DarrenR114 - Slashdot User

Submission + - Bionic eye could restore vision

Submitted by

MattSparkes

on Friday February 16, 2007 @11:24AM

MattSparkes writes: "A new bionic eye could restore vision to the profoundly blind. A prototype was tested on six patients and "within a few weeks all could detect light, identify objects and even perceive motion again. For one patient, this was the first time he had seen anything in half a century." The user wears a pair of glasses that contain a miniature camera and that wirelessly transmits video to a cellphone-sized computer in the wearer's pocket. This computer processes the image information and wirelessly transmits it to a tiny electronic receiver implanted in the wearer's head."

Submission + - Yahoo patents Web 2.0!!!

Submitted by nbmonger on Friday February 16, 2007 @11:24AM

nbmonger writes: As reported on Techcrunch and CrunchGear — Yahoo was recently issued a patent focused on Web 2.0 that could have a serious impact for websites (and developers) which allow users to create customizable pages. An analysis of the patent and the 20+ companies which could be affected is covered on PatentMonkey. Interestingly, Yahoo sued Google back in 2004 with a patent Yahoo obtained when they acquired Overture. The net result was Yahoo owning 5% of Google. Perhaps Yahoo will use the patent to take a 5% stake in all the MashUps knowing some will pay off handomsly.

Submission + - Vista "express" upgrade program bungled

Submitted by Josh M. on Friday February 16, 2007 @11:12AM

Josh M. writes: Thousands of customers who purchased new Windows PCs this past Christmas are still waiting on their promised Windows Vista upgrades, despite the Vista launch occurring more than two weeks ago. Ars reports that Dell and HP have both pushed their shipping dates 6-8 weeks back after launch, meaning some people won't get their upgrades well into April. It turns out that because those customers get free Vista support, the OEMs are waiting for better driver support, hence the delay. So much for "express."

Submission + - Hacks no longer joking matter at MIT

Submitted by ecklesweb on Friday February 16, 2007 @10:40AM

ecklesweb writes: The Boston Globe reprots that Hacks are no longer a joke at MIT. Three students tripped an alarm while "exploring" the Faculty Club under the cover of dark. Instead of fines or community service, the three students face up to 20 years in prison on charges of felony breaking and entering and trespassing. Of course, maybe it's just *botched* hacks that are no joke at MIT...

Over 27% of Firefox Patches Come from Volunteers 107

Posted by Zonk on Friday February 16, 2007 @10:23AM from the those-who-make-our-browswer-awesome-be-saluted dept.

dolphinling writes "Everyone is aware that the Mozilla Corporation makes some money, and employs some people now. Google has full-time employees working on Firefox too, as do a number of other places. Yet despite that, in the six months up to Firefox 2 some 27% of the patches to Firefox were submitted by key volunteers, and those patches represent 24% of changes made to the source code. What's more, those numbers only counted contributers with 50 patches or more, so the actual numbers are probably quite a bit higher. It's good to see that even as Mozilla does so well in the business world, it can still keep its ties to the community so strong." They were running these number to find out who they need to start offering support to. So: contribute to Firefox, and you know you'll get a hand up. Nice work, folks.

Submission + - Inkless printers to be built into digital cameras

Submitted by

MattSparkes

on Friday February 16, 2007 @10:18AM

MattSparkes writes: "A revolutionary way to print pictures without ink has been invented by a US company called Zink Imaging. The company, a spin-off of Polaroid, says it will use the technology to make hand-held printers that can be integrated into mobile phones and digital cameras. "The key to creating the devices is doing away with ink, using a new type of digital printing that changes colour of paper when heat is applied.""

Submission + - Online psi experiments launched

Submitted by

mindenergy

on Friday February 16, 2007 @10:14AM

mindenergy writes: "A series of psi (parapsychology) online experiments were announced to be launched.

From the Press Release: Mind-Energy.net Launches a Series of Mind Power Experiments

A series of combined online and offline experiments designed to verify the existence of human mind's ability to perceive information over distance and to influence events over distance are being launched at Mind-Energy.net website.

The faculties of the human mind, such as remote viewing, clairvoyance, telepathy, commonly referred as 'psi' in the science of parapsychology, are still considered paranormal by the mainstream and require further testing to prove or disprove their existence. The everlasting question whether people possess the sixths sense will be put to test once again in a new series of unique experiments on the 'Psi Experiments' website at http://psi.mind-energy.net.

In addition, the experiments will try to discern whether there's a difference between the results of the two genders and is there any connection between subjective level of competence (level of belief) and actual results. The results and the statistics will be published on the site after each experiment ends.

A new experiment will be started once a month and people all over the world will be able to take part in them, with a chance to win prizes from participating sponsors. Anonymous participation is also possible.

About Mind-Energy.net.
Parapsychology articles and blog on http://www.mind-energy.net is a site devoted to parapsychology, healing and alternative medicine news and articles. The website has published over 150 articles describing health tips, interviews with parapsychology researches and healers, personal experiences and psi research news."

Submission + - Burying the Environmental Problem, Literally

Submitted by

MattSparkes

on Friday February 16, 2007 @10:13AM

MattSparkes writes: "The largest carbon burial experiment in the world began in earnest on Thursday when the drilling of a 2100-metre well began in southern Australia. If all goes well, carbon dioxide will be injected into the well in July. Carbon burial is one of several techniques being developed to reduce the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere when coal, oil, or gas are burned. The gas, which causes global warming, could be captured from power plants and then stored underground."

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