Alot of hardware stories lately, this one from ABC News about the therapeutic use of Sony’s Aibo robotic dog: ‘… The robotic dogs were brought to Rosewalk by researchers at Indiana’s Purdue University as part of a pilot project to determine whether robots can make people happier.

“We find people who in nursing home settings might be socially isolated and don’t routinely chat with each other have something to talk about together, to have fun, to have reminiscences,” said Beck…’ But will it settle the question: ‘Do androids dream of electric sheep?’ for you Blade Runner fans. This link courtesy of Karsten Hilbert.

The Washington Post has a story about the use of hospital robots at the Veterans Administration: ‘…TOBOR, the robot, is a delivery “droid” that glides along the corridors day and night, ferrying medicines from the hospital’s central pharmacy to its wards. Bigger and boxier than R2D2, the rolling robot in the “Star Wars” movies, TOBOR shares the hospital’s elevators many times a day with patients and visitors. It announces its intentions in a clear baritone voice. “I am about to move,” it tells fellow passengers. “Please stand clear.”… Wonder if they are ever going to hook the robots up to the VA’s VistA surprisingly good clinical software.

In a sort-of approval for an implantable ID chip the FDA opened the door for use in humans when it declined to regulate the device, reports Wired: ‘…For the past several weeks, Applied Digital Solutions has worked to get its VeriChip — a biochip containing personal data that is similar to devices used to identify lost pets — classified as a non-regulated device. On Thursday, the company’s wish was granted. “They inquired about the use of the product for non-medical, identification purposes,” said FDA spokeswoman Sharon Snider. “If it’s a non-medical use, the FDA doesn’t regulate it.”

Wired is reporting on a Canadian company’s development of real-time MRI coupled with robotic surgery and space technology to create a unique environment which: ‘will improve the standard of neurosurgery’

The NY Times (free registration required) is reporting on the efforts of Dr. Steven F. Palter to get manufacturers of endoscopy equipment to use HDTV: ‘… Dr. Palter said that HDTV endoscopic images “could be the difference between wearing dirty glasses or clean ones,” possibly helping doctors perceive the beginning stages of diseases that might otherwise pass unnoticed. They could also help reduce the stress of performing what for doctors can be an exacting, intense procedure…’

The Oklahoman is reporting on a new device which automates the preparation of injections, complete with quality checks and labels which is designed to extend pharmacy staff, cut costs and reduce errors.

The Oklahoman has a story about a company that has a wallet-sized CD-ROM which will hold your medical data: ‘…Using technology that allows information to be stored on credit-card-size compact discs, Martin developed the Medical Web Card, which can hold volumes of medical details — even X-rays — and is easily viewed by any computer with a CD- ROM drive…The first updated card is free. Subsequent cards cost $14.95…’ This is also the first story in the newly created ‘Hardware’ subject heading.

PC Magazine reviews PC maker Gateway’s new Connected Touch Pad which is significant more for what it doesn’t have than what it has. PC Magazine columnist Bill Machrone writes of the Touch Pad: ‘…There’s not a shred of Microsoft
software on it — and no Intel processor. That’s a powerful
pair of statements. A scaled-down version of Linux runs the
Transmeta Crusoe processor…’