iblog

Virgil: It's not a product from Apple, but perhaps the 'i' of the i-Snake is a homage to being yet another revolutionary gadget. The snake is a new surgical device hoping to decrease the amount of invasive surgery needed in hospitals; rather than cut people open, the long thin tube contains motors, sensors (the 'eyes' that surely also contribute to the moniker) and other imaging devices that will stand in for a surgeon's hands. The snake is more flexible, dextrous and precise than any implement previously used, and will make it possible to more safely conduct operations that previously required very invasive techniques. A team from Imperial College London has been granted 2.1 million pounds for the development of the i-Snake. They envisage the tool being used for heart bypass surgery, but also note that it could aid in any number of procedures, such as the diagnosis of problems in the guts and bowels. The ultimate aim for surgeons is to manage to conduct these procedures without any skin incisions at all. Such surgery can leave scars, keep patients in hospital far too long, and involve a much longer recovery time. Health Minister Lord Ara Dazi, who is on the development team, commented that:

"The unrivalled imaging and sensing capabilities coupled with the accessibility and sensitivity of i-Snake will enable more complex diagnostic and therapeutic procedures than are currently possible. The cost benefits that i-Snake will introduce include earlier, cheaper and less invasive treatment, faster recovery and procedure times and intangible benefits through an increase in patient care and quality of life."

All of these procedures are to be tested in a lab before they are to be used on any real patients. However despite this caution, the innovation of the device is no doubt only the beginning of a whole range of smarter and more flexible surgery tools that are bringing us closer to the idea of an operation no longer being dangerous. Dr Ted Bianco, director of the Wellcome Trust, comments: "Gone are the days when the surgeon's knife ruled in the operating theatre. The future of surgery is in smart devices like i-Snake."

Rushda: The Nintendo Wii is the most sought after present this Christmas, with stocks heavily running out by the hour and many distressed parents not able to secure one before the big day. Though like all novelty gadgets, the hype is often disproportionate to the product, but it is easy to see why the Wii is in so much demand. It marks a revolution in gaming as now players can feel truly involved in their games by being able to use the Wii in a variety of innovative ways. Whether you want to play tennis or bowl, fight or drive, all these things can be simulated with the Wii in more realistic ways than pressing buttons. Furthermore, an extra appeal is that the Wii has been marketed as an "active" console, with players no longer slumped motionless on the couch. Though this may be true to some extent, it is very important to take this claim with a pinch of salt and understand that the Nintendo Wii cannot replace other forms of more strenuous exercise. Young people are at particular risk from obesity and require at least an hour of exercise a day which cannot be taken from playing on the console. Indeed a new British Medical Journal study has found that in fact Wii players only use 2% more energy than players of other consoles. This may promote an "every little help" image, they admit, but it is wrong thinking that it is enough. As a spokesperson for the study said:

"These increases were of insufficient intensity to contribute towards recommendations for children's daily exercise. Although this figure is trivial it might contribute to weight management. New generation computer games stimulated positive activity behaviours - the children were on their feet and they moved in all directions. Given the current prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity, such positive behaviours should be encouraged."

The obesity crisis in Britain has hit children the worst, with more than a third of twelve year olds overweight. Whilst the Wii may provide more activity than conventional consoles, it is perhaps still more dangerous to believe, and let children believe, that playing games on the Wii is enough. Well, so much for childrens' hopeful dreams!

Kayleigh: The online bookseller Amazon has created a digital bookreader - The Kindle- which can store up to 200 books. Amazon's aim was to create a devicethat could provide its consumers with a wider variety of entertainment, like the Ipod does with music. The device is about about the same size as a standard paperback, weighs around 290g, and offers access to about 90,000 books and 11 daily newspapers. "We've been working on Kindle for more than three years," said Amazon boss Jeff Bezos. "Our top design objective was for Kindle to disappear in your hands -to get out of the way so you can enjoy your reading." Once you have bought a Kindle, however, (which is £195) that doesn't mean you get to read these books for free. Costs range from 75 cents to download a national newspaper and classic books cost around $1.99 each. Best sellers are naturally pricier, and can be downloaded for $9.99, but it is still cheaper than books bought in a store. The device also offers access to online encyclopaedia, Wikipedia, and about 300 blogs. It can also play MP3 music files and has a slot so it can store a memory card which enables it to hold hundreds of books. “We want to make sure everything anyone wants to read is on the Kindle,” said Laura Porco, Amazon’s director of digital text. “We won’t stop until we can offer millions of books.” Although I think this is a good invention, and is good for book lovers, I myself will not be buying one. Why buy a device that costs almost £200 when you can read the books for free online on your laptop?

Rushda: Recent studies into the rapidly increasing use of mobiles has revealed that, on average, Britons send 1,000,000,000 text messages in a single week. Indeed, according to figures from the Mobile Data Association (MDA), roughly 4,000 text messages are sent every second. The total over a week is 25% more than a year ago and in fact now totals the same amount as sent in an entire year in 1999. This leaves one only to wonder what will happen in future. When asked what accounted for the popularity of text messages, head of MDA Mike Short said:

"It's convenient, comprehensive, it's on every handset and network and it is cost effective."

It is easy to forget how we used to manage without it, as text messaging has now become an integral part of many people's lives. It really is convenient for all those things that you want to say that don't warrant having an entire conversation. Furthermore, the study also found that text messaging is fast becoming popular in businesses as well as a way of contacting lots of employees at once. As Mr Short explains:

"It's a lot more convenient for a business now to notify lots of their employees about an urgent message using a text message."

The UK now "sits within the top 6 of the global league of countries sending text messages," and it is no surprise why. We live in a fast world where constant ability to communicate is key - whether it be mass texting within companies or short notes to a friend to say you will be late. Though text messaging may not be the most elegant or romantic form of communication (espclly whn typng lik tis), no one can deny how useful it can be.

Rushda: It may seem like something out of science fiction, and it's difficult to know how seriously to take it, but scientists have produced money which can be used in outer space. The Quasi Universal Intergalactic Denomination, conveniently abbreviated as Quid, is for the use of inter-planetary travellers when space travel becomes more common in future. The currency has been specially designed by scientists from the National Space Centre and the University of Leicester for the foreign exchange company Travelex. One of the developers ,Professor George Fraser, is excited about the new invention and says:

"None of the existing payment systems we use on Earth - like cash, credit or debit cards - could be used in space. Anything with sharp edges, like coins, would be a risk to astronauts, while the chips and magnetic strips used in our cards on Earth would be damaged beyond repair by cosmic radiation."

The Quid coins are specially adapted to outer-space because they have no sharp edges so will not damage anything if they accidentally float free in space. They are made of a polymer which has previously been best used for non-stick pans. The technology comes after much speculation that space travel will become very common in the near future. Indeed, predictions from the National Space Centre state that even tourist facilities on the Moon by 2050 are a real possibility. There are all sorts of things currently being developed for space tourism - from an inflatable space hotel being produced in the US to VirginGalactic developing spaceships for ordinary use. It only then makes sense, say these scientists, to have a way of using money whilst in space. The confidence these scientists have is indeed astounding. As Travelex say:

"It's only a matter of time before people will be walking up to our shops and asking for Quids for their two weeks in a space hotel."

Furthermore, what's most bizarre is that they have even decided already what the conversion rate is, currently quoting £6.25 to the Quid!

Rushda: Apple has been under heavy attack recently as it is becoming more and more clear that it is doing everything it can to dominate its market, ensuring that it stays in charge at all times. The latest annoyance that has come to light is that the new Apple iPhone cannot be unlocked and any attempt to do so could result in irreparable damage if one tries to unlock it. Though illegal unlocking of phones to install new software or allow it to operate on a different network is not right, still this seems a little extreme for Apple, who say that as soon as any updates are installed the iPhone would become "permanently inoperable." Unfortunately, this is not just an empty threat, as thousands of users who have managed to hack their phone have been shocked to discover that their phone has been disabled. The hacks are anything from mild program additions to software and network changes. Many Apple customers are understandably frustrated and Apple continues to send out its warnings to all those who are thinking of hacking their phone. Unfortunately, the iPhone will only be able to be used in the exact way Apple wants it.

Rushda: Cars that drive themselves to and from a required destination may not be as far off into the future as once thought - indeed, trials of a driverless "cybercar" have already begun recently in a Northamptonshire town called Daventry. The new car works out the directions using a computer and manages to avoid obstacles using laser technology. Daventry's mission has long been to encourage more people to use public transport, so this is an incredible way to increase efficiency and boost enthusiasm. The cybercar can easily be called by pressing a button and will automatically go to an assigned destination without any human input. So far, the car is only really suitable for short trips at low speed - for example, it can be seen as an alternative to a school bus. However developments go in the future, it is clear that the initial trials have been successful and hold great promise for the future. As Daventry District Council leader Chris Millar says:

"We can build lots more car parks and have lots more cars going in or we can look at a viable alternative to the car. We believe this could be the answer."

The cybercar can be seen in demonstration until 5th October, on a test track at the town's Eastern Way. Alternatively, a video of it can be seen here.

Rushda: It is something most of us take no notice of when it comes to listening to music on our MP3 players, but new findings have shown alarming links between high use of music players and loss of hearing. Apparently more than two-thirds of young people who use MP3 players regularly are on course for premature hearing damage because the volume is too high. The warnings come from the charity The Royal National Institute for Deaf People, who believe that the issue is very serious, especially as millions of MP3 players are sold each year, often to young children. They argue that manufacturers should put clear warnings on their packaging to alert users of the potential dangers. They also advise users to invest in in-ear filters for any headphones they use as they cut out background noise and make it less tempting to increase the volume as a result. The research has found that the majority of users of MP3 players play their music too loud, with 72 out of the 110 users they tested in Brighton, Manchester and Birmingham listening to volumes over 85 decibels (the recommended limit to protect your ears). You might not think it, but this is the equivalent of a loud alarm clock continuously ringing next to you. Not only this, but the charity found that over half the users they studied listened to their player for more than an hour a day and a quarter listening for more than 21 hours a week. What is most worrying is that the majority of those who were studied were unaware of the risk they were putting themselves in, with almost 60% having never been concerned about it and almost 80% never having seen any warnings on packaging. The latter is particularly serious news and the charity believes that manufacturers should take action. As Brian Lamb, chief executive of RNID, says:

"MP3 manufacturers have a responsibility to make their customers aware of the dangers by printing clear warnings on packaging and linking volume controls to decibel levels. It's easy to crank up the sound levels on your MP3 player to damagingly loud levels, especially on busy streets or public transport. But if people can hear the music from your headphones from just a metre away, you're putting your hearing at risk."

Music does not have to be at deafening levels to be enjoyable, and it is important for everyone, especially young people, to take care of their hearing by understanding the dangers and acting accordingly.

Rushda: Ipod lovers will be pleased to hear that another iPod is being added to Apple's group of popular music players and like the iPhone it will sport a touch screen. Not only that but the sleek and nifty gadget will actually have wi-fi and a web browser built in so that you can even buy music whilst on the go. The iPod touch was unveiled at a press conference where Apple's Steve Jobs demonstrated the features of the new device. Like the iPhone, it has a clear and efficient touch-screen and contains an in-built Safari browser, with easy access to sites such as YouTube and Google as well as iTunes. Owners will be able to use the wi-fi in places such as Starbucks; Apple has in fact made a deal with the coffee chain which enables free wi-fi access using the iPod in any of the cafes. As Steve Jobs exclaims proudly:

"It's one of the seven wonders of the world - it's just incredible."

The iPod will come in two versions - 8GB and 16GB of memory - with the larger costing $399 in the US and the smaller $299. It will initially be released in anticipation of the holiday season by the end of September in the US and will be available in Europe shortly after. Prices in Europe have not yet been announced.

Rushda: A study has found that Amazon is the still the UK's most used online retailer, after coming top on the latest IMRG-Hitwise Hot Shops List which lists the top 50 online shops. Amazon UK, which was established in the UK around ten years ago after originally starting in the US, has become a reliable portal for everything from books to holidays and is the first stop for millions of UK customers. The study also revealed incredible statistics such as the fact that online sales in the UK totalled £4bn in July alone. The list also contains firm and perhaps unsurprising favourites such as Argos, which came second place, and Tesco.com,which came third. Play which has rivalled Amazon in its huge selection of CDs and DVDs (with free delivery) has come in 4th place. Also included in the list were travel shops such as Thomson and LastMinute and of course, the Apple Computer online store. What is most remarkable about all these shops is that their positioning has stayed more or less constant over the years with no notable new website overtaking them. As IMRG's chief executive James Roper says:

"The stability of retailers' positions on the list is extraordinary, and tells me two things: these market leaders are satisfying their customers pretty well, and competitors are having little or no effect on their progress."

It is clear that online users in England have decided on what the best websites are for certain common products and it will be difficult for any other website to establish the same kind of reliability. Amazon has become a household name and is likely to remain one of the best online shops for years to come. For those interested in the full results of the study, the new list of the top 50 e-retailers can be seen here.