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| A magnetic mind is a beautiful thing. (Image courtesy minddisorders.com.) |
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
A Spark Of Brilliance: Nanoparticles Can Stimulate, Heal Brain Via Electromagnetic Fields
The human brain can be stimulated in many ways, but it's top-shelf fuel of choice is electricity. Now, thanks to tiny nanoparticles that can interact with neurons, the possibilities for tuning the brain to optimal operational standards is possible...
Hacking Health: IV Pumps Can Be Remotely Reset To Cause Overdose
Last week we pondered the troubles of hacking a self-driving car. Unsavory for sure, and a nasty way to go, but something that could possibly be thwarted with a manual override via steering wheel (surely those won't get phased out completely, right?) However, what happens when the hack doesn't mess with your automotive ride, but rather your physical one?
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| An unlikely accomplice to chaos... (Image courtesy turbosquid.com.) |
Screen Cuisine: New App To Count Calories Via Food Photos
If you're like most of the cyber-connected world, chances are that you've photographed and shared an image of some interesting food at one point or another. Don't worry, it's normal, especially when you encounter a turducken in the wild. Now, a new app may be able to not only show off your culinary crusades, but also inform you of just how many calories that triple-decker bacon cake contains...
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| "According to Im2Calories, you should probably only eat the letter 'A' today." -your phone, soon. (Image courtesy negharfonooni.com.) |
Notes From The Posterior: New Butt-Bot Helps Med Students Hit Prostates Like Pros
Let's face it, there are many doctors who, despite serving as capable medical professionals, leave a lot to be desired in their bedside manner. This can be particularly vexing when the issue (or treatment thereof) necessitates above-average intimacy. One new innovation will now be able to put both doctors and patients a little bit more at ease: Patrick, the robotic butt.
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| And all the tech isn't for twerking... (Image courtesy joshfreydkis.tumblr.com.) |
"Like" After Death: Leave A "Legacy Contact" To Manage Your Facebook Postmortem
Like millions of people the world over, perhaps you enjoy reporting the diverse details of your life on Facebook. But what about...after? What happens to your e-life when your real one is over? Better find someone very trustworthy to handle your e-estate...
Wake Up And Smell The Wifi-Enabled Coffee: New Sleep-Tracking Mattress Cover Offers Sleep Stats, "Smart" Wakeups
During the hours that you're awake, it's likely that your smartphone isn't far from your reach, enabling you to control and understand various elements of your surroundings as efficiently as possible. But what about the hours when you're asleep? Now, a new "smart bed" is able to technologically improve your snooze time.
According to the Independent UK, the new Luna device is a cover that fits any full size, queen, king, or California King mattress. When Luna senses that you are falling asleep, it can remotely lower the lights and warm the room temperature. Upon sensing you stirring from sleep, Luna can raise the lights again, and, should you be the owner of a "smart" coffee pot, it can trigger the device to start brewing (a serious plus for those who can barely manage to drag themselves out of bed in the morning.)
Compatible with wifi-enabled devices that operate via Nest, Philips Hue, Lockitron, Emberlight and Beep, the Luna team are happy to help integrate it with other contraptions. Perhaps it can even run you a bath, microwave some oatmeal, or warm up your car as future household smart devices become more ubiquitous.
Still, it's already quite a useful piece of upholstery. Luna even features "dual zone temperature" - the ability to warm or cool each side of the bed to the user's preference. No more fights over the thermostat! Not to mention, its sleep phase and biometric sensors can monitor your heart rate, breathing and more, so that Luna knows exactly the best moment to wake you up (making your overall day more pleasant, hopefully.) Your overall sleep data can be integrated with wellness platforms like Apple Health Kit or Google Fit.
Currently being promoted via an indiegogo campaign, the Luna is for sale for $199 during the fundraising phase. It will hit the market for $249 this August. Controlled via an iPhone or Android app, the Luna will put all of your worries about a bad night's sleep to rest.
According to the Independent UK, the new Luna device is a cover that fits any full size, queen, king, or California King mattress. When Luna senses that you are falling asleep, it can remotely lower the lights and warm the room temperature. Upon sensing you stirring from sleep, Luna can raise the lights again, and, should you be the owner of a "smart" coffee pot, it can trigger the device to start brewing (a serious plus for those who can barely manage to drag themselves out of bed in the morning.)
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| It'll make you coffee, but you have to add the hair of the dog on your own. (Image courtesy jeslacasse.com.) |
Compatible with wifi-enabled devices that operate via Nest, Philips Hue, Lockitron, Emberlight and Beep, the Luna team are happy to help integrate it with other contraptions. Perhaps it can even run you a bath, microwave some oatmeal, or warm up your car as future household smart devices become more ubiquitous.
Still, it's already quite a useful piece of upholstery. Luna even features "dual zone temperature" - the ability to warm or cool each side of the bed to the user's preference. No more fights over the thermostat! Not to mention, its sleep phase and biometric sensors can monitor your heart rate, breathing and more, so that Luna knows exactly the best moment to wake you up (making your overall day more pleasant, hopefully.) Your overall sleep data can be integrated with wellness platforms like Apple Health Kit or Google Fit.
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| Too cool + too hot = just right! (Image courtesy dornob.com.) |
Currently being promoted via an indiegogo campaign, the Luna is for sale for $199 during the fundraising phase. It will hit the market for $249 this August. Controlled via an iPhone or Android app, the Luna will put all of your worries about a bad night's sleep to rest.
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| "Hey baby, wanna come back to my place and track our sleep stats? Or maybe our lack-of-sleep stats?" (Image courtesy 9to5toys.files.wordpress.com.) |
3D-Printed "Exo" Prosthetics Give A Lightweight Leg Up
With America's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan apparently concluded, a major source of the horrors our servicemen endured - losing body parts to improvised explosive devices - will hopefully now be curtailed. But for the many whom these injuries have affected, as well as for those who have biological, accidental, or other medical issues that would cause the loss of a limb, art and science have combined to help rebuild the missing pieces.
As reported by wired.com, artist William Root (of NYC's Pratt Institute) has teamed up with MIT to produce effective, comfortable, and cool-looking prosthetics that are created via 3D printing. Root's desire to combine form and function sacrificed nothing from the aesthetic nor biomechanical sides of the prosthetic process, which is in itself an innovative task. “Prostheses are not aesthetically pleasing, extremely expensive, and difficult to produce,” he noted.
Using MIT's "Fitsocket" technology from their Biomechatronics Lab, a scan of the prospective recipient's leg is taken. The Fitsocket technology adeptly gauges the strenth or give of the recipient's remaining tissue, then forms a perfectly specialized "socket" to join the wearer to the limb. This data is then also used by Root to create a 3D model of the recipient's leg, using a stress analysis tool to determine where the new "Exo" limb would need the most weight support and how to avoid weak points. A mesh structure is then rendered using this information.
The sintered titanium-powder (or heavy-duty plastic) mesh gives a minimalist yet realist visual impression of a leg. While not as traditionally inconspicuous-acting as a flesh-toned limb trying to blend in, Root feels part of the part's new power is its unwillingness to appear as an imposter appendage like something that "crosses into the Uncanny Valley." Eventually he plans for wearers to be able to fashionably customize their hot new legs to their personal tastes.
Root's business proposal for the Exo, as cited by 3dprintingindustry.com, illuminates the scope of his hope both in quantity and quality, stating, “There are over 2 million amputees in the United States with 185,000 amputations each year. Over 90% of those amputations are lower extremity amputations; millions of Americans are suffering from hindered mobility. Prostheses enable patients to regain their freedom and much of the functionality they had lost. At the same time they help to restore the amputees’ spirit and help with the psychological recovery from having lost part of oneself.”
Best of all, Root's current designs allow the limbs to be printed for as little as $1,800, where traditional prostheses could cost ten times that. While specialized knee, ankle, or added-mobility joints will cost more, overall costs would likely fall as 3D technology escalates ever more rapidly. Though the current "Exo" models are not tested to bear full human weight yet, this problem is being analyzed, with the Fitsocket computer program experimenting with where different points could feasibly be augmented to bear more of the burden.
The specialized socket fits, lightweight lift, unique design and ever-decreasing manufacturing costs could make life a lot happier for thos requiring prostheses. And just as soon as the proper weight ratio is figured out on the Exo, you could use one to help jump for joy.
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| The Exo, not alive, but definitely kicking. (Image courtesy gizmag.com.) |
As reported by wired.com, artist William Root (of NYC's Pratt Institute) has teamed up with MIT to produce effective, comfortable, and cool-looking prosthetics that are created via 3D printing. Root's desire to combine form and function sacrificed nothing from the aesthetic nor biomechanical sides of the prosthetic process, which is in itself an innovative task. “Prostheses are not aesthetically pleasing, extremely expensive, and difficult to produce,” he noted.
Using MIT's "Fitsocket" technology from their Biomechatronics Lab, a scan of the prospective recipient's leg is taken. The Fitsocket technology adeptly gauges the strenth or give of the recipient's remaining tissue, then forms a perfectly specialized "socket" to join the wearer to the limb. This data is then also used by Root to create a 3D model of the recipient's leg, using a stress analysis tool to determine where the new "Exo" limb would need the most weight support and how to avoid weak points. A mesh structure is then rendered using this information.
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| Yes, it will eventually probably be used to make robots in your own image. We'll deal with that later. (Image courtesy beforeitsnews.com.) |
The sintered titanium-powder (or heavy-duty plastic) mesh gives a minimalist yet realist visual impression of a leg. While not as traditionally inconspicuous-acting as a flesh-toned limb trying to blend in, Root feels part of the part's new power is its unwillingness to appear as an imposter appendage like something that "crosses into the Uncanny Valley." Eventually he plans for wearers to be able to fashionably customize their hot new legs to their personal tastes.
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| Unfortunately they're not yet available in "Crazy Stilts" version yet. (Image courtesy diamondesqproductions.com.) |
Root's business proposal for the Exo, as cited by 3dprintingindustry.com, illuminates the scope of his hope both in quantity and quality, stating, “There are over 2 million amputees in the United States with 185,000 amputations each year. Over 90% of those amputations are lower extremity amputations; millions of Americans are suffering from hindered mobility. Prostheses enable patients to regain their freedom and much of the functionality they had lost. At the same time they help to restore the amputees’ spirit and help with the psychological recovery from having lost part of oneself.”
Best of all, Root's current designs allow the limbs to be printed for as little as $1,800, where traditional prostheses could cost ten times that. While specialized knee, ankle, or added-mobility joints will cost more, overall costs would likely fall as 3D technology escalates ever more rapidly. Though the current "Exo" models are not tested to bear full human weight yet, this problem is being analyzed, with the Fitsocket computer program experimenting with where different points could feasibly be augmented to bear more of the burden.
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| The Fitsocket testing hardware has got your legs, and it knows how to use them. (Image courtesy wired.com.) |
The specialized socket fits, lightweight lift, unique design and ever-decreasing manufacturing costs could make life a lot happier for thos requiring prostheses. And just as soon as the proper weight ratio is figured out on the Exo, you could use one to help jump for joy.
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| A closeup of Exo's mesh-meat. This kind of cage means freedom! (Image courtesy hexapolis.com.) |
Hold Onto Your Hat: New Bulletproof Caps Can Help You Keep Your Mind In One Place
It's a dangerous world out there, but who can plan to wear a helmet everyplace they go? Now, you don't have to sacrifice fashion for security thanks to a new kickstarter endeavor, the Bulletsafe bulletproof cap.
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| Unfortunately they are not yet available in Stetson style. (Image courtesy alcalas.com.) |
Bearing a 7-oz. hard ballistic panel that sits in the front of the cap to protect the wearer's forehead and frontal lobes, the caps appear to sit as normally as your favorite baseball teams' would. The caps are not only a fraction of the weight but also a fraction of the cost of a full SWAT helmet, which would be around $400, compared to the Bulletsafe's $129.
| A Bulletsafe cap with its internal armor removed. 33% head coverage might not sound like a lot, but it's better than 0% when it comes to your brain. (Image courtesy cnbeta.com.) |
Offering "Protection Without Intimidation" is another major feature, alleviating the need for police or other security personnel to be overtly armored. This aids not only in covert operations but also for keeping relative overall peace thanks to the appearance of a non aggressively-militarized force. Maybe, just maybe, having officers look a little less threatening might make everyone act in a similar fashion. Riot helmets, consciously or not, presuppose riots.
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| Despite the obviously bad idea, you probably want to fight this guy more than some random dude in a ballcap. (Image courtesy opticsplanet.com.) |
Interested parties can aid the Bulletsafe's development by pledging various amounts, including a special startup price of $99 per cap. If you have absolutely no need for such gear but appreciate the idea, for $50 one can aid in the donation of a cap to a Detroit-area police officer. Your name will be written inside so that the recipient can appreciate their "guardian angel."
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| "Aww gee thanks, CopsSuck420!" (Image courtesy dailymail.co.uk.) |
The product has successfully completed prototype testing and is aiming for NIJ Level IIA security ratings for the headwear. This means the hat is capable of stopping .40, 9mm, and .38 caliber rounds, which is a considerable achievement for what by all appearances is a lightweight, normal baseball cap.
Can the appearance of peace help the people and police? Let's hope 2015 doesn't have to find out the hard way. But, like firearms themselves, a little discreet security can go a long way when it counts.
Check out Bulletsafe's kickstarter for more information!
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| For an additional donation, you can get one embroidered for your specific job, such as "POLICE", or if you're really daring, a Boston Red Sox logo for your trip to Yankee Stadium. (Image courtesy guns.com.) |
Pimp My Corporeal Ride: Smart Skin!
As discussed last week in our electronic tongue article, the human senses are being well replicated in the technological world. But one particular sense - touch - has been implemented more on the giving than receiving end, up until now.
While many forms of technology respond to a tap or swipe on a screen, the sense of touch has not been reflected electronically for the user like an electronic eye or hearing aid might. However, now a company has invented prosthetic "smart skin" that can "feel" what it touches, making false limbs seem functionally real again.
As reported by cnet.com, researchers at Seoul National University, South Korea have developed the smart skin by using layers of sensors enabled by ultrathin, single crystalline silicone nanoribbon. Where formerly only pressure was detected (to allow the user to tell if they were applying too much force with their awesome robot hands), now the sensors can indicate if the "skin" is being stretched too far or is in a humid environment. The stretchable sensors, which are layered for durability, are connected to a multi-electrode array that targets the body's nerves via platinum nanowires and ceria nanoparticle electrodes. Combined, this accurately simulates the sense of touch, even down to onboard "heaters" to make the smart skin seem warm.
Used all together, the effect is realistic. According to the study's abstract, "This collection of stretchable sensors and actuators facilitate highly localised mechanical and thermal skin-like perception in response to external stimuli, thus providing unique opportunities for emerging classes of prostheses and peripheral nervous system interface technologies."
The fresh flesh allowed for prosthetic hands to discern the sense of touch while performing many routine tasks, such as grasping things, shaking hands, typing, touching wet or dry objects, and other unspecified "human-to-human contact."
So if you're in need of a physiological overhaul, or if you're just busy already designing your future brain-download's robot body, now "smart skin" is in.
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| High five! (Image courtesy technologyreview.com.) |
While many forms of technology respond to a tap or swipe on a screen, the sense of touch has not been reflected electronically for the user like an electronic eye or hearing aid might. However, now a company has invented prosthetic "smart skin" that can "feel" what it touches, making false limbs seem functionally real again.
As reported by cnet.com, researchers at Seoul National University, South Korea have developed the smart skin by using layers of sensors enabled by ultrathin, single crystalline silicone nanoribbon. Where formerly only pressure was detected (to allow the user to tell if they were applying too much force with their awesome robot hands), now the sensors can indicate if the "skin" is being stretched too far or is in a humid environment. The stretchable sensors, which are layered for durability, are connected to a multi-electrode array that targets the body's nerves via platinum nanowires and ceria nanoparticle electrodes. Combined, this accurately simulates the sense of touch, even down to onboard "heaters" to make the smart skin seem warm.
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| Just don't try to tattoo anything on it. (Image courtesy closethegap.humana.com.) |
Used all together, the effect is realistic. According to the study's abstract, "This collection of stretchable sensors and actuators facilitate highly localised mechanical and thermal skin-like perception in response to external stimuli, thus providing unique opportunities for emerging classes of prostheses and peripheral nervous system interface technologies."
The fresh flesh allowed for prosthetic hands to discern the sense of touch while performing many routine tasks, such as grasping things, shaking hands, typing, touching wet or dry objects, and other unspecified "human-to-human contact."
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| Hot. (Image courtesy wehuntedthemammmoth.com.) |
So if you're in need of a physiological overhaul, or if you're just busy already designing your future brain-download's robot body, now "smart skin" is in.
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| Even the least intelligent sensors of the smart skin know how to sense a high-five. (Image courtesy blog.cbtnuggets.com.) |
'Tis The Season To Be REALLY Jolly: Cyber Monday Deals From Darknet Drug Dens
Buying drugs is often a gamble; buying drugs online seems like you're asking for trouble. However, for those with a need to fix and a healthy appreciation for the underworld-like dealings of the dark net, today is a particularly special day.
As reported by the International Business Times, even purveyors of illicit substances enjoy spreading their wares to the masses on the cheap for "Cyber Monday." Care for an ounce of marijuana for only $200? How about 50% off on LSD? Perhaps a rewarding dose of suboxone for all orders over $50? These deals and many more exist on the dark net's dealing pages, similar to the recently-raided Silk Road. Despite crackdowns on these types of websites, the spirit of the season shines through.
Drugs aren't the only thing you can find as stocking stuffers on the dark net. Deals on mobile phones, hacked website accounts, and even stolen credit cards also abounded as vendors tried to maximize their Xmas-season attention.
Benjamin Ali, a senior spokesman for Centient (a company which specializes in monitoring the dark net) explained, "Despite law enforcement efforts to take these sites down, we are starting to see an influx of adverts towards Black Friday with two of the remaining major markets currently boasting over 20000 adverts...These two marketplaces have seen a growth in both the number of vendors and adverts on these sites, mainly due to not wanting to miss out on trade."
So maybe this year, Rudolph's nose will be even redder, due to some discount cocaine. Maybe "Silver Bells" are a new brand of Ecstasy. Maybe you intend to bring a whole new meaning to "lighting the Christmas tree." However you choose to celebrate, happy holiday season.
As reported by the International Business Times, even purveyors of illicit substances enjoy spreading their wares to the masses on the cheap for "Cyber Monday." Care for an ounce of marijuana for only $200? How about 50% off on LSD? Perhaps a rewarding dose of suboxone for all orders over $50? These deals and many more exist on the dark net's dealing pages, similar to the recently-raided Silk Road. Despite crackdowns on these types of websites, the spirit of the season shines through.
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| Definitely leave cookies under this tree for Santa. He's going to be jonesing for them. (Image courtesy ukcia.org.) |
Drugs aren't the only thing you can find as stocking stuffers on the dark net. Deals on mobile phones, hacked website accounts, and even stolen credit cards also abounded as vendors tried to maximize their Xmas-season attention.
Benjamin Ali, a senior spokesman for Centient (a company which specializes in monitoring the dark net) explained, "Despite law enforcement efforts to take these sites down, we are starting to see an influx of adverts towards Black Friday with two of the remaining major markets currently boasting over 20000 adverts...These two marketplaces have seen a growth in both the number of vendors and adverts on these sites, mainly due to not wanting to miss out on trade."
So maybe this year, Rudolph's nose will be even redder, due to some discount cocaine. Maybe "Silver Bells" are a new brand of Ecstasy. Maybe you intend to bring a whole new meaning to "lighting the Christmas tree." However you choose to celebrate, happy holiday season.
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| Maybe the Three Wise Men want to take the other Silk Road this holiday. (Image courtesy subjectify.com.) |
Does Mario Dream Of Electric Sheep? Nintendo To Create Sleep-Monitoring Device
Do you wake up sometimes wondering if you're just unhappy to be headed to work, or if you're actually experiencing sleep deprivation? Do you wonder about how your sleep cycles are affected by various activities you may be hitting up before you hit the sack? Soon, a device made by (stop laughing) Nintendo will be able to help you determine how healthy your sleep patterns are.
According to techlandra.com, Nintendo's president, Satoru Iwata, isn't just talking about a novelty invention. This is a whole new means of categorizing a previously-unquantified issue that affects every human on earth. "Since fatigue per se is not regarded as a disease in the medical world, it is said to be a field where sufficient research has yet to be conducted," Iwata said. "We have been fortunate to encounter several experts who have been conducting cutting-edge research in the science of fatigue. Together, we are now developing technology to estimate fatigue."
The device, as reported by Reuters, is as of yet unnamed but is planned to debut in 2015. Developed in conjunction with the medical device company ResMed, the sleep-assessment system will be small enough to easily sit on your nightstand. Using microwave sensors that do not come into contact with the body, the quality and length of sleep cycles are tracked and then sent to attendant apps for analysis.
This creation is part of Nintendo's new "Quality Of Life" initiative, which according to gamesindustry.biz seeks to "improve peoples' quality of life in enjoyable ways." The new sleeping device will abide by five simple principles: it need not be worn by the user, it need not touch the user at all, it need not be booted up by the user to begin working (it assesses things like body movement, heartbeat and breathing autonomously to determine sleep cycles), it provides data immediately, and it requires no complicated setup.
In other words, it's as easy as falling asleep! And if you can't even do that right, Nintendo's new machine can help you.
According to techlandra.com, Nintendo's president, Satoru Iwata, isn't just talking about a novelty invention. This is a whole new means of categorizing a previously-unquantified issue that affects every human on earth. "Since fatigue per se is not regarded as a disease in the medical world, it is said to be a field where sufficient research has yet to be conducted," Iwata said. "We have been fortunate to encounter several experts who have been conducting cutting-edge research in the science of fatigue. Together, we are now developing technology to estimate fatigue."
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| Optional dream-controlling hopefully to follow. (Image courtesy uberreview.com.) |
The device, as reported by Reuters, is as of yet unnamed but is planned to debut in 2015. Developed in conjunction with the medical device company ResMed, the sleep-assessment system will be small enough to easily sit on your nightstand. Using microwave sensors that do not come into contact with the body, the quality and length of sleep cycles are tracked and then sent to attendant apps for analysis.
This creation is part of Nintendo's new "Quality Of Life" initiative, which according to gamesindustry.biz seeks to "improve peoples' quality of life in enjoyable ways." The new sleeping device will abide by five simple principles: it need not be worn by the user, it need not touch the user at all, it need not be booted up by the user to begin working (it assesses things like body movement, heartbeat and breathing autonomously to determine sleep cycles), it provides data immediately, and it requires no complicated setup.
In other words, it's as easy as falling asleep! And if you can't even do that right, Nintendo's new machine can help you.
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| If you get a good night's sleep, maybe you can work your way up to Player 1 status. (Image courtesy builttoplay.ca.) |
Fresh Crops From Water Drops: Spilling The Dirt On MIT's Soil-Free CityFarm
With city populations escalating abundantly, it's a challenge for futuristic farmers to figure out how to feed everyone with fresh ingredients. Now, researchers at MIT believes they have solved this quandary, using an innovative new system that they call CityFarm.
As reported by nationswell.com, the soil-free CityFarm project uses hydroponic (water flow) and aeroponic (water misting) systems to grow a collection of crops, leaving the price tag and messiness of soil out of the urban equation. Inventor Caleb Harper constructed a 7' by 30' plastic box in which he uses "pre-made weather" and is able to constantly monitor the plants' development, which is prodigious. Thanks to the artificial light and carefully-calibrated plant care, CityFarm can grow enough food for 300 people in a single 30-day cycle.
Not only is the farm efficient and bountiful, it also saves resources. CityFarm's method of growth uses up to 90% less water than conventional methods. Harper believes eventually this could lead to a 98% reduction in agricultural water usage (making it ideal for water-deprived areas), as well as escalated nutritional value from the lack of pesticides and other soil contaminants. CityFarm currently grows tomatoes, lettuce, and herbs in their successful style.
“No one has proven an economically viable model for these kind of plant environments,” says Harper. “What I’m trying to do is kind of be the Linux for these environments — the person that creates the common language for this new area of food production.”
Harper's plans don't stop at just the idea of the farm being like programming for a computer. He actually wants to create a program, in conjunction with MIT, that will act as "plant operating system software." This could be launched at other locations, such as an upcoming new attempt in Detroit, or it might help to regulate CityFarm's new plans to build vertically. A similar project is already underway in Japan. According to their website, CityFarm's technology combines their hydroponics/aeroponics with "novel environmental, diagnostic and networked sensing, control automation, autonomous delivery and harvest systems, data driven optimization and reductive energy design." Their high tech management along with their high yield of crops could be extremely beneficial for people living in any environment.
The CityFarm website proudly extolls their multifaceted workforce, including "engineers, architects, urban planners, economists and plant scientists." If other cities and towns can adopt CityFarm's "grow it HERE and eat it HERE" mentality, a host of jobs as well as tasty meals will be aiding the new urban infrastructure. Who knows what ideas such a locally-laudable system may spout next?
As reported by nationswell.com, the soil-free CityFarm project uses hydroponic (water flow) and aeroponic (water misting) systems to grow a collection of crops, leaving the price tag and messiness of soil out of the urban equation. Inventor Caleb Harper constructed a 7' by 30' plastic box in which he uses "pre-made weather" and is able to constantly monitor the plants' development, which is prodigious. Thanks to the artificial light and carefully-calibrated plant care, CityFarm can grow enough food for 300 people in a single 30-day cycle.
Not only is the farm efficient and bountiful, it also saves resources. CityFarm's method of growth uses up to 90% less water than conventional methods. Harper believes eventually this could lead to a 98% reduction in agricultural water usage (making it ideal for water-deprived areas), as well as escalated nutritional value from the lack of pesticides and other soil contaminants. CityFarm currently grows tomatoes, lettuce, and herbs in their successful style.
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| Pesky pesticides have nowhere to hide, as the plants' roots are fertilized with nutrients in water. (Image courtesy tribeawesome.com.) |
“No one has proven an economically viable model for these kind of plant environments,” says Harper. “What I’m trying to do is kind of be the Linux for these environments — the person that creates the common language for this new area of food production.”
Harper's plans don't stop at just the idea of the farm being like programming for a computer. He actually wants to create a program, in conjunction with MIT, that will act as "plant operating system software." This could be launched at other locations, such as an upcoming new attempt in Detroit, or it might help to regulate CityFarm's new plans to build vertically. A similar project is already underway in Japan. According to their website, CityFarm's technology combines their hydroponics/aeroponics with "novel environmental, diagnostic and networked sensing, control automation, autonomous delivery and harvest systems, data driven optimization and reductive energy design." Their high tech management along with their high yield of crops could be extremely beneficial for people living in any environment.
The CityFarm website proudly extolls their multifaceted workforce, including "engineers, architects, urban planners, economists and plant scientists." If other cities and towns can adopt CityFarm's "grow it HERE and eat it HERE" mentality, a host of jobs as well as tasty meals will be aiding the new urban infrastructure. Who knows what ideas such a locally-laudable system may spout next?
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| A serious salad bar is brewing at MIT. (Image courtesy mitcityfarm.com.) |
Sick Tech: New "EbolApp" Tracks The Outbreak Via Your Smartphone
Even during a season when scary stories are the norm, the ever-expanding evil of the Ebola virus seems superlatively spooky. With new cases escalating both in Africa and various places in the Western world, it seems that the contagion could soon be worthy of worry. Worst of all, it might even be poised to affect chocolate prices worldwide (THE HORROR!) So what can you do to make sure you steer clear of this vicious virus?
Thanks to suitapps.com, there is now an Ebola-tracking app that can keep you aware of any outbreaks around you. The EbolApp features an interactive map indicating the known Ebola cases around the world, as well as realtime updates and notifications when a new case is confirmed. Various news updates concerning the virus are also offered.
We're not saying to freak out. Just be careful if you're living or working in an area that might harbor contaminants. No one wants to become a REAL plague victim for Halloween.
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| Let's not have this become the hot new winter fashion trend. Use EbolApp to stay away from the sickness. (Image courtesy wunc.org.) |
Not Your Grandpa's Pipe: "Firefly" Portable Vape Is A Hot New Hit
Maybe you've seen them glowing and vapor-blowing in a bar, concert, or smoking section near you. Vaporizers and e-cigarettes are firing up the former tobacco-buying market with what by many accounts is a safer, smoother smoke than conventional cigs. Between the gear and the flavored "juice" options, there is technology for every type of inhalation experience.
Yet, the "juice" or chemical concentrates have raised concerns from some who want to know precisely what they are puffing. Does the future still have room for smokers who scorch plant matter? Enter the Firefly: a stylish, compact, efficient means of torching tobacco (or other leaves of your choice.)
According to gizmodo.com, the Firefly vaporizer is a portable convection piece with an easily-loaded bowl chamber beneath a magnetic face. A high-tech heating unit warms your leaves just enough to release their precious chemicals (but not enough to make them combust, allowing you to bypass the inhalation of any burned byproducts.)
The Firefly is powered by a lithium-ion battery that is good for fifty hits on a 45-minute charge. Pressing the power button immediately heats the material in the chamber, which has a glass viewing port on top to allow for visibility of all that sweet vape. The heat maxes out at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, so you never need to worry you're actually burning the bowl (there's boring, old-school pipes for that.)
For $270, you too can hit it up. We've come a long way from the corncob configurations. There are some habits even the future can't kill...technology just makes them safer and more satisfying.
Yet, the "juice" or chemical concentrates have raised concerns from some who want to know precisely what they are puffing. Does the future still have room for smokers who scorch plant matter? Enter the Firefly: a stylish, compact, efficient means of torching tobacco (or other leaves of your choice.)
According to gizmodo.com, the Firefly vaporizer is a portable convection piece with an easily-loaded bowl chamber beneath a magnetic face. A high-tech heating unit warms your leaves just enough to release their precious chemicals (but not enough to make them combust, allowing you to bypass the inhalation of any burned byproducts.)
The Firefly is powered by a lithium-ion battery that is good for fifty hits on a 45-minute charge. Pressing the power button immediately heats the material in the chamber, which has a glass viewing port on top to allow for visibility of all that sweet vape. The heat maxes out at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, so you never need to worry you're actually burning the bowl (there's boring, old-school pipes for that.)
For $270, you too can hit it up. We've come a long way from the corncob configurations. There are some habits even the future can't kill...technology just makes them safer and more satisfying.
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| Add some convection to your smoking selection. (Image courtesy businessinsider.com.) |
Thync Before You Act: New Wearable Device To Assess And Regulate Mental States
If you thought putting on your headphones and turning up some good tunes was the best way to improve your mood for the day, you might be interested in the latest cutting-edge, life-lifting wearable technology.
According to iamwire.com, the new device "Thync" has received $17 million in funding and is set to launch next year. It is a wearable device which focuses on certain neural pathways to improve various elements of the user's perception. Neurosignaling algorithms generate responses in the brain that improve one's focus, energy, and even calmness.
Samir Kaul, a partner at Thync's start-up financers, Khosla Ventures, explained, “We back the talented team at Thync because we see a revolutionary convergence at the intersection of neuroscience and consumer technology."
Other wearable emotion-detectors/mind-readers such as Emotiv's "Neuro-Headset" are also at the forefront of this revolution. In 2015, it is estimated that some 300 million wearables will be in the hands and brains of consumers.
According to iamwire.com, the new device "Thync" has received $17 million in funding and is set to launch next year. It is a wearable device which focuses on certain neural pathways to improve various elements of the user's perception. Neurosignaling algorithms generate responses in the brain that improve one's focus, energy, and even calmness.
Samir Kaul, a partner at Thync's start-up financers, Khosla Ventures, explained, “We back the talented team at Thync because we see a revolutionary convergence at the intersection of neuroscience and consumer technology."
Other wearable emotion-detectors/mind-readers such as Emotiv's "Neuro-Headset" are also at the forefront of this revolution. In 2015, it is estimated that some 300 million wearables will be in the hands and brains of consumers.
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| It's your coffee, Ritalin, and Vicodin, all in one handy zap to your brainframe! |
Ashes To Ashes, Sludge To Sludge: Once You've Died, Get Liquefied?
Here's some news that's sure to brighten/frighten you for Halloween season: now, instead of traditional burial or cremation, after death you have the option to be liquified.
It might make your skin crawl, but that's just because you still have skin to worry about. For those who are planning what they want done with their body when their spirit has hit the road, the new "alkaline hydrolysis" may be the best final answer. This way, you won't take up too much space or badly impact the environment after you've crossed the finish line in the human race.
According to the mirror.co.uk, the process is simple: a body is put into a stainless-steel container with water and potassium hydroxide, then pressurized and heated for about three hours, like a creepy crock pot. A green and brown syrup with an odor like...well, like a dissolved corpse...will be what remains of your remains, as well as a fine white ash.
It won't take up the space a conventional burial would, it won't emit various effluvia into the atmosphere like a cremation, and the cask-distilled small-batch human juice won't be accidentally mistaken for shots if you have an Irish funeral. The you-goo is disposed of by your mortician, but the ash is returned to to whom you bequeathed it, and it can still be kept in a vessel or distributed back to the earth if desired.
So if you haven't got the budget or archers sufficiently skilled in firing flaming arrows for your postmortem party, here is an option for a clean and earth-friendly exit. Good going!
It might make your skin crawl, but that's just because you still have skin to worry about. For those who are planning what they want done with their body when their spirit has hit the road, the new "alkaline hydrolysis" may be the best final answer. This way, you won't take up too much space or badly impact the environment after you've crossed the finish line in the human race.
According to the mirror.co.uk, the process is simple: a body is put into a stainless-steel container with water and potassium hydroxide, then pressurized and heated for about three hours, like a creepy crock pot. A green and brown syrup with an odor like...well, like a dissolved corpse...will be what remains of your remains, as well as a fine white ash.
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| Yay, my sweet embrace of death will be ecologically friendly! This totally makes up for all the littering I did in the '50s. (Image courtesy bioresponsefuneral.com.) |
It won't take up the space a conventional burial would, it won't emit various effluvia into the atmosphere like a cremation, and the cask-distilled small-batch human juice won't be accidentally mistaken for shots if you have an Irish funeral. The you-goo is disposed of by your mortician, but the ash is returned to to whom you bequeathed it, and it can still be kept in a vessel or distributed back to the earth if desired.
So if you haven't got the budget or archers sufficiently skilled in firing flaming arrows for your postmortem party, here is an option for a clean and earth-friendly exit. Good going!
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| If there's a way death can be "healthy", this is it. (Image courtesy snlabetterway.com.) |
E-Me, Myself, And I: "Digital Twins" Might Continue Your Consciousness
Many people fear death due to the fact that their impact on Earth will be greatly, if not completely, diminished after it occurs. But what if you could continue to interact with your loved ones via a digital replica of yourself? One scientist theorizes that this may be an option, sooner than we realize.
Think of it as predictive typing for your entire psyche. According to news.com.au, John Smart, the founder of the Acceleration Studies Foundation, believes that within five years, technology will have advanced to the point where our digital alter-egos will be able to make autonomous choices in the same manner that the original human being would. Smart considers programs like Microsoft's Cortana or Apple's Siri to be predecessors to this impending new-you-part-two technology.
Culling from the massive amount of data we have in our smartphones, computers, and other devices, a program could divine our likes, dislikes, values, and opinions, then continue to independently operate as "you." Developments could even enable realistic facial-imitation software. This could not only look out for your interests during your lifespan (maybe it can generate crafty facebook posts for you), but it would also be consoling and memorable after death.
“Where we’re headed is creating this world in which you feel you have this thing out there looking after your values,” Smart says. “When you and I die, our kids aren’t going to go to our tombstones, they’re going to fire up our digital twins and talk to them.”
Think of it as predictive typing for your entire psyche. According to news.com.au, John Smart, the founder of the Acceleration Studies Foundation, believes that within five years, technology will have advanced to the point where our digital alter-egos will be able to make autonomous choices in the same manner that the original human being would. Smart considers programs like Microsoft's Cortana or Apple's Siri to be predecessors to this impending new-you-part-two technology.
Culling from the massive amount of data we have in our smartphones, computers, and other devices, a program could divine our likes, dislikes, values, and opinions, then continue to independently operate as "you." Developments could even enable realistic facial-imitation software. This could not only look out for your interests during your lifespan (maybe it can generate crafty facebook posts for you), but it would also be consoling and memorable after death.
“Where we’re headed is creating this world in which you feel you have this thing out there looking after your values,” Smart says. “When you and I die, our kids aren’t going to go to our tombstones, they’re going to fire up our digital twins and talk to them.”
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| Your avatar could look like you, or like a better-looking you, or just a giant glowing brain. It's your afterlife, after all. |
Green Genes: Scientists Work On "Hacking" Plants
With global warming now a widely-accepted reality, it's time to make sure that our planet's plant life is able to keep up with the rising temperatures. To drought-proof the world's greenery, scientists have been experimenting on hacking plant genes to improve water retention.
According to factor-tech.com, over 2 billion people worldwide have been affected by drought in recent years. The UN's Food And Agriculture Organization reports that over 11 million people have died from drought-related issues (crop failure or unsafe water sources due to scarcity) since 1900. Now, Duke University scientists aim to curtail that trouble, having "hacked" into plant genes to tell them when to conserve the scant amounts of water some of them are only able to obtain.
This discovery will allow scientists to assess how plants in drought-afflicted areas could be made to augment their water retention and thus thrive even under difficult circumstances. If we can't fix global warming yet, at least we're working on how to deal with it.
According to factor-tech.com, over 2 billion people worldwide have been affected by drought in recent years. The UN's Food And Agriculture Organization reports that over 11 million people have died from drought-related issues (crop failure or unsafe water sources due to scarcity) since 1900. Now, Duke University scientists aim to curtail that trouble, having "hacked" into plant genes to tell them when to conserve the scant amounts of water some of them are only able to obtain.
The "coping methods" are triggered in the plants when their levels of calcium are raised, forcing them to process precious water more slowly. This is encoded into a gene in the plant's cell membranes. To confirm this, the scientists raised both plants with this gene and plants lacking it and studied the results. “Plants that enter drought-fighting mode quickly and then switch back to normal growth mode quickly when drought stress is gone should be able to allocate energy more efficiently toward growth,” concluded associate professor of biology Zhen-Ming Pei.
This discovery will allow scientists to assess how plants in drought-afflicted areas could be made to augment their water retention and thus thrive even under difficult circumstances. If we can't fix global warming yet, at least we're working on how to deal with it.
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| Go easy on the drinking there, buddy. |
Microneedles: Big Development, Little Pain
The best technology is the type that makes life easier for people in places where it seemed difficult or impossible to create a more user-friendly interface. If successful, one new development in India is set to aid medical technology tremendously: near-painless needle arrays for syringes.
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Sciences have been working on a new invention, called "microneedles." Instead of a standard stainless-steel jab, these are small arrays of microscopic-sized silicon filaments which are still able to pass medication on to the user, sans any of the traditional pain.
As any screaming child who's gone through an impalement of inoculations can attest to, this could be very important in the healthcare field. Those who require frequent injections, such as diabetics, could have their ordeal made immensely more simple. At a mere 130 microns apiece, the tiny silicon snippets would barely sting, even in an array.
The biocompatibility of silicon was augmented by researchers using a simple and easily mass-produced method. K.B. Vinayakumar, lead author on the project, explained to thehindu.com that, "...we coated the needle with very thin layers of titanium and gold through electroplating.” This is to prevent negative reactions with blood plasma and degradation through repeat use (which is important to maintain the microneedles' strength enough to break the skin's "resistive force.")
The microneedles are currently still being tested on animals, but may soon be seen (though not felt) in use for humans.
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Sciences have been working on a new invention, called "microneedles." Instead of a standard stainless-steel jab, these are small arrays of microscopic-sized silicon filaments which are still able to pass medication on to the user, sans any of the traditional pain.
As any screaming child who's gone through an impalement of inoculations can attest to, this could be very important in the healthcare field. Those who require frequent injections, such as diabetics, could have their ordeal made immensely more simple. At a mere 130 microns apiece, the tiny silicon snippets would barely sting, even in an array.
The biocompatibility of silicon was augmented by researchers using a simple and easily mass-produced method. K.B. Vinayakumar, lead author on the project, explained to thehindu.com that, "...we coated the needle with very thin layers of titanium and gold through electroplating.” This is to prevent negative reactions with blood plasma and degradation through repeat use (which is important to maintain the microneedles' strength enough to break the skin's "resistive force.")
The microneedles are currently still being tested on animals, but may soon be seen (though not felt) in use for humans.
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| If you still cry about needles after this, you're a huge wuss. |
Replace Your Face: 3-D Facial Implants Approved By FDA
Thanks to the success of Oxford Performance Material's 3-D printed skull (75% of which took up residence in a patient's headspace last year with great results), the FDA has announced approval of the company's OsteoFab Patient-Specific Facial Device, which can substitute your face-bones should such a dramatic need arise.
It's as simple as printing out the required new part and surgically installing it into your face-space. The rapid rise of 3-D technology has aided surgery for prosthetics, bones, and has even made strides on creating new organs, so this bit of reconstruction is not surprising, and also not significantly different from what you were born with.
According to cnet.com, Oxford Performance Materials' CEO Scott DeFelice said, "With the clearance of our 3D printed facial device, we now have the ability to treat these extremely complex cases in a highly effective and economical way, printing patient-specific maxillofacial implants from individualized MRI or CT digital image files from the surgeon."
So basically, you just need to steal one of your favorite movie star's MRIs and tell the surgeon to build you a fresh visage. OK, that might not work, but for those in need of serious cosmetic surgery, this offers a chance at restoring relative reality.
It's as simple as printing out the required new part and surgically installing it into your face-space. The rapid rise of 3-D technology has aided surgery for prosthetics, bones, and has even made strides on creating new organs, so this bit of reconstruction is not surprising, and also not significantly different from what you were born with.
According to cnet.com, Oxford Performance Materials' CEO Scott DeFelice said, "With the clearance of our 3D printed facial device, we now have the ability to treat these extremely complex cases in a highly effective and economical way, printing patient-specific maxillofacial implants from individualized MRI or CT digital image files from the surgeon."
So basically, you just need to steal one of your favorite movie star's MRIs and tell the surgeon to build you a fresh visage. OK, that might not work, but for those in need of serious cosmetic surgery, this offers a chance at restoring relative reality.
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| DO NOT ABUSE THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY. We don't any more Cages or Travoltas running around. A few extra Harrison Fords wouldn't be bad, though. |
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