Our society has increasingly been relying on the Global Positioning System (GPS) and now GPS receivers may be in jeopardy due to solar bursts and other space weather.

The cause for their concern, Johnson said, was an unexpected solar radio burst on December 6 that affected virtually every GPS receiver on the lighted half of Earth. Some receivers had a reduction in accuracy while others completely lost the ability to determine position, he said.

Solar activity rises and falls in 11-year cycles, with the next peak expected in 2011.

If that increasing level of activity produces more such radio bursts the GPS system could be seriously affected, the researchers said.

Although there are two possible ways to shield the system, this is a wake up call to learn more about the sun's behavior and improve technology.

The Georgia Institute of Technology is in the process of developing a System for Wearable Audio Navigation (SWAN) which will help the sight-impaired navigate through daily life. 

SWAN is a wearable computer:

Besides a pendant-sized wireless GPS tracker, there are light sensors and thermometers that help distinguish between indoors and outdoors. Cameras gauge how far away objects and obstacles are. A compass establishes direction. And an inertia detector tracks the roll, pitch and yaw of the user's head.

All the data are crunched by a computer in a backpack, which relays high-pitch sonar-like signals that direct users to their destinations. It also works with a database of maps and floor plans to help pinpoint each sidewalk, door, hall and stairwell.

Like a sonar device, the SWAN system sends out audible blips that quicken as users move closer to a preprogrammed target and slow as they get farther away. The sound of a hinge opening plays as it passes by a door, and cues can signal bathrooms, restaurants, stores, and other attractions.

The sounds are sent through bone-conducting headphones, specialized devices that are worn behind the ears to appease users reluctant to have their ears covered.

"This is not intended to replace a guide dog or a white cane," Walker said. "This just supplements it."

The SWAN reminded me of the research project one of our favorite Lego League Teams has been together for their presentation a couple years ago. 

Ok you all may or may not remember my Nextel phone cable hack posts, Here and Here, but I have one more up my sleeve, "The USB Serial Cable" now you all might say what the heck how can it be USB and Serial at the same time. Well Click on the more link to find out how. It uses this cool chip from FTDI Chip.

How cool would it be to hike in the woods and not worry about batteries? Pretty sweet I'd say. U.S researchers created this backpack that generates power while you are walking; the up and down motion of your hips. It actually produces about 7 watts of electricity, enough to power a GPS unit or even your cell phone. So if your ever in a bind and need to call for help, this backpack could save the day.

Power Backpack

I find myself wondering why when I use the serial cable on my Nextel phone for long trips why the battery dies so quickly. Well after some investigation and some previous knowledge I know why.

Well it starts with the fact that the GPS receiver is actively looking for and receiving signals. The next fact that I found through some investigation, soldering wires, and buzzing out circuit boards, was that the phone is not only powering its internal workings but also the external circuitry for the RS232 Driver Chip. Even though there seems to be circuitry in place to shut down the chip when it is not in use. It never is not in use when the phone is in NMEA Output mode. Well both of these add up to some major power draw for the phone battery.