By LAURIE J. FLYNN
Raising the ante in the video game wars, Microsoft is bringing out a new version of the Xbox 360 game machine that has a bigger hard drive, better high-definition video support and a stylish black finish, not an insignificant feature in a world where looking cool ranks high.
The idea is to appeal to an elite class of hardcore game players who would like a little more of everything.
“Today’s games-and-entertainment enthusiast has an insatiable appetite for digital high-definition content,” said Peter Moore, corporate vice president for Microsoft’s interactive entertainment business, in Redmond, Wash.
The Xbox 360 Elite, which is to be announced today and will be in stores in late April, will have a list price of $479, or $80 more than the Xbox 360 Pro and $180 more than the basic Xbox 360. The new model has a 120-gigabyte hard drive, in contrast to the standard model’s 20-gigabyte drive. It also has a high-definition multimedia interface port and cable and a wireless controller and headset. Current Xbox 360 owners can buy the new 120-gigabyte hard drive as a separate accessory for $179.
Microsoft is clearly hoping to fill what it sees as a hole at the top end of the market. The Nintendo Wii has been outselling the PlayStation 3 from Sony and the Xbox 360 in recent months, but that system is largely positioned as a family-friendly game machine that can be purchased for $50 less than the lowest-priced Xbox. The Sony system is priced higher than both the Nintendo and the Microsoft systems, with the cheapest model priced at $499.
Both Microsoft and Sony have positioned their consoles as entertainment hubs, not just for playing sophisticated video games but also for listening to music and viewing downloaded movies and television shows.
John Rodman, group product manager for the Xbox platform and Xbox Live, pointed to a recent Microsoft survey that revealed that nearly 40 percent of the time that Xbox 360 users spent with their consoles was for activities other than gaming.
Yet when it comes to gaming, Xbox 360 users are serious, Mr. Rodman says. Six out of 10 Xbox 360 users use Xbox Live, Microsoft’s online gaming service.
“We don’t feel like the Wii customer and the Xbox customer are the same thing,” he said. “We think that as soon as the Wii customer turns 14 they want something else.”
James L. McQuivey, an analyst at Forrester Research, said that Microsoft hoped to encourage customers to spend more money downloading movies and games, which require considerable hard-drive space.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
IBM Announces Tool to Help Visually Impaired 'See' Internet Multimedia
Millions of senior citizens may experience streaming video, animation
March 25, 2007 - IBM has announced a first-of-its-kind emerging technology that helps blind and visually impaired people experience streaming video and animation on the Internet. It is estimated that there are more than 161 million people with these impairments and the vast majority are senior citizens.
The multimedia browsing accessibility tool hasn't been named yet, according to Information Week. "Chieko Asakawa, a senior accessibility researcher at IBM who has been blind since the age of 14, spearheaded the development of the new software out of frustration with streaming video," IW says. It was designed at IBM's Tokyo Research Laboratory.
The emergence of multimedia content has raised usage levels of Web content. Yet people with low or no vision have not been able to enjoy the benefits of these advances. Screen-reading software and self-talking browsers cannot handle multimedia applications, which are designed for intuitive visual use. Visually impaired users cannot see multimedia control buttons appear on a screen.
In addition, the audio of a streaming video --- which automatically starts playing after the page is loaded --- interferes with a synthesized assistive voice from screen-reading software, a vital assistant for visually impaired users. Furthermore, most multimedia content operates with a mouse rather than keyboard, making it impossible for visually impaired people to use it.
The new multimedia browsing accessibility tool offers people with visual impairment the same multimedia control features sighted people see and operate with a mouse.
To enjoy a streaming video on video sharing websites, for example, visually impaired people can select the "play" button by simply pressing a predefined shortcut key to control the media instead of roaming the content to search for buttons to control the video. The tool also allows users to control video replay speed, volume and even speed up the sound since to people with visual impairment, listening to the sound streaming video offers is painfully slow.
"The new multimedia browsing accessibility tool will enable persons with visual impairments the opportunity to access dynamic multimedia web content, quickly and easily. This tool is another example of IBM Research developing innovative solutions for persons with disabilities," said Chieko Asakawa who leads accessibility research at IBM's Tokyo Research Laboratory.
The new multimedia browsing accessibility tool can adjust the volume of an individual source, allowing users to identify and listen to different sound sources including screen-reading software and the sound of a video. If a content creator wants to offer a voice narrative to a video, the new accessibility tool provides the flexibility of metadata, which contains a text script explaining what is happening on screen.
The tool automatically makes adjustments to let voice guidance synchronizes with the video, even with the speed control capability.
"IBM has a long history of developing innovative solutions for persons with disabilities, and the new multimedia browsing accessibility tool is another example of IBM innovation that will enhance the web experience for persons with visual impairments," said Frances West, director, IBM Human Ability and Accessibility Center.
IBM plans to open source (make available for others to help develop) the new multimedia browsing accessibility tool to accelerate the enhancement and adoption of the tool to make multimedia contents accessible for visually impaired.
"IBM has developed other technologies for the visually impaired, including a talking browser and programs that help people with visual impairments adjust font sizes and color contrast on Web pages," reports Information Week.
IBM (www.03.ibm.com/press/us/en/presskit/TechWatch.wss)
March 25, 2007 - IBM has announced a first-of-its-kind emerging technology that helps blind and visually impaired people experience streaming video and animation on the Internet. It is estimated that there are more than 161 million people with these impairments and the vast majority are senior citizens.
The multimedia browsing accessibility tool hasn't been named yet, according to Information Week. "Chieko Asakawa, a senior accessibility researcher at IBM who has been blind since the age of 14, spearheaded the development of the new software out of frustration with streaming video," IW says. It was designed at IBM's Tokyo Research Laboratory.
The emergence of multimedia content has raised usage levels of Web content. Yet people with low or no vision have not been able to enjoy the benefits of these advances. Screen-reading software and self-talking browsers cannot handle multimedia applications, which are designed for intuitive visual use. Visually impaired users cannot see multimedia control buttons appear on a screen.
In addition, the audio of a streaming video --- which automatically starts playing after the page is loaded --- interferes with a synthesized assistive voice from screen-reading software, a vital assistant for visually impaired users. Furthermore, most multimedia content operates with a mouse rather than keyboard, making it impossible for visually impaired people to use it.
The new multimedia browsing accessibility tool offers people with visual impairment the same multimedia control features sighted people see and operate with a mouse.
To enjoy a streaming video on video sharing websites, for example, visually impaired people can select the "play" button by simply pressing a predefined shortcut key to control the media instead of roaming the content to search for buttons to control the video. The tool also allows users to control video replay speed, volume and even speed up the sound since to people with visual impairment, listening to the sound streaming video offers is painfully slow.
"The new multimedia browsing accessibility tool will enable persons with visual impairments the opportunity to access dynamic multimedia web content, quickly and easily. This tool is another example of IBM Research developing innovative solutions for persons with disabilities," said Chieko Asakawa who leads accessibility research at IBM's Tokyo Research Laboratory.
The new multimedia browsing accessibility tool can adjust the volume of an individual source, allowing users to identify and listen to different sound sources including screen-reading software and the sound of a video. If a content creator wants to offer a voice narrative to a video, the new accessibility tool provides the flexibility of metadata, which contains a text script explaining what is happening on screen.
The tool automatically makes adjustments to let voice guidance synchronizes with the video, even with the speed control capability.
"IBM has a long history of developing innovative solutions for persons with disabilities, and the new multimedia browsing accessibility tool is another example of IBM innovation that will enhance the web experience for persons with visual impairments," said Frances West, director, IBM Human Ability and Accessibility Center.
IBM plans to open source (make available for others to help develop) the new multimedia browsing accessibility tool to accelerate the enhancement and adoption of the tool to make multimedia contents accessible for visually impaired.
"IBM has developed other technologies for the visually impaired, including a talking browser and programs that help people with visual impairments adjust font sizes and color contrast on Web pages," reports Information Week.
IBM (www.03.ibm.com/press/us/en/presskit/TechWatch.wss)
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Blood Bank uses new technology
Siouxland Community Blood Bank is the first in the nation to introduce the Cymbal System created by Haemonetics.
The Cymbal System is a new generation of automated red cell collection technology for volunteer blood donors who choose to donate double red cells. The Siouxland Blood Bank has had double red cell donation capability since September of 2001, when it introduced the Haemonetics first generation technology. Now at half the size of the first generation series, the Cymbal System is highly versatile for a mobilesetup. It is battery operated and allows volunteer blood donors to donate twice as much blood in a single visit.
The Cymbal System is designed for ease of the donors. Donating double red cells takes about 15 to 20 minutes longer than a single unit donation, but donors only have to donate half as often. The donation interval with double red cells is 112 days as opposed to 56 days with a single unit donation, potentially allowing donors to donate the maximum amount of blood a year in only three visits.
Double red cell donation uses a smaller needle to collect blood in only one arm. Then, a machine separates the red cells and the donor gets back the platelets, plasma and white cells.
"At the Siouxland Community Blood Bank, we remain committed to being a leader in our field for introducing cutting edge technology," said Janette Twait, chief executive officer with the Siouxland Community Blood Bank.
"Our partnership with Haemonetics has allowed us to introduce the newest and latest technology that blood banking has to offer so that we are able to ensure that the needs of patients in 36 area hospitals are met safely and sufficiently.
"To be eligible for double red cell donations, men must weigh at least 130 pounds and be 5 feet 1 inch tall, women must weigh at least 150 pounds and be 5 feet 5 inches tall.
To be eligible to donate blood individuals must be at least 17 years of age; (16 in the state of Iowa with a signed SCBB parental consent form); however there is no upper age limit as long as the donor is in good health. In addition, donors need to weigh at least 110 pounds and have not donated whole blood in the past 56 days. A photo I.D. is required at the time of registration.
The Cymbal System is a new generation of automated red cell collection technology for volunteer blood donors who choose to donate double red cells. The Siouxland Blood Bank has had double red cell donation capability since September of 2001, when it introduced the Haemonetics first generation technology. Now at half the size of the first generation series, the Cymbal System is highly versatile for a mobilesetup. It is battery operated and allows volunteer blood donors to donate twice as much blood in a single visit.
The Cymbal System is designed for ease of the donors. Donating double red cells takes about 15 to 20 minutes longer than a single unit donation, but donors only have to donate half as often. The donation interval with double red cells is 112 days as opposed to 56 days with a single unit donation, potentially allowing donors to donate the maximum amount of blood a year in only three visits.
Double red cell donation uses a smaller needle to collect blood in only one arm. Then, a machine separates the red cells and the donor gets back the platelets, plasma and white cells.
"At the Siouxland Community Blood Bank, we remain committed to being a leader in our field for introducing cutting edge technology," said Janette Twait, chief executive officer with the Siouxland Community Blood Bank.
"Our partnership with Haemonetics has allowed us to introduce the newest and latest technology that blood banking has to offer so that we are able to ensure that the needs of patients in 36 area hospitals are met safely and sufficiently.
"To be eligible for double red cell donations, men must weigh at least 130 pounds and be 5 feet 1 inch tall, women must weigh at least 150 pounds and be 5 feet 5 inches tall.
To be eligible to donate blood individuals must be at least 17 years of age; (16 in the state of Iowa with a signed SCBB parental consent form); however there is no upper age limit as long as the donor is in good health. In addition, donors need to weigh at least 110 pounds and have not donated whole blood in the past 56 days. A photo I.D. is required at the time of registration.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
New technology gives doctors the big picture
By Rick Bentley / The Fresno Bee
03/20/07 03:45:11
Dr. Charles Smith, medical director of the Department of Medical Imagery, stares at the images on four computer screens. The screen is filled with the sonogram image of a kidney of one of his patients. The screen is covered with 16 smaller images of the same kidney.
The images give Smith the opportunity to look at how the patient's kidney has changed over the past year. And all it took was a few seconds on the computer.
Children's Hospital Central California is now using the multimillion-dollar Picture Archiving Communication System, or PACS. The system, put in place in December, will eventually phase out the way doctors have dealt with X-rays, CT scans and other ways to peek inside their patient's bodies. The old system required doctors to hold up huge sheets of X-ray film to a light for scrutiny. That system is being replaced by computerized imaging.
Now, instead of the images being on film, digital versions are collected and stored in the computer. These digital images can be accessed in an instant by the physicians. And they can be accessed by multiple doctors simultaneously, even doctors who happen to be on vacation at other points on the globe.
Keith Pipes, director of Imaging Services, says that the new system is better for the doctors, the patients, the hospital and even the environment.
"In the past, a patient would have an X-ray made. The film would have to be processed. That would take a few minutes. How much detail was in the image depended on the technician," Pipes says. "We now use what is called computerized radiography. There is no more film; it is like an Etch A Sketch. A special plate is used. You make the exposure with X-rays, but instead of going to the darkroom, you enter the plate into the computer, and it pops up on the screen immediately."
Under the old system, once the image was made, it had to be shipped around the hospital, depending on the patient's needs. If the X-ray got lost or misfiled, the doctors had no history of the patient's condition. With PACS, the images are available to be seen as soon the information can be loaded into the computer.
Another plus is the additional information available through the digital images. Film X-rays have only one contrast. Because the image is collected digitally, the doctor can change the contrast on the image to see as much or little detail as necessary.
"You could not do that with film." Pipes says. "This is considerably higher resolution than you can get from a view box."
A huge bonus for doctors is that the images can be shared. It is possible for the X-ray to be seen at the same time by a doctor doing an operation, a specialist in another part of the hospital and by the patient's doctor who is at home. Those doctors would have had to be in the same room to simultaneously view an X-ray under the old system.
Smith is a big supporter of the new system.
"In the past I would have had to look at large stacks of X-rays of the patient. To get those X-rays I would have to order them from the files. Sometimes they got lost. Now all I have to do is call up the images on the computer screen," Smith says.
PACS is designed to allow doctors to examine one image or multiple images taken over an extended period of time. The computers feature terabytes of storage and make it possible for the doctors to look at the patient's medical reports at the same time.
In the past, patients were given the large film X-rays when they left the hospital. Depending on how long the patient was under a doctor's care, that could end up being a hefty stack. Now, the patient is sent home with the images stored on a CD.
03/20/07 03:45:11
Dr. Charles Smith, medical director of the Department of Medical Imagery, stares at the images on four computer screens. The screen is filled with the sonogram image of a kidney of one of his patients. The screen is covered with 16 smaller images of the same kidney.
The images give Smith the opportunity to look at how the patient's kidney has changed over the past year. And all it took was a few seconds on the computer.
Children's Hospital Central California is now using the multimillion-dollar Picture Archiving Communication System, or PACS. The system, put in place in December, will eventually phase out the way doctors have dealt with X-rays, CT scans and other ways to peek inside their patient's bodies. The old system required doctors to hold up huge sheets of X-ray film to a light for scrutiny. That system is being replaced by computerized imaging.
Now, instead of the images being on film, digital versions are collected and stored in the computer. These digital images can be accessed in an instant by the physicians. And they can be accessed by multiple doctors simultaneously, even doctors who happen to be on vacation at other points on the globe.
Keith Pipes, director of Imaging Services, says that the new system is better for the doctors, the patients, the hospital and even the environment.
"In the past, a patient would have an X-ray made. The film would have to be processed. That would take a few minutes. How much detail was in the image depended on the technician," Pipes says. "We now use what is called computerized radiography. There is no more film; it is like an Etch A Sketch. A special plate is used. You make the exposure with X-rays, but instead of going to the darkroom, you enter the plate into the computer, and it pops up on the screen immediately."
Under the old system, once the image was made, it had to be shipped around the hospital, depending on the patient's needs. If the X-ray got lost or misfiled, the doctors had no history of the patient's condition. With PACS, the images are available to be seen as soon the information can be loaded into the computer.
Another plus is the additional information available through the digital images. Film X-rays have only one contrast. Because the image is collected digitally, the doctor can change the contrast on the image to see as much or little detail as necessary.
"You could not do that with film." Pipes says. "This is considerably higher resolution than you can get from a view box."
A huge bonus for doctors is that the images can be shared. It is possible for the X-ray to be seen at the same time by a doctor doing an operation, a specialist in another part of the hospital and by the patient's doctor who is at home. Those doctors would have had to be in the same room to simultaneously view an X-ray under the old system.
Smith is a big supporter of the new system.
"In the past I would have had to look at large stacks of X-rays of the patient. To get those X-rays I would have to order them from the files. Sometimes they got lost. Now all I have to do is call up the images on the computer screen," Smith says.
PACS is designed to allow doctors to examine one image or multiple images taken over an extended period of time. The computers feature terabytes of storage and make it possible for the doctors to look at the patient's medical reports at the same time.
In the past, patients were given the large film X-rays when they left the hospital. Depending on how long the patient was under a doctor's care, that could end up being a hefty stack. Now, the patient is sent home with the images stored on a CD.
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