| Jury-rigged, jerry-built: Maybe a problem?
The word had popped up the week before in The New York Times Magazine article, "The Sleep-Industrial Complex," all about the mattress and pharmaceutical industries. The piece included a reference to a man who was such an enthusiast for Sleep Number Beds that he "jury-rigged something similar for his bulldog." On the subject of exactly how the dog expressed its preference for a particular Sleep Number, the author was silent. Jury-rigging is a term with nautical origins. "Rig" is one of those little words so short that it contains nearly infinite meanings (an early form of nanotechnology). One of its meanings is "the arrangement of masts, sails, etc., on a vessel." In the days of the tall ships, when a vessel on the high seas lost a mast in a storm or a battle, the ship's carpenter would fashion what was known as a jury mast from spare parts down in the hold.
Microsoft brings 360-degree videoconferencing to Ireland
A tabletop device, not much bigger than a traditional speakerphone at the base, it captures and provides a 360-degree panoramic view of everyone at the meeting. Microsoft RoundTable follows the conversation, identifying individual speakers and broadcasting their image in close-up as they talk; as people enter the conversation, the system cuts seamlessly between active speakers.
Traditional audio teleconferencing presents problems, with effective interaction falling away as the number of participants increases establishing who is speaking at any given time becomes more and more difficult.
Videoconferencing systems overcome this obstacle but are expensive and difficult to install, and can be complicated to operate. The results are a limited number of expensively adapted meeting rooms, which often need to be booked days in advance.
With Friends Like These ...
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Thinking About Tomorrow
In fact, they'll be able to do even more, as mobile gadgets increasingly come equipped with global-positioning-system gear that can track your every move. As you drive around, for instance, you might get reviews of nearby restaurants automatically delivered to a screen in your car -- maybe even projected onto the windshield. The spread of GPS hints at another big change on the horizon. We're going to be under a lot more pressure to make our personal information public -- everything from where we surf online to where we're standing at a particular moment. Companies will offer us special deals and other incentives so that we'll let them track our activity. That information, in turn, will let the companies present us with a steady stream of intensely focused marketing whenever we go online, turn on our cellphone or even walk into a store.
Sony NSC-GC1 Net-Sharing Cam
The final word: While the NSC-GC1 cannot hope to compete with a dedicated camcorder, it provides an affordable introduction to video sharing over the internet. If you plan to screen your video creations exclusively online, you won't be disappointed. THE proliferation of video-sharing websites has caused a steady stream of dedicated peripherals to enter the marketplace; each jostling for a prime position on the YouTube gravy train. First and foremost amongst these is the web-share cam, which combines the ease of use of a webcam with the functionality of a video camera. While traditionally the domain of small-time vendors, Sony has decided to join the fray with the NSC-GC1; a pocket-sized handycam tailor-made for online video sharing. With an RRP of just $299, the NSC-GC1 is very much a bare-bones device, aimed squarely at casual users who aren't overly fussed by fancy features or high resolution.
Medical insurers Aetna, Cigna agree to pay for online doctor visits
Consulting your family physician is finally moving into the 21st century and out of the doctor's office. Since the dawn of e-mail, patients have been pleading for more doctors to offer medical advice online. No traffic jams, no long waits, no germ-infested offices. There was always one major roadblock: Many health insurers wouldn't pay for it. Until now. In recent weeks, Aetna Inc., the nation's largest insurer, and Cigna Corp. have agreed to reimburse doctors for online visits. Other large insurers are expected to follow, experts say. These new online services, which typically cost the same as a regular office visit, are aimed primarily at those who already have a doctor. The virtual visits are considered best for follow-up consultations and treatment for minor ailments such as colds and sore throats.
Mobile Phone Review : Samsung SGH-P310
Like its predecessor, the SGH-P300, the SGH-P310 bears the same calculator look and isn't very exciting as an upgrade model. Issues such as the odd keypad layout and lack of an external memory card slot on the P300 have been brought over to the current model. That said, the P310 is not without its merits, and for its size is packed with a decent feature set. But at S$698 (US$444.08) (with a two-year contact when it was first available), this phone isn't for everyone. .
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