In California, patients must provide written consent before their blood can be tested for HIV. This is in contrast to other screening tests for cholesterol and diabetes that do not need consent. To change this so that more people get HIV tests, the CA legislature passed a bill, 682, to make HIV screening a routine [...]

continue reading.....

There’s a cool article in this month’s Discover Magazine on nanoliquid developed at MIT. According to the article, “The liquid is a solution of small protein pieces that assemble into nanoscale fibers on contact, creating a gel that stops the flow of blood without clotting or pressure. As the wound heals, the gel breaks down [...]

continue reading.....

Every once in a while a newspaper headline wakes me up before my morning coffee. This was one of them. According to the Reuter’s report, Chinese president Hu Jintao recently said “We must promote civilized running and use of the Internet and purify the Internet environment.” Wonderful. Just as we are starting to lose ground [...]

continue reading.....

That’s the word from Dr. John Rutledge, one of the nation’s most accomplished economists who has advised several presidents (including the current administration). He’s been spending a lot of time in China recently and has first hand knowledge of how America is doing compared to the rest of the world. His recent blog post is [...]

continue reading.....

Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., caused a political firestorm recently when he said he wanted to reinstate a military draft. His radical proposal brings to light a growing theme that both political parties should consider very closely. In a world where science provides better health and improves the prospects of longevity, death is no longer glamorous, [...]

continue reading.....

The European Commission has taken a break from trying to re-design Microsoft’s software just long enough to get excited about DVDs. According to this report, “European Commission antitrust officials are probing the licensing strategies of two rival new generation DVD developers, HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc.” Given that competition is fierce among rival DVD developers, [...]

continue reading.....

There’s a cool looking program on the Science Channel today at 2pm. According to the site, the “film will closely examine the technologies that give hope to the disabled, allowing them to push beyond their limits and realize their potential.” Robots and humans begin to merge. This is not to be confused with the Wowee [...]

continue reading.....

The 2006 Winter Olympics is winding down, offering an opportunity for the world community to look back on the event and reflect. Drug testing, for instance, was an ongoing element of the games, bringing about intrigue that included Italian drug testers who surprised athletes by posing as fans. This demonstrates why it’s time for the [...]

continue reading.....

At a recent meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a group of biologists discussed how, in the near future, people could expect to live 100 years. A longer, healthier life is good news to most, but predictably some speakers took a negative, almost pro-death, stance. Stanford University biologist Dr. Shripad Tuljapurkar [...]

continue reading.....

Anyone who purchased clear sunscreen or wore stain-resistant pants during the holidays was probably enjoying the benefits of commercialized nanotechnology. While nanotech advances are exciting, some observers dangerously press for greater government oversight in the sector. Nanotechnology, the manipulation of matter at the molecular level, can create better materials, such as stronger metals and better [...]

continue reading.....

I spent another day this week leading a seminar at California’s Command College, a place where police officers go for extra training on a number of issues. My topic was technology and below are the links I said I’d post for attendees. Thanks to Tom for being a fabulous host — I’m looking forward to [...]

continue reading.....

Oh yeah – I want one of these. Honda’s second-generation Asimo robot can run 6KM and hour (that’s 3.7 miles) and can carry drinks on a tray. Soon, it might be possible to feel as though you just landed in the middle of a Star Wars flick – bars with robot-waiters could be just around [...]

continue reading.....

A new book by Carnegie Mellon University roboticist Daniel H. Wilson makes fun of all the silly scenarios people come up with about how robots could go bad. Apparently, it’s also being made into a hollywood film — this is something I can’t wait to see.

continue reading.....

Bold predictions about the future in The Singularity is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology, recently released by legendary inventor Ray Kurzweil, are causing reviewers to marvel in awe or disbelief. But while Kurzweil’s forecasts are fascinating, the book’s analysis of the present is just as important. Amid discussions of reverse engineering the brain and the [...]

continue reading.....

Here’s a great piece from Kevin Maney at USA Today on new diamond technology that has the potential to significantly change the computing world. He quotes me as saying that I’m awed by the technology, and I really am. The ability to make diamond wafers for use as semiconductors means, among other things, that Moore’s [...]

continue reading.....

Today I led a discussion seminar at Command College on technology issues such as broadband, communications applications, privacy, security, intellectual property, nanotech, robotics, and biotech. The officers in the program were engaging and thoughtful — a good sign for the future of law enforcement in California. Here is a list of some of the links [...]

continue reading.....

If you’re wondering why, it’s because I changed my mind on TIA and this NY Sun piece by Josh Gerstein quotes me and others on the need to re-examine government data-mining programs.

continue reading.....

Texas Instruments recently announced the availability of its single-chip technology for cell phone makers in emerging markets, allowing for the availability of cheaper handsets. Here’s an interesting bit from a News.com story: India is among the fastest-growing cell phone markets in the world. The country expects to add more than 100 million new subscribers in [...]

continue reading.....

Econ professor Marius Schwartz just wrote a short, yet incredibly useful analysis of competition in the Internet backbone space. You can find the AEI-Brookings publication here, but if you want the summary version it’s this: there is tons of competition and the SBC/AT&T merger won’t change that. And here’s one bit you won’t want to [...]

continue reading.....

This is a fascinating radio interview with inventor Ray Kurzweil. I’m currently reviewing his upcoming book and so far it’s a great read. When I write my column, I’ll post it here.

continue reading.....