New Scientist is reporting that a paper by the U.S. National Academies of Science has thrown out the possibility of using genetic testing and analysis to match soldiers with specific duties/specialties, and monitor their brains for signs of stress or weakness.

For instance:

If a soldier is struggling, a digital “buddy” might step in and warn them about nearby threats, or advise comrades to zap them with an electromagnet to increase their alertness. If the whole unit is falling apart, biosensors could warn central commanders to send in a replacement team….

Sponsored by the U.S. army and written by a panel of 14 prominent neuroscientists, the report focuses on those areas with “high-payoff potential” – where the science is sufficiently reliable to turn into useful technologies….

Within five years, biomarkers might be used to assess how well a soldier’s brain is functioning, and within 10 years, it should be possible to predict how individuals are likely to respond to environmental stresses like extreme heat and cold, or endurance exercises.

There’s also the matter of matching people to combat specialties based on a combo of psych and genetics tests: “We might say that given this person’s high levels of brain serotonin, they’re going to be calmer under pressure, so they might make a good sniper,” says Paul Zak of Claremont Graduate University in California, who was on the NAS panel.

Sure, relying too much on genetics could result in harm on both ends, with potentially exemplary soldiers being denied a chance to serve based on theoretical tests. But it’s hard to argue that we shouldn’t use neuroscience to do things like determine which soldiers are experiencing extreme emotional stress. Of course, whether military top brass will use genetic testing to determine other things remains to be seen.

The Xbox 360 controller has not changed since it launched in 2005

Newly released patent applications from Microsoft have sparked speculation that it is to unveil a Wii remote rival at the E3 expo in Los Angeles.

An application was filed in 2007 for a motion controller, dubbed Magic Wand, that interacts with “a collection of sensors”.

Microsoft says it will not “comment on speculation” about a possible launch.

Gavin Ogden, from gaming site c&vg.com, told the BBC that Microsoft needed to “jump on the motion sensor bandwagon”.

“We thought they were going to show something off at the E3 Expo in 2007 – some sort of waggle stick – but nothing materialised,” he said.

“I have no doubt they are going to try and do something, although it remains to be seen how they do it.”

Biometrics

The patent application also describes “biometric sensors” that would examine “fingerprint, hand geometry, hand vein pattern, palm pattern, and grip configuration” along with “facial thermogram, a facial feature, a retinal feature, or an iris feature”.

“There was talk, a long time ago, about mapping people’s faces on to characters,” said Mr Ogden.

“However, there were concerns that people would stick real faces on it – such as Gordon Brown – and then spend all day shooting them. The world wasn’t ready for that.”

At the beginning of May, Microsoft’s boss, Steve Ballmer, gave a speech to the Dallas Regional Chamber and was quoted as saying: “Pay attention to the stuff we’re announcing in the next month on Xbox.”

So the industry will be waiting to see if Microsoft comes up with any surprises at the Los Angeles expo in June.
]]> http://gorillastomp.wordpress.com/2009/05/22/microsoft-patents-magic-wand/feed/ 0 gorillastomp Xbox 360 http://gorillastomp.wordpress.com/2009/05/22/natalie-cole-kidney-came-from-deceased-fan/ http://gorillastomp.wordpress.com/2009/05/22/natalie-cole-kidney-came-from-deceased-fan/#comments Fri, 22 May 2009 01:51:27 +0000 gorillastomp http://gorillastomp.wordpress.com/?p=63 ]]> By Alan Duke
CNN

CNN’s Denise Quan contributed to this report.

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) — Natalie Cole’s search for a new kidney ended this week when someone with a compatible organ died and their family asked that it be given to the singer, according to the organ procurement group that handled the donation.

Natalie Cole received a kidney transplant Tuesday in Los Angeles.

Cole, who underwent a successful kidney transplant at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles Tuesday, was “responding well and recuperating” Thursday, her publicist said.

Cole had been on what she called “a very long list” of people waiting for an organ donation when she got word recently that OneLegacy, an organ procurement agency in Southern California, had a kidney that was a biological match.

It was a “directed donation” from a deceased organ donor, according to OneLegacy CEO Tom Mone.

“Having heard of Ms. Cole’s need for a kidney, the family asked that one of their loved one’s kidneys be transplanted to Ms. Cole if they were a match,” Mone said.

Directed organ donations are rare, and rarer still are those directed to someone not related to or known personally by the deceased, he said.

The donor will remain anonymous until the family gives permission for the name to be made public, he said.

Cole’s need for a kidney donation was highly publicized, including with an appearance on CNN’s “Larry King Live” on March 31.

“I’m on a very long list, which is why we are looking to donors,” said Cole, the daughter of legendary crooner Nat King Cole.

Cole said her kidney troubles date to February 2008 when she was diagnosed with Hepatitis C. Cole said she attributes the Hepatitis C to her well-publicized struggles to stop using cocaine and heroin. Cole said she has been sober for some time now after two stints in a rehabilitation clinic.

Cole said she underwent chemotherapy in an aggressive way to fight the virus. Within four months of getting chemotherapy, both of Cole’s kidneys failed.

“I couldn’t breathe. I — I went into — literally, my kidneys stopped functioning. They stopped, you know, processing the fluid that was starting to build up in my body.”

Since then Cole has been on dialysis three days a week and has been searching for a kidney, she told King in one of the first public interviews about the issue.

Cole won six Grammys for her 1991 critically acclaimed album “Unforgettable: With Love,” a jazzy tribute to her father. She won a Grammy this year for her new album “Still Unforgettable” and another Grammy for her work on another album.

Cole was still able to tour this year even with her kidney ailment. She canceled a planned show last week in South Korea because of her illness, which meant she was in Los Angeles when the organ became available.

“I have been on dialysis in Istanbul, Milan, Indonesia, Manila, London. It’s — it’s amazing,” Cole said.

During King’s show, dozens of people sent e-mails to CNN telling Cole that they would get tested to see if their kidney could be donated.

King handed a thick stack of paper to Cole.

“These are all e-mails from dozens — dozens of people offering to be tested to see if they can match, who want to give you a kidney,” King said.

Cole stared at the papers for a moment.

“There are some great human beings out there. That’s all I can say,” Cole said.

Cole is expected to return to the tour after three to four months of recovery.

3 Great Uses of Twitter, According to Cofounder Jack Dorsey

1) Throwing parties 2) Lifeline during a terrorist attack 3) Staying connected with mom

by Boonsri Dickinson (“@boonspoon” on Twitter)

From the May 2009 issue, published online April 22, 2009

Sony Loses 10% Of The Price Of Each PS3 Sold

According to a translation of a Japanese Sony earnings briefings, as of the end of March, Sony loses 10% of the cost of each PlayStation 3 it sells. Sony CFO Nobuyuki Oneda said the company has further cost savings in store for the system, but declined to comment on the possibility of a price drop. This might be bad news for Sony, but it’s good news for you: It means the PS3 is a more powerful system than you’re paying for.

Oneda also commented on sluggish PSP software sales, stating that the handheld Sony system’s attach rate is lower than hardware from other companies. Oneda went on to point out that  increased hardware sales are not leading to a similar increase for software sales, but Sony plans to take care of that problem too, by “making the system capable of playing PS3 and PlayStation software.”

What exactly Oneda meant by this isn’t known, but it does open up the intriguing possibility of Sony fully exploiting the link between it’s big and little systems by simultaneously releasing more games for both systems. Although, I wonder if this would really affect attach rates all that much. Any increase in sales among people who have both systems would, perhaps, be offset by people who only have one, and would think a simultaneously released game would be gimped without both systems.

As for “PlayStation software,” there are already a lot of PlayStation games available for the PSP, so it’s a little unclear.

Pirated pop keeps stars popular

File-sharing sites help make popular acts more popular, finds a study.

The research, by industry body PRS for Music, showed the most pirated pop songs tend to be those at the top of the music charts.

There was little evidence that file-sharing sites helped unsigned and new bands find an audience, it found.

It suggests file-sharing sites are becoming an alternative broadcast network comparable to radio stations as a way of hearing music.

Long tail

The study, carried out by Will Page, chief economist at the PRS, and Eric Garland, head of media tracking firm Big Champagne, looked at patterns of music usage among file-sharers.

It aimed to see if that pattern of use had any lessons for the way music is marketed and sold.

Many have claimed that the unprecedented amount of choice on the web would give rise to new models of music distribution.

This “Long Tail” argument, say the authors, claims: “If you offer people more choice, and help them make that choice, they will take that choice.”

Action against pirate sites has not stopped swappers, said the study.

If true, this could mean that music makers should focus attention away from a few popular acts towards the mass of bands with smaller, dedicated followings.

However, found the pair, usage on file-sharing sites closely mirrors that on legitimate music sites. There was no evidence of the Long Tail operating.

The authors wrote: “Much of the volume (sales or swaps) is concentrated amongst a small proportion of the available tracks.”

The reason for this, claim the authors, is that there is too much choice on file-sharing sites.

The breadth of music available means that people do not have time or do not want to search through it all or listen to it all for the tracks that they might like.

Instead their searches are constrained by what they see in the media, and what their friends are listening to.

They said: “After taking into account some geographic differences, the top of the many music charts, from licensed and unlicensed venues, are markedly similar.”

They added that BigChampagne had never seen a big hit on the pirate networks that was not also a top seller in the licensed world.

Mr Page and Mr Garland suggest that file-sharing sites are reinforcing divisions in the music world and only making the popular more popular.

Despite this, the report said, the fact that music was free on file-sharing networks meant people did occasionally listen to bands they had never heard of before.

By contrast, on sites where people have to pay to listen they only download the tracks they know they want.

“If the sellers sell it, it might never be bought; but if the swappers offer it, at least one person will likely take it,” said the study.

Given this, said the authors, it might be worth music companies regarding file-sharing sites as comparable to radio and TV as a broadcast network.

Craigslist ditches erotic adverts

Craigslist recently toppled MySpace as the most visited site

The US classified ads website Craigslist says it will remove its erotic services category, following claims it promotes prostitution.

Law enforcement officials have said prostitutes and clients use the site for illegal sexual encounters.

In place will be a new adult services section that will be closely monitored.

“We are optimistic that the new balance struck will be an acceptable compromise,” Craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster said.

“Sued”

In recent months the spotlight has been turned on the San Francisco company, following a series of high-profile cases.

The one that gained national attention involved Phillip Markoff, 23, who has been charged with killing a young woman who offered her services as a masseuse on Craigslist.

Julissa Brisman, 26, was found shot dead in a hotel room in Boston last month.

The case was widely covered in the media, with Mr Markoff being dubbed the “Craigslist Killer”.

Tom Dart said he will still keep a close eye on the site

Earlier in the year, the site attracted the attention of a number of law enforcement officers.

One of the most vocal critics of the erotic services adverts was an Illinois sheriff who sued the site in a federal court.

Sheriff Thomas Dart said Craigslist was failing to block offers to trade sex for money. He called the site “the single largest source of prostitution in the nation.”

He said this latest move by the site is “a major step in the right direction”.

Last week South Carolina’s Attorney General Henry McMaster threatened the management of Craigslist with prosecution if it did not remove the local erotic services posting within 10 days.

Last November Craigslist announced a deal with 40 state attorneys general that said it would charge for erotic services ads and require advertisers to user a credit card for payment.

This was seen as a way for authorities to track them down.

“Monitor”

Existing adverts in the erotic services section will remain for the next seven days.

The new adult services category has now opened for postings by “legal adult service providers”.

The site is best known for selling bikes and finding places to rent

In a blog post, Craigslist said each post would be manually reviewed before appearing on the site to ensure compliance with the company’s guidelines and terms of use.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, who had called the section “nothing more than an internet brothel”, said authorities would monitor these new ads.

“I’m encouraged Craigslist has agreed to fundamentally change how they operate and monitor their site,” said Ms Madigan in a statement.

Craigslist, which donated all of the profits from “erotic services” ads to charity, has insisted all along that the site is relatively safe.

“Contrary to some of the sensationalistic journalism we’ve seen these past few weeks, the record is clear that use of Craigslist classified is associated with far lower rates of violent crime than print classifieds, let alone rates of violent crime pertaining to American society as a whole,” said Mr Buckmaster.

EXCLUSIVE: Playboy To Announce First-Ever African Playmate Of The Year

Although the official announcement of this year’s Playmate of the Year will be done by Hugh Hefner at an official ceremony tonight at the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas, Miss March 2008 Ida Ljungqvist reportedly already has the title in the bag.

“Ida won! She is so excited!” a pal of the stunner tells The FABlife.

Ida, 27, was born in Tanzania to a Swedish mother and Tanzanian father. She is the first Playmate born in Africa and is fluent in English, Swedish, and Swahili.

But Ida’s new fame does not come without scandal. Ida recently went through a messy divorce with ex Joshua Lang, with whom she reportedly had a custody battle over their pet chihuahua Bonnie.

Check out our gallery of the 50th Playboy Playmate of the Year, Ida Ljungqvist! [Photos: WENN]

POSTED BY Libby Keatinge AT 4:36 pm

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano briefs reporters at the White House Sunday.

Mexico seems to be the epicenter of the outbreak, where as many as 103 deaths are thought to have been caused by swine flu, the country’s health minister said. An additional 1,614 reported cases have been reported in the country.

So far, however, only 18 cases have been confirmed by laboratory tests in Mexico and reported to the World Health Organization.

The United States stepped up preparations for a possible epidemic of the virus after 20 cases were confirmed, and Canada announced its first cases of the virus Sunday — six mild cases.

Russia banned all meat imports from Mexico and the southern United States, and said it would screen incoming passengers from those two countries for swine flu by taking their temperatures. China also banned meat from Mexico and from the U.S. states of Texas, California and Kansas.

The WHO has called the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern.”

Researchers are trying to determine how easily it can jump from person to person. And Keiji Fukuda, WHO’s assistant director-general, said it was too early to predict whether there will be a mild or serious pandemic.

Mexico City closed all its schools and universities until further notice because of the virus, and military troops distributed 4 million filter masks in the city of 20 million residents.

Watch efforts in Mexico to prevent spread of the virus »

Mayor Marcelo Ebrard said he is wearing a mask, “in order to promote to people to use” it.

“The potential damage for the city is very high,” Ebrard said.

The streets of Mexico City were eerily quiet Sunday afternoon — a time when families are usually out strolling.

Officials have talked about shutting down the bus and subway system, and incoming international passengers at the country’s airports are asked on a form whether they have various symptoms that might indicate that they’re carrying the virus.

Mexican Finance Minister Augustin Carstens said Sunday that the World Bank was lending his country $205 million to deal with the outbreak.

In the United States, the largest number of cases was in New York City, New York, where the CDC confirmed cases in eight students at preparatory school.

“Given the reports out of Mexico, I would expect that over time we’re going to see more severe disease in this country,” said Dr. Richard Besser, the CDC’s acting director.

In Washington, the government declared a public health emergency — a step Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said, “sounds more severe that really it is.”

“This is standard operating procedure and allows us to free up federal state and local agencies and their resources for prevention and mitigation,” she said.

Napolitano canceled a trip to the Czech Republic scheduled for this week in order to monitor swine flu preparations and response, two Obama administration officials said Sunday night.

Meanwhile, Israel, New Zealand and Spain were investigating unconfirmed cases of swine flu.

Concerns about the virus prompted Canada to issue a travel health notice and South Korea to say it will test airline passengers arriving from the United States.

Japan is expected to convene a Cabinet meeting Monday to come up with measures to block the entry of the virus into the country.

In New Zealand, officials said 22 students and three teachers, who returned from a three-week-long language trip to Mexico, might have been infected. The group remains quarantined at home, and Health Minister Tony Ryall said 10 students tested positive for influenza A — the general category of strains that includes the H1N1 swine flu.

Watch how public health officials grade phases of pandemic alerts »

In Spain, six people — all recently returned from Mexico — were being isolated in hospitals, the country’s health ministry said. And in Israel, doctors are running tests on a man who recently returned from Mexico with light flu symptoms.

The H1N1 strain of swine flu is usually associated with pigs. When the flu spreads person-to-person, instead of from animals to humans, it can continue to mutate, making it harder to treat or fight off.

iReport.com: Do you think we should be worried about swine flu?

Symptoms of swine flu include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, the CDC said.

Learn more about swine flu and how to treat it »

Common seasonal flu kills 250,000 to 500,000 people every year.

But what worries officials is that a new strain can spread fast because people do not have natural immunity and vaccines can take months to develop.

In 1968, a “Hong Kong” flu pandemic killed about 1 million people worldwide. And in 1918, a “Spanish” flu pandemic killed as many as 100 million people.