"The Morph Concept Phone from Nokia"

Another innovative design concept from Nokia, the morph concept. Featured in Museum of Modern Art? Design and The Elastic Mind? exhibition, the Morph concept device is a bridge between highly advanced technologies and their potential benefits to end-users. Developed by NRC (Nokia Research Center) in collaboration with the Cambridge Nanoscience Centre (United Kingdom), Morph is a concept phone that using nanotechnology which enables materials and components that are flexible, stretchable, transparent and remarkably strong. Users should be able to transform their cell phone into different shapes.

From the website :
“Morph concept technologies might create fantastic opportunities for mobile devices: * Newly-enabled flexible and transparent materials blend more seamlessly with the way we live
* Devices become self-cleaning and self-preserving
* Transparent electronics offering an entirely new aesthetic dimension
* Built-in solar absorption might charge a device, whilst batteries become smaller, longer lasting and faster to charge
* Integrated sensors might allow us to learn more about the environment around us, empowering us to make better choices”

We probably see this technology another 5-7 years in the future, by using nanotechnology, hopefully can lead to low cost manufacturing solutions and the possibility of integrating complex functionality at a low price.

"Form Follows You, Nokia 888 Concept Cell Phone"

Today the considerable consumers for the gadgets are the youngsters those who are always on the move and always looking for fresh new things. Manufacturers do take this segment seriously and keep developing new products for them. Nokia has come out with what they call is Nokia 888 Form, a perfect phone for the youngsters which allows them to be free and have fun. It is simple, light and carefree as one can change the form according the needs.

The Nokia 888 design is aimed to show case the activity prone life of youngsters thus it can adjust to the moment and function used. Technology used is that of liquid battery, speech recognition with flexible touch screen and touch sensitive body cover which lets the same understand and accordingly to the environment. It’s easy to carry as it can be bent and rolled and put into the cloth like a clip if not carry it around the wrist or as a usual phone. So this is one instrument that is form fitted for the youngsters.

"Sony Ericsson PSP Phone Concept"

Mobile phones with camera, mp3 player, mobile TV station, and GPS receiver can be found nowadays, all features mentioned also available in Sony Ericson cell phone. What about mobile gaming ? Sony Ericsson is recently filling patent about Sony Ericsson PSP Phone concept. After all, who’s better positioned to create a perfect mobile gaming platform than Sony ?

"Video Phone Concept with Unique Keypad"

The challenge of the design brief was to create a design solution that enabled greater and easier levels of user interaction. The easy to understand keypad combined with the hand-writing recognition technology provides great information ergonomics for the user. Another of the video phone key selling points is its dual mode functionality. The phones keypad can be locked into place to provide a sturdy stand/rest to allow users to sit back enjoy the video calling experience

"2010 Ferrari F450"

Ferrari has begun the development for the successor of their best seller compact mid-V8 supercar. Following a line of respectable ancestors, like the F355, 360 Modena or the currently in production F430, the new car is expected for not sooner than 2010. With a supposed displacement of 4.5 liters, the new Ferrari is expected to be named F450. Spy photographers have caught in tests several mules that point clearly that a replacement for the F430 is in development al Maranello. Driving on the Fiorano race-track and disguised as F430 Challenge Stradale, the test cars show a medium development stage for the smallest Ferrari. Early rumors pointed that the new car will be equipped with a V10 engine, in order to be successfully compete against the Lamborghini Gallardo. The changes made to Formula 1 regulations, that nowadays require the use of V8 engines, make this step irrational; therefore it is logical for Ferrari to stick with the traditional V8 configuration. The main competitor, the child of the other Italian supercar producing house, the Lamborghini Gallardo uses a 5.0 liter originated from Audi. One might expect that Ferrari will improve their new comer displacement up to the same value in order to provide the same level of performance. But, Ferrari is known to offer some of the best power per displacement ratios; therefore they are expected to produce 500 or more bhp, by only increasing the displacement to 4.5 liters. The rest of the power gain will be due to an increased maximum rev limit, of up to 10,000 rpm, improved air flowing and cooling. Design lines will not be a revolution, but will be changed in order to keep up with the technical advances. All of the air intakes will be enlarged to ensure an increment in the cooling required by the improved engine and brakes. At the rear there is a possibility to see middle mounted exhausts, inspired by the Challenge Stradale.

"Future Concept of Ferrari"

Designer’s Iman Maghsoudi’s creation, Ferrari Monza, may wery well be the beggining of flying car production we all dreamed of when we were younglings. It’s styling, obviously borrowed from Enzo’s, aerodynamic in nature, allows it to go over 200 km/hr. Obviously not intended for casual driving or cruisin’, this is a vehicle for those in some serious need for speed. And those men can’t be trusted now, can they? That is where Monza’s computer jumps in. It is activated once you hit a certain km/hr and takes control of the driving. Vehicle is capable of even changing it’s shape for it to become even more aerodynamic, even lifting it self to reduce friction. Of course, this is still a long way from those flying cars mentioned earlier, but if this is where car design is headed, that dream is on a good track of becoming reality.

Bacterium 'to blame for Crohn's' Intestine

Researchers believe the lack of a specific bacterium in the gut may be a cause of Crohn's disease. A shortage of naturally-occurring bacteria is thought to trigger the inflammatory gastrointestinal disorder by over-stimulating the immune system. Now a French team has highlighted the bug, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, which they show secretes biochemicals that reduce inflammation. The researchers, from the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, had already shown that patients with Crohn's disease have a marked deficiency in bacteria from the Clostridium leptum group. Their latest work shows that F. prausnitzii - a major component of this group - accounts for a large part of the deficit. The study appears in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Bowel surgery

The researchers found that Crohn's patients who underwent bowel surgery were more likely to experience a recurrence of the condition if they had low levels of F. prausnitzii. And in experiments on cultured cells, they showed that liquid in which F. prausnitzii had been grown provided an anti-inflammatory effect. The researchers said that if ongoing animal trials prove successful, human patients could benefit from a probiotic treatment with F. prausnitzii. Dr Anton Emmanuel, medical director of the digestive disorders charity Core, called the study "exciting" and agreed it raised the possibility of a therapeutic "replacement" therapy. "It would be interesting to see how this finding relates to the emerging body of evidence looking at genetic changes in some patients with Crohn's disease, with the known abnormal gene being one that codes for the body's ability to recognise foreign bacteria." Dr John Bennett, chairman of Core, said there was growing evidence that micro-organisms combined with immunological weaknesses to either cause, or exacerbate Crohn's symptoms. However, he said: "The gut contains a huge number and variety of organisms, and many of them have been investigated without any single one seeming to be entirely responsible." Dr Bennett said scientists were testing the theory that harmful bacteria could be neutralised, or at least counter-acted, by preparations of beneficial "probiotic" micro-organisms, but as yet no definitive proof of their effect had been produced.