May 11, 2006, 11:26 PM CT

Nature Meets Technology

Through the centuries, nature has inspired countless number of poets, artists and musicians - now engineers are looking to nature to help them solve some of the most complex problems of the day. For two days, May 11-12, scientists from 20 institutions will gather at the Georgia Institute of Technology for the first International Symposium for Biologically-inspired Design and Engineering.

The premise underlying this evolving field is the belief that every animal must solve a particular problem to survive, so every animal embodies a design solution for a particular problem.

"The natural selection and evolution of species provides us with the longest engineering design test of all time," said Jeannette Yen, professor in Georgia Tech's School of Biology. "By studying how organisms solve the problems they face, we get to benefit from the millions of years of knowledge embedded in the DNA of each creature."

While scientists, like Leonardo DaVinci, looked to nature for inspiration centuries ago, biomimetics has recently caught on as a hot area of research at universities across the country. Last year, Georgia Tech launched the Center for Biologically Inspired Design (CBID) as a way to encourage more of the interdisciplinary research that was already taking place among research groups. Now, the center boasts 20 members comprised of scientists from various fields of engineering, biology, chemistry, psychology, applied physiology and architecture.........

Posted by: Kevin      Permalink         Source

May 10, 2006, 11:25 PM CT

Recognizing the Brightest Minds in Computer Science

Until new professors can build a reputation, they typically struggle to secure adequate funding for their research work. It's a problem faced across the academic world as public funding agencies find their budgets stretched thin.

Recognizing this broad challenge for academia, Microsoft's External Research & Programs group (ER&P) established the Microsoft Research New Faculty Fellowship program in 2005 to identify and support the best and brightest minds working to solve complex challenges in computer science, engineering and applied sciences at universities throughout North America. The objective is to stimulate and support creative research by promising researchers who have the potential to make a profound impact in the "state of the art" in their respective disciplines.

The program accepts just one nominee per university and includes a rigorous multi-round selection process that culminates in live interviews before a distinguished panel of reviewers from Microsoft Research and the academic community.

In just the second year of the program, more than 100 faculty members applied for five coveted positions. Winners were announced on April 26.

"Across the board, applicants for these fellowships represent some of the sharpest minds in science today," says Rick Rashid, senior vice president of Microsoft Research. "Some of these researchers are working on ideas and concepts that sound like the stuff of science fiction movies, and it is very exciting for us to be able to support them in their work".........

Posted by: Kevin      Permalink         Source

May 10, 2006, 11:15 PM CT

Robots Manipulating Animal Behaviour

A pet dog sits on command, but nobody expects an insect to follow human instructions. So it may come as a surprise to learn that researchers recently succeeded in controlling cockroaches with tiny mobile robots. The results hint at a future where we can interact and communicate with many different kinds of animal.

Little larger than a thumbnail, the cubic insect-like robots or 'insbots' are technological marvels. Developed under the European Commission's Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) initiative of the IST programme as the project Leurre, the insbots are fitted with two motors, wheels, a rechargeable battery, several computer processors, a light-sensing camera and an array of infrared proximity sensors.

When dropped into a small experimental area with a maze of curved walls, the robots, build by the project partner from the EPFL (Lausanne), move, turn and stop. They can navigate their way safely by avoiding the walls, obstacles or each other, follow the walls, congregate around a lamp beam or even line up. When placed in the same area with cockroaches, the robots quickly adapt their behaviour by mimicking the animals' movements. Coated with pheromones taken from roaches, the infiltrator robots even fool the insects into thinking they are real creatures.........

Posted by: Kevin      Permalink         Source

May 10, 2006, 11:07 PM CT

Another Football MP3 Player

It's about another 6 weeks to wait for Fifa World Cup 2006. If you're a soccer fan, you probably take take a look at Matsunichi MF228. Matsunichi announced that its football MP3 player, MF228 will be available worldwide by 1st May 2006. It specs is almost same as Shiro AS, except its diameter. Matsunichi MF228 has a diameter of 45.2mm while Shiro AS is 37.4mm.

Specs:

80 x 48 OLED display.

Supports MP3, WMA, WAV audio playback.

Built-in FM tuner with 30 presets.

Voice recording, FM recording.

Built-in lithium-polymer battery.

Up to 10 hours battery life.

Stopwatch, timer.........

Posted by: Gina      Permalink         Source

May 10, 2006, 11:05 PM CT

MSI Digi Player 600 - Another iPod Shuffle Lookalike

MSI recently introduced their latest Digi Player 600 in Europe. It is a very typical iPod Shuffle lookalike MP3 player with display. Digi Player 600 only comes with 1GB of storage capacity. It features a tiny 65K colors OLED display, Fm tuner and voice recording that an iPod Shuffle doesn't have. If you don't mind the tiny screen, Digi Player 600 may also playback video for you!

MSI Digi Player 600 is now only available in Europe for 50.71 Euro (approx US$65), including VAT.........

Posted by: Gina      Permalink         Source

May 10, 2006, 0:02 AM CT

How Internet Addiction Is Affecting Lives

The Internet - millions of people rely on it for everyday tasks. But when is the line crossed between average use and addiction? An article published in Perspectives in Psychiatric Care states, "The Internet has properties that for some individuals promote addictive behaviors and pseudo-intimate interpersonal relationships." Nurse practitioners will soon find themselves faced with the issues of "internet addicts" and their inability to get offline.

While not yet defined as a true addiction, many are suffering the consequences of obsession with the online world, unable to control their use. From gaming to sexual and emotional relationships, the internet is taking over lives. More and more people will be confronted with consequences such as divorce and physical symptoms which will force them to seek both medical and psychological treatment.

Online marital infidelity (cybersex) can lead to divorce and harm personal relationships. Individuals who seek out sexual partners online also appear to be at higher risk for sexually transmitted disease. Furthermore, such behaviors can lead to cybersexual addiction. Previous studies have reported that "Approximately 9 million people, or 15 percent of Internet users, accessed one of the top adult Web sites in a 1-month period".........

Posted by: Kevin      Permalink         Source

May 9, 2006, 11:56 PM CT

NatureVs Nintendo

Are future national park trips for America's youth likely to be on-line virtual experiences rather than the real thing? A University of Illinois at Chicago ecologist says there may be cause for concern.

Oliver Pergams, research assistant professor in biological sciences at UIC, reports in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Environmental Management that a rise in at-home entertainment activity, such as playing video games and surfing the Internet, corresponds with a decline, in per capita terms, in visits to U.S. national parks. Rising oil prices showed a strong association as well. The turnaround began in 1988 after a steady, half-century rise in park visits.

Pergams, a former commodities trader with a longtime interest in macroeconomics and international finance, used Statistical Abstracts data and special data acquired from Mediamark Research to conduct his study, using rank-order correlation and multilinear regression analytical tools.

"A number of of the variables were highly significantly correlated with this decline in national park visitation," said Pergams. "Multilinear regression apportions which variables are the most significant in affecting the outcome."

While more than two dozen variables were tested, Pergams said video games, home movie rentals, going out to movies, Internet use, and rising fuel prices explained almost 98 percent of the decline. "It's fairly stunning," he said, but cautions that correlation is not the same as causation.........

Posted by: Kevin      Permalink         Source

May 9, 2006, 11:16 PM CT

Hybrid Hard Drive from Samsung and Microsoft

So, after waiting for a year, we will finally get hold of the hybrid HDD. It was flashed at WinHEC 2005 and this year WinHEC 2006 will see its launch.

The drive comes with 128MB more storage capacity and will be used with Microsoft's Windows ReadyDrive. Apparetly, Vista will support this hybrid where the flash memory device which may well come Vista logo on it.........

Posted by: Kevin      Permalink         Source

May 9, 2006, 11:13 PM CT

Fuel Cell Powered by Water and Aluminum

Fuel cells are the entire buzz now-a-days, but Hitachi Maxell has pushed this cost efficient source of energy onto a new track with the introduction of a fuel cell battery that generates electricity with the help of water and aluminum in stead of just utilizing the external hydrogen and oxygen.

The 16×10x6 cm cost-effective device churns out a cool 10 watts of power, which will soon be pepped up to 100 watts, according to Hitachi Maxell. The fuel cell utilized recycled aluminum scrap that automatically generates hydrogen when reacted with water. Amazingly, 20 grams (0.7 ounce) of aluminum can power your laptop for 4 to 5 hours.........

Posted by: Kevin      Permalink         Source

May 9, 2006, 10:54 PM CT

FTC To Stop Telemarketer Using Phony Caller ID

A nationwide telemarketer of mortgage loans has been calling people whose numbers are listed on the National Do Not Call Registry, and doing so without identifying itself, as per the Federal Trade Commission, which is seeking civil penalties and an injunction against the telemarketer for violations of the FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule. This is the Commission's first case alleging transmission of false caller ID information.

As per an FTC complaint, Srikanth Venkataraman, formerly of New Jersey, has been doing business as Scorpio Systems, Ltd., selling mortgage loans, refinancing, and other products and services. Scorpio allegedly called numbers on the Do Not Call Registry, failed to transmit its telephone number and name to consumers' caller identification service, and failed to pay the fee mandatory to access the Registry. The telemarketer transmitted either no caller ID or a phony caller ID - 234-567-8923 - and, as a result, consumers were unable to contact the telemarketer to stop unwanted telemarketing calls.

The Commission vote to authorize staff to file the complaint against Scorpio Systems, Ltd. was 5-0. The complaint was filed at the FTC's request by the U. S. Department of Justice in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey on April 26, 2006. Assistance in this matter was provided by the FTC's Southwestern Regional Office.........

Posted by: Kevin      Permalink         Source

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