Wireless EEG headset for your future gaming needs, coming in 2008

Looks awesome. Would be cool to use this for brain therapies (neurofeedback for ADHD, and other biofeedback treatments).

From corante:

"Emotiv Systems has developed a new interface for human computer interaction. Project Epoc is basically a beautifully designed EEG system that connects wirelessly with all game platforms from consoles to PCs. Neurosky is another developer of sexy brain sensorware that collects brainwave signals, eye movements, and other bio-signals which are captured and amplified via their patented dry-active sensor technology. While NeuroSky's headset has one electrode, Emotiv Systems has developed a gel-free headset with 18 sensors. Besides monitoring basic changes in mood and focus, Emotiv's bulkier headset detects brain waves indicating smiles, blinks, laughter, even conscious thoughts and unconscious emotions. Players can kick or punch their video game opponent - without a joystick or mouse."

The commercial version supposedly comes out in 2008.

Check out their website for the PR video.

Mini Cooper D: next year's model to get 74.2mpg without being a hybrid!

The best part is that they claim all this will 'come at no extra cost'.

From gizmag:

"When production of the revised models begins in August 2007, there will be no requirement for alternative fuel sources or hybrid technology to achieve these stunning stats. All model variants will instead be supplied as standard with high-tech engine tweaks, providing exceptional economy and minimal emissions without compromising the MINI driving experience."

In addition to not being a hybrid, it will also have regenerative braking, and a start/stop button so that it goes into sleep mode when idling (more details below).

"Brake Energy Regeneration works by using an Intelligent Alternator Control (IAC) and an Absorbent Glass Mat battery to recycle previously lost energy, which saves fuel. The IAC reduces drag on the engine by only engaging when required to charge the battery, whereas a traditional alternator is always pulling power from the engine. Additionally, the energy generated by the engine on over-run (under braking or descending a hill) was previously wasted. Now this lost energy is utilised by the IAC to charge the battery.
The Auto Start-Stop Function, available with manual transmission cars, automatically switches the engine off when the vehicle is stationary and the driver puts the car into neutral. To restart the driver only need engage the clutch again before pulling away in the normal manner. The system may be de-activated at the touch of a button when not required."

Seems worth a test drive to me. Hope it's not too underpowered.

http://www.gizmag.com/go/7365/

Why buy an island when you can buy a planet? Entropia vs. Second Life in China

From techcrunch:

Virtual world Entropia, which combines chatting with friends and blowing up aliens, announced their expansion into China through a deal with Beijing’s Cyber Recreation Development Corp (CRD) over a year in the making. The CRD is supported by Beijing’s Municipal government and intended to promote and develop investment in “cyber recreation” in China. The company says Second Life was also in the running for the deal.

Entropia is described as a cross between World of Warcraft and Second Life. However, they also have real world banks (5) who have spend $404,000 in banking licenses, as well as a real world ATM cash card by Mastercard so that users can transfer funds in and out of the virtual world.

CRD has high hopes: "David Liu, CEO of CRD, envisions an Entropia utopia. He expects the partnership to bring 10,000 work-at-home, pollution-free job opportunities to China."



http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/30/entropias-virtual-world-comes-to-china/

Neuro-memory chip stores rudimentary memories

Pic: Neuron network with electrodes (c) Itay Baruchi & Eshel Ben-Jacob

From TG Daily:

Tel Aviv (Israel) – Two scientists from the Tel-Aviv University have shown that information can be stored in live neurons. The research results provide a new way to help understand how our brain learns and store information, but also indicate that a “cyborg-like integration of living material into memory chips” could become a reality in the foreseeable future.The experiment published on May 16 in Physical Review E, is based on the idea that linking neurons can result in spontaneous, coordinated firing. Itay Baruchi and Eshel Ben-Jacob of Tel-Aviv University said that they were able to create additional firings by using a special protocol of local chemical stimulations, which created multiple, rudimentary memories stored in the neuron network.

The abstract is available here.
They found that the memories were successfully stored in their home grown neural network for over 40 hours.

Wow, the birth of wetware.

SensoPAC: modelling organic life forms to make robots work better

Pic: The robot being developed by the German Aerospace Centre

SensoPAC has a variety of projects under way.

These include (from BBC News):

• "The work at the University of Granada is concentrating on the design of microchips that incorporate a full neuronal system, emulating the way the cerebellum interacts with the human nervous system. "


• "...an artificial skin for robots, making them look more human-like as well as being information-sensitive in the same way as human skin is"


• "...Feelix Growing - has been given 2.3m euros to develop robots that can learn from humans and respond socially and emotionally. "

http://www.sensopac.org/index.php?id=18

Party Timer Clock Decibel Meter

Cute. Not entirely sure how useful this is, but I'm entertained.

No party (0-10 db)
Romantic Party (11 to 20 db)
Talking Party (21 to 50 db)
Lite Party (52 to 70 db)
Music Party (71 to 90 db)
Dance Party (91 to 100 db)
Club Party (101 to 120 db)
Mega Party (121 to 160 db, which is up near hearing damage levels)
Atom Party (above 161 db, and can result in permanent hearing damage).
http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/28/party-timer-clock-tells-you-how-rockin-your-rave-actually-is/

Soft drinks are unhealthy, especially for your mitochondrial DNA

Apparently, the culprit is sodium benzoate, a preservative which is used to prevent mold in soft drinks, and found in Coca Cola, Pepsi, Sprite, Dr. Pepper, and others.

All about sodium benzoate, from The Independent:

"Sodium benzoate has already been the subject of concern about cancer because when mixed with the additive vitamin C in soft drinks, it causes benzene, a carcinogenic substance. A Food Standards Agency survey of benzene in drinks last year found high levels in four brands which were removed from sale.
Now, an expert in ageing at Sheffield University, who has been working on sodium benzoate since publishing a research paper in 1999, has decided to speak out about another danger. Professor Peter Piper, a professor of molecular biology and biotechnology, tested the impact of sodium benzoate on living yeast cells in his laboratory. What he found alarmed him: the benzoate was damaging an important area of DNA in the "power station" of cells known as the mitochondria.
He told The Independent on Sunday: "These chemicals have the ability to cause severe damage to DNA in the mitochondria to the point that they totally inactivate it: they knock it out altogether.
"The mitochondria consumes the oxygen to give you energy and if you damage it - as happens in a number if diseased states - then the cell starts to malfunction very seriously. And there is a whole array of diseases that are now being tied to damage to this DNA - Parkinson's and quite a lot of neuro-degenerative diseases, but above all the whole process of ageing.""

It's also suspected of worsening ADHD in kids.

http://news.independent.co.uk/health/article2586652.ece