Macchina per scrivere sull'acqua

Ricercatori  dei Laboratori Akishima, con il prof. Shigeru Naito dell'Università di Osaka, hanno inventato un congegno in grado di usare onde per scrivere testi e immagini sulla superficie dell'acqua.

The device, called AMOEBA (Advanced Multiple Organized Experimental
Basin), consists of 50 water wave generators encircling a cylindrical
tank 1.6 meters in diameter and 30 cm deep (about the size of a
backyard kiddie pool). The wave generators move up and down in
controlled motions to simultaneously produce a number of cylindrical
waves that act as pixels. The pixels, which measure 10 cm in diameter
and 4 cm in height, are combined to form lines and shapes. AMOEBA is
capable of spelling out the entire roman alphabet, as well as some
simple kanji characters. Each letter or picture remains on the water
surface only for a moment, but they can be produced in succession on
the surface every 3 seconds.

Researchers at Akishima Laboratories have developed similar devices
in the past that used waves to draw pictures on the surface of water,
but those devices had trouble producing letters with straight lines
(such as the letter K). Additionally, it took the previous devices up
to 15 minutes of data input time to produce each letter.

The newly developed technology uses improved calculation methods for
controlling the wave generators, relying on formulas known as Bessel functions.
In addition to being able to draw letters consisting of straight lines,
the input time has been drastically reduced to between 15 and 30
seconds for each letter.

Akishima Laboratories expects the technology to be incorporated into
amusement devices that combine acoustics, lighting and fountain
technology, which they hope to see installed at theme parks and hotels.

(Thanks Pink Tentacle)