Neural signature of bilingualism

Researchers have found areas in the brain that indicate bilingualism using NIRS. The finding sheds new light on decades of debate about how the human brain's language centers may actually be enhanced when faced with two or more languages as opposed to only one. The study was presented at the Society for Neuroscience's annual meeting on October 14-18 in Atlanta, Ga.

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Hitachi Brain Computer Interface

Hitachi has reportedly created and successfully tested an interface that allows users to turn a power switch on and off by using their brain only (Japanese)(English).

Optical topography, a neuroimaging technique which measures the changes in blood hemoglobin concentration in parts of the brain responsible for mental activity, is utilized with Hitachi's brain-controlled interface.
Any significant changes monitored in the brain blood flow is then translated into voltage signals that are used for activating the model train's power switch.

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WinXP patch for improving battery life using USB devices

This patch is to address an issue where a Windows XP-based portable computer may not have as long a battery life under certain circumstances when certain USB 2.0 devices are connected.

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Near Infrared for Examining Coronary Arteries

InfraReDx has developed a near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) system to identify plaque composition. U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a clearance for the company’s 510(k) application to market its near infrared spectroscopic system for examining coronary arteries.

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Implanted chip modifies pathways in brain

Researchers at the University of Washington (UW) are working on an implantable electronic chip that may help establish new nerve connections in the part of the brain that controls movement. Their most recent study, published in the Nov. 2, 2006 edition of Nature, showed such a device can induce brain changes in monkeys lasting more than a week. Strengthening of weak connections through this mechanism may have potential in the rehabilitation of patients with brain injuries, stroke, or paralysis.

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Clinical trial for ECoG based BCI

A 14-year-old who suffers from epilepsy, is the first teenager to play a two-dimensional video game, Space Invaders, using only the signals from his brain to make movements. The teenager had a grid atop his brain to record brain surface signals, a brain-computer interface (BCI) technique that uses electrocorticographic (ECoG) activity - data taken invasively right from the brain surface. It is an alternative to a frequently used technique to study humans called electroencephalographic activity (EEG) - data taken non-invasively by electrodes outside the brain on the scalp. The results were encouraging. The teenager could pass the level 1 easily learned instantaneously...

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Foot activated user interface

We are still in the early ages of Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI) though there are recent achievements. Meanwhile, researchers at HP are working on alternative communication devices and come up with a foot-activated user interface that can bring mousing abilities to those without hands / arms (or a suitable amount of dexterity). Although this solution is not the ultimate human computer interface, it is a progress in the right direction and useful to many before we have neural based mature BCIs.

Within the device, a magnetic sensor is affixed to one foot, while a transmitter emitting "pulsed magnetic signals" is clipped onto the other, and as the pulsating foot wiggles about, the relative distance and position is calculated and converted into cursor movements on screen. The designers have suggested that "twists" could be understood as "right / left clicks," while "sliding atop the ground" could be translated as "dragging and dropping."

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Face Detection on Digital Camera

Fujifilm today said that it will ship its Finepix S5 Pro digital SLR camera in early 2007. The camera will provide a resolution of 12.1 megapixels and introduce a face recognition feature: According to the manufacturer, the feature can detect up to ten faces in one image and will allow users to zoom in facial detail, for example whether eyes are open or closed.

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NXP Semiconductors

Royal Philips Electronics has decided to launch their semiconductor division as an independent company backed by a consortium of private investors where Phillips will retain only 20% of interest. This new company, called NXP, has sales over 5 billion euro, 37k employees and more than 25k patents. The campaign website, describes the vision and mission of this brand-new, top-ten electronics company.

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Tesla Motors

Imagine a 100% electric car that is more powerful, fast and beautiful than most cars you know. A car that can accelerate to 100km/h in 4 seconds, faster than a Ferrari, and travel 1 mile for 1 cent. This is not a dream anymore, thanks to chairman of Tesla Motors, Elon Musk and others like Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. It's little bit pricy now, but it is the future...

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