March 18, 2011
Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Nvidia are working on a joint venture that will use the same chips found in video game consoles to shoot down female mosquitoes. While it sounds like a 1980's sci-fi movie, the project is very real and is meant to shrink the disease carrying mosquito population in third-world countries.
Nvidia is working with research company Intellectual Ventures to build laser fences that recognize and shoot female mosquitoes out of the air, according to San Franisco-based television station KGO.
The fences could sell for as little as $50, according to KGO. It's an interesting use of technology and if it is effective it could eliminate the use of poisons such as DDT in some regions.
Source: Forbes




Comments
Re: Nvidia Chips, Lasers, Mosquitoes and Bill Gates
On the surface it seems like a good idea, but I'm not so sure.. I mean bees can be a pest too, but if we were to kill them all, we'd starve.
Re: Nvidia Chips, Lasers, Mosquitoes and Bill Gates
No one's suggesting we kill them all.
Andrew Eisen
Re: Nvidia Chips, Lasers, Mosquitoes and Bill Gates
am I the only one who's picturing the huge soundwave gate from Lost.
Re: Nvidia Chips, Lasers, Mosquitoes and Bill Gates
@DorthLous -
Re: Nvidia Chips, Lasers, Mosquitoes and Bill Gates
If you want to reply to a specific user, click on the reply button under that user's post.
Andrew Eisen
Re: Nvidia Chips, Lasers, Mosquitoes and Bill Gates
...as you'll notice I have done. Thanks Andrew. But, if you read the chain of post that my post makes with the previous one, *shocks*! I suddently am no longer talking about female mosquitoes entering a room, but about killing all those annoying insects... Hmmm, suddently it makes more sense, no?
Re: Nvidia Chips, Lasers, Mosquitoes and Bill Gates
No.
Andrew Eisen
Re: Nvidia Chips, Lasers, Mosquitoes and Bill Gates
Oh, alright then. Let's not say what we feel is wrong in the post, let's just dismiss it in whole. But sure, let's kill as many "annoying" critters as we can. Let's kill killer bees in America even though they've already replaced common bees nearly entirely and are already dying of unknown causes. Let's kill all grasshoppers from places that are dying from hunger, even though those waves of proteins and their cadavers are not only the main nutriment for a lot of species, but also help make the grounds fertile again. Let's kill all mosquitoes in any large enough given swamp region, even though they usually are the main food of the amphibious population which in turns feeds fishes and reptiles while keeping other species of insects in the balance. And why not go all out and kill crops parasites in any countries that has any, no matter if they dig through the ground, oxygenating it or provide a sizable amount of the food chain. Seriously... Your answer IS pitiful.
The difference between shooting down female mosquitoes entering a room or a tent vs large destruction of vast types of insects is basically defending your house against an armed invader and bombing the next counry over because someone from over there has armed someone you know at some point...
Re: Nvidia Chips, Lasers, Mosquitoes and Bill Gates
I wasn't referring to your point making no sense, just your manner of posting. The way you threw those sentences together just made no sense to me. I know what you're getting at now though.
Andrew Eisen
Re: Nvidia Chips, Lasers, Mosquitoes and Bill Gates
Yeah, ok, fair enough. Sometimes I go for style over clarity and it nearly always fail pitifully. Anyway, thanks for the clarification.
Re: Nvidia Chips, Lasers, Mosquitoes and Bill Gates
Especially since all sorts of creatures sneak aboard shipping vehicles without ever knowing.
Re: Nvidia Chips, Lasers, Mosquitoes and Bill Gates
Saw this technology demo'd a couple of years ago at TED. I'm going to try to find the video. It's amazing, and i hope it's actually moving forward.
EDIT: Found it!
http://www.ted.com/talks/nathan_myhrvold_could_this_laser_zap_malaria.html
Although i doubt anyone will read this, it's important to note that the ACTUAL inventor of this technology is not Bill Gates. Nathan was formerly employed by MS, but left them in 1999 to start this company. Bill is just money.
Re: Nvidia Chips, Lasers, Mosquitoes and Bill Gates
I read it. I also passed the link along to GP.
Andrew Eisen
Re: Nvidia Chips, Lasers, Mosquitoes and Bill Gates
Can we upgrade them to work on pretty much any flying insect?
Flies, wasps, mossies, ugh. Hate 'em all!
-- Randi Tastix
----
Randi Tastix - http://randomtastic.com
Re: Nvidia Chips, Lasers, Mosquitoes and Bill Gates
How about we try to avoid ecological disasters?
Re: Nvidia Chips, Lasers, Mosquitoes and Bill Gates
Yes! The technology is based on tracking the sound a bugs wings make. This is why they are able to target FEMALE mosquitos specifically. They make a different sound.