknowledged as a modeling example to the establishment of low alloy steel system in China. In the 1950s, he conducted a research project and succeeded in manufacturing the 'A' type membrane used for Uranium isotope separation. This work broke down the barricade of the most important nuclear technology monopolized by the superpowers.
Wu spent most of his career as a researcher at the Shanghai Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. In the early 1960s, he began to study the interactive internal friction peak of transitional elements Mn, Cr, Mo, V, Ti and N in steels. He clarified many disputes and falsehood existing in earlier studies. He proved that only titanium had enough nitrogen fixation capability. He later turned to study oxygen diffusion mechanisms in high temperature superconductor YBCO, acquiring exact oxygen diffusivity and diffusion activation energy.
Among his contributions in the area of magnetron sputtered c tropism film, Wu discovered that the oxygenation speed of film relied on quick oxygen transport process provided by dislocation conduit of vertical c-axis monocrystals. He was elected to the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1980.
http://www1.chinacul...tent_127159.htm

[vinceliang]

"China makes its first optical clock more accurate than atomic clocks

This definition is based on atomic clocks, devices that mark since the official time of many countries and are used to govern synchronization systems for many network servers (NTP). Until then, time was measured by a calculation means (to eighty-six thousand cuatrocientosava part of the duration that had the mean solar day between 1750 and 1890), therefore, to mid-twentieth century was the measure of time without being somewhat accurate. Actually, although progress has been made in this direction and every time we measure time more accurately, to have atomic clocks error, very small but not negligible, and as time passes, the cumulative error requires adjustments to correct .

In 2001, an American team was the first to measure more precisely the time and developed the first optical clock of history and for that used a prototype clock based on optical frequency-cooled mercury ion. Soon after, the British National Physical Laboratory (parents of the first atomic clock) multiplied by three precision ion optical clock using strontium U.S.. Now, in the 2012, China has announced the manufacture of the first optical clock using a single calcium ion which is able to maintain such precision that would introduce an error of only 1 second every 10 million years.

The development has been undertaken of the Hubei Academy of Sciences and to build the device, used electromagnetic fields to capture a calcium ion and watch, for about fifteen days, the atomic motion of the ions. Observing, instead of measuring the activity level atomic microwave, optical clocks are responsible for measuring the activity in the optical spectrum (observing the photons), thereby reducing the error between 100 and 1,000 times.

And what a watch can serve as accurate? Given that the margin of error is 1 second every 10 million years this accuracy is useful in several areas ranging from the States (to set the official hours), the telecommunications industry (synchronization equipment) to pass even the manufacture of precision instruments.

http://www.chinesede...ciences-53.html

[vinceliang]

Laser Diode Creates World's Smallest Semiconductor Laser For Optical Computing

Small is the new big. China, Taiwan, and United States physicists have teamed up to develop the world’s smallest semiconductor laser. This emerging photonic technology breakthrough has potential applications from computing to medicine.

Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin, in collaboration with colleagues in Taiwan and China, have developed the tiny laser, a nanolaser device, that you cannot even see with the naked eye.

What can it do?

The researchers report that “the miniaturization of semiconductor lasers is key for the development of faster, smaller and lower energy photon-based technologies, such as ultrafast computer chips; highly sensitive biosensors for detecting, treating and studying disease; and next-generation communication technologies.”

Such photonic devices could use nanolasers to generate optical signals and transmit information, and have the potential to replace electronic circuits. But the size and performance of photonic devices have been restricted by what’s known as the three-dimensional optical diffraction limit.

There is an illustration here of the nanoscale semiconductor structure used for demonstrating the ultralow-threshold nanolaser. A single nanorod is placed on a thin silver film (28 nm thick). The resonant electromagnetic field is concentrated at the 5-nm-thick silicon dioxide gap layer sandwiched by the semiconductor nanorod and the atomically smooth silver film. Science magazine has the full academic abstract, if you’re ready for some heavy reading.

At first glance and read, it is mind-boggling that it is so tiny. Practical applications and uses are still years away according to the researchers. I’m no laser scientist, but after working with the Epilog Laser Cutter and opening up the machine just for the cool factor (and with permission of Epilog who loaned it to me for a maker project) these things consume a lot of power.

“The 21st century is the century of light,” Gwo explained. However, he noted that it could still be years before the technology can be applied to electronic products, and said that problems such as the current applied to electronic products, and said that problems such as the current high power consumption of the laser device have yet to be overcome.

http://www.chinesede...ciences-53.html

[vinceliang]

Reactivation & iontophoresis of Chinese medicine was invented by Shandong Funeng Kidney Disease Hospital after years of clinical research and experience. It has filled the blank of Chinesemedicine external therapy on kidney disease and has made a big progress in kidney disease treatment. Kidney reactivation therapy was first founded in 1980s. By analyzing Traditional Chinese Medicine wholism concept and modern holographic biomedicine theory and synthesizing ion physics, Guo Baoye founded“kidney reactivation therapy”.

http://www.htyzlw.co...py/therapy.html

[vinceliang]

World's walking up-down girder deck DLY70T mast crane


2012-08-01 — May 17, world’s first walking up-down girder deck DLY70T mast crane, developed by Wuhan Bridge Heavy Industries Group Co.,Ltd, has successful completed operation on uphill-type girder over the 22 degrees dome and 22 degrees downhill frame beam construction. This indicates the company has a new breakthrough in the field of bridge lifting equipment.

DLY70T mast crane is specifically designed for Shandong Delong smoke Yellow River Special Bridge construction. As the bridge deck arch gradient large, the construction is difficult. In order to improve construction efficiency, the designers decided to break the traditional walking mast crane can only be uphill downhill technical problems, research and design the world’s first walking up-down frame beam deck DLY70T mast cranes and fully meet the design and bridge construction requirements.

DLY70T mast crane makes a effective solution to the construction of the girder problem and provides a strong support for the company to expand the crane market. Wuhan Bridge Heavy Industries Group Co.,Ltd, formerly called Wuhan Bridge Machinery Company Limited,has been a technical and managing unity that consisits of product design,product processing,producter ection,construction engineering,inspection,sevice and consultation as it has been developed and enlarged since it was set up 50 years ago.Its main products have covered the cranes for different working purposes,auto-controling devices,civil and industrial steel structures ,train station seel structures and other steel facilities.

There are more than 2000 employees,30% of which are engineers and 58 engineers have entitiled senior technical titles.The Corporation consists of 12 subsidiariy companies .Such as Wuhan Heavy Industry of CRWB,Wuhan Bridge Machinery Company of CRWB,Zhuhai Branch of CRWB,etc.The products that exported to USA,UK,Vitetam,Myanmar,Bangladesh,Argentina,Tanzania,Zambia,Taiwan and Hongkong had been highly appraised by the clients.Many products made by the Corporation have been listed as the “National Key & New Products”by the state and the “Main Items Being Developed”by the Railway Ministry of P.R. of China.

Wuhan Bridge Heavy Industries Group Co.,Ltd regards its products quality as its life basis ,the clients’ requirments as its highest orders,the clients satisfaction as its ultimate targets.We had set up an integrated control system and had been granted“Certificate of ISO9001 Quality System” by China Import &Export Commodity Quality Certification Centre in 1999.

http://www.chinatech...mast-crane.html

[vinceliang]

The world’s first super-capacitor light rail vehicles off the assembly line in CSR Zhuzhou





2012-08-11 — In the afternoon of the 10th August, the world’s first energy storage type electric traction light rail prototype vehicle by super-capacitor technology off the assembly line in China’s CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Company.

The light rail vehicle’s body width is 2.65 meters, with designed maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour, maximum operating speed of 70 kilometers per hour and maximum capacity of 320 people. Energy storage type electric traction light rail vehicle use super capacitor technology to realize rapid charge within 30 seconds when passengers on and off boarding in station. One time of charge can let train vehicle travel two kilometers to reach the next platform and then re-charge. This will bring great convenience to the city transportation operation.

This type of vehicle’s turning radius is 30 meters, and is adapt to city shuttle transportation. It uses computer controlling composite brake mode including electric brake, electro-pneumatic brake and magnetic rail brake, to meet the transportation needs of urban residents. The high safety of new vehicle can provide convenient and safe public travel in densely populated residential area.

Liu Youmei, academician of China Academy of Engineering and the chief architect of energy storage type electric traction light rail prototype vehicle, says the introduction of new energy-storage light rail vehicles will effectively drive the innovation-driven development of rail transportation equipment manufacturing industry in China and the Chinese rail transportation equipment will enter the international market with more powerful competitiveness.

Compared to traditional ground transportation and rail transportation, energy-storage light rail vehicle has three major advantages of the green energy, low carbon and beautiful outward appearance and can be described as is a flexible, safe and convenient. Compared to the traditional subway and light rail transport system, super-capacitor light rail vehicle has a lower money-spending to construct in China’s over 100 small and medium-sized cities. The future, the success of energy storage in electric traction light rail transportation system will greatly promote the diversification of rail transportation in China and will lead the future development of the world rail transport.

http://www.chinatech...sr-zhuzhou.html

[vinceliang]

Taiwanese engineer first florescent pink angelfish



The world’s first-ever pink florescent Pterophyllum scalare, commonly known as the angelfish, were showcased in an exhibit on Wednesday prior to the Taiwan International Aquarium Expo, which opens today.

Lin Yu-ho (林育禾), president of Jy Lin Trading Co — the company that cooperated with National Ocean University and Academia Sinica on developing the fish — said this was the first time the world had seen a pink angelfish since the fish was discovered in the Amazon.

Despite the 32 colors developed worldwide for the angelfish, the fish lacked the cells to create any color resembling pink, Lin said, adding that the company had accomplished the endeavor after three years of research with the university and Academia Sinica.

Lin said the florescent proteins that would be able to display a “pinkish” color were discovered by National Kaohsiung Marine University associate professor Chen Ming-chyuan (陳鳴泉) on acropora corals growing near Taiwan.

National Ocean University assistant professor Gong Hong-yi (龔紘毅) discovered that the fish would be born pink if micro-transfusion methods were used to transfuse the protein into angelfish eggs.
The research group at Academia Sinica, which consisted of researcher Wu Chin-lieh (吳金洌) and associate research fellow Chen Chih-yi (陳志毅), collaborated to inject the proteins into the eggs.
The research team said that the micro-transfusion process had been very difficult due to the fragility of the angelfish eggs, adding that on average they had been able to successfully transfuse the proteins into only one egg per 10,000 at first.

The team said they were able to raise the success rate to 1 percent after three years of research.
Despite the first appearance causing quite an uproar, with one foreign buyer even offering NT$100,000 for one of the genetically modified fish, the company was forced to decline until the species passes safety assessments in field tests.

Jy Lin general manager Ou Mei-ju (歐梅如) said the only florescent fish currently on the market is the zebrafish, which mostly features green and pink colors. However, Ou said the florescent colors of the zebrafish can only be observed at night, while the florescent lighting of the company’s angelfish can be seen even in broad daylight.

Additional reporting by Chen Yi-ching and Yu Chao-fu

http://www.taipeitim...1/09/2003547259

[vinceliang]

China's Ships were Still More Superior than the West Even a Few Years After the Opium Wars

Keying (Chinese: 耆英; pinyin: qíyīng, named after the Manchu official Keying; the English name is based on Cantonese pronunciation) was a three-masted, 800-ton Foochow Chinese trading junk which sailed from China around the Cape of Good Hope to the United States and Britain between 1846 and 1848.

Keying had been purchased in August 1846 in secrecy by British businessmen in Hong Kong, who defied a Chinese law prohibiting the sale of Chinese ships to foreigners. She was manned by 12 British and 30 Chinese sailors (the latter all Cantonese). She was commanded by Captain Charles Alfred Kellett, also British.

Keying was praised by the British as excellent in seaworthiness, and practically superior to their own: She proved herself an excellent sea-boat; and her powers of weathering a storm equal, if not surpass, those of vessels of British build. (Illustrated London News, 1848)
http://en.wikipedia....iki/Junk_Keying

[vinceliang]

Vivo X1 arrives: world's new thinnest smartphone is also a joy for Hi-Fi enthusiasts

We would not blame you if you have not heard about the Vivo X1. Made by Chinese BBK Electronics, the X1 however is worth a special mention as it has now launched and become the world’s thinnest smartphone. Not just that, it comes with top notch audio quality and the quite capable Beyerdynamic MMX 71 iE earphones. All of that runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and costs a reasonable 2,500 yuan ($400) off contract.

Most impressively, the Vivo X1 is the world’s thinnest smartphone measuring only 6.65mm (0.26 inches). And still, it manages to fit a 2,000mAh battery inside, and that’s quite a feat. And if you are wondering what kind of company is BBK Electronics, it is a Chinese phone maker working under different brands like Vivo, and exporting mainly to Russia. Recently, though, it has started selling under the Oppo brand for the United States as well.

Diving into more details for those who want clear sound, we discover that the Vivo X1 comes with a Cirrus Logic CS4398 digital-analog converter and a CS8422 sample-rate converter for audio. The Beyerdynamic headsets that we mentioned are also just one of the options, you can pick between them and the AKG K420 and the Sennheiser CX215 headsets when you shop from BBK’s official web store.

Apart from that, the Vivo X1 is not all that top notch, but not a slouch either. It packs a 1.2GHz dual-core Cortex A9-based MediaTek MT6577T processor and 1GB of RAM. The X1 features a 4.7-inch qHD (540 x 960-pixel) screen and an 8-megapixel camera on the back, as well as a 1.3-megapixel shooter up front. Internal storage is 16GB and there is 3G on board as well. And if the X1 was not good enough, Vivo is already teasing its next device - a 1080p phone with virtually no bezel, a huge battery and a 13-megapixel camera.]

http://www.phonearen...usiasts_id36909