Brain Gadget Power: A thinking cap for wheelchairs

Professor Matteo Matteucci (R) and Ph.d student Bernardo Dal Seno (C), wearing a skullcap mounted with electrodes and wired to a computer as he sits on a special wheel chair at the Politecnico di Milan department in Milan. Italian researchers have developed a wheelchair that obeys mental signals sent to a computer, they said Friday.

from Psysorg

Italian researchers have developed a wheelchair that obeys mental signals sent to a computer, they said Friday.

The researchers at Milan's Polytechnical Institute artificial intelligence and robotics laboratory took three years to develop the system, Professor Matteo Matteucci told AFP. The user is connected to a computer with electrodes on his or her scalp, and sends a signal by concentrating for a few seconds on the name of the desired destination -- kitchen, bedroom, bathroom -- displayed on a screen. The computer then guides the wheelchair to the selected room using a preset programme.

"We don't read minds, but the brain signal that is sent," Matteucci said. The chair is equipped with two laser beams that can detect obstacles. The Milan lab is already in contact with companies that could produce a commercial prototype aimed at quadriplegics, Matteucci said, adding that it could take between five and 10 years.

Such a wheelchair would cost only 10 percent more than a classic motorised wheelchair, according to the institute. Research to develop the so-called Brain Computer Interface began in the early 1980s around the world.

Matteucci said a handful of other researchers were working on similar projects to his, including the Federal Polytechnic School in Lausanne, Switzerland. "Eventually, a research consortium should be set up that will use all these projects as a basis for finding the best approach," he said. "We've now started work on getting the chair to operate outdoors using a GPS," Matteucci added.

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from Gearlog

Professor Matteo Matteucci of Politecnico di Milan believes that "a research consortium should be set up" for projects concerning the development of brain-powered wheelchairs and similar technologies. For now though, he, PhD student Bernardo Dal Seno and their other colleagues came up with a working prototype of a thought-propelled wheelchair.

After three years of working on it, the wheelchair now works by connecting the user to a computer through putting electrodes on the person's scalp (see image left). These electrodes send the signal capable of controlling the wheelchair's movement. However, the technology isn't so advanced that it could decipher brain signals at length just yet - the user would have to concentrate on a destination's name (i.e., kitchen, bathroom) and then a pre-set program would take the wheelchair to that location. Since it seems a promising technology for quadriplegics, the researchers are already in contact with a few companies that could create a commercial prototype within five to ten years' time.

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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Don't overused your hand and wrists

Prevent Carpal Tunnel - Use heated computer mouse, a warm mouse keeps your mouse hand healthy. Use a supportive warm computer keyboard and mouse pad. Keep your computer hands comfortable and safe.

from Health Assistant Blog


Are you always online? always in front of your computer, spending a lot of time chatting with friends, writing blogs,etc. All of this requires the use of our precious hand specially our wrist, maybe sometimes we experience the sudden tingling or numbness of our hands and wrists, others experience it like a sharp pain seems to shoot from the wrists to the arms, specially when the wrists are moved. The problem is if we overused our hands, chances are we may get a condition call CTS or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, if you experience this kind of signs and symptoms, you may need to visit a specialist.

To test if you have this kind of condition (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) do this test:

Tinel Test - Involves tapping or pressing on the median nerve of the patients wrists. Where a tingling feeling in the fingers or an electric shock like sensation is felt. The test means its positive.

Phalen Test - also known as the wrist-flexing test. This test involves hold his/her forearms uptight by pointing the fingers down then pressing the backs of the hands together. CTS is suspected if symptoms such as pain, tingling or numbness is felt in the fingers within one minute.

Here are the common Carpal Tunnel Syndrome symptoms:

* Weakness of grip leading to a tendency to drop things.
* Tingling sensation and numbness of fingers specially the thumb.
* Hand pain specially at night.

Unlike other conditions preventing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is better and less costly option than cure. Here are some simple ways to prevent CTS.

* Massage your hands and wrists every now and then while doing things that require the use of hands and wrists.

* Position the computer monitor directly in front of your seat to avoid twisting of your body.

* Ensure that the keyboard is as the same height as the elbows.

* The body should be align properly with the keyboard. You can do this by bending your elbow to a 90 degree angle.

* Observe proper posture while sitting.

* Wear splints to keep the wrists straight. This is because flexing the hand can significantly decrease the space inside the carpal tunnel.

* Observe the proper wrists position while working. Studies have shown that the improper use of the mouse is more of a cause than typing in the keyboard.

* Perform stretching and strengthening exercise.

* The most effective way is to rest between prolonged use of hands and wrists. Computer program which reminds computer users to rest and stretch their limbs are being use in US to help.

New laptop cooler & PC mice

Gear, Games and Life Online
Technology reporter Stanley A. Miller II tracks news and trends, from the coolest new gadgets to the latest stuff on the Web

By Stanley A. Miller II of the Journal Sentinel

Microsoft announced two new computer accessories today, a notebook cooling base and its popular Arc Mouse in new colors.

The sleek, slim notebook cooling base -- measuring only 1.16 inches thick -- is designed to do just what you'd expect: keep your laptop from getting uncomfortably warm. It does this using a fan and a cooling channel, and the base is contoured to rest firmly on your desk or lap, offering an ergonomically friendly typing angle. It also has a cable management clip, and it's powered via a computer's USB port so no batteries are needed. The base comes in white and black and costs $30.

The new Arc mice have been bred in four new colors: olive green, marine blue, eggplant purple and frost white. They cost $50.

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Are Computer Speakers a Gadget? Choosing Computer Speakers

Computer Gadgets Online

by Bruce Neher

It used to be that choosing speakers for your computer was an easy task because there weren't really any options to choose from. Sound was typically an afterthought and most speakers made for computer use weren't exactly what you would call "ear candy".

That has all changed now. Many well-respected audio/video speaker manufacturers have gotten into the computer speaker game. It is not uncommon to see well-known names like Klipsch, Bose, Polk & JBL on either side of computer monitors now.

When it comes to picking out computer speakers, the same rules that you would use to choose speakers for your stereo or home theater system still apply. Obviously, unless you are very lucky, there will be budget constraints. While cheap, no name speakers are never a good deal; there are many inexpensive entry-level models from reputable manufacturers that will do a great job of accurate sound reproduction.

Everyone hears differently and will have a different definition of great sound, which is probably why there are so many different speaker manufacturers. Musical tastes can also have an effect on the perceived sound quality of a pair of speakers. While a good speaker is always a good speaker, rock and roll fans may have different requirements for a pair of speakers than classical fans. A gamer may also have different needs than a music listener.

When choosing speakers, there are three things that you need to listen for in your auditions. The first is tonal balance. The instruments and voices should sound natural, like they would in real life. No single part of the frequency spectrum should be exaggerated or suppressed. While speakers with an exaggerated bass or treble response might stand out at first listen, they will usually become fatiguing after an extended amount of time.

The next thing to listen for is bass response. Because of the size constraints placed on most computer speaker systems it will be necessary to have a separate subwoofer (a speaker made to solely reproduce low frequencies) that can be set off to the side or on the floor. Listen carefully to recordings with male vocalists to make sure that the subwoofer blends seamlessly with the smaller satellite speakers. The subwoofer should not call attention to itself. In fact if it is set up correctly is will seem like all of the bass is coming from the desktop satellite speakers.

Lastly, you will want to listen to how set of speakers image. Imaging is the most magical quality that speakers can possess. It is the ability of a pair of speakers to throw a sound stage. This is not only left to right information, but also depth and height. Having a huge monitor between your speakers can make good imaging harder to achieve, but with a properly set up pair of speakers, playing a good recording, you should be able to close your eyes and see where everything is positioned in the mix. The first time you hear this it will blow your mind!

This is a very basic guide, but if you spend a little time and follow the advice above you should have no problems at all picking out computer speakers that are satisfying for whatever application you need them for.