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Innovation News Wrap

Twitter surgery, Second Life University, electronic contact lenses.

Electronic Heads-Up Display Coming to Contact Lenses

University of Washington Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering Babak Parviz heads a group of researchers working on electronic systems for contact lenses, like the "heads up" visual display in the Terminator movies, in which information is displayed in a robotic eye. A University of Washington News item describes possible applications such as aiding the visually impaired, holographic driving controls and accessing the Internet. According to Parviz, the display won't impede the user's vision.

University Library at Second Life

Students at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) may interact with students and teachers on campus, as well as online in Second Life. The university has an entire virtual campus in Second Life. The online presence started with the idea of building a virtual hotel environment for the use of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management. "Second Life enables students and educators to create innovative environments for distance learning, computer-supported cooperative work, simulations and teaching," said project leader Paul Penfold. "This use of simulation in a safe environment will greatly enhance experiential learning." Students can access a wide variety of library materials and information about the library via the platform and links on the library's intranet.

Surgery Twittered

On August 17, a sleeve gastrectomy --- removal of part of the stomach as a weight-loss measure -- was twittered live by Sinai Hospital of Baltimore. The procedure, performed by Alex Gandsas, M.D., was a success according to the hospital, and the Twitter account included photos of the operation.

Wayne E. Hanson served as a writer and editor with e.Republic from 1989 to 2013, having worked for several business units including Government Technology magazine, the Center for Digital Government, Governing, and Digital Communities. Hanson was a juror from 1999 to 2004 with the Stockholm Challenge and Global Junior Challenge competitions in information technology and education.