Features for next Windows...

What new features would you like to have in the next generation Windows Operating System?

• Inclusion of a completely vector-based graphical-user interface
• Multi-session Remote Desktop
• Session-restore feature for Internet Explorer 7
• Capability for other Windows PCs to act as Media Center Extenders
• ISO/BIN system-image support
• Download manager for Internet Explorer
• Replace error ID number with plain language explanation

Brain Sensor for Market Research

A San Francisco startup called Emsense claims that it has the tools needed to monitor a person's true reactions during an entire commercial or video game. The company has developed a sensor-laden headset that tracks brain activity using a single electroencephalography sensor (EEG) at the forehead, and other sensors that monitor breathing rate, head motion, heart rate, blink rate, and skin temperature--all of which can be indicators of whether a person is engaged or excited.

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Android - An Open Handset Alliance Project

Android is a full set of software (operating system + applications, etc.) for mobile devices. It is backed by Google and is open source. The first handsets based on Android is planned to be released in the mids of 2008. However, the Software Development Kit (SDK) including the emulator is available. All applications have to be written in Java.

See the homepage of Android for demo videos, information and SDK downloads.
http://code.google.com/android
http://www.openhandsetalliance.com

Knovel

A major source for scienctific and engineering information, Knovel released an online tool for converting units, might be useful for students...

www.knovel.com/unitconverter

Computer Model of Human Brain

Reverse engineering human brain
An ambitious project to create an accurate computer model of the brain has reached an impressive milestone. Scientists in Switzerland working with IBM researchers have shown that their computer simulation of the neocortical column, arguably the most complex part of a mammal's brain, appears to behave like its biological counterpart. By demonstrating that their simulation is realistic, the researchers say, these results suggest that an entire mammal brain could be completely modeled within three years, and a human brain within the next decade.

"What we're doing is reverse-engineering the brain," says Henry Markram, codirector of the Brain Mind Institute at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, in Switzerland, who led the work, called the Blue Brain project, which began in 2005. (See "IBM: The Computer Brain.") By mimicking the behavior of the brain down to the individual neuron, the researchers aim to create a modeling tool that can be used by neuroscientists to run experiments, test hypotheses, and analyze the effects of drugs more efficiently than they could using real brain tissue.

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Amazon Kindle

A new gadget from Amazon.com is Amazon Kindle. It's is an amazing e-book reader but it has many new cool features.

It has free wireless access to sprint cell phone network, so you can get latest books, newspapers and blogs online.

Here's the link for the product: http://www.amazon.com/kindle This page includes nice videos that demonstrates key features of the product...

Windows Feedback Program

You can get a free product from Microsoft if you sign up for Windows Feedback Program. Sorry but only for US residents.

You choose one from the following list but you need to fill out s survey and install an automated feedback application.

• Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate (32-bit and 64-bit DVD)
• Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007
• Microsoft Money Plus Premium
• Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium 2008
• Microsoft Streets and Trips 2008

And here's the web-address:

http://wfp.microsoft.com

Science Fiction to Reality: Stopping cars with radiation

A technology that we see in science fiction is becoming a reality and soon will be deployed in law enforcement vehicles around the nation. Researchers at Eureka Aerospace developed a device that emits microwave that can shut the microprocessor of an engine causing it to stop in its track.

Such a device could be used by law enforcement to stop fleeing and noncooperative vehicles at security checkpoints, or as perimeter protection for military bases, communication centers, and oil platforms in the open seas.

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scitopia.org

A user-friendly federated search engine for researchers/engineers from science societies have arrived.
http://www.scitopia.org

The new search portal scitopia.org was created through the collaboration of 15 leading science and technology societies including IEEE, OSA, APS, ASME, SPIE, SCIAM, etc. Search results are categorized among papers, patents and government documents (grants, etc.)

Should Google Go Nuclear?

From Google Tech Talks on November 9, 2006

Full version (1 hr 32 min):
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1996321846673788606

Summary version (3 min):
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8301617273665558256

Inertial Electrostatic Confinement fusion (IEC), an old idea that's been made new. While the international community debates the fate of the politically-turmoiled $12 billion ITER (an experimental thermonuclear reactor), simple IEC reactors are being built as high-school science fair projects.

Dr. Bussard's work won the 2006 outstanding technology of the year award from the International Academy of Science. The academy called his fusion reactor "a revolutionary radiation-free fusion process that could change the world as we know it today".

http://www.science.edu/TechoftheYear/TechoftheYear.htm

Hitachi demonstrates brain computer interface

Hitachi finally demonstrated the optical brain computer interface that it has announced in late 2006. In the demo, subjects could control a model train by modifying the blood flow in the brain and near-infrared spectroscopy is used to monitor the subjects' brain.

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Joost - Next generation TV Experience

Joost is simply put as an internet tv but you have to experience it to understand...

Skype founders name new video start-up Joost

Here's an article at CNET that announce when everything started and below a Joost commercial


And below is Joost Show&Tell

Microsoft Surface

Microsoft Surface, announced on May 30, 2007, seems to be the one of the most innovative user interface project for the last couple of decades... Check out the introduction video below.



A similar project has been in the works by Jeff Han and presented a year earlier. Here's the video of that..
http://www.perceptivepixel.com/




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Save Dell Axim

Dell has discountinued its pocket pc Axim series.

If you want to save Axim, here's a post at Dell's Ideastorm webpage where you can show your support:
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/63460

Hacker Cracks a Mac at Security Conference

A hacker managed to break into a Mac and win a $10,000 prize as part of a contest started at a Canadian security conference.

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IBM Technology Helps Disabled

IBM recently announced new technologies for disabled individuals. Among them, a technology called Easy Web Browsing helps the elderly, people with limited vision and the color-blind by reading text out loud and allowing users to customize the size and color of Web content

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Pain but no gain?

A recent study using NIRS (to monitor blood volume and oxygen concentration) reveled that extensive exercise can damage brain. Even for a healhty individual there's a threshold that after which brain activity ceases.

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10 Emerging Technologies 2007

Technology Review of MIT has listed the 10 emerging technologies. Here's the list:

Sharing Digital Video (Internet, peering)
Nanocharging Solar (Quantum-dot solar power)
Neuron Control (Neuroengineering)
Nanohealing (Nanotechnology)
Augmented Reality
Invisible Revolution (telecommunications, data storage, and even solar energy)
Digital Imaging (A new way of highres image capture)
Personalized Medical Monitors (Automate diagnosis, preventive care)
A New Focus for Light (enhanced optical storage)
Single-Cell Analysis (Improve medical tests and treatments)

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An Alternative to the Computer Mouse

A user interface that tracks eye movement may provide an alternate way to use a computer. A researcher at Stanford has created an alternative to the mouse that allows a person to operate computer simply by looing at the screen and tapping key on the keyboard. By using standard eye-tracking hardware--a specialized computer screen with a high-definition camera and infrared lights--Manu Kumar, a doctoral student who works with computer-science professor Terry Winograd, has developed a novel user interface that is easy to operate.

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Unype: Multiuser Google Earth with Skype

Unype is new program that uses Skype to provide connectivity with your friends in Google Earth. Unype is developped by Murat Aktihanoglu who has led projects like Emma3d. As Murat puts it, “Google Earth and Skype are great applications. Unype uses their APIs to turn Google Earth into a social environment.”

Unype: http://www.unype.com

Berlin Brain Computer Interface Demo

Berlin BCI 2


Berlin BCI 1

A lecture by Brendan Allison

An informative lecture by Brendan Allison on June 26, 2006 to Microsoft Research Audiance about Brain Computer Interface Systems main EEG based ones.

Space tourist Charles Simonyi

On April 9, from a remote launchpad in Kazakhstan, a Soyuz rocket will carry Charles Simonyi into space.

He will share his experiences at a webpage: Nerd in Space

Space tourist and billionaire programmer Charles Simonyi is the former chief architect of Microsoft and has designed Microsoft Office. He was also part of the Xerox team that invented personal computing...

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Brain Facts ebook

Brain Facts is a 64-page primer on the brain and nervous system, published by the Society for Neuroscience. In addition to serving as a starting point for a lay audience interested in neuroscience, the book is used at the annual Brain Bee, which is held in conjunction with Brain Awareness Week.

PDF Document

Request a complimentary, printed copy of Brain Facts

Windows CE 4.x Emulator on Windows XP SP2 with DEP Hardware

If you are developing embedded applications (such as embedded Visual C++) on a relatively new computer you might get frustrated; it won't work. I received the same messages on Windows Vista. (See here for Windows Vista, Visual Studio 2005 and smart devices) I switched back to XP from Vista after the errors. Then, I discovered that XP didn't help but the following fixed the problem. I didn't try it on Vista but probably would help.

SYMPTOMS

You install Microsoft Windows CE 4.x Emulator on a computer that is running Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2). The computer has Data Execution Prevention (DEP) hardware. You receive the following error message when you restart your computer:

Devices or applications disabled 'Virtual PC/Windows CE Emulator' will cause Windows to become unstable.

Windows has prevented these drivers from loading.

You may also receive the following error message when you try to start Windows CE 4.x Emulator:

Emulator for Windows CE

One or more files from the Emulator for Windows CE installation is missing. Please reinstall Emulator for Windows CE and try again.


Solution: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;891667

Mobile Mod Challenge

Check out the mobile device idea contest at Intel

Mobile Mod Challenge

Robosapiens

An interesting documentary about robot research