Posts tagged MIT at Switched

Posts with tag MIT

Hackers Figure Out How to Wirelessly Control Pacemakers

by Darren Murph, posted Aug 12th 2008 at 12:01PM

Defcon already delivered by exposing California's FasTrak toll system for the security hole that it is, but that's not nearly all that's emerging from the Las Vegas exploitation conference. For starters, a plethora of medical device security researchers have purportedly figured out a way to wirelessly control pacemakers, theoretically allowing those with the proper equipment to "induce the test mode, drain the device battery and turn off therapies." Of course, it's not (quite) as simple as just buzzing a remote and putting someone six feet under, but it's a threat worth paying attention to.

In related news, a trio of MIT students who were scheduled to give a speech on how to hack CharlieCards to get free rides on Boston's T subway were stifled by a temporary restraining order that the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority snagged just before the expo. Don't lie, you're intrigued -- hit up the links below for all the nitty-gritty.

Update: MIT published the Defcon presentation in a PDF.

Read - Pacemaker hack
Read - Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority sues MIT hackers
Read - Restraining order on said hackers

Move Over, 3-D -- It's Time for '6-D'

by Tom Samiljan, posted Aug 11th 2008 at 11:19AM

2008 has been somewhat of a banner year for 3-D, but the brilliant minds at MIT are already working up a system that'll put U23D to shame. Hailed as a "super-realistic image system," the invention produces "6-D" images that not only have a full three-dimensional appearance, but also "respond to their environment, producing natural shadows and highlights depending on the direction and intensity of the illumination around them."

Without relying on electronics or active control, the process could be used to produce images with an "unprecedented degree of realism" -- resulting in something associate professor Ramesh Raskar calls the "ultimate synthetic display."

As expected, initial applications for the ultra-pricey ($30 per pixel, currently) system revolve around digital signage / advertising, but it's really just a matter of time before Six Dimensions of The Jonas Brothers hits a cinema near you. Save us. [From: MIT News]

MIT Makes 'Revolutionary' Solar Power Storage Breakthrough

by Thomas Ricker, posted Aug 10th 2008 at 11:37AM

MIT is in a twisted, propeller-capped knot this morning heralding a new discovery it says will unleash a solar revolution. However, the "revolutionary leap" inspired by photosynthesis is not on the glamorous front-end of energy collection, rather, it's related to a simple, highly efficient and inexpensive way to store that energy when the sun doesn't shine. "This is the nirvana of what we've been talking about for years," says Daniel Nocera, MIT neomaxizoomdweebie who with Matthew Kanan developed the unprecedented approach to split water into hydrogen and oxygen gases using the sun's energy. The gases can then be recombined later inside a fuel cell. The key components to the process are a pair of catalysts (one consists of cobalt metal, phosphate, and an electrode; the other, platinum) which produce the O and H gases at room temperature and in neutral pH water (i.e., tap water). While similar solutions exist for industrial use (primarily), these are very expensive and require specialized environments.

"This is a major discovery with enormous implications for the future prosperity of humankind," said James Barber, a leader in the study of photosynthesis at Imperial College in London. "The importance of their discovery cannot be overstated since it opens up the door for developing new technologies for energy production thus reducing our dependence for fossil fuels and addressing the global climate change problem." Nocera concedes that further engineering is required to commercialize the approach but hopes to see it implemented in household fuel cell systems within the next 10 years. Click through for the video breakdown. [Source: MIT News]

Continue reading MIT Makes 'Revolutionary' Solar Power Storage Breakthrough

iShoe Promises to Correct Your Balance

by Donald Melanson, posted Jul 20th 2008 at 4:45PM

There's plenty of devices out there designed to keep folks from falling over, but this so-called iShoe developed by some MIT researchers takes a slightly different tact, with it promising to detect balance problems long before a person actually falls. That's apparently possible thanks to some sensor-laden insoles that measure the pressure distribution across as person's feet, which can be offloaded onto a computer and analyzed with the aid of a special algorithm the researchers have created.

Eventually, they say the system could let doctors catch balance problems in their early stages and take the appropriate action, or even notify family members if a person falls, although that latter bit doesn't exactly seem very optimistic of them. No word on a commercial release just yet, but the team is apparently moving steadily towards one, with it currently conducting trials and recently having snapped up a $50,000 grant to help cover start-up costs. [Source: TG Daily]

Ordinary Windows Collect Energy with New Solar Coating

by Peter Mychalcewycz, posted Jul 15th 2008 at 10:16AM

Windows that collect solar energy while still allowing a clear view from inside? While it may sound like madness and poppycock, it's actually yet another invention from those ingenious minds at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Researchers at MIT have figured out how to transform normal windows into solar power-collecting super-panels.

According to an article in last Friday's 'Science' (an international science journal), here is how it's done: First, the windows are coated with special materials. These chemicals range in color from the very bright to the near-transparent, and this special coating absorbs light and re-emits the energy into the glass. Solar collectors surround the edge of the window and collect the energy conducted by the glass.

The chemicals utilized in the process are relatively inexpensive, making the whole concept that much more brilliant. Apparently, these will be ready in 3-5 years, which we hope is true, given the shocking and depressing increase in our energy bills of late. Let's make some good use of that global warming, already! [Source: USA Today]

Prepaid Cell Phones Could Earn an Extra $11 Billion for the Nation's Poorest

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Apr 7th 2008 at 10:58AM

Nicholas Sullivan at the MIT Media Lab has reached a similar conclusion to the one driving Google's Grandcentral for the homeless push -- communication is the key to success. The report out of MIT claims that putting prepaid cell phones in the hands of the 38 percent of the poorest Americans without one could earn them between $2.9 billion and $11 billion a year through increased business (for the self employed), and increased hours or wages.

The two surveys used to generate this report also found cell phones provided an important security blanket effect for the owners, with a vast majority of Americans agreeing that a cell phone was "very important" for emergency situations. This safety blanket effect is important because the poorest among us who would stand to benefit most financially from a cell phone are also disproportionately affected by crime.

That two for one shot, finances plus safety, makes us feel like some filthy rich philanthropist should start buying up and handing out every prepaid phone he/she can find.

From Textually and Cellular News

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Baseball Scores Without the Internet or TV on a Small Device

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Jan 7th 2008 at 4:41PM

Ambient Scorecast Brings You Baseball Scores Without the Internet or TV

We're a society obsessed with information. We're constantly connected through instant messaging, e-mail, text messaging, Blackberries, we even have Internet access on our cell phones. As great as all these things are at making sure we have a world of knowledge at our fingertips 24/7, they still require us to turn on our devices and find the information we seek. Its never just there ... waiting for us. Sometimes, we just want the score without turning on the TV, getting on the computer, or flipping open our cell phone.

A new generation of electronics is putting information at your disposal any time, all the time. One of the pioneers of this category of device is Ambient Devices, a company that was created to bring technologies developed at MIT's Media Lab to the masses.

At CES, Ambient Devices showed off its new Ambient Baseball Scorecast device. The Scorecast pulls in scores, standings, and schedules over a proprietary network (no Internet or cell access required). Just pop in 4 AA batteries (which should last an entire season according to Ambient) and it will pull in scores immediately. No subscription fee, no Wi-Fi, nothing. And the Scorecast is always up to date. Updates are pushed out to the devices every half inning, so you can check in throughout the night without turning on the TV or walking away from a meal on the stove.

The Ambient Baseball Scorecast will be landing in retail outlets across the country in April for $124.99

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How to Spot Fake Friend Requests on MySpace

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Jul 23rd 2007 at 12:10PM

If you're a user of MySpace or Facebook, you've certainly had your fair share of run-ins with fake profiles built for spamming and possibly loading spyware on your PC. Its not always easy to tell the fake ones from the real people. Sure, the 'CamGrrlz' are easy to spot, but what about the regular guy who instead of messaging you to learn more about you just posts bulletins about some new great page where you can get Viagra for cheap.

Until now, no spam blocking features have been available on the social networking sites. Aaron Zinman and Judith Donath from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have however devised a system (PDF) for testing MySpace pages to determine if they're real people or not. The software looks at a profile and measures how personalized a page is, how many shared photos and video clips it has, and the frequency of sent and received messages. It then determines whether the page is social or promotional based on these factors.

So far the software has proven fairly successful, roughly matching human grades 90 per cent of the time and exactly matched them 30 to 50 per cent of the time in laboratory tests. The software may one day help you decide whether to accept a friend request or clean up social networks as they grow. The software will be shown at an anti-spam conference in August.

From New Scientist

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Mobile Phones Combat Traffic Congestion

by Evan Shamoon, posted Jul 3rd 2007 at 9:38AM

As you sit in your car amongst thousands of others, sweating even as the AC chugs, the question lingers: how can you remove traffic from your life? Researchers from MIT may have the answer: starting in Rome, they're using data from mobile phone networks to create real time maps of people moving around the city, giving commuters a more detailed, wide-ranging view of traffic conditions -- everywhere, not just on major roads and highways.

Essentially, with all of the GPS devices in taxis, buses, and mobile phones spread about the city, the researchers are attempting to create algorithms that can give drivers a comprehensive look at any part of the city, directing them away from traffic and accounting for the ebb and flow of congestion in real time.

The effect on public transportation could be huge as well; Rome currently runs a service to let people know when buses will arrive via their mobiles; one possible next step is to send buses to where the people are, rather than sticking to fixed schedules. All of which adds up to less congestion, and less exhaust coming out of those tailpipes.

From BBC

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Hackers Figure Out How to Wirelessly Control Pacemakers

Move Over, 3-D -- It's Time for '6-D'

MIT Makes 'Revolutionary' Solar Power Storage Breakthrough

iShoe Promises to Correct Your Balance

Ordinary Windows Collect Energy with New Solar Coating

Prepaid Cell Phones Could Earn an Extra $11 Billion for the Nation's Poorest

Baseball Scores Without the Internet or TV on a Small Device

How to Spot Fake Friend Requests on MySpace

Mobile Phones Combat Traffic Congestion

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