BT set to study internet novices

BT is setting up an initiative to find out why some people resist using the internet. The project will employ psychologists to closely study a small group of people to reveal what stops them joining the net-using majority. Early research done for the project suggests that, for some, using the net is as stressful as a bungee jump more...

BBC and ITV bring you hi-def for free

Not keen on paying Sky for HD? Don’t worry, free hi-def is coming – but you’ll still need a satellite dish. Save a thoroughly popular trial of HD over Freeview, hi-def programming has been the preserve of Sky’s £10 a month SkyHD service – but not for much longer more...

Prince takes on YouTube

He has spent his career challenging the establishment, even changing his name to try to get out of a recording contract. But Prince's latest argument has seen him take on a different entity altogether - the internet. The 49-year-old musician said yesterday he is considering legal action against a number of websites - including eBay and YouTube - which he says encourage piracy of his music and videos more...

Karnataka, India banning cellphones for kids under 16?

We can't even imagine what would happen if the government suddenly stopped everyone under the age of 16 from chatting it up on a mobile, but it looks like we just may find out how it goes down overseas when Karnataka, India does just that. Reportedly, its government is going to "ban cellphone use by children less than 16 years on the basis of advice of medical experts," and while specifics weren't divulged, apparently someone up high believes that "prolonged use of [handsets] by teenagers does affect their health" in an adverse way more...

Hint of cancer risk after 10 years mobile phone use, say researchers

Mobile phones do not pose health problems to adults in the short term but there is a "slight hint" of a cancer risk for long-term users, according to the results of a study which could not rule out risks of brain or ear cancer for those who have used mobiles for more than 10 years more...

Online worlds to be AI incubators

Online worlds such as Second Life will soon become training grounds for artificial intelligences. Researchers at US firm Novamente have created software that learns by controlling avatars in virtual worlds. Initially the AIs will be embodied in pets that will get smarter by interacting with the avatars controlled by their human owners more...

Imaging tools to aid surveillance

Security and surveillance efforts could be bolstered by a simple imaging tool, a scientist claims. Currently, both people and computers are poor at recognising a person's face, especially if it is unfamiliar. But a University of Glasgow researcher says merging multiple images of an individual to create their "average" face makes the task much easier more...

Sony Launches Four Blu-Ray Recorders

Four new Sony Bravia recorders capable of burning 50GB dual-layer, BD-R/RE discs with an additional disk packing between 250GB and 500GB of storage depending upon model selected. The ¥200,000 (about $1,755) top-end BDZ-X90 model brings more...

Ear implant corrects balance problems

Scientists at the always-progressive Johns Hopkins have been working on an electronic, inner-ear "balancing" device that could help correct problems like unsteadiness, disequilibrium or wobbly vision (no, really). The device -- which couples a head-mounted, matchbook-size box, and up to eight surgically implanted electrodes -- corrects problems by measuring and transmitting 3D balance information to the brain via the vestibular nerve more...

Fossett sought via Google Earth

Images from Google Earth are being enrolled in the search for adventurer Steve Fossett. Many people are scouring up-to-date satellite images of Nevada to try to spot Mr Fossett's downed plane or wreckage. The project is being co-ordinated via Amazon's human-powered problem solving scheme called the Mechanical Turk more...

Vodafone's iPhone rival in shops for Christmas

Vodafone is going head to head with this year's most hotly anticipated gadget, Apple's iPhone, with the launch of a competing mobile music service. The service, to be launched in time for Christmas, will give its UK customers unlimited access to more than 1m tracks more...

Warning: you can't make real friends online

Social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace do not help you make more genuine close friends, according to a survey by researchers who studied how the websites are changing the nature of friendship networks. Although social networking on the internet helps people to collect hundreds or even thousands of acquaintances, the researchers believe that face to face contact is nearly always necessary to form truly close friendships more...

Mobile system promises free calls

A new way of making calls directly between phones, for free, is being trialled by a Swedish company. It is hoping to dramatically improve communications in the developing world. Swedish company TerraNet has developed the idea using peer-to-peer technology that enables users to speak on its handsets without the need for a mobile phone base station more...