Tips & tricks for the Samsung Gear VR

 

If you've thrown down US$200 for the Samsung Gear VR headset, we have some tips and tricks to help get the most out of your virtual reality (Photo: Will Shanklin/Gizmag.com) The first consumer version of the Oculus Rift isn't quite here yet, but Galaxy Note 4 owners can already get an Oculus-powered experience on Samsung's Gear VR. If you're among the early adopters rocking Samsung's virtual reality headset, read on for Gizmag's tips and tricks. Avoid lens fog Lens fogging is an issue on every VR headset, whether it's Oculus, Google Cardboard or the Gear VR. You can always remove the headset and give it a quick wipe with a microfiber cloth, but that only fixes the problem for a few seconds (and it doesn't exactly help with the virtual reality illusion). The best lens fogging fix we've found came from Oculus CTO (and gaming legend) John Carmack: a product called Clarity Defog It wipes. Since we started using them, our Gear VR has been completely fog-free. Just wipe the eye-facing sides of both lenses before you put the headset on, and you'll have a clear window into your virtual world. It's possible there are other products that will meet the same end, but we'd recommend steering clear of anti-fog sprays and wipes designed for car windshields: they use chemicals that were never meant to sit within a few millimeters of the human eye. Keep overheating at bay If you use the Gear VR with brightness set to a high level, you might not get through 20 minutes of a game like HeroBound without receiving a message telling you that the phone needs to cool down. We have a few tips that will let you play even the most demanding games for much longer than that. First, put your Note 4 into Power Saving mode, found in the phone's settings menu (not to be confused with Ultra Power Saving mode). Power Saving mode has only the slightest effect on gaming performance, and it alone will do wonders for the overheating problem. It's also best to use the Gear VR on one of the lowest brightness settings. We often leave it set to "1," and it never feels too dark to enjoy. But even "2" or "3" will be much better than the higher levels for keeping cool (not to mention prolonging your phone's battery life). And if you want to squeeze every possible minute out of your VR session, you can give your phone's guts some breathing room by removing the Note's battery cover. Get an Android-friendly Bluetooth controller Videos and some games let you get by using the Gear VR's touchpad, but for the best experience you'll want to invest in a gamepad. Samsung sells one for US$80, but we haven't had any compatibility problems with a $60 Moga Hero Power controller (just be sure to set it in "B" mode when pairing with your phone). Play in a swivel chair Games like HeroBound face (mostly) in one direction, and can easily be played on a couch or recliner. But for titles like Dreadhalls and Anshar Wars, where the action happens on all sides, you'll have a more immersive experience in a rotating swivel chair. Any typical office chair or rotating stool will do the trick. Just make sure no pets – or other innocent bystanders – get caught in your spinning ring of fire. Pay attention to comfort ratings The Oculus app rates each app based on its comfort level. For example, HeroBound is "comfortable for most," while Dreadhalls is "comfortable for few." The difference can be profound, as the latter is impossible for us to play without feeling queasy. This rating can be found under each app's listing in the Oculus store. Experiment with Comfort Mode If you find that lengthy VR sessions bother your eyes, you can try Oculus' Comfort Mode. It casts a slightly blue hue over the screen to make the screen's lighting a bit easier on the eyes. Comfort Mode is found on the far right of Oculus' settings screen, which you can access from anywhere by holding down the Gear VR's back button for a few seconds. Wear headphones This may be a no-brainer, but you'll have a much more immersive experience if you plug in some headphones or earbuds instead of using the Note's speaker. This has the added bonus of not broadcasting your game's audio to everyone within earshot. Know the demos from the full games There are a few full-length games among the Gear's launch lineup, but many of the available games (like Viral Lite, above) are short demos. You can hit up our roundup of the Gear VR's launch lineup for more detail on this. If you haven't yet bought Samsung's virtual reality headset, but are thinking about it, you can check out Gizmag's full Gear VR review to help make up your mind.

FDA approves blood test that predicts risk of coronary heart disease

 

The PLAC Test for Lp-PLA2 screens for cardiovascular inflammation which can lead to a build up of rupture-prone plaque and result in a heart attack or stroke (Photo: Shutterstock) Coronary heart disease (CHD) kills millions of people across the world each year, and more than half of those who die suddenly have no previous symptoms. A new blood test that could reduce CHD-related illness and mortality by predicting the risk of future heart disease has been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The PLAC Test for Lp-PLA2 screens for cardiovascular inflammation which can lead to a build up of rupture-prone plaque and result in a heart attack or stroke. The PLAC Test for Lp-PLA2 is designed for people with two or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease who may have hidden risk or higher risk than expected for heart attack and stroke. Although it has been approved for use in all adults with no history of heart disease, studies submitted by diaDexus, the medical diagnostics company that developed the test, and reviewed by the FDA, show that the test is better at predicting risk in women, particularly black women. "A cardiac test that helps better predict future CHD risk in women, and especially black women, may help health care professionals identify these patients before they experience a serious CHD event, like a heart attack," says Alberto Gutierrez, director of the Office of In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Health in the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. According to diaDexus, 50 percent of heart attacks occur in patients with normal cholesterol. Statistics cited by the company suggest the majority of heart attacks and ischemic strokes are caused by plaque rupture in the arteries, which can occur when vascular inflammation is present. The PLAC test measures a patient’s blood for levels of Lp-PLA2, a biological marker for vascular inflammation that plays a significant role in the formation of rupture-prone plaque. If inflammation is present, it can cause the cap covering the plaque to thin and eventually rupture. When this happens, the flow of blood to the heart or brain can become blocked and lead to a heart attack or a stroke. Patients with test results that show Lp-PLA2 activity greater than the level of 225 nanomoles per minute per milliliter (nmol/min/mL) are at increased risk for a CHD event, even if they have normal cholesterol (LDL) levels. Knowing a patient's Lp-PLA2 level can help healthcare professionals identify whether the person is at risk for rupture-prone plaque. If so, they can use the results to help motivate the patient to adopt lifestyle changes, or recommend treatment options where necessary. Sources: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, diaDexus

'Not just a flavoring: Menthol, Nicotine, Combined Desensitize Airway Receptors

 

Menthol acts in combination with nicotine to desensitize receptors in lungs' airways that are responsible for nicotine's irritation, say neuroscientists at Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC). "We know that a menthol cough drop soothes a scratchy, sore throat. The question we looked at is if and how it works when the irritant is nicotine," says a study author, Kenneth Kellar, PhD, a professor of pharmacology at GUMC. The findings, which represent work by Georgetown University investigators in GUMC's Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, will be presented by Hoai Ton, PhD, a post-doctoral researcher, on Sunday, Nov. 16 at Neuroscience 2014, the Society for Neuroscience's annual meeting in Washington. "This study supports the notion that menthol is not just a flavoring, but has a pharmacologic effect," Kellar says. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering restrictions on menthol cigarettes because it has determined that menthol in cigarettes is likely associated with increased initiation and progression to regular cigarette smoking, increased dependence, and reduced success in smoking cessation, especially among African American menthol smokers. But FDA's review of the available research and evidence relating to menthol cigarettes, issued in July 2013, also concluded, "From the available studies, the weight of evidence supports the conclusion that menthol in cigarettes is not associated with an increase in disease risk to the user compared to non-menthol cigarette smokers." At the same time, the use of menthol cigarettes is especially high among African-American smokers, and research has shown a higher rate of lung cancer in African American smokers compared to other smokers. "The issue may be that menthol in the presence of nicotine may reduce the irritation enough that a smoker can inhale more deeply, bringing not just nicotine but toxic smoke products farther into the lungs," says co-investigator Gerald Ahern, PhD, an associate professor of pharmacology at GUMC. 'While beyond the scope of this study, it is possible that such deeper inhalation of menthol cigarettes, to the extent it occurs, increases the already substantial health harms from smoking." The researchers say their study provides a better understanding of how menthol affects the function of the α3β4 receptor, one of the most prevalent nicotinic acetylcholine receptors expressed in the peripheral nervous system. These receptors are expressed in airway sensory nerves as well as other neurons. "These receptors are also found in the brain, but we don't know yet what effect menthol has on those receptors, or whether they contribute, in any way, to nicotine addiction," Kellar says. Story Source: The above story is based on materials provided by Georgetown University Medical Center. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

Walking: Trim your waistline, improve your health

 

Can you really walk your way to fitness? You bet! Get started today. Know the benefits Physical activity doesn't need to be complicated. Something as simple as a daily brisk walk can help you live a healthier life. For example, regular brisk walking can help you: Maintain a healthy weight Prevent or manage various conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes Strengthen your bones Lift your mood Improve your balance and coordination The faster, farther and more frequently you walk, the greater the benefits. Consider your technique Turning your normal walk into a fitness stride requires good posture and purposeful movements. Ideally, here's how you'll look when you're walking: Your head is up. You're looking forward, not at the ground. Your neck, shoulders and back are relaxed, not stiffly upright. You're swinging your arms freely with a slight bend in your elbows. A little pumping with your arms is OK. Your stomach muscles are slightly tightened and your back is straight, not arched forward or backward. You're walking smoothly, rolling your foot from heel to toe. Plan your routine As you start your walking routine, remember to: Get the right gear. Choose shoes with proper arch support, a firm heel and thick flexible soles to cushion your feet and absorb shock. If you walk outdoors when it's dark, wear bright colors or reflective tape for visibility. Choose your course carefully. If you'll be walking outdoors, avoid paths with cracked sidewalks, potholes, low-hanging limbs or uneven turf. Warm up. Walk slowly for five to 10 minutes to warm up your muscles and prepare your body for exercise. Cool down. At the end of your walk, walk slowly for five to 10 minutes to help your muscles cool down. Stretch. After you cool down, gently stretch your muscles. If you'd rather stretch before you walk, remember to warm up first.

Outwitting burnout

 

By Edward T. Creagan, M.D. December 11, 2014 The pace of modern life is maniacal. Regardless of where you are in your personal or professional life, you probably feel that the demands and expectations, and the time pressure, are exhausting and relentless. It's like trying to drink out of a fire hose. This challenge becomes magnified during the holiday season with an additional set of invitations and commitments. So how can you hop off the hamster wheel? How do you keep burnout at bay? Many books have been written about this phenomenon and what you can do about it. Some are helpful; a few are fluff. As a board-certified palliative care/hospice specialist and board-certified medical oncologist, I work in two areas of medicine with the highest burnout rates of any professional group. Depending on the source, the burnout rate among oncologists is about 50 percent. The rate is closer to 60 percent in the palliative care community. So what have I learned and what can I share with you? Rather than a giving you a laundry list of 17 recommendations, let me give you three tips you can take to the bank: Focus on the "WIN." I don't mean victory. I mean remember to ask yourself: "What's important now?" It's not brain surgery to know what's important at the present time. If you're driving, pay attention to the road. If you're having dinner with a friend, be engaged. Don't play around with your tablet or phone. It's not only distracting, it's disrespectful. Quantify the commitment. Before you agree to sit on a committee, host a dinner party or write a manuscript, recognize that it means giving up a commodity that cannot be replaced — your time. So before you say yes, consider Creagan's rule. Whatever I'm asked to do, I multiply the estimated time commitment by a factor of 4. No, I am not kidding. If you anticipate that you can review a manuscript or write a resume in 1 hour, I guarantee it will take you more like 4 hours. So factor that into decisions about what's worth your time. Make yourself unavailable. I recently called a physician in New York. I was greeted by his answering machine, and I was rather surprised and amused by his message. It went something like this, "Thank you for the call. If this is an emergency, please dial 911. If this is not an emergency, I will be available on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between 12 and 2 p.m., and on Monday between 4 and 6 p.m. Otherwise, I am not available." This was a novel approach that let callers know in no uncertain terms that the physician had limited availability. When I share these comments with an audience of health care providers, I also add the comment that if I really need to do something in the office, I might put a sticky on the door that says something like this, "Conference call in progress. Please do not disturb." There's something about conference calls that discourages people from interrupting. OK, I accept that this is deceptive and perhaps manipulative, but it enables me to get done what needs to be done and not be bombarded by other people's issues. By the way, be sure to get at least 8 hours of sleep and I guarantee that the next day will be far more productive. Join the discussion at #Stress. Dec. 11, 2014

Chewing tobacco: Not safer than cigarettes

 

Get the facts about chewing tobacco and other forms of smokeless tobacco. They're more harmful and addictive than you might think. You can call chewing tobacco by whatever name you want — smokeless tobacco, spit tobacco, chew, snuff, pinch or dip — but don't call it harmless. Whether you use chewing tobacco or other types of smokeless tobacco because you like it or because you think smokeless is a safe way to use tobacco, be forewarned — chewing tobacco can cause serious health problems. Chewing tobacco is a common type of smokeless tobacco. Smokeless tobacco products consist of tobacco or a tobacco blend that's chewed, sucked on or sniffed, rather than smoked. There are many types of smokeless tobacco products around the world. In the United States, the main types of smokeless tobacco are: Snuff. This is finely ground or shredded tobacco leaves. It's available in dry or moist forms and is packaged in tins or tea bag-like pouches. Using snuff is also called dipping. A pinch of snuff is placed between the lower lip and gum or cheek and gum. Dry forms of snuff can be sniffed into the nose. Chewing tobacco. This consists of loose tobacco leaves that are sweetened and packaged in pouches. A wad of the tobacco is placed between the cheek and gum and held there, sometimes for hours at a time. It's also called chew and chaw. Usually, tobacco juices are spit out, but those who are more addicted may swallow some of the juices. Snus. Snus (pronounced snoos) is a newer smokeless, spitless tobacco product that originated in Sweden. It's similar to snuff but is pasteurized during the manufacturing process to kill bacteria that can produce cancer-causing chemicals, and it must be kept refrigerated up to the point of sale. It comes in a pouch that's placed between your upper lip and gum. The snus sold in Sweden seems to have a lower risk of certain cancers, but the snus sold in the U.S. is not manufactured with the same regulations as the Swedish product. Dissolvable tobacco. These are pieces of compressed powdered tobacco, similar to small hard candies. They dissolve in the mouth, requiring no spitting of tobacco juices. They're sometimes called tobacco lozenges, but they're not the same as the nicotine lozenges used to help people quit smoking. Other products. In some parts of the country, smokeless tobacco also comes in the form of plugs and twists. Plugs are tobacco compressed into a brick shape, and twists are braided and twisted tobacco. A piece of a plug or twist is held between the cheek and gum. Tobacco juices are then spit out.

10 Facts About Being Homeless In The USA

 

posted by Michael Thomas October 22, 2014 1.  Over half a million people are homeless On any given night, there are over 600,000 homeless people in the US according to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  Most people are either spending the night in homeless shelters or in some sort of short-term transitional housing.  Slightly more than a third are living in cars, under bridges or in some other way living unsheltered. The irony is that there are more empty houses in the United States than there are homeless people. 2. A quarter of homeless people are children HUD reports that on any given night over 138,000 of the homeless in the US are children under the age of 18. Thousands of these homeless children are unaccompanied according to HUD.  Another federal program, No Child Left Behind, defines homeless children more broadly and includes not just those living in shelters or transitional housing but also those who are sharing the housing of other persons due to economic hardship, living in cars, parks, bus or train stations, or awaiting foster care placement.  Under this definition, the National Center for Homeless Education reported in September 2014 that local school districts reported there are over one million homeless children in public schools. 3.  Tens of thousands of veterans are homeless Over 57,000 veterans are homeless each night.  Sixty percent of them were in shelters, the rest unsheltered.  Nearly 5000 are female. 4.  Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness in women More than 90% of homeless women are victims of severe physical or sexual abuse and escaping that abuse is a leading cause of their homelessness. 5. Many people are homeless because they cannot afford rent The lack of affordable housing is a primary cause of homelessness according to the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty.  HUD has seen its budget slashed by over 50% in recent decades resulting in the loss of 10,000 units of subsidized low-income housing each and every year. 6.  There are fewer places for poor people to rent than before One eighth of the nation’s supply of low income housing has been permanently lost since 2001.  The US needs at least 7 million more affordable apartments for low-income families and as a result millions of families spend more than half their monthly income on rent. 7. In the last few years millions have lost their homes Over five million homes have been foreclosed on since 2008, one out of every ten homes with a mortgage.  This has caused even more people to search for affordable rental property. 8.  The Government does not help as much as you think There is enough public rental assistance to help about one out of every four extremely low income households.  Those who do not receive help are on multi-year waiting lists.  For example, Charlotte just opened up their applications for public housing assistance for the first time in 14 years and over 10,000 people applied. 9.  One in five homeless people suffer from untreated severe mental illness While about 6% of the general population suffers from severe mental illness, 20 to 25% of the homeless suffer from severe mental illness according to government studies.  Half of this population self-medicate and are at further risk of addiction and poor physical health.  A University of Pennsylvania study tracking nearly 5000 homeless people for two years discovered that investing in comprehensive health support and treatment of physical and mental illnesses is less costly than incarceration, shelter and hospital services for the untreated homeless. 10.  Cities are increasingly making homelessness a crime A 2014 survey of 187 cities by the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty found: 24% make it a city-wide crime to beg in public; 33% make it illegal to stand around or loiter anyplace in the city; 18% make it a crime to sleep anywhere in public; 43% make it illegal to sleep in your car; and 53% make it illegal to sit or lay down in particular public places.   And the number of cities criminalizing homelessness is steadily increasing. For more information look to the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, the National Center for Homeless Education and the National Coalition on the Homeless. This article was adapted from this article by Bill Quigley, under a Creative Commons License.

SpaceLife Jacket may be the closest you'll get to walking on the Moon

 

The SpaceLife Jacket is designed to pay tribute to the classic spacesuits of yesteryear Image Gallery (8 images) Almost everybody will, at some point, have harbored a desire to travel into outer space. But it's unlikely any of us will achieve this goal, unless and until Elon Musk or Richard Branson deliver on their promises to make space travel much simpler and more affordable. Still, if you can't actually make it out of Earth's atmosphere, you can at least buy the T-shirt. Or, more accurately, an approximation of the jacket worn by astronauts. This is the SpaceLife Jacket, designed to resemble (though not replicate) the classic spacesuits worn by the brave astronauts who ventured to the Moon and beyond. While this isn't officially sanctioned by NASA, and doesn't come with the Neil Armstrong seal of approval, the SpaceLife Jacket would certainly make wannabe-astronauts look the part. The exterior of the SpaceLife Jacket is made from a "210D trilobal nylon oxford fiber" designed to be both waterproof and light-reflecting, while parts of the interior are neoprene, providing durability and flexibility regardless of the conditions. The major selling point of the SpaceLife Jacket is, however, something that is definitely not standard issue for astronauts. Speakers built into the hood enable you to listen to music – or mission control recordings – while on the go, with controls built into the suit controlling music playback on your smartphone via Bluetooth. There is also a built-in microphone enabling you to make calls – "Houston, we have a problem," for example. The eye-catching design, the expensive materials, and the integrated audio system mean the SpaceLife Jacket doesn't come cheap. Due to be delivered in September 2015, each SpaceLife Jacket is priced at €1,499 (US$1,840). Still, couple it with the limited edition sneakers known as The Missions and you'll be two items of clothing closer to walking on the Moon. Kinda. Source: SpaceLife via Slashgear

Samsung reveals 34-inch curved ultra-wide monitor

 

Samsung's new ultra-wide, curved SE790C monitor Samsung, a company generally regarded as one of the best display manufacturers out there, has just announced an impressive-looking 34-inch curved computer monitor. The company has already released an abundance of curved displays, including its giant 105-inch curved model. For computer monitors, curved displays are not as common as in other applications, though Samsung does have some other models on the market including its 27-inch S27D590CS offering. The new SE790C stands out for a couple of reasons. First, it's bigger, coming with a 34-inch display. Second, it features an ultra-wide screen resolution of 3,440 X 1,440. That's a 21:9 aspect ratio (16:9 is the standard widescreen aspect ratio). Aside from being curved and wide, Samsung is promising some other interesting features with this new monitor. It's offering picture-in-picture, and picture-by-picture, both of which allow users to run multiple devices on the screen at the same time. For example, with picture-by-picture, users could run a PC and Xbox One at the same time, so they could work while crushing foes in Call of Duty on the same display. Picture-in-picture works as one would expect, with a smaller image placed within the fullscreen one. Other notable specs included a 3,000:1 static contrast ratio, which Samsung calls "best-in-class." It also promises a 178-degree viewing angle from the sides and top to bottom, which should allow users to to sit anywhere in front of the monitor with a clear view of the screen. Three USB 3.0 charging ports are also included for keeping phones and tablets charged while using the display. Lastly, 7-watt stereo speakers are included for those who prefer not to use a dedicated speaker set up. Unfortunately, Samsung didn't reveal pricing or release information for the new 34-inch SE790C monitor. Our guess is it won't come cheap, as there are some serious benefits to a curved display like this. Source: Samsung

20 Incredible History Pictures

 

British troops asleep on the Boulogne quay after arriving in France (1914) 18 years old George Harris placing flowers into the rifle barrels of National Guardsman Train accident at the Montparnasse station in Paris (1895) D-Day +1 Alfred Hitchcock with his grandchildren. French civilians lay flowers on a fallen American soldier in Carentan (1944) Dogs wearing gas masks in world war I Construction of the Manhattan bridge (1909) Miners returning from their shift (1937) American children collecting scap-metal to contribute to the war effort in World War II    A German soldier is eyed suspiciously by a young french girl (1941) Task Group 38.3 enters Ulithi anchorage in column formation (1944) A U.S. Marine wipes tears from his face as he kneels beside a body (1966) American author Harry Behn smoking peace pipe with Blackfoot tribe. Union Square, New York (1948) German soldiers passing the time living in an underground bunker in France. A woman shields herself from bullets behind a statue during the 1966 shootings at the University of Texas at Austin. An aerial view of the concrete filled HMS Intrepid and HMS Iphigenia blocking the entry canal to the the Belgian port of Bruges-Zeebrugge (1918) The ruins of Caen (1944) A British motorcycle dispatch rider takes a message in a Belgian village (1914)   source : www.history-now.net

Computer science teachers speak out

 

Computer science teachers from across the country tell what excites them about teaching computer science. Credit: at end of video

Jins Meme smart glasses have one eye on fatigue levels

 

The Jins Meme eyewear is fitted with sensors to alert the user to when fatigue starts to creep in Much of the hype surrounding smart glasses stems from their ability to inform us of our environment, adding virtual tidbits to what we see around us. But for Japanese eyewear manufacturer Jins, what these wearable computers can tell us about ourselves might prove just as valuable. The company has announced a new line of smart glasses that tracks eye movement to identify when fatigue levels are on the rise, offering up useful data to better manage our workloads. It should be said that Jins aren’t alone in taking this introspective approach to smart eyewear. An app for Google Glass called DriveSafe was revealed early this year, designed to monitor the drowsiness of the wearer and keep them from falling asleep at the wheel. In March a psychologist at Wichita State University built a Glass app called Glass Fatigue Detector that serves a similar purpose. But Jins is aiming to wrap its glasses around the heads of more than just weary drivers. Its rep tells us that integrating the technology in a way that makes the eyewear indistinguishable from regular specs was the focus here, and something it believes is key to mainstream adoption. Dubbed Jins Meme, the system relies on three electrooculography (EOG) sensors located in the base of the frame, the nose pads and above the nose. EOG measures eye movement and blinking by tracking retina position in relation to these sensors, while six-axis accelerometers built into the ends of the arms are intended to monitor the body’s axis and walking behavior. Data collected by the sensors is presented through a iOS and Android smartphone app, which offers insights into things like the wearer's fatigue levels, when they should take a breather from their work, how many steps they’ve taken, how many calories they have burned and even feedback on their posture. The company says there is also a series of more ambitious applications in the pipeline, including games where eyes would act as the controller, functions to measure interest levels, focus-training exercises and potentially tools to tackle neurodegenerative diseases. There’s no word yet on availability or pricing, though the company says it plans on bringing Jins Meme to the US market sometime in 2015. The lineup to date includes sunglasses, half-rim glasses and a thicker-framed model called Wellngton. It will showcase the technology at CES next month.   Source: Jins Meme