Tricorder

Star Trek has inspired a great deal of modern technology. The X Prize Foundation wants one of the most desired of them all: a functioning Tricorder that can diagnose physical ailments and injuries. Think you can make one? You could win $10 million.

We have smartphones already more powerful than Trek‘s flip-open communicators (or even better, those super cool tap-to-activate insignia pins from Next Generation). We have iPads that work much like the PADD touch tablet used by the Enterprise crew. Scientists have recently subatomic teleportation, an important stepping stone towards getting beamed up. With the advent of 3D televisions and technology like Kinect, video games are inching ever-closer to the day when we’ll play in full-blown holodecks.

But the Tricorder remains illusive, because it’s multiple devices in one. It’s a scanner that can find everything from brain tumors to the common cold. It’s an imaging device for visualizing internal physical conditions. It possesses a modicum of artificial intelligence, as it can independently determine health or sickness patterns in an individual. And it’s capable of storing massive amounts of data, in order to make all of these things possible. Perhaps most interesting of all: the winning Tricorder will be a consumer device, not a super-technical gizmo intended only for medical professionals.

It’s a tall order, but X Prize is offering equally big winnings: $10 million.

In order to be eligible, entrants’ devices — which X Prize expect to vary wildly in appearance — must diagnose a set of 15 conditions and capture various metrics for health. Entries must be a single, self-contained device which does not exceed a weight of 5 pounds. X Prize also strongly encourages entrants to strive for devices that have no external wires, in order to keep it consumer-friendly.

Those wishing to enter the contest have (get this!) three-and-a-half years to fashion their Tricorder. So there’s no rush. But one way or another, it sounds like by 2015, the Tricorder could very well be a real device that you can own and use.

No longer do you have to put up with those boring bathroom scales that simply tell you on a dial or LED readout what your weight is.

Now you can tell a website whether your latest diet, weight loss (or weight gain) programme is working out… or not.

The scale is pretty smart as it goes. It uses bioelectric impedance analysis to calculate body fat composition, displaying it as a weight instead of percentage, and shows BMI.

It can also recognise up to eight different users, creates individual tracking graphs, and then allows secure access to stats on the web or on the WiScale iPhone app (had to be one). It will even send data to Google Health. Whoa, steady there!

Costs £119 (about $190).

Withings.com

If you’re thinking technology from your favorite SciFi adventures might be far away, think again. A San Diego-based company called Organovo plans to market an inkjet printer that prints out actual human organs. The technology was conceptualized two years ago, but Organovo plans to commercially release its first production models to research facilities within 2010.

The printer produces organs by layering cells on a two-dimensional pattern, therefore forming a three-dimensional output. The concept is similar to a laser printer spraying layers of solid particles on paper. But instead of spraying ink or toner powder, the machine actually sprays layers of stem cells and hydrogel.

Initially, the machine will be able to “print” arteries meant for heart bypass surgeries. However, the goal is to be able to produce full-fledged organ replacements, such as livers, kidneys, and the like. Tissues-on-demand would definitely help the medical community and patients alike, as this would obviate the need to wait in line for compatible organ or tissue donors, which can sometimes take years and years. In contrast, Organovo’s technology can finish producing an organ within an hour, and the cells would then fuse together on their own within two days.

The technology for creating human tissues and organs is not likely meant for the consumer market. But this could be a precedence for more interesting things to come. Someday, we might be able to fabricate our own gadgets with the help of 3D printers. Oh, the possibilities!

[via Information Week]

Does that surprise you?

Of course, “IT worker” isn’t particularly specific, and where there may be some highly paid techies who are eating salads, running to work and not boozing or smoking heavily, there are sure to be some others who are glued in front of their computer screen with only caffeinated drinks and fast food to keep them going.

And exercise?

We don’t even have the need to visit the mall now that we can just download our software.

So what do you think? Are IT workers only pipped on healthiness by ad reps, teachers, HR assistants, accountants, lawyers and secretaries?

And what about gamers?

Two out of three said they’d like to receive emails that reminded them of how to live more healthily. The survey also showed that many people turn to web sites when they feel ill or have some other ailment, but don’t find it so easy to get information on staying healthy in the first place.

Microsoft sponsored the survey, pushing its own HealthVault system in the process, though I think it missed a trick in not touting its new Natal system that could surely see a lot of people getting more fit while playing their favourite Xbox games.

How about encouraging the use of Wii Sports and Wii Fitness? Nintendo is planning on launching an updated version of its Fitness package that can be used for more serious health improvement.

OK, so the Xbox and Wii aren’t necessarily going to help with every aspect of staying fit and healthy, but maybe doctors should start recommending them as part of an active lifestyle?

Anyhow, did you know that germs can be spread easily through gadgets that we use on a daily basis? Think about that keyboard you use at a public place (school children in libraries, for example). How about the phone that you use at work? Pay phones? I could go on and on, but here are some of the safest (health-wise) gadgets you can get your hands on.

Unotron Airtight Keyboard and Mouse
Got dirt and all sorts of stuff stuck between and under your keys? I am sure that it also has a hefty amount of icky germs. Why not get this keyboard and mouse combination instead and just dump it all in warm soapy water to clean? Yep, you can do that!

Motorola cell phones with anti-microbial coating
It is not science fiction. The mobile phone company is actually using a coating called Agion on some of its cell phones. I wonder which models?

Germ Guardian Sanitizing Wand
I think this one will come in handy the most. You can just wave your wand around sanitize anything under the wand?s UV rays.

Of course, just because you have these gadgets does not mean that you can forget your hygiene regimen. Nothing beats that!

Dubbed the Dreamate Sleep Inducer, this little thing is supposedly the all natural cure for those who have sleep problems. It works following the Chinese principles of acupuncture. It is supposed to be worn on your wrist, whereby it will work on the “golden triangle” area. According to the principles of acupuncture, our wrists have three pressure points which form this triangle.

When these pressure points are stimulated, the blood circulation improves, which is the result of melatonin being produced. In turn, this relieves stress and naturally helps your body fall into that sleepy state. Other purported advantages include:

• A natural way to improve sleep quality
• Special electrical pulses stimulate sleep-related acupuncture points
• Micro-motor massager for relaxing the body
• Natural biological clock can be trained and maintained if worn regularly
• Fashionable watch-shaped design

I highly doubt that anyone would find the Dreamate fashionable, but you would not be wearing it when you go out anyway. The idea of getting some good sleep at night is more than enough motivation for me to try it out. It’s $79.95 at HMSC.