There's a lot to like about auto shows. Seeing new production models can be truly exciting, and chatting with industry insiders offers new perspectives on the automotive world.
But for many folks, the best part of any auto show is the abundance of concept cars. Like haute couture clothing, concept cars aren't always meant to be practical: sometimes they exist solely to make a point, to push boundaries, to rethink common assumptions about humanity and the ways in which we relate to our environment.
Concept cars are at their best when they're truly disruptive and outrageous. Those vehicles can generate huge, heated discussions between fans and detractors.
Does the Toyota i-Road electric microcar concept fit that description? After seeing it unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show, we're not entirely sure.
At first glance, the i-Road doesn't seem especially unique. Yes, it's tiny, and it has just three wheels, but tiny, three-wheeled vehicles have been around for decades. (Jeremy Clarkson drove an even smaller one on Top Gear.) And yes, it's electric, but given the growing number of electric cars in showrooms around the globe, that's not exactly noteworthy on its own.
Fans could also argue that the i-Road is exciting because it's more of a motorcycle than a car, but we've seen plenty of electric motorcycles over the years. In fact, we've recently seen an enclosed one that refuses to tip over.
What separates the i-Road is likely its handling (though of course, we've not tested one ourselves, so we only have Toyota's word on that). In a new video posted to Toyota Europe's YouTube channel and embedded at the top of this page, the i-Road maneuvers like a zippy motorcycle merged with a Segway: sleek, smooth, and quiet.
The problem, of course, is that the video doesn't offer actual footage of the i-Road. It's just a b-movie animation of several i-Roads motoring around sunny European landscapes. General Motors' EN-V concept may not be as graceful as the i-Road, but at least GM has given us a look at the real vehicle in action.
That's not to diminish the i-Road's potential. It seems like a great invention -- particularly for city-dwellers -- and frankly, we'll be first in line to drive one if/when they become available. But we'd really like a glimpse of the real thing, please.
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1082828_toyota-i-road-electric-urban-minicar-swarms-the-roads-video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBwrErRqEyMTHE NEW FUTURE SPACE CRAFT INVENTION.........................

QR codes are very popular in Japan, where they were created in 1994 by Toyota Company. QR codes are often used there in tracking, logistics, inventory control, and also advertisements. The United States, Canada and in Europe the use of QR codes popularity is climbing especially with mobile phone users.
QR codes are two-dimensional barcode that is embedded with alphanumeric text and often contain a URL that directs the user to websites to learn about an object or place. Decoding software is needed to interpret the QR code. To scan and read QR codes on your mobile device you need to first scan with a QR code scanner app. QR codes are increasingly showing up everywhere such as product labels, billboards, and buildings. Inviting the public to pull out their mobile phone and uncover the embedded information.
QR code scanner software is software that is designed to take a picture, scan and decode the data in a variety of different kind of barcodes. QR code scanner can also work for mobile phones and connect a mobile user to a physical object and receive any numerous kinds of data. QR code scanner software can also be used with pc computers, smartphones, or other mobile scanning devices.
The Tuppas bar code scanning software is software that is compatible with any type of bar code scanning device. This QR code scanner software scans and recognizes bar codes; it also offers tons of customizable features and is totally free.
The KAWYA Reader is QR code scanner software that is used on computers, Macs, and mobile devices. To transfer information between devices this QR code scanner is Bluetooth-enabled. The KAWYA Reader is also completely free.

For the mobile user the Lynkee Reader QR code scanner software is the one, it can be downloaded directly to mobile phone. This software can read QR codes and Datamatrix barcodes. The lynkee Reader can scan a variety of different mobile barcodes.

 

THE RFID

 

Long checkout lines at the grocery store are one of the biggest complaints about the shopping experience. Soon, these lines could disappear when the ubiquitous Universal Product Code (UPC) bar code is replaced by smart labels, also called radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. RFID tags are intelligent bar codes that can talk to a networked system to track every product that you put in your shopping cart.
Imagine going to the grocery store, filling up your cart and walking right out the door. No longer will you have to wait as someone rings up each item in your cart one at a time. Instead, these RFID tags will communicate with an electronic reader that will detect every item in the cart and ring each up almost instantly. The reader will be connected to a large network that will send information on your products to the retailer and product manufacturers. Your bank will then be notified and the amount of the bill will be deducted from your account. No lines, no waiting.
RFID tags, a technology once limited to tracking cattle, are tracking consumer products worldwide. Many manufacturers use the tags to track the location of each product they make from the time it's made until it's pulled off the shelf and tossed in a shopping cart.
Outside the realm of retail merchandise, RFID tags are tracking vehicles, airline passengers, Alzheimer's patients and pets. Soon, they may even track your preference for chunky or creamy peanut butter. Some critics say RFID technology is becoming too much a part of our lives -- that is, if we're even aware of all the parts of our lives that it affects.
In this article, you'll learn about the types of RFID tags and how these tags can be tracked through the entire supply chain. We'll also look at the noncommercial uses of RFID tags and how the Departments of State and Homeland Security are using them. Lastly, we'll examine what some critics consider an Orwellian application of RFID tags in animals, humans and our society.