Trick or treat: Guess the device
In true Halloween spirit, MPN has provided some trick or treats of its own. Some of the devices are real and some are as fake as a witch’s wig. See if you can spot the duds and don’t worry, there’ll be no flour-bombing or egg-pelting if you get it wrong
Seeing is believing
Don’t like carrots? Fear not. Thanks to the EyeCU app, users can set time and location anywhere in the world (to determine darkness levels) and infra-red technology transmits nanowaves onto the world’s thinnest contact lens letting the user see in the dark. Ideal for those late night broomstick-flying sessions.
Trick
Shooting star
Imagine never having to worry about injections again. That could be a reality thanks to a needle-free device that projects medicine through the skin. Via a smart-phone app your doc programmes the device with the amount of medicine required and it shoots a thin, fast jet straight through skin and into muscle, faster than you can say hocus pocus.
Trick (extra treats if you spotted that the needle-free device has been developed but not the smart phone app.)
See this
The Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System electrically stimulates the retina to induce visual perception in blind individuals. It’s made of two parts – one has an internal implant, with an electrode array, which is embedded in the eye’s retina and another is a pair of glasses with a forward facing camera.
Treat
Gorge-ous
Over-indulged in pumpkin soup? Kids had more than their fill of chocolate goodies? StuffedUp is a new device to the market. Using digital technology, the user breathes into a mouthpiece and an LED display lets you know how many calories you have consumed, the nutritional value of the food eaten and even lets you know when those calories will be burned off and you can eat again.
Trick
Stamp it out
A bio-integrated electronic tattoo made from filamentary micro-metal and silicon wires has been developed that can measure vital signs, muscle movement, transmit data wirelessly and harvest solar energy all at the same time.
The ultrathin, ultrasoft stamp-sized patch clings to human skin without adhesive and instead holds to the surface of the skin by electrostatic force.
Treat
Feline safe
Following on from Buddy the digital dog collar, we now have Franky, for feline fur balls. Via Bluetooth and heat-seeking technology Franky keeps track of your cat and even lets you know when she’s on her way back home. Franky comes in a range of sizes from kitten upwards and the manufacturer is happy to custom-design the collar with special messages for your meandering moggy.
Trick