Technology news

Intel's future tech for robots, health care, PCs
June 13, 2008 10:53 AM PDT
This robotic arm and hand developed by researchers at Intel's personal robotic lab in Pittsburgh demonstrates the latest in motion planning and manipulation.
With two cameras on its hand, the device is able to autonomously recognize cups on the table, pick them up, and place them in the dishwasher. Eventually, the designers plan to attach the arm to a Segway, making it mobile.
Company researchers demonstrated this and other cutting-edge research from their labs on Wednesday during Research@Intel Day at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, Calif.

IAN FLEMING and how to forge a Bond

The Imperial War Museum

in London is marking the 100th anniversary of writer Ian Fleming's birth with an exhibit that explores his life and work. It also examines how his experiences and the people he met provided the inspiration for many of the heroes, villains, babes in bikinis, gadgets, and far-flung locales in the James Bond series.
Fleming wrote more than a dozen Bond books at his home known as Goldeneye on the north coast of Jamaica. He first visited the island during World War II for a naval conference. The writer and his wife, Ann, would spend two months out of the year there, when he would work on his books. He reportedly developed a routine while writing the first book in the series, "Casino Royale." Each day, he'd go for a swim, eat breakfast, then sit down to craft the adventures of 007. The books were published between 1953 and 1965.
"For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond" runs until March 2009. (You can just hear Sheena Easton singing to you now, can't you?)

Technology

AN OLD ONE'S Too.

June 13, 2008 8:47 AM PDT


NASA announced Thursday that it has awarded a contract to Oceaneering International of Houston, Texas, to develop new spacesuits that will protect astronauts on their treks to the International Space Station--and eventually the moon. The contract for NASA's Constellation Program gives Oceaneering International and its subcontractors until September 2014 to design, development, test, and evaluate the new suits.
The first spacesuit, called Configuration One, will be worn in the new Orion spacecraft for launch and landing; problems in the crew compartment; and emergency space walks. The new suit will include a helmet-feed port for 120-hour survival; elbow and knee joints; modular boots; umbilical connectors; and a rear-entry zipper.

technology news

BRUSSELS--Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes of the European Union delivered an unusually blunt snub to Microsoft on Tuesday by recommending that businesses and governments use software based on open standards.
Kroes has fought bitterly with Microsoft over the past four years, accusing the U.S. software giant of defying her orders and fining the company nearly $2.68 billion for violating European competition rules. But the speech was her strongest recommendation yet to jettison Microsoft products, which are based on proprietary standards, and to use rival operating systems to run computers.
"I know a smart business decision when I see one--choosing open standards is a very smart business decision indeed, Kroes told a conference in Brussels. "No citizen or company should be forced or encouraged to choose a closed technology over an open one."
Kroes did not name Microsoft in advance copies of her speech, but she made her meaning clear by referring to the only company in the history of EU antitrust enforcement that has been fined for refusing to comply with commission orders--a record held by Microsoft.
"The commission has never before had to issue two periodic penalty payments in a competition case," she said.
The EU has previously ruled against Microsoft for abusing its dominance in the markets for software to play music on computers and to communicate with powerful server computers on a network. In recent months, Kroes has opened new investigations against Microsoft following complaints that the company was competing unfairly in the market for Web browsers, using its Internet Explorer software.
Kroes also is investigating whether Microsoft is making it too hard for rivals to work with its Office suite of office applications.

OPINION and EDITORIAL

Professional Regulation Commission celebrates its 35th anniversary
ESTABLISHED through Presidential Decree No. 223 issued on June 22, 1973, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) was mandated to regulate and supervise the practice of professionals in various fields. The PRC plays a strategic role in developing the corps of professionals in industry, commerce, governance, basic services, and the economy.
Speaking Out
THE 110th commemoration of our nation’s independence was marked with the return of the Rigodon de Honor as a highlight of the traditional Vin d’Honneur for the diplomatic corps. It was considered another step in line with efforts to restore the best of the old traditions of Malacañang Palace and the presidency, display pride in Philippine customs, and contribute to the revival and promotion of Philippine ceremonial dance.
Weighing InPat Sto. Tomas
I WRITE this column for the Bulletin but I also write an online column for OFWs. Both give me a thrill but the online column is a little more difficult because I average 20 e-mails a week asking for very specific information. It strikes me that despite government efforts to give workers information about the overseas employment process, there remains a big gap between what OFWs know and what they ought to know. I answer some of the questions in the column itself but I e-mail back to those with more urgent information requests. Here is a sampler of those letters.
Our first season’s harvestBy Speaker PROSPERO C. NOGRALES
(Legislative Accomplishment Report from February 5, 2008 to June 11, 2008.)
Business BeatMelito Salazar Jr.
WITH Congress extending the effectivity of the present Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) Law to December 31, 2008, I hope the legislators use the remaining months to make the necessary reforms in the CARP bill as well as set the directions to overhaul the manner of its implementation.
Second ThoughtsEdilberto C. De Jesus
MANILA, Philippines — In his protracted, interim appointment as Chair of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), Romy Neri has usually managed to avoid major controversies, at least on the education front. Not anymore, with the decision to impose the New Policies and Standards for the B.S. in Nursing Program.
Teaching about retaliation
JESUS said to His disciples, "You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on [your] right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow."
Measures: The case of ISA
THE Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA) has been using its strategy map as the basic framework for making regular reports to its board of trustees. It now makes it as part of its regular practice to refer to each of its strategic priorities, and then to use the measures and targets listed under each strategic priority. In making its regular reports, ISA uses the measures and targets to position where the Institute is and what it has accomplished in relation to them. The JFCC letter
THE moment they sent that open-to-question letter to President Arroyo, members of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in the country may not have known it but they were in a public relations disaster.
On 2nd ‘Dark Ages,’ roller skates for copsFloro Mercene
HOUSES passes a record 398 bills in 39 days of session.