Knowledge Science

submitted by Luis Kun

Infection Control Today - September 6, 2011

Transmission of hospital acquired infections (HAI) is mainly based on contacts between patients, patients and healthcare workers (HCWs) and between HCWs only. Description and quantification of contacts at hospitals are key pieces of information for epidemiology and implementing control measures for HAIs.

Researchers in France and Italy describe the SocioPatterns project that has developed an technology based on RFID badges that provides a reliable infrastructure to detect face-to-face proximity of individuals. The system was tested at a scientific conference, in a primary school and in a hospital unit.

submitted by Michael Kraft

by Christopher Joyce - npr.org - August 31, 2011

Two women check their cellphones as they hawk their wares on a bridge over the Artibonite River, whose waters are believed to be the source of Haiti's 2010 cholera outbreak.  Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

The year 2010 was a very bad one for Haiti. It started with an earthquake that killed over 300,000 people, mostly in the crowded capital of Port-au-Prince. After that, cholera originating in a U.N. camp broke out in a northern province and eventually spread to the city.

But public health researchers learned something useful from the tragedy: Cellphones can help stem an unfolding epidemic and funnel aid to the needy.

submitted by Luis Kun

The Wall Street Journal - August 19, 2011

NEW DELHI – A little-known, privately held company Friday launched a tablet computer for $99 in India, adding to competition in a market where local players are bringing in low-cost versions of the device to take on the likes of Apple Inc.'s iPad and Samsung Electronics Co.'s Galaxy Tab.

Industry experts expect many Indians, especially in rural areas, to buy tablets instead of laptop and desktop computers to access the Internet, just the way they embraced mobile phones over fixed-line phones.

Internet penetration is still very low in the world's fastest-growing telecom market where more than half the population of 1.2 billion people has access to mobile phones.

submitted by Samuel Bendett

Homeland Security Newswire - August 18, 2011

Communication networks typically collapse when they are needed most -- during and in the immediate aftermath of massive disasters; researchers have developed a -- an innovative wireless system called LifeNet designed to help first responders communicate after disasters; LifeNet is a mobile ad-hoc network designed for use in highly transient environments that requires no infrastructure such as Internet, cell towers or traditional landlines.

In the aftermath of most disasters — from the terrorist attacks of 9/11 to this year’s earthquake in Japan — communication systems have been overwhelmed, leaving people without phones and Internet when they need these tools the most.

Georgia Tech College of Computing researchers have developed a possible solution. It is an innovative wireless system called LifeNet designed to help first responders communicate after disasters. LifeNet is a mobile ad-hoc network designed for use in highly transient environments that requires no infrastructure such as Internet, cell towers or traditional landlines.