Sunday, September 7, 2014

Portable Tech

It's back to school season. What better way to start it off than seeing new tech that will  make studying easier?

For everyone whose ever needed a printer on the go, there's now a printer so small it can fit in your pocket. This portable tech was designed by former students at the Jerusalem College of Technology, who were annoyed that no printer was small enough to carry around. They researched portable printers and came to the conclusion it was better to design there own. 

The pocket sized printer will soon be available from Zuta Labs and can be operated by your smartphone, tablet, or desktop computer. By using bluetooth technology you can wirelessly print anything a full sized printer can do. It's shaped like the droplet colour icon use by most printers to measure ink levels. The tip of the teardrop is aligned with the corner of the paper and it prints from there. Once it's activated a hatch underneath the printer slides open, revealing the inkjet.

Using an omni wheel system that allows it to move in multiple directions, the machine rolls across the page, printing in grey-scale. When it reaches the end, the device moves down the page and continues on to the next line. The printer utilizes a high resolution optical sensor to control movement, speed, and location of the documents being printed. The inkwell is capable of printing 1000 pages before needing to be replaced, and the battery allows continual use for about an hour. Currently the machine will print 1.2 pages per minute at a resolution of up to 192 dots per inch. 
 

The dimensions of the pocket-sized printer are almost as impressive as its performance. Measuring ten centimetres high and 11.5 centimetres in diameter, it only weighs 300 grams and fits into the palm of a your hand. Made from polycarbonate and available in black or white, each pocket printer has a thin illuminated blue strip to indicate when it is switched on. This is truly a printer for someone on the go...and it will be available for commercial use soon.