Researchers say they have made with pinpoint accuracy a working transistor consisting of a single atom.

Sydney - Researchers in Australia said on Sunday they had made with pinpoint accuracy a working transistor consisting of a single atom, marking a major stride towards next-generation computing.

The device comprises a single phosphorus atom, etched into a silicon bed, with “gates” to control electrical flow and metallic contacts that are also on the atomic scale.

“Our group has proved that it is really possible to position one phosphorus atom in a silicon environment, exactly as we need it, with near-atomic precision, and at the same time (incorporate) gates,” said lead scientist Martin Fuechsle.

Transistors, which switch or amplify electrical flow, are the building blocks of computer chips.

For more than 50 years, the semi-conductor industry has been upholding Moore's Law, the celebrated prediction by Intel pioneer Gordon Moore that the number of transistors on a chip would double every 18 months or so.

But the astonishing run of success could hit a wall by the end of this decade without a breakthrough in miniaturising transistors.

The team made the transistor from a silicon crystal that was placed in a vacuum.

To etch it, they used a device called a scanning tunnelling microscope, which is able to see atoms and manipulate them using a super-fine metal tip.

Phosphorus atoms were deposited in a nano-scale “trench,” covered with an inert layer of hydrogen, and the unwanted ones were then weeded out. A chemical reaction welded the “transistor” atom to the silicon surface.

The minute device operates in ultra-cold temperatures provided by liquid helium.

It is not a finished product but proof-of-principle, designed to show that single-atom devices can be built and controlled.

Scientist have made atomic-scale transistors in the past, but through a chance find rather than by design, said Michelle Simmons, director of the Centre for Quantum Computation and Communication at the University of New South Wales, where the work was carried out.

“But this device is perfect,” she said.

“This is the first time anyone has shown control of a single atom in a substrate [chip base] with this level of precise accuracy.”

The research is reported in the specialist journal Nature Nanotechnology. - AFP

A new implantable device could be used for different types of injectable drugs where getting people to take their medications regularly is a problem.

Chicago - An implantable, wireless microchip delivered osteoporosis medicine to a small group of Danish women, raising hope for a new kind of drug delivery device that might allow patients to skip regular injections, US researchers said on Thursday.

The device, now being developed by privately held Microchips, has a wireless receiver that signals the microchip to release the drug.

“Until now, you never had any way you could do this,” said Dr. Robert Langer of the Massachusetts Institutes of Technology, who helped to develop the technology and is a board member of Microchips.

Langer said the device could be used for different types of injectable drugs where getting people to take their medications regularly is a problem.

That is often the case in patients with severe osteoporosis, who tend to skip doses of their medications because they cannot tell whether or not the injections are affecting the density of their bones.

That is something the microchip was designed to overcome, said Robert Farra of Massachusetts-based Microchips, which paid for the study. Farra, Langer and colleagues published a paper on the study in Science Translational Medicine.

Instead of constantly releasing small amounts of drug, like most drug-delivery systems, the microchip releases medication on command all at once, much like an injection would.

It can be activated by telephone or computer using a special radiofrequency reserved for medical use to safeguard against accidental release of the drug, Langer said.

The microchip itself is a thin wafer, about the size of a small coin, made with tiny wells that hold concentrated doses of medication. These doses are covered with a layer of gold nanoparticles, which dissolve when exposed to a certain radiofrequency. The wafer is implanted under the skin with a receiver device that is roughly the size of a heart pacemaker, Langer said.

In the system's first test in people, the team implanted the device in eight Danish women aged 65 to 70 with a severe form of osteoporosis which required injections of Eli Lilly & Co's hormone treatment teriparatide.

The researchers sent daily signals to the microchip device to release the drug for up to 20 doses. Then, they followed up with a period in which the women took hormone injections.

As seen in animal studies, a fibrous collagen-based membrane developed around the device, but the drug still performed just as well as daily injections in the women, improving bone formation and reducing the risk of fractures, the researchers said.

Still, there were some hitches.

John Watson, a professor of bioengineering at the University of California, San Diego, said in an editorial the device failed to work in one of the patients, and that data was not included in the analysis.

And the team had some manufacturing issues and was able to manufacture only one device with all 20 reservoirs filled with the study drug. Even so, all doses in the microchips were released in the patients, a sign that the device could work in people, Watson said.

“Several years are still needed to bring this technology to approval by the US Food and Drug Administration and to the clinical promise reflected in this small study,” Watson wrote.

The current device holds only 20 doses, but Langer said the group is working on adding more doses to the device.

The company hopes to have a version of the device on the market in five years. Langer said he sees potential for other uses, such as treating diabetes or delivering cancer drugs. - Reuters

Thinking of buying a new laptop? Some advice on what to look for.

Whether your child is starting high school or is well into their tertiary education, a new computer or an upgrade if they’ve had it for more than four years should top their list of back-to-school necessities for the myriad of tangible benefits.

But which one do you pick from the dazzling array of new technology available?

“Buying the right machine is not that all that simple for us non-techy parents” says Intel’s marketing head Ntombezinhle Modiselle. “To make the best purchase for your child you need to consider how it will be used for the next four years and consider all areas of functionality.”

Entry level laptops are perfectly sufficient for primary school learners who only need basic computing functions - but keep in mind that it takes a maximum of four years to outgrow technology completely, and lately even faster.

Older students will benefit more from a faster device with more memory, better graphics and sound, which will allow them to create media-rich content along with homework activities such as charts and graphs, write reports and do research. Teenagers will also of course be excited and engage with the ‘fun’ side of using a laptop, like downloading music and movies and play games.

Before hitting the shops to buy back to school computing devices, consider the following tips:

Broadband bundles

Over the last few years, South Africa is awash with bundled broadband product deals. Data service providers typically offer a PC, laptop or Netbook with a standard data bundle. Ms Modiselle says these packages are an affordable way for any South African parent to purchase a computing devise equipped with a good broadband service.

Security

We all want our kids to have the edge by giving them access to the best technology – both at school and beyond. We want them to access information whenever they want to. Problem is, we’re terrified of letting them roam free on the internet. “However, there are products such as a Vodacom 3G card which is embedded with parental control, specifically designed to help parents keep their kids safe online and protect them from being exposed to illegal and inappropriate adult content. Solutions such as these let you, as a parent, block any inappropriate or adult content such as gambling, violence and sexually-based content at no extra cost, for your peace of mind. It is therefore worthwhile to check with your service provider if they offer it,” says Ms Modiselle.

Software packages for learning

“Make sure the computer you buy has enough memory and processing power to download a host of excellent educational software packages such as Microsoft Learning Suite or LeapFrog’s LeapPad software. Kids can have hours of educational fun by using applications such as Bing Maps to do online searches, MovieMaker to make movies or documentaries, Songsmith to record their self-written songs and StickySorter to organise brainstorm notes. Not only does this enhance their educational independence it also makes learning fun,” says Ms Modiselle.

Portability

“Face it, the best feature about a laptop is that you can carry it with you to places – campus, school, even on holiday to finish that project ahead of time,” says Ms Modiselle. If your child needs to carry it around extensively, she suggests that you consider a laptop with a solid-state drive (SSD), as opposed to a traditional hard-disk drive (HDD). A laptop with a SSD is more durable, quieter and faster.

Primary school learners may benefit from the smaller Netbook because they won’t necessarily mind the compromise in functionality. If functionality is high on your wish-list, rather invest in a PC that will give you that performance,” says Ms Modiselle.

“The Ultrabook is the star attraction in the portability category this year, boasting features such as being ultra-thin, ultra-light, an impressive battery life, more power efficient than any other device and having impressive processing capabilities. Your kids will love you for not only getting them the best technology available to date, but its stylish look is a hit too.”

Memory, processor speed and hard drive space

Ms Modiselle has a general rule of thumb to share when it comes to processing speed, memory and hard drive space: “Buy the computer with the most memory and storage space you can afford, with the fastest processor you can afford. The best on the market right now will be outdated in two years.”

Graphics

“Your child is sure to spend hours surfing the internet doing research and will be using software that requires higher-end (and lately, built-in) graphic cards. If the majority of children are anything like mine, they will eventually want to do some gaming with friends in their spare time,” warns Ms Modiselle.

Ports, slots and extras

“Make a list of all accessories needing a slot on the machine itself, and look for a device to match your needs. Remember, a smaller laptop means fewer items can be plugged in. But make sure at least one USB 3.0 port is present,” she says. “Your child will thank you for the enhanced speed, which is 10 times faster than older devices with the 2.0 version.”

Warrantee

“This may seem insignificant, but being able to go back to the vendor who offered an extended warrantee may prove a godsend should something go wrong. Peace of mind is everything, especially if your 19 year old is living on campus, away from your watchful eye,” she says.

HP was the top semiconductor buyer in 2010, but was overhauled by Samsung and Apple thanks to their stellar sales of smartphones and other mobile devices.

San Francisco - Apple was the world's largest buyer of semiconductors in 2011, spending 17.3 billion dollars on chips to drive its fleet of iPods, iPads, iPhones and Macs, according to a report from Gartner Research on Tuesday.

Apple was just ahead of Samsung, which spent 16.7 billion dollars on chips, with Hewlett Packard spending 16.6 billion dollars.

HP, the world's largest maker of PCs, was the top semiconductor buyer in 2010 but was overhauled by Samsung and Apple thanks to their stellar sales of smartphones and other mobile devices.

The biggest decline on the list came from Nokia, which saw its semiconductor purchases drop by 20 percent as its smartphone business dried up. - Sapa-dpa

A team of Japanese scientists claim their pressure sensor sheet can accurately identify an individual's backside.

Japan - Put your fingerprint scanners away. Stand aside iris measurers. Buttocks are the new way to prove who you are.

A team of Japanese scientists claim their pressure sensor sheet can accurately identify an individual's backside and when placed on a driver's seat could be used as a last line of defence to stop someone else driving away your motor.

“The sheet has 360 sensors, which collect data for 39 features to recognise a person, such as pressure patterns and the dimensions of the buttocks,” said Dr. Shigeomi Koshimizu, who led the research.

Koshimizu, an associate professor at Tokyo-based Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology, said his device is 98 percent accurate and far less onerous than conventional biometrics as it requires nothing more than someone to sit naturally.

But, he added, there are still a few hurdles to clear before the technology makes it to market.

“The recognition tends to be compromised by different clothes,” he said. “Sensors read different signals from a pair of trousers and a pair of jeans.” - Sapa-AFP

An edible microchip that records the precise details of a patient's pill regime will be available in Britain soon.

London - An edible microchip that records the precise details of a patient's pill regime will be available in Britain by the end of year following a commercial deal that opens the door to an era of digital medicines.

An American biomedical company has signed up with a British healthcare firm to sell digestible sensors, each smaller than a grain of sand, that can trigger the transmission of medical information from a patient's body to the mobile phone of a relative or carer.

The aim is to develop a suite of “intelligent medicines” that can help patients and their carers keep track of which pills are taken at what time of day, in order to ensure that complex regimes of drugs are given the best possible chance of working effectively.

Ultimately, the plan is for every one of the many pills taken each day by some of the most chronically-ill patients, especially those with mental health problems, to be digitally time-stamped as they are digested within the body.

The healthcare company Lloyds- pharmacy said it intends to sell the edible microchips of Proteus Biomedical of California by the end of the year, as part of a trial to test whether NHS patients would be prepared to pay privately to ensure that they or their relatives take the right medicines at the right time.

At the heart of the technology is a tiny silicon wafer separating tiny quantities of copper and magnesium, which effectively forms a microscopic battery that generates an electric current when immersed in the acidic environment of the stomach.

These electric currents, which can be given individual signatures to match the drug taken with the edible sensor, are detected passively by an intelligent patch stuck to the patient's skin, in much the same way that electrocardiogram (ECG) skin patches can record the electric currents within the heart.

The patch, which is designed to be worn for seven days, includes a flexible battery and chip that records the information and sends it by Bluetooth wireless technology to the mobile phone of a relative or professional carer.

“In the future the goal is a fully integrated system that creates an information product that helps patients and their families with the demands of complex pharmacy,” said Andrew Thompson, the chief executive and founder of Proteus Biomedical.

“What we know is that we've created many pharmaceuticals with great potential but much of that potential is not realised because these drugs are not being used properly.” - The Independent

A New York-based company has developed an iPhone attachment that turns video shot by the smartphone into panoramic footage.

Las Vegas - Most iPhone developers are focused on creating software applications for the hip smartphones from Apple.

But not Jeff Glasse. The founder and chief executive of the New York-based company Kogeto has developed an iPhone attachment that turns video shot by the smartphone into panoramic footage.

“It captures 360 degree video and then lets you share that video online,” said Glasse, demonstrating the $79 (about R600) lens attachment called the “Dot” at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

“You're capturing everyone in the room - 360 degrees,” Glasse said. “And then with one click you can upload that to Facebook, Twitter, wherever you want to share it.”

The Dot resembles a magnifying loupe such as those used by jewellers or photographers, only slightly smaller.

It clips on to an iPhone, aligning with the lens of the smartphone's camera and transforms the footage into a 360 degree panoramic image.

Kogeto began shipping the Dot for the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4S in October. It will begin selling in Europe in February and will be featured in Apple stores in two weeks.

Glasse said Kogeto will come out with a version of Dot for Android phones this year.

“We're bringing this to the consumer market so we can be the plumbing for panoramic video,” Glasse said. “I believe wholeheartedly in panoramic video. I believe it's transformative.”

Funding for the Dot was raised through Kickstarter, a website which collects donations for creative projects.

Kogeto sought $20,000 but received $120,500 from more than 1,200 donors. - Sapa-AFP

Arm has been left deep in the red by the news that Intel is about to give the chipmaker a taste of its own medicine.

London - The battle between Arm Holdings and Intel looks like it is heating up. Normally used to taking market share from its rivals, Arm was left deep in the red on Wednesday night by the news that Intel is about to give the chipmaker a taste of its own medicine and take it on in the burgeoning smartphone market.

Punters in the group woke on Wednesday to find out that Intel had announced it was teaming up with both Motorola and Lenovo to produce the first smartphones using its chips, as well as tablets.

The revelation, made at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, means Arm will face competition in an area where it is currently dominant. As a result, it was left 15.5p weaker at 588.5p, with Liberum Capital calling the developments a “significant” negative.

Analysts from the broker added that although they expected Intel to take no more than 10 percent of market share, “we do not think even such a loss is factored into Arm's share price”.

One factor that has helped Arm in the past has been the regular recurrence of chatter that it could be snapped up by its major customer, Apple.

- The Independent

Google hopes to replicate the success of its Android mobile software in the TV market, but its attempt to conquer the living room has seen limited success.

Seoul - LG Electronics said on Friday it would unveil its first Google TV next week, joining Sony and Samsung Electronics in partnering with the search giant to get a foothold in the emerging Internet TV market.

Google hopes to replicate the success of its Android mobile software in the TV market, but its attempt to conquer the living room has seen limited success so far due to a lack of web content and support from hardware manufacturers.

Google TV allows consumers to access online videos and websites on their TVs, as well as specialised apps such as videogames. Currently it comes built-in on certain Sony television models and Samsung is also working with the US firm to launch Google TVs.

LG said on Friday it would introduce its first Google TV next week at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Google said on its blog that chipmaker Marvell Technology Group, chip designer MediaTek and TV manufacturer Vizio were also new partners for its Google TV service.

Grappling with slowing demand and cutthroat competition, TV manufacturers hope forays into the Internet TV market will help cushion squeezed margins.

Research firm DisplaySearch expects the global TV market to grow only two percent this year after no growth in 2011 due to soft consumer demand amid a weak global economy. - Reuters

Google has confirmed that it has added more IBM patents to its technology arsenal.

San Francisco - Google on Wednesday confirmed that it has added more IBM patents to its technology arsenal as smartphone rivals increasingly battle in courts over innovations.

Google bought 188 patents and 29 patent applications related to mobile phones from IBM but did not disclose how much it paid.

Last year, IBM sold Google 2,000 or so patents ranging from mobile software to computer hardware and processors.

Google has been strengthening its patent portfolio as the fight for dominance in the booming smartphone market increasingly involves lawsuits claiming infringement of patented technology.

The California Internet powerhouse behind Android mobile device software last year transferred a set of patents to smartphone titan HTC to help the Taiwan-based company in an intellectual property clash with iPhone maker Apple.

Technology giants have taken to routinely pounding one another with patent lawsuits. Apple has accused HTC and other smartphone makers using Google's Android mobile operating system of infringing on Apple-held patents.

Some of the patents that HTC got from Google had belonged to Motorola Mobility, which Google is buying for $12.5 billion in cash.

Motorola Mobility's trove of patents was a key motivation for Google, which is keen to defend Android.

“Our acquisition of Motorola will increase competition by strengthening Google's patent portfolio, which will enable us to better protect Android from anti-competitive threats from Microsoft, Apple and other companies,” Google chief executive Larry Page said when the Motorola Mobility buy was announced.

Motorola Mobility chief executive Sanjay Jha told financial analysts the US maker of smartphones and touchscreen tablet computers has over 17,000 issued patents and another 7,500 pending. - Sapa-AFP