Hasta La Gadget!

A study conducted at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has successfully shown that human stem cells can implant themselves into the brain and heal neurological problems. The experiment was conducted using mice, and it showed that implanted stem cells ended up forming two vital types of neurons, which are involved in different kinds of human behavior, such as emotions, learning, memory, addiction, etc.

Su-Chun Zhang, a professor of neuroscience and neurology at UW-Madison, is the lead author of the study, and he has been working in the stem cell field for 15 years now, and is said to be one of the pioneers behind some of the findings. The human embryonic stem cells used in the experiment were cultured in a lab using chemicals that developed them into nerve cells.

The mice first experienced deliberate brain damage that affected the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain dealing with memory and learning. After the transplant, the mice scored significantly better on tests involving learning and memory. The mice were much better in the common maze test, resulting in conclusive results that the transplants worked wonders.

Brain damage repair using cell replacement is huge in the stem cell transplant field, and in the future, Zhang says that it could be used to treat humans that have Alzheimer’s, Down syndrome, schizophrenia, epilepsy, depression, and addiction. However, Zhang also notes that it’s hard to tell exactly which part of the brain has gone wrong for many psychiatric disorders, so the new findings are more likely to see application in creating models for drug screening and discovery in the near future.

Image via Flickr

New stem cell transplants able to restore memory and cognition is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Google Glass will spur an evolution in social etiquette, Google chair Eric Schmidt has predicted, though he argues users of the wearable have a responsibility to “behave appropriately” as well. The augmented reality headset has already been preemptively banned from bars, casinos, and other locations, over concerns that users might film their fellow patrons; however, Schmidt pointed out to BBC Radio 4, it’s also down to individuals to use Glass responsibly.

“The fact of the matter is that we’ll have to develop some new social etiquette” Schmidt suggested. “It’s obviously not appropriate to wear these glasses in situations where recording is not correct.”

However, while some commentary has suggested that the public should be wary of Google’s “wearable eye” recording them, as Glass becomes popular and more widespread, Schmidt refuses to take full responsibility for the potential privacy issues. “Companies like Google have a very important responsibility to keep your information safe” the executive chairman concedes, “but you have a responsibility as well which is to understand what you’re doing, how you’re doing it, and behave appropriately and also keep everything up to date.”

Keeping Glass up to date won’t be an issue, assuming the production version – which Schmidt says will arrive in roughly a year’s time – follows the same terms of service as the Explorer Edition already shipping to developers. One of the conditions Glass users must agree to is to allow the wearable computer to automatically update itself whenever Google pushes out new firmware; in fact, there is apparently no way to manual control the update process.

Similarly, Google will be capable of remotely disabling functionality on Glass units that is deemed unsuitable, such as if an app or service is found to contain malware or be used inappropriately. The headset will periodically check in on a “blacklist” of banned apps, services, and features, and removing any that are mentioned.

Nonetheless Schmidt argues that the same issues as are around Glass and privacy have been encountered for some time; “you have this problem already with phones,” he pointed out. Whether people will treat Glass differently, however, because it’s body-worn rather than handheld – and, as some involved in the project have discovered, is quickly overlooked by those around them – remains to be seen.

[via Telegraph]

A new age of Glass social etiquette dawns says Google’s Schmidt is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Apple has reportedly sent back a batch of as much as eight million iPhones to Foxconn after the Cupertino-based company deemed the new units unfit for sale. The reason behind Apple’s rejection of the new batch of phones remains rather dubious at this point, but it’s said it’s “due to appearance of substandard or dysfunctional problems.”

According to China Business, and translated by The Register, the total amount that this could cost Foxconn would be around $1.6 billion. However, this would only be the case if the returned iPhones couldn’t be salvaged, which seems rather unlikely. It’s said at least five million and up to eight million iPhones were sent back to the Chinese manufacturer.

It’s not said which iPhone models were sent back, but they could most likely be the iPhone 5 or the iPhone 4S, the latter of which is still being manufactured and going on sale. It could also even be the rumored iPhone 5S getting the quality rejection, but we highly doubt it, considering that we would’ve heard many rumors about the upcoming phone’s production.

As far as the impact that this will have on Apple, it’s said that eight million iPhone failing to pass Cupertino’s quality inspections could create stock shortages for the company that could last a few weeks, but we doubt that will create many problems on the consumer end, as this time of year doesn’t see as much shipments compared to the fall or the winter.

[via The Register]

Apple reportedly returns 8m iPhone to Foxconn over quality issues is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Over the last few years there have been quite a few products come to market that boast the ability to be controlled using your thoughts. Most of these items have been thought-controlled toys, but we have seen systems that promise to allow you to control your music using your thoughts. Electronics giant Samsung is working with researchers at the University of Texas on a project that has to do with providing control of a tablet using brain waves.

This could be very significant, particularly for users that have limited mobility due to disease or paralysis caused from an accident. The project Samsung and the researchers are working on uses EEG caps to give users control over tablets and smartphones. Samsung is reportedly wanting to take this technology mainstream.

For now, the technology is limited to use with those that have disabilities. The system has participants wear EEG caps that are able to measure the electrical activity along the scalp. The participants in the program are able to make selections on the tablet screen by focusing on an icon that flashes at a distinct frequency from others on the screen.

The system is able to recognize those different flashing frequencies as a unique electrical pattern. The researchers say that for now the system has an accuracy of about 80 to 95%. It also allows the participants to make selections approximately every 5 seconds. One goal of the project is to create an interface that is less invasive than currently required. Ideally, Samsung researchers will be able to create a system for users to wear all day long using something such as a hat. There is no indication of when this technology might be ready for mainstream use.

[via Engadget]

Samsung and the University of Texas conspire for thought controlled tablets is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

We’ve heard whispers of Microsoft possibly bringing back the Start button just recently, but more reports are coming in that reinforce this possibility. In the next update to Windows 8, which is said to be dubbed Windows 8.1 as a part of Microsoft’s “Blue” update initiative, the Start button will make its way back into the OS, but not all the way.

According to The Verge, sources “familiar with Microsoft’s plans” reveal that Windows 8.1 will see the Start button make a reappearance. However, the button will only let users access the Start Screen, and not the traditional Start Menu like in past version of Windows, but the button will still be located at the bottom-left corner like it always has.

If you weren’t aware, Microsoft killed off the Start button with the release of Windows 8, calling it a redundant feature since users can easily pin programs to the task bar. However, the Redmond-based company has received a lot of backlash for doing so, and tons of third-party tweaks have been made to bring back the Start button to the new OS.

Microsoft is also rumored to be adding an option that will allow users to boot directly to the traditional desktop environment in Windows 8.1 as well. This will give users the option to bypass the Start Screen in Windows 8, and go directly to the desktop view. Numerous third-party tweaks have been made for this as well.

[via The Verge]

Microsoft reportedly bringing back Start button in Windows 8.1 is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.