A New, long-distance barcode.[ 287 ]

Barcode replacement shown off

By Jonathan Fildes Technology reporter, BBC News Could tiny tags replace barcodes? A replacement for the black and white stripes of the traditional barcode has been outlined by US researchers. Bokodes, as they are known, can hold thousands of times more information than their striped cousins and can be read by a standard mobile phone camera. The 3mm-diameter (0.1 inches), powered tags could be used to encode nutrition information on food packaging or create new devices for playing video games. The work will be shown off at Siggraph, a conference in New Orleans next week. "We think that our technology will create a new way of tagging," Dr Ankit Mohan, one of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers behind the work, told BBC News. Distant reader The Bokodes currently consist of an LED, covered with a tiny mask and a lens. Information is encoded in the light shining through the mask, which varies in brightness depending on which angle it is seen from. Bokodes use light to encode information "It is either bright or dark depending on how we want to encode the information," said Dr Mohan, who works for the MIT Media Lab Camera Culture group. The researchers believe the system has many advantages over conventional barcodes. For example, they say, the tags are smaller, can be read from different angles and can be interrogated from far away by a standard mobile phone camera. "For traditional barcodes you need to be a foot away from it at most," said Dr Mohan. The team has shown its barcodes can be read from a distance of up to 4m (12ft), although they should theoretically work up to 20m (60ft). "One way of thinking about it is a long-distance barcode." Initially, said Dr Mohan, the Bokodes may be used in factories or industrial settings to keep track of objects. 'Look at me' However, the team also thinks they could be used in consumer applications, such as supermarkets, where products could be interrogated with a shopper's mobile phone. For example, they could be used to encode nutritional information or pricing offers. "One to the side may say 'hey, look at me, I'm a dollar cheaper'," said Dr Mohan. Taking a picture would also allow people to compare lots of different products quickly. A similar system could be used in a library, said Dr Mohan. Bokodes (centre) are much smaller than traditional barcodes "Let's say you're standing in a library with 20 shelves in front of you and thousands of books." "You could take a picture and you'd immediately know where the book you're looking for is." And the team also believes the tags could find their way into places not normally associated with traditional barcodes. For example, the system's ability to read angular information could allow its use in motion-capture systems used to create videogames or films. Dr Mohan said they could also be used to augment the information incorporated into Google Streetview, a service which allows users to browse a selection of pictures taken along city streets. At the moment, the images for Streetview - accessible through Google Maps - are collected by trucks and cars fitted with several cameras. "Shop and restaurant owners can put these Bokodes outside their stores and as the Google truck is driving down the street it will capture the information in that." For example, a restaurant could put menu information inside the tag. When the data is uploaded to Google Maps, it would automatically be displayed next to the image of the restaurant, said Dr Mohan. Colour code Currently, the tags are expensive to produce - around $5 (£3) each. This is, in part, because the early prototypes require a lens and a powered LED. However, the researchers believe the technology could be refined so that tags were reflective and require no power. "We already have prototypes which are completely passive," said Dr Mohan. In this form, they could cost around 5 cents each, he added. It is not the first time that companies or researchers have suggested replacements for, or enhancements to, barcodes. For example, in 2007 Microsoft launched its High Capacity Colour Barcode, a series of coloured geometric patterns. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology - essentially tiny electronic tags that broadcast encoded information - were also touted as a barcode replacement. Although they are now used in many applications, such as library books, passports and travel passes, RFIDs have yet to displace the familiar black and white stripes of the barcode.

A BBC reporter has counted 100 bodies [ 286 ]

Nigerian Islamist attacks spread

Bodies were piled up on the streets of Maiduguri

Dozens of people have been killed after Islamist militants staged three attacks in northern Nigeria, taking the total killed in two days of violence to 150.

A BBC reporter has counted 100 bodies, mostly of militants, near the police headquarters in Maiduguri, Borno State, where hundreds are fleeing their homes.

Witnesses told the BBC a gun battle raged for hours in Potiskum, Yobe State and a police station was set on fire.

Some of the militants follow a preacher who campaigns against Western schools.

ANALYSIS By Caroline Duffield, BBC News, Nigeria Tensions are never far from the surface in northern Nigeria. Poverty and competition for scarce resources, along with ethnic, cultural and religious differences have all fuelled sudden violence. But the latest violence is not between communities, it involves young men from religious groups, arming themselves and attacking local police. Fringe religious groups in Nigeria have claimed links to the Taliban before - individuals have also been accused of links to al-Qaeda. But Nigeria is very different to countries like Mali or Algeria, where groups such as al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb operate. The idea of radical Islamist militants gaining a serious foothold in Nigeria is usually dismissed, because of the strength of local identities and traditions.

The preacher, Mohammed Yusuf, says Western education is against Islamic teaching.

There has also been an attack in Wudil, some 20km (12 miles) from Kano, the largest city in northern Nigeria.

A curfew is in force in Bauchi, the scene of Sunday's violence.

Sharia law is in place across northern Nigeria, but there is no history of al-Qaeda-linked violence in the country.

Nigeria's 150 million people are split almost equally between Muslims and Christians and the two groups generally live peacefully side by side, despite occasional outbreaks of communal violence.

Militants chanting "God is great" attacked the Potiskum police station at about 0215 local time (0115 GMT) - the same time as the raid was launched in Maiduguri.

The police station and neighbouring buildings in Potiskum have been razed to the ground, eyewitnesses say.

Two people have been confirmed dead and the police have made 23 arrests.

Fringe group

The corpses of civilians are scattered around the streets of Maiduguri, after being pulled from their cars and shot, eyewitnesses say.

Eyewitness: Nigeria attacks Nigeria's anti-education preacher

The police and army are patrolling, firing into the air, apparently trying to clear civilians from the area.

There are unconfirmed reports of a jailbreak in the town.

In Wudil, three people have been killed and more than 33 arrested. The senior police officer in Wudil has been wounded.

Security is said to have been beefed up in Plateau State, to the south of Bauchi, where hundreds were killed in clashes between Muslims and Christians last year.

Mr Yusuf's followers in Bauchi are known as Boko Haram, which means "Education is prohibited".

They attacked a police station on Sunday after some of their leaders were arrested.

Correspondents say the group is seen locally as a fringe group and has aroused suspicion for its recruitment of young men, and its belief that Western education, Western culture and science are sinful.

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Νέοι ! Στην κορυφή της Ευρώπης [ 285 ]

Η Εθνική Νέων νίκησε 90-85 τη Γαλλία

Στην κορυφή της Ευρώπης

Η ΝΑΥΤΕΜΠΟΡΙΚΗ Δευτέρα, 27 Ιουλίου 2009 07:00

Πανηγύρι στο «Βενετόκλειο» της Ρόδου για τα χρυσά παιδιά μας.

Το χρυσό μετάλλιο στο Ευρωπαϊκό Πρωτάθλημα Νέων που διεξήχθη στη Ρόδο κατέκτησε η Εθνική ομάδα, επικρατώντας χθες το βράδυ της Γαλλίας με 90-85.

Πανάξια «χρυσοί» πρωταθλητές Ευρώπης οι Ελληνες διεθνείς.

Η ομάδα του Κώστα Μίσσα μετά από συγκλονιστική εμφάνιση στον τελικό κατέκτησε την πρώτη θέση, δίνοντας συνέχεια στις επιτυχίες των μικρών εθνικών ομάδων στο μπάσκετ. Μεγάλοι πρωταγωνιστές της επιτυχίας αυτής οι: Παπανικολάου, Παππάς και Μπόγρης, αλλά και οι υπόλοιποι παίκτες που πριν από λίγο καιρό κατέκτησαν το αργυρό μετάλλιο στο Παγκόσμιο Πρωτάθλημα Εφήβων.

Εθνική Μπάσκετ Νέων : Χρυσό μετάλλιο [ 284 ]

Στο Πανευρωπαϊκό Πρωτάθλημα Καλαθόσφαιρας η Ελλάδα επιβλήθηκε
στον Τελικό επί της Γαλλίας με 90-85 και κατέκτησε την πρωτιά

• 1η, η Ελλάς, Χρυσό
  
• 2η, η Γαλλία, Άργυρο,
  
• 3η, η Ισπανία, Χάλκινο

Επίπεδες πλαστικές λάμπες στη ζωή μας [ 283 ]

OLED, μια λαμπρή ιδέα Επίπεδες πλαστικές λάμπες θα φωτίσουν κάθε πλευρά της ζωής μας

Τα Lumiblades της Philips διατίθενται μόνο για δοκιμαστική χρήση

Αμστερνταμ 26/07/09 13:49 Associated Press

Ακόμα δεν συνηθίσαμε τις λάμπες LED, έρχονται τώρα τα OLED. Οι οργανικές φωτοδίοδοι, που χρησιμοποιούνται ήδη στις οθόνες κινητών τηλεφώνων και τηλεοράσεων, αξιοποιούνται σε φωτιστικά πάνελ, τα οποία θα φέρουν στους κλειστούς χώρους την άνεση του ομοιόμορφου ηλιακού φωτός. Τα OLED, συσκευές από αγώγιμα πολυμερή υλικά, παρουσιάζουν το πλεονέκτημα ότι εκπέμπουν φως ομοιόμορφα από όλη την επιφάνειά τους, αντί από ένα σημείο όπως οι συμβατικοί λαμπτήρες πυράκτωσης και οι λαμπτήρες LED που έχουν εμφανιστεί στην αγορά. Η Philips, η General Electric και η Siemens οραματίζονται τώρα μεγάλες φωτιστικές επιφάνειες από LED οι οποίες θα καλύπτουν τους τοίχους και το ταβάνι και θα προσφέρουν την αίσθηση του άπλετου φωτός της ημέρας. Η Philips έχει παρουσιάσει μάλιστα κιτ με επίπεδους λαμπτήρες OLED τα οποία ονομάζονται Lumiblades, ή «φωτολεπίδες» σε ελεύθερη απόσταση. Διατίθενται σε κόκκινο, πράσινο, μπλε ή λευκό φως και προορίζονται για πειραματική χρήση από αρχιτέκτονες, διακοσμητές και άλλους επαγγελματίες. Με τιμές που φτάνουν τα 100 δολάρια ανά τετραγωνική ίντσα, τα Lumiblades είναι μάλλον ακατάλληλα για το ευρύ κοινό. Το μεγαλύτερο μοντέλο, σε μέγεθος κινητού τηλεφώνου, τιμάται σήμερα 500 δολάρια. Η εταιρεία συνιστά στους χρήστες να δώσουν ακόμα 70 ευρώ για να προμηθευτούν ειδικό μετασχηματιστή και ροοστάτη -όσο ανεβάζει κανείς την τάση, τα OLED εκπέμπουν ισχυρότερο φως, μειώνεται όμως η διάρκεια ζωής τους. Με τις ενδεδειγμένες τάσεις τα Lumiblade διαρκούν γύρω στις 10.000 ώρες, οπότε η έντασή τους πέφτει στο μισό. Το χρονικό αυτό διάστημα είναι 10 φορές μεγαλύτερο από τη διάρκεια ζωής των λαμπτήρων πυράκτωσης και περίπου ίσο με την αντοχή των νεώτερων συμπαγών λαμπτήρων φθορισμού. Newsroom ΔΟΛ, με πληροφορίες από Associated Press