25/02/2012 Click

protection policies. Now it is time How are you feeling today? This

week, Click looks at the technology designed to help you what is up and

treated you with more than tender loving Korea -- tender loving

career. The devices that take your devices from your eyes or mind. And

we will slip into something more comfortable. The next generation of

wearable technology. And your life from beginning to, well, now.

Welcome to Click. When it comes to health, we can't really be too

careful, so while there is technology to help diagnose and

manage a whole medical encyclopaedia's words of conditions,

should we really be taking our lives into our own hands? We have

been looking at how safe it is to play doctors and nurses. We have

all done it. Felt under the weather and are looked up out sentence on

the internet only to convince ourselves we have got every

condition going. How are you feeling today? Or false. I sneezed

three times today. Any other symptoms? I get a bit shivery when

I go outside. Definitely sounds to me like a case of man flue. It

would be nice to avoid the germs of a doctor's surgery waiting room but

it is not just about the worry. When there is actually something

wrong, getting the right diagnosis is a -- is essential. Some symptoms,

while they might seem innocuous, actually if they have been going on

for a long time, you should be seeing a doctor and making sure it

is nothing too serious and does not need treatment. But once you know

what you are dealing with the latest DIY medical technology comes

into its sign. This is why medics are encouraging the use of home

technology for those with chronic conditions. Here is a blood

pressure monitor that attaches directly to your iPhone, iPad or

iPod touch. I am not an actual doctor, but I have read the

instructions. It seems that it you place this about two centimetres

above your elbow, then rest your arm on a survey says but makes --

make sure it is at heart level, you need to feel rested and relaxed and

not really speak. -- on a surface. The results on your blood pressure

and pulse rate will be displayed immediately. When you set up an

online account the information will automatically be updated. The

question is, how accurate is it? This doctor helped me put it to the

test by measuring its result against those taken with his

professional device. There were minor differences but he assured me

they were not of anything relevant. They are all of the same order.

Before we had these people would come in every two or three months.

Now they can keep an eye on their blood pressure. They can let you

know their findings by e-mail and you can advise them accordingly and

changed their dose or whatever treatment is necessary. This goal

was just six years old when she was diagnosed with type on diabetes.

The latest gadgets offer more hi- tech control. Two years ago she

switched from insulin injections to our blood glucose reader that

connects to a continuous pump fire BlueTooth. It accolades how much

insulin above her base does is required and at a touch of a button

delivers it. It has completely changed my life. Before I was on it

I probably would not have been able to go to college and sit my A-

levels. There is no way I could go to university. When I was injecting

before it is a bit short because you have to stick to certain times

of the evening and finding places. -- a chore. And when I was at

school, people would make comments. But with these, I have freedom to

eat where and when I want. And I can get the glucose me that out.

Because it is Pluto it looks like a telephone. -- because it is

BlueTooth it looks like a phone. What we have worried about in the

past is people testing their blood glucose, seeing what it is, and

doing nothing. With the advance of technology, and seeing all of this

development, people are so much more interested in what is going on,

and they are acting on the results. I do not need as much input from

the doctors any more because I can get the results on the screen. If I

saw that my blood-sugar was a bit higher than what it should be, I

can take more insular and an action programme it by the metre. I can

tell it's that I need it. Although hers was provided by her doctor,

developments have made it to the consumer market as well. These

requests reader instantly sends its readings via a free Tucci

connection to a secure online portal. If you want to keep all of

your medical data in one place, Microsoft HealthVault is one place

that can provide a secure place with all of your readings with the

option of giving doctors or family access as well. It is not just

about monitoring existing conditions. There is also an

opportunity for us all to become more health aware. The Fitbit is a

piece of wearable technology that monitors every step you take, so it

might just encourage you to make more effort. Then you can work out

whether you have learned that chocolate muffin or not. By logging

on to your account you have to own up to what you have been eating. It

will match energy used intake. If you wear it 24 hours it can even

monitor your sleep. This app allows your camera on your phone to

measure your heart rate. It monitors colour changes in the

light that passes through your finger. It is all very well, but

what am I meant to do with the state of? 72 beats per minute. Is

that normal? There are limits. You can measure things, but it does not

mean you can diver knows what is wrong with you, or even what the

measurement might mean. -- you can diagnose. It it is a balance

between self care but understanding sometimes you need to see and

healthcare professionals. Maybe it was a bit optimistic of May to

think an app and they could keep the doctor away.

Next up - a look at this week's technology news. The spat over

whether Google is by passing through is the settings on popular

browsers has intensified. Last week it was accused of using third-party

cookies to track Safari uses the behaviour. Now Microsoft says the

search died is using a similar technique to track Internet

Explorer. Google rejects the suggestions saying Microsoft's

reliance on outdated technology had forced thousands of websites to

circumvent it. The Pirate Bay one of the world's most popular file

sharing websites is to stop offering downloads while Torrance

from next week. It says its new system will make it harder for

their enemies to stop them. It comes as the High Court in the UK

ruled that The Pirate Bay firelight Copyright regulation. It will

decide whether it should be blocked in the UK. -- violates. And imagine

a tablet that can actually get e- mail without users needing a phone?

Crazy. But it is actually happening. RIM has updated its system to allow

him access without a handset. It does not include the ever-popular

BlackBerry messenger that would be asking for too much. -- BlackBerry

Messenger. The lack of independent e-mail has been seen as a key

reason for the collapse in playbook sales which saw its price tag/by

more than half last year. Users can download some of the apps in the

Android market place, however. Last week we looked at some of the

new ways to control out technology using gestures. But for those who

do not want to, or for perhaps who cannot, how about controlling your

computer with your eyes and playing video games with your mind? Well,

Thereat infrared lights below the monitor illuminating both eyes. --

there are. There has sensors capturing images of the eyes. What

it does is it takes the shiny spots off the eye and the reflection of

the retina, two spots on each by, and it calculates a three-

dimensional model of each fight in near real time and every time you

move your eyes around on the screen it knows exactly where you are

looking. I can see, I can write my This technology has been around for

about 75 years. Scientists first discovered the human body gives off

an electrical signal. It has predominately been used in

hospitals for people with brain problems. What we have done is we

have taken that technology and simplified it and brought the cost

down and are making it available so it can be built into inexpensive

mass-market consumer electronics. With the headset, I am controlling

the height of the Player icon. When I pay attention I drive it up and

when I relax I drive it down. With the remote, I am moving it to the

left and to the right. The reason why I do not have four axes of

control is that the brain is incredibly complex to listen to.

The science right now will only allow us a degree of confidence in

controlling one mechanism. In the future when we have more insight

into the brain wave signal will be able to control multiple dimensions.

-- we will. It might be difficult to get your head around the idea of

I control but apparently those who have tried it say that after a few

minutes' training it really does Have you ever been getting dressed

in the morning and you have stopped to think, I wish my clothing had

more taking them? No? What I have to. Imagine a future where you had

a smart T-shirt, or a pair of wireless Sox. One day, your

clothing may not need in the pockets. -- need any pockets.

Because you will be wearing your gadgets.

Nice outfit. But they do not really do anything. But the stresses do.

They are filled with a series of LEDs and sensors and respond to the

wearer's movement. It mixes fashion with electronics. Those wires

become printed parts on a much smaller circuit board, which fits

into the dress. It has been a specially-designed by one company

which began weaving its magic over ten years ago. When we first

started, there were no conductive fabrics. Everything was huge and

bulky and had wires all over the place. We were getting frustrated.

We started working on developing our and technology. Including this

Italian pop star's 4.5 metre long white dress. 12,000 Programmable

LEDs timed with their music, using MIDI, the same used by electronic

musical instruments. For those of us who are simply not that tall,

they are surely to receive a shirt that gives an receives hearts over

long distances. The data will go into Bluetooth over your mobile

phone and will send a hug message. It really feels like you are

hugging someone. What they flirt with the latest clothing trends, a

more serious relationship between clothing and technology goes beyond,

it is a field of research cord wearable technology. The unit's

first de -- the University of Wales' clothing lets people

maintain an active lifestyle. Electronic switches and sensors are

bonded and sewn into it, they are even washable. A remote control is

set into one sleeve. When finished, the rare art -- the wearer can

measure their heart rate and even call for help. They are not old

people who want to go into old people's clothing. They are

beginning to get less dexterous. If you are in bad weather, what do you

do? For the clothing is a much more effective interface. She is quite

happy for the university to Wherry should -- to research were bought

take in his garage. After all, you do not want to take your gloves off

in minus 40. One of the problems in the North Pole or the south pole,

you do not know which way is north or south. The traditional way is to

use a compass, but that is a little bit difficult up there, because you

have to correct for the fact that you are heading to the north a

Geographic Pole, and the North magnetic pole is somewhere over

there. In order to reach the Geographic Pole, he has designed a

sleeve compass, which is one less thing to carry. It turns into a GPS

unit and then works out -- works it out. Like most electronics, all the

bits are smaller and cheaper than ever. It is pretty simple to buy

parts online, but you have to know what to do with them. Bigger

outfits are getting involved, not Gucci or Prada, but Microsoft. They

are working on projects like this one, the idea, to control your

fabric -- to control your smartphone through the fabric. Not

hands-free, but free from your eyes. While the phone is still in your

pocket or bag, it allows you to make a simple gesture on the touch

screen, through the fabric, in all -- in order to be able to dismiss

the call. If wearable technology is the next logical step in computing,

it is down to asked to work out exactly what we want it to do. Once

that happens, who knows what we will have Cup our sleeves?

Do we need any more social networks? You could argue that for

a healthy market place, you need a lot of competition, but let's be

honest, any newcomers to this already crowded space have a lot of

slashed to rise above. They have to offer something fresh and

intriguing. Some of the new website around are doing that better than

others. -- the new websites. I tend to pitch my tent firmly in

the camp that says, we have enough social media websites. But every

now and then, something catches my eye, and I have to reconsider my

position. This one has been around just over a year, but recently had

a major revamp and it is looking pretty promising. Apart from having

a very lovely interface, I like the focus of this app, inviting you to

create a pathway through your life and then populate it with people,

music, places and conversation as you go. Making posts to Facebook,

Twitter and Foursquare, means you do not have to opt out of those

networks completely. This service is simple and elegant enough, and

it may make a respectable mark on the social media genre.

Talking of the social work, there is another newcomer to the market.

Pinterest .com. This is an image based social network and discovery

told that asks users to create a mood board around a particular

interest, such as recipes, fashion, or football. Then you can post

links and upload images to create an online mood board of interesting

content. It is still in private beta, so you have to wait for your

invitation. But there has already been a lot of support. It has just

been reported as hitting 11.7 unique monthly US visitors,

crossing the 10 million mark faster than any other stand-alone site in

history. Using the service is made easier with a browser bookmark that

allows you to pin items to your board as you surf, and there is an

iPhone app. There is set app available for posting pictures from

your phone's camera. Not to be out done by this rising social star,

photo sharing side Flickr is rolling out a big change this week,

bringing their dashboard up to date with a style maker over,

reminiscent of Pintereof Pintere. It will go live on Tuesday the 28.

If you had children any time in the last four or five decades, you

would probably have heard of Flat Stanley. He beat is a character in

a series of books started in 1964, and has been used by educators all

over the world to help teach about travel and tradition. The Flat

Stanley approach it encourages children to learn about other

cultures by writing to children by other schools all over the world.

The idea is they sent a Flat Stanley in the envelope with their

letter, now this acts as a kind of link that both children are

familiar with, so they can start talking openly and more comfortably,

even though they may be fun very different backgrounds. The website

is a great place to store and share the adventures of your own

particular flight Stanley. -- Flat Stanley. As you would expect for

someone as well travelled as Stanley, a mobile app has just been

released. It is only on iPhone at the moment, but the other platforms

are not far behind. February 29th, we onlyh, we only

every four years, so what will you be doing?

Feb29th.net wants you to tell the world in what the organisers hope

will be the biggest blogging project ever. They have simplified

the process so that everyone can join in.

That was Kate Russell and as usual, if you missed any of those links

you will find them all on our website. While you are there, you