Can human brains be hacked?

Credit: How Stuff Works

Can the human brain, like a computer, be hacked?

http://www.livescience.com/37938-how-human-brain-could-be-hacked.html

Is treating post traumatic stress disorder an application?

http://www.technologyreview.com/featuredstory/515981/repairing-bad-memories/ / mind hack hacker hacking hacked vulnerable susceptible episode Science Channel Through the Wormhole host Morgan Freeman explores potential dangers hacking the mind computers human brains vulnerable vulnerability hackers technology already allow allowing scientists read people's people person person's thoughts plant new ones in the brain explores the potential dangers hacking the mind world of data show our innermost thoughts Super-Intelligent Machine super intelligent Robotic Futures show sophisticated forms of mind reading neuroscientists already translating language brain plain English neuroscientist Jack Gallant University of California Berkeley UCB compiling brain dictionary translate thoughts into pictures words colleagues showed people different images measuring brain activity via functional magnetic resonance imaging fMRI brain activity team reconstruct approximate images people saw scientists also developing dictionary concepts allows them guess what people are thinking images they're seeing mental modification technologies already raising ethical issues how fast technology progress explore startling possibility thoughts decoded could they also be altered turn amateur into expert mission neuroscientist entrepreneur Chris Berka athletes performers experts state extreme mental focus called being in the zone zone state amateur amateurs can achieve particular signature brain activity neurotech company Berka runs developing technology monitor people's brain activity during task archery notify them when they have reached their peak performance state aka zone technology people ability hack into their own brains order improve their performance plant thoughts there computer programmers break secure systems using cracks sense of smell exploit crack brain Ilana Hairston psychologist The Academic College of Tel-Aviv Yaffo Israel smell plant information brains while they sleep train trains snoozing people to associate certain pleasant foul odors particular sound notion sounds like science fiction sci-fi, relies brain pathway allows senses like smell enter brain without conscious awareness mind probe probing mind-probing efforts method methods described aim restore improve human abilities imply future PTSD bad memory trauma traumatize traumatise New York Psychoanalytic Institute cerebral grad students stag, neuroscientist Daniela Schiller mini lecture mini-lecture memory recent research memories memory unchanging physical traces trace brain malleable constructs rebuilt every time they are recalled research suggests doctors psychotherapists knowledge help patients block block fearful emotions experience recalling traumatic event converting chronic sources debilitating anxiety benign trips down memory lane /

iOS 7 might be more innovative than we think

Credit: Boy Genius Report

http://bgr.com/2013/06/26/ios-7-innovation-analysis-3d/ / in depth in-depth look iOS 7 plenty excited about Apple Apple’s upcoming overhauled mobile software real innovation scarce what meaningful innovative functions capable performing iOS 6 recent Forbes Innovation Apple’s secret weapons mobile phone cell Lars Hard founder Swedish artificial intelligence specialist Expertmaker Apple’s shift 3D user interface innovative move that will open the door for richer user experiences first step towards more exciting user experiences connected layering parallax effect beginning lead much more complex features make use of various hardware sensors perform functions not seen on today’s devices pave path iPhone more predictive rather than just responsive native apps built by third-party developers third party critical point iOS 7 design provides developers opportunities innovate design phone also releases developers do more my analysis current beta form about pushing forward imagine imagined reimagined platform lays groundwork innovation /

Fuel cells • Finally ready for prime time?

Credit: Toyota/ Green Car Reports

Toyota claim their fuel cell vehicle will match Tesla on range & price in 2014. This still leaves a few questions unanswered:

• Judging from the photograph above, no competition on appearance. To be fair, it is a prototype, the production car may look very different.
• Performance? Tesla's Model S is a tough act to follow.

Time to take another look at the "fuel cell miracles".

If the product matches its hype, the first two (price & range) will have been answered to a degree. Matching the Tesla Model S on price & range is hardly record breaking. Although the S is a superlative vehicle, internal combustion engine vehicles do better on both price & range.

And the rest of the miracles? Price of hydrogen (energy cost as well as monetary cost), lack of fueling infrastructure & continuing improvements in competing technologies remain barriers to widespread adoption of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1085124_toyotas-fuel-cell-car-to-debut-in-tokyo-match-tesla-model-s-on-range-price

GM & Honda are getting cosy too

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1085153_gm-honda-latest-automakers-to-collaborate-on-fuel-cell-tech / buy fuel cell car similar range similar price Tesla Model S electric car EV electric vehicle Toyota customers Bloomberg reports report Japanese automaker fuel cell vehicle November Tokyo Motor Show new car expect expected debut 2014 2015 model year vehicle markets initially appear brand hydrogen fuel cell vehicle company badged Lexus sell $50,000 cost price ballpark Chris Hostetter U.S. group Vice President advanced product development reporters price competitive Tesla Model S just under $70,000 before incentives tank H2 hydrogen range around 300 miles suitable network fuel cell vehicles promises similar range Model S filling times regular gasoline diesel vehicles internal combustion engine ICE stylistically clues fuel cell car existing FCV-R concept new Prius around family resemblance green flagship green transport sector top automakers working fuel cell projects Toyota teamed up with BMW expedite reduce costs future development less convinced Elon Musk fool cells interview stupid theoretical theoretically most efficient best case does not compete Tesla Motors CEO LiIon lithium-ion cells optimum too hybrid technology five million cars hybrids guarantee fuel cells improvements groundbreaking compete /

7 ways telemarketers get your cell phone number

http://techland.time.com/2013/07/02/7-ways-telemarketers-get-your-cell-phone-number/ / mobile land line inundated calls telemarketers phone registered FTC National Do Not Call Registry regulations limit ways debt collectors companies selling pester you your thinking grounded in reality marketer market sell selling growing number tele telemarketing companies don’t care lists list legislation harass you unwanted calls texts your mobile phone tech analyst recently estimated 100 billion robocalls lacking human being other end other solicitations U.S. US U.S.A. USA telemarketers your phone number overshare your number anytime you fill out a form contest entry warranty registration signup form online service you include your social networking profile opening yourself up solicitations retailers your number loyalty points to score discounts in-store credit in store phone number email signature can put you at risk form supplying your information chance that policy stating protect protection protected Jonathan Sasse, CMO PrivacyStar app block numbers Android smartphone report abusers government accept Terms of Use without reading or understanding them growing number mobile apps—things like flashlight utilities or games really only interested harvesting your personal information and selling it becomes scraping device your contacts information signed up information you’re providing accept whatever terms you just put in front of me big data has killed privacy brief primer age computers are so smart fast crawl the web look billions data points instantly look everything Like pin tweet mine census data and public records how much you paid for your house foreclosed upon search for yourself on Pipl.com number companies claim have information family income phone number information share online technology credit bureaus give away your information charities philanthropic /

Brisingid sea star

Credit: Jon Moore/ Live Science

18 legs! Count them!

http://www.livescience.com/1-image-day.html / deep sea deep-sea dweller collected by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration ocean exploration program sea star fish Manning Seamount underwater volcanic mountain coast of New England Atlantic Ocean echinoderm 16 long spiny arms use feeding starfish deep sea deep-sea locations Caribbean southwestern Pacific Ocean near New Zealand /

50 iOS 7 features you'll actually care about

Control Center in iOS 7 — swipe up from the bottom of any screen to access airplane mode, WiFi, Bluetooth, do not disturb, rotation lock, brightness, music player, AirDrop, AirPlay & others.
Credit: Gotta Be Mobile

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2013/06/10/50-ios-7-features-youll-actually-care-about/ / Control Center iOS 7 Apple allows users swipe up access toggle widget toggling Do Not Disturb Brightness control controlling music playback AirPlay torch flash light flashlight built-in shortcuts apps
Swipe to Go Back Safari apps go back look looking  back button swiping in from the left will go back Scrolling App Folders new app folders iOS 7 limited few apps put all your games folder scroll through apps folder better sharing menu scrollable list of apps other iPhones sharing photos simple simpler new look  changed look font dock status bar at the top of brand new look new multitasking previews multitask full size iPhone 5 display swipe up to kill app instead of long pressing press Siri voice options offers  new female voice male voice more control iPhone control demo Siri on iOS 7 controlled brightness, returning calls controlling iRadio /

Arts & sciences: better together

Credit: www.shutterstock.com

http://theconversation.com/why-arts-and-science-are-better-together-15004 / art science maths math mathematics education Australia future direction final instalment Benjamin Miller Fiona White examine benefits transdisciplinary skills polar opposites traditionally traditional students student university universities view separate entities degree prepare students data drenched data-drenched volatile workplace twenty first twenty-first century combining curriculum answer science students learn sound methods testing hypotheses interpreting drawing valid conclusions data arts learn developing arguments understanding moving changing minds diverse audiences audience double combined degrees already on offer great potential better improving students student employment prospects fostering new skills space between speciality areas untapped potential combining curricula study popularity double degrees degree higher education researchers Wendy Russell Sara Dolnicar Marina Ayoub suggested double degree programs significant untapped potential preparing graduates employment benefit argue graduate graduates develop trains disciplinary skills highly valued employers transdisciplinary thinkers unique approach solving problems draw information diverse sources seek collaborations produce socially robust knowledge combined double degrees established  foster transdisciplinary learning combination degrees tends create administrative pedagogical structure arts-science student example access subjects arts and science faculties graduation graduates able perform skills essential both speciality areas develop developed transdisciplinary thinking rare double degrees pedagogically designed unlock potential combined curriculum imaginative imagination imaginatively develop unique research methods ethically interpret information systems ethic ethics unethical persuade non-experts non expert change behaviour based scientifically informed debate model degrees degree modern times universities university increasingly considering different degree structures Australian National University ANU claims flexible degrees improve graduate employability employment head your heart degrees four years arts social sciences business or science University of Sydney similar option four-year Bachelor of Science and Arts expedite completion administrative combinations rarely push students experiment approaches practices from both degrees University of New South Wales UNSW attempted equip graduates general education program programme program employers repeatedly point complex nature modern work environment advise advice highly value graduates skills provided broad general education faculty non-science facultiess education arts business built environment law transdisciplinary Bachelor Liberal Arts Science BLAS critical thinking communication English written expression /