Mobile phone STD test - killer app or fantasy?

People will soon be able to tell if they have an STD by urinating on a small computer chip and inserting it into a mobile phone or computer, doctors and scientists in Britain claim.
But Australia's foremost sexual health expert is sceptical about the idea, saying it may be a long time before such a product is consumer-ready.
The small devices, similar to pregnancy testing kits, will reportedly be able to give people a home diagnosis within minutes. Millions of pounds have been poured into the project to combat an STD epidemic in Britain, where infections reached a record 482,696 last year.
"Your mobile phone can be your mobile doctor. It diagnoses whether you've got one of a range of STIs, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea and tells you where to go next to get treatment," Dr Tariq Sadiq, the sexual health expert from the University of London who is leading the project, told The Guardian.
Sadiq said young people especially were embarrassed to see their doctor about STDs, which was making the situation worse.
Mobile phones are increasingly being used for health purposes, such as the remote monitoring of elderly people.
The Guardian reported that the developers of the rapid testing devices - which include experts in microbiology and phone operators like O2 - expected them to be sold for a pound each in vending machines in nightclubs, pharmacies and supermarkets.
The research has been given the thumbs up by Professor Noel Gill, the head of HIV and STIs at the British government's Health Protection Agency, who said he hoped the application of new technology would reduce infections among young people. The HPA would coordinate large-scale evaluations of the technology within a network of collaborating STI clinics.
But Professor Basil Donovan, head of the sexual health program at the University of New South Wales' National Centre in HIV Epidemiology & Clinical Research, said he maintained a "healthy scepticism" about the project.
"If they say that's what they're aspiring to that would be terrific, but unfortunately there's no such test yet - at this stage it's just fantasy," Professor Donovan said in a phone interview.
"There was a paper published just a couple of weeks ago where they looked at all of the commercially available home testing kits for chlamydia and they were just a joke - if someone had chlamydia there was only a 10 per cent chance that the test would show it up."
But Professor Donovan said he believed it was a "great idea", concurring with Dr Sadiq that a big problem with current STD testing was that "it's too embarrassing and too expensive to test everyone all the time".
"I think in our lifetime it will happen and at the moment there are rapid home tests available for some conditions like HIV that are actually quite good," he said.
Professor Adrian Mindel, sexual health medicine expert at the University of Sydney and the director of the sexually transmitted infections research centre at Westmead Hospital, said the STD problem could not be solved with technology alone.
"I don't think the issue is the rapid test, it's getting people to do the test that is the issue and that to me is the fundamental barrier rather than the technology," he said.
"People have to identify themselves as being at risk and that is the difficulty at the moment."
Professor Mindel said it was critical to educate young people about STDs, including that the majority of the infections don't have symptoms and the infection may be transmitted even when symptoms aren't present.

[ Last edited by  atomic3d at 9-11-2010 18:18 ]

Ugly Meter for iPhone Determines Levels of Ugliness with Pinpoint Accuracy
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Ever wonder how good looking, or in the case of this app, how UGLY you are? With the Ugly Meter app for iPhone, you can find out for yourself.
Put together by the developers known simply as the ‘Dapper Gentlemen’, this light-hearted app uses the built-in camera in your iPhone to analyze facial pictures for levels of ugliness. Wonderful.
When taking a picture for analysis, the app directs you with a guide to help you line up your facial features. Obviously, ensuring a proper picture is taken is key for giving you the low-down on the ugliness meter
Other key features include:
        •        Interactive interface tracks faces in real-time
        •        Scanning function operates as you watch
        •        Scores by the numbers so you can compare scores
        •        Hundreds of lines to give advice based on your ugly score
All that is required here is $0.99 of your hard-earned money, an iPhone 3G, 3GS or iPhone 4, a minimum of iOS 3.0, and 5.5 MB of free space. That’s about it. For more information hit up the iTunes link below… and if you purchase, how do YOU rank?

[ Last edited by  atomic3d at 9-11-2010 18:18 ]

Hasbro unveils device that promises 3D on iPhone, iPod
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Toy maker Hasbro is set to unveil a handheld device called My3D that attaches to the Apple iPhone and iPod.

If you’ve ever wanted to view 3D content on your iPhone or iPod touch, Hasbro has you covered.
The toy-maker has just unveiled its newest creation, My3D, a pair of 3D glasses with a slot for an iPhone or iPod touch. It promises to deliver 3D content and 360-degree gaming.
The Associated Press reports that the device is expected to retail for $US30 and will be available next year. As CNET notes, the device has the appearance of a View-Master, but it’s targeted at both kids and adults.
The AP reports that Hasbro was “guided by Apple during the development” of the product; 3D devices and add-ons have a lot of potential, but in the home setting, it becomes a question of available and valuable content.
According to the AP, Hasbro says it is working with Dreamworks Animation to develop material. Dreamworks Animation has a number of successful 3D animated hits under its belt — including the recently released Megamind.
Hasbro also says it will use content from 3D TV networks like the Discovery Channel and other content from Sony and IMAX. Other partnerships include the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau, where 3D travel experiences are being created.
The appeal for movie and television studios seems pretty clear — this is a way to promote upcoming 3D content in theatres or give users a taste of 3D entertainment at home. The bigger question, however, is if there is enough of a lure for consumers to purchase this sort of content and device — and just as importantly, if this is attractive to app developers.
Creating 3D content isn’t inexpensive and that’s one of the hurdles that non-video content creators continue to face. For something like My3D to succeed, there need to be games and content that goes beyond advertisements for feature films

[ Last edited by  atomic3d at 10-11-2010 09:28 ]

Legal action eyes creator of black to white iPhone 4 converter kit
November 18, 2010 - 2:08PM
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New York teenager Fei Lam and an iPhone 4 encased in one of his white iPhone conversion kits.

With Apple having delayed the release of the white iPhone 4 until March next year, the teenage creator making thousands by selling a converter kit that turns a black iPhone white is now receiving legal threats.
Fei "Phil" Lam, 17, from New York, has been cashing in on Apple's delay in launching the white iPhone 4 by selling a converter kit that turns black iPhone 4's into white ones.
But in an interview with this website, Phil said that a private investigator had been in contact with him to try and gag him from selling the kits. He believes they may be working for Apple.
Comment is being sought from Apple Australia.
He said he had so far made about $US30,000 to $US40,000 from the kits which cost up to $US279 each and purportedly comprise parts supplied by Foxconn, the Taiwanese-owned company which manufactures the iPhone in China..

[ Last edited by  atomic3d at 18-11-2010 11:33 ]

3d is always looking like the best thing and the next step I technology.  It never really seems to catch the public general interest. It still is viewed as a novelty.  Just wondering whether it's because it's annoying to the eye over time.  Just like you would rather watch a reasonable tv size than a super big screen.  It's just too hard on your eyes.  So my sense is even 3d iPhone goes nowhere.