oztechmuse - Slashdot User

Submission + - Samsung S5 now reports stress levels through heart rate variability measure (theconversation.com)

Submitted by oztechmuse on Tuesday May 27, 2014 @09:58AM

oztechmuse writes: Samsung has just released an updated version of its health software for the Samsung Galaxy S5 that measures stress levels. Using the heart rate sensor on the back of the phone, the S5 will calculate a measure of stress from low to high.

Although this may seem far-fetched to some, the phone is actually using a measure of the heart rate to calculate something called “heart rate variability” or HRV. HRV has been shown to be related to a range of clinical conditions that include problems with the heart but also mental issues of stress and anxiety. Athletes have also used HRV as a measure of over-training and so use heart rate monitors to check if they need rest days.

Samsung seems to be claiming the ground in terms of innovation in health-related sensor technology. In addition to the built-in pulse oximeter sensor used for the HRV measurements, Samsung phones now support direct connections to heart rate straps using the Ant+ protocol as well as through Bluetooth. Apple and others have a long way to go to catch up.

Submission + - In the unverified digital world, are journalists and bloggers equal? (theconversation.com)

Submitted by oztechmuse on Monday March 24, 2014 @08:35AM

oztechmuse writes: As the source of news moves increasingly away from traditional channels to the millions of people carrying mobile phones and sharing commentary, photos and video on social networks, the distinction between journalists and bloggers has become increasingly blurred.

Making sense of this type of information has been as much a challenge for journalists as it has bloggers. Journalists, like bloggers, have had to learn new skills in working in this environment. Highlighting this has been the release of the Verification Handbook which attempts to education journalists in how to process user-generated content in the form of videos or images acknowledging that much of the reporting about situations, especially emergency ones, comes from the public.

The techniques outlined are accessible to anyone reporting on a story, adding to the eroding gap between bloggers and journalists.

Submission + - Australian Telco's Plan to Shape BitTorrent Traffic Won't Work (theconversation.edu.au)

Submitted by oztechmuse on Tuesday February 05, 2013 @09:10AM

oztechmuse writes: Australian Telco Telstra is planning to trial shaping some BitTorrent traffic during peak hours. Like all other telcos worldwide, they are facing increasing traffic with a long tail of users: 20% of users consume 80% of bandwidth. The problem is, telcos in Australia are already shaping BitTorrent traffic as a study by Measurement Lab has shown and traffic use continues to increase. Also, the 20% of broadband users consuming the most content will just find a different way of accessing the content and so overall traffic is unlikely to be reduced.

Submission + - Is Google+ a cathedral or bazaar social network? (theconversation.edu.au)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 01, 2011 @05:43AM

An anonymous reader writes: With its recent mass suspension of accounts, Google has highlighted its desire to create a social network that is very different to the way many (including those whose accounts were suspended) would want to see it. The metaphor of the Cathedral and the Bazaar used for software development can be applied to the 2 types of social networks being proposed by Google on the one hand and the pseudonym supporters on the other. Google's Cathedral model emphasises order and control whilst the bazaar model supports users who can be anonymous, have multiple identities, interact with anyone they please, and remain unobserved.

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