The Raw Feed

Friday, June 11, 2004

Japanese Insomniacs Invent Gadgets That Put You to Sleep

Matsushita Electric Works plans to unveil its "Sleep Room" prototype in Tokyo next week. The "room" is packed with sleep-inducing gadgets and contraptions such as "sleep counselor" software that creates an individual "sleep profile," special beds that start out as "Lay-Z-Boy" type chairs but slowly unfold into beds as they lull you to sleep with sound, dimming lights, vibrating massage and relaxing video. And then.... thennnn.. ZZzzzzzzzzzz.

Link to this item. 11:28 AM

Thursday, June 10, 2004

Murata Unveils World's Smallest Wireless LAN Module

Murata Manufacturing has created a new ultra-slim wireless LAN transceiver module designed for use in cell phones. It was presented at the IEEE MIT-S International Microwave Symposium 2004. The 9.6mm x 9.6mm x 1.8mm component. It's friggin' tiny.

Link to this item. 8:26 PM

German Supermarket Features PC-Based Carts

The German Supermarket Metro AG is testing a prototype grocery store called Future Store in Rheinberg, Germany, that is fully automated. Shopping cars are souped up with built-in PCs that enable shoppers to barcode scan their own groceries as they place them into the carts. (Whoops! I "accidentally" forgot to scan the caviar!) The PCs are wireless connected, and guide shoppers to the section they're looking for. Scales in the produce section recognized what kind of produce you're buying. Kiosks give you shopping advice. Push a button and you're "checked out." The experimental store opened in April and has thus far proved an enormous success. Humans need not apply for a job there unless you're an IT professional!

Link to this item. 8:11 PM

Microsoft Patents 'To Do' List

I reported last week that Microsoft won a patent for double-clicking a mouse. Now they've patented the "to do" list or anything involving "to do" lists when it occurs in source code. Somebody stop the madness!

Link to this item. 8:47 AM

Monday, June 07, 2004

New Electronic Paper Achieves 400 Pixels Per Inch

Toppan Printing and E Ink have developed electronic paper with a resolution of 400 pixels per inch -- the highest resolution yet achieved. The companies are behind the currently available "LIBRIe" electronic-book terminal designed by Sony. The resolution is so high, it's just like real paper, except thousands of times more expensive and totally reliant on batteries.

Link to this item. 9:41 AM

Mobile Phones Save Lives... Sometimes

South African Andre Steyn was shot during a carjacking, but his life was spared because the Nokia 6610i mobile phone he was talking on at the time deflected the bullet aimed at his head (after passing through his hand).

Link to this item. 9:34 AM

Found Video: TV on Your Cell Phone

Wireless Watch Japan has a video showing KDDI R&D Laboratories' jointly developed mobile-phone that gets live terrestrial TV broadcasts. Here comes the video.

Link to this item. 9:32 AM

PCs Boost Preschoolers' Ability to Learn

Preschool children who use a PC apparently develop better learning skills that those who don't. I wonder what happens when you give them a cell phone, Palm organizer and an iPod?

Link to this item. 9:18 AM

Xerox PARC, Stanford Invent System For Measuring Ass Whoopin

Xerox PARC, Stanford University, and Impact Measurement eggheads have created a system for helping Tae Kwon Do judges score points in competitive fighting. The system involves wiring the body pads of competitors with wireless piezoelectric pressure sensors that measure the impact of blows to target areas. The data is instantly sent to a laptop used by judges. Once these great research institutions were involved in creating the PC and the Internet. Now, they dedicate their brainpower to solving the problems of karate scoring.

Link to this item. 7:17 AM

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