Medical

For more than six months, 11 cardiologists at a Washington DC medical centre have been using a custom BlackBerry application to retrieve and diagnose critical reports on heart attack patients - with spectacular results.

It can't hurt to inflict a little guilt on vendor reps to make sure they install technology properly and keep it running when needed, as Walter Fahey, CIO at a New York medical centre has discovered.

Researchers are close to building prototypes of bio-nanoelectronic devices that combine computer and electronic technology with biological materials. The hybrid material would convert signals much faster than today's most powerful computers.

Doctors and their medical staff, and everyone else, have seen all the new BlackBerry/iPhone/Pre advertising, and they want in on the mobile technology revolution. Here's a look at some of the latest and greatest medical-related BlackBerry applications, along with a brief description of each, pricing information -- where available--and a Web locale to obtain the software -- or at least additional information on how to do so.

Dell claims its new ballistic armour-encased Latitude E6400 XFR laptop is rugged enough to withstand hurricanes and sandstorms. It would be perfect for rough terrain workers, if Dell could only come up with a keypad that actually lets you type.

It can be as simple as an e-mail to the wrong address or using a single password for access to many different services. Many of the ways that companies lose confidential data are easy to predict and prevent. Here's what to look for and how to stop it.rn

The 15-inch MacBook Pro is the best of the tier-one commercial notebooks. Period. There are cheaper notebooks, but I'd challenge you to find one that's faster, quieter, and better built than this one.

Four out of ten Blackberry owners and other smartphone users will switch to the iPhone when it comes time to purchase a new device, according to a recent survey. rn

Microsoft is offering up a stripped down version of its Server 2008 product, and partnering with HP to supply the hardware that will run it. For small offices like the Toronto Wildlife Centre, it offers cost savings while still providing the core services a business needs to get the job done.

Don't think of this new computational knowledge engine to Google, it's completely different. The value comes from being able to make comparisons from different data sets and visually represent it - with overlaying stock charts, for example. Use this tips to tap the power of this new research tool.rn

Many Canadian provinces have passed a law banning the use of handheld devices while driving, as have several U.S. States. But yakking while driving doesn't have to mean getting a ticket. There are several technology options to keep your hands on the wheel and your cell phone off the hook.

Designing the Carmat heart was a venture more difficult than putting a man on the moon, according to the device's creator. Apart from the mechanical technologies used in its creation, some of this smart heart's unique capabilities are driven by software embedded in the device. Embedded systems -- created with IBM Rational software -- among other things, adjust heart rate and pace based on the user's movement, and enable remote diagnosis.

Despite the hype surrounding them, there are many issues with Bing and Wave -- the new approaches to Internet search and communications, unveiled by Microsoft and Google respectively. The biggest problem is that both are on the wrong side of two technology-design battles raging in the industry.

Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Lalibert

Apple's CEO is a pancreatic cancer survivor and has been on medical leave. But he may be ready to return to his job this month, according to reports.