Crowdsourcing game helps diagnose infectious diseases
Researchers at UCLA have created an online crowdsourcing game designed to let players help doctors in key areas of the world speed the lengthy process of distinguishing malaria-infected red blood cells from healthy ones.
For instance, the researchers hope that users of the game can help in areas like sub-Saharan Africa, where malaria accounts for some 20% of all childhood deaths, The disease, which affects about 210 million people annually worldwide, accounts for almost 40% of all hospitalizations throughout Africa. Read more...
Nine Windows 7 keyboard shortcuts everyone should know
There’s nothing wrong with a mouse cursor, but for many tasks keyboard shortcuts are far more efficient than picking your hands up off the keyboard and pointing then clicking. Most users can name at least a few combinations off the top of their heads, and almost everyone knows the infamous Ctrl+Alt+Delete, but many of the best shortcuts are tragically overlooked.
So to round out your keyboard navigating skills, here are nine combos that every Windows 7 user should know. Read more...
Create 3D maps of your surroundings in minutes with Matterport
3D technology is certainly all the rage nowadays. Depicted in the video above is a new product from a company called Matterport, and depicts a handheld scanner that’s capable of creating 3D models of objects or rooms in just a few minutes. All of you avid first-person-shooter fans who love creating realistic maps for your buddies to play on should sit up and take notice as this device could make your lives a lot easier. Read more...
RIAA Behind US Government’s Failed Domain Name Seizure
In November 2010, Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seized dozens of domain names allegedly connected to copyright infringement. One of them, hip-hop blog Dajaz1, lay in limbo for more than a year after its lawyer was stalled at every turn in his quest for information. Eventually the domain was given back, but why the delay? Unsealed court papers reveal that after effectively ordering the takedown, the RIAA failed to deliver any evidence of infringement. Read more...
Facebook may be causing ‘very significant increase’ in organ donor registration
On Tuesday, Facebook announced that its users can now declare that they are registered organ donors by adding an "organ donor status" to their timelines, in the same way that they'd add a relationship status. The social network said it hopes this new feature will raise "broader awareness about organ donation" and encourage people to officially register as organ donors.
It's peer pressure at its best — and it might just be working. Read more...
Online video is a teen thing, says Pew report
The eyes have it when it comes to teens and online video: 27 percent of them say they've recorded and uploaded videos to the Internet, compared to 14 percent of adults, according to a new study from the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project.
In 2006, the last time Pew surveyed 12- to 17-year-olds about online video behavior, 14 percent of teens said they were putting video online on sites like YouTube and Vimeo.
In the "Teens and Online Video" report, issued Thursday, Pew said video chatting is also popular with 37 percent of teens, who say they use programs such as Skype, Google Talk or Apple's iChat. Read more...
New Galaxy S III phone is bigger and smarter
At a press event in London on Thursday that it described as an "unpacking," Samsung indeed rolled out an impressive array of hardware and software enhancements that the company hopes will help it retain its ranking as the top cellphone-maker in the world.
The biggest feature (literally) most consumers will notice is a stunning 4.8-inch Super AMOLED screen. That's about a half-inch larger than Samsung's Galaxy S II, and significantly bigger than the 3.5-inch high-resolution display on the Apple iPhone 4S. Despite the large screen, the S III actually is a bit thinner than the iPhone 4S (8.6mm vs. 9.33mm) and is slightly lighter as well (133 grams vs. 140 grams). Read more...
Microsoft boots Chinese firm for leaking Windows exploit
Microsoft on Thursday identified a Chinese security partner as the source of a leak last March in its highly restricted vulnerability information-sharing program.
The company, Hangzhou DPTech Technologies, was tossed out of the Microsoft Active Protection Program (MAPP) for leaking the proof-of-concept exploit.
"During our investigation into the disclosure of confidential data shared with our Microsoft Active Protections Program (MAPP) partners, we determined that a member ... Hangzhou DPTech Technologies Co., Ltd., had breached our non-disclosure agreement (NDA)," Yunsun Wee, director of Microsoft's Trustworthy Computing group, wrote in a post to a company blog. "Microsoft takes breaches of our NDAs very seriously and has removed this partner from the MAPP Program." Read more...
Apple finally credits OpenStreetMap for use of its mapping data in iPhoto app
Following its decision to drop support for Google Maps and utilise the OpenStreetMap Foundation’s (OSM) data in its new iPhoto iOS app, Apple has finally credited its use of the Foundation’s open mapping data — having originally neglected to do so.
Soon after the launch of the new iPad (on which the new iPhoto app also runs), OpenStreetMap updated its official blog, stating that it was “rather pleased to find they’re [Apple] the latest to switch to OpenStreetMap,” adding that that Apple used its own map tiles “made from OpenStreetMap data (outside the US).” Read more...