I have asked myself and many around me this question so many times and I just couldn't figure the answer. This idea and practice was never part of UAE culture and certainly has nothing to do with the teachings of Islam. Visiting Sheikh Zayed's grave became a protocol and a regular practice scheduled for official visitors (Muslims & non-Muslims).
Sheikh Zayed is the father of the UAE and we all owe him everything after Allah for the welfare and the kind of secured life we are currently living here in the UAE. There is no doubt about this fact and nobody can argue or deny it. On the other hand Prophet Mohammed, peace been upon him, said: "Whoever introduces into this matter of ours (Islam) that which is not a part of it; it will be rejected.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhaari).
Plastering graves with gypsum and spending time on graves reading Holy Quran are both prohibited in Islam ....
Jaabir, companion of prophet Mohammed pbuh, said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade us to plaster graves with gypsum, to sit on them or to build anything over them.” (Narrated by Muslim, al-Janaa’iz, 1610). Imaam Ash-Shawkaani, may Allaah have mercy on him, said: 'This is evidence that it is an obligation to level any tomb that is erected more than its permitted proportion [two spans of a hand above the level of the earth].'
As for reciting the Holy Quran over a grave or when the people gather for offering condolences, both practices are innovations. Visiting graves is permitted only to remind oneself of the life Hereafter and to send greetings on dead persons. There is no evidence proving that the recitation of the Qur'an over graves is likeable. Holding mourning-gatherings to offer condolence and reciting the Qur'an in such gatherings is also not lawful." Islamweb.net
President Chirac visiting Sheikh Zayed's grave
Also visiting graves on the two Eid days is prohibited in Islam. Why? ...
"This is contrary to the purpose of Eid which is to express joy and happiness, and it goes against the teaching of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and the actions of his companions. It comes under the general meaning of the Prophet’s prohibition on visiting graves on a specific day and making that like a festival, as the scholars stated." Islamqa.com
We all love Sheikh Zayed, but not to the level of committing sins and disobeying Almighty Allah & His prophet Mohammed, peace been upon him. I'm very certain that this is the advice of one of the advisers who claim to know Islam very well & love Sheikh Zayed more than the rest of us ... when he's far away from that ...
History: According to Arab historians, the Zamzam Well, except for a few periods when it became dry or was buried under sand, has been in use for around 4000 years. The well marks the site of a spring that, miraculously , had issued forth from a barren and desolate wadi (non perennial stream) where the Prophet Ibrahim (Peace be upon him-pbuh), under Allah's command, had left his wife Hajar and their infant son Ismail (pbuh). In her desperate search for water, Hajar ran seven times back and forth in the scorching heat between the two hills of Safa and Marwa to provide water for Ismail (pbuh), who was dying of thirst. Allah, in His mercy, sent the Angel Gabriel, who scraped the ground, causing the spring to appear. On finding the spring, and fearing that it might run out of water, Hajar enclosed it in sand and stones. The name Zamzam originates from the phrase Zomë Zomë, meaning ‘stop flowing’, a command repeated by Hajar during her attempt to contain the spring water. The area around the spring, which was later converted to a well, became a resting place for caravans, and eventually grew into the trading city of Makkah, birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Description: Zamzam well is 30 meters deep. Depth to water is 3.23 meters. There are some springs contributing to the well at approximately 13 meters below surface.
Miracle: "The difference between Zamzam water and other (city water) was in the quantity of calcium and magnesium salts. The content of these was slightly higher in Zamzam water. This may be why this water refreshes tired Hajis, but more significantly, the water contains fluorides that have an effective germicidal action.", said Tariq Hussain in his article documenting his work experience with Zamzam water.
"This well has never dried up. On the contrary, it has always fulfilled the demand for water. It has always maintained the same salt composition and taste ever since it came into existence. Its potability has always been universally recognized as pilgrims from all over the world visit the Ka`bah every year for Hajj and `Umrah, but have never complained about it. Instead, they have always enjoyed the water that refreshes them. Water tastes different at different places. Zamzam water's appeal has always been universal. This water has never been chemically treated or chlorinated as is the case with water pumped into the cities. Biological growth and vegetation usually take place in most wells. This makes the water unpalatable owing to the growth of algae causing taste and odor problems."
A pumping test at 8000 liters/second for more than a 24 hour period showed a drop in water level from 3.23 meters below surface to 12.72 meters and then to 13.39 meters, after which the water level stopped to recede. Water level recovered to 3.9 meters below surface just 11 minutes after pumping had stopped! The aquifer feeding the well seems to recharge from rock fractures in neighboring mountains around Mecca.
A British based medical company is hailing as a major step forward the development of an injection device that doesn’t require a needle to deliver the drug. Glide Pharma is based in the Oxfordshire town of Didcot, and say the device offers hope not only for those who are afraid of needles, but also for safe mass delivery in disaster zones and pandemics.
There are essentially two parts to the device, which is entirely mechanical and requires no batteries or power. The actuator contains a small spring, much like a ballpoint pen, which triggers the drug cassette, which contains a small amount of a solid form drug. Honed to a fine point, the drug then penetrates the skin directly, doing away with costly and potentially dangerous needles. The device’s inventor, Dr Charles Potter, describes its advantages: “A large proportion of people are frightened of needles and dislike having typical, normal injections. We deliver the drug in a solid dosage form, without a needle. So we don’t have that threat. We have a very simple-to-use delivery system as well, which means the technology is ideal for use in the home, or for out of hospitals, for a wide range of applications.”
Lightweight and highly portable, it’s designed for use at home or in the office. And the red-bar indicator will confirm that the drug has been administered.
Aliph's Bluetooth Jawbone Headset with Noise Shield Technology
(Link)
Noise is nothing with the new Jawbone Bluetooth headset, which is currently available exclusively to Cingular Wireless customers.
Aliph and Cingular Wireless introduced Thursday the new Jawbone headset for Bluetooth mobile phones. Jawbone is the first adaptive Bluetooth headset with Noise Shield technology, which virtually eliminates background noise so calls are clearer. Jawbone's audio performance is further enhanced by an award-winning design by internationally acclaimed product designer Yves Béhar, which maximizes comfort and functional simplicity.
Ambient noise is often an issue with many headsets and can make conversations difficult in noisier environments. The Jawbone Bluetooth headset with Noise Shield technology uses an advanced, military-grade noise-canceling system that continuously adapts to users' changing environments to deliver unparalleled audio quality.
The Noise Shield technology was originally developed by Aliph for DARPA (The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) to enhance communications in the most hostile and rugged environments. This technology includes an intelligent system of sensors and software, which continuously adjusts—at a rate of 500 times per second—to improve audio quality based on what it knows about the environment. In doing this, the Jawbone headset will:
Identify and isolate your speech: Jawbone is the only headset that has a proprietary voice activity sensor. Its ability to determine precisely when you are speaking is what drives the headset's superior sound quality. Unlike other headsets, Jawbone can easily separate your speech from other sounds nearby.
Subtract the unwanted noise: Jawbone's proprietary software continuously samples the sounds in your environment, and then subtracts those sounds from your speech signal. This allows you to speak normally in any environment while still being heard clearly when placing calls.
Automatically enhance your audio: Jawbone constantly adapts, allowing you to hear your caller better by boosting the frequencies that increase voice intelligibility to stand out over your environment.
"We endeavored to build the first headset all users will actually want to wear," said Hosain Rahman, Aliph CEO and co-founder. "We've always led the industry from a technology perspective, now we've integrated that adaptive technology into a Bluetooth headset that is simple, intuitive, and easy to use – the total product experience has been designed around how consumers actually use wearable technology. As an innovator in wireless communications, Cingular is the perfect partner to bring the new Jawbone to market."
Aliph was founded in 1999 by Alex Asseily and Hosain Rahman, two young engineering entrepreneurs who met as Stanford undergrads.
Jawbone is currently available exclusively at select Cingular Wireless retail stores nationwide for $119.99 and is compatible with all Bluetooth-enabled handsets.
M-11 Copyboards with USB Memory & Print-Out Feature
(Link)
Speed is one of the most important factors in business, as it is in the case of business meetings. Using a M-11, you can distribute copies of the meeting minutes immediately after the meeting. Using USB memory function of the M-11, you can send the same information to everyone outside the meeting room at once. The M-11 is the fastest copyboard in the world and the advanced copyboard technology makes these operations much faster.
With the USB memory feature you can simply insert a USB flash memory into the M-11 and press the Save button on the control panel to save information and ideas written on the board to the flash memory. Like a digital camera, you can save images anytime you like without a personal computer. Stored as compact PNG image files, your data can be easily distributed when attached to emails and opened by recipients without the use of special software.
Dubai's Time Residences Tower: World's First Rotating Solar-Powered Building
Another mind-blowing project from Dubai - a fully rotating tower powered by the sun.
Project engineers say the Dh400 million Time Residences tower in the City of Arabia master development will turn through 360 degrees, its rotation mechanism driven by stored solar energy.
The project, which will put 200 apartments onto the market, is another addition to Dubai's list of world exclusives which will include the world's tallest tower, biggest mall and largest man-made island - even a collection of dozens of man-made islands dubbed The World.
In July, Dubai-based High Rise Real estate launched the Rotating Tower, a Dh175 million project in Jumeirah Village South featuring four rotating penthouses and a rotating villa with its own car lift.
Dubai Property Ring, developer of the 30-floor Time Residences, says it has gone one step better by launching a fully rotating structure.
"We didn't want to build just another building or tower, we wanted to create something unique - a precious place to live - a genuine contender to be one of the great buildings in the world," said Tav Singh, director of Dubai Property Ring, the Dubai arm of UK-based property investors UK Property Group.
Singh said the company plans to build 23 more rotating towers in each of the world's time zones with finance provided by investors linked to the company.
The tower was designed by UK architecture firm, Glenn Howells Architects (the company behind the Birmingham Rotunda in the UK) and Palmer and Turner, the master developers of City of Arabia.
"A distinctive time line runs down the building that meets 12 o'clock markings on the ground and the podium, allowing observers to use the building as a fully functioning time piece - it's unique, it's ambitious and it's an honour to be involved from the start," said James Abbott, senior architect at Palmer and Turner.
Construction is expected to start in June next year with projected completion in the first quarter of 2009.
First E-Quran and E-Curriculum Unveiled in Saudi Arabia
Dar Al Rasm Al-Othmani and Intel yesterday launched the first E-Quran computer and Saudi tailored E-Curriculum. The two products are jointly developed by Intel's Platform Definition Center and two Arabic software content companies owned by Mr. Emad Bin Fahad Al-Doghaither, Semanoor and Dar Al Rasm Al Othmani.
The E-Curriculum is developed by Semanoor, a leading local software company focusing on education. It is on an Ultra Mobile Wireless Device based on Intel's newly announced family of LPIA processors. Semanoor has produced a DVD that that contains all official government curriculums from K to 12th grade. The DVD is now approved and backed by the Ministry of Education of Saudi Arabia, and is being implemented in Saudi Arabian public and private schools.
There are two aspects to this DVD which give it an edge; the first is tools and engines while the second is data. 'The DVD contains over 8 gigabytes of data and the tools help teachers to develop their own e-lessons with minimal training, by taking the teachers from a level where they are merely implementing other people's lessons to a level that allows them to tailor their own plans to the needs of their students,' said Mr. Emad Bin Fahad Al-Doghaither. "We hope that this product allows teaching and the educational process to be more effective and up-to date, while maintaining creativity and teacher involvement.'
Dar Al Rasm Al-Othmani, a sister company to Semanoor that focuses on digital religious content also launched a wireless digital Quran, an Islamic encyclopedia that will be available in 40 different languages making it usable across the world.
The E-Quran is yet another Ultra Mobile Device based on Intel's newly announced family of LPIA processors. It contains the Holy Quran, audio recitations in 40 different languages, 100 different interactive Quran explanations, as well as 500,000 religious science pages. This whole package is bundled in a sleek e-book design with 7' display and built in WiFi to connect to Islamic portals, and allow the user to stay connected to the Muslim online community.
One of the important achievements of Dar Al Rasm Al Othmani is the Quran for the physically disabled that operates via voice commands, allowing people who cannot physically touch or see the Quran to experience it.
Inside EMS 2006: $620,000 Ud (Arabic Music Instrument)
Click above for larger image (Pictures taken by Nawaf Al Mahmood)
One of the amazing things I have seen in my visit to Emirates Millionaire Show 2006 is the $620,000 Ud (Arabic Music Instrument) (the one of the right) from Ritter Royal Instruments. The left picture is for the $420,000 Ud . The following are the features of the two Uds ...
The Black Arabian Star This Instrument is an exclusively handcrafted Oud. Made in the year 2006 in Deidesheim / West Germany and certified on December 2nd, 2006
Special Features
103,59ct Black Diamond; round-cut; 3-ray Star on Top in Main Rosette; one out of six biggest Black Diamonds ever found
Two Black Diamonds in Side Rosettes (10,72ct)
Fingerboard inlay made of pure 24karat Gold
Rosettes made out of massive Gold
Oud Backside covered with Gold Leaf
Nut made of At least 10000 years old Siberian Mammoth Ivory
Body Wood: German Maple
Top Wood: Bavarian Spruce
Neck Wood: Black Ebony
Fingerboard: Black Ebony
Price: $620,000
The Paraiba This Instrument is an exclusively handcrafted Oud. Made in the year 2006 in Deidesheim / West Germany and certified on December 3rd, 2006.
Special Features:
Extremely Rare Paraiba-Tourmaline (9,97ct) in Main Rosette
Super exceptional Colour
Fingerboard inlay made of pure 24karat Gold
Rosettes made out of massive Gold
Oud Backside covered with Gold Leaf
Nut made of At least 10000 years old Siberian Mammoth Ivory
Inside EMS 2006: World's Most Expensive Office Chair (€50,000)
Click above for larger image (Pictures taken by Nawaf Al Mahmood)
One of the amazing things I have seen in my visit to Emirates Millionaire Show 2006 is the most expensive office chair by Interstuhl Manufactur. The gold plated chair is designed by Hadi Teherani.
Click above for larger image (Pictures taken by Nawaf Al Mahmood)
The price tag is €50,000 (US $65,500)! I can't believe that I have sat on it! There is also a silver version of this chair if you think this golden one is little expensive for your business budget ... look below ...
Click above for larger image (Pictures taken by Nawaf Al Mahmood)
UPDATE (8/10/2007): You can now by this chair from GorillaSite.
Brought to you by:
Now this is an expensive chair! If you find this one to be a bit rich for your blood, there are many other options available on the Internet, including a foam chair, or perhaps a Love Sack, available online. A bean bag chair can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, form fitting and certainly not as expensive as a gold-plated office chair!
Inside EMS 2006: World's Largest Plasma Display Panel
(Picture taken by Nawaf Al Mahmood)
One of the amazing things I have seen in my visit to Emirates Millionaire Show 2006 is the Panasonic's 103" Plasma TV, the world's largest plasma display panel.
The Panasonic's TH-103PF9WK is the world's largest high definition plasma display and destined to be the awe-inspiring centerpiece of any facility or event. From the lobby or conference room of a corporate headquarters to the focal point of a trade show exhibit, this super-large 1080p panel is a show stopper for a wide range of professional applications including video production and screenings, live events, and control and command centers.
It has a full HD pixel resolution of 1,920 horizontal x 1,080 vertical & contrast ratio of 5,000:1. The panel dimensions (WxHxD): 2414mm x 1421mm x 129mm. The panel weighs 220kg, while the pedestal stand weighs 120kg.
The price tag was AED 250,000 (US $68,000 approx.)
Click above to view higher resolution picture from NASA
NASA photographs have revealed bright new deposits seen in two gullies on Mars that suggest water carried sediment through them sometime during the past seven years.
"These observations give the strongest evidence to date that water still flows occasionally on the surface of Mars," said Michael Meyer, lead scientist for NASA's Mars Exploration Program, Washington.
Liquid water, as opposed to the water ice and water vapor known to exist at Mars, is considered necessary for life. The new findings heighten intrigue about the potential for microbial life on Mars. The Mars Orbiter Camera on NASA's Mars Global Surveyor provided the new evidence of the deposits in images taken in 2004 and 2005.
"The shapes of these deposits are what you would expect to see if the material were carried by flowing water," said Michael Malin of Malin Space Science Systems, San Diego. "They have finger-like branches at the downhill end and easily diverted around small obstacles." Malin is principal investigator for the camera and lead author of a report about the findings published in the journal Science.
The atmosphere of Mars is so thin and the temperature so cold that liquid water cannot persist at the surface. It would rapidly evaporate or freeze. Researchers propose that water could remain liquid long enough, after breaking out from an underground source, to carry debris downslope before totally freezing. The two fresh deposits are each several hundred meters or yards long.
H.H. Sheikh Suroor Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, the Chamberlain of the Presidential Court opened yesterday the first Emirates Millionaire Show (EMS 2006) during an exceptionally alluring ceremony held at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, also the venue for the three-day show (December 14th - December 16th). By the way, Emirates Palace was chosen by Robb Report to be among the best 100 hotels in the world.
H.H. Sheikh Suroor Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan said that that there are 59,000 UAE millionaires who own 1,500 billion dirhams (US $408 billion) and the number of UAE millionaires is growing %5 each year because of the rapid growth of UAE economy according to Emirates Today Arabic newspaper. He also added that %60 of those millionaires (35,400) are women.
Emirates Millionaire Show 2006 is a three-day glamor and glitter extravaganza that offers visitors a rare opportunity to witness the premiere of Lamborghini Gallardo and the Murchielago LP640. Lamborghini cooperated with ASUS to launch the ASUS-Lamborghini VX1 which enables multitasking computing and provide fast processing performance that exceeds desktop level.
Paolo Bongia launches a new luxury collection during the show. The world's largest widescreen TV will be unveiled by electronics giant Panasonic and Interstuhl will present the world's most expensive office chair which according to the manufacturer is a response to the special needs of discerning clients.
GoldVish the ultimate luxury mobile phone makes a spectacular entry to the Middle East this weekend. The 18k gold cell phone is made with the precision and craftsmanship of the traditional watchmakers in Switzerland; each of one of the limited edition items is finished by hand and set with VVS1 diamonds.
"We hope that this unique show that offers the first sight of bespoke luxury goods will set the trend for the capital Abu Dhabi. With H.H.Sheikh Surour's patronage, the support of DCCI, and the overwhelming response from the world's most renowned brands, we trust that the EMS will become the annual premier showcase for luxury items in the region", said Mohamed Najjar the Managing Partner of Divine events.
Do you have enough money to "qualify" to attend this show? I know I don't.
Egg Cuber: Change The Way You Eat Your Hard-Boiled Egg
Are you having hard time convincing your kid to eat a hard-boiled egg? Maybe you should think about changing how the egg looks like! What about serving him a cubic egg? Besides, it's so easy to create the cubic shape with the Egg Cuber.
If you think the Egg Cuber looks cute, then take a look at the other hard-boiled egg shapes you can make with other Egg Molds.
This is what Cooking Cute had to say about egg molds:
"For minimal effort, molded eggs can add a hefty load of cute factor to your bento. They also look nice on party platters – if you have a steady hand, you can make the most unique deviled eggs known to mankind.
Molded eggs also are a great way of encouraging reluctant young'uns (and older ones) to eat eggs in their most healthy form. The poor egg has gotten a bad reputation over the years as the yolk contains cholesterol. All that bad press neglects the fact that an egg (with all that yolk) is almost a perfect food – eggs contain the highest quality source of protein available, as well as almost every essential vitamin and mineral needed by humans. Eggs are considered nutrient-dense because they provide more nutrients than calories to your diet. The minimal amount of cholesterol found in an egg isn't the problem anyway – it's all the butter and fat that they're usually cooked in."
Cute isn't it? My appetite is already opened for a hard-boiled egg!
World's Biggest Tent To Be Built In Astana, The Capital of Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan has unveiled a new architectural project for its capital Astana, The 100,000sqm Khan Shatyry Entertainment Center. The center is covered by a giant transparent & world's biggest tent. The 150m-high (500ft) dome, designed by UK architect Norman Foster, who has recently built a giant glass pyramid in Astana.
"Nothing of the sort has been done before, and from the engineering point of view it's an extremely difficult project," says Fettah Tamince, the head of Turkey's development company Sembol that is building the tent. Mr Tamince is nevertheless confident the company can complete the construction in just 12 months.
The Khan Shatyry Entertainment Center in Astana will become a dramatic civic focal point for the capital of Kazakhstan, the soaring structure, at the northern end of the new city axis, rises from a 200m elliptical base to form the highest peak on the skyline of Astana. The 100,000sqm centre’s unique concept - to provide a sheltered environment embracing an urban-scale internal park, shopping and entertainment venue - was developed in response to the harsh climate of extreme weather in both winter and summer. The building will become a lively public space and an unprecedented amenity for the people of Astana which can be used throughout the year.
Held by a mast, the vast tent-like cable net structure is clad in ETFE, a material that allows light to wash the interior spaces while sheltering them from extreme weather conditions. Astana lies in the very heart of the Central Asian steppe. Temperatures there often drop to -30C in the winter.
At the core of the building is a large flexible space that will form the cultural hub of the center, accommodating a varied programme of events and exhibitions. Complemented by 40,000sqm of retail space with a wide range of cafes, restaurants and cinemas, as well as ample covered car park facilities, the Khan Shatyry will offer leisure facilities for all.
How come Dubai did not come up with this idea first?
A team of scientists has announced a breakthrough in computer memory technology that heralded more sophisticated and reliable MP3 players, digital cameras and other devices.
Scientists from IBM, Macronix and Qimonda said they developed a material that made "phase-change" memory 500 to 1,000 times faster than the commonly-used "flash" memory, while using half as much power.
"You can do a lot of things with this phase-change memory that you can't do with flash," said IBM senior manager of nanoscale science Spike Narayan. "You can replace disks, do instant-on computers, or carry your own fancy computer application in your hand. It would complement smaller technology if manufacturers wanted to conjure things up."
"These results dramatically demonstrate that phase-change memory has a very bright future," said IBM vice president of technology T.C. Chen. "Many expect flash memory to encounter significant scaling limitations in the near future. Today we unveil a new phase-change memory material that has high performance even in an extremely small volume."
The fastest and most economical memory designs -- SRAM and DRAM, respectively -- use inherently leaky memory cells, so they must be powered continuously and, in case of DRAM, refreshed frequently as well. These "volatile" memories lose their stored information whenever their power supplies are interrupted.
At the heart of phase-change memory is a tiny chunk of alloy that can be changed rapidly between an ordered, crystalline phase and a disordered, amorphous phase. Because no electrical power is required to maintain either phase of the material, phase-change memory is "non-volatile."
"This is a much more robust memory technology," Narayan said. "It will be used more and more as flash gets into more and more trouble at small dimensions."
Corsair Flash Voyager: 16GB Water-Resistant USB Flash Drive
(Link)
Corsair Flash Voyager USB drives are rugged, stylish, compact, reliable, and fast. With data transfer rates up to 33MB/s read and 16MB/s write*, Flash Voyager drives are fully Hi-Speed plug and Play with most operating systems and are backward compatible with USB 1.1. Their durable rubber casing is easy to grip and water resistant. These highly portable drives are available in capacities ranging up to 16GB!
Plus the True Crypt security application lets you create a hidden, password-protected partition on your Flash Voyager.
Designed for users who demand the highest capacity drive currently available on the market, the new 16GB Flash Voyager can store up to 8 full- length, high definition movies with ease. 16GB of storage capacity is equivalent of close to 4 DVDs or over 20 CDs -- all in a small foot print USB design! The drive is also bootable, which means users can store a full version of Microsoft Windows and configure the PC to boot from USB. Combined with the large capacity of the drive, it allows IT managers and technology users to troubleshoot from station to station with all the applications and files necessary to perform desktop support.
The introduction MSRP of The 16GB Flash Voyager is $299 USD. Each drive is bundled with lanyard, security software/driver mini CD, and USB extension cable.
The above shows how Dr. Anderson explained his solution
Dr James Anderson, from the University of Reading's computer science department, has come up with a theory that proposes a new number - 'nullity' - which sits outside the conventional number line (stretching from negative infinity, through zero, to positive infinity). Nullity represents the solution for dividing by zero problems!
The theory of nullity is set to make all kinds of sums possible that, previously, scientists and computers couldn't work around.
"We've just solved a problem that hasn't been solved for twelve hundred years - and it's that easy," proclaims Dr Anderson having demonstrated his solution on a whiteboard at Highdown School, in Emmer Green.
"It was confusing at first, but I think I've got it. Just about," said one pupil.
"We're the first schoolkids to be able to do it - that's quite cool," added another.
Despite being a problem tackled by the famous mathematicians Newton and Pythagoras without success, it seems the Year 10 children at Highdown now know their nullity.
Hi-Tech Dummies: Can Speak, Breathe, Bleed, React to Drugs & Die
New hi-tech dummies that bleed, speak and die, if given the wrong treatment, are being used by medical students.
The University of Portsmouth this week opened a £4.85m high-tech teaching facility with £135,000 computerized mannequins to train the health-related scientist of tomorrow.
The new facility - called the ExPERT Center (Center of Excellence in Teaching and Learning) - features state of the art mannequins in two fully-kitted out simulation suites (operating theater and hospital ward).
The life-like mannequins - or human patient simulators - have computerized sensors that react to any treatment students apply.
“You can hear their heartbeat and the sounds from their lungs and bowel,” the ExPERT Center's director Professor Lesley Reynolds said. “They breathe oxygen, drool, secrete fluids, blink, bleed and even react to drugs injected into their bodies - they are as real as can be.”
The facility will be used by students in the biomedical sciences, psychology, radiography, social work, and professions allied to medicine and dentistry.
It will also be used by health and allied health professionals for continuing professional development, as well as emergency workers such as ambulance officers, fireman and police officers who, in the course of their duties, may need some specialized knowledge to save lives.
Professor Reynolds explained how the mannequins are treated as real patients by staff and students at the facility. The 'patients' have names, biographies and complete medical histories. This suspension of belief, she said, is heightened when students realize that the computerized patients react to interventions without instructor input.
“If the students provide the right treatment, the mannequin improves; if they provide the wrong treatment, the patient’s condition worsens,” Professor Reynolds said.
“For example, the mannequins can simulate cardiac arrest. The students can then administer a medicine such as epinephrine to try and get the heart going again. If they administer the right drug and the correct dose, the mannequin’s heart will start beating again. If they get it wrong, the patient dies.
“We are using technology to enhance learning, and in this example it’s the reality of life and death in a simulated environment.”
Everything happening inside the simulation suites is recorded with static and pan-and-tilt high-resolution cameras as well as discretely placed microphones. The recording is controlled in a one-way mirror shielded room overlooking the suites.
But technology-enhanced teaching and learning at the new facility is not confined to the simulation suites. Any activity in the suites can be streamed back to the center's techno-modern inspired teaching space so students and instructors can watch and critically appraise performances in real-time.
The ExPERT Center also houses a biomedical sciences simulation laboratory. This laboratory has everything a private top of the line one has. It means students in the biomedical sciences learn the core professional competencies in an environment that better prepares them for the real life experience.
Lil' Bush: Cartoon About the Bush Administration
(Link)
Comedy Central has ordered six episodes of "Lil' Bush: Resident of the United States," a cartoon satire that re-imagines President Bush and key executives in his administration as elementary school misfits. The cartoon from writer-producer Donick Cary ("The Simpsons") have been ordered to air on Comedy Central next year.
The title character is surrounded by close pals like Lil' Cheney, who grumbles unintelligibly, and Lil' Condi, who pines for Lil' Bush and does his homework for him.
"Bush" is not without its risque moments. When Lil' Bush's school serves falafel instead of hot dogs for lunch in one episode, he and his pals torture the cafeteria employees with methods made famous during the Abu Ghraib prison scandal.
Click here to watch a couple of episodes of Lil' Bush.
Xerox Erasable Paper for Temporary Documents On Reusable Paper
Click above for larger image
Xerox Corporation scientists have invented a way to make prints whose images last only a day, so that the paper can be used again and again. The technology, which is still in a preliminary state, blurs the line between paper documents and digital displays and could ultimately lead to a significant reduction in paper use.
The experimental printing technology, a collaboration between the Xerox Research Centre of Canada and PARC (Palo Alto Research Center Inc.), could someday replace printed pages that are used for just a brief time before being discarded. Xerox estimates that as many as two out of every five pages printed in the office are for what it calls "daily" use, like e-mails, Web pages and reference materials that have been printed for a single viewing.
"Despite our reliance on computers to share and process information, there is still a strong dependence on the printed page for reading and absorbing content. Of course, we'd all like to use less paper, but we know from talking with customers that many people still prefer to work with information on paper. Self-erasing documents for short-term use offers the best of both worlds," said Paul Smith, manager of XRCC's new materials design and synthesis lab.
Xerox has filed for patents on the technology, which it calls "erasable paper." It is currently part of a laboratory project that focuses on the concept of future dynamic documents.
To develop erasable paper, researchers needed to identify ways to create temporary images. The "a-ha" moment came from developing compounds that change color when they absorb a certain wavelength of light but then will gradually disappear. In its present version, the paper self-erases in about 16-24 hours and can be used multiple times.
While scientists at XRCC work on the chemistry of the technology, their counterparts at PARC - the birthplace of the laser printer - are investigating ways to build a device that could write the image onto the special paper. PARC researchers developed a prototype "printer" that creates the image on the paper using a light bar that provides a specific wavelength of light as a writing source. The written image fades naturally over time or can be immediately erased by exposing it to heat.
While potential users have shown interest in transient documents, there is still much to be done if the technology is to be commercialized. "This will remain a research project for some time," said Eric Shrader, PARC area manager, industrial inkjet systems. "Our experiments prove that it can be done, and that is the first step, but not the only one, to developing a system that is commercially viable."
Temporary documents are part of Xerox's ongoing investments in sustainable innovation - or "green products" - that deliver measurable benefits to the environment, such as solid ink printing technology, which generates 90 percent less waste than comparable laser printers; more energy-efficient printers, copiers and multifunction devices; and other paper-saving innovations.
First I thought it's a joke, but it is not ... Hands Free Toilet Seat! You don't need to touch your toilet seat and get your hands contaminated! Now the end of humans suffering had reached an end .. a happy ending!
The Bottoms Up, LLC announced October 27th the introduction of their revolutionary hands-free toilet seat and the launch of their corporate website (http://www.thebottomsup.biz).
This innovative and stylish new product eliminates the need to bend down and touch the toilet seat with your hands. Will Hussey, the inventor and company founder says, "Women have suffered with dirty and open toilet seats for long enough. We are really excited about how our product solves this timeless problem. Additionally, anyone that appreciates good hygiene will also have an interest in our seat."
The company's web homepage features a real time video demonstration of their patent pending technology. "We have also set up a simple e-mail alert system for anyone that wants to know the day we are ready to ship," comments Hussey.
Hussey goes on to say, "Through our e-mail alert system, the women of the world can really change the fate of our company and the quality of their own lives. The sooner we see a certain level of interest through the alert system, the sooner we can ramp up high volume manufacturing. So, if you want this product, it is really important to let us know. Our motto is similar to Jerry Maguire's, help us, help you!"
The Bottoms Up seat is specifically designed to replace an existing toilet seat by using the two bolt holes in the rear of the toilet. Recent advancements in micro-motor and battery technology enabled the company to create a low profile, stylish housing that fits on the rear of the toilet bowl just like any traditional toilet seat.
In addition to the residential market, the company sees an opportunity for their product in restaurants, hotels, hospitals, airports and other high traffic public places. Hussey, founder of The Bottoms Up says, "The customer experience is receiving more and more focus in highly competitive industries like restaurants and hotels. Our seat creates a much more refined, almost futuristic bathroom experience."
Ecosol PowerStick is a portable power source for portable devices like cellular phones, PDA's, MP3's and digital cameras. Charge it using any USB port and charge up your device whenever and wherever you need it. It can fully charge a Blackberry.
You will always know how much power in your Ecosol PowerStick with the fuel gauge display. The battery type is lithium polymer with an output voltage of 5V DC. The charge time is around 90 minutes and it weighs 40 grams. Charge input voltage is 4.5-5.5V.
