THE TECH-LICIOUS

Corneas regrown using human stem cells

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<img alt="Researchers regrow corneas using human stem cells (Photo: Shutterstock)" height="358" src="http://images.gizmag.com/hero/cornea-stem-cells.jpg" title="Researchers regrow corneas using human stem cells (Photo: Shutterstock)" width="640" /> 
 
Medical researchers working with human stem cells have discovered a 
way to improve regrowth of corneal tissue in the human eye. Using a 
molecule known as ABCB5 to act as an identifying marker for rare limbal 
stem cells, the researchers were able to use antibodies to detect ABCB5 
on stem cells in tissue from donated human eyes and use them to regrow 
anatomically correct, fully functional human corneas in mice. 
Limbal stem cells are found in the eye’s basal limbal epithelium (the
 border between the cornea and the white of the eye) and assist in the 
proper maintenance and regeneration of corneal tissue. However, if these
 cells are damaged or lost because of injury or disease in the eye, 
blindness results. 
Up until now, the use of tissue or cell transplants to help the 
cornea regenerate have been used, but as it was both unknown whether 
there were actual limbal stem cells in the grafts, or how many, the 
outcomes were generally inconsistent. 
As a result of this recent research, transplants have now been made 
in mice using human ABCB5-positive limbal stem cells that resulted in 
the restoration and long-term maintenance of normal, transparent 
corneas. Control mice that received either no cells or ABCB5-negative 
cells failed to have their cornea restored. 
"Limbal stem cells are very rare, and successful transplants are 
dependent on these rare cells," said Bruce Ksander, Ph.D., of 
Massachusetts Eye and Ear, co-lead author on the research. "This finding
 will now make it much easier to restore the corneal surface. It’s a 
very good example of basic research moving quickly to a translational 
application." 
 
The research was recently published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature13426.html" target="_blank">Nature </a> as one of the first known examples of constructing tissue from an adult-derived human stem cell. 
 
SOURCE-<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/corneas-regrown-human-stem-cells/32803/" target="_blank">GIZMAG</a></div>

Corneas regrown using human stem cells

Medical researchers working with human stem cells have discovered a way to improve regrowth of corneal tissue in the human eye. Using a molecule known as ABCB5 to act as an identifying marker for r…

06 Jul 2014

One Step Closer to 3D Bio Printing Organs

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Do you have an <a href="https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/" target="_blank" title="organdonation">organ donor </a>card?
 Every year, thousands die because of the lack of donor organs 
available.  But with technology moving at incredible speeds, one day it 
could be possible to walk into a hospital and have whatever organ you 
need. 
Although this dream is still far away from reality, researchers have been trying to bio-print tissues and organs
 for those who are affected by various diseases and traumas.  Recently, 
scientists have been working on bio-printing artificial vascular 
networks that copy the circulatory system found in the human body.  
These vascular networks are essential for growing large tissues. 
<img alt="Scientists Are Nearer To Creating Fully Working 3D Printed Organs" class="lazy alignnone wp-image-16945 size-full data-lazy-ready" data-lazy-src="http://news.filehippo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/www.seren_.bangor.ac_.uk_.jpg" data-lazy-type="image" height="542" src="http://news.filehippo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/www.seren_.bangor.ac_.uk_.jpg" style="display: inline;" width="708" /> 
The system they used is highly complicated.  Researchers first had to
 invent many interconnected tiny fibres to act as the mould for the 
blood vessels.  Next, they placed a cell-rich protein-based material 
over the 3D printed structure.  In order to make it solid, they added 
light to it.  At the end, they took out the bio-printed fibres which 
left a network of  tiny passages which were covered with human 
endothelial cells.  Within a week, these cells organised themselves and 
formed stable blood capillaries.  Simply amazing. 
It was discovered that bio-printed vascular networks had higher cell 
survival, distinction and rapid growth when compared to cells that did 
not receive nutrient supply.  <a href="http://sydney.edu.au/dentistry/staff/profiles/luiz.bertassoni.php" target="_blank" title="luiz bertassoni">Dr Luiz Bertassoni</a>,
 the lead study author states, ”At the moment, we are pretty much 
printing ‘prototypes’ that, as we improve, will eventually be used to 
change the way we treat patients worldwide.” 
“One of the greatest challenges to the engineering of large tissues 
and organs is growing a network of blood vessels and capillaries,” 
states Dr Bertassoni.  “Cells die without an adequate blood supply 
because blood supplies oxygen that’s necessary for cells to grow and 
perform a range of functions in the body.  To illustrate the scale and 
complexity of the bio-engineering challenge we face, consider that every
 cell in the body is just a hair’s width from a supply of oxygenated 
blood.  Replicating the complexity of these networks has been a 
stumbling block preventing tissue engineering from becoming a real world
 clinical application.” 
However, researchers have finally achieved all these points! Now, 
with bio-printing, large 3D micro-vascular channels can support life.  
There is even enough exactness to match patient’s needs on an individual
 basis.  “While recreating little parts of tissues in the lab is 
something that we have already been able to do, the possibility of 
printing three-dimensional tissues with functional blood capillaries in 
the blink of an eye is a game changer.  Of course, simplified 
regenerative materials have long been available, but true regeneration 
of complex and functional organs is what doctors really want and 
patients really need, and this is the objective of our work,”finishes 
Bertassoni. 
 
Technology can really change lives!  One can only hope that this will be a reality for those who need organs, very soon! 
 
SOURCE-<a href="http://news.filehippo.com/2014/07/one-step-closer-3d-bio-printing-organs/" target="_blank">TECH BEAT</a></div>

One Step Closer to 3D Bio Printing Organs

Do you have an organ donor card? Every year, thousands die because of the lack of donor organs available. But with technology moving at incredible speeds, one day it could be possible to walk int…

06 Jul 2014

Check Out Israel’s Hover Cars!

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It seems like wherever you go, the public transportation system is a 
little boring and routine. You’ve got your subways, buses, taxis, etc., 
without all that much variety. I’ve never really been too excited to 
ride the bus – I was excited the first time I rode on a subway in New 
York City, but that excitement died down pretty quickly after I rode car
 after car after car. And the rats in between the tracks – yeah, they 
didn’t do too much for me either. Even though most public transportation
 here in the United States is a bit stagnant, Israel’s getting ready to 
try out something that I think can give public transportation the 
facelift it needs: <a href="http://www.techspot.com/news/57224-israel-to-test-worlds-first-hover-cars.html" target="_blank">hover cars</a>.
 That’s right, everyone – hover cars. They look a little like subway 
cars, but they basically “hang” in the air with the aid of magnetic 
tracks. <img alt="Check Out Israel's Hover Cars!" class="lazy alignnone size-full wp-image-16986 data-lazy-ready" data-lazy-src="http://news.filehippo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/2014-06-25-image-4.jpg" data-lazy-type="image" height="531" src="http://news.filehippo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/2014-06-25-image-4.jpg" style="display: inline;" width="708" />
 Skytran (a company from NASA) is getting ready to build a pilot loop 
that will stretch for 500 meters at Israel’s Aerospace Industries. If 
(and when) this is successful, there are plans to build a much larger 
“track” in Tel Aviv. Passengers will be able to request a hover car with
 their smartphone and they’ll also be able to input destination 
information. Eventually, Skytran hopes these cars will travel at speeds 
of up to 149 MPH. I don’t know about you, but I think this could really 
make the morning and evening commute to and from work all that more fun 
of an experience. Skytran hopes to be up and going in its test phase by 
the end of 2015. What do you think? Let us know you thoughts regarding 
this story in the comments section below! 
 
SOURCE-<a href="http://news.filehippo.com/2014/07/check-israels-hover-cars/" target="_blank">TECH BEAT</a></div>

Check Out Israel’s Hover Cars!

It seems like wherever you go, the public transportation system is a little boring and routine. You’ve got your subways, buses, taxis, etc., without all that much variety. I’ve never really been to…

06 Jul 2014

Autonomous vehicles to join the US Army

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<img alt="A convoy of driverless US Army trucks (Photo: Department of Defense) " height="358" src="http://images.gizmag.com/hero/us-army-autonomous-vehicles.jpg" title="A convoy of driverless US Army trucks (Photo: Department of Defense) " width="640" /> 
 
Over the next quarter of a century,
 the US Pentagon sees robots becoming more and more a part of military 
life with robot warplanes, submersibles, and infantry vehicles taking 
their place on the battlefields of the future. It may conjure up a very 
flashy vision of Transformer-like killing machines, but the US Army sees
 the first robots as autonomous vehicles used in the more prosaic task 
of delivering groceries and other supplies. 
For all the cost of ships, planes, armor, and weapon systems, 
manpower is the single greatest expense in modern, industrialized armed 
forces. Aside from costs like pay, training, and pensions, soldiers also
 need equipment, clothing, food, shelter, medical care, recreation, and 
the logistical infrastructure to supply them. In addition, it costs more
 to carry out many tasks in a military setting because there are 
different rules. Army drivers, for example, cost more money than their 
civilian counterparts because military vehicles need an assistant driver
 to avoid mishaps – and civilian drivers back home don’t have to worry 
about IEDs. 
It’s small wonder, therefore, that the US Army is keen on robots to 
handle the supply lines. In May, the Army carried out a test at the US 
Department of Energy's Savannah River Site in South Carolina, where it 
ran an unmanned convoy of seven different tactical vehicles driving at 
over 40 mph (64 km/h). This wasn't a one-off, either. A second test with
 soldiers and marines is scheduled for August. 
<div class="article_img" style="height: 410px; width: 530px;">
<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/us-army-autonomous-vehicles/32796/pictures#1" target="_blank"><img alt="The Army plans to develop man-optional vehicles in the next 30 years (Photo: Department of..." src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/us-army-autonomous-vehicles-0.jpg" width="530" /></a></div>
The test was part of the US Army Tank Automotive Research Development
 and Engineering Center (TARDEC)'s 30-Year Ground Vehicle Strategy, 
which sees man-optional lorries as commonplace, with many vehicles 
completely driverless. According to TARDEC director Dr. Paul D Rogers, 
the purpose of this program isn’t to merely replace people. That would 
be relatively easy. Instead, it’s meant as a force multiplier to make 
each soldier more effective by handing over logistical and routine tasks
 to robots, freeing up more personnel to concentrate on warfighting 
tasks. 
For an autonomous vehicle to be practical, it needs situational 
awareness even in low-visibility conditions, as well as systems for 
detecting obstacles, avoiding collisions, as well as warning if the 
vehicle is wandering out of its lane, or is in danger of tipping over. 
Developing these technologies relies very heavily on the work being done
 by car makers. 
It’s no coincidence that the Pentagon is looking at robotic vehicles 
at the same time as the automotive makers are developing self-driving 
cars. The Army points out that if the defense industry were required to 
develop these new technologies out of whole cloth, the cost would be too
 much for the taxpayer. Commercial car makers have the advantages of 
economies of scale for vehicles designed to last years instead of 
decades, however, so the military can take the civilian designs and 
adapt them accordingly. 
<div class="article_img" style="height: 410px; width: 530px;">
<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/us-army-autonomous-vehicles/32796/pictures#2" target="_blank"><img alt="The new autonomous vehicles use much of the technology developed for civilian self-driving..." src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/us-army-autonomous-vehicles-1.jpg" width="530" /></a></div>
The Army believes that that the technology for autonomous vehicles 
may be ready for the field by 2025. The current program revolves around 
two kits designed for flexibility, because the Army sees the new 
autonomous vehicles as disruptive and requiring a great deal of reform 
in terms of how the military operates if they’re to succeed. 
The first is an “autonomy kit” based on Light Detection and Ranging 
(LIDAR) and other sensors. It’s similar to that of Google’s self-driving
 cars, though the Army says that the two programs aren't related. The 
kit’s function is to map out the road ahead and keep the vehicle on the 
right course without hitting anything. The other kit is "by-wire drive,"
 which deals with the actual driving by controlling the throttle, 
brakes, and steering. 
To accommodate this new technology, the US Army Training and Doctrine
 Command is looking at military doctrine, tactics and training, so these
 robotic systems can help fulfill strategic and tactical objectives. The
 ultimate hope of the Army is to move beyond simple transports, and 
TARDEC looks forward to a time when troop carriers and tanks will be 
man-optional as well. In one experiment, the program hopes in 20 years 
to control four unmanned Abrams tanks from four manned ones – much as a 
video game player can control simulated squadmates. 
Another idea is to develop robots as companions to help soldiers in the field the same way as mules, horses, dogs, and even dolphins do at present. Toward this end, TARDEC is interested in unmanned ground vehicles and helicopters
 that can work in dangerous areas contaminated by nuclear, chemical, or 
biological weapons, or by taking up the burden of soldiers, so hauling 
giant packs isn’t a way of daily life. 
 
In order to get the world from a single convoy of autonomous vehicles
 to one of robotic squaddies, TARDEC has instituted its Applied Robotics
 for Installations and Base Operation (ARIBO), which aims at finding 
immediate applications for robotic technologies. The program will 
utilize existing Army installations as testing grounds, such as Fort 
Bragg, North Carolina, where autonomous vehicles are used to transport 
wounded soldiers, and at the US Military Academy and Stanford 
University, where such vehicles are used for transport from distant 
parking areas. Eventually, they’ll also be used as food and ammunition 
transports. 
 
source-<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/us-army-autonomous-vehicles/32796/" target="_blank">GIZMAG</a></div>

Autonomous vehicles to join the US Army

Over the next quarter of a century, the US Pentagon sees robots becoming more and more a part of military life with robot warplanes, submersibles, and infantry vehicles taking their place on the b…

06 Jul 2014

Amazon Fire Phone Unboxing – An Exclusive Look Inside the Box

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<img height="640" src="http://www.technobuffalo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Amazon-Fire-Phone-Unboxing-1-recrop-1280x1609.jpg" width="509" /> 
 
<div style="background-color: white; color: #474747; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
Amazon’s Fire Phone isn’t due out until July 25, but thanks to an anonymous tipster, we’re able to bring you some of the first photos of the brand new phone being unboxed.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #474747; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
After years of speculation that Amazon was working on a phone, the company finally unveiled the Fire Phone last month at a press conference in Seattle. It is certainly unlike anything we have seen before with its dynamic perspective screen and four front facing cameras that can track your head movements. And with Firefly technology – which can help identify over 100 million items – and Mayday tech support, the handset is not lacking in features either.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #474747; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
Thanks to a friendly tipster that has the Fire Phone already, we’re getting a good look at what you can expect in the box. Thankfully Amazon is including a charger – it doesn’t always do so – but beyond that it looks like things will be kept minimal. That’s fine by us as the star of the show is clearly the new Fire Phone.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #474747; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
Seeing the new device in hand, not under the watchful gaze of press handlers, we have to say it’s looking pretty nice and we can’t wait to get it in our hands as well to put it through all of our usual battery of tests.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #474747; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
Take a look through the gallery and get a sneak peek of what you can expect if you’ve already ordered a Fire Phone, or maybe seeing it will finally help you decide if this should be your next phone. It nothing else, we know it certainly has us more curious what it will be like to use this handset.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #474747; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
<img height="320" src="http://www.technobuffalo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Amazon-Fire-Phone-Unboxing-13-recrop-1280x1451.jpg" width="281" /> <img height="320" src="http://www.technobuffalo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Amazon-Fire-Phone-Unboxing-2-recrop-1280x2257.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" width="180" /> <img height="320" src="http://www.technobuffalo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Amazon-Fire-Phone-Unboxing-3-recrop-1280x1411.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" width="289" /> <img height="320" src="http://www.technobuffalo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Amazon-Fire-Phone-Unboxing-14-1280x1850.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" width="220" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.technobuffalo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Amazon-Fire-Phone-Unboxing-17-1280x2265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.technobuffalo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Amazon-Fire-Phone-Unboxing-17-1280x2265.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="http://www.technobuffalo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Amazon-Fire-Phone-Unboxing-19-1280x2104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.technobuffalo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Amazon-Fire-Phone-Unboxing-19-1280x2104.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" width="194" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
 </div>
<table style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; color: #474747; display: block; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding-top: 12px; width: 636.65625px;"><tbody>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"><th style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 10px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 160px;">DISPLAY SIZE</th><td class="gap" style="border: none; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 10px 0px; width: 10px;"></td><td class="spec-data" style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; padding: 10px 0px; width: 440px;">4.7-inch, 1280 x 720 pixel display (312 ppi)</td></tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"><th style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 10px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 160px;">DISPLAY TYPE</th><td class="gap" style="border: none; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 10px 0px; width: 10px;"></td><td class="spec-data" style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; padding: 10px 0px; width: 440px;">IPS LCD</td></tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"><th style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 10px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 160px;">OPERATING SYSTEM</th><td class="gap" style="border: none; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 10px 0px; width: 10px;"></td><td class="spec-data" style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; padding: 10px 0px; width: 440px;">Fire OS 3.5.0 (At launch)</td></tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"><th style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 10px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 160px;">PROCESSOR</th><td class="gap" style="border: none; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 10px 0px; width: 10px;"></td><td class="spec-data" style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; padding: 10px 0px; width: 440px;">2.2GHz Quad-core processor</td></tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"><th style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 10px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 160px;">RAM</th><td class="gap" style="border: none; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 10px 0px; width: 10px;"></td><td class="spec-data" style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; padding: 10px 0px; width: 440px;">2GB</td></tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"><th style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 10px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 160px;">STORAGE</th><td class="gap" style="border: none; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 10px 0px; width: 10px;"></td><td class="spec-data" style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; padding: 10px 0px; width: 440px;"><ul class="specList spec-list" style="list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="padding-bottom: 5px;">32GB</li>
<li style="padding: 0px;">64GB</li>
</ul>
</td></tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"><th style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 10px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 160px;">EXTERNAL STORAGE</th><td class="gap" style="border: none; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 10px 0px; width: 10px;"></td><td class="spec-data" style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; padding: 10px 0px; width: 440px;">No</td></tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"><th style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 10px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 160px;">MAIN CAMERA (BACK)</th><td class="gap" style="border: none; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 10px 0px; width: 10px;"></td><td class="spec-data" style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; padding: 10px 0px; width: 440px;">13MP</td></tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"><th style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 10px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 160px;">SECONDARY CAMERA (FRONT)</th><td class="gap" style="border: none; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 10px 0px; width: 10px;"></td><td class="spec-data" style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; padding: 10px 0px; width: 440px;">2.1</td></tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"><th style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 10px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 160px;">NETWORKS</th><td class="gap" style="border: none; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 10px 0px; width: 10px;"></td><td class="spec-data" style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; padding: 10px 0px; width: 440px;"><ul class="specList spec-list" style="list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="padding-bottom: 5px;">LTE: Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 17, 20</li>
<li style="padding-bottom: 5px;">UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA: 850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100</li>
<li style="padding: 0px;">Quad-band GSM/EDGE: 850, 900, 1800, 1900</li>
</ul>
</td></tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"><th style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 10px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 160px;">WI-FI</th><td class="gap" style="border: none; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 10px 0px; width: 10px;"></td><td class="spec-data" style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; padding: 10px 0px; width: 440px;">802.11 a/b/g/n/ac</td></tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"><th style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 10px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 160px;">BLUETOOTH</th><td class="gap" style="border: none; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 10px 0px; width: 10px;"></td><td class="spec-data" style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; padding: 10px 0px; width: 440px;">Bluetooth 3.0</td></tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"><th style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 10px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 160px;">BATTERY</th><td class="gap" style="border: none; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 10px 0px; width: 10px;"></td><td class="spec-data" style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; padding: 10px 0px; width: 440px;">2400 mAh</td></tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"><th style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 10px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 160px;">NFC</th><td class="gap" style="border: none; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 10px 0px; width: 10px;"></td><td class="spec-data" style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; padding: 10px 0px; width: 440px;">Yes</td></tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"><th style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 10px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 160px;">CONNECTIVITY</th><td class="gap" style="border: none; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 10px 0px; width: 10px;"></td><td class="spec-data" style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; padding: 10px 0px; width: 440px;"><ul class="specList spec-list" style="list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="padding-bottom: 5px;">3.5mm Headphone jack</li>
<li style="padding: 0px;">Micro USB</li>
</ul>
</td></tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"><th style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 10px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 160px;">SENSORS</th><td class="gap" style="border: none; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 10px 0px; width: 10px;"></td><td class="spec-data" style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; padding: 10px 0px; width: 440px;"><ul class="specList spec-list" style="list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="padding-bottom: 5px;">Accelerometer</li>
<li style="padding-bottom: 5px;">Ambient light</li>
<li style="padding-bottom: 5px;">Barometer</li>
<li style="padding-bottom: 5px;">Dynamic Perspective sensor system with invisible infrared illumination</li>
<li style="padding-bottom: 5px;">Gyroscope</li>
<li style="padding: 0px;">Proximity</li>
</ul>
</td></tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"><th style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 10px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 160px;">GPS</th><td class="gap" style="border: none; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 10px 0px; width: 10px;"></td><td class="spec-data" style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; padding: 10px 0px; width: 440px;"><ul class="specList spec-list" style="list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="padding-bottom: 5px;">A-GPS</li>
<li style="padding-bottom: 5px;">Digital compass</li>
<li style="padding-bottom: 5px;">GLONASS</li>
<li style="padding: 0px;">GPS</li>
</ul>
</td></tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"><th style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 10px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 160px;">HEIGHT</th><td class="gap" style="border: none; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 10px 0px; width: 10px;"></td><td class="spec-data" style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; padding: 10px 0px; width: 440px;">5.5 inches (13.97 cm)</td></tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"><th style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 10px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 160px;">WIDTH</th><td class="gap" style="border: none; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 10px 0px; width: 10px;"></td><td class="spec-data" style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; padding: 10px 0px; width: 440px;">2.6 inches (66.0 mm)</td></tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"><th style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 10px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 160px;">DEPTH</th><td class="gap" style="border: none; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 10px 0px; width: 10px;"></td><td class="spec-data" style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; padding: 10px 0px; width: 440px;">0.35 inches (8.9 mm)</td></tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"><th style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 10px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 160px;">WEIGHT</th><td class="gap" style="border: none; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 10px 0px; width: 10px;"></td><td class="spec-data" style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; padding: 10px 0px; width: 440px;">5.64 oz (160 g)</td></tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"><th style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 10px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 160px;">COLORS</th><td class="gap" style="border: none; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 10px 0px; width: 10px;"></td><td class="spec-data" style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; padding: 10px 0px; width: 440px;">Black, Blue, Gold, Pink, Red, White</td></tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"><th style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 10px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 160px;">SUPPORTED AUDIO FORMATS</th><td class="gap" style="border: none; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 10px 0px; width: 10px;"></td><td class="spec-data" style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; padding: 10px 0px; width: 440px;">Dolby Digital (AC-3), Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC-3), non-DRM AAC, MP3, MIDI, OGG, PCM/WAVE, AAC LC/ELD, HE-AAC (v1 & v2), AMR-NB, AMR-WB, AMR-WB+, Audible Enhanced format (AAX)</td></tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"><th style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 10px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 160px;">SUPPORTED VIDEO FORMATS</th><td class="gap" style="border: none; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 10px 0px; width: 10px;"></td><td class="spec-data" style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; padding: 10px 0px; width: 440px;">MPEG4, VP8, H.264/MPEG4/AVC,MPEG4 SP, H.263,AVI,HDCP2.x, PlayReady DRM</td></tr>
<tr style="vertical-align: top;"><th style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 10px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 160px;">IN THE BOX</th><td class="gap" style="border: none; color: #666666; display: block; padding: 10px 0px; width: 10px;"></td><td class="spec-data" style="border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; padding: 10px 0px; width: 440px;"><ul class="specList spec-list" style="list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="padding-bottom: 5px;">Wall Adapter</li>
<li style="padding-bottom: 5px;">Headphones with Mic</li>
<li style="padding-bottom: 5px;">Micro USB Cable</li>
<li style="padding: 0px;">Quick Start Guide</li>
</ul>
 
<div>
 </div>
 
source-<a href="http://www.technobuffalo.com/2014/07/03/amazon-fire-phone-unboxing-an-exclusive-look-inside-the-box/" target="_blank">techno buffalo</a> 
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #474747; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
<a href="http://www.technobuffalo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Amazon-Fire-Phone-Unboxing-19-1280x2104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a><a href="http://www.technobuffalo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Amazon-Fire-Phone-Unboxing-19-1280x2104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a></div>
</div>

Amazon Fire Phone Unboxing – An Exclusive Look Inside the Box

Amazon’s Fire Phone isn’t due out until July 25, but thanks to an anonymous tipster, we’re able to bring you some of the first photos of the brand new phone being unboxed. After years of speculation …

04 Jul 2014

Building machines from muscle: University of Illinois demonstrates "walking" bio-robot

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<img alt="The University of Illionois has demonstrated a bio-robot built from a flexibly hydrogel sp..." height="363" src="http://images.gizmag.com/hero/walking-bio-robot-spinal-muscle.png" width="640" /> 
 
If you're going to deploy robots in biological settings – for example, inside the body – it makes a lot of sense to build those robots out of actual biological body parts. Muscle, for example, is a very effective, biodegradable replacement for an electric actuator that can run in a nutrient-rich fluid without the need for any other power source. Bio-robotics experts in Illinois have demonstrated a bio-bot built from 3-D printed hydrogel and spinal muscle tissue that can "walk" in response to an electrical signal. Their next step will be trying to incorporate neurons that can get the bot walking in different directions when faced with different stimuli. 
<div style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
Less than a centimeter in length, the "bio-bot" responds to electrical impulses that cause the muscle to contract. Previous versions, using heart muscle tissue, were also able to "walk" but were not controllable, as heart tissue contracts constantly of its own accord, where spinal muscle responds to external electrical stimuli.</div>
<div class="article_img" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; height: 298px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding: 0px; width: 530px;">
<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/walking-bio-robot-spinal-muscle/32804/pictures#4" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="The bio-robot's simple structure - a 3D printed hydrogel bridge with two feet, and a piece..." src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/walking-bio-robot-spinal-muscle-3.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="530" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
Using muscle tissue to power a robot is undeniably cool – but what purpose does it serve? Well, according to study leader, Professor Rashid Bashir, biological tissue has several advantages over other robotic actuators: "[Muscle] is biodegradable, it can run in fluid with just some nutrients and hence doesn't need external batteries and power sources – and it could eventually be controlled by neurons in our future work."</div>
<div style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
These features open up a range of potential uses. Bio-robots could operate inside the body in medical applications, or be used outdoors in environmental services.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
This first bio-robot is a simple design – two feet, a flexible spine and a contracting muscle – but with the technology proven, Bashir and his team are looking to start extending toward more complex machines.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
Initially, they'll look at designing a more complex hydrogel backbone that gives the robot the ability to move in more than one direction. They're also looking at integrating neurons to steer the tiny bots around, either using light or chemical gradients as a trigger. This would be a key step toward being able to design bots for a specific purpose.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
“The idea of doing forward engineering with these cell-based structures is very exciting,” Bashir said. “Our goal is for these devices to be used as autonomous sensors. We want it to sense a specific chemical and move towards it, then release agents to neutralize the toxin, for example. Being in control of the actuation is a big step forward toward that goal.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
The following video by Caroline Cvetkovic, Doug Litteken and Ritu Raman takes us through the bio-bot research project.</div>
<div class="article_video" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="298" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/skCzl7FlM34" width="530"></iframe></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
source-<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/walking-bio-robot-spinal-muscle/32804/" target="_blank">gizmag</a></div>
</div>

Building machines from muscle: University of Illinois demonstrates "walking" bio-robot

If you're going to deploy robots in biological settings – for example, inside the body – it makes a lot of sense to build those robots out of actual biological body parts. Muscle, for example, is a v…

04 Jul 2014

Load more posts