Surgical procedures assisted by robots are nothing new — they can be more precise and less invasive — and now it looks like a new upgrade could make them even better. The main drawback of a surgical robot is that the human surgeon performing the operation gets no tactile feedback, but that’s not the case with Sofie. Sofie, a joystick controlled robot gives haptic feedback to the surgeon by adjusting the resistance the controls give to indicate how much pressure is being exerted, surely a welcome addition to bots of this kind. This robot is also more compact than many earlier bots of this kind, and its creators are now looking to bring it into production, with a goal of it coming to the market in about five years. Sofie surgical robot gives haptic feedback for a more originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 23:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …US forces may have killed abducted aid worker Linda Norgrove says British PM
October 12, 2010 No Comment
A BRITISH aid worker who died in an attempt by US forces to rescue her from Taliban kidnappers in Afghanistan may have been killed by a grenade…
Continue reading …NVIDIA launches sub-$80 GeForce GT 430 for single-slot cooler enthusiasts
October 12, 2010 No CommentThe graphics card that doesn’t require a fridge-sized cooler is turning into something of a rarity nowadays, but we doubt the market for quiet, efficient, and halfway-decent GPUs is ever going to disappear completely. NVIDIA is fleshing out its Fermi family today with a creature that aspires to such epithets, the 96 CUDA core-equipped GT 430. It’s a patently humble GPU, as indicated by its $79.99 typical price, 49W TDP, 5.7-inch board length, and single-slot cooler design. Mind you, while those are typically considered positives, they do limit gaming performance quite significantly, with the GT 430 getting roundly beaten by ATI’s ( sob! ) AMD’s similarly priced Radeon HD 5670 . So what niche is left for this card? Well, it’s an upgrade over integrated graphics and it gets you on the 3D bandwagon, but on the whole we’re left scratching our voluminous craniums as to why anyone would dodge AMD’s more accomplished hardware for NVIDIA’s latest. Hit up the reviews below and form your own opinion, if our one doesn’t suit your outfit today. Read – HardOCP Read – AnandTech Read – PC Perspective Read – Hot Hardware Read – Legit Reviews Read – Hexus Gallery: NVIDIA GeForce GT 430 partner boards NVIDIA launches sub-$80 GeForce GT 430 for single-slot cooler enthusiasts originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 21:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Updated Yahoo Messenger app now live in App Store, 3G video calling bonanza awaits you
October 12, 2010 No Comment
Not stoked on Skype or FaceTime ? Looks like you’ve got another option, bub. That overhauled Yahoo Messenger app we told you about 48 hours ago is now live in the App Store, offering multitasking on the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4, 3G / WiFi video calling (iOS to iOS, iOS to Android or iOS to PC) and instant notifications. Users interested in making voice calls can also tap into their bucket of Yahoo Voice Phone Out minutes, but it’ll only work in America, France, Germany, Spain and Singapore at the moment. Hit that source link to get your download on, cool? Updated Yahoo Messenger app now live in App Store, 3G video calling bonanza awaits you originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 20:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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New York City police say a caretaker who was working at a historic cemetery dug up a garbage bag containing military-grade explosives last fall and left it at the site, where it remained until a volunteer told authorities about it Monday. (Oct. 11)
Continue reading …Shear feedback GPS navigation tells your fingers where to go, you just have to follow (video)
October 11, 2010 No Comment
Keeping your eyes on the road gets ever more difficult with ever-bigger, ever-brighter GPS navigation units hitting retail. This product of University of Utah research could obsolete them entirely by tickling your fingers. It’s called “shear feedback,” effectively stretching the skin on your fingertip to tell you which way to go, achieved via a pair of old Thinkpad trackpoints, which were always too coarse a grit for our delicate tastes. The nub moves left or right to tell you where to go, and in a test distracted drivers were 24 percent more likely to follow directions through their digits than when told by cold, uncaring GPS lady. It’s demonstrated after the break and looks like it would be perfect if we always drove at ten and two — and wanted to get our fingerprints sandpapered off on every trip to the mall. Continue reading Shear feedback GPS navigation tells your fingers where to go, you just have to follow (video) Shear feedback GPS navigation tells your fingers where to go, you just have to follow (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 19:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …From Don Surber : If you’re a Democrat and your state does not have a coast, you might consider finding a new career after November 2. Flyover country will be looking mighty red after Nov. 2.
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Actress explains how her sexual assault storyline on ’90210′ is more than just a role. She has a personal connection to the topic and wants to provide support for survivors and those impacted by sexual abuse. (Oct. 11)
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Stars of ‘The League’ Nick Kroll and Jonathon LaJoie on their fantasy football sitcom. (Oct. 11)
Continue reading …Samsung X430 headed for Microsoft Stores with a crapware-free copy of Windows
October 11, 2010 No Comment
We just got a quick look at a previously Korea-bound Samsung X430 laptop that Microsoft has tapped as a “Microsoft Store Exclusive.” It’s pretty good hardware, both inside and outside, for the price. Also, due to its Store-exclusive nature, Microsoft also put the promised “Microsoft Signature Image” on here, which means a copy of Windows 7 completely free of crapware and trialware, though Microsoft has put a good quantity of first party software that you’ll probably want like Windows Live, Bing Maps 3D, and Microsoft Security Essentials. If you ask yourself “how would Steve Ballmer use this computer,” the Signature Image is pretty much the answer. For $1,099 you get a Core i3 ULV processor, GeForce 310M graphics, a 500GB HDD, and a 14-inch WXGA screen. Our favorite part is probably just the premium feel of this device, and its no-nonsense look, at least when it’s open and you’re actually using it — that faux carbon fiber lid on the outside is a little loud. Gallery: Samsung X430 headed for Microsoft Stores Samsung X430 headed for Microsoft Stores with a crapware-free copy of Windows originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 18:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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