A WORLD OF INNOVATION
Brazil
Diabetics using stem-cell therapy were able to stop taking insulin injections after their bodies started producing the hormone naturally. In the study led by Brazilian and American scientists, 15 patients newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes were given transfusions of stem cells drawn from their own blood. Results showed they could be freed from reliance on insulin injections.
For more information, contact Richard Burt, Northwestern University, rburt@northwestern.edu, (312) 908-0059
England
Travelers of all sizes can rent a chic mini-hotel room at the Gatwick Airport in London. The new concept, called Yotel, costs about $50 for a four-hour block or $110 for an overnight stay and debuted in June. The rooms offer free WiFi, on demand movies, private bathroom and a comfortable bed. Yotel is the answer for passengers who have an early flight, long scheduled transfers or an unexpected flight delay or cancellation. Yotel also will open at London’s Heathrow Airport in August.
For more information, contact Georgina Coates, georgina.coates@threepipe.co.uk
Japan
Visitors to Tokyo’s Ginza shopping district can retrieve historical facts about the district or even directions to stores and attractions through 1,200 computer chips embedded around the district. The technology, which uses a portable media player or a cell phone, is aimed at helping tourists get around, as well as providing assistance for handicapped pedestrians.
For more information, contact the Tokyo Ubiquitous Technology Project, www.tokyo-ubinavi.jp/en/ginza.html
Scotland
Speckled computing is in, although Scottish scientists hope to say it is on. They have developed a technique that sprays thousands of matchstick-head-sized computers onto patients, giving doctors a quick look at their condition.
For more information, contact Damal Arvind, dka@dcs.ed.ac.uk
United States
Blood incompatibility may be a thing of the past thanks to ZymeQuest. Researchers at ZymeQuest have created a system that cheaply and efficiently converts types A, B and AB blood into type O, the universal-donor blood that can be given to anyone.
For more information, contact ZymeQuest, (978) 232-8370
United States
Coffee in the shower may not sound like a good idea, but you get the equivalent of two cups of java from Shower Shock soap, a product of Virginia-based ThinkGeek. The soap is peppermint-scented and no, you do not eat it; the anhydrous caffeine is absorbed through the skin.
For more information, contact orders@thinkgeek.com