Panasonic and Verizon wireless announced today a new joint venture between the two companies in pursing a new High Definition Visual Communications System (Mobile HDVC) that piggy backs on Verizon’s new LTE network. The hardware being designed by Panasonic is being developed in a way to accomodate multiple displays, cameras, and recording configurations. At first, the technology is taking on a medical role featuring several differing parts: a Panasonic display, a Panasonic VC500 HDVC CODEC (main system unit), Panasonic HD microphone, Panasonic Pan/Tilt/Zoom camera, and optional detachable secondary camera complete with digital video recorder for medical uses.
It all sounds rather fancy. But if you think about it, it’s nothing more than some web cams, a few modems, and a fast data network to communicate across. Nevertheless, if it helps save someone’s life why not, right?
The Verizon/Panasonic will be shown off starting tomorrow, January 6th-10th at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show.
It might sound cliche, but the catch-phrase “There’s an app for that!” may be more true than we once thought. Take for example, the latest foray for Apple’s little wonder device — the medical field. In actuality, there have already been several different apps released that allow it to function as a medical device. Though now the iPhone can add another notch to its belt as app + hardware combo developed by Seattle, Washington-based Alivecor turns the iPhone into a functioning ECG.
The hardware itself looks no larger than a medium sized iPhone case with metal contacts on the back. Speaking of which, the hardware is being built by Oregon Scientific and is rumored to cost less than $100 per unit — not bad at all for a legitimate medical device.
The iPhone ECG device will be making an appearance in a few days at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show. Check back for more details then. In the meantime, hop on past the break to check out a video showing off the iPhone ECG’s abilities and features…
Tales of bionic limbs, metal infused skeletons, and other sci-fi hoopala normally constitutes the coining of your typical “bionic man” title. But for one Charles Okeke, bionic limbs are so yesteryear. Instead of relying on some metal rod for balance or mobility, Charles is literally putting his life on his back.
He’s testing the Freedom Driver. An artificial heart that fits in a backpack…
If you ever find yourself looking at modern medical tech and thinking “This is it?”, take a gander at the “BrainPort” device fitted to Craig Lundberg’s tongue. Craig was tragically wounded when a grenade exploded near him, rending his eyesight null and void. But the BrainPort is bringing it all back. Slowly at first, but with time and development, could be the next big thing for those with little-to-no eyesight.
The BrainPort at first sounds pretty odd — a camera mounted on the person sends information to a probe fixed to an individual’s tongue. It is there that a black&white 2D image is somehow passed through the tongue and into the respective areas in the brain via electrical pulses allowing the wearer to “see” once again. It’s not perfect yet as the wearer cannot eat or speak while wearing the contraption. Anything is better than nothing though.
According to Craig, the BrainPort is like “licking a 9V battery”. Hey, if I were in Craig’s shoes, I’d lick 9V batteries all day to regain even a smidgen of my previous eyesight. Wouldn’t you?
If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of having lost a hand, a prosthesis is usually the easiest and best route to go if you’re still interested in maintaining a somewhat normal lifestyle. Even with modern science, bionic hands can be at times rather crude. Thanks to UK-based RSLS Sleeper, bionic hands just became a lot more realistic and functional. Using Myo-electric technology, electrical impulses are captured from the brain and shuttled into the bionic hand giving wearers the ultimate “glove fit” on their super human hand.
While I love both of my hands just the way they are, I can’t deny that having a set of these babies should the unfortunate circumstances arise would be mighty sweet. Think I’m nuts? Check it out for yourselves below.
Just when I thought I’ve seen the most clever use an iPhone app can take on I pleasantly get surprised. The fact of the matter is, even though the title says “iPhone”, controlling a wheelchair with a consumer device is actually open to a few more Apple branded devices: iPhone 3G, 3GS, iPod touch V2.0 and 3.0. Right off the bat, I’m sure many of you are filling your heads with endless and meaningless (in my head) code that will need to be executed in order to get the hardware above speaking and controlling the compatible wheelchair systems: Dynamic Controls DX2, DX or Shark wheelchair. That’s the beauty of this whole union — the chairs don’t need to be reprogrammed. Plug-n-ride entertaiment!
The obvious benefit is the ability to control normal movement with the iPhone/iPod Touch screen. But the developers and engineers behind this project didn’t stop at simple navigation. Besides navigation controls, chair riders can see many other diagnostics of their chair, talk to and recognize other devices connected to the chair, as well as pull a charge from the chair battery. Modern gadgetry coming together with practical medical uses is always fun to see for us and I’m sure extremely exciting and life changing for those who depend on it. Pretty sweet huh? Almost makes me want to buy a motorized wheelchair and zip along all future-like. Wanna join my wheelchair gang?
This isn’t a gimmick or a $10 novelty toy you’re going to find hanging on some endcap at your local store. This breakthrough device was shown of yesterday at the Web 2.0 Summit. The device, which is a full fledged ultrasound machine slimmed down into a case roughly the size of a BlackBerry Flip is produced by GE and has been dubbed the “Vscan”. GE CEO Jeff Immelt claims the device has the same power as a full sized ultrasound machine from just a few years ago meaning even in miniaturized form, it is still very useful in today’s quickly progressing technological landscape. The prices of such machines from 2-3 years ago typically run around $250,000. This portable version however hasn’t been priced just yet. Immelt side stepped the price question by bringing up the devices usefulness in more money strapped countries where money and space are scarce. Pretty neat I’d say. What medical machines will get the shrink ray next?
Get online with best value broadband & home phone bundles.
Choose between our Essentials or Plus packages -
both with introductory offers - & benefit from our ground-breaking HomeSafe online protection.
Compare our broadband and phone bundles with our competitors.
We think our Essentials and Plus packages are great value -
see for yourself by checking the breakdown of costs and features versus our biggest competitors.
When it comes to marketing your product it's essential to understand the visitor patterns in your shop. Heatmap software allows you to do just that by producing reports and visualizations that help you make the best decisions for your business.
Panasonic and Verizon wireless announced today a new joint venture between the two companies in pursing a new High Definition Visual Communications System (Mobile HDVC) that piggy backs on Verizon’s new LTE network. The hardware being designed by Panasonic is being developed in a way to accomodate multiple displays, cameras, and recording configurations. At first, the technology is taking on a medical role featuring several differing parts: a Panasonic display, a Panasonic VC500 HDVC CODEC (main system unit), Panasonic HD microphone, Panasonic Pan/Tilt/Zoom camera, and optional detachable secondary camera complete with digital video recorder for medical uses. 
This isn’t a gimmick or a $10 novelty toy you’re going to find hanging on some endcap at your local store. This breakthrough device was shown of yesterday at the Web 2.0 Summit. The device, which is a full fledged ultrasound machine slimmed down into a case roughly the size of a BlackBerry Flip is produced by GE and has been dubbed the “Vscan”. GE CEO Jeff Immelt claims the device has the same power as a full sized ultrasound machine from just a few years ago meaning even in miniaturized form, it is still very useful in today’s quickly progressing technological landscape. The prices of such machines from 2-3 years ago typically run around $250,000. This portable version however hasn’t been priced just yet. Immelt side stepped the price question by bringing up the devices usefulness in more money strapped countries where money and space are scarce. Pretty neat I’d say. What medical machines will get the shrink ray next?
