[From The New York Times] January 29, 2010 Doctor and Patient Practicing on Patients, Real and Otherwise By PAULINE W. CHEN, M.D. Near the end of my surgical training, I spent three months as chief resident of a hospital trauma team. Two other doctors-in-training and I formed the first-line emergency room response, assessing and resuscitating patients who had been mangled, burned or otherwise injured. It was my first experience as a leader, but each of us was already fairly proficient and we all got along. I was confident that we would work well together. I was wrong. During our first…

[From The Future of Media blog of The Interpublic Emerging Media Lab] Emerging MediaCES 2009: Yoostar, Guitar Hero for movies? Friday, January 9th, 2009 by: Devora Rogers What if you could star in famous movies, without ever leaving your home? That is what Yoostar Entertainment Group hopes to deliver to consumers with their recently unveiled Yoostar product. Using green screen technology, the system allows users to star in their favorite movie scenes along with famous actors (and their friends)–then share their performances with friends.…

[A press release from the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)] FRONTLINE EXPLORES WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HUMAN IN A WORLD IMMERSED IN TECHNOLOGY FRONTLINE Presents DIGITAL NATION Tuesday, February 2, 2010, from 9 to 10:30 P.M. ET on PBS www.pbs.org/frontline/digitalnation Within a single generation, digital media and the World Wide Web have transformed virtually every aspect of modern culture, from the way we learn and work to the ways in which we socialize and even conduct war. But is the technology moving faster than we can adapt to it? And is our 24/7 wired world causing us to lose as…

[A press release from Panasonic] Panasonic Develops World’s Largest 152-inch Full HD 3D Plasma Display The ultra-large, 4K x 2K quadruple full HD plasma panel creates a true full HD 3D world, delivering an overwhelming immersive experience LAS VEGAS, NV (January 6, 2010) – Panasonic Corporation, a world leader in the HDTV technology, has developed the world’s largest [1] 152-inch 4K x 2K definition Full HD 3D plasma display.  The display features a revolutionary new plasma display panel (PDP) Panasonic developed with its new super-efficient quadruple luminous efficiency technology [2].  The technology enhances PDP’s unique advantages as self-illuminating device, contributing to…

[From Computerworld] Gadget Patents That We Hope Will Turn Into Real Products Harry McCracken 19.01.2010 IDG News Service Gadget patents can change the world, as everyone from Alexander Graham Bell to Steve Jobs has proved. Some of our favorite gadget-related patents, however, are for technologies and products that haven’t changed much of anything–at least not yet. Here are ten intriguing examples, including ones from both famously inventive companies and lone geniuses. We’re not saying that any of them are a catchy ad campaign away from becoming history-making breakthroughs–though one or two might stand a chance. We just like them. And…

[From Wired magazine’s Autopia blog] Ford Goes to Cyberspace to Help Astronauts By Chuck Squatriglia  January 20, 2010 Ford and United Space Alliance are cribbing from the movie and gaming industries by using virtual-reality software to create better cars — and spaceships. The automaker and the aerospace company — a lead contractor for the space shuttle — are sharing their experience with animation software to create simulations that benefit astronauts and motorists. In Ford’s case, engineers and designers work in cyberspace to design automobile interiors. United Space Alliance uses the same technology to track launch debris during liftoff. Now a new…