5 Tech Advances That Might Arrive In 2012

Discovery News - Coming up with technology wish lists is easy: jetpacks, brain-to-computer interfaces and fusion power are perennial favorites. Getting those things in service is not.

On closer inspection, though, some long-hyped tech breakthroughs have decent odds of finding their way to retail shelves this year — if not always at a reasonable price.

WIDE ANGLE: Big Questions for 2012

1. Glasses-Free 3D TVs: This is my safest bet, as Toshiba just launched a 55-inch HDTV in Europe that doesn’t require wearing glasses to see 3-D effects. But this “4K’ display — as in, four times HD resolution — also needs a generous bank balance to cover an estimated price of €7,999, about $10,365.

One unknown about this set is how it will tolerate varying viewing angles. The prototype I saw at last year’s Consumer Electronics Show didn’t work unless you stood on locations marked with electrical tape. Another is demand for 3D in any form: Customers don’t seem interested in spending much extra on this technology.

 

2. Portable Fuel Cells: It’s no Mr. Fusion, but a portable fuel cell that uses hydrogen to create electricity could be a next best thing. We’re a ways off from having the technology that powered the space shuttle’s systems move into laptops or phones (would their use of liquid fuel flunk TSA standards?), but Apple has filed two patents related to fuel cell technology for charging devices and the Stockholm-based myFC says it will ship a puck-sized fuel cell called the PowerTrekk later this year for €199, roughly $256.

Then again, solar chargers can cost a lot less, even if they’re not suitable for spelunking.

3. Color E-Ink: The 16 shades of gray on “e-ink” displays may suffice for novels but won’t cut it for travel guides, textbooks and other popular book genres. Meanwhile, the color LCDs of tablets like the iPad or Amazon’s Kindle Fire go through batteries too quickly.
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