XBox 360 graphics chip helps cardiac researchers

The Xbox 360 is many things: games console, media streamer, DVD player (and, in some cases, an expensive paperweight with a shiny red ring.) But now it’s got a new role: predicting heart problems.

Researchers in Britain are using the console’s graphics chip (pictured, courtesy of Flickr user avalonstar) to power parallel processing: splitting a task between multiple processors running simultaneously. They say it could be an extremely economical alternative to using clusters of computers.

Staff at the University of Warwick are investigating Cardiac arrhythmia, a group of conditions which causes abnormal electrical activity in the heart. It involves the way signals are carried to stimulate the myocardium muscle, which causes the heart to contract and expand, thus pumping blood.

The researchers need to be able to simulate the way these signals move around damaged cells. But the sheer number of possible combinations of routes means a single standard PC processor would take so long to cover every outcome as to make the task impractical.

Traditionally in such circumstances researchers would use a bank of networked computers to carry out the task. However, Dr Simon Scarle tells the BBC his team has been able to alter the code controlling the Xbox graphics processor, which is designed for the parallel processing needed to produce 3D graphics; the chip now calculates chemical levels in the modeled heart cells.

According to Scarle, the modification of the code was a major task, but technically quite simple and well worth the effort given the cost savings. He says using multiple Xbox chips is theoretically possible but they’d have to be connected through the internet rather than directly wired.

This isn’t the first time the powers of consoles have been harnessed for traditional computing tasks. Late last year, security researchers used a barrage of 200 PS3s to demonstrate that it was physically possible to crack the encryption system used by Verisign to verify secure websites.


Flashback Tech: Pneumatic Mail Delivery, Popular Mechanics, Feb. 1905

By Natania Barron
Contributing Writer, [GAS]

VacuumpumpOne of the biggest draws about steampunk technology, for me, is that much of it actually existed in some form or another. Last night, through the joy of Twitter, I discovered the endless wonder of GoogleBook’s expansive Popular Mechanics archive, and spent far too long ogling the various inventions and purported world-shattering technologies from the turn of the last century.

While there are a myriad of fascinating pieces in these early issues, one stood out to me in particular. The title: Forty Minutes from Chicago to Milwaukee: Mail and Express to be Hurled Through a Pneumatic Tube at 120 Miles an Hour.

From the article:

From Chicago to Milwaukee in a straight line is 84 1/4 miles. The fastest trains consume two hours in making the trip. It is now proposed to transmit mail and express matter between the two cities in 40 minutes. A pneumatic tube, 18 inches in diameter, conveying up to 500 pounds, is to be constructed; should it prove successful one more means of rapid communication will be available, and other large cities connected.

So, basically this is an enormous version of what we still see used today in banks for transfer from your car to the teller, except stretching almost 90 miles, and entirely underground. According to the article, the cost of the proposed project was in the neighborhood of $5,000,000 (approximately $28m in today’s dollars, using the Consumer Price Index). That’s no small chunk of change.

As with much of the articles in the publication, there’s a certain wonder hidden behind the matter-of-fact delivery. You can tell the writer loves the numbers, the distances, the promise of this invention. And of course, I couldn’t help but notice the aesthetic of the device carrier as mentioned in the piece:

The carriers do not travel on wheels or rollers, but are covered with block felt which is as hard as rock, and fastened with brass caps and screws. It is expected the felt will last several months.

Not only were our Edwardian ancestors also on a quest for continually better–and stylish–rapid communication, but they may have one-upped us even today. At least, according to a recent article on BBC News, a local broadband provider in South Africa was outpaced by a carrier pigeon over a mere 60 mile distance. It took the bird four hours to make the trip.

Greetings from your new contributor!

Photo 18Good morning, Geeksaresexy.net readers! I wanted to take a moment just to say hi and introduce myself. So here goes!

The Basics: My name is Natania and I’m a geek. I’m also a mom, a wife, and a writer. I’ve been a geek since I was a kid, and thankfully embraced it about halfway through high school. A life without Monty Python and Star Wars quotes just isn’t worth it, y’know?

The Cred: As I said, I’ve been a geek for a long time. I’m a fan of both Star Wars and Star Trek (yes, you can be both), I knit and crochet, I love steampunk, I’m a girl gamer (current games: Beatles RockBand and, of course, WoW), I play D&D 4e (currently a level 10 striker paladin) and am a collector of random trivia and marginalia. Other random stuff: I studied medieval literature in graduate school, I’m obsessed with Arthuriana, I love ukuleles, I’ve been using a Mac since before they were cool, and I know far too much about the Old West. That about covers it.

The Pitch: My personal interests are all over the place, but some of the things you can probably expect for me include anything that has to do with steampunk, news on maker culture and cons, book suggestions and reviews, girly gadgets, geek fashion, geeky crafts, and geekery in general.

I’m really excited to part of the Geeks crew here, and look forward to sharing my geeky interests with you all!

Unlock your Car Remotely Through a Cell Phone: Urban Legend or Fact?

We’ve all heard the story: Someone locks his car keys and remote car opener inside his vehicle, and can’t get back in. He does have a second remote car opener at home, so he calls up his home, where his wife/roommate/whatever answers. He asks the housemate to hold the second remote up to the phone and activate it – and it unlocks the door.

Now is this true? Check out the video below to find out.

[Via TechEblog]

NASA Tests Ares I Rocket

NASA and industry partners lit up the Utah sky on Sept. 10, 2009, with the initial full scale, full-duration test firing of the first motor for the Ares I rocket. Engineers will use the measurements gathered from the test to evaluate thrust, roll control, acoustics and motor vibrations. This data will provide valuable information as NASA develops the Ares I and Ares V vehicles. Another ground test is planned for summer 2010.

Yikes! Have you guys heard that? 22 million horse power for that rocket alone. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere within a few miles of that thing when it fires. Notice how the slightly green hills behind the rocket transform themselves into a barren wasteland right after the test.