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To: richardred who wrote (96)4/24/2007 5:47:53 PM
From: Peter Dierks  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 340
 
In a rising market the bears get ignored. In a falling market it takes a lot of dead bulls to turn it around.



To: richardred who wrote (96)10/1/2009 11:16:06 AM
From: Peter Dierks  Respond to of 340
 
New flat flexible speakers might even help you catch planes & trains [c]

A groundbreaking new loudspeaker, less than 0.25mm thick, has been developed by University of Warwick engineers, it's flat, flexible, could be hung on a wall like a picture, and its particular method of sound generation could make public announcements in places like passenger terminals clearer, crisper, and easier to hear.

Lightweight and inexpensive to manufacture, the speakers are slim and flexible: they could be concealed inside ceiling tiles or car interiors, or printed with a design and hung on the wall like a picture.

Pioneered by University of Warwick spin-out company, Warwick Audio Technologies' the 'Flat, Flexible Loudspeaker' (FFL) is ideal for public spaces where it delivers planar directional sound waves, which project further than sound from conventional speakers.

Steve Couchman, CEO of Warwick Audio Technologies, believes it could entirely replace the speakers currently used in homes and in cars, as well as in public address systems used in passenger terminals and shopping centres.

He says: "We believe this is a truly innovative technology. Its size and flexibility means it can be used in all sorts of areas where space is at a premium. Audio visual companies are investigating its use as point of sale posters for smart audio messaging and car manufacturers are particularly interested in it for its light weight and thinness, which means it can be incorporated into the headlining of cars, rather than lower down in the interior."

All speakers work by converting an electric signal into sound. Usually, the signal is used to generate a varying magnetic field, which in turn vibrates a mechanical cone, so producing the sound.
Warwick Audio Technology's FFL technology is a carefully designed assembly of thin, conducting and insulating, materials resulting in the development of a flexible laminate, which when excited by an electrical signal will vibrate and produce sound.

The speaker laminate operates as a perfect piston resonator. The entire diaphragm therefore radiates in phase, forming an area source. The wave front emitted by the vibrating surface is phase coherent, producing a plane wave with very high directivity and very accurate sound imaging.

"Another great application would be in PA systems for public spaces," says Steve. "The sound produced by FFLs can be directed straight at its intended audience. The sound volume and quality does not deteriorate as it does in conventional speakers, which means that public announcements in passenger terminals, for example, could be clearer, crisper, and easier to hear."

The FFL was first developed by Dr Duncan Billson and Professor David Hutchins, both from the University of Warwick, with early trials using just two sheets of tinfoil and an insulating layer of baking paper to produce sound. Since then its design has significantly evolved and the technology is now ready for commercial exploitation

The company is currently in negotiations with a number of commercial partners and continues to welcome fresh approaches. It expects to launch its first commercial product later this year.

For further information, please contact:

Peter Dunn or Kelly Parkes Harrison
Communications Office, University House,
University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 8UW, United Kingdom
email: p.j.dunn@warwick.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)24 76 523708 Mobile/Cell: +44 (0)7767 655860


or

Beck Lockwood, Campuspr Midlands Ltd. Tel: 0121 451 1321; mobile: 0778 3802318; email: beck@campusprmidlands.co.uk

Notes for editors:

1. Warwick Audio Technologies was founded to develop technology invented by Dr Duncan Billson and Professor David Hutchins, of the School of Engineering, at the University of Warwick. Dr Billson is the company's Technical Director.
2. Steve Couchman, CEO of WAT, has over 30 years experience in senior/MD positions in the manufacture & distribution of electronics with a number of blue chip companies,
3. Warwick Audio Technologies was spun out as a comapny with the support of the University of Warwick's technology transfer office, Warwick Ventures, and has been funded by Synergis Technologies and the Mercia Technology Seed Fund. Warwick Ventures was created in April 2000 to build on the research successes of the University of Warwick. For more information on Warwick Ventures see: www.ventures.warwick.ac.uk

31st March 2009


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To: richardred who wrote (96)9/13/2010 12:30:46 AM
From: Peter Dierks  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 340
 
Economists' Outlook Dims
SEPTEMBER 13, 2010.

By PHIL IZZO
Three in five economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal expect the U.S. Federal Reserve to resume large-scale purchases of securities in the face of a deteriorating economic outlook—but, by a 3-to-2 margin, most of them also think that would be a mistake.

The survey showed economists continuing to cut their growth forecasts for the rest of this year and into 2011.

"The issues the economy is facing aren't monetary policy issues," said Ram Bhagavatula of Combinatorics Capital. "Monetary policy can't bring asset prices back in the short term. Animal spirits will revive when they revive."

The Journal surveyed 53 economists, not all of whom answered every question, from Sept. 3-7. Most don't expect the Fed to raise rates from the current 0% to 0.25% range until some time after the second half of 2011, while more than a quarter of respondents don't see higher rates until 2012 at the earliest.

Of the 51 who answered the question, 31 expect the Fed to purchase additional long-term securities to stimulate growth. But only 19 of 51 said the central bank should do so.

The Federal Reserve ended a program to acquire $1.15 trillion in long-term Treasurys and mortgage-backed securities earlier this year. At its policy-setting meeting last month, the central bank said it would reinvest the proceeds of those purchases back into government securities.

Though the Fed promised to act as needed to support the economy, a vow echoed last month by Chairman Ben Bernanke in a speech in Jackson Hole, Wyo., policy makers gave no hint that a new round of purchases was imminent.

In an interview Friday, St. Louis Fed President James Bullard, who has a vote on the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee, said the Fed was more prepared to move than it was in May or June. But he added that in the absence of a shock that would significantly alter forecasts, "I don't think it's necessary to take additional action."

In the survey, economists on average predicted the U.S. economy would expand at a 1.9% annual rate in the third quarter and 2.4% in the fourth—down from expectations of 3% for both periods three months ago. The Commerce Department reported that the economy grew 1.6% in the second quarter.

The economists on average put a 22% chance on another recession, or double-dip, hitting the U.S. economy in the next 12 months.

But amid such slow growth, the unemployment rate is expected to be 8.9% in December of next year, down 0.7 percentage point from the August rate.

Economists on average forecast that the economy will add around 1.66 million jobs over the next 12 months, barely keeping pace with the natural expansion of the labor force.

One silver lining: most think the problems in the job market are cyclical, not structural. Though the unemployment rate is likely to remain high, the majority of economists—44 of 48 respondents—said the problem is one of inadequate demand and not a mismatch between the supply of workers and the skills employers are seeking.

With two months left to go before the midterm congressional elections, the deteriorating economic outlook is likely to pose problems for incumbents and may cost Democrats control of the U.S. Congress. But that may not be a bad thing for stocks. Of the 42 economists who answered the question, 33 said that Republican control of at least one house of Congress would push up stock markets. But any rally may be short-lived.

"After an initial rise, stocks would fall as Congress proves its inability to deal with the economy no matter who's in charge," said Nicholas Perna of Perna Associates.

Write to Phil Izzo at philip.izzo@wsj.com

online.wsj.com