Google’s latest service, Knol, has just launched, intended as a repository of knowledge for everything from literature to DIY writes the New Scientist technology Blog. In the words of its creator, it’s meant to be “the first thing someone who searches for this topic for the first time will want to read”…..

Source : New Scientist Technology Blog

Knol

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve had a chance to play around with an evaluation copy of Papershow from Oxford, and it’s been a game of two halves brian.

First Half
Out of the box – you put the usb stick into your pc, sync it via bluetooth with the pen (remembering to put a battery into it), and then you can write your thoughts directly onto the paper supplied which are transferred to the screen for exporting into ppt or pdf . No problems, simple and easy to do (see screenshot and click for a bigger picture) and also to be able to import your thoughts into a ppt or pdf file for use is a really handy feature.

Second Half
Attempts to import an exisiting ppt presentation went ok and there were also no problems printing it onto the papershow paper via a laserjet, but after that I was not able to get the pen to work with the printed version paper – ditto a screen print of my blog that I tried – I get the impression the software is a bit buggy with XP (session error messages and pen not being recognised on these occasions) and the gui can be frustrating at times.

Overall then, it’s a 1-1 draw with lots of potential for a great product but with plenty of bugs still to be ironed out.

More On Papershow

BBC News reports that yesterday former workers at the web giant Google launched a rival search engine. Called Cuil, from the Gaelic for knowledge and hazel, its founders claim it does a better and more comprehensive job of indexing information online. Initial use caused the inevitable glitches and net bad mouthing but it could grow to be an alternative search engine of note….

BBC report

UK Gizmodo Review

Cuil

Observer articles on e-readers from this weekends paper….

E-readers: A guide

Wood block to ebook

Ebooks: The enthusiasts

What we’re seeing is the creation of a new art form

Ebooks: The sceptics

It made me feel alienated from the books that I know well

In December 2006, the Wall Street journal discussed online tools which gave patients
better access to information and helped build communities. the following year in September 2007, the Economist wrote of the rise of “user-generated content” calling it user-generated health care, or Health 2.0.

The terms for Health 2.0, Medicine 2.0 and E-Health 2.0 are still be defined and refined but the Health 2.0 Wiki has some useful information on how things are developing (even though a more euro-centric approach would be preferable).

WSJ Article – Social Networking Comes to Health Care

Economist Article on Health 2.0

Health 2.0 Wiki

Wikipedia – Health 2.0 Entry

E-Health Insider’s report Web 2.0 in the Health Sector, concludes that new online applications based on social health networks, participation and user generated content (UGC) – such as user reviews of doctors and hospitals – will rapidly evolve to challenge existing healthcare systems and create new delivery models.

The exec summary is free but you pay for the whole report so does anyone have a spare £587.50 ?

Simon Parkin of Pocket Gamer asks “are we here to be entertained or are we here to get healthy? Because My Health Coach: Weight Management is the latest in a recent run of Nintendo DS titles to blur the lines between video game and health product” and concludes “Not a game but an interactive exercise manual. My Health Coach: Weight Management might help shed the pounds if followed to the letter but it won’t do very much to entertain you along the way”

More on My Health Coach

Pocket Gamer Review

Pocket Gamer Preview

With a combined age of 193, Rose Sanders and Violet Gyves are not the most likely computer game fans, but the pair have become hooked on playing with their Nintendo Wii console…..

Daily Telegraph

Google enters the world of 3D with Lively, create an avatar and chat with your friends in rooms you design…..

Get Lively

Source : SLHealth List