Contact Lens Detects Glaucoma

A company from Switzerland has made an astounding new product.  They designed a contact lens that is specifically made to check for glaucoma.  Glaucoma is currently the second leading cause of blindness in the United States.  It is a disease that damages the optic nerve and causes irreversible loss of vision.  It occurs when fluid pressure in the eye rises and medical experts are sometimes unsure of what causes this build up of pressure.  The new contact lens is called Sensimed Triggerfish Sensor and is a new type of lens called smart lens.

These new lenses feature a regular contact with a circular micro-ring. The lens itself has an embedded micro-sensor that records changes in pressure and shape of the eye.  It specifically is designed to measure intraocular pressure which is the best way to predict glaucoma. An antenna is placed right under the eye with an adhesive to receive information wirelessly from the contact.  The antenna then transmits the data to a recorder that is worn around the patient’s neck by a thin cable.  The information is then stored until the physician retrieves it.

The contact lens is prescribed by a doctor for a patient to wear for a twenty-four hour period.  The patient then goes on their day as usual, and even sleeps in this Triggerfish lens. The lens takes a measure, or data point, every five minutes while the patient is wearing it.  At the end of the twenty-four hour period, the patient reports back to their physician. The data is then transferred through Bluetooth from the recorder worn by the patient to software that is stored on a practitioner’s computer.  The doctor can then effectively evaluate the readings and more accurately determine if glaucoma is present.

The lenses themselves to do not have many symptoms besides slight irritation and redness.  These lenses provide a huge new opportunity for detecting glaucoma.  With this new technology, glaucoma can be detected earlier than any other device.  The regular method of measuring eye pressure is not always as promising, because eye pressure can change constantly. This new device provides an excellent evaluation of the patient.  The Triggerfish lens is currently being used by European countries like Germany and Switzerland.  It is not yet approved by the FDA for sale in the United States, but is becoming more recognized.  It is most likely this new technology will be utilized in the United States in 2014. 

Posted by: Jacob, Asayenow, and Thomas

LG G Flex

LG has announced a new Smartphone that is taking the industry by storm. It is called the LG G Flex, and this is no ordinary phone. This new phone has a coating on the back cover that allows it to self-heal, excluding the screen.  One actually sees the phone fix its scratches.  The phone is made with a material coating that will remove light scratches that are inflicted onto it. It will make scratches nearly invisible, paving the way for new features in Smartphone’s.  The phone itself has a very glossy and smooth texture.  

The phone heals much faster at warmer temperatures and only takes a few minutes.  In LG’s advertisement, they used a control temperature of 81 degrees Fahrenheit.  At colder temperatures the scratches are not removed as quickly.  A person may rub the phone to generate heat and speed up the healing time if it is colder out. Light scratches, for the most part, are completely removed.  Deep scratches do not get fully removed.  They will improve about fifty percent, but are still present and become much less noticeable.

Besides the scratch removing capability, G Flex also has another feature that no other Smartphone has.  It is actually bendable.  The phone itself is curved in stature, but it has the capability to be bent straight.  This helps to minimize damage if the phone is dropped for high places.  This is also where the G Flex gets its name, because it has a slight flexible capability. 

Besides its healing and flexible features, the phone includes all the same features most Smartphone’s have. It has a 6 inch screen and weighs 6.24 ounces.  It also has Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED) that provides brighter and better lighting.  This allows the phone to use less power than conventional displays. Currently, the phone has not yet been released for sale in the United States.  It was released in South Korea in November. Currently, the phone cots over a thousand dollars overseas, but imported units have been available in the United States.  To see this phones amazing new capabilities watch the video below.  It demonstrates the phones healing properties by scratching it with keys and a knife.  It also demonstrates the phones new flexible feature. Keep any eye out for this phone to be released. I am sure more brands will try to copy the LG G Flex’s new capabilities that are changing the industry. 

By: Jacob Ludwig (Extra)

Potential Artificial Blood Found in Sea Worms

The discovery of an artificial blood could save lives all around the world.  Since human blood is in short supply, many scientists have been looking for an artificial blood solution.  Romanian scientists are on a great path to discovering a blood substitute. Most researchers have been focusing on artificial hemoglobin to carry oxygen through the body.  The problem is that these artificial substances counteract with other body chemicals and cannot handle stress. The artificial hemoglobin then becomes toxic and deadly to the host’s body.

Doctor Radu Silaghi-Dumitrescu and his research team from Romania said they have found a substitute that does not have these toxic side effects.  They experimented with a substance called hemerythrin, which is extracted from sea worms.  Hemerythrin is much more resistant to chemical agents in our blood and, in turn, makes it much safer.  There artificial blood is made strictly of hemerythrin, water, and salts.  It also does not have a red color; it is a slightly translucent yellow. The hemerythrin, which is a protein, is successful in transporting oxygen and does so in many invertebrates. If it works for them it may work for humans.  

So far, the Romanian researchers have been successful with using this artificial blood on vertebrates. They have conducted studies on mice where they have used the artificial blood in the animals.  The results were spectacular. They survived and had no side effects.  Another benefit of hemerythrin is that it has an unlimited shelf life and it does not need to be refrigerated.   It is mixed with water and creates an instant artificial blood.  Human blood on the other hand only lasts a month and is then expired.

This new artificial blood will last anywhere from a few hours up to an entire day.  As of now, the focus is to developing this hemerythrin blood is to be used for  trauma victims or during surgeries where severe blood loss occurs. The idea of this blood substitute is that the victim’s body should continue to make blood.  By the time the substitute blood no longer works, the person should have made enough blood to be sustained. The scientists hope to conduct human trials within two years. Their goal is that the clinical trials well be deemed successful and will be conducted on human volunteers.  If they are successful this will completely change the medical industry, and this artificial blood can help save lives. 

By Jacob Ludwig

Google Tattoo Microphones

Google has once again brought to us another potential innovation. Recently Google patented a new technology involving a microphone embedded within a tattoo on ones neck. Such a new technology will act as another attachment to ones smart phone, or other wireless device.

This new technology stretches further than just personal use. Mentioned in a article by Matt Hamblen with tech hive, the technology can be used as a lie detector and even as a tool for scientific research of an animal in its natural environment by recording sounds and adding a video attachment.

A huge disadvantage to this technology, is the moral standpoint. We will have to question whether or not it is ethical to implement tattoo microphones. Future or altered incarnations of the technology could allow people to be tracked, or listened to by others. We will have to guarantee the technology is secure, and will not place anybody into any possible danger.

We have gone from bulky cell phones, to thinner cell phones, smart phones, to the usage of devices (including smart phones) on a variety of different platforms. The new technology will not necessarily replace our current ones, as it requires to be paired with a matching phone, or smart device. This technology, however, will most certainly be a curiosity, until the every day person decides whether or not they want a microphone printed within a tattoo on their neck.




Source:
http://www.techhive.com/article/2062428/google-wants-tattoos-to-act-as-smartphone-microphones.html
posted by TL

Replacing Credit Card with mobile payment

I found an interesting article on yahoo about mobile payments replacing cash and credit card payments. The article talks about why mobile payments should replace cash and credit card. Cash and checks are the most secure forms of payment. Most people prefer to use them.  But, there are some problems with them.  For example, check transaction process is slow. It will take two to three days to clear check. Carrying large amounts of money in your pocket is not convenient.   But, it is still considered us the most secure forms of payment.  Currently, technology is changing our day to day lives. Many people in the world are using mobile phones than credit cards. 

Are mobile payments replace credit and cash payment? At this moment, I don’t think so.  May be in a few years, we might see many people using digital payment than traditional payment.  In my opinion, as long as information is encrypted and data is secured, digital payment is the most efficient way of processing transaction.  Not only consumers and businesses benefited from mobile payments but government can save millions of dollars on printing paper money. I don’t know how many of you know how much it costs to produce currency and coin. According to the Federal Reserve Board, one dollar bill costs 5.6 cents to produce. 

Currently, big companies like Google are experimenting with this idea. For example Google wallet enables any credit or debit card registered with Google Wallet service to be used for payment at merchants that have payment terminals equipped with near field communications (NFC) or contactless card readers. Some convenience stores like Cumberland Farms are currently using mobile payment technology. Cumberland Farm allows customer to pay for gas at the pump using their smart phone. Every time they use, they get 10 cent discount on every gallon of gas they pay.

Here is how it works

Go to the pump and lunch the app from your smart phone. Tab the button labeled “Pay for gas.” Then a login screen appears and asks you to enter your pin. Next, you are asked to enter the pump number. The good thing about these apps is that every time you use the smart phone, it requires you to enter your login credentials. Once you done filling your tank, the app tell you how much money you saved. It also tells you your cumulative saving over time.

Source Yahoo

AW