Greener Consumer Electronics gets Gates Foundation under Obama Tech Stimulus Package
The Green Scene
In the words of a very famous felt amphibian, “It’s not easy being green.” But that appears to be the theme of this year’s International Consumer Electronics Show being held at the Las Vegas Convention Center from today through eleventh.
Among this year’s Kermit creations is HP’s new “all-day” Mini 2140 netbook PC that supposedly runs for a full eight hours between charges and thus reducing plug-in time.
That’s right! No more awkward eye-contact with that 60-something at Starbucks that is mistaking your hunt for an electrical outlet for a come-on.
The Mini 2140 is expected to sell for $499. A small price to pay for your dignity.
Also being featured at the event is the Moto W233 Renew, a cell device is being touted as “the world’s first carbon neutral cell phone.” Motorola’s latest cell phone has got the CES abuzz, as it is made entirely out of recycled plastic water bottles.
I guess now I know who’s been digging through my garbage can at 3 in the morning.
http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2009/012009/01072009/437185
Of course not to be outdone, Samsung is announcing a slew of new technologies of its own that are designed to contribute to a ‘greener’ economy.
From washers to HDTVs Samsung’s new products:
- reduce the impact upon our natural resources
- help consumers lessen their environmental footprint
DJ Oh, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics America says: “More than ever before, it is paramount that we create products that meet the expectations and preferences of consumers in ways that reduce environmental impact without sacrificing quality, design or ease of use.”
The new 9000, 8000, 7000 and 6000 Series HDTV models use LEDs as their primary light source, rather than traditional Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps (CCFL).
The benefits of using LEDs include:
- improved picture quality
- reduced power consumption levels ( about 40%)
The thinner make means smaller packaging, which allows for more units to be shipped and less fuel to be consumed at a time, thus reducing Samsung’s carbon footprint.
Good P.R. an invaluable tool for both Hollywood celebrities and global innovators alike.
Bill Gates Gives Money Away
Something for young innovators and entrepreneurs to think about…
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced a $15 million grant to assist small farmers living in poor, rural communities in Sub-Saharan Africa and India move out of poverty. The foundation’s grant will allow Ashoka, a community of approximately 2,000 leading social entrepreneurs, to elect more than 90 Fellows who will spread innovations aimed at helping to develop sustainable agricultural development.
These initiatives are focused on improving:
-
- new technologies
- farmer productivity
- key agricultural policies
- connections between smallholder farmers and markets
http://sev.prnewswire.com/agriculture/20090107/DC5634407012009-1.html
Obama Pushes Tech Stimulus Package
According to Reuters, President-elect Obama intends to stimulate more than just the youth vote. A $30 billion investment in information technology is in the works and is estimated to create or save nearly 1 million U.S. jobs. Good news for homegrown innovation.
Consumer groups argue that the stimulus package should promote competition in Internet services. With the transition from analog to digital on the horizon, such measures would seem critical to creating a competition in the industry- something of which many global innovators are acutely aware.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics will release data Friday on how many jobs were lost in December and whether the unemployment rate will top November’s 6.7 percent. U.S. private employers shed 693,000 jobs in December which is far more than economists had forecast.
Though these statistics are rather bleak…OK really bleak…it also signals new beginnings. So take that million dollar idea you’ve got kicking around in your head and tell a friend. What have you got to lose? Your job?
Happy New Year! To HOPE and to INNOVATE
http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed2/idUSTRE5066RC20090107
February 19th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Coool… Kermit would definitely approve. But what I really want to know, is that phone can walk.
reply