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The most interesting latest news on the topic: Featured |
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Needle-less injections may soon transform the lives of diabetics everywhere, as medical technology continues to empower patients with non-invasive, mobile diagnostic tools.
MIT researchers created a high-velocity jet injector capable of delivering medicine without breaking the skin. The electromagnetically powered device injects patients through a miniscule needle at nearly the speed of sound, mimicking the barely noticeable pinch of a mosquito bite. Current jet injection devices deliver a limited range of doses at the same depth, but MIT's creation can adjust to varying volumes and skin thickness, according to Catherine Hogan of the school's Department of Mechanical Engineering. "If I'm breaching a baby's skin to deliver vaccine, I won't need as much pressure as I would need to breach my skin," Hogan explained. "We can tailor the pressure profile to be able to do that, and that's the beauty of this device." This technology, if it becomes a commercial success, may prevent children from screaming at the doctor's office, as well as help diabetic patients surmount fears of self-injection. "If you are afraid of needles and have to frequently self-inject, compliance can be an issue," said Hogan. "We think this kind of technology... gets around some of the phobias that people may have about needles." Non-invasive technology like this continues to make strides in the mobile market, where users increasingly leverage their phones as medical devices. Modified iPhones can now measure blood sugar non-invasively, thanks to Professor Heather Clark at the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Clark's invention requires an iPhone to read and analyze the florescence levels of a harmless nanoparticle solution beneath patients' skin, which glows when exposed to glucose. Researchers at Korea's Advanced Institute for Science and Technology last fall developed a way to analyze drops of saliva on smartphone screens, making it theoretically possible to diagnose patients who spit on their phones. And a non-invasive wireless heart monitor created at Switzerland's Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne can alert doctors immediately about irregular heart rhythms, possibly preventing the need for implants in some cases. Mobile apps like these may greatly improve healthcare, but they will have to face FDA reviews before going to market. However, regulation is moving much more slowly than the pace of innovation, with the FDA taking over a year to approve Mobisante's smartphone-based ultrasound, for example. If Mobisante's experience is any indication, MIT's device may face a long wait before finally reaching consumers, endangering its success as stagnation invites irrelevancy. Still, considering the widespread distaste for needles, needle-less injections will likely enjoy instant popularity no matter when they first hit shelves. |
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Microsoft's Windows 8 is launching into a crowded market, but it boasts a number of remarkable features that may help it stand out.
Microsoft's grand ambitions for Windows 8 focus on integrating the new operating system across platforms in a way that appeals to people with multiple mobile devices. Aiming to bridge the desktop environment with mobile, Microsoft is aiming to angle itself at the forefront of a new era of computing with the OS, especially as PC sales are expected to slow and mobile computing on phones and tablets picks up. Though it faces an uphill battle distinguishing itself among entrenched rivals like Apple's iOS and Android, the operating system shouldn't be ruled out just yet and could end up giving other platforms a run for their money. The company took risks differentiating Windows 8 from previous Windows versions and competitors on the market, developing a unique product with some truly interesting features. Here are a few that stand out, and may help Windows 8 develop a loyal following: 1. Compatibility with Touchscreen Laptops Windows 8 will work on touchscreen devices like smartphones and tablets, and the touchscreen features will work on laptops as well. PC maker OEMs is working on a touchscreen laptop specifically designed for Windows 8, which could reinvigorate the netbook market and attract tech fans looking for novelty. Microsoft's emphasis on compatibility will pay off for cloud users, and since businesses are rapidly adopting cloud software, this could be a huge plus for Windows 8, especially among a core group of customers. 2. Strong Multi-Monitor Support For users running Windows 8 on multiple monitors at the same time, the company worked hard to fix problems plaguing Windows systems in the past. This time around, the start button and other important features will be available on any monitor, not just the primary screen. Microsoft also boosted the mouse detection to prevent the cursor from spilling onto the wrong screen. 3. Potentially Runs Adobe Flash Without Plug-Ins Although it isn't certain yet, Microsoft is working to make Internet Explorer on Windows 8 run Adobe Flash video even though it will not have plug-ins. The move may restore some tech cred to the oft-maligned Internet Explorer, since Google Chrome works in a similar way and is often lauded for its strong design. Chrome now dominates Web browsing, but a souped-up, slimmed-down but still robust IE optimized for media could put Microsoft back into the game. 4. Super Quick Boot-Ups The boot up time for Windows 8 actually received criticism for being too quick, since people couldn't access the boot menu as it flitted across the screen in record time. Microsoft fixed the problem, but the system still starts incredibly quickly, addressing a common complaint with Windows systems. Apple is known for having a quick start-up time, so this will help Windows 8 compete with its Cupertino rival. 5. Possible App Haven Another project still in the works, but it's a big one if it goes through: reports are leaking that show Windows 8 expanding its repertoire of built-in apps, which may prove critical for attracting young fans, since users consider apps an increasingly vital feature for mobile devices. Apple and Android phones have a big head start, with robust app stores and enticing deals for app developers. Bluestacks' app player will allow Windows 8 to run Android apps, which is an absolute coup for Microsoft, because without apps Windows 8 simply will not succeed, especially in the mobile space where it must make headway to remain viable into the future. At the same time, just having the apps available from Android will not help the OS stand out, so the reports circulating about Windows 8 coming out with its own unique, built-in apps suggest the company is working hard to bulk up its app supply and prove that it offers something original. |
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PayPal is taking the express lane to in-store mobile payment dominance -- but competitors' efforts and consumer suspicions may block the road to success.
PayPal is joining forces with several major retailers, including Toys R Us and Barnes & Noble, as it solidifies its retail presence to boost its movement into mobile payments. The eBay-owned company signed deals to partner with sixteen major retailers in total, starting with Home Depot several months ago. PayPal also inked a deal with VeriFone Systems, which will help it establish smooth in-store services using VeriFone's payment software. "An important part of our future is to get to ubiquity," PayPal exec Don Kingsborough explained. "There will be 40 million terminals eventually to let consumers buy in stores with PayPal. That's one of the big building blocks we have to get to ubiquity." PayPal is off to a solid start and has an established online payment history behind it, but the company will have to reprove its security credentials to entice in-store customers visiting brick-and-mortar retail locations. The company is buddying up with large, trusted retailers and gradually adding waves of partners to ensure success in this arena, but it still faces stiff competition from upcoming mobile payment alliance Isis. PayPal's name recognition and a strong reputation alone won't be enough to topple Isis, which is making a concentrated, comprehensive effort to offer exemplary security. The big banks and phone carriers attached to the Isis project may convince people to give Isis a whirl. Both mobile payment options, along with rivals Square and Google Wallet, must contend with consumer reluctance to trust mobile payment systems and fuel their adoption. PayPal's decision to directly link to trusted stores may assuage some wariness, but if the company's security is compromised even once it could devastate its reputation. Inking the retailer deals set the company on the right path, but to surge ahead of Isis and other rivals, the company needs to keep making alliances with retailers and cementing its place as a convenient and safe payment option. |
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Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is making inroads in Silicon Valley while President Obama is falling out of favor in some tech circles. How will this affect the presidential race?
Obama's presidential re-election campaign continues to rake in huge numbers, but Romney's super PAC is gaining steam in Silicon Valley just as Obama's donor pool in the tech epicenter dwindles. The president held successful fundraisers this year in California's Silicon Valley, but the number of tech sector donors to his campaign is smaller than the first time around, and overall, his campaign is $1 million short, compared to 2008 election cycle figures. One major defector is Marc Andreessen, the co-founder of Netscape, who donated a large sum to Obama's campaign in 2008. This time around, he donated $100,000 to Romney's super PAC. Silicon Valley generally leans left, but a number of tech scions are frustrated by Obama's decisions to push for increased regulation. Tech companies are trying to assert themselves in Washington to avoid stringent regulations, with Facebook funding its own PAC to gain more political influence. Even though he was vocally opposed to SOPA and PIPA, Obama's regulation policies coupled with his pushes for increased taxes for the wealthy, are alienating some tech bigwigs. People like Andreessen look at Romney's business background and see a candidate less apt to push regulation and more lenient on taxes. Since government regulation is on the minds of all major tech players, how they give speaks to how they want the government to oversee their business moves. The upswing in Romney contributions indicates more tech giants are hoping for a Republican-controlled White House. Romney is definitely making inroads, and there's no doubt Silicon Valley's support for Obama is far more tempered this time around. At the same time, Obama is still more popular in the Californian tech hub than Romney, and the area will likely still vote blue come Election Day. Obama probably doesn't have to worry about losing California, but the fact that an influential sector of society that formerly supported him enthusiastically is splintering off may be a bellwether for how other powerful groups will treat the re-election campaign -- and how they will vote. |
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Datapalooza, a conference that pairs eager developers with a treasure-trove of government healthcare data, is aiming to spur mobile initiatives and create apps that impact our lives.
The Health Data Initiative, a public-private collaboration funded by the Institute of Medicine and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will host its third annual Datapalooza, set for June 5 to 6 in Washington D.C., to showcase the latest mHealth innovations forged with open health data. "It's a phenomenal time to be an innovator at the intersection of data and health care improvement," said Todd Park, chief technology officer of HHS about Datapalooza. "I'm incredibly excited by the rising tide of innovations we're seeing -- new products, services and features being invented by entrepreneurs across the country, fueled by open health data." The HHS provides access to the federal government's vast data collections on topics like hospital performance, community health, and FDA recalls, for example, and converts published data in PDF format or books into machine-readable formats, which include APIs for third-party developer use. At the yearly Health Datapalooza, the entrepreneurs discuss their best products and services. The innovators team up and compete on the stage, in an American Idol-style face-off. But instead of performing songs, these contestants present mHealth innovations mined from the Health Data Initiative's public release of data sets. The mobile healthcare, or mHealth, market is expected to reach $5 billion by 2014, and more than double by 2020, according to the Center for Technology and Aging. By aiming to put widespread access to healthcare within the reach of those who need it the most, mHealth is changing the traditional delivery of health care, allowing for more continuous, pervasive health care anytime, and opening up broader swaths of data to developers is expected to spur a growing number of innovations. For example, last year, the HHS unveiled two non-smoking apps for its mobile health initiative. QuitNowTXT and SmokeFreeTXT are part of the agency's $5 million investment in the Text4Health program, created in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute. The HHS is also pursuing public-private partnerships to create apps for pregnant women, children and those who need emergency care, understanding text messaging is widely available, inexpensive and allows for immediate delivery of information. Also, Johns Hopkins is sponsoring 49 different studies in support of the Global mHealth Initiative to identify the apps that best help patients, doctors and the medical community by comparing them to traditional methods. While many are aware of breakthrough medical technologies, the HHS estimates that roughly 95 percent of the potential entrepreneur pool isn't aware that these vast stores of data exist and can help with future innovations, so the agency is working to increase awareness. Companies like Google and Microsoft are pitching in, holding health-data-code-a-thons and Health 2.0 developer challenges. These corporate collaborations produced applications for managing chronic diseases, finding providers, and locating clinical trials -- all using the government's open data -- in a fraction of time it historically has taken. There is big push to coordinate the layers of government healthcare data into one open, comprehensive database that public innovators can manipulate. The thinking is these vast stores of data can be joined and used to promote public welfare, following the trail blazed by another government agency. Nearly three decades ago, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration decided to release its data to the public, and the move resulted in a flurry of innovations, like mobile apps, websites and forecasting research tools, which transformed weather into a booming industry. Datapalooza is designed to duplicate NOAA's success by opening reams of information for innovation to spur development of a wealth of medical tools and creations to help people improve their health and use the healthcare system more effectively. |
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Tablet owners may soon unlock their devices using biometric sensors, as security technology progresses beyond traditional passwords.
Napa Sae-Bae, a graduate student at the Polytechnic Institute of New York University, is creating an iPad app to verify users' hand shape and finger length. Sae-Bae's biometric analyzing algorithm has already yielded a 90 percent accuracy rate, suggesting her innovation may have widespread application when it debuts in a year. This project improves on Sae-Bae's existing tablet app, which unlocks iPads in response to hand gestures like palm rotation. "Unlike gestures, fingerprints are physiological physical traits that you can't change," she explained about her current research. "There's the feeling that these are supposed to be secure and private." Biometric identification research like Sae-Bae's may revolutionize the mobile industry if it succeeds, as consumers demand new and better ways to protect their data against hackers. A hospital in Canada already uses fingerprint scanners to verify doctors' identities, allowing them to reach medical records with one swipe rather than entering long passwords. Fujitsu, a Japanese company, is developing another kind of biometric sensor called PalmSecure that recognizes users' vein patterns instead of fingerprints or hand length. The company maintains that hand veins never change, while fingerprints and other external hand features may fade or scar over time. Echoing Fujitsu's logic, researchers at the National Chung Hsing University in Taiwan are building heartbeat scanners to identify mobile phone and tablet owners. Every person's heartbeat is unique, making this biological marker an ideal password. These seemingly foolproof innovations are designed to prevent the increasing incidence of hackers stealing or cracking personal and company passwords. Recent hacks against worldwide governments and corporations suggest no traditional password is safe, not even those at the Pentagon or FBI. Despite the danger, many mobile phone owners and IT departments still use convenient security codes like "password1" or "1234," leaving them easily susceptible to malicious intrusions. But while a palm or retina-scanning app may end the need for such passwords, this technology could also backfire. For example, the facial detection system on Samsung's Galaxy Nexus is easily fooled by a picture, negating its usefulness as a security tool. Biometric identification may discourage today's hackers more effectively than traditional passwords, but like any security tool it will likely challenge a new breed of hackers to twist it for their purposes. |
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The "World Series of intellectual property cases" is over, and Google emerged with a winning verdict from its lengthy patent showdown with Oracle.
In Brief boils down complex events to give you the heart of the matter -- today and what it means for tomorrow -- clearly and simply. What's Happening: The jury in Oracle's trial against Google found the search giant did not infringe on Google's patents because it could not decide whether Google's actions fell under fair use laws. In 2010, Oracle sued Google for patent infringement on three separate patents. Google admitted it used Oracle's Java programming language, but insisted with equal vigor that the use fell under fair use laws. Initially, it looked like Oracle would emerge victorious, as the jury decided earlier that Google had used Java's patents -- but the jury could not conclude that the company violated fair use laws, so it handed the win to Google. What's Really Happening: This case has big implications for the Android platform. Had Oracle proven Google's Android operating system improperly used Java, Google may have been ordered to dole out royalty payments for years to come. Now it doesn't need to make any changes, which is fantastic news for both Google and Android phonemakers like Samsung, as a ruling in favor of Oracle may have led to product bans. This case was expected to set a benchmark in regards to how much money Google would have had to pony up in the future regarding patent infringement cases. Before the trial, Google offered Oracle $2.8 million in damages up front, with more paid every year. Oracle wanted a bigger check, demanding around $1 billion in copyright damages altogether. With the verdict in, there's no chance Google will cough up that kind of money any time soon. What's Next: Google still may have to pay Oracle some money, depending on the way U.S. District Judge William Alsup rules on one of the last components of the case. But the amount is likely pocket change compared to what was on the table before the verdict. The case with Google and Oracle was not the only contentious patent battle going on in the tech world, with Google's rival Apple is suing HTC and Samsung for patent infringement. While the iPhone maker is not suing Google directly, the cases have echoes of similarity: Apple believes Samsung and HTC have infringed on its patents, though it could be argued the phonemakers' adoption of Apple-esque technology falls under fair use. Oracle confronted Google directly instead of engaging in a proxy war through one of its Android phonemakers, which is how companies generally wage war with Google over Android patents. The fact that Google's legal team turned the Oracle case around in their its client's favor demonstrates the legal muscle the search engine giant can flex, and this may scare off potential adversaries from taking Google to court -- including Apple. The Takeaway: Google's victory will have major implications for how programming language can be used, and sends the powerful message that the search giant is a formidable legal foe. This trial also demonstrates the complexities of intellectual property cases, especially since the jury thought Google was wrong for using Java without the proper patents but could not prove it due to the complicated wording of both the patents and the laws. The jury's verdict could discourage tech companies from pursuing these kind of suits in the future, since it illustrates how a plaintiff could still lose a case even when the jury sympathized with their plight. Moreover, the foreman noted that Google's argument that it viewed Java as open source collaborative software swayed some of the tech-savvy jurors, suggesting jurors in the future are likely to pass down similar verdicts. |
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AT&T and Verizon are both trying to boost revenue with the same tactic: shared data plans. But the strategy comes with hidden consequences.
Right now, family plans allow members to share voice minutes, but carriers allot separate data plans for individual devices. That will change soon on these two major U.S. carriers, which will give plans with multiple devices one pool of data to use later this summer. The new plans are designed to make data more affordable to consumers, and could likely relieve heavy traffic congestion and spectrum strain for carriers as well. Roger's, one of Canada's major carriers, already adopted the approach and saw a boost in data usage, so AT&T and Verizon likely expect the same thing happening for them. But the strategy carries two distinct risks. 1. Data Sharing Could Lose Money The plans might not bump up costs for consumers, which means the carriers won't increase profits. Frugal families may end up paying less for the combined plan than they did with multiple data packages if they choose a small group package and don't go over the limit. If that happens, AT&T and Verizon will not benefit from the change. With AT&T and Verizon effectively killing off unlimited data, people are likely to keep an eye on their data usage to prevent caps, and if they notice the family plan could increase their fees, they may overhaul their data usage to save money. Data consumption is rising in general among consumers eager to stream movies and perform more tasks on tablets and smartphones, but awareness of data usage could also grow, curtailing revenue growth in this avenue. 2. Data Sharing May Drive Customers Away AT&T and Verizon are trying to sell this change as something consumers want, but the only way it will benefit the carriers is if it charges customers more money to generate revenue, which may breed contempt and cause defections. Both major U.S. carriers are taking a bet and assuming the payoff is worth the risk of alienating customers, but it may give smaller companies like Sprint room to edge into the competition. Sprint is still offering unlimited packages as a way to differentiate itself, but A&T and Verizon both throttle or slow data when users reach certain limits, so if the family plan strategy backfires on the two major carriers it could help Sprint gain more traction in the market. For its part, T-Mobile has disavowed family data plans. T-Mobile believes consumers don't want a "one size fits all" approach to shared family data plans, according to T-Mobile's senior vice president of marketing Andrew Sherrard. T-Mobile is instead boosting a new prepaid mobile broadband data plans for tablets, which allows customers pay in daily, weekly or monthly installments for data, starting at 300-megabytes per week for $15 and going up to 5-gigabytes per month for $50. All carriers are banking on rising data usage to fuel revenue streams in the future, but the dilemma is how best to offer the service to consumers. AT&T and Verizon are betting on shared family data plans as one way to entice more consumers to adding data to their plans, but Sprint and T-Mobile offer other approaches that could help them gain a footing with consumers turned off by the "one bucket for everyone" plans. Risky business, indeed. |
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Some Indian farmers now use cell phones to activate their irrigation systems, highlighting just how vital mobile technology has become in developing countries.
The $56 Nano Ganesh service connects farmers' mobile phones to electric pumps in their fields, allowing them to remotely "call" the irrigation system rather than manually turning on each pipe. Santosh Ostwal of Pune developed the technology after watching his 84-year-old, crippled grandfather walk several kilometers every midnight to turn on water pumps. As India's electric supply is notoriously unreliable, Ostwal's grandfather was often forced to make multiple return trips through the snake-infested fields. After witnessing this hardship as a boy during the 1970s, Ostwal began a lifelong journey to help rural Indian farmers water their fields more easily. He first tried using an alarm clock to activate irrigation pumps and then switched to radio frequencies. But the second attempt required a large investment and Ostwal barely had money for food, so he made a desperate gamble on mobile technology. "I can tell you within 15 minutes, I got the result using the bulky Motorola T 180 mobile," he recalled. Ostal's 2009 invention is now spreading throughout the subcontinent as well as to Egypt and even Australia, where it benefits the environment by reducing overwatering and saving power. The service may also do well in Africa, where farmers already rely on cell phones for medical help and to prevent crime. Nano Ganesh is just one example of developing countries' growing reliance on mobile technology, which has become especially vital for rural farmers who sometimes lack the infrastructure to access vital resources for their endeavors. MKrishi, another Indian agricultural service, lets farmers snap photos of diseased crops with cell phone cameras and text them to experts for advice on proper pest control. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation recently began assisting rural Indians by funding mobile inventions, like Ostal's, which help farmers living on less than $2 per day. In Kenya, KickStart helps farmers buy seeds and fertilizer via a text-based layaway program. Using the M-Pesa money transfer service, they can even buy costly irrigation systems in piecemeal payments without running up large debts or consigning away future crops. As mobile farming inventions like Nano Ganesh catch on in developing countries, those previously living in poverty may finally gain the freedom to think beyond daily necessities with a solution that is literally at their fingertips. |
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Thinking of buying those shoes with your iPhone? Make sure you're protected from identity theft first.
Neal O'Farrell, the executive director of the Identity Theft Council, gave a talk called "The Hackers Are Coming -- Why the Small Business is the Big Target and What You've Got to Lose" to highlight the dangers of mobile banking for small businesses. O'Farrell believes the dangers can jeopardize a large segment of businesses and people, explaining, "Eight out of ten mobile banking apps have security flaws, but Apple and the banks don't want you to know that. I'll wait another 20 years to stick my toe in that pond." Even users with Macs can get their information stolen, and recovery is often problematic. Identity theft via online banking is on the rise, but police investigate less than 1 percent of the crimes. O'Farrell advocates using a separate, cheap netbook for money transactions, so more frequently used mobile devices won't have the sensitive information on them. Online banking is far from safe, and mobile finance systems taking stabs at winning loyal users will meet difficulty if people realize how vulnerable their security is to attempted hacks. O'Farell's advice is at odds with the intentions of a variety of up-and-coming mobile payment systems including Isis and Google Wallet. These businesses will only succeed if consumers feel comfortable with online financial transactions, but O'Farrell points out the need for caution. Isis could have an easier time because it went to great lengths to round up an expansive coterie of security backup, but it still may not outsmart greedy hackers. In addition to plumbing smartphones and tablets for financial information, hackers also recently targeted medical data, highlighting how identity thieves are liable to explore lots of options to gather sensitive information. The medical records contained information the hackers could use to figure out passwords and banking information, so although it was not a direct attempt to steal money, identity theft was the end goal. This suggests hackers could also breach smartphones without banking information on them and use other sensitive data to puzzle out account information anyways. Mobile banking is convenient and consumers have a growing number of options for transactions on the go, but every transaction brings a real identity theft risk. Even though companies are pouring money into ways to make mobile payments mainstream, the continued rise of smartphone-related identity theft may curb adopting this type of transaction unless companies can prove their mobile systems are secure. |
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