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Researchers debut one-cubic-millimeter computer, want to stick it in your eye

shaun — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 23:14:20 +0000

This as-of-yet-unnamed mini computer was fashioned as an implantable eye pressure monitor for glaucoma patients, but its creators envision a future where we’re all crawling with the little buggers. Taking up just over one cubic millimeter of space, the thing stuffs a pressure sensor, memory, thin-film battery, solar cell, wireless radio, and low-power microprocessor all into one very small translucent container. The processor behind this little guy uses an “extreme” sleep mode to keep it napping at 15-minute intervals and sucking up 5.3 nanowatts while awake, and its battery runs off 10 hours of indoor light or one and a half hours of sun beams. Using the sensor to measure eye pressure and the radio to communicate with an external reader, the system will continuously track the progress of glaucoma, without those pesky contacts. Of course, the mad scientists behind it look forward to a day when the tiny device will do much more, with each of us toting hundreds of the computer implants all over our bodies — looks like a bright future for cyborgdom.

Researchers debut one-cubic-millimeter computer, want to stick it in your eye originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 Feb 2011 17:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW expanding its electric presence with Active-E leases

othertech — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 02:30:47 +0000

You’ve probably heard about the BMW Mini E lease program — 500 or so of the little buggers were let into the wild to be given real-life, long-term testing by regular people. It seems like the program was a success, because BMW is doing it again, this time with their Active-E (Activeeee!) concept, a more practical car for most people, but also mighty expensive.

The Active-E is a converted 1-series, yet weighs nearly 4000 pounds and as a result, acceleration and handling are probably nothing to write home about. Still, I’m sure it’d be a nice car to get around in, although you’ll be paying through the nose: $850/month, plus a grueling application process.

Like the Mini E, the Active-E is extremely pre-production, so all these specs are probably going to change, I suppose most notably the weight and range, as batteries get more efficient over the next couple years of testing.

[image credit: Chuck Squatriglia/Wired.com]

Amazon applying for in-book advertisement patent for Kindle

othertech — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:35:30 +0000

Before everyone gets in a huff, let’s consider Amazon’s intentions with these patent applications. Surely they would never allow advertisements to be placed in books which you have purchased legitimately at full price, so let’s put that out of our heads. But what if you could take a few bucks off the cover price at the cost of a few contextual ads relating (if possible) to the book’s content? Personally, I wouldn’t mind — partially because I don’t use a Kindle or intend to any time soon, but more because it’s a no-lose situation. Amazon wouldn’t risk alienating its loyal Kindle base with dirty tricks like this, so it’s safe to assume it’ll be at least somewhat opt-in.

An abundance of free or reduced-price content would widen the appeal of the reader — I imagine many people are put off e-books by the idea that they are not getting their money’s worth. As offensive as the idea of inserting ads into a book is to me (and surely to the average reader), it’s almost certainly part of a value proposition which increases the utility of these expensive little buggers.

The wording of the patent requests also includes the language “in response to a consumer request for content,” which could probably be massaged into referring to downloaded books that have been paid for, but more easily fits streamed or dynamically generated stuff like news or Google Books content. There’s also talk of including the ad in printed versions of said content, which bothers me a bit more than the other part. At any rate, I’m convinced that advertisements are unlikely to appear in the kinds of books and publications you’re paying full price for right now, so if this is ever implemented, you’ll probably (hopefully) be able to read your Vanity Fair unmolested.

[via Slashdot and TechGeist]

Colonel Mustard, in the Apple Store, with the revolver (updated)

othertech — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:44:19 +0000

A woman was shot today at an Arlington Apple Store, for no one knows what reason. She’s in serious but stable condition and the guy is at large. I’m surprised this hasn’t happened before: iPhones are expensive little buggers and jacking a pallet of them would be a real score.

It’s unclear what went down, exactly, and what if anything is missing. Apparently she was shot as soon as she opened the back door, which bespeaks a less-than-subtle perpetrator.

Maybe they’ll start making those glass storefronts bulletproof now?

Update: The surveillance video is propagating.

[via HardOCP; image credit: Tracy Woodward, The Washington Post]