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Stargazers
This is a device recreational astronomers will fall in love with and those focussed on emotional health and inspiration. A SkyScout gadget that allows you to point a gizmo upwards and immediately locate 6,000 stars, 1,500 double & variable stars, all 88 constellations, over 100 deep space objects including galaxies, nebulae and star clusters. It also comes with over 200 audio descriptions of the most popular celestial objects stargazers.
This is all done through GPS technology of course, which gives the handheld SkyScout its position; an electronic compass tells it what direction it's pointing, and an accelerometer determines the angle at which it's being held. When patio astronomers peer through the targeting window, the Skyscout identifies the chosen object and provides a description on its LCD screen and through headphones.
There are up to the minute components such as 'Tonight's Highlights': a customised list of the 20 best objects to view for you exact date, time and location anywhere in the world. For instance, if you want to find the Andromeda Galaxy? Select 'M31' from the menu and flashing arrows with guide you to it. There are also constellation lessons: if the star you identify or locate is part of a constellation like the Big Dipper, you can actually take a guided tour through all the stars in that constellation and even see an onscreen map of the constellation. More info on: www.celestron-skyscout.co.uk
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Total Refurb
For the full hypochondriac experience, there are now healthcare kits such as the IBP body healthcare box that is a bit like a MOT. It comes with a digital body fat scale, electronic digital thermometer, step counter and blood pressure monitor. Up until now these types of kits were geared towards the baby market, but increasingly they are being designed for adults. There is also a trend towards PC-related healthcare kits that allow you to stay stressed out and incessantly working when you check the state of your health. You can now buy software to track your health-related stats: blood pressure, pulse, body weight, BMI, diet, exercises, stress level, allergy symptoms, nicotine, tar, medical tests, etc. It produces flexible charts and creates reprots for your doctor that can be exported onto your PC for printing. A touch too far, probably. Let's hope the 'Obesity Kits' for kids that are currently on sale in the US, don't get this far.
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An eye for invention
Definitely visionary - in the literal sense. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany have invented an artificial cornea that may be the key to restoring sight for people with damaged corneas. Their artificial corneas are based on a commercially available polymer which absorbs no water and allows no cells to grow on it. According to IAP project manager Dr. Joachim, who has spoken publicly about the man-made corneas since last year, as soon as suitably shaped the polymers are available, they will be able to selectively coat the implants for use.
They will then be able to lay masks on the surface and apply a special protein to the edge of the cornea, which the cells of the natural cornea can latch onto. In this way, the cornea implant can firmly connect with the natural part of the cornea, while the centre remains free of cells and therefore clear. What is apparently special about this type of protein is that it can survive the later thermal sterilisation of the artificial cornea without being damaged, as it doesn’t have the three-dimensional structure typical of large proteins.
The optical front part of the implant is coated with a hydrophilic polymer, so that it is constantly moistened with tear fluid. Researchers in Dr. Karin Kobuch’s working group at Regensburg University Hospital have already tested these corneas in the laboratory and found that their cells graft very well at the edge and cease growing where the coating stops. The first implants have already been tested in rabbits’ eyes - with promising results. If further tests are successful, the technology will be tried on people next year.
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