ANS TechGlance

" Metamaterials ", artificial materials, seem to have great potential to create brand new and unprecedented applications for our future life. The electro -magnetic properties of Metamaterials could be artificially controlled by using metal nano -structures, so that refractive index could be changed or controlled. This suggest that we may be able directly to see virtual view, such as something beautiful flowers behind the screen of obstacle, or virtually to create a transparent person who might wear clauses made by Metamaterials . Source: Metamaterials Laboratory's page of RIKEN web-site 7/21/09

Bio-sensor that has been enabled by a combination of semiconductor technology and biotechnology.  According to this video, there will be a variety of applications considered while practical applications for mass production will be available in 2.5 to 3 years. Source: DigInfo via YouTube 3/23/09

There are a few good sites that well summarize a trend of Japanese science and technologies in English. This video site created by National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology ( AIST ) is one of the good ones. Its URL is http://www.aist.go.jp/aist_e/video/ . More sites would be expected to be provided by many other organizations maintaining at least this level of quality in English. 3/5/09

Nanotechnology Research Institute, a part of National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology ( AIST ) announced on October 14, 2008 that it successfully developed a mobile type of super ink-jet equipment.   According to the released information , the equipment is almost 1/600 in cubicle dimensions of those currently available and is driven at 5V (DC).    It is expected that this technology will significantly contributes to reducing energy consumption as well as volumes of ink.  Application areas of this technology will vary ranging from electronics manufacturing processes to security fields where high precision printing technology is required.    Source: AIST's press release 1/11/09