The iBOT is a powered wheelchair developed by Dean Kamen in a partnership between DEKA and Johnson and Johnson's Independence Technology division. iBOT has a number of features distinguishing it from most powered wheelchairs: By rotating its two sets of powered wheels about each other, the iBOT can "walk" up and down stairs, much like a cog railway or a rack and pinion with the two wheels as the "teeth" of the gear. The wheels can roll slightly at each step to compensate for a wide range ...

iBeat is a new company in San Francisco that hopes to address this problem. They are designing a new smartwatch that will monitor the wearer’s heart activity around the clock, and analyze the results. If it detects a dangerous condition, it can alert the wearer, as well as family members and emergency responders. It will include 3G cellular wireless communication, as well as a medical-grade heart rate sensor. The company has indicated that it will pursue a “Wearable-as-a-Service” business model ...

Muscle atrophy is when muscles waste away. The main reason for muscle wasting is a lack of physical activity. This can happen when a disease or injury makes it difficult or impossible for you to move an arm or leg. You may have muscle loss if one of your limbs appears smaller (not shorter) than the other. Schedule a physical exam to determine the cause of the loss. Your doctor will determine what treatment you need. In some cases, muscle wasting can be reversed with a proper diet, exercis...

PASADENA, Calif. – A wave of new NASA research on tsunamis has yielded an innovative method to improve existing tsunami warning systems, and a potentially groundbreaking new theory on the source of the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. In one study, published last fall in Geophysical Research Letters, researcher Y. Tony Song of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., demonstrated that real-time data from NASA's network of global positioning system (GPS) stations can detect groun...

Little livers Transplanted hepatic progenitor cells can self-renew (yellow) and differentiate into hepatocytes (green) to repair the damaged liver (Image: Wei-Yu Lu, MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, The University of Edinburgh’) The MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine researchers used liver stem cells, called hepatic progenitor cells, to regrow damaged livers in mice. After extracting the stem cells from healthy adult mice and maturing them in the lab, the researchers transplante...

Treehotel, Harads, Sweden - http://treehotel.se/en/   Dog Bark Park Inn, Idaho, USA - http://www.dogbarkparkinn.com/ Icehotel, Jukkasjärvi, Sweden - http://www.icehotel.com/   Das Park Hotel, Linz, Austria - http://www.dasparkhotel.net/   Crane Hotel, Harlingen, The Netherlands - http://www.havenkraan.nl/en/information/  

Floating Seahorse in Dubai is an iconic, one of a kind luxury lifestyle house that is half over the water and other half under the sea on a personal corral mini island. Each individual Floating Seahorse will boast three levels, one underwater, one at sea level and an upper deck. The master bedroom and bathroom will be totally submerged underwater and will command breathtaking views of the surrounding coral reef and marine life. The sea level accommodation will boast floor to ceiling windows, ...

Driven by Dow’s strong heritage of innovation in the building & construction industry, DOW introduced POWERHOUSE™ Solar System 2.0 (PH 2.0). Dow developed a higher energy density system that improves industry leading integrated aesthetics and delivers the same high quality you have come to expect in a Dow solution. PH 2.0 has been developed with the professional roofer in mind, featuring robust waterproofing integration with common roofing materials and fewer roof penetrations than panels...

Kubota, Japan's largest maker of agricultural machinery, has already developed its first prototype autonomous tractor for use in rice paddies. Equipped with a global positioning system, the vehicle cultivates fields and fertilises after checking soil conditions. Iseki & Co and Yanmar are also developing autonomous tractors and harvesters with Hitachi developing systems for farm machinery. Kubota is also developing and marketing a suit-like device to help farmers harvest and carry fruit an...

The United Arab Emirates National Innovation Committee has unveiled plans to build the world's first 3D printed structure with a massive, 20-foot-tall 3D printer. Though many structures have utilized 3D printing, none have been entirely built by using the technology. Everything - the building's structure, interior finishes, and furniture - will be 3D printed in sections and then assembled on site, according to a report by 3DPrint. The 2,000-square-foot building will then be used to house the Mus...

It looks like the world of virtual reality is already gearing up to branch out into areas other than gaming, with IMAX today announcing that it plans to offer VR experiences in theaters across the country. IMAX announced its plan to enter the next frontier of immersive experiences — virtual reality. In a nutshell, IMAX is developing a fully integrated premium out-of-home VR experience, which encompasses camera capture, content distribution and delivery, to provide audiences with immersive,...

A sports water bottle and an audio speaker merges into one, this is what Spritz offers you. It combines 2 important aspects that we need when workout into an elegant product, this water bottle integrates Studio Grade audio that can be wirelessly controlled from your smartphone. This rugged, smart water bottle can be a great companion when you do outdoor activities, the speaker features great acoustics, thanks to a wireless music player that’s designed and built with advanced audio technology....

  Neutrinos are similar to the more familiar electron, with one crucial difference: neutrinos do not carry electric charge. Because neutrinos are electrically neutral, they are not affected by the electromagnetic forces which act on electrons. Neutrinos are affected only by a "weak" sub-atomic force of much shorter range than electromagnetism, and are therefore able to pass through great distances in matter without being affected by it. If neutrinos have mass, they also interact gravitat...

With the launch of Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission, NASA has laid foundations for mapping global soil moisture and accurate weather predictions that can help us cope with the drastic weather irregularities. Now after completion of observatory, science operations have been commenced. The team involved in the mission is ready to compare the collected data with the ground measurements regarding discrepancies of the nature of soil. This very activity will last for more than a year and...

Atmospheric water solutions manufacture machines that produce purified water from air. These Innovative machines extract humidity from the air which is filtered, condensed, and then processed through an additional multi-step filtration system; producing “purified great tasting water™”, with no chlorine, fluoride, or heavy metals present. Their AquaBoy® Pro II machine makes hot and cold water from air , filters it and stores up to 2 to 5 gallons every day. It’s easy to operate, environm...

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) comprise a complex set of related developmental disorders that are characterized by impairments in communication, social interaction, and repetitive behaviors. Impairments in sensory processing are also extremely common. The prevalence of ASDs is increasing and is currently estimated to affect 1 in 150 children. ASDs are considered to be a major health and educational problem, affecting many areas of daily living, including eating. Children with ASDs are often de...

Ever rise quickly from the couch to get something from the kitchen and suddenly feel dizzy? With a low heart rate and relaxed muscles, the cardiovascular system does not immediately provide the resistance necessary to keep enough blood going to your head. Gravity wins, at least for a short time, before your heart and blood vessels can respond to the sudden change in position and correct the situation. Images above: These figures show feed arteries and first-order arterioles from control...

China Developing Traffic-Straddling Bus That Drives Over Cars Engineering refinement TBS China, which is a large shipping company, has now unveiled a ‘3D Fast Bus’ they’re calling ‘Land Airbus.’ This concept could actually hit the streets of China as Land Airbus presents a new generation of high-level rail transport. There was a lot of hype when the concept of a ‘3D Fast Bus’ (also called a straddling bus, straddle bus or tunnel bus) was first introduced. The idea was to make a kind of giant...

Biodegradable bags are bags that are capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms. There are two very different types of biodegradable plastic. they are as follows: Oxo-biodegradable plastic - made from polymers such as PE (polyethylene) PP (polypropylene) and PS (polystyrene) containing extra ingredients (NOT heavy metals) and tested according to ASTM D6954 or BS8472 or AFNOR Accord T51-808 to degrade and biodegrade in the open environment and Vegetable based plastic...

Antimicrobial Agent Updates Ancient Industry of Prayer Mats Consumer Goods NASA Technology Although it is one of the most abundant organic compounds on Earth, chitin is not among the best understood. For example, chitosan, a derivative of chitin, has been used in agriculture since the 1980s and is credited with boosting plant immunity, increasing resistance to insects and fungi, stimulating nutrient uptake and germination, reducing fruit and vegetable decay, and protecti...

People who meditate grow bigger brains than those who don't. Researchers at Harvard, Yale, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found the first evidence that meditation can alter the physical structure of our brains. Brain scans they conducted reveal that experienced meditators boasted increased thickness in parts of the brain that deal with attention and processing sensory input. In one area of gray matter, the thickening turns out to be more pronounced in older than in younger...

Ever wish you could send a robot to work for you? Double Robotics has created Double, a telepresence robot that lets you go to work, school, and almost anywhere you want without leaving home. Double Robotics Telepresence Robot for iPad Tablet. Having your own Double in the office means you can be free to roam around anywhere without having to schedule a meeting. Place an iPad tablet in this mobile robotic base and control it via a remote iOS device or computer (Chrome browser preferred) from ...

 CarePredict The CarePredict is essentially a wrist-worn sensor — like the emergency buttons — except it can do a whole lot more than alert the appropriate parties. Like any watch or smartwatch, you can change out the band to give it a different appearance or style. The internal sensor tracks a variety of data because it can detect motion. It will be able to tell when the wearer is running, sitting, standing, walking and even lying down. It can also discern location in a home and figure ou...

Nanoengineers at the University of California, San Diego have tested a temporary tattoo that both extracts and measures the level of glucose in the fluid in between skin cells. This first-ever example of the flexible, easy-to-wear device could be a promising step forward in noninvasive glucose testing for patients with diabetes. The sensor was developed and tested by graduate student Amay Bandodkar and colleagues in Professor Joseph Wang’s laboratory at the NanoEngineering Department and the ...

Scientists at Northwestern University and University of Illinois have collaborated on creating a wearable device that can be used to monitor patient conditions around the clock. The thin, flexible patch moves with the person’s skin, and so should be unobtrusive to wear. The patch requires no electricity; a matrix of 60 by 60 liquid crystals provides 3,600 points of measurement. A new wearable medical device can quickly alert a person if they are having cardiovascular trouble or if it’s simply...

West Pharmaceutical Services is developing a solution to this problem: the SmartDose. According to the company, this is the first wearable patch injector that has been tested on human subjects. The device includes a concealed needle that is activated once the patch is applied to the patient’s skin. Visual and audible feedback provides indicators about the device’s status, whether it is operating correctly, or when it needs to be removed or refilled. The device works with a disposable plastic car...

The U.S Food and Drug Administration has granted Expedited Access Pathway status to the Wearable Artificial Kidney (WAK) after the device performed successfully in its first U.S. clinical trial, at UW Medical Center in Seattle. Despite technical issues that halted the trial early, the FDA signaled its support for keeping research and development of the device fast-tracked as its components are redesigned. More than 600,000 Americans have end-stage kidney disease, whose annual mortality rate is...

A startup called Trequant has set out to help tremor patients by tracking and reporting tremor incidence. Waterproof and able to travel with you anywhere you go! The Kanega watch is a self-contained watch and is not dependent on a connection to a home-based system or a smartphone, so you can get assistance at home or on the go in one simple, stylish watch. Voice Controlled for Ease of Use No buttons to press – speak to it by its name, and it speaks to you. It’s that easy. On-call Emergency...

Mobile Foodie Survival Kit: The Mobile Foodie Survival Kit is a travel-sized spice pack that makes sure you don't have sub-par food. Anywhere you go, you are stocked with organic herbs and spices.   Nightlux Handpowered Lamp and Flashlight: Its lightweight and compact design makes this lantern perfect for traveling; its handpowered or recharges via USB, has two brightness modes, and easily shifts from flashlight to lantern. Reborn by X Zhichao: Reborn is a multi functional ...

Aroma Travel Pillow: The Aroma Snoozer travel pillow combines comfort with the aromatherapy oils; it can be a great pillow for car or airline travel. Casamista Portable Humidifier: Design by Alan Wisniewski for Umbra, this house shaped portable humidifier works with any water bottle or glass. It comes with purifying filter and can be powered by a USB cable connected to your notebook.  Zip It Passport Socks: with these you can keep your passport and cash securely in this zippered sock. ...