The nVoy e100: Pogo's successor. The Pogo never really got off the ground, but a new handheld mobile communicator based on its technology, the nVoy e100, looks like it might actually see the light of day. The nVoy e100, which is somewhat similar to T-Mobile's Sidekick in that it's also designed for email, instant messaging, and accessing the web, will have a 3.5-inch, 320x240 pixel color screen, 32MB of RAM, a built-in digital camera, and an SDIO expansion slot. Read [Thanks, Rafat]... [Gizmodo]

Splitting up Sony's new wireless router. Wi-Fi Planet review of Sony's new 802.11g wireless access point plus router, the CarrierGate PCWA-AR300. The PCWA-AR300 isn't the cheapest around, but it does have one unusual design feature, as it's split up into two parts, a functional-looking router and a sleeker, smaller access point.This physical separation of the wired and wireless components has obvious benefits, as it lets you place the router module on a desk (or on a wall, as mounting holes are provided) while optimizing the location of the access point high up on the wall and/or away from obstructions. The access point is designed in such a way that it can be either set on a desk or mounted on a wall; you simply pop off the access panel to expose the mounting points. (The access point module, by the way, gets its go-go juice in a Power-over-Ethernet arrangement and thus doesn't require its own power... [Gizmodo]

The Notebook Cooler. Now that actually using your laptop in your lap means running the risk of a nasty burn, I suppose something like the Notebook Cooler might come in handy. It's designed to fit underneath a laptop and keep it cool through a combination of aluminum to conduct away the heat, ventilation holes, and two small fans. Oh, and perhaps most fittingly, it's even USB-powered. Read... [Gizmodo]

This PDA Listens To Your Heartbeat.

CardioNet Inc., a company based in San Diego, has developed a wireless technology to monitor heart patients. According to this Computerworld article, the technology was "originally developed by Qualcomm Inc. to track and send messages to large truck fleets."

CardioNet's service is initially focused on the 2 million U.S. people suffering from arrhythmia.

CardioNet developed a proprietary PDA-type electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring device connected by a short-range wireless system operating in the unlicensed 900-MHz band to electrodes on a patient's chest. The PDA receives signals from the electrodes and then transmits the data to CardioNet over a hard-wired telephone system if the patient is at home or through a built-in cell phone chip if the patient is out. CardioNet technicians monitor the data for signs of the heart fibrillation and pass the information onto the patient's doctor.

Here is a diagram showing how the system works (Copyright CardioNet 2002). Additional details can be found on this CardioNet page.

The company, which was using Digital Packet Data (CDPD) technology, has switched to Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) to be able to use the OmniTRACS truck-fleet tracking and messaging system from Qualcomm Inc. "That system handles 7 million messages per day from 479,000 trucks."

This service is only available in certains areas, namely in Pennsylvania, Indiana and metropolitan Washington and New York. And it already proved to be useful.

Dr. Peter Kowey, assistant chief of cardiovascular disease at Main Line Health in Bryn Mawr, Pa., said the CardioNet system helps clearly identify patients susceptible to major cardiac-rhythm abnormalities. "It has saved lives," he said.

Source: Bob Brewin, Computerworld, August 14, 2003

[Roland Piquepaille's Technology Trends]

There's something special about Sharp's new Mebius laptops. Sharp's two new Mebius laptops, which go on sale in Japan at the end of the month, both have one very interesting feature: you can play DVDs or watch TV on them without needing to boot up first (there are already a few laptops that can do the same thing with audio CDs). The rest of the specs on the PC-SV1-7DB and PC-SV1-5CB aren't so bad either: 15-inch LCD screens, up to 2GHz processors, up to 756MB of RAM, 40GB or 60GB hard drives, and of course, DVD/CD-RW combination drives and integrated television tuners. Read... [Gizmodo]