Information & Communication

Conventional DNA sequencing is getting more powerful and time-effective. However, it is still based on amplification, which involves using a DNA polymerase such as Taq to produce numerous copies of the sequence to be analysed. The problem with amplification is that it can increase the risk of false-positive results in terms of pertinent mutations.

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) that allow people with severe neuromotor or motor disorders to communicate are becoming more and more common. This is realised by scanning brainwaves using electroencephalography (EEG) and converting them accurately into words, letters or other objects that the user intends to replicate in their minds. BCIs are beneficial for those with extensive paralysis, ‘locked-in’ syndrome and other similar conditions.

Lithium-ion batteries are probably the most popular and common type of battery for portable devices such as smartphones and tablets. One major disadvantage though, is that their lifespan and performance has appeared to hit a ceiling as of late, which leaves many electronics companies facing complaints of reduced battery endurance.

The testing and analysis procedures involved in modern-day medical diagnostics is slowly moving away from what many may see as the archetypal ‘lab-based’ setting, thanks to advanced biotechnology and technology. Medical science is slowly becoming less dependent on using fiddly glass equipment and complicated protocols, and instead turning to state-of-the-art sample collectors, sensors and corresponding electronic machines that analyse the biological data they collect.

If you were asked to define vital signs, you might volunteer such well-known metrics as pulse; heart-rate; lung capacity; blood pressure and possibly others such as blood oxygen levels. However, some scientists now assert that the speed at which an individual walks is also a compelling indicator of health and maybe even lifespan.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is an increasingly powerful commercial tool. It is used more and more by financial services, the insurance industry and of course the information technology multinationals. There are also indications of its emerging role in healthcare, an economical concern worth over one trillion dollars today.

Facial recognition technology is on the rise. Hardware and software that combine to process the data contained in images of human faces is currently undergoing a commercial renaissance. As a result, it is increasingly ubiquitous among national and transport authorities. Companies that offer facial recognition suites, such as NEC, also target private companies as customers in need of internal security and monitoring.

Two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound is a straightforward and relatively cheap form of medical imaging. In skilled and experienced hands, it can be a powerful tool for visualising organs and what may be wrong with them. However, it is often regulated to use in emergency medical situations in hospital settings. Its other main use is to generate foetal imaging for obstetrics and related practices.

Why would anyone apply advanced nano-science to the color of your car? There are a number of good reasons to do so, when you think about it. High-tech dyes could offer improved protection against fading, and preserve colors for longer. In addition, some colorants are metal oxides, which can be toxic to those who produce and work with these materials. Nanotechnology-generated dyes, on the other hand, do not necessarily require these ingredients.

Has daily commute always been a hassle? With frequent road congestions in metropolitans such as Los Angeles, New York, Seattle etc, it comes as no surprise that an average American spends more than 40 hours per year in traffic jams, as revealed by data company Inrix.

For twenty years, DESY (the German synchrotron administration) has been working on a bigger and better X-ray laser. Such an implementation would enhance the imaging and analysis of subjects from a wide range of scientific research topics, from viruses to exo-planets. The new laser, known as European XFEL, is based at the DESY research center in Hamburg, but extends nearly four kilometers along the ground until it reaches a campus in the Schleswig-Holstein town of Schenefeld.

Many of us already enjoy VR for gaming and recreational activities. However, Microsoft would also be happy if you expanded that use to interfacing with your computer desktop, connecting with colleagues far away in the same virtual space, and… yet more immersive gaming. They have partnered with Samsung to deliver a new generation of computing in hybrid real-life/virtual spaces. They call it Mixed Reality, and have premiered it in an event earlier this month.