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(03/28/13 5:57pm)
With every purchase of a Toyota Prius or discovery of a new alloy or element that could be used for efficient engine design, our world has been gradually compensating for the vast pollution we have built up over generations. The United States, which is the second-largest emitter of carbon dioxide behind China, lists the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as one of the greater challenges that we face, as our economy has relied on fossil fuels as a central form of energy production since the Industrial Revolution.
(03/15/13 12:45am)
Not only has technology revolutionized the classroom experience for students, in some cases it has actually replaced the classroom itself. Many universities are taking advantage of widespread Internet access and computer usage to offer online courses. Massive open online courses (MOOCs) are free classes that are offered by many different universities, including Harvard, M.I.T., Vanderbilt and Duke. While convenience is a major benefit of having MOOCs, the risk of cheating on exams cannot be overlooked.
(03/01/13 12:50am)
The person Skyping in the library may not be worried about anyone snooping on his conversation, since everyone else is busy studying. Besides, conversations on Skype are encrypted, so no one should be able to listen in on them.
(03/01/13 12:16am)
The best way to archive data might not be to preserve it electronically, but to store information inside DNA. This idea occurred to Nick Goldman and Ewan Birney of the European Bioinformatics Institute when they were trying to decide what to do with the large amount of data they generate in their research. As the amount of data that needs to be archived increases, the capacity of the hard drives that need to hold it must naturally grow as well. An immediate consequence of this is the rise in cost of data storage. Faced with this problem, Goldman and Birney, in their research published in Nature, speculated that the easiest way to store the data might be to input data within strands of DNA.
(02/08/13 2:18am)
For the past four months, The New York Times has been attacked by hackers whose activities have been traced back to China. These attacks coincide with an exposé The Times ran about the vast wealth acquired by the family of Wen Jiabao, the Chinese prime minister, despite his claims that his family was very poor. Experts, who were hired by The Timesto track and expel the intruders, determined that the hackers used techniques that have been associated with the Chinese military, and that these hackers broke into the email accounts of Shanghai bureau chief David Barboza and the South Asia bureau chief, Jim Yardley.
(01/31/13 7:31pm)
Scientists have been collecting evidence to prove the previous existence of water on Mars. There are plenty of sites that may once have been oceans, lakes and rivers. With the help of equipment designed by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), researchers think they have discovered a crater that may once have been a standing lake fed by groundwater.
(11/15/12 10:46pm)
Have you ever wished that you could both filter and share images on Twitter? According to employees, Twitter plans to introduce its own filter technology in the coming months, which will allow users to share altered images without relying on popular photo-sharing sites like Instagram.
(11/02/12 12:20am)
Breast cancer will affect one in eight American women during their lifetime and 39,510 women will die from the disease this year alone, according to data released by the National Cancer Institute. These statistics have created a race to develop an effective screening method for breast cancer.
(10/26/12 2:15am)
The Institute for NanoBioTechnology held a mini-symposium on cancer research in the area of nanotechnology on Wednesday. The event, held in the Clipper Room of Shriver Hall, was an opportunity for several graduate students to present their projects in cancer research to others in the field.
(10/18/12 11:31pm)
In the last few years, research into alternative forms of energy has become very important. 38 states now have ambitious goals for how much electricity they want to come from renewable and alternative sources, and the U.S. Department of Energy wants 20 percent of electricity to be supplied by wind power by 2020.
(10/05/12 3:32am)
Have you ever wished that you could see what was going on with a plant both from above and below the surface? Scientists at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee, Scotland solved this problem in an innovative manner by making transparent soil.
(05/07/12 5:00am)
May 3, 2012
(04/27/12 5:00am)
The application of magnets to generate electricity may soon provide patients who need surgically-implanted electronic devices with better-working options. Researchers led by Holger Lausch at the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS) in Hermsdorf, Germany, have designed and patented a wireless system to transmit power from a transmitter to a generator. The scientists have built a transfer module that can provide a current of over 100 milliwatts. The module is small enough that it can be attached to the user's belt. In fact, since it has a range of 50 centimeters, it can be placed anywhere on the body. The device works via a technique called magnetic coupling. In the transfer module, there is a magnet that rotates by means of a small motor. This magnet generates a magnetic rotary field, which is an area around a magnet that exerts a constantly changing force on another magnet. In the receiver, there is another magnetic device which connects to this exterior magnetic field and starts rotating as a result. This rotation is converted into power. The magnetic field can pass through non-magnetic materials, such as bones, organs, water, plastic and a variety of metals, so there isn't any interference from them. Moreover, there are no harmful side effects to humans. The transfer module can provide power to a variety of different applications, most of which are in the medical field. For instance, it can work with a variety of microelectronic implants. Some specific applications include providing power to pacemakers and infusion pumps. A pacemaker is a device inserted into the heart to regulate an erratic heartbeat. Infusion pumps that have been surgically implanted in a patient release a measured amount of a drug into a patient's body over time. Another application the researchers have suggested for their system is providing power to ingestible endoscopic capsules which travel through a patient's gastrointestinal tract and take pictures. If a generator is placed inside the capsule, then doctors can assign a specific intestinal region to each picture taken. All of these devices consist of various electronic units that require a power supply. Currently, they are powered by radio wave-based and inductive systems. Batteries aren't feasible because of their short lifespan. Inductive charging requires having a system generate an electromagnetic field, which sends energy to an electrical device. Radio wave-based systems use radio waves, which are a form of particles that carry energy, to transmit power from one source to another. These systems are not ideal, however, because their efficiency changes based on the location, position and movement of the person. Also, the range at which they can function is very limited. The new system is different from current models because the power is generated in the receiver module instead of having to receive power from another source. This technology can be useful for larger applications as well, because it can easily be scaled up in size, range and performance capacity. Researchers believe that it can also be used in mechanical engineering and the construction industry. For example, the transfer modules can provide power to sensors that have an airtight seal, such as those inside walls or bridges. Also, they can be used to support charge units that store power or activate different electronics.Lausch and his team will be demonstrating this new technology's capabilities at the Hannover Messe from April 23 to April 27. As the testing device, they will use a hip implant that uses electricity to stimulate the joint and stimulate growth of cartilage and bone cells.
(03/14/12 5:00am)
When trying to master a difficult subject, many students may prefer to study with a human tutor rather than a machine. However, computer systems that teach students are rapidly becoming more advanced and may already provide greater learning gains than do human tutors. Scientists from MIT and Notre Dame have developed a computer software, which they named AutoTutor, to help students learn complex subjects, such as Newtonian physics, computer literacy and critical thinking. This system operates more like a human tutor than any software before and may soon redefine the human-computer interaction. Humans usually communicate with computers through menus, windows and text. The developers of AutoTutor, however, wanted to create a software that would allow a computer to interact with a student through speech and nonverbal cues, similar to the way humans interact with one another. The AutoTutor software allows a computer to read facial expressions, eye contact, posture and other gestures. This gives the computer information about the mental state and motivation level of the student whom it is tutoring. Specifically, the AutoTutor technology works by first evaluating the student's current knowledge through his or her responses to questions. The software can find and correct misconceptions, as well as respond to the student's own questions. It also responds to comments and complaints. The interactive tutor provides challenging problems that require collaboration between the student and the computer. Another novel feature of the AutoTutor is a program known as the Affective AutoTutor, which monitors the student's nonverbal cues to identify his or her emotions. When it spots signs of boredom or frustration, the AutoTutor can alter its teaching strategy to help reengage the student. The researchers gave Affective AutoTutor its name because it can monitor emotions, which are also known as affective states. See AUTOTUTOR, Page B8
(03/01/12 5:00am)
Have you ever wanted to be more surreptitious about texting during class? Georgia Tech may have provided a solution for this problem. Researchers there recently created a prototype for an app that utilizes the Braille system so that users don't have to look at the screen while texting. This means that smartphone users who have the app will be able to text under a table without looking down or text while socializing or watching TV without having to look away from what's going on. Although Braille caters to the blind, the app was created to be a possible texting tool for any smartphone or tablet user, of which there are millions worldwide. The free, open-source app is called BrailleTouch. According to its creators, it utilizes a six-key chord keyboard. This is a keyboard that has six keys that can support most of the characters found on a typical keyboard when pressed together in various combinations. Chord keyboards are commonly used to type in Braille. Studies done at Georgia Tech have shown that typing on a chord keyboard can be quicker and produce fewer errors than typing on a QWERTY keyboard. The researchers performed studies with the prototype on visually impaired participants who were already proficient in Braille typing. They compared the results of their studies with those of studies done with other prototypes for eyes-free texting and found that BrailleTouch users could input at least six times more words per minute. In fact, the participants could reach up to 32 words per minute with 92 percent accuracy. The inventors are also in the process of developing another study that evaluates BrailleTouch qualitatively as well as quantitatively. They not only want to look at speed and accuracy again but also at comfort, ease of use and perceived value. This study uses visually impaired participants. However, the creators of BrailleTouch also intend for the app to be used by sighted phone users. They want their app to eventually become a universal texting app that will replace the traditional QWERTY keyboards and other technologies used today. BrailleTouch can be installed on smartphones and tablets and includes instructions on how to learn Braille quickly. According to the researchers, BrailleTouch is useful because of the keyboard it uses. For the visually impaired, it replaces expensive Braille keyboards, which can cost thousands of dollars. It also addresses some of the limitations of physical keyboards and soft keyboards, which are images that come up on the screen of a phones. The researchers feel that soft keyboards don't provide enough tactile feedback, and that physical keyboards can have too many small buttons. Currently, BrailleTouch is the only iPhone app that uses something called a six-finger chording process, which recreates a traditional Braille keyboard. The iPhone's touchscreen turns into a soft keyboard that only has six keys like a Braille keyboard. The fact that it only has six keys means that it's practical for the relatively small screens on smartphones and allows users to keep their fingers in a fixed position while texting. Users hold the device with the screen facing away from them, cradling it with their palms or pinkies and thumbs. They then type using the rest of their fingers. This is the same way that people type in Braille on a standard keyboard. The BrailleTouch team has already developed iPhone and iPad versions of BrailleTouch. Right now, they're creating an Android version. BrailleTouch recently won the MobileHCI 2011 competion for design at the MobileHCI conference in Sweden.
(02/22/12 5:00am)
Soon, people may be able to carry their therapists around in their pocket in the form of a smartphone. Researchers at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine want to use technology to assist people with mental health problems by creating an app that will recognize when people are depressed and try to help them by sending them reminders to call or see friends. Smartphones are ideal for this goal because of their complexity. They already contain 35 to 40 sensors, which can help them determine their owners' mood. They are equipped with a GPS and an address book, which enable them to figure out their users' location at a certain time of day. They have accelerometers that record how often their owners generally move, and they can detect their owners' email volume and phone activity to see how social they usually are. Once the phones have determined their users' usual patterns of behavior, they can detect deviation from that behavior. If the phone thinks that you are becoming less social and potentially depressed, it can send you reminders or suggestions, such as telling you to take a walk, reminding you about plans with friends or suggesting that you call someone. The researchers refer to this as a positive feedback loop: someone is more likely to go see friends if encouraged to do so, and if the experience results in feelings of enjoyment, there is less of a chance that the individual will continue to exhibit anti-social behaviors. The program is called Mobilyze! and is available on phones and through an interactive website or email. Researchers believe that it will help improve the mood of all its users. Their goal is to significantly improve the lives of people with a major depressive disorder, which affects seven percent of the population each year. Additionally, Mobilyze! utilizes an innovative treatment option, which might be ideal for people who are uncomfortable or unable to see a psychiatrist. It also costs less than traditional ways of treating depression. There are electronic systems currently available that attempt to do the same thing as the Mobilyze! system. However, they require patients to log their own activities, mood, and level of social interaction, among other aspects. This is inconvenient and sometimes difficult for people to do. The scientists at Northwestern believe that the less work that the average person has to put into an intervention system, the more likely he or she is to use it. Thus, the scientists focused on developing systems that would be able to identify the moods of their users on their own, as well as recognize when their users are engaged in activities they are enjoying. Last year, researchers tested the device by performing a small, eight-week pilot study. Seven adults who had a history of depression utilized Mobilyze! by entering their mood, their location, activities in which they were engaged and the types of people they encountered. The system helped them recognize what activities or other aspects of their day were triggering negative moods. The researchers observed that the volunteers managed to reduce symptoms of depression over time. Also, all the volunteers stated that Mobilyze! had helped them figure out and change behaviors that depressed them. Although the study was encouraging, researchers want to continue modifying the system. They eventually plan to release a version of the app compatible with the Android mobile-device operating system. They are currently modifying the app and will begin testing it this year in the hopes of starting a field trial on it this summer.
(02/15/12 5:00am)
For the 20 percent of 18 to 34-year-olds who wear contact lenses, high-tech applications will soon be available in a very small form. The Washington-based company Innovega focuses on connecting eyewear with digital media and is currently developing full-color megapixel displays that can be viewed using contact lenses. The goal of Innovega is to find a way to project complex displays, such as virtual reality and augmented reality, to someone's eyes without the need to wear bulky headgear such as helmets. This would provide greater convenience and functionality for consumers of many different products, such as cell phones and games. Researchers claim that the displays projected on the lenses have a screen size equal to that of a 240-inch television when viewed from 10 feet away. Also, the contact lenses project a slightly different picture to each eye, which creates the illusion of 3D. These displays would have a variety of different purposes. Mainly, they could be used in conjunction with mobile devices to give users a better look at the screen. Other applications include watching videos, playing games and creating augmented reality displays, which allow users to view computer-generated images overlaid over the real world.Innovega researchers also hope that their device will be able to be used by the military. A few specific uses for the contact lenses in a military environment are to assist soldiers who pilot the drones looking for bombs, to help medics who need to get information about injured soldiers quickly and to aid soldiers on the ground that need unobstructed vision but also data and maps of the area. Medically, these contact lenses could assist people with vision problems such as macular degeneration, which is a disease that compromises the retina's ability to pick up on details. This disease affects about 10 million people in the United States. Other researchers have also looked into contact lenses with displays. Scientists at the University of Washington conducted research about putting virtual displays into contact lenses back in 2008, but could only manage to project one or two pixels and only for a short amount of time. However, they took a different approach, encapsulating LEDs inside the lens. Innovega's main target audience is the 100 million people who already wear contact lenses, particularly those between the ages of 18 and 34. Eventually, the designers hope that users can simply change prescriptions to Innovega's contact lenses. However, for those who don't want to worry about inserting and removing contact lenses every day, researchers also plan to develop lenses that could be directly implanted into customers' eyes. This would be performed similarly to a cataract operation, where part of the patient's own lens is replaced with the contact lens. In addition to providing customers with all the displays that would be available on the contact lens, it would also improve the patient's vision. This process would be useful for the vision-impaired and also for soldiers, who don't want to have to worry about contact lenses. The company exhibited the lenses in January at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Los Vegas. Innovega plans to put out the first prototypes of their devices throughout 2012 and 2013. This year, they are also planning to get FDA approval to manufacture the lenses commercially. The first release of the lenses will most likely be in 2014 to the defense community and those with vision problems. Eventually, in 2014 and 2015 Innovega wants to release the lenses to the general public, hopefully after reaching deals with other companies, such as gaming companies.
(12/01/11 5:00am)
Tracking one's daily caloric intake and expenditure has always been very imprecise because of the numerous factors on which it depends. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have been working on technology that can calculate how many calories one eats and burns in a day in a much more accurate fashion. They developed the eButton, a battery-operated device worn on the chest like a normal button.
(11/17/11 5:00am)
Patients paralyzed in one leg may someday be able to walk and balance again with the help of robots developed by Toyota. Toyota designed the robots to assist paralyzed patients with their rehabilitation and to help their caregivers move them more easily. On November 2, Toyota unveiled four prototypes of these robots at an event in Tokyo.
(11/09/11 5:00am)
On October 27th, the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Subcommittee announced a $1.2-million National Science Foundation grant to Hopkins and the University of Maryland at College Park. The grant is supported by the NSF's Office of Cyberinfrastructure.