MCAs Assist the Infirm

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Cameras, Misc. Tech, Science, Wireless / WiFi,

Royal Philips Electronics, in cooperation with Intel, has formally announced plans to design and manufacture Mobile Clinical Assistants (MCAs,) which will allow physicians and nurses keep up to date with their charges. The wireless device will contain patient information which will be stored into electronic medical records. The MCA features a 10.4-inch XGA touch-screen, RFID and barcode scanning, a digital camera, and LAN connectivity.

The companies say that the MCA will fill out charts, capture vital signs, reduce medication errors, monitor wound healing, and write up reports. Production is expected to begin in Q4 of this year. If they can get it to clean bedpans, we would be incredibly impressed.

Read More | Philips

Security System Detects Violence by Listening

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Internet, Misc. Tech, Science,

Dutch engineers at Sound Intelligence believe that 90% of violence is started by heated conversation, so they have developed the SIgard System. The microphones, when placed and monitored by computer, will sound an alarm if it appears that a physical outbreak is about to erupt. The SI devices have been successfully installed in Holland, and London is considering them for the 2012 Olympics. There have also been inquiries from Washington, D.C. and New York. Soon Big Brother will not just be watching, he will be listening as well.

Read More | Sound Intelligence

Makita Radio is On the Job

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Portable Audio / Video,

If you are a Makita fan, you will be pleased to know that they now offer a heavy-duty, weather-resistant radio. Not only does it match your tools, the MR100 features two 3.25-inch side-firing drivers, a backlit quartz display, ten pre-set AM/FM buttons, and a protective bumper design. It runs a total of 16 hours on a single Makita (of course) Lithium-ion battery. At a size of 10.25 x 6.5 x 12-inches and a weight of 9.2 lbs., the radio comes with an AC adapter and antenna, and carries a MSRP of $129.99.

Read More | Makita

Strap on Optical Finger Mouse in Tight Situations

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, PC / Laptop, Peripherals,

Strap the creatively devised 800 DPI Optical Finger Mouse by Logisys on your index finger and you have access to almost any surface, the exception being glass. Use your middle finger to hold the little bugger in place while you your thumb controls the lower left button, upper right button, and scroll wheel. The mouse features a velcro strap and is available at various online retail stores for $19.99. Those of us with small hands are wondering if this can possibly contain our early warning signs of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Read More | Logisys

DriveCam Catches Action Two Ways

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Cameras, Misc. Tech, Transportation,

If you want to keep an eye on the kids when they are newbie drivers, DriveCam is now accessible to the general public. This video camera, mounted on your rear view mirror, has one lens that faces the driver, while the other captures the road. Although the camera is on at all times, it only records when something erroneous happens, such as speeding, hard-breaking, or swerving. Currently installed in about 60,000 commercial and government vehicles, the driver risk management company claims that at-fault collisions dropped 56% when installed at Ampco parking lots and garages. If the device could just talk, we wouldn’t need those expensive driving instructors. Watch a couple of the DriveCam videos and if they look like your teens in action, ask them about price and availability in your area.

Read More | DriveCam

“Reno 911” Cast Cooks with Tasers

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Home Entertainment, Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Movies,

Tasers aren’t just for maiming anymore. In an effort to push last week’s release of “Reno 911!: Miami” movie, some of the cast showed up on Rachael Ray’s cooking show today to demonstrate just how they use the gadgets to heat up hot dogs. They also created a protein shake that they referred to as a “cop-achino.” We know that publicity departments are willing to go to great lengths to promote a flick, but we are hoping that people are intelligent enough not to try these tricks at home.

Read More | Rachael Ray

Rosie the Robot Becomes Reality

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Science,

More than 40 Robotics and Information Technology professors at the University of Tokyo and 4 year’s worth of work have produced this kitchen bot that can pour you a cup of coffee and clean up afterwords. They say one of the positive aspects of robots is that you do not have to be concerned with politeness as you would with humans. The team is hoping that they can apply this basic technology not only to households, but hospitals as well. We don’t care what it will ultimately cost. We are just grateful that Rosie the Robot from “The Jetsons” will soon become a reality.

Read More | Daily Mail

South Korean Experts Predict Future Technology

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, Misc. Tech, Science,

South Korea, as we all know, are oftentimes at the forefront of new technology. Interviews with 3,500 tech experts by their government recently came up with these results:

• By the year 2012, it is predicted that cell phone batteries will last two months between recharges.
• Around the year 2015, soldiers will be wearing waterproof, bulletproof clothing that will camouflage to alter its appearance.
• Also by 2018, robots will be performing surgery, and some of them will be tiny enough to swim inside your body alongside blood vessels to correct anything that is not completely Kosher.
• By the year 2015, the Internet will be able to deliver odors to a fragrance cartridge or other such gadget sitting next to your computer.

Although we admit that it is interesting to learn what experts predict for the future, we’re not sure that we are ready for Internet aromatherapy just yet.

Read More | BBC News

NASA Spacecraft Visits Jupiter

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Science, Transportation,

The New Horizon spacecraft is expected to reach Pluto by the year 2015. Yesterday it swung by Jupiter’s gravity field so that it could pick up enough speed to continue on its way. The closest the New Horizon has come to Jupiter has been 1.4 million miles, which is near enough to capture photos of its “ocean” and four largest moons.  In June the spacecraft will move on towards Pluto.

This is not the first time that NASA has visited Jupiter, as you can see in artist Mike Wrathell’s Photoshop color-tweaking of its moon, IO, with bands of the planet in the background. Seeing it makes us want to be “Charles in Space,” too. 

Read More | NASA

Sanko USB Headphones Raise Audio Levels Automatically

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Accessories, Misc. Tech, Music, Portable Audio / Video,

Tired of not being able to hear clearly in ambient noise situations? The solution to your problem may be in Sanko’s USB headphones. Utilizing Noise Reduction technology that automatically raises sound, the buds weigh only 50g, have a built-in lithium ion battery, and can run up to 15 hours with only 2 hours of charging needed. At a MSRP of 4,280 Yen (~$36.00,) contact allproducts for future price and availability. On a planet as noisy as ours, it’s nice to still be able to have our own personal audio space.

Read More | Akihabara News