New x-ray machine sees through clothes at the airport

Is that a mobile phone in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

A new x-ray scanner which produces a “naked” image of any person who passes through it is currently being trialled at Manchester Airport. The new device does all the hard work with passengers having to simply stand with legs shoulder width apart and put their hands on their head. Any hidden items are then spotted immediately. The only down side is that the scanner leaves nothing to the imagination highlighting everything from hip replacements to breast implants...

However, fret not - as a screen displaying the image is viewed in a room far far away from all the other passengers by a single person. If anything suspicious is detected then staff on hand are alerted and can proceed to take appropriate action. The images are then deleted from the database so fingers crossed we won't be hearing reports of these photos being uploaded to a staff group on Facebook.

The scanner could have been incorporated sooner had it not been delayed by civil rights campaigners who were not happy about the naked black and white image being captured. But since the images are deleted the privacy problem has somewhat been sidestepped. According to head of customer service at Manchester Airport, most people “dislike the traditional pat-down search and the scanner takes away the hassles to having to undress.”

The trial will last for a year and if results are satisfactory then the new machines could be rolled out to airports across the country in the not too distant future.

Microsoft Milan Surface Computer Playtable: computing table

Some big news from Microsoft yesterday on a new computer called the Microsoft Milan Surface Computer (or Playtable) which is basically a computing table.

Then you add to that some amazing technology and this is one of the best products I have seen from Microsoft in many years, just look at the photos (IT LOOKS AMAZING) and I am not just saying that because I love technology and gadgets.

With all new computers and phones the designers are talking computer interaction and touch (just look at the iPhone), this is the first product from Microsoft’s Surface Computing group (a tabletop computer code-named Milan).

30-inch horizontal display and 22 inches high, this acrylic table is very similar to a table top Pacman game my dad had years ago but obviously not with the technology that’s in the Milan Playtable.

Microsoft Milan Surface Computer Playtable Features:

• Wi-Fi enabled (put a WiFi digital camera on the table top and the machine downloads the photos automatically)
• Interact with photos much like actual physical photos (pass them around the table)
• Music application turns the table into a virtual jukebox
• Concierge application that helps you pull together an itinerary for a day out in a strange city
• First generation Microsoft Surface Computer aimed at retail and in bars and hotels
• Browse the Web
• Imagine controlling a Media Center PC like this
• Interactive slideshows
• …and so much more

The surface computing market is potentially a multi-billion dollar business, so Microsoft does not want to make the same mistakes they did with Search (They are getting in early with this market).

Microsoft is launching the platform just for big retail clients currently (or I guess if you’re a millionaire you can get what you want, for a price).

4D Ultrasound

Technology brings us to a new frontier in medicine – the 4D ultrasound which is now making prenatal screening much easier.

The 4D ultrasound produces sound waves from many angles which shows moving images of the unborn. The images are more detailed and are captured at a much faster rate compared to 2D or 3D scanning.

Expectant mothers (and fathers) have a better view of fetal movements inside the womb. They can even ask their doctors for a DVD copy or still images of the baby.

Doctors also benefit from the use of 4D ultrasound. They have a better view of the fetal development inside the mother’s womb and note if there are any abnormalities or malformations, thus being able to be more prepared for any complications when the baby is born, or if possible, even mitigate any problems even while the baby is still in the womb.