When wilderness bites back, Mountain Medics offers on-site emergency care

Why it matters to you

The California-based Mountain Medics offers on-site medical clinics in the event an adventure or weekend away goes awry.

Have you ever sat for hours in an ER waiting area, commiserating with a crew of antsy patients in various states of despair while the itchy rash that landed you there glowers with crimson fury, thinking there must be another way? Contrary to how spot-on this example seems, the practice of telemedicine does, in fact, provide a better alternative.

An application of telecommunications technology used to evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients remotely, telemedicine has steadily increased in popularity as consumer demand for quick and convenient health care grows. This novel technique — utilized by companies such as Teladoc, Spruce Health, and Doctor on Demand — has spread to backcountry medicine, where getting to an emergency room might require a very expensive transport via helicopter.

Northern California alone boasts over half a million acres of primitive wilderness, including mountains, lakes, rivers, and tons of opportunities to hurt yourself while located hours from the nearest paved road. This is where you find Mountain Medics, a team of medical professionals including EMTs, paramedics, nurses, and doctors who use smartphones to treat minor illnesses and injuries in remote locations.

Mountain Medics

“Most diagnoses are made by listening to the patient’s history and visually examining them,” Mountain Medics told Digital Trends. “It’s a popular misconception that physicians rely heavily on direct patient contact through a physical exam, or on laboratory tests and imaging. While those things can be useful, many patients do not need more involved testing or examination to make a reliable diagnosis.”

With widespread wildfires lighting up dry forests every summer, it’s not surprising that most of the patients Mountain Medics work with are firefighters. In fact, it shared in an interview that the incentive for starting the company in 2014 was brought on by witnessing a steady stream of firefighters flow through the emergency room of the hospital they worked at, while a fire raged over an hour away.

They saw this as horribly inefficient. Emergency transport is very expensive, especially if it arrives by means of a helicopter. On top of that, the time spent getting to and receiving treatment at the hospital comprise critical minutes a firefighter is out of the field and taken away from work. Furthermore, this also affects people who don’t work on fire crews, as those wasted resources add up to hefty dollar amounts, leaving taxpayers to foot the bill.

“Telemedicine is a more direct and cheaper way to deliver healthcare than the traditional model, where someone pulled away from their job and sent to the emergency department for an often unnecessary bundle of tests and X-rays results in a large amount of wasted time and expenses,” said Mountain Medics. “When you’re in a rural setting and there aren’t many physicians around, telemedicine is the most logical venue for healthcare delivery.”

Mountain Medics

Mountain Medics use mobile treatment clinics stocked with standard medical equipment including heart monitors, defibrillators, EKG machines, medications, and other supplies. Just because you’re in the middle of the woods doesn’t mean you need to waste a perfectly good tent pole or Crazy Creek chair to make a splint. Some of the most common ailments it treats include dehydration, heat-related injuries, minor trauma, skin infections, and contact dermatitis (i.e. Skin rashes). In addition to saving money, telemedicine allows patients in the field to receive treatment much faster than the traditional method, which reduces the agony of a burn or sprain and even spares a life.

“Delays in care often lead to higher morbidity and mortality in patients who have been injured,” Mountain Medics said. “If we can recognize that a patient is injured in the field and rapidly remove them to definitive medical care, we have fulfilled our mission by giving that patient the best possible chance of a good outcome.”

They also operate as a backcountry ambulance service and claim to be the only company in the U.S. that provides 4×4 ambulance standby services with wilderness qualified personnel. Mountain Medics is based out of Dunsmuir, California, near the base of Mt. Shasta. So far, they’ve worked in California and Oregon but dream of taking their rugged mobile medical service overseas in the future.

Brilliant new gizmo knows when you’re busy, gives coworkers a signal to bugger off

Why it matters to you

The Flowlight tries to keep you and your coworkers productive by letting your colleagues know when they shouldn’t disturb you.

Red and green traffic lights generally work pretty well on the street, which may explain one of the reasons you got to work today in one piece. Couldn’t a similar stop-and-go concept be used in offices to let your coworkers know when they should leave you alone?

That us the slightly quirky rationale behind the Flowlight system, technology implemented by a team of researchers at the University of Zurich to help international industrial design company ABB Group to indicate when workers are “in the zone” and should not be disturbed.

“Knowledge workers are frequently interrupted by their coworkers,” Thomas Fritz, assistant professor of software quality at Zurich, told Digital Trends. “These interruptions can incur a high cost if they happen at inopportune moments, requiring a long recovery time and an increase in errors in the work. In a joint project between ABB Research and the University of Zurich, we have developed the Flowlight to reduce expensive interruptions at work. The Flowlight is a combination of a traffic light-like LED and an application that runs in the background on a user’s computer. The application automatically measures a user’s availability based on keyboard and mouse interaction and adjusts the desk traffic light’s color, as well as the Skype status of the user.”

It is certainly a neat concept. But if you think it is just a bit of wacky office fun, like a quick impromptu Nerf battle, think again! In a large-scale longitudinal field study involving 449 ABB employees across 12 countries, Flowlight was found to reduce the interruptions of participants by 46 percent. The result was increased productivity and usage of the system which continued long after the study was over.

“The biggest challenge is the tradeoff between the FlowLight algorithm’s accuracy and the invasiveness and privacy of the user,” Fritz continued. “While monitoring more of a user’s computer interaction or the use of biometric sensors might allow us to assess the interruptibility or availability of a user better and more accurately, the more we track of the user the more invasive it is, and the more privacy concerns they have. We have therefore opted for an algorithm that is based on keyboard and mouse interaction, takes the personal history into account, and also does some smoothing of the data to avoid too many frequent changes.”

A research paper describing the work is due to be presented at the Association for Computing Machinery Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Denver next week. After that, Fritz said that Flowlight’s creators are working with partners to commercialize the technology.

The 2.45-inch Jelly Android phone is one of the cheapest ways to get Nougat

Why it matters to you

Looking for a smaller phone that still offers impressive features? Jelly comes in at only 2.45 inches and comes packing Android Nougat.

While the general trend seems to be toward smartphones getting bigger, that’s not preventing some manufacturers from opting to go for a smaller-scale model. Jelly, for example, has built an ultra-small smartphone with Android Nougat and 4G LTE.

While small, it’s still a very capable phone. It features a full version of Android Nougat, along with the Google Play Store installed and ready to help you download all your favorite apps. The phone recently hit Kickstarter, and has so far raised a hefty $54,876 — nearly double the $30,000 goal.

The phone doesn’t seem all that bad under the hood, either. It boasts a quad-core 1.1GHz processor with up to 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, although the base model comes with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage. That storage is expandable by up to 32GB through a microSD card slot. The rear-facing camera sits at 8MP, with the front-facing camera at 2MP.

The phone also offers plenty of specs that you would only expect on a smaller device. The display, for example, comes in at 240 x 432 pixels, and the phone has a 950mAh battery that should last for up to three days of typical use.

The best thing about Jelly isn’t its specs — it’s the price. The early-bird pricing for the device through the Kickstarter campaign is $59 for the base model and $75 for the Pro, which makes it one of the cheapest ways to get the latest and greatest version of Android. You might not get quick updates to Android O once it comes out, but that won’t matter to many people. It’s important to note that the phone does have a $109 retail price for the base model and $125 for the Pro model.

You can get the Jelly smartphone for yourself through the Jelly Kickstarter page.

Microsoft’s Surface Laptops are bad for its partners, but good for you

Microsoft’s release of the first Surface Pro in 2013 raised more than a few eyebrows.

The company had never entered the hardware space before and PC builders, already in the middle of a downturn, didn’t need competition.

At the time, most manufacturers responded to Surface dismissively. Lenovo’s CEO, Yang Yuanqing, told PC World “…I don’t believe they can provide the best hardware in the world. Lenovo can.” Todd Bradley, then head of HP’s PC division, was harsher still, and told Citeworld “I’d hardly call the Surface competition…it tends to be slow and a little kludgey as you use it.”

It was easy to be skeptical at the time, and I was no exception. I didn’t like the early Surface devices, and felt Microsoft didn’t deliver a product that was useful to most people. That remained true even while my opinion of newer Surface devices improved with each generation. Surface was a luxury brand, targeted at the most hardcore.

Now, with the introduction of the Surface laptop, that’s changed.

More than a blueprint

Predictably, Microsoft has never claimed it seeks competition with the manufacturers that build Windows PCs. Even if it were true, such an admission wouldn’t win the company much favor. Instead, the company carefully managed its message, reassuring the world that its hardware partners wouldn’t be shut out, and that the Surface team wouldn’t get access to special or early builds of Windows. Surface was portrayed as a blueprint for what Microsoft thought tomorrow’s PC should look like.

That was an easy line to believe when Microsoft only built the Surface and Surface Pro. Even the Book and Studio did little to disrupt. Except for the now discontinued Surface, which had its own troubles, all company’s devices were too expensive for most people to consider, and their design is at the leading edge of PC technology. They weren’t the kind of PC an average home user wants.

Microsoft’s Surface Laptop changes the equation. Starting at $1,000, and featuring a 13.5-inch touchscreen, it’s the very model of a high-end laptop. It competes directly against the Dell XPS 13, the HP Spectre 13 x360, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, and other flagships. It’s still more expensive than the laptops most people buy, but it’s no more unobtainable than the laptops just mentioned.

In a way, it does remain a blueprint. The Surface Laptop makes several interesting design choices that represent where tomorrow’s devices could head. It has a fabric interior, a solid-state drive embedded on the motherboard, and pairs respectable key travel with a robust battery. Yet it’s not priced or positioned as a concept. It’s a device that absolutely anyone seeking a luxury PC could buy and use everyday without complaint.

The competition is real

The Surface Laptop makes a lot of sense for Microsoft. It helps bring the Surface experience to a wider variety of users, at a price point that’s more obtainable (yes, I know the entry-level Surface Pro 4 is $749 – but it’s out of date, and makes a lot of sacrifices to get there). A laptop gives Microsoft a platform to show off the many Windows 10 features that aren’t related to touch, and puts the company’s hardware in front of a new audience.

Surface was a luxury brand, targeted at the most hardcore. Now, that’s changed.

I doubt this move is made with any malice towards Microsoft’s partners. Nadella and Panay aren’t secretly plotting to take down PC builders. It’s just business – and business is ruthless. Whatever Microsoft’s intent, a successful Surface Laptop will absolutely be a threat to the bottom line of the company’s hardware partners. In fact, it’ll go toe-to-toe with the high-profit luxury devices Dell, Lenovo, and HP depend on to make money.

What’s bad news for Microsoft’s hardware partners is likely good news for Windows’ fans. The company wants to show its vision of Windows 10, and has a unified hardware and software plan for that vision. Ideally, it will result in a class of Windows device that’s more attractive, faster, and easier to use than any that have come before. Surface devices, from the Studio to the Laptop, are equipped to make the most of everything Windows 10 offers.

That’s not to say the plan will go, well, as planned — but the intent is clear. PC builders better watch their back. Microsoft wants to create an awesome experience for its users. If that means controlling both hardware and software, as Apple always has, so be it.

Microsoft introduces Windows 10 S, education-focused competitor to Chrome OS

Why it matters to you

Windows 10 S targets education with unique features, but a

Microsoft held its education-focused event this morning, May 2, where it extolled its solutions aimed at helping students learn, teachers teach, and IT staff focus on letting technology assist both without stifling anyone’s creativity. With an obvious nod to Google’s success in education with its Chromebook platform, Microsoft announced a new lightweight version of Windows 10 dubbed Windows 10 S.

The focus of Windows 10 S, which was originally expected to be called Windows 10 Cloud Edition, is on providing the minimum functionality required to get work done. Microsoft provided a very general overview of the newest version of Windows 10.

First, Windows 10 S allows app installations from the Windows Store only. Doing so limits a machine to only the most secure apps, and to a limited set. If a user or administrator tries to install an app from outside the Store, then an error message will be displayed.

This policy limits what apps can be installed on a Windows 10 S machine, but it also significantly reduces first-use loading times down to 10-15 seconds. Microsoft noted that administrators can switch a machine from Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Pro in order to install a non-Store application (though probably only if they’ve purchased a valid license).

Next is the new “Setup my new school PC” app, which walks administrators through the process of setting up a new machine for students. The end result of the process is the creation of a USB flash drive image that can be plugged into a new PC, and that automatically configures the machine from scratch without user intervention.

Finally, Microsoft’s support page provides an interesting qualification that imposes a couple of rather severe limitations on Windows 10 S users. In answer to the question, “Are there any defaults that I cannot change on my Windows 10 S PC?” Microsoft says:

“Yes, Microsoft Edge is the default web browser on Microsoft 10 S. You are able to download another browser that might be available from the Windows Store, but Microsoft Edge will remain the default if, for example, you open an .htm file. Additionally, the default search provider in Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer cannot be changed.”

In a nod to anyone responsible for managing a large number of educational systems, Microsoft has also introduced Intune for Education, which is an optimized version of its enterprise administration tool optimized for educational institutions. This brings the company’s powerful system management solution to educational IT departments.

Microsoft finished the Windows 10 S session by highlighting how it’s working to make Microsoft solutions affordable for education. The company announced a number of new initiatives to do just that:

• Microsoft highlighted the low-cost Windows 10 S machines being brought to the market by its OEM partners. Windows 10 education PCs will start at $189, making them an affordable alternative to Google Chromebooks.
• Each education PC will come with a free subscription to Minecraft: Education Edition.
• Windows 10 S will be free for all schools on their current genuine Windows Pro PCs.
• Office 365 for Education with Microsoft Teams will be free for educational customers.
• Microsoft Intune for Education is available today for educational institutions.

Windows 10 S will be available this summer, in preparation for the next school year. Microsoft did not provide more details on the technical workings of Windows 10 S, but clearly, the company is focused on providing a low-cost, easy-to-administer solution for education to ensure that an entire generation of students doesn’t grow up using Google solutions.

Updated on 5-2-2017 by Mark Coppock: Added Microsoft support note regarding defaults that cannot be changed in Windows 10 S.

Apple iPhone X (2017) rumors and news

Apple’s next iPhone isn’t supposed to arrive until much later in 2017, but that hasn’t stopped legions of fans from fervently speculating about it. Things may be a little different this year, as it’s the 10th anniversary of the iPhone. Rumors suggest we may see up to three models — the iPhone 7S, the 7S Plus, and the iPhone X (aka, the iPhone 8). The latter is expected to be an expensive, technical showcase phone released as a celebratory model.

If you want to learn more about the iPhone 7S and 7S Plus, head over here. A lot of this information out there is up in the air, but what we’re hearing is keeping us interested. Very interested. Here’s what we’ve learned so far about the iPhone X.

Naming, release date and price

Despite being referred to as the iPhone 8 in many rumors, the phone may come alongside the iPhone 7S and 7S Plus in late 2017. This may confuse things for 2018, when an iPhone 8 would be more logical based on Apple’s usual naming traditions.

Still, recent rumors indicate that while Apple may have been considering a 2017 release for the phone, the company will instead wait for 2018. Why? According to a research note, a number of supply chains have noted technical challenges in manufacturing the new device. Deutsche Bank also claims that sources from Foxconn are only expecting Apple to order parts for the iPhone 7S and 7S Plus, according to a report from Business Insider. It’s possible that instead of waiting until 2018 to announce the new phone, Apple will announce it this year and start shipping to customers in 2018.

An alternative name that is reportedly being considered is the iPhone X. Cool, right? This comes from anonymous sources who spoke to Fast Company and also claim that the device will have a 5.8-inch OLED screen, no bezels, and a body made of stainless steel. The glass back from older iPhone models may make a return, and the familiar home button may disappear under the screen. Even the volume and sleep/wake keys may be replaced with touch-sensitive panels instead. All of these new features may come at a steep price in excess of $1,000.

Apple traditionally launches a new iPhone every year in September, but the latest reports indicate things may be a little different this year.

Bloomberg reported earlier that supply constraints may delay the iPhone X until “one or two months after” the typical fall introduction.

According to an analyst’s research note for investment banking firm Drexel Hamilton that was obtained by MacRumors, the iPhone X may be delayed several weeks after the September reveal due to challenges around its 3D-sensing technology — though it will still be available in time for the December holidays.

“Since it is only April, this situation could improve,” the analyst said, according to MacRumors. “Essentially, our contact believes customers will be able to pre-order the new 5.8-inch iPhone X, along with the new 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhones, in September; however, the 5.8-inch iPhone X will not be available for delivery until several weeks later.”

This lines up with previous reports from Economic Daily News, which said the new iPhone X won’t be delivered until October or November.

And now, there’s even more reason to believe that we’ll have to wait a bit longer than usual to see the newest iPhone. As per a report from Apple analyst KGI Ming-Chi Kuo, the restricted supply of a number of “cutting-edge components” needed for the highly anticipated handset will delay the iPhone to October or November. The firm asserts that “significant hardware upgrades” in the iPhone 8, including its custom OLED display panel, custom Apple A11 10-nanometer SoC, newly designed 3D touch module, and 3D sensing cameras, are all contributing to the bottleneck.

And this isn’t great news for Apple. According to KGI, a delay of even a couple months could hurt Apple sales, especially if competitors launch ahead of time.

There has been some disagreement over whether there will indeed be a total of three iPhone models released this year. As per a new rumor posted on April 20 by Chinese tech blog Micgadget.com, there will be just two handsets released this year. “Rumors say that Apple will release two iPhone 7S and one iPhone 8 (or iPhone Edition) models,” the blog post reads. “Today we can tell you, that it’s not true. This fall, we can see only two models with new technology. Very interesting that rumors leaked new iPhone 8 and big iPhone 8 Plus will have similar dual cameras.”

Take this with a grain of salt, however. Micgadget.com apparently has a rather inconsistent track record when it comes to Apple and its plans, and this singular report certainly flies in the face of the majority of other reports.

That said, there is another report suggesting we may not see three iPhones this year, though this one claims that it’s the iPhone 8 that will be late to the party. According to unsubstantiated gossip from iPhone manufacturer Foxconn, Apple won’t be able to release the iPhone 8 in 2017. Apparently, the leak from within Foxconn claims that Apple has only ordered the iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus, though packaging material for those handsets are said to arrive in factories as early as June.

Wireless charging

Apple has long been rumored to be working on wireless charging for a future version of the iPhone, and we now have even more evidence to support those rumors. According to a note from JPMorgan that was picked up by CNBC, Broadcom will supply the chips for wireless charging — which is somewhat surprising considering previous rumors that noted Apple would be building its own wireless charging tech. It’s possible that Broadcom will simply manufacture the chips that will be designed by Apple.

Just because Apple suggested it would use its own self-built tech, that doesn’t mean third parties won’t develop their own wireless charging accessories for the phone.

In fact, after Apple joined the Wireless Power Consortium, popular wireless charger manufacturer Powermat said it will work to support whatever wireless charging standard the new iPhone uses. Some reports suggest the device will support Qi charging, while others indicate it may use a modified version of Qi that won’t work with standard Qi chargers. Reuters reports that Apple has at least five different groups working on wireless charging technology.

The Wall Street Journal said in February that Apple will ditch the iPhone’s Lightning port in favor of USB Type-C, the industry standard connector for smartphones, laptops, and chargers. It isn’t clear from the report if Apple means to replace the iPhone’s Lightning port with a Type-C port or if it will simply adopt Type-C for the phone’s wall charger, and retain the Lightning port on the iPhone X itself.

A separate report by KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed the iPhone X will have a more expensive logic board design, allowing for longer battery life, according to MacRumors. The new logic-board design would allow for the OLED iPhone to have dimensions similar to a 4.7-inch iPhone, but it could offer comparable battery life to a 5.5-inch iPhone.

Kuo expects the iPhone X to have a 2,700mAh L-shaped two-cell battery pack. The OLED display could also allow the device to be more energy-efficient, meaning it could have better battery life than previous 5.5-inch iPhones.

Microsoft Surface Laptop With Windows 10 S: Our first take

At $999, the cost of Microsoft’s rarified new laptop may upset more students than it helps educate.

“Societal change requires more than technology.” That statement makes sense, of course, but it’s an odd sentiment to hear from Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft – a company that does nothing but build and sell technology.

“I’m here today as a heretic,” he said Tuesday, at a special event in New York City to unveil the company’s massive education push. It involves more than just tech, of course. “We’re under no illusion that technology alone is the answer to transforming education,” he said, noting that parents and teachers and society are key to empowering kids and improving education overall.

But putting the right tools in the hands of parents and kids remains important, even if it’s not all that’s important. To that end, has Microsoft unveiled the new Surface Laptop, its first traditional laptop, and its first aimed directly at students. Well, students with a thousand bucks to blow on a new laptop, anyway.

Innovation, design, and features

The Surface is a showcase for innovation and premium design, but in some ways, the new Laptop is a departure from that. Take the Surface Book, for example, which looks like a book from the side, thanks to a unique hinge that unrolls as you open the device. Although the hinge on the new Laptop is nice, it’s downright conventional compared to the Book. The screen does open smoothly, but it’s a far simpler piece of engineering.

“Societal change requires more than technology.”

There’s also no kickstand to prop up the screen because the Laptop is, well, a laptop. It doesn’t convert in to a tablet. Having used several generations of Pro, I had a mixed relationship with the kickstand; yes, it was neat, and yes, it was beautifully engineered. But I never sat on an airplane and used it comfortably.

It’s safe to say the Laptop is the most conservative Surface device yet. Conservative doesn’t mean bad, of course, just…less revolutionary. That said, the Laptop is really, really nice. It has a 13.5-inch screen, with a 3:2 aspect ratio and 2,256 x 1,504 resolution (that works out to 201 pixels per inch). It looks gorgeous. Past Surface displays have proven top-notch, especially on the Surface Studio, and the new Laptop is no different.

The Surface Laptop is light, at 2.76 pounds, and feels very slim. The keyboard has a suede-like Alcantara material covering the top of it, which isn’t as soft under the palms and wrists as it might appear, but was pleasing enough, especially compared to the plastic or metal you’re used to feeling. Just don’t spill a drink on it. The key action felt decent too; there’s 1.5 mm of travel, which was plenty to my fingers.

Adam Balkin/Digital Trends

Adam Balkin/Digital Trends

Adam Balkin/Digital Trends

Adam Balkin/Digital Trends

There aren’t many ports to speak of. On the right side is the proprietary charging port, the same one Microsoft has used in earlier Surface models. On the right there’s a USB Type A port, rather than the more modern, double-sided Type C connectors you’ll find on phones like the Google Pixel XL and the Samsung Galaxy S8. That’s just annoying, and doesn’t really seem like a future-proofing plan. It’s my one big complaint when it comes to hardware.

Windows 10 S – short for silly?

So, let’s talk software for a second.

The Surface laptop ships with Windows 10 S, a new version of the OS designed specifically for schools and education. It’s optimized for speed, Microsoft says. What does that mean? Think about this scenario. Imagine you’re the IT manager at Ridgewood High. You’ve bought several hundred laptops, and each classroom has a cage where students pull laptops upon walking into class. The odds are good they won’t get the same one each time, meaning opening the laptop is a first-boot scenario. And with ordinary Windows 10, that can take up to 40 seconds. Win 10 S does it in 10 seconds.

In my brief time with the Surface Laptop, I confirmed that the wake time is like lightning. Close the cover, let the laptop sleep, and it’s on and ready to roll before you’ve finished lifting the screen to start working. That’s a great experience.

The sacrifice made for speed is application support, however. Windows 10 S limits the apps you can install to those in the Windows Store, and while there are some, there certainly isn’t a raft of them. This is either a crucial limitation or a big relief, depending on where you sit. As the owner of a laptop, you’ll hate it. (“Why can’t I install this app again? Everyone else I know can!”) As a school administrator who can prevent students from installing stuff they find on the Interwebs, this could seem like a godsend.

As an ordinary human being who has installed countless apps from countless websites, this seems like a hindrance to me. I’m not a student, of course, and Microsoft has made an allowance for that. For just $49 (with a limited-time free upgrade offer), you can convert from Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Pro, and unlock all the goodness of everything you’re used to – meaning this laptop might be a great one for ordinary folks willing to go through that upgrade process.

Is the price right? That depends

The cost of the Surface Laptop with Windows 10 S is the real concern here. At a starting price of $999, it’s hardly a cheap laptop to compete with Chromebooks. Microsoft’s partners will supply those, with Win 10 S products starting as cheaply as $189. But what are you getting for $999? Yes, it has top-of-the-line hardware, and yes, it’s incredibly thin and light, and genuinely well built. That’s great – yet also irrelevant, if students simply can’t afford it.

Microsoft spent a good portion of its reveal presentation comparing the Surface Laptop to Apple’s line of notebooks, and the numbers all skew towards the Surface product, which is thinner, lighter, and faster than Apple’s. But the MacBook never claimed to be ideal for your 15-year-old. I’ve seen what kids do to things. It isn’t pretty, and the cost of this rarified PC may upset more students than it helps educate.

Outside of the education space, though, Microsoft may have a hit on its hands. The Surface lineup has been synonymous with high quality, and the new Laptop is no departure there. Anyone considering an Apple product would do well to look at it, and think about the value being offered here. You might learn a thing or two.

Highs

• Premium look and feel
• Inviting fabric interior
• Fast as lightning, especially at boot
• Gorgeous display

Lows

• No USB Type-C? You’re kidding
• Runs Windows 10 S by default

This terrifying robot can drill through your skull in 2 minutes – and that’s a good thing

Why it matters to you

The University of Utah has developed an automated drill for cranial surgery. It can cut an opening in the skull in just 2.5 minutes; 50x faster than a human surgeon.

A drill-wielding robot that bores into your skull for a quick spot of impromptu brain surgery sounds like a scene from a future sci-fi dystopia, in which AI treats Earth’s surviving humans like lab rats.

In fact, it’s a new research project from the good folks at the University of Utah, who have developed a computer-driven automated drill for cranial surgery. That means safely cutting an opening — called a bone flap — in the skull so that the brain can be accessed underneath. While it would take an experienced surgeon 2 hours to carry out this task using hand-drilling, the University of Utah’s robot is able to achieve the same thing in just 2.5 minutes. That’s 50x faster than was previously possible — which for some reason makes us all kinds of nervous!

While that may be the case, though, there are actually excellent reasons for doing this kind of surgery very rapidly. In other words, it’s not the brain surgery equivalent of Bishop the android’s ultra-fast knife trick from Aliens, that’s just there to show how good robots have gotten.

Carrying out cranial surgery quickly means less time for a wound to be open and a patient to be anesthetized, thereby offering a reduced risk of infection.

Using the technology, a patient is first imaged using a CT scan, allowing for the gathering of bone data and information about sensitive structures like nerves and major veins. The surgeons then program the drill’s optimal route using 3D modeling tech, which Alagar Krishnan Balaji, Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering, describes as being a bit “like Google Maps” — only on a much, much smaller scale. Due to the fine-grain precision of the robot, it’s possible for it to drill down within 1mm of sensitive structures.

“The specific advantage is that machines, when designed correctly, do not get tired or fatigued and are capable of performing repetitive tasks consistently and well,” Balaji told Digital Trends. “However, you do need to inform the machine what it is supposed to do very explicitly. The surgeon is still involved with the surgery, but for a tedious job like bone removal, the machine takes over and does the preliminary tasks quickly — thus allowing the surgeon to focus on other later aspects of the surgery with greater efficiency and reduced fatigue.”

According to Balaji, there were several engineering challenges involved with the project, such as the ability to link the 3D imaging technology seamlessly with the surgical drill, as well as making a robot portable enough that it could be maneuvered around operating theaters.

“As a mechanical engineer who specializes in machining of materials such as metals, the different material and incredibly complex geometry encountered in neurosurgery was [also] particularly challenging,” he continued.

At present, the robot is just a proof-of-concept that’s yet to make it into hospitals. But with its impressive tech demo, researchers at the University of Utah hope that it will be only a matter of time before it becomes a regularly-used tool in the surgeon’s arsenal.

Microsoft unveils Surface Laptop, lightweight OS at education-themed press event

Why it matters to you

We’ve got a rundown of all that Microsoft revealed during Tuesday’s education-themed press event in New York City, including the new Surface Notebook.

Microsoft’s press event held in New York City on Tuesday covered five specific areas targeting education: A new lightweight operating system, utilizing Microsoft Teams, programming in Minecraft, using mixed reality, and a high-powered Surface-branded notebook. Overall, the theme of the entire event focused on empowering students and teachers with the tools to make the learning environment more fun and absorbing.

Windows 10 S

We expected Microsoft would announce this platform, formerly known as Windows 10 Cloud, during Tuesday’s education-themed event. It’s a lightweight version of Windows 10 optimized for low-end hardware, enabling laptop makers to sell devices with starting prices of $189. That means Microsoft is targeting Google’s Chromebook dominance in the education sector. Similar to Chrome OS, Windows 10 S will be locked down, enabling students to grab apps solely from the Windows Store. However, third-party apps can be installed only if the platform is upgraded to Windows 10 Pro.

Solutions hitting the market based on Windows 10 S include the HP Probook x360 11 G1 EE, the Dell Latitude 11 3000 Series 3189, the Asus Vivobook W202, and the Acer Travel Mate Spin B1. Fujitsu, Samsung, and Toshiba have solutions in the works as well. Current devices in the classroom packing Windows 10 Pro can convert to Windows 10 S for free.

Microsoft Teams in classrooms

Microsoft Teams isn’t just for enterprise use — it’s a great collaboration tool for teachers and students too. Combined with OneNote Class Notebooks, teachers can distribute assignments, converse directly with students in and out of the classroom, and even communicate with parents and other staff members. Teams also provides the ability to integrate external resources such as guest speakers, and empowers students to express themselves without becoming offensive to others.

In addition to all the cool Microsoft Teams goodies, Microsoft Intune for Education is available now. Even more, Microsoft is offering Office 365 for Education with Microsoft Teams for free.

Code Builder for ‘Minecraft: Education Edition’

Available as a beta now, Code Builder connects Minecraft to the third-party ScratchX and Tynker coding platforms as well as Microsoft MakeCode. Inside Minecraft, players are joined by an “Agent” character that serves as a sidekick, which carries out the coding commands. This sidekick can essentially build anything in the virtual Minecraft world, from 3D printed objects to huge, historic architectures like the Globe Theater in 16th-century London and the Parthenon.

Along with Code Builder, Microsoft said that it will offer a free Minecraft: Education Edition subscription with the purchase of a qualifying Windows 10 “education” PC.

Mixed reality

This portion of the press event focused on bringing mixed reality capabilities into the classroom. For instance, students could create the solar system in Paint 3D, drop it into PowerPoint, and create transitions for an animated, 3D presentation. Students can also import 3D models into Microsoft Teams and integrate the scaled object into a live feed using any webcam. Pearson Education plans to integrate 3D and mixed reality into its 2018 curriculum that supports the Windows 10 mixed reality headsets.

Remember, mixed reality headsets supported by Windows 10 Creators Update will arrive this holiday season for a starting price of $299.

Surface Laptop

Finally, Microsoft waited to reveal new hardware until the end of the show. The Surface Laptop is now available for pre-order with a starting price of $999, and is powered by the new Windows 10 S platform. Shipping in Platinum, Burgundy, Cobalt Blue, and Graphite Gold, the laptop will sport a 13.5-inch PixelSense display, seventh-generation Intel Core i5 and i7 processors, and a battery capable of up to 14.5 hours on a single charge.

Unfortunately, customization is locked down to several different CPU/memory/storage configurations (two i5 models and two i7 models). Microsoft appears to be targeting Apple’s latest MacBook Pro lineup, sporting a thin and light form factor without sacrificing performance.

Microsoft unveils Surface Laptop, lightweight OS at education-themed press event

Why it matters to you

We’ve got a rundown of all that Microsoft revealed during Tuesday’s education-themed press event in New York City, including the new Surface Notebook.

Microsoft’s press event held in New York City on Tuesday covered five specific areas targeting education: A new lightweight operating system, utilizing Microsoft Teams, programming in Minecraft, using mixed reality, and a high-powered Surface-branded notebook. Overall, the theme of the entire event focused on empowering students and teachers with the tools to make the learning environment more fun and absorbing.

Windows 10 S

We expected Microsoft would announce this platform, formerly known as Windows 10 Cloud, during Tuesday’s education-themed event. It’s a lightweight version of Windows 10 optimized for low-end hardware, enabling laptop makers to sell devices with starting prices of $189. That means Microsoft is targeting Google’s Chromebook dominance in the education sector. Similar to Chrome OS, Windows 10 S will be locked down, enabling students to grab apps solely from the Windows Store. However, third-party apps can be installed only if the platform is upgraded to Windows 10 Pro.

Solutions hitting the market based on Windows 10 S include the HP Probook x360 11 G1 EE, the Dell Latitude 11 3000 Series 3189, the Asus Vivobook W202, and the Acer Travel Mate Spin B1. Fujitsu, Samsung, and Toshiba have solutions in the works as well. Current devices in the classroom packing Windows 10 Pro can convert to Windows 10 S for free.

Microsoft Teams in classrooms

Microsoft Teams isn’t just for enterprise use — it’s a great collaboration tool for teachers and students too. Combined with OneNote Class Notebooks, teachers can distribute assignments, converse directly with students in and out of the classroom, and even communicate with parents and other staff members. Teams also provides the ability to integrate external resources such as guest speakers, and empowers students to express themselves without becoming offensive to others.

In addition to all the cool Microsoft Teams goodies, Microsoft Intune for Education is available now. Even more, Microsoft is offering Office 365 for Education with Microsoft Teams for free.

Code Builder for ‘Minecraft: Education Edition’

Available as a beta now, Code Builder connects Minecraft to the third-party ScratchX and Tynker coding platforms as well as Microsoft MakeCode. Inside Minecraft, players are joined by an “Agent” character that serves as a sidekick, which carries out the coding commands. This sidekick can essentially build anything in the virtual Minecraft world, from 3D printed objects to huge, historic architectures like the Globe Theater in 16th-century London and the Parthenon.

Along with Code Builder, Microsoft said that it will offer a free Minecraft: Education Edition subscription with the purchase of a qualifying Windows 10 “education” PC.

Mixed reality

This portion of the press event focused on bringing mixed reality capabilities into the classroom. For instance, students could create the solar system in Paint 3D, drop it into PowerPoint, and create transitions for an animated, 3D presentation. Students can also import 3D models into Microsoft Teams and integrate the scaled object into a live feed using any webcam. Pearson Education plans to integrate 3D and mixed reality into its 2018 curriculum that supports the Windows 10 mixed reality headsets.

Remember, mixed reality headsets supported by Windows 10 Creators Update will arrive this holiday season for a starting price of $299.

Surface Laptop

Finally, Microsoft waited to reveal new hardware until the end of the show. The Surface Laptop is now available for pre-order with a starting price of $999, and is powered by the new Windows 10 S platform. Shipping in Platinum, Burgundy, Cobalt Blue, and Graphite Gold, the laptop will sport a 13.5-inch PixelSense display, seventh-generation Intel Core i5 and i7 processors, and a battery capable of up to 14.5 hours on a single charge.

Unfortunately, customization is locked down to several different CPU/memory/storage configurations (two i5 models and two i7 models). Microsoft appears to be targeting Apple’s latest MacBook Pro lineup, sporting a thin and light form factor without sacrificing performance.