Social media can be an effective tool for decreasing loneliness for older Australians according to new research conducted at the University of Sydney. Social isolation can pose a significant problem for older adults especially for those who are house-bound, says Professor Robert Steele who led the Connecting Older Adults research project. Professor Steele says while technologies are… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Engineering, Arch & IT
Smartphone users at risk of man-in-the-middle
Smartphone users who remotely check their emails are at risk of online hackers gaining access to their devices, ECU researcher Mr Peter Hannay has found. Mr Hannay’s new research has found a way to hack in to people’s smartphones by impersonating a Microsoft Exchange server, gaining access to their private information or completely wiping the… Continue Reading
Research to link mobile phones and health
A Murdoch University PhD candidate envisions a future in which everyone wears a low-energy sensor to monitor their health – and he’s doing the computing work to make it a reality. James Meneghello of Murdoch’s School of Information Technology recently returned from three months with DistriNet Research Group at the University of Leuven (KU Leuven)… Continue Reading
Flight experiment goes boldly forth to advance new technology
A hypersonic flight experiment at eight times the speed of sound, led by a University of Queensland PhD student, has safely launched in Norway. PhD student Dillon Hunt, a senior mission systems engineer with Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), was scientific and technical lead for the trial. It involved scientists from four nations… Continue Reading
Sniff of success
Charles Harb doesn’t want to put bomb sniffer dogs out of a job, but a laser device developed at UNSW Canberra capable of detecting tiny traces of explosive vapour might just do that. The machine is “about 100 times more sensitive and … 100 times faster than any other detection device”, according to Associate Professor… Continue Reading
Bionic muscle regeneration within reach
Car accident victims and cancer patients are among those who may benefit from a University of Wollongong breakthrough in the use of nanostructured bionic platforms to regenerate muscles. The development, which features in the November issue of the prestigious new journal Advanced Health Care Materials, gives scientists the ability to align muscle cells and facilitate… Continue Reading
Chinese language – breaking the chain
The written Chinese language is like a beautiful unbroken chain of symbols, say University of Sydney researchers who are developing IT solutions that will make information extraction from Chinese text easier and faster. Without an intimate knowledge of the language structure and its inter-connections it can be almost impossible to extract information from Chinese text… Continue Reading
World first in fingermark detection at UTS
A novel use of aptamers, or man-made chemical antibodies, has led to a world-first fingermark detection technique developed by the UTS Centre for Forensic Science (CFS) and the National Centre for Forensic Studies (NCFS) at the University of Canberra. Led by PhD student Mike Wood, the technique represents a breakthrough for the field of forensic… Continue Reading
Meeting of miniatures: technology is at a critical junction
OPINION: It’s early morning, you’re preparing for the day ahead and thinking about life’s important conundrums. Is there enough muesli left for the week? Do you have enough time to catch the bus? Are you going to meet that looming deadline at work? How are we going to continue improving electronic technology beyond today’s generation? OK,… Continue Reading
Laws not the key to safe phone use in cars
New technology, rather than new laws, is the key to improving driver safety while using mobile phones in cars, according to a QUT expert. Professor Simon Washington from QUT’s Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety (CARRS-Q) said a new law in New South Wales requiring drivers to use Bluetooth or put their phone in a… Continue Reading
Pro-smoking apps for smartphones the latest tobacco advertising outlet
Pro-smoking content, some featuring explicit cigarette brand images, is being promoted in smartphone apps reaching millions of users worldwide, including teenagers and children. The easy availability of such apps in violation of Australia’s ban on tobacco advertising is the focus of research by the University of Sydney, published today in the British Medical Journal. “The… Continue Reading
Solving bubble troubles: new surface can prevent liquid explosions or even frost
Explosions caused by boiling liquid could be reduced by suppressing the liquid from bubbling, according to a new University of Melbourne study. The research, which is the first of its kind, has identified a specially engineered steel surface that allows liquids to boil without bubbling. “This would be advantageous for use in industrial situations such… Continue Reading
