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Monkeys, mind power and robots

Fri, 23 May 2008
by: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it | source: News.com.au | thanks: Weird Science

Oh my!

"I don't think we're in Kansas any more, Toto"

Scientists from the University of Pittsburgh have trained monkeys to manipulate robotic arms solely with the power of their minds.

"Immobilised monkeys with electrode filaments inserted into their cerebral cortex learned in only days to reach out with the free-standing prosthesis, pluck a tasty morsel with a pincer-like claw, and pop it in their mouths.

When the path of the arm — positioned next to the shoulder — was deliberately blocked, the animals simply willed it around the obstacle with their minds, says the study, published in Nature.

"The entire task is now performed with brain control," said Andrew Schwartz, the lead researcher and a professor at the University of Pittsburgh."

- News.com.au

This is certainly freaky. Professor Schwartz hopes to be fitting humans with the same device within the next two years to assist amputees and those who have suffered from paralyzing strokes.

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Wikipedia Course for HSC Students

Fri, 23 May 2008
by: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it | source: SMH | thanks: New-age Board of Studies

Students to learn of Wiki's ways

"Mummmmm...what's a global village?"

Wikipedia is due to become part of the 2009-1010 English syllabus for New South Wales HSC students.

"The website is one of a number of "texts" - a choice that also includes a book and a movie - which students can choose to study in an elective called the Global Village, a course examining how the world's communities communicate and interact.

Don Carter, the English inspector at the Board of Studies, said the course was intended to teach students skills of analysis to enable them to be more discerning about content they found on the web."

- SMH.com.au

The evils of referencing Wikipedia are usually left for eccentric university lecturers to ramble about for hours on end. Looks like they are getting in early on this one.

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Second Life in the Classroom

Fri, 23 May 2008
by: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it | source: SMH | thanks: Nutty Professors

Virtual world to be a place of worship

Students may be able to confess their sins to this cool dude.

The University of Queensland are using Second Life in religious studies, setting up various places of worship for their students to visit.

"UQ Studies in Religion lecturer Dr Helen Farley today said one of the first projects planned for UQ's hall was a series of places of worship, including a mosque, synagogue, church, wicca circle and Freemasons Lodge that UQ Study of Religion students could visit.

"The idea is that we can send students in there to recreate some rituals or to do some role playing and the idea is to try and immerse them in these experiences," Dr Farley said.

She said it overcame obstacles such as intruding upon people during prayer and gender restrictions."

- SMH.com.au

Another Queensland university, QUT, have already used Second Life for educational purposes, namely teaching law students the art of negotiation. According to QUT, other faculties are also using Second Life in the areas of landscape design and source code writing.

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Indy's Back!

Fri, 23 May 2008
by: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it | source: AusGamers | thanks: Lego Men!

...and he's in LEGO form

ROAR.

Just in time for the movie release, you can now download a demo of LEGO Indiana Jones for your PC!

"LEGO® Indiana Jones™: The Original Adventures takes the fun and creative construction of LEGO and combines it with the wits, Lego Indiana Jones boxshot daring and non-stop action from the original cinematic adventures that enthralled audiences everywhere (Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade)."

- AusGamers.com

If you love Indy or LEGO (or both...it's okay, you can admit it), you can download the PC demo version right here.

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Virtual Bike Unveiled

Fri, 23 May 2008
by: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it | source: BBC | thanks: England

Motorcycle simulator aims to promote safety

A new motorcycle simulator, created by Dr Alex Stedmon of the University of Nottingham, has been designed to monitor rider behaviour and safety - not for fun times.

GO FASTER....oh wait...

"...the machine was the first of its kind, combining elements not seen in previous simulators.

Dr Stedmon said: "It is going to be a fantastic research facility for us.

"It's the first full-sized, moveable simulator that's linked to a projection screen and reconfigurable software.

- BBC.co.uk

Don't expect to see this in your local arcade any time soon. It's for educational purposes only, as a groups of students will be working on it to make it more realistic.

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