TV

An international team of scientists, led by researchers at the University of Cambridge, has developed a woven fibre-optic display. The fibre-based system incorporates electronic, sensing, energy, and photonic functions. The approach could lead to innovations that turn science fiction into reality – such as curtains that act as TVs, carpets that harvest energy when you walk on them, and self-powered clothing.

A Japanese professor has developed a prototype lickable TV screen that can imitate food flavours, another step towards creating a multisensory viewing experience. The device, called Taste the TV (TTTV), uses a carousel of 10 flavour canisters that spray in combination to create the taste of a particular food. The flavour sample then rolls on hygienic film over a flat TV screen for the viewer to try.

Online copyright infringement is a serious problem for the rights owners and for society as a whole. It deprives artists and creators of compensation for their work, and in the long run it may reduce the range of choices available to consumers.

Recognising this, the European Commission identified fighting this type of copyright infringement as one of the priorities in its IP Action Plan.