The severely disabled, including those “locked in” to their bodies as a result of accidents or disease, might soon have a new way to communicate and move, Israeli scientists say. By sniffing, more than a dozen quadriplegics were able to control computers that allowed them to write and to guide a wheelchair, they reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The technology relies on the fact that quadriplegics and others retain control of their soft palates, which regulate breathing through the nose. Even people who cannot breathe on their own can control the new device by blocking and releasing the flow of air forced through their noses by a pump. Experts say the device would be particularly valuable for people who have locked-in syndrome, and can do little more than flutter an eyelid.- Los Angeles Times
The U.S. Government is testing a voice translation gadget to aid American forces in Afghanistan overcome the language barrier. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is evaluating a trio of new, portable handheld devices that record and then transmit voice translations of that country’s two most popular languages. Afghanistan has two official languages: Pashto and Dari — respectively spoken by 35 and 50 percent of the populace. Then there are the Turkic languages: Uzbek and Turkmen, spoken by another 11 percent. A not-insignificant portion of the population speaks Baluchi, Pashai, or Nuristani. The devices are intended to fill the communications gap that U.S. forces face. Local human translators are scarce, and take huge risks when offering their services. Users can both speak into one device, or call each other on their own copies of the handheld. - ArsTechnica
Apple’s iPhone is likely to dominate the high-end smartphone market in the next five years, but faces strong competition from handsets using Google’s Android platform, a research firm says. By 2015, total mobile application downloads in the Asia-Pacific are forecast to reach 5.30 billion, of which 597.15 million - about 11 percent - will be for the iPhone, technology industry consultancy Ovum says. Downloads of iPhone applications are estimated at 62.16 million in 2010, rising to 597 million downloads in 2015, Ovum says in an analysis preceding the new iPhone 4’s launch in New Zealand. “The iPhone 4 is expected to face much stiffer competition than its predecessors,” an Ovum spokesman said. The phenomenal rise of Google Android over the last two years had allowed makers to create appealing alternatives to the iPhone, at cheaper prices, he said. - The New Zealand Herald
Next they’ll be competing in the New York Marathon …. Cornell University's 'Ranger' set a robotic distance record when it completed 108.5 laps -- 14.3 miles -- on an indoor track. That's 65,185 steps! (video courtesy of Cornell University)
UK and Finland researchers have discovered why people who stay in education longer have a lower risk of developing dementia – a question that has puzzled scientists for a decade. Examining the brains of 872 people who had been part of three ageing studies, and who before their deaths had completed questionnaires about their education, the researchers found more education makes people better able to cope with changes in the brain associated with dementia. Previous studies have been unable to determine whether or not education – which is linked to higher socioeconomic status and healthier lifestyles – protects the brain against the disease. The study, led by Professor Carol Brayne of the University of Cambridge showed people with different levels of education had similar brain pathology, but those with more education were better able to compensate for dementia’s effects. - e! Science News
Curry spices could hold the key to reducing the enormous greenhouse gas emissions given off by sheep and cows. Research at the U.K.’s Newcastle University has found that traditional curry spices coriander and turmeric can reduce by up to 40 percent the amount of methane that is produced by bacteria in a sheep’s stomach and then emitted into the atmosphere when the animal burps. The findings are part of an ongoing study led by Dr Abdul Shakoor Chaudhry at Newcastle University. Sheep each produce around 20 litres of methane a day, emitted by burping. The sheep itself also loses an estimated 12 percent of its food energy to methane production. New Zealand scientists have for many years been investigating more conventional solutions including an emission-reducing clover. Methane is believed to contribute to global warming. - The Independent
India has revealed a prototype tablet computer that would sell for just $NZ48. The tablet, part of a push to provide high-quality education to students across the country, also comes with a solar-power option that could make it more feasible for rural areas. The Linux-based computer resembles an Apple iPad and features basic functions you’d expect to see in a tablet - a web browser, multimedia player, PDF reader, Wi-Fi, and video conferencing ability. It has 2GB of RAM (but no hard disk, instead using a memory card) and USB ports, and could be available to children from primary school up to university level as early as next year. Indian Institute of Technology students co-designed motherboards for the computer, which the Ministry for Human Resource Development would like to see dropping as low as $NZ16. -CNet News
Specialists are completing the final network testing for mobile phone company 2degrees’ new 3G network that will put it on an equal footing with rivals Telecom and Vodafone. The service will at first be available only to select customers, but a company spokeswoman said the 3G network would be available to all “sooner rather than later”. Higher data speeds available over 3G networks make the company’s offers more attractive to users of mobile broadband and devices such as iPhone and iPad. 2degrees chief technology officer Mike Goss said the 3G network was built at the same time as its 2G network, but that it had chosen to switch on only the 2G elements at launch last year. While theoretical speeds on the 2degrees 3G network were 7.2 megabits per second, customers would typically experience about 1.5 megabits per second. - The New Zealand Herald
The U.S. Government is testing a voice translation gadget to aid American forces in Afghanistan overcome the language barrier. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is evaluating a trio of new, portable handheld devices that record and then transmit voice translations of that country’s two most popular languages. Afghanistan has two official languages: Pashto and Dari — respectively spoken by 35 and 50 percent of the populace. Then there are the Turkic languages: Uzbek and Turkmen, spoken by another 11 percent. A not-insignificant portion of the population speaks Baluchi, Pashai, or Nuristani. The devices are intended to fill the communications gap that U.S. forces face. Local human translators are scarce, and take huge risks when offering their services. Users can both speak into one device, or call each other on their own copies of the handheld. 
UK and Finland researchers have discovered why people who stay in education longer have a lower risk of developing dementia – a question that has puzzled scientists for a decade. Examining the brains of 872 people who had been part of three ageing studies, and who before their deaths had completed questionnaires about their education, the researchers found more education makes people better able to cope with changes in the brain associated with dementia. Previous studies have been unable to determine whether or not education – which is linked to higher socioeconomic status and healthier lifestyles – protects the brain against the disease. The study, led by Professor Carol Brayne of the University of Cambridge showed people with different levels of education had similar brain pathology, but those with more education were better able to compensate for dementia’s effects. 
Curry spices could hold the key to reducing the enormous greenhouse gas emissions given off by sheep and cows. Research at the U.K.’s Newcastle University has found that traditional curry spices coriander and turmeric can reduce by up to 40 percent the amount of methane that is produced by bacteria in a sheep’s stomach and then emitted into the atmosphere when the animal burps. The findings are part of an ongoing study led by Dr Abdul Shakoor Chaudhry at Newcastle University. Sheep each produce around 20 litres of methane a day, emitted by burping. The sheep itself also loses an estimated 12 percent of its food energy to methane production. New Zealand scientists have for many years been investigating more conventional solutions including an emission-reducing clover. Methane is believed to contribute to global warming. 
Specialists are completing the final network testing for mobile phone company 2degrees’ new 3G network that will put it on an equal footing with rivals Telecom and Vodafone. The service will at first be available only to select customers, but a company spokeswoman said the 3G network would be available to all “sooner rather than later”. Higher data speeds available over 3G networks make the company’s offers more attractive to users of mobile broadband and devices such as iPhone and iPad. 2degrees chief technology officer Mike Goss said the 3G network was built at the same time as its 2G network, but that it had chosen to switch on only the 2G elements at launch last year. While theoretical speeds on the 2degrees 3G network were 7.2 megabits per second, customers would typically experience about 1.5 megabits per second. 