Technology


Korean library uses immersive technology to allow user access to its ancient manuscripts


T e National Library of Korea is using an innovative interactive technology to provide its visitors with access to ancient and valuable manuscripts, usually kept in a deep vault. Seoul-based smart services consultant,


Ubidus, developed the system. “We wanted to provide a more immersive


and interactive method for researching the library’s old documents beyond what we usually see on a computer screen. Many companies have developed digital books using LCDs over the years, but we wanted to create something more realistic. Our idea was to leverage a real large-scale book whereby users could ‘turn’ the pages to view content, as well as interact with the text to generate related graphics and animations,” said Jin Su Baek, Team Manager at Ubidus. To ‘turn’ the pages of books and


manuscripts, Ubidus used Zytronic’s ZXY500 projected capacitive controller and its ‘hover’ fi rmware, which it combined with


ZYTC060 digital book


Zytronic’s ZyFilm fl exible touch sensors to accurately and reliably detect touches through thick, non-conductive materials. T rough the air, touch detection can be picked up at least 50mm away from the surface of the sensor and, crucially for this application, it also registers interaction through non-conductive materials such as paper, wood, plastic and ceramics. Zytronic’s ‘hover’ touch-recognition technology even works through the dense, non-conductive marble slabs, like the ZYTC060 interactive


ZYTC060 interactive table


table, enabling several users to interact with the overhead projected content simultaneously. “Because the Zytronic sensor has a fl exible


fi lm structure, it can be easily installed under the pages and tabletop, and coupled with the Zytronic controller it becomes highly resistant to external noise,” said Baek. Now the library’s visitors can visually and


dynamically search library materials, share search results and collaborate with other researchers.


Green project is developing compostable crop sensors


An international research collaboration aims to fi nd new ways of monitoring crop growth with biodegradable sensors that can be composted at their end of life. T e £1.8m CHIST-ERA project, called


“Transient Electronics for Sustainable ICT in Digital Agriculture”, is led by researchers from the University of Glasgow and supported by teams in Canada, Finland, Poland and Switzerland. Over the next three years, the project partners will work together to develop a new type of environmentally-friendly modular sensor system. T ey will fi nd ways to create devices built from sustainable and degradable materials with the aim of cutting down on the growing problem of electronic waste. T e devices will have two parts: a solar-


powered patch that can be applied to the surface of the leaves of crops to measure key indicators of their growth, and an electronic module to wirelessly transmit that information to a central computer. T e researchers aim to make the patch


completely biodegradable, capable of nourishing the soil once it reaches the end of its life. To do so, they will investigate how


compostable electronic components might be made from everyday materials like rice husks, fi brous proteins like wool, or biodegradable polymers like starch and cellulose, combined with conductive metal nanoparticles made from materials like copper and zinc. T ey will also explore how those compostable components could be powered by similarly biodegradable organic photovoltaic materials to support the patch’s tasks of monitoring pH, temperature and bioimpedance, with energy stored in a biodegradable supercapacitor, providing sustainable, non-toxic alternative to conventional batteries. T e team also plans to develop a wireless


module that is reusable and repairable. “T e proliferation of digital devices that


underpin the Internet of T ings will lead to a massive expansion in digital waste – as much as 80% of our electronic devices currently end up as waste. As dangerous materials in components like batteries and printed circuit boards degrade, they create hazards to the environment and human and animal health, which can last for decades,” said Professor Ravinder Dahiya of the


Devices will be small enough to fi t on the surface of plant leaves


University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering. “Our undertaking to build disposable hardware designed without creating problematic waste is an ambitious one, but it brings together some of the leading experts in the fi eld of sensor and material development from across Europe and North America. I’m confi dent that we can create prototypes with the potential for real change and take us closer to a zero-waste world.” T e research is funded by URKI in


the UK, FRQNT in Canada, Academy of Finland in Finland, NCN in Poland and SNSF in Switzerland.


www.electronicsworld.co.uk November 2022 05


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