New ways to make waves

Article Abstract:

Technology is enabling US water parks to create artificial waves for patrons. An example is the Splish Splash Water Park in Riverhead, NY, where six caissons produce tremendous gusts of artificial wind blowing into the water in 10-minute patterns. These caissons, or watertight concrete vaults, essentially comprise boxes that have one open side facing into the pool. A building behind the pool contains three 150-horsepower turbines, which pull air into the building and manufacture air currents. The air currents then travel to compressor tanks and eventually to large valves that are connected to the caissons. Opening and closing the valves quickly sends the air into the caissons and the water. A programmable logic controller can handle eight different wave patterns. Individual turbines can deliver air to produce waves measuring 18 inches, and coordinating the three turbines can result in waves that exceed four feet in height.

Amusement and Theme Parks, Amusement parks, Programmable controllers, Programmable logic controllers

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Network helps children cope with serious illness

Article Abstract:

The Starbright Foundation's Starbright World is a videoconferencing network designed to enable sick children to communicate with one another. The goal of the project is to create an online community for seriously ill children in order to educate them and help them cope with the difficulties associated with hospitalization. The Starbright World network is currently being tested in 16 US hospitals and will be expanded by 25 more hospitals in summer 1998, with another 75 added by the end of the year. Most of the hospitals participating in the tests have three to five computer terminals in their childrens' wards. Online time is allocated to the children with the greatest needs. When children are in isolation a computer is frequently assigned to them for the entire period of isolation. The prospect of communicating with someone in Starbright World has frequently motivated sick children to get out of bed.

Communication services, not elsewhere classified, Other Telecommunications, Video Conferencing, Usage, Services, Internet, Internet/Web technology application, Videoconferencing, Starbright Foundation

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In a liquid crystal display, molecules keep light in line

Article Abstract:

Liquid crystal display (LCD) technology has contributed to smaller computers and electronic devices. Cellular telephones, handheld televisions and portable laptops are among the products that deploy LCD. Most LCD devices place a thin layer of electrically-charged liquid crystals, or rod-shaped molecules that contain liquid and solid properties, between two layers of plastic or glass. Both exterior layers include a layer of transparent electrodes and two alignment layers that set the liquid crystal molecules. This design allows the control of light, which penetrates two polarizing filters and the LCD cell. Active matrix and passive matrix comprise the two types of LCD devices. New laptops computers, flat-panel monitors and LCD projectors are among the products that use active-matrix LCDs. Among the electronic devices using passive-matrix LCDs are calculators, cellular phones and handheld PCs.

Electronic components, not elsewhere classified, Other Electronic Component Manufacturing, Liquid Crystal Displays, Video equipment industry, LCD display

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