ScienceDaily: Computers & Math News

Carbon nanotube finding could lead to flexible electronics with longer battery life Posted: 14 Jan 2015 05:27 PM PST Materials engineers have made a significant leap toward creating higher-performance electronics with improved battery life -- and the ability to flex and stretch. The team has reported the highest-performing carbon nanotube transistors ever demonstrated. In addition to paving the way for improved consumer electronics, this technology could also have specific uses in industrial and military applications.

A new step towards using graphene in electronic applications Posted: 14 Jan 2015 07:16 AM PST Scientists have managed, with atomic precision, to create nanostructures combining graphene ribbons of varying widths.

People conform to the norm -- even if the norm is a computer Posted: 14 Jan 2015 06:08 AM PST Often enough, it is human nature to conform. This tendency makes us follow the lead of computers, even if the machines give us the wrong advice. This is the finding of a study that investigates how people make judgment calls after playing role-playing video games. Real-life encounters and face-to-face contact with other people are on the decline in a world that is becoming increasingly computerized. Many routine tasks are delegated to virtual characters. People spend hours role-playing through virtual-reality video games by taking on the persona of a virtual character or avatar.

On-site visualization of planned buildings Posted: 13 Jan 2015 06:04 AM PST Using a new system, architects, developers or their clients can view a 3D model of a building in its intended shape, precisely where the building is to be constructed. This will give them a much clearer, realistic impression of the design.