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Tiny mic could improve cochlear implants

Cochlear implants, which help 220,000 deaf people around the world hear, come with a few unfortunate side effects.

Because the implants also consist of external parts (the mic, a speech processor, and a radio transmitter coil) worn rather conspicuously behind the ear, users are often unable to swim or wear helmets comfortably, must fully rely on a microphone exposed to the elements, and have to deal with appearing at least somewhat handicapped.

So an electrical engineer at the University of Utah has developed a prototype that moves all these external parts into the middle ear, allowing cochlear implants to … Read more

Robotic hand plays piano classics

It's a graphic example of the convergence of music and technology, with a bit of Halloween creepiness thrown in for good measure. This robotic hand, according to Book of Joe, mimicks the playing of six piano classics, including Beethoven's "Fifth Symphony", Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer," and Chopin's "Minute Waltz." Sound sensors start the device when you clap--not quite the same as raising a baton, but close enough for a musician that runs on AA batteries.

(Photo: Book of Joe)