A Nice Cloud Computing App

Hi guys, long time to see u again. Today, I visited the official website of KAUST to look for available research position. Then it brought me to KAUST online application as can be accessed here .
Interestingly, the Uni's customer support systems is based on Cloud Computing Technology provided by ZenDesk. So when you click Online Application link, you'll be redirected to this "strange" page. This https page is guarded with VeriSign to guarantee secure data transmission.

Zendesk is a professional-grade help desk system. It offers integrated CRM at an appropriate cost. Also, costumers do not need to worry about installation and so on since everything will be done on the web... on the "Cloud".

What is excellent in my opinion, is that Zendesk is designed using ITIL best practices and is in every possible way geared towards providing support and service. Not customer relationship management, bug tracking or project management.

Zendesk is the just-right solution for end-user support, since it can costumizable depends on users needs. So why don't you have a try for 30 days?

The RFID LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT

The new RFID technology is just coming now. It has many features than other RFID existing in the market at the moment.

The developers claims it has following features:

• Reads 125 kHZ transponders of type EM4102
• 5 bytes number, i.e. 240 combinations (i.e. 1.099.511.627.775 numbers)
• The reader has three modes of reading:
• Single read
• Continuous read
• Stop
• Reading distance up to 3 cm depending on transponder size and orientation
• Transparent front cap with LED signal at detection of a transponder
• Auto power off for saving battery power
• Firmware upgrade feature for future enhancements (saving hardware cost)

If you are interested to try, visit www.codatex.com

Next Generation T-Shirt

A new ubiquitous technology has been showed by Sensatex Corp. It is called “Smartshirt,” Sensatex corporation presents a garment that enhances the clothing function with new and additional services.

Through the use of RFID tags, the shirt is equipped with sensors that able to measure body functions. It can measures temperature, breathing rate, pulse and cardiogram and transmit the data through the mobile network to base stations.

In addition, the information can also be transferred to other devices like a watch or PDA and be read out. The Smartshirt is a real implementation of next generation Internet in garment industry. RFID is the key technology driver for this effort.


This full RFID sensors' shirt has many application opportunities such as the supervision of training squads in serious sport, for military uniform support, as well as for monitoring chronic patients (such as heart disease).


In health case, "Smart-shirt" thereby lessens the constraint on the patient’s quality of life. Added values include expanded mobility without sacrificing timely help in an emergency. The automatic survey of the body’s functions also reduces the number of consultations and hospitalizations.

It is predicted that this will soon apply international standard of smart shirt for widely implementation in human life. However, we should examine potential impact of such technology for individual privacy in case of information leakage.

RFID Proximity Reader Module

 
It is ML042 - Proximity Card Access Control Module, an RFID modul that integrates several functions all together in one single instrument. The integration enables a proximity card reader for lock, access control or serial control into a module.

125 kHz embedded proximity card reader module.
Provides the functions of a proximity reader on a single integrated circuit.
With compact size (36.5mm x 18.5mm).
In standard 600 mil DIP-28 package, small enough for putting into your application.
Adapts easily into various enclosures.
Ideal for third party lock or reader manufacturers who integrate the module into their products.
Antennas and proximity cards are also available for your convenience.

RFID Implants

One company plans deeper implants that could vibrate, electroshock the implantee, broadcast a message, or serve as a microphone to transmit conversations. "Some folks might foolishly discount all of these downsides and futuristic nightmares since the tagging is proposed for criminals like rapists and murderers," Ms McIntyre said. "The rest of us could be next."

The chip implant is being presented as an advance over credit cards and smart cards, which, absent biometrics and appropriate safeguard technologies, are subject to theft, resulting in identity fraud.

Identity fraud costs the banking and financial industry some $48 billion a year, and consumers $5 billion, according to 2002 Federal Trade Commission estimates.

In his speech today at the ID World 2003 conference in Paris, France, Scott R. Silverman, CEO of Applied Digital Solutions, called the chip a "loss-proof solution" and said that the chip's "unique under-the-skin format" could be used for a variety of identification applications in the security and financial worlds.

The company will have to compete, though, with organizations using just a fingerprint scan for similar applications.

The ID World Conference, held yesterday and today at the Charles de Gaulle Hilton, focused on current and future applications of radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies, biometrics, smart cards and data collection.