Will Airports Soon Have Walls That Can Sniff Out Terrorists? | Discoblog

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airportThe walls are alive… with sophisticated sensors that can sniff out potential terrorists, according to Popular Science:

Researchers at brain trust Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing andErgonomics (FKIE) in Wachtberg, Germany have developed a network of “chemical noses” that can not only smell chemicals hidden on a person, but also identify the carrier as he or she moves through a crowded space.

This means that someone entering an airport with individual chemical components, that can be used to make an explosive later, can be tracked right from the door itself.

Sensitive sensors located in walls would “sniff” out the chemicals, triggering a discreet security alarm. The sequence of triggered alarms would allow security personnel to determine which direction the chemical-carrying person was moving, and a software program would zoom in on one individual in the crowd. Cameras all over the airport would track the suspect as he moves and security could then apprehend the person well before he/she reaches the crowded security checkpoints.

Here’s how the Hazardous Material Localization and Person Tracking (HAMLeT for short) system works, according to researcher Wolfgang Koch:

The system involves a network of highly sensitive smell sensors that follow an explosives trail. There are oscillating crystals on the sensor and whenever the electronic noses capture chemical molecules, their oscillation frequency changes. The precise nature of the change is different for different substances.

In an experiment with the German Armed Forces, the system accurately zeroed in on five “terrorists” carrying hidden explosives. The scientists are now working on refining the prototype, so there are no false alarms.

However, there is no mention of the dilemma faced by particularly smelly people. What if your deodorant or aftershave contained some sort of chemical that could also be used to terrorize old ladies and kids on a plane? Our suggestion? Don’t stand too close to the walls.

Related Content:
Discoblog: German Activists Protest Body Scanners By Stripping Down
80beats: 5 Reasons Body Scanners May Not Solve Our Terrorism Problem
80beats: Are Digital Strip Searches Coming Soon To Every Airport Near You?
Discoblog: “What a Wonderful Smell You’ve Discovered!” Device Sniffs Out Dead Bodies
80beats: New Research Points Toward Artificial Nose Based on Human Smell Sensors
DISCOVER: Future Tech discusses the military’s interest in e-noses

Image: iStockphoto


A Prompt Dose of Morphine Could Cut PTSD Risk for Wounded Soldiers | 80beats

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navyhospitalFinally, some potentially hopeful news for military veterans coming home with the lingering psychological scars associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. In a paper for this week’s edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, a team reports finding that troops wounded in Iraq who were treated with morphine right away were less likely to develop PTSD as a result of the incident.

The study of 696 members of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, all wounded in Iraq from 2004 to 2006, found that 61 percent of those who eventually developed PTSD had been given morphine, usually within an hour after being wounded. But 76 percent of those who did not develop PTSD had been given morphine [Reuters]. Neither the size of the morphine dose nor the severity of injury appeared to make a difference in the morphine effect, the study says.

However, the researchers can’t yet say for sure why morphine might have this moderate protective effect against PTSD—the pain relief itself could help, but there could be indirect effects that contribute, like morphine blocking certain brain receptors that affect how the brain encodes traumatic memories. Therefore, it’s too early to use the study in the field. “I would be very reluctant to suggest any change in clinical practice,” said Troy Lisa Holbrook of the Naval Health Research Center in San Diego, who headed the study…. “We need to understand a great deal more how this appears to work” [Washington Post].

At least the study gives medical researchers a place to start. More than 40,000 military personnel have been diagnosed with PTSD since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and Defense Department officials say many more surely have the disorder but have not sought treatment. Overall, experts estimate that about 20% of troops and veterans suffer from PTSD, along with 8% of civilians [Los Angeles Times].

Related Content:
80beats: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mouse: Scientists Erase Mice’s Memories
80beats: Can Playing Tetris Ease the Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress?
DISCOVER: Treating Agony with Ecstasy
Cosmic Variance: Guest Post: Tom Levenson on the Iraq War Suicides And the Material Basis of Consciousness

Image: U.S. Navy: Seabees building a hospital in Iraq


Reading Courses | Cosmic Variance

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In the past I’ve often been listed as the nominal professor for various graduate students taking “reading courses,” which basically meant “I’m going to be doing my research, but there’s some university requirement that says I must be registered for a certain number of courses each term, so please sign my sheet.” But this term I have two students doing honest-to-goodness reading courses — trying to learn some specific material that isn’t being offered in any structured course offered at the moment.

And — it’s great! Anyone have their favorite suggestions/anti-suggestions for reading courses? The method I chose was the following: the student and I consult on a course of readings for the term. Every week, the student reads through the relevant material. Then once a week we meet, and I sit in my chair and take notes as the student gives an informal lecture, as if they were the professor and I was the student.

Obviously good for me, since I get to brush up on some things that I knew really well some time ago but haven’t thought about recently. And the students get to dig into something they really care about. But the somewhat-unanticipated bonus is that the students get fantastic practice in teaching and giving talks. Since it’s just one-on-one, we can stop at any moment for me to point something out or for them to ask a question. And I can expound upon my theories of chalkboard etiquette, such as the need to speak out loud every single symbol you write on the board. Over the course of a single hour, I can see the student’s presentation skills improve noticeably (from “good” to “even better”).

The world being what it is, it’s not possible for every course to be taught with just one student and one professor. But despite all the very real advances in technology and pedagogical theory, I still believe that the best teaching happens with two people sitting at opposite ends of a log (or equivalent), passing words and ideas back and forth. Everything else is just trying to recreate that magic.

Lying for skepticism | Bad Astronomy

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Is it ever OK to lie for skepticism? I would say yes, under very specific circumstances… like when you’re teaching students to think critically:

“Now I know some of you have already heard of me, but for the benefit of those who are unfamiliar, let me explain how I teach. Between today until the class right before finals, it is my intention to work into each of my lectures … one lie. Your job, as students, among other things, is to try and catch me in the Lie of the Day.”

[...]

This was an insidiously brilliant technique to focus our attention – by offering an open invitation for students to challenge his statements, he transmitted lessons that lasted far beyond the immediate subject matter and taught us to constantly check new statements and claims with what we already accept as fact.

This is a wonderful story, and I think makes an effective teaching method. And it forces students to pay attention… while making them eager to do so! Read the whole thing; you’ll get a smile from it.

Tip o’ the tweed jacket to Craig Temple.


SHOCK POLL!!! Boxer only up by 3 over Republican Carly Fiorina in California

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As Massachussetts goes, so goes California.

This just breaking from Rasmussen:

Boxer leads former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina by just three points, 46% to 43%. In November, Boxer was also at the 46% level of support but led Fiorina by nine points.

The longtime Democratic senator runs best right now against state Assemblyman Chuck Devore, beating him by six points, 46% to 40%. Two months ago, though, she posted a 10-point lead on DeVore, 49% to 39%.

As for Campbell, the ex-congressman and former state finance director who on Thursday quit the governor’s race to jump into the Senate contest, Boxer leads him by just four points, 46% to 42%.

Suborbital Scientist-Astronaut Training Course

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Environmental Tectonics Corporations The NASTAR(R) Center Commences Space Training for Prospective Scientist-Astronauts

"The Suborbital Scientist-Astronaut Training Course [Tuesday/Wednesday, 12-13 Jan] has been developed by The NASTAR Center and is organized by Dr. Alan Stern and Dr. Dan Durda of the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). "

Keith's note: You can follow events at the workshop at OnOrbit.com/suborbital or at The pre-flight of a sub-orbital scientist (Joe Hill)

On Twitter you can follow @thenastarcenter, NASAWatch or track all Tweets via #suborbital

You can also check the Suborbital Science page at Facebook and TheNASTARCenter on YouTube

- ETC's The NASTAR(R) Center Announces Winner of Student Patch Design Contest Outreach Effort, earlier post- NASA Solicitation: Commercial Reusable Suborbital Research Program - CRuSR - Request for Information, earlier post
- List of Speakers Announced for the Next-Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference, earlier post

The Edifier M3-Plus Speaker Is Distantly Related To a Cardboard Tube and a Tennis Ball [Speakers]

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Somewhere on the family tree of the Edifier M3-Plus you are going to find a tennis ball and a cardboard tube. Surprisingly, this design hodgepodge has yielded some interesting portable speakers.

Designed for travelers, the Edifier M3-Plus consists of two racquetball sized speakers and a 2-inch Neodymium-iron Boron Magnet assembly subwoofer housed inside an aluminum tube. Availability information has not been announced, but the 2.1 system should come in at around $100 when it's released. [Edifer via Unplggd]



BREAKING!!! Another Democrat Congress retirement

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DEVELOPING...

From Eric Dondero:

We just received a Tweet from a trusted source inside the Beltway, that Congressman Vic Snyder, Democrat of Arkansas plans to retire. This is AR 02, which includes metropolitan Little Rock.

Our source indicates that the seat is now likely to move from the "toss-up" category to "Lean 'R'" as rated by various political observers.

Time to Grow Up

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So maybe being 35 it might be time for me to start thinking about growing up.

I don’t mean getting stodgy or conservative or saying things like, “because we have always done it that way” but I mean giving up some of the tactics that I honed at a young age to survive the wilds of Junior High that might not be so appropriate anymore.  You see in Junior High I was picked on mercilessly by some of the guys (who my teachers assured me were only doing it because they were threatened by me- fat lot of consolation that was when I would go home crying every day). My survival strategy became to be as cool as possible. Luckily I had an older sister who through osmosis I could learn from and start to take on the ways of the cool rebel kids. I shaved the sides and back of my hair, wore dark lipstick and high top skater shoes.

It has served me well over the years. Although I took all honors and AP classes in high school, I escaped nerdom, played sports, and once I hit 9th grade never got picked on again. In college, I had fun, did what I wanted and took on my career fearlessly. I was not usually intimidated by a room full of senior engineers once I got to NASA because, hey, they were not nearly as cool as me. Heck I even created a whole space holiday around being cool.

I forgot that I had made it all up. I started to think that I was just born cool.

But recently I have begun to see the toll having to be cooler than everyone is taking. I noticed that I have had little time for those who weren’t as cool as me and that ends up being exclusionary and hurtful. Ironically probably as hurtful as those boys were to me. I realized that I am cutting out whole groups of people I could learn from and work with. So maybe its time to stop playing that game, maybe I don’t need to be “shields-up” all the time against an attack that was called off 20 years ago. Maybe it’s ok to just be normal, just one among equals, to listen and to make time for everyone- just like my dad does. I mean that would be practicing what I preach. Didn’t I say in my TEDxNASA talk that when we grow up and become a galactic civilization we will get back that connection with everyone and everything that we had when we were kids? Maybe I can do my part for the galaxy by doing my own growing up first and be the change I want to see in the Universe.

Official Laptop Search Documents Reveal Sloppy Data Handling [Privacy]

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The Freedom of Information Act allowed the ACLU to view documents concerning the Customs and Border Protection's searches of laptops and other electronic devices at the United States' international borders. They discovered that third parties view and copy some data.

The ACLU was quite thorough and analyzed the documents—which detailed searches of not just laptops, but digital cameras, thumb drives, hard drives, and even DVDs as well—to produce some easy to digest spreadsheets. Based on a glance at those spreadsheets, the CBP seemed to take advantage of the fact that "under the current policy, they were not required to justify a single one of these searches."

It's explained that those searches are generally done due to "individualized suspicion of wrongdoing, but CBP's policy allows officials to exercise their power arbitrarily." You know what? This may sound insane, but I think that I can deal with somewhat unjustified searches like that. It's alright, I've got time to waste when traveling and there doesn't seem to be any harm in it, except when I get to this part:

Between July 2008 and June 2009, CBP transferred electronic files found on travelers' devices to third-party agencies almost 300 times. Over half the time, these unknown agencies asserted independent bases for retaining or seizing the transferred files. More than 80 percent of the transfers involved the CBP making copies of travelers' files.

So who exactly is getting to see my occasionally inappropriate vacation pictures and what do they do after taking a peek? That's the part which troubles me. If I somehow prompt a search, I'm fine with it. Look at my browsing history, ebook collection, odd music library, whatever you want, but give me assurance that my data is safe.

I'll be reserving my full-on whining tantrum until I finish reading the whole 863 page batch of documents, but so far I'm not exactly a happy camper. Did you catch anything that particularly freaked you out in there? [ACLU]



A Penny-Shooting Business Card Probably Won’t Win Anyone Over [DIY]

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Yes, a business card that shoots a magazine of 10 pennies with rubber band power will get you noticed—but it probably won't be the kind of attention you hoped for.

Then again, load that thing up with Krugerrands and you will definitely score yourself some allies despite the painful welts. Hit the following link iIf you want to try your hand at making one of these yourself. [Thingverse via Make]



Teenager Arrested For Threatening To Blow Up An Apple Store [Blockquote]

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Here's a Genius Bar horror story for you: Justin Barry, an apparently disgruntled seventeen year old, walked into a Staten Island Apple Store and typed this message on one of the display machines. He's now facing seven years in prison.

I have threatened your store and all its employees with a bloody death ... whoever the crew maybe working, or the innocent citizens that walk in ... will be eliminated with the force of a... bomb loaded with C4, strapped to my chest.

Barry claims he was joking—he signed the threat with the name of a friend's father—but he's facing terror charges that could leave him locked up until his mid-twenties. With any luck he'll be out just in time to get in line for the iSlate Nano. [MacWorld]



Verizon Dominates Zagat’s First Cellphone Carrier Survey [Rankings]

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If Patrick Bateman had a cellphone, he'd probably be rocking a Droid (with a Phil Collins ringtone, natch) after Verizon topped four of six major categories in Zagat's debut Wireless Carriers Survey.

Verizon scored high marks in Overall, Reliability, Coverage, and Customer Service, leading me to believe that perhaps this survey was taken before their infamous $350 ETF. AT&T's wide margin of victory in the Products category is likely due largely to the iPhone, while T-Mobile eeked out a win in Value, which, I guess it's all relative.

But enough about winners! Let's talk about Sprint. Dead last in three of the main six categories, not first in any of the extended sixteen. At least they get a Participant ribbon? [Zagat and Image via Consumerist]



AT&T Matches Verizon With Unlimited Talky for $70 a Month (and a Cheaper iPhone Plan) [At&t]

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Oh lordie, you knew this was coming. AT&T's just matched Verizon's new unlimited talking plans, basically point by point. Unlimited talking for $70 a month, with unlimited talk + MMS for $90.

For iPhone users, there's a new $100 all you can talk-and-download (but not text, which stays the same, running $20/month separately) plan. What's better than Verizon, though, is that they're apparently not bumping data rates. Because that would be f'n hilarious.

DALLAS, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — AT&T* today announced new unlimited plans across all devices —including its industry-leading lineup of smartphones — to provide more value and choice for customers who want to talk, text and surf on the nation's fastest 3G network.

"With more than twice the number of smartphone customers as our nearest competitor, we are committed to offering great value and choice for customers who want to talk, text and surf on the nation's fastest 3G network," said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "Our new plans reflect customers' continuing desire to do more with their phones – including talking and browsing the Web at the same time. Plus these new plans make it even more attractive to choose AT&T which already offers customers the best 3G experience and the industry's most popular and innovative devices."

The new plans, which will be available beginning Monday, Jan. 18, can be ordered at AT&T's 2,200 company-owned retail stores and kiosks, through convenient online service at http://www.att.com, or at one of the thousands of authorized AT&T retail locations.

* Feature Phone customers may choose unlimited talk for $69.99. Family Talk customers (prices assume two lines) may choose unlimited talk for $119.99 per month. Texting plans remain unchanged at $20 for unlimited plans for individuals and $30 for Family Talk plans.
* Quick Messaging Device customers may choose unlimited talk and text for $89.99 per month. Quick Messaging Device customers with Family Talk plans may choose unlimited talk and text for $149.99 per month (for two lines). These prices include a required minimum of $20 per month for individual plans and $30 per month for Family Talk plans in texting and/or Web browsing plans for new and upgrading customers.
* All smartphone customers, including iPhone customers, may now buy unlimited voice and data for $99.99. For smartphone customers with Family Talk plans (prices assume 2 smartphones), unlimited voice and data is now available for $179.99. Texting plans remain unchanged at $20 for unlimited plans for individuals, $30 for Family Talk Plans.

Beginning Monday, existing AT&T customers can change to any of the new plans without penalty or contract extension with the online account management tool at http://www.att.com/wireless.

AT&T customers enjoy the ability to talk and browse the Web at the same time on AT&T's 3G network, the nation's fastest, which covers more than 230 million people across the nation.

For customers who do not choose an unlimited voice plan, AT&T offers Rollover, which lets customers keep the minutes they don't use. In addition, AT&T offers A-List, which offers unlimited calling to up to 10 domestic phone numbers.

For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit http://www.att.com.

[Yahoo]



Sapper, Stradivarius and Skylight: Designing Lenovo’s Smartbook [Laptops]

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David Hill is the VP of Lenovo brand management and design and was also instrumental in the design of the original ThinkPad. Here, he shares the creative process in designing Lenovo's Skylight, a smartbook which wowed us at CES.

Back in November of 2008, I first learned of the Lenovo super secret project that would eventually become the Skylight smartbook . It sounded fascinating to me that we would attempt to create an entirely new offering category in the computer space. I could only imagine a device that would behave similar to a smart phone, but be of a size and scale that would make it more suitable for viewing or typing data. The design goal was also to create something that would turn heads. It could not look like just another miniature notebook computer.

I thought it would be a great project to get Richard Sapper, our long time design guru, involved with. After all, Richard has specialized in turning the ordinary into the extraordinary for decades. I've seen him do it over and over again with things as seemingly mundane as a desk lamp, cheese grater, tea kettle, kitchen timer, transistor radio, television set, and of course our own ThinkPad classic. When I first proposed the idea to the executive team I was asked by several if Sapper had ever designed a consumer product. Not such a surprising question if your view to Sapper and his work has been through the restricted lens of business computers, but I knew better. I quickly made a Powerpoint slide show of Sapper's work, to make it clear what he was capable of. It worked. Everyone was intrigued enough to brief him on the project immediately.

Sapper and team discussing design details

On November 12th of 2008 Sapper was in town for a design work session where we took the opportunity to brief him on the super secret project. Sorry I can't share the code name with you. He had many questions about user scenarios, screen sizes, technologies, and other such design-related details. Sapper was clearly interested in breaking the mold with us. His enthusiasm dimmed, however, when he was informed of the deadline for completing the design concept. The design had to be locked before the Christmas holiday in order to maintain the very aggressive schedule. I think the words Sapper used were "you must be joking, I need time to design such a thing" . The worst part was that it had not been formally decided if Sapper would be retained to create the design. That wouldn't happen for yet another two weeks at the next Lenovo senior leadership meeting. The timeline issue would only become worse if he had to wait two additional weeks before he had the approval to start working.

The meeting adjourned as promises were passed around the room to speed the process and get more technical details. Of course, Sapper was asked to hang in there with Lenovo and wait for the next decision point. It was later in the day that Sapper, with a gleam in his eye, proposed to me that he would begin designing it immediately, on speculation that he might be retained to do so. For Sapper, there was no time to waste for the final Lenovo decision. How could anyone argue with that? If Lenovo liked his idea, we would compensate him for the work. If they didn't like it, nothing was lost for Lenovo. The risk was all on Richard's back. He was confident that he could create something revolutionary, and was willing to bet his own time and expense on doing it. The Sapper plan was quickly agreed to by Lenovo. Now it was up to Richard to deliver his idea by December 18th.

Richard flew to New York City late that evening. The following morning he would travel to Gloucester Massachusetts to visit with close friends. Immediately after the Gloucester visit, he was off to Los Angeles to be with his wife and son for Thanksgiving. How would he ever design anything if he was in hotel rooms, friend's houses, carving turkeys, and riding airplanes? Designers need tools and time to create design. Sapper clearly understood the dilemma he was faced with. The next day he called me from New York City to describe the sleepless night he had endured as he imagined the design solution. His news was that he had been "kissed by Aphrodite" the night before. For Sapper, that means having the genesis of an idea. How poetic. He had spent the night drawing simple sketches in the hotel to refine his initial idea. He later described the concept verbally as a very thin and sculpted flowing form but not a "glob of pudding". It had direction and clarity. He also talked about an articulated "stick" that would swing into view for various functions such as storage or a possible telephone handset. For me, that was the icing on the cake. Now all Richard needed was a model to validate his idea in 3 dimensions. Tall order if you are not in your normal work environment.

The infamous "hotel sketch" that defined Skylight

Two days later, I received yet another call from Richard. Now he was in Los Angeles. There was very little chit chat, he went straight to work. "Do you know what I have in my hand?" he questioned. I really had no idea how to respond to that one. "A model!" he declared, instantly answering his own question. How could that be possible I thought? He must have just arrived in California. He told me of being at a cocktail party while in Gloucester, where he mentioned to a friend that he was working on a secret design project. He described how interesting the project was, but that he was frustrated by not being able to get a model built of the idea he had conceived the night before. He was in desperate need of a model. What followed is one of the most incredible strokes of luck ever. His friend suggested that he discuss his need with one of the guests at the party who amazingly enough makes violins and other such instruments. It was reported that he had an elaborate woodworking shop and the skills to match. Surely he could make such a model. After a brief introduction, Richard met him at his shop the next day where he masterfully directed the shaping of a raw block of olive wood into what would become the first model of Skylight.


Stradivarius would be envious

Using the kitchen table at his son's house and old-school drawing tools, Sapper then created a series of cross sections that were sent back to his studio assistant in Milan. His goal was to create computer generated 3D data and a highly accurate stereo lithography model for his immediate review when he returned to his studio. His plan worked. Once in Milan, he made several revisions to the form and interior leaving just enough time to create a more detailed model for the final review that was now scheduled for December 19th. There was little margin for error.

Early interior study model showing placeholder keyboard and speaker location

On December 15th Sapper again called to say that the model would be finished as promised but that he had no idea how to get it to Raleigh in time for the meeting. There was even some concern expressed about having adequate time for the paint to cure. More on that later. We immediately exercised all various options to get the model from Milan to the meeting but none were very promising. The final solution was to send Robert Enochs to Milan on the 18th to hand carry it back the following morning. Robert, who actually wrote the original marketing requirements document, eagerly agreed to the plan as though he had a choice. After landing in Malpensa, Robert took a taxi to his hotel in Milan, freshened up, and then headed to Sapper's studio a few blocks away. Richard met him on the street in front of his studio, where he suggested they head to La Torre di Pisa for a nice Risotto dinner before visiting the model maker's shop. It was nearly 9:00 PM Milan time.

Once at the model shop Robert saw the models, yes there were two, one a beautiful shade of red and the other black. Black was eventually replaced by a nice rich blue. We had enough black computers. Enochs was immediately impressed by how unique the design appeared and equally by how sticky the paint was. It seems there was a paint compatibility issue that never allowed the paint to fully dry. Sapper's normal painter was already out on holiday. Richard had to scramble to find someone to paint the model. He ended up hiring a rather inexperienced painter that he had never used before. I seem to recall that Richard even had to buy him the paint gun at a local hardware store. I guess that should have been a warning sign. The models were placed into a clever box of Sapper's design and Robert headed back to the hotel for a few hours of sleep before catching the morning flight to the states. I called Robert when he returned to the hotel to get his impression of what he saw. He was at a loss for words but groggily described it as "well…VERY unique". It was well after midnight when Robert called it a day.

Sapper designed the box for the trip home

On Friday evening in Raleigh the executive team anxiously awaited the arrival of Robert Enochs and the model. His plane was about an hour late due to weather issues and people were getting rather anxious. Once Robert landed, he called us on his cell phone to give us a turn by turn status of his continued progress towards Lenovo headquarters. At about 7:30 PM his car was spotted from the design center windows pulling into the parking lot. We were more than ready to see it. Sapper was standing by on the phone to discuss any of the details concerning his work. It was well past midnight Milan time. The cleverly designed Baltic birch box was carefully opened and the models were revealed. Immediately, the reaction was extremely positive, people loved what they saw. Sapper had delivered on the challenge beyond any of our expectations. The most immediate issue was how we were going to remove the bubble wrap texture that had now become impregnated into the forever-sticky paint. The finish looked a lot like a well worn alligator. It was pretty clear that the only alternative was to photograph the models and remove the alligator pattern in Photoshop. Since this all had to take place before Monday we needed a photographer and Photoshop expert the next morning. Not easy to get that done unless your son is a photographer home for the weekend. Who else do you call at midnight to do a photo shoot the next morning? He was more than willing to help and did an expert job of saving the paint disaster. Thanks Eric.

Worn alligator texture or just bad paint?

Photo of the concept models after extensive retouching by my son Eric</em

Final design is extraordinarily close to the original vision

There was far more to do following this pivotal meeting, but the most important hurdle had been crossed. We had a really marvelous design concept. We still needed to design a keyboard, make everything fit in the envelope, move the speakers around, finalize the touchpad, meet all the schedule commitments, and of course, design a totally new user interface. It makes me dizzy just thinking about it. For me, it's incredible to see the real thing and compare it to the original Sapper concept model. I'm not sure anything we have ever made has ended up this true to the original idea. In the end, this was a great achievement for all of Lenovo. We had a fantastic team of people from Beijing, Raleigh, Yamato, and of course Milan. I think we truly delivered on the promise of our corporate tagline… New World. New Thinking.

- Originally appeared on Design Matters, at Lenovo Blogs



Bing Could Catch Yahoo By The End Of The Year [Search]

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Since Microsoft's Bing search engine launched last summer, it has gained market share at the expense of Yahoo. If the trends stay consistent, Bing could pass Yahoo in the U.S. by the end of November.

To be sure, some (most?) of Microsoft's gains have come with an expense: The company is buying up toolbar deals to become the default search engine for more users — less-valuable, paid traffic that Yahoo seems happy to give up. And Microsoft has spent a lot of money advertising Bing.

But there's no doubt that Yahoo's declining search business, long term, is bad news for the company. Especially because its deal to farm out its search technology to Bing will only generate revenue for searches conducted through Yahoo, not through Bing, even though Yahoo is selling the ads on Bing.