Technology Sector

Software major Mindtree Limited posts 16.6 percent growth in Q3

Global IT company Mindtree LimitedBangalore, Jan. 19 : Global IT company Mindtree Limited announced its results today for the third quarter ended December 31, 2008 as approved by its Board of Directors.

The company announced that its software revenues had grown by 16.6 percent Quarter over Quarter (QoQ) and 93.4 percent Year over Year (YoY) to Rs 3,638 Million.

In rupee terms, EBITDA for the quarter was 30.5 percent against 27.8 percent in Q2 2008-09 and 16.8 percent in Q3 2007-08. This reflects a QoQ growth of 28 percent and a YoY growth of 251.6 percent, a company statement said.

British, US choppers to get new ‘super ear’ device to dodge enemy bullets

British and American helicoptersLondon, Jan 17 : British and American helicopters pilots on the frontline in Afghanistan are to get a new "super ears" device that helps them dodge enemy bullets that could save hundreds of troops' lives.

Dozens of helicopters have been shot down by small arms fire in Afghanistan and Iraq, but the new Hostile Fire Indicator will be a major advance in protecting the aircraft.

Now, intelligent fingertip ''eye'' to help blind interact with their environment

Now, intelligent fingertip ''eye'' to help blind interact with their environmentLondon, Jan 17 : Ultrasound canes and voice-enabled GPS devices that help blind and partially sighted people in navigation may soon be history, for scientists have created a new intelligent fingertip ''eye''.

The device may change how such people interact with their environment.

Iron Man-style robotic suit designed to give old farmers new-found strength

Iron Man-style robotic suitLondon, January 16 : A team of Japanese researchers says that it has designed an Iron Man-style robotic suit that can give even the most infirm farmer new-found strength.

Project leader Shigeki Toyama, a robotics professor at The Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, describes the prototype robot suit as the latest technological advance designed to assist Japan''s rapidly ageing farmers.

"I have been working on this for about 10 years now because few young people want careers in agriculture now and older farmers need help to do their work," the Telegraph quoted him as saying.

EU struggles to save new security database as costs soar

new security databasePrague - The European Union's plan for a new database to monitor the fingerprints and photographs of people entering the bloc has already cost more than double its budget, experts said at a meeting of EU interior ministers on Thursday.

And the project was so far behind schedule that a crisis was looming, the ministers told the press at the informal talks in Prague.

Experts at the meeting estimated that the second-generation Schengen Information System (SIS II), originally expected to cost 23 million euros (30 million dollars), had already cost between 60 and 80 million euros, diplomats told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

NASA successfully tests engine technology for landing astronauts on the moon

NASAWashington, Jan 15 : NASA has successfully completed its third round of testing for a technology development engine that may help astronauts to safely return to the surface of the Moon.

The goal of these tests is to reduce risk and advance technology for a reliable and robust rocket engine that could enable America''s next moon landing.

The tests by Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne in West Palm Beach, Florida, helped gather data on this concept engine that might play a role in the next stage of human exploration of the moon.

The goal of a lunar lander descent engine is to slow the vehicle so astronauts can land safely.

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