Technology
Dr. Lonnie Johnson’s Unique Vision May Power Future Energy Solutions
By Khalil Abdullah
Lonnie Johnson’s design for an engine that converts waste heat into energy, yet has no moving parts, was listed in 2008 by Popular Mechanics Magazine as one of the “Top 10 New World-Changing Innovations of the Year.” Seven years later, Johnson, a former NASA space flight engineer, is still in pursuit of his quest to bring JTEC, (the Johnson Thermo-Electrochemical Converter System), to market.
JTEC potentially has applications far beyond just powering automobiles. The principles he has harnessed could be applied to multiple energy platforms. But along the way to production, Johnson has faced skeptics who sometimes questioned his grasp of science — despite over 100 patents in his name.
He acknowledges that even though seeking financing at the (R&D) Research and Development stage is very difficult, he has managed to bring a prototype of his J-TEC engine into existence.
He said his company contracted with the University of South Carolina to build an engine that works. He’s presently developing scalable manufacturing techniques at his 4.3 acre center in downtown Atlanta, GA.
Johnson has used his own capital, derived from patent royalties from his inventions of the Super-Soaker water guns and the firing mechanisms for some of the Nerf toys, to finance his JTEC work. With his other company, Excellatron Solid State, he’s developing batteries that have the potential to out-perform the leading lithium-ion models.
Johnson, from Mobile, Alabama, started with his win in a statewide high school science contest with a robotics entry. He graduated from Tuskegee University with degrees in mechanical and nuclear engineering. That college also houses the rich legacies of Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver. Johnson hopes he can find a billionaire partner like Carter who was considered a world class scientist by auto magnate Henry Ford.
While serving in the Air Force and NASA he assisted in developing a number of energy systems for several satellite programs. He is utilizing his expertise to help guide the next generation of African-American scientists and engineers through programs like STEM and the FIRST Robotics Initiative competition where his tutees have had success.
Johnson said he wants to build an army of technology mentors who have the time and energy to devote to the youth.
“Lonnie is the ideal role model for the STEM movement with his financial success through his education and training in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math” said Al White, former CEO of Lonnie’s battery company, Excellatron Solid State
“When Jesse Jackson presented me with the Trailblazer Award, I knew my successes would not have been possible without those men and women committed to the Civil Rights struggle “said Johnson who wants to help carve out a space for future generations to be able to follow in his footsteps.
Johnson said he thinks of himself as “someone brushed by God with talents who accepted the responsibility to help make the world a better place.”
Community
Attorney General Rob Bonta, Oakland Lawmakers, Introduce Legislation to Protect Youth Online
At a press conference in downtown Oakland on Jan. 29, Attorney General Rob Bonta joined Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) and Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) to announce two pieces of legislation designed to protect children online. The bills are Senate Bill (SB) 976, the Protecting Youth from Social Media Addiction Act and Assembly Bill (AB) 1949, the California Children’s Data Privacy Act.
By Magaly Muñoz
At a press conference in downtown Oakland on Jan. 29, Attorney General Rob Bonta joined Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) and Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) to announce two pieces of legislation designed to protect children online.
The bills are Senate Bill (SB) 976, the Protecting Youth from Social Media Addiction Act and Assembly Bill (AB) 1949, the California Children’s Data Privacy Act.
Skinner authored SB 976, which addresses online addiction affecting teenage users, while Wicks’s bill, AB 1949, takes on big tech by proposing data privacy and children rights protections.
“Social media companies unfortunately show us time and time again that they are all too willing to ignore the detriment to our children, the pain to our children, the mental health and physical challenges they face, in order to pursue profits,” Bonta said.
SB 976 would allow parents to control the nature and frequency of the content their under-18-year-old children see on social media. Notifications from social media platforms would also be paused from midnight to 6 am and controls would allow parents to set time limits on their children’s usage based on their discretion.
Skinner stated that the longer that kids are on their phones during the day, the higher the risk for depression, anxiety and other related issues.
The bill would also push to get rid of addictive media that is harmful for young women and girls, specifically image filters that mimic cosmetic plastic surgery.
Bonta and 33 other attorney generals had previously filed a lawsuit against Meta, owner of the popular social media applications Instagram and Facebook. The filing claims that the company purposefully uses algorithmized content that harms younger audiences.
“Social media companies have the ability to protect our kids, they could act, but they do not,” Skinner said.
The Child Data Privacy Act would strengthen existing protections for data privacy under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). The lawmakers argue that the law does not have effective protection for those under 18 years old.
Wicks stated that the bill would forbid businesses from collecting, using, sharing, or selling personal data of anyone underage unless they receive informed consent, or it becomes necessary for the purpose of the business.
Wicks added that the acts would make it so that a search on the internet like “How do I lose weight?” would not result in dieting pill advertisements targeting youth, which, some experts report, could be harmful to their mental and physical health.
“In a digital age where the vulnerabilities of young users are continually exploited, we cannot afford to let our laws lag behind, our children deserve complete assurance that their online experience will be safeguarded from invasive practices,” Wicks said.
Supporters of the two acts say they have gained bipartisan support issue, but the authors and Bonta expect them to be met with pushback from the affected companies.
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Unleashing the Power_ Discover the The Thrills…F-TYPE Convertible
Performance & Handling Powered by a robust 5.0 Liter Supercharged 8 Cylinder Gas Engine, the F-Type R75 doesn’t just purr; it roars with a mighty 575 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. Coupled with an 8-speed Automatic Transmission, the car offers an exhilarating drive that is both fast and smooth. The All-Wheel Drive system ensures […]
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Performance & Handling
Powered by a robust 5.0 Liter Supercharged 8 Cylinder Gas Engine, the F-Type R75 doesn’t just purr; it roars with a mighty 575 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. Coupled with an 8-speed Automatic Transmission, the car offers an exhilarating drive that is both fast and smooth. The All-Wheel Drive system ensures excellent traction and stability, making it a joy to handle in various driving conditions. The Electric Power Assisted Steering and JaguarDrive Control with Selectable Driving Modes add to the car’s agility, providing a driving experience that is as intuitive as it is thrilling. Additionally, the Adaptive Dynamics and Electronic Active Differential with Torque Vectoring by Braking enhance the car’s responsiveness, making every turn a testament to its engineering prowess. Unique to AutoNetwork.com.
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Elevate Your Ride…
Join us for a virtual car’s best-detailed walkaround of the sleek and stylish 2024 Jaguar F-TYPE AWD convertible. Get an up-close look at the exterior design, interior features, and performance capabilities of this luxury sports car. From its powerful engine to its advanced technology, this video will give you a comprehensive overview of what makes […]
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Join us for a virtual car’s best-detailed walkaround of the sleek and stylish 2024 Jaguar F-TYPE AWD convertible. Get an up-close look at the exterior design, interior features, and performance capabilities of this luxury sports car. From its powerful engine to its advanced technology, this video will give you a comprehensive overview of what makes the F-TYPE AWD convertible stand out on the road. Unique to AutoNetwork.com.
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