In-car device monitors blood sugar for diabetic drivers

QR code People with diabetes and their caregivers know that careful and constant monitoring of their blood sugar levels is critical to managing the disease. But even while driving?

In an unusual marriage of medical technology, consumer electronics and automotive engineering, Fridley, Minn.-based Medtronic Inc. and Ford Motor Co. on Wednesday unveiled a prototype device that uses the automaker's in-car communications system to help drivers track their blood glucose activity while on the go.

"It's a real high-tech approach to the old saying, 'I've fallen and I can't get up!' " said Phil Nalbone, an analyst with Wedbush Securities. "This makes good use of widely available communications technology to safeguard patients and improve quality of care."

Using Bluetooth connectivity, the system links the automaker's popular in-car infotainment system, called Sync, to a Medtronic continuous glucose monitor. If a driver's glucose levels are too low, an alert sounds or a signal appears on a dashboard screen.

Low blood sugar, in particular, can cause light-headedness, blurry vision and other potentially dangerous symptoms that could cause a traffic accident. The American Diabetes Association estimates nearly 26 million adults and children in the United States have diabetes, but of that amount, only a portion use glucose monitors and insulin pumps.

The Ford-Medtronic prototype is still being researched, so it's unclear when - and if - the technology will ever be marketed. "Today it's all about possibilities," said Medtronic senior vice president James Dallas, who attended an unveiling at Ford headquarters in Dearborn, Mich., on Wednesday. "There's nothing formal yet, but the technology has reached a point where possibilities can become probabilities."

The idea has won some preliminary fans in the diabetes community. "I know when I'm driving, if the 'check engine' light comes on, I'm going to pay attention," said Dr. Richard Bergenstal, executive director of Park Nicollet's International Diabetes Center. "It's kind of the same principle."

For Medtronic, the partnership signals a growing movement toward managing health remotely through smartphones, tablets, laptops and, possibly, cars. Dallas said the company is in talks with other tech leaders, such as IBM, Cisco, Apple, Verizon and Qualcomm, for other partnerships. "It helps us extend our reach in new ways," Dallas said.

Medtronic's $1.2 billion diabetes business has led the way in continuous glucose monitoring, which records blood sugar levels throughout the day and night. The readings permit patients to make adjustments to insulin levels, often using a Medtronic insulin pump, or by ingesting sugar to coax levels back into normal territory.

"Ideally, we will get to a place where the sensor and pump communicate and when you get a reading, the pump automatically adjusts," Medtronic spokesman Brian Henry said.

Pairing the Medtronic technology with automotive engineering may seem far-fetched at first blush, but Ford maintains that 78 percent of U.S. consumers are deeply interested in "mobile health solutions." According to a study by MobileStorm cited by the company, medical and health care applications are the third-fastest growing category of smartphone apps.

Ford also announced a project on Wednesday to provide drivers with allergy alerts and pollen levels on the Sync device for those suffering from asthma and severe allergies.

"Ford's approach to health and wellness in the vehicle is not about trying to take on the role of a health care or medical provider," said Gary Strumolo, the company's global manager of interiors, infotainment, and health and wellness research. "We're a car company."

By partnering with "experts," Strumolo said, the Sync system can be used as a kind of "secondary alert system and alternate outlet for real-time patient coaching services."

Ford released Sync in 2008 to mostly positive reviews. Developed with Microsoft, the system enables voice control of phones and audio systems and is available in most models of Ford vehicles. (It's an extra $395 when optional.)

However, as safety concerns mount over potentially distracted drivers using cell phones for texting, talking and other activities, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood expressed concern last fall about systems like Sync and General Motors' OnStar, even if they are "hands free."

There are also questions about whether there's significant money to be made. "It remains to be seen how Medtronic will monetize this and whether it will contribute to a meaningful revenue stream," Nalbone said. "But it's an intriguing idea."

(c) 2011, Star Tribune (Minneapolis)
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

Toyota to set up social networking service

QR code Toyota is setting up a social networking service with the help of a U.S. Internet company and Microsoft so drivers can interact with their cars in ways similar to Twitter and Facebook.

Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp. and Salesforce.com, based in San Francisco, announced their alliance Monday to launch "Toyota Friend," a private social network for Toyota owners that works similar to tweets on Twitter.

In a demonstration at a Tokyo showroom, an owner of a plug-in Prius hybrid found out through a cellphone message from his Prius called "Pre-boy" that he should remember to recharge his car overnight.

When the owner plugged in his car to recharge it, the car replied, "The charge will be completed by 2:15 a.m. Is that OK? See you tomorrow."

The exchanges can be kept private, or be shared with other "Toyota Friend" users, as well as made public on Facebook, Twitter and other services, the company said.

The companies did not give details of how the technology, such as the content of the talking car's dialogues, will be managed. A launch where such details will be offered is set for Tuesday.

Toyota is investing 442 million yen ($5.5 million), Microsoft Corp. is investing 335 million yen ($4.1 million) and Salesforce.com 223 million yen ($2.8 million) in the project.

Many cars are already equipped with navigation and other network-linking capabilities, and can function as a mobile device just like an iPhone or a Blackberry.

Toyota's service, built on open-source cloud platforms that are the specialty of Salesforce.com, as well as on Microsoft's platform, will start in Japan in 2012, and will be offered later worldwide, according to Toyota.

Toyota President Akio Toyoda, a racing fan, said he always "talks" with his car when he is zipping around on the circuit.

With the popularity of social networking, cars and their makers should become part of that online interaction, he said.

"I hope cars can become friends with their users, and customers will see Toyota as a friend," he said.

Salesforce.com chief executive Marc Benioff said social networks can add value to products and companies. It can also help Toyota gain massive information not only about their buyers but about how the car is working or not working, he said.

"I want a relationship with my car in the same way we have a relationship with our friends on social networks," he said.

Toyoda, who has always been interested in telematics, or the use of Internet technology in autos, has been aggressive in forging alliances with new kinds of companies, including one with U.S. luxury electric carmaker Tesla Motors that he announced last year.

Partnerships with dot.com types have been a bright spot in Toyoda's bumpy career as president. He has faced growing doubts about reliability and transparency because of the massive global recalls that began two years ago, shortly after he took office, and which now affect more than 14 million vehicles.

Toyota is also battling parts shortages after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan destroyed key suppliers, hampering production.

Pioneer previews integrated floating image display technology

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The Pioneer FV-01 Floating Vision system.

(PhysOrg.com) -- Pioneer has recently conducted a demonstration of its floating image display technology, which is being called Floating Vision, that allows for a small sized 3D floating screen to be projected into spaces like the dashboard of a car. The system, which was shown off at the Embedded Systems Expo, uses a set of infrared sensors that allow this projected screen to be used in a manner similar to that of the current touch screen systems in use, in a limited capacity at the present moment. The system was demonstrated both in a car, and in the context of a customer service scenario.

The system makes use of a 3D module that has an LCD module mounted on the back. The system then uses a specially designed 3D lens, mounted in the front, which allows the image to appear as if it is floating in space. Since it only relies on one projection, and not the traditional right and left eye perspectives of older 3D systems the screen can project a clear image from a variety of angles and without the use of glasses.

At the Embedded Systems Expo demonstration the in-car navigation system was paired with multiple touch panel displays. The system allows a user to select an object on the touch screen panel the same way that you would with most navigation systems. Then once a hand is swiped over the Floating Vision display the image of the object that the user selected is projected into the 3D display map.

This system is similar to the FV-01, a PC connection system that creates a floating 3D display, currently being sold by Pioneer. The company hopes to move from the USB connections of the current systems to integrated systems in the future with the use of the Floating Vision system.This video is not supported by your browser at this time.

FV-01 system

Japanese public broadcasting group highlights two new television technology innovations

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Image: Techon

(PhysOrg.com) -- NHK Science and Technology Research Laboratories, the research arm of Japan’s NHK public television company, recently held its annual open house, which serves to show off the latest innovations in television and digital media. This year's event, in conjunction with Nippon Telephone and Telegraph, highlighted both a new way to transmit 3-D content and a way to broadcast animation in a more personal way.

The new 3-D technology involves sending signals for the left and right eyes separately; one over a communication line, the other over airwaves. The end result, when combined, is full HD equivalent video for both eyes, as opposed to the current 50% video now in use in Japan, where data is compressed before transmission. To sync the dual signals, a time stamp is embedded in both signals and a processor on the receiver ensures the signals arrive at the viewer’s eyes at exactly the same time. The idea was presented as part of a new concept STRL is working on called Hybridcast, where video content and supporting data are sent simultaneously to both a television service and a computer such as an iPad; allowing content providers to supply backing material to a device such as an iPad while video plays on the television.

Also, in a completely unrelated technological innovation, STRL showed off what it calls, Interactive IP rendering; which doesn’t even come close to describing what it is; and that is, a technique for marrying animated characters to the environment in which they "live." Which is another way of saying, they live in a box, instead of on a two dimensional screen. Thus, when the box (the television screen) is physically turned onto its side, the animated characters on screen react by sliding sideways down the slope created, till they crash into the edge. The technology, similar to the effect created when watching movies on an iPad when it is physically turned, goes one step further by adding a 3-D component and by making the content “aware” of what is happening and reacting to it. By combining the effect with realistic 3-D animation, the characters onscreen are also able to fall forward or backward, etc., if the screen is tilted as such.

To achieve its startling effect, the IP rendering method uses a technology it calls ray reproduction to recreate the way light is represented to the viewer, i.e. in a more natural, real world way.

This year’s open house, the 65th, was themed, “Experience the Future of Digital Broadcasting” and though muted by the ongoing recovery efforts due to the earthquake and tsunami still deeply affecting the country; the event was still clearly a success judging by demonstrations of such innovative technology.

More information:
via Techon

Airbus shows off a see-thru concept plane (w/ video)

QR code (PhysOrg.com) -- Airbus has begun to show off its version of the plane of the future. It is somewhere between cool and disturbing, depending on who you ask, but it definitely represents some interesting new technology that could make flying more energy efficient and a give you something a lot more interesting to look at then the in-flight movie.

The presentations, which took place in London, feature concept art from the design that the company hopes one day to make into a flying model. The plane would be almost completely see-through, thanks to the creation of a biopolymer membrane. This membrane would make every seat into a window seat by default and allow you to see the world below as you pass it by.

The real power saving innovation was alluded to by Charles Champion, head of engineering for Airbus. When he described the plane to Telegraph he described a section of the plane known as the SmartTech zone. In this zone users body heat is converted in to power for the plane. Mr. Champion was not specific about in which systems would use body heat as a power source and which would not, which has raised some speculation as to what exactly humans will be the power source for.

The plane is not expected to be released until the year 2050, if it ever makes it off of the drawing board to begin with, so do not expect to be getting rides in a see-thru plane any time in the near future.

More information:
via Telegraph

Apple patents a 1-meter-range wireless charging system

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(PhysOrg.com) -- According to a recently submitted patent application by Apple, wireless charging may be a whole new boost. That patent, which is entitled "Wireless power utilization in a local computing environment" is a system designed to exploit research in the area of mid range wireless power transfer physics. This means that the device listed in the patent is designed to use of a wireless near field magnetic resonance (NFMR) power transmission in order to power devices that are within the 1 meter range. Think wireless charging without having to be on a specialized charging mat.

While at this point no specific devices have been proposed by Apple based on this patent the prospects are tantalizing at best. The idea of being able to charge your iPhone or iPad simply by having it near your desktop or lap Mac is one that would appeal to many users who already have their USB ports occupied with peripheral devices instead of using it as a substitute for finding an outlet nearby. Since this could, in theory allow for charging anywhere at any time, it would represent a step up from the current generation of induction charging pads, since the charging pad itself needs to be plugged into an outlet in order to give your devices the juice that the need.

While nothing is definite at this point, this patent may explain why Apple has chosen not to create an inductive wireless charging device for iPods, iPhones, and iPads currently. Given Apple's tendency to take existing technology and turn it on its head, this would not be a completely out of left field.

Start up creates a 'no-focus' point and shoot camera

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(PhysOrg.com) -- If you have ever used a "Point and Shoot" style of camera in the last few years then you know that that term is a misnomer because unless you are using a disposable camera you are going to be waiting for that camera to auto-focus and that focus can take up to 45 seconds to find its focus and allow you to take a picture. It is annoying to say the least if the action that you wanted a picture of can't be stopped like a posed photo. Since that focus can mean that you may miss a winning goal or a really cute moment it can be more than just annoying.

One start up, based in the Silicon Valley, is looking to change all of that. The company is named Lytro and it is based on the work of Dr. Ren Ng whose dissertation on light-field technology was published five years ago to accolades by his Alma Matter Stanford University.

Dr. Ng has recently received $50 million in funding in order to create his company, which is about to launch a digital camera that is free of the focus factor, by getting all of the information about the surroundings that is possible. "Shoot now, focus later," Dr. Ng said today in a blog post describing this innovation.

This video is not supported by your browser at this time.

The machine takes a photo by getting as much of the information about the field of light in the general area as possible. This will allow users to adjust the focus as many times as they want after the photo has been taken. It will also allow users to alter a photos level, and depending on your setup may even allow users to create images that are three-dimensional.This video is not supported by your browser at this time.

Lytro is having the cameras made itself and did not disclose the planned price.

More information: Picture gallery: http://www.lytro.c … ure_gallery#

Volkswagen announces 'Temporary Auto Pilot' with advanced features

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HAVE-IT (Highly Automated Vehicles for Intelligent Transport)

(PhysOrg.com) -- Volkswagen, as part of the European wide research project HAVEit, has announced the Temporary Auto Pilot (TAP), a set of features added to a car that aids in speed control, lane-assist and crash avoidance.

Much like the highly touted driverless vehicles in the news of late, the new vehicle system from VW works by means of sensors and cameras mounted on various parts of the exterior of a vehicle. Assistance comes via cruise control, automated braking when curves are noted (or to avoid a collision), steering assist to keep the vehicle in the proper lane, passing assistance and assistance in stop and go traffic. Unlike other vehicles in the news however, the TAP is not meant to serve as a driverless vehicle; it’s more of a guardian angel, watching over a driver and instantly correcting mistakes.

The company is quick to point out that the driver is still in control the entire time the TAP system is in use, and thus must continue to actually drive the vehicle; TAP should be thought of as more like driver extensions, they say, not as an autonomous system that can take over the driving when asked.

Critics have already suggested that the new additions might actually make a car less safe to drive, citing the fact that humans as a rule tend to focus less sharply when they don’t have complete control of things. Since its not clear yet just how much control the human will have when the TAP is engaged, these criticisms seem premature. If after all, the person continues to drive the car the entire time the TAP is engaged, and the TAP only makes itself known if and when it performs corrective actions when errors are made by the human driver, it would seem this would require the driver to continue to maintain as much control as has been the case up to now.

In any case, the test vehicle, a modified Passat, marks another giant leapt towards fully automated cars; this because it’s clear that Volkswagen fully intends to put such an equipped vehicle on the market in just the next few years. This stands in stark contrast to other concept cars demonstrated by others such as BMW, and Google, which still have many hurdles to overcome. The difference here is that VW’s system is comprised of off-the-shelf components and the fact that the driver continues to maintain control at all times.

In any case, it seems clear that it won’t be too long before human beings will no longer be trusted to drive themselves around.

More information: Volkswagen press release: http://www.haveit- …

College student invents cardboard vacuum cleaner

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(PhysOrg.com) -- In another attempt to reduce the amount of plastic refuse that winds up in landfills, Jake Tyler, an industrial design student at Loughborough University has devised a means to construct a working vacuum cleaner out of corrugated cardboard. The vacuum, developed as part of his final year degree project in conjunction with a design team from Vax, where Tyler is now employed, has its housing made of cardboard, while the inside motor works employs recyclable pure nylon plastic using rapid process manufacturing, rather than injection molding.

Called the Vax ev, the cleaner is designed to be assembled at home by the customer using the cardboard from the box in which it is shipped. The cardboard is pretreated with fire retardant, and because it is the corrugated variety, it is assumed it will be able to withstand the rigors of home vacuuming, though, it isn’t clear just yet how long such a vacuum cleaner would last. In its favor, the entire housing can be easily and cheaply replaced, and customers with some foresight might in fact purchase some extra corrugated cardboard from their local packaging store, along with their new vacuum and then use the original panels as a pattern for fashioning their own replacement panels thus avoiding having to go to the manufacture when their new vac runs afoul of some heavy furniture or perhaps a bit of a liquid spill.

Vax, the U.K.s leading floor-care brand says that the new model will be a limited edition, as it’s uncertain just how many customers would actually buy such an appliance.

Driverless cars shuttle Heathrow passengers

Driverless electric pods at Heathrow Airport.

(Credit:Ultra PRT)

Autonomouscars aren't the future--they're already here and in use in London. Heathrow Airport swapped 2 diesel buses for 22 electric pods that shuttle passengers from Terminal 5 to the parking lot without the help of a driver.

Heathrow Airport's autonomous cars (photos)

HTC nabs Dashwire for cloud-based mobile, Web apps

HTC just inked a deal with Dashwire, a Seattle-based company founded in 2006 that develops a cloud-based platform for mobile and web applications.

Fred Liu, president of engineering and operations for HTC, noted briefly in a statement about how Dashwire will fit into the HTC Corporation:

Cloud services are key to delivering the promise of connected services to our customers. People want access to all of their important content wherever they are on any device. The addition of Dashwire's cutting-edge sync services and deep mobile cloud experience strengthens our ability to deliver these services in a more powerful way.

As for actual plans, HTC will utilize Dashwire's cloud set-up and sync solutions for mobile devices along with beefing up the extent and services of the online HTC Sense portal. Currently, the platform is supported byAndroid, Symbian, BlackBerry, and Windows Mobile on smartphones, and then on Windows andMac for the desktop.

Additionally, Boy Genius Report suggests that HTC is really more interested in Dashwire's patent portfolio. That would seem more logical given just how popular and vital patents are these days.

Financial terms have not been disclosed. But when the deal is final, Dashwire will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Taiwan-based HTC.

This story originally appeared at ZDNet's Between the Lines.

Share Print E-mail Topics: Corporate and legal Tags: cloud computing, HTC, mobile apps

Attacking home automation networks over power lines

LAS VEGAS--Researchers at the Black Hat security conference here showed today how they could disrupt and snoop on home automation networks in residences and offices using devices connected to Ethernet networks that communicate via public power lines.

Dave Kennedy and Rob Simon have created a device that can be plugged in to a power outlet outside a target building or a nearby building and programmed to interfere with the home Ethernet network inside. The X10 Black Out device can be programmed to jam the signals that turn lights on and off and open doors, as well as disable security systems, kill security cameras, turn air conditioning or heat off, and interfere with other functions of a home automation network based on the X10 protocol. X10 is one of the most popular protocols.

They also have developed the X10 Sniffer device, which can see what appliances and systems are attached to the Ethernet network and see whether the doors are open and lights are on. "We can track people with motion sensors and see what part of the house they might be in," Simon said during a presentation. The sniffer device basically "maps out the entire house," said Kennedy, whose hacker handle is "ReL1K."

Home automation systems are appearing in more and more buildings, computerizing tasks that typically require some manual interaction, like turning on lights, or enabling advanced services, like heating toilet seats. The weaknesses stem from the fact that there is no encryption in the X10 protocol, said Simon, whose handle is "Kickenchicken57."

The researchers are a few weeks away from releasing versions of the devices that would allow an attacker to remotely control the device via the cellular network, so that it could be plugged in to the outlet and communicated with from afar, instead of having to preprogram the commands. The attacker will be able to communicate with the device via text message and the device will be able to "send text notifications when someone comes into their house," for example, Simon said.

They are also working on a sniffer based on the Z-Wave home automation protocol that connects appliances over a mesh network. That device will be able to sniff and decode the AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) encryption keys when a new appliance is added to the network, they said. This would enable an attacker to spoof the Z-Wave basic controller for the system.

"We're trying to bring more exposure to this attack avenue," Kennedy said when asked why he was revealing the weaknesses and releasing the tools. "This needs to be incorporated into penetration testing. It is a very real threat vector."

He said he had not notified any vendors of the flaws yet. Vendors will eventually need to add encryption to block such attacks, Kennedy said. "There's virtually no security on these things right now," he said.

The researchers did find one device, a Z-Wave-based door handle, that had encryption, but it was turned off by default.

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Side by side: LED, CFL, and incandescent bulbs

By: Candace Lombardi August 6, 2011 4:01 AM PDT Print E-mail Share 41 comments

Philips recently released its Ambient LED 17/75-watt-equivalent retailing for $39.97. As it indicates, the bulb gives off roughly the equivalent light of a 75-watt incandescent bulb, but uses only 17 watts of power to do it.

Many sites have been doing head-to-head tests of various LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs coming on the market. However, I'm often asked where someone can find just a "regular person review" on how LEDs stack up against CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) and the soon-to-be-phased-out incandescents without getting too buried in stats on lumens, kelvins, wattage, and the rest of the jargon that typically comes along with in-depth discussions of these different technologies.

By pure luck I happened to have not only a Philips-brand CFL but also a Philips 75-watt Dura Max incandescent bulb on hand. So I was able to do a real-world, side-by-side comparison of each type of bulb from the same brand.

Black Hat, Defcon: All about hacking (roundup)

By: CNET News staff August 6, 2011 6:25 PM PDT Print E-mail Share 1 comment

The conferences will dig into issues ranging from mobile malware and hacking to vulnerabilities posed by linking critical infrastructure systems to the Internet and corporate networks. There are bound to be some hijinks as well.

Muttering hat, murmuring tree at MoMA 'Talk' show

prayers pertinent."

(Credit:Interaction Research Studio, Goldsmiths University of London, U.K.)

If the nine Poor Clare Sisters living in an insular York, England, monastery ever feel cut off from the outside world, they need only turn to their Prayer Companion.

Notre Dame football tests smart mouthguards

Game days this fall at the 82,000-seat Notre Dame Stadium will feature new mouth guards that record impact data to research concussions.

(Credit:John Scott Lewinski/CNET)

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish football program was the first to win 11 national championships and the first to win seven Heisman Trophies. Now, it'll be among the first to try out a new protective mouthguard that records and reports impact data to help battle concussions.

Foxconn to replace workers with robots

Foxconn, the hardware manufacturer made famous by a rash of well-publicized suicides, plans to replace some of its workers with robots.

The Taiwanese company, which manufacturers laptops, mobile devices, and other hardware for Apple, Hewlett-Packard, Dell, and Sony, plans to replace factory workers with more than 1 million robots, according to a state news agency Xinhua report. Terry Gou, founder and chairman of the company, told employees at a dance Friday that the move is designed to improve efficiency and combat rising labor costs.

The company currently employs about 1.2 million people, but it's unknown how many people will be displaced by the robots.

At least 16 workers have taken their lives since the beginning of 2010 at Foxconn's factory in Shenzhen, China, a plant that employs hundreds of thousands of workers. Another three have attempted to kill themselves at the job site. According to AP, most of the suicides have involved jumping from buildings.

In response to the situation, the company promised to install "suicide nets" to discourage employees from jumping and said it would offer a 20 percent wage increase to some workers.

Foxconn parent Hon Hai Precision Industries has been repeatedly accused of forcing employees to work long hours for low pay under stressful conditions.

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Computer conducts couple's wedding

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If computers can create friends for you, why can't they create ministers?

This was the philosophical question that inspired Miguel Hanson, a Houston-based web developer and IT consultant as he contemplated his wedding.

As the Associated Press tells it, Hanson couldn't find an associate who would officiate at the betrothal to high school teacher Diana Wesley. So he said to himself: "Wait a minute, I am a Web developer and IT consultant. I am a Master of the Universe. One minister, coming up."

The first thought you might have if you were to create a virtual Man of God might be an appropriate name. How about Father Real-Time? Or the Bishop Apple? Hanson's choice was Rev. Bit.

So, at yesterday's ceremony, Rev. Bit was to greet the 30 or so guests, tell them a few stories about the happy couple, and then lead them through their "I do"'s.

AnatOnMe: Doctor patient communication enhanced with new Microsoft device (w/ video)

(Medical Xpress) -- Microsoft researchers announced this week a new handheld device that they hope will work as an aid for doctors and patients to better communicate injuries and recommended therapy treatments. The new prototype device is called AnatOnMe and enables doctors to project an image of the bones, tendons and muscles involved in an injury directly onto the patient's skin.

AnatOnMe is composed of two parts. The main component has a handheld projector, a digital camera, and an infrared camera. The second part of the device holds a laser pointer and the main control buttons. Amy Karlson from Microsoft Research’s Computational User Experiences Group located in Redmond, Washington says that the technology is actually low-tech but could provide many possibilities in the future.

The projector is capable of projecting stock images of an injury onto a patient’s skin to better enable them to see inside and understand the injury. The camera enables a doctor to take images of a patient to document progress and allow doctors to make notations. They can also take pictures of a patient performing physical therapy and note what they might be doing wrong or need to work on. This method allows the patient to better see how their body is working and what needs to be done in order to heal from the injury.

This video is not supported by your browser at this time.

AnatOnMe is a projection-enabled mobile device designed to improve patient-doctor communication in a medical setting.

After an exam, the doctor is then able to print out the pictures and create a personalized file to show what has been discussed in the office visit for the patient to take home, as well as provide detailed information in a patient’s medical record. By making the visit and instructions more personalized, the hope is to better improve patient body awareness and communication between the doctor and the patient.

Queens University students hack Microsoft Kinect to make a 360-degree display

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(PhysOrg.com) -- It seems like lately everyone is playing around with the Microsoft Kinect to make something different than the in the box configuration. This time the modifications are coming students at Queens University. They have combined a pair of the Kinect sensors with a hacked 3D HD projector and a hemispherical mirror mounted inside of an acrylic sphere to make a pseudo holographic display.

The project, aptly dubbed Project Snowglobe, is capable of showing a 360-degree view of a digital object. While at first that may sound really cool, the display system is limited to a single user at the present moment. The system cannot project a truly 3D object at the moment. It simply tracks the movement of the viewer and rotates the image so that it is in sync with their position.

Don't expect to see this bit of creative hacking on sale any time in the near future; no plans have been made at this time.