Check out Taaz to experience an amazing product that showcases some fairly sophisticated technology. After uploading a picture to Taaz one can quickly modify it by trying out different hairstyles, makeup, and other beauty products. Basically it is a virtual makeover. Besides offering a fun product Taaz is a good example of a Web 2.0 product that is far superior to previous offerings and one which can be free to consumers, but still offer a level of sophistication upon which premium pay offerings can be built. Try it out and you won’t be disappointed.

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You may have noticed that this site lacked a proper icon. To remedy the situation I asked all the wlazorik fans to submit an icon they would like to see. I am pleased to announce that the winner of the icon contest is Kristin. The funny, futuristic, and slightly crazy robot you see to the left will be the new face of wlazorik across the web. Thanks to everyone who put forth all the great submissions, and thanks to Kristin for her winning selection. I would also like to thank my wonderful and very beautiful girlfriend Krista for organizing and running the competition.

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Organic Light Emitting Diode ( OLED ) technology has been in development for a number of years and we have even seen the use of small screens in cell phones and mp3 players. However, the expense of making these screens kept the displays small and limited their uses. Now GE has made a breakthrough by demonstrating a roll-to-roll manufacturing process for organic light electronics. This will drive down the cost and make large living room sized OLED television possible much sooner. It will also be beneficial in the production of solar power cells and high-efficiency lighting. Did I mention that OLED devices are also flexible? Think screens that roll up and lighting where the lamp shade is the light bulb. OLED televisions are superior to today’s Plasma and LCD technologies in every category. If you can’t wait to get a hold of one you can purchase the 11 inch Sony XEL-1 today for $2,500.

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Google continued to branch out into the the Health space with investment in a project to sequence the DNA of 100,000 people. The research project will provide valuable data to the scientific community by helping to isolate the genetic factors involved with a variety of diseases. This type of information can lead to faster drug development and better treatment through the arrival of truly personalized medicine. I am sure the incentive behind the investment is more philanthropic then financial, but it doesn’t hurt to have a hand in this project considering Google’s past investment in Personal Genome Service 23andMe. The results of this research is exactly the type of data that 23andMe requires to expand its capabilities. There were some initial reservations about the relevance of Google’s interest in 23andMe due to Anne Wojcicki, wife of Google president Sergey Brin, being the co-founder. However, the 23andMe service would fit perfectly as an offering in Google Health. Expect to see Google continue both its financial and philanthropic Health investments to gain further leverage in the industry.

Google Backs Harvard Scientist’s 100,000-Genome Quest

Google Invests In DNA Sequencing Project

Google Health Service Enters Pilot Stage

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Researchers at the Univerity of Hertfordshire have been doing research into people’s perceptions regarding different robots. The idea is to find a robot form factor that would be pleasing to work with on a daily basis. However, the team found out that robot preference depends an awful lot on personality:

People with more extrovert personalities tend to choose more humanoid robots, which have a greater resemblance to humans, with facial features and a human-like voice, whereas more introverted people tend to prefer mechanical-looking robots, more like a box on wheels with a metal head.

Find Your Robot Soulmate

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Intel has announced the release of a new processor family called Atom that will begin appearing in devices later this year. The ultra low power chip can reach speeds of 1.8GHz. These processors offer a dramatic reduction in power requirements down to less then 2.5 watts from 35. Such a large decrease means longer battery life in ultra portable laptops without compromising performance, and will pave the way for a new category of powerful hand held devices.

Low Power Processors

Intel Press Release

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Researchers at IBM have discovered the exact amount of force necessary to move individual atoms. Previously scientists used a trial and error based method to get atoms to go in the right direction. Now researchers can figure out that it takes 210 piconewtons to move a cobalt atom on a platinum surface, but only 17 piconewtons on copper. The advancement will prove valuable to the development of faster computers and high-density data storage.

IBM Hits Milestone in Nanotechnology

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Google launched a pilot for its health profile service, Google Health, in partnership with the Cleveland Clinic. The clinic already has a sophisticated internal electronics record system, but patients are not able to access their records remotely. Patients will request to have their records uploaded to Google Health and will be able to access their records online and view, print, or share that data with other health providers. Microsoft launched their health profile offering, HealthVault, last October. The electronic health profile space is going to be a hot topic in the upcoming years. Today Hospitals, Doctor Offices, and Pharmacies have advanced internal systems, but are still disconnected despite major advances in web technology. Offices still fax records and mail imaging results back and forth. Often the quickest and most reliable method for transferring records is to have the patient physically carry the records to each location. The lack of portability is in part due to an industry with many competing software developers that don’t work to connect their technology platforms. Google and Microsoft have an opportunity make a major impact on this industry and the lives of millions of people if they can put the patient in front of profit. Both are members of the DataPortability alliance, and though that organization is primarily focused on portability of online identity, hopefully some of the same sentiment is seen in these health services. By cooperating to connect their offerings they can lead the way on an industry standard for portable health information. They can then put combined pressure on the smaller software vendors to incorporate the standard into their products. The government also needs to get involved by updating HIPAA and providing new standards for patient privacy without stifling innovation. Patients deserve a system that allows easy access to the information that belongs to them and delivers better care at reduced costs.

Previous Google Health coverage
Microsoft launches HealthVault

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Google Sponsors a $30 Million Dollar X Prize to land a robotic rover on the moon and transmit data back to earth. The first team to accomplish the feat gets $20 million and the second team $5 million. Additional prizes are available for visiting historic landing sites or accomplishing other tasks. This is just the latest in a growing number of X prizes that offer substantial rewards for advances in science and technology. The rewards help to jump start interest in technology that can help shape our future. Similar rewards helped spur innovation at the turn of the 20th century. The $25,000 Orteig prize encouraged Charles Lindbergh to make his flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

A Google Competition
The X Prize Ecosystem
X Prize Foundation

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The military will attempt to shoot down a spy satellite that is losing altitude and could possibly cause damage if it were to crash on land. An intercept missile will be fired from a Aegis cruiser as the satellite approaches the upper atmosphere. This will be the first time the U.S. has attempted to destroy a satellite and will be taking advantage of the missile defense program to accomplish the mission.  Though the missile defense system has shot down faster moving targets a successful hit would still be a valuable proof of concept for the program and prove the U.S. is capable of reaching satellites in orbit. The Chinese were able to destroy one of their weather satellites on the third try early last year. Not only did the test cause an international uproar, but it also littered Earth’s orbit with over 150,000 pieces of debris. The political outlook for the U.S. will be different considering the circumstances and the current plan to hit the satellite as it enters the atmosphere should cause any debris to burn up.

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