Cows, it turns out, can be pretty filthy, just pooping wherever and whenever it strikes their fancy. And when they let loose in the confines of a milking stall, the splattered mess becomes a source of infection for every cow that enters after. But rather than force a human to shovel shit 9 times a day, Lely has introduced a robotic platform to do it for us.
How much would you fork out for a 77-inch, curved, 4K, OLED TV? Well, LG hopes you’re hovering around a couple of grand per descriptor, having announced it’s launching such a gogglebox in the UK for only £20,000. It won’t actually be available until…
Right now, iTunes U on the iPad isn’t a complete educational tool. You can read textbooks, but not much else — you still need to use old-fashioned email to ask the teacher a question, for example. It’s going to be much more useful on July 8th, when…
Maybe you’ve seen Into the Wild, or (gasp) have actually read it. It’s the true story of an ordinary person who, one day, decided to abandon society, pack some rice and a rifle into a bag and head off into the wilderness never to return. It’s the…
Do you know what Orkut is? Back in 2004, Orkut was created by Google as a social network before “social networking” was a prevalent term. In it, users were able to connect with others, converse, and play games. Ten years later, Google has decided that in light of their other, more popular social networks taking off, Orkut will be cut. … Continue reading
Samsung has opened the floodgates for tiny versions of the Galaxy S5 this week with a number of smartphones that replicate this generation’s abilities. With the Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini we’ll have what replicates the full-sized S5 the most in a 720p 4.5-inch display, Samsung Exynos 3 Quad (3470) processor, and an 8-megapixel camera. This tinier device will look extremely … Continue reading
When we talk about a monocle, that is more or less a relic from a couple of centuries ago that was worn as a gentleman’s article. However, when you fast forward time to today, is there room or space still for a monocle? Apparently so, if it is the $249.95 HD Video Recording Monocular that you are referring to. This is one monocular which will be able to bring distant subjects into view as you capture all that it sees in high definition video. No doubt this is very different from the usual video recorders that we are used to seeing for sure.
Subjects of your choice can be viewed through the device’s eyepiece or on a flip-out 2.4″ TFT color display, depending on whatever floats your boat, while a single push of a button will kick off a 5 megapixel CMOS sensor which will capture video at 1080p resolution and 30 fps, with the added ability of capturing still images in the JPG format. This monocular’s coated BK-7 glass lens and roof prism will also be able to deliver sharp 8X optical magnification, alongside a 100′ field of view at 1,000 yards and precise manual focus adjustment from -5 to +5 diopters. All recorded content will be saved on a microSD memory card of up to 64GB in capacity, and you can transfer the recorded files to a computer via USB, or opt to view it directly on a TV via HDMI or AV outputs.
[ HD Video Recording Monocular goes about its work in style copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
Apple has just announced its latest range of updates to iTunes U, where both educators as well as students alike will be able to take advantage of great new tools in order to build and experience educational content on the iPad. From the 8th of July onward, teachers will be able to make use of the free iTunes U app which will allow one to create, edit and manage entire courses directly on iPad for the first time ever. In addition, students too, can check out new and various methods of collaboration that will include the ability to start class discussions and ask questions directly from their iPad.
The new in-app updates to iTunes U will provide teachers with full course creation capabilities on the iPad tablet, boasting of the ability to directly add rich content as well as learning materials from iWork, iBooks Author or any of the 75,000 plus of educational apps that are currently available on the iPad. Interestingly enough, once will also be able to take advantage of the iPad’s integrated camera, as teachers capture photos and videos which can then be incorporated into any course for that added impact during a lecture.
Educators are able to create iTunes U courses in 69 countries, where their courses as well as educational content will then be opened to 155 countries thanks to the iTunes U app. [Press Release]
iTunes U Updated , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.
Samsung is well known for rolling out a slew of smartphones that will cater to just about any budget, in addition to it targeting a spectrum of ranges, starting from the entry level and moving to the mid-range before the high end side of things. Well, for those who would like to own a little bit of everything without having to break the bank, the recently unveiled Samsung Galaxy Core 2 might just fit the bill perfectly, as it claims to deliver an optimal mix of style, portability, and power.
For starters, the Samsung Galaxy Core 2 will be quite a looker, thanks to its faux leather back design that is also found in the likes of other Samsung products such as the Samsung Ativ Book 9 and the Galaxy S4 mini in Russia. Underneath the hood, you will find a quad-core 1.2GHz processor that ought to be adequate enough to handle data intensive tasks without slowing down, accompanied by the likes of a 4.5” display, a 2,000mAh battery, a 5MP camera with LED flash, and Android 4.4 KitKat as the mobile operating system of choice.
Busy folks will find the Dual SIM technology to be worth checking out, as it allows you to maintain separate phone profiles on a single device. There is no word on pricing details just yet though. [Press Release]
Samsung Galaxy Core 2 Announced , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.
Since I was a child, I started counting daylight minutes beginning with the winter solstice, when the sun is lowest in the sky. On that day, the start of new tilt of the planet’s semi-axis, we enjoy a scant nine hours and 32 minutes of daylight. Day by day, a minute is added to the sun’s purposeful journey to the horizon; about the time it takes for a genuine hug. At last comes the June solstice, heralding summer, the longest day of the year, a latitude and longitude of hope – – 23° 26′. At the solstice, derived from the Latin words sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), the sun stands still in declination, the mark of a new cycle.
Today, at age 64, I stand still in the sun on the longest day, but for a different reason. The longest day has new meaning for me as I battle demons prowling like Abaddon, these monsters of Alzheimer’s disease. For those afflicted with Alzheimer’s and for their caregivers, each day brings new trials from sunrise to sunset. Every day is the Longest Day.
My maternal grandfather and my mother both died of Alzheimer’s. Now it has come for me. I was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s in 2009 after a serious head injury unmasked a disease in the making. I also carry a marker gene. As one of 10 kids in an Irish Catholic family raised in Westchester County, I learned early on that you never get mad. You get even. I seek now to get even with Alzheimer’s, as teams around the world come together to honor the strength, passion and endurance of those facing the disease on this day of memory.
Since the day I sensed something was terribly wrong, my investigative reporting instincts have compelled me to document my experience, to compile a blueprint of strategies, faith, and humor, a day-to-day focus on living with Alzheimer’s, not dying with it — a hope that all is not lost when it appears to be.
For me, the mornings are always the same. It’s Groundhog Day. Like wandering Pittsburgh TV weatherman Phil Connors in the movie, I find myself in a Punxsutawney time loop. In disarray at first light, I must refocus on the five Ws: the Who, What, Where, When, and Why of life, as if rebooting my faithful MacBook Pro before tossing the covers and organizing the scattered files of my mind. I do this out of instinct, but there’s always the depression, fear, and angst to walk through — and that’s just on the way to the bathroom where, on doctors’ advice, I’ve begun labeling the toiletries. I have attempted often to brush my teeth with liquid soap, and on two occasions gargled briefly with rubbing alcohol.
Then, I go deep into my lists — notes for everything, printed and on a digital calendar with repeat advisories. My life has become a constant strategy. I have a playbook, a script, a backup for everything. Sometimes, the stratagem is just showing up, other times it’s deflection; more often, it’s an ongoing quest for excellence, understanding as best as possible the new boundaries. I have a formidable enemy — my own mind. It used to be my best friend. I don’t see any chance now for reconciliation. I think of my brain today as more like a smart-phone: still a sophisticated device, but one that constantly freezes up, shuts down without notice, drops calls, pocket dials with random or inappropriate conversation, and has a small battery that takes forever to charge.
Doctors tell me I’m working off a “cognitive reserve,” a backup tank of inherited intellect that will carry me in cycles for years to come. They tell me to slow down, conserve the tank. It’s lights out, they warn, when the tank goes dry, just as it was for my mother. In laymen’s terms, the “right side” of my brain — the creative, sweet spot — is intact, for the most part, although the writing and communication process now takes exponentially longer. The left side, the area of the brain reserved for executive functions, judgment, balance, continence, short-term memory, financial analysis, and recognition of friends and colleagues, is at times, in a free fall as I brace for a crash landing.
I try on this flight to stay locked in to the horizon, as a missile is on target, but “locked in” likewise is a disorder in which an individual who cannot speak because of paralysis communicates through a blink of an eye. Some days, I find myself between definitions — in a blink using every available memory device to communicate, deflecting as best I can the horror, shame and fear of this disease.
Years ago as a cub court reporter for The Arizona Republic, I befriended a Maricopa County Superior Court judge who instilled in me a firm resolve for asking questions. “Keep at it until you get the answers,” counseled Judge Sandra Day O’Connor, whose perseverance led her to become the first woman justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. She subsequently retired to care for her husband, John, who eventually died of complications from Alzheimer’s.
So I ask questions every day to stay in the moment, as our nation’s millions of caregivers ask hard questions about why there are not enough resources for better care and research for a cure.
At twilight, I’m back on the mat with the monster. The journey through Alzheimer’s is a marathon. That’s why I run several miles each night to increase the cerebral flow as the sun begins to set and more confusion takes over. I run until my legs give out. My daily physical routine helps reduce end-of-day confusion and restlessness, common in dementia patients, a period known as “sundowning,” caused as light fades to black — a time of greater rage, agitation, and mood swings.
As the sun sets on this longest day, I will be back on my treadmill, at the gym and in the mind, as individuals around the world engage in a faithful uphill climb to halt this tsunami of a disease about to swamp a generation.
Greg O’Brien’s latest book, On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s, will be published this summer. He is also the subject of the short film, “A Place Called Pluto,” directed by award-winning filmmaker Steve James, online at livingwithalz.org.
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
