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San
José, Costa Rica, Wednesday, June 3, Vol.
15, No.
108
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 Consejo Nacional de Vialidad
photo
Sign carries the Consejo
logoFake sign
gets quick action from officials
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
An unhappy motorist probably was the individual who erected a sign where a new bridge will be installed between La Trinidad and Paracito. The sign says "Sorry, this bridge is not important." It bears the logo of the Consejo Nacional de Vialidad. The sign certainly got official attention after it started circulating on social networks. Yes, the bridge is important, said the Consejo in a formal press release. The agency said an environmental permission was being awaiting for work to start to replace the bridge.. The Consejo claimed that the sign was taken down by friendly neighbors who know the status of the project. 16 persons detained in car parts ring By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Judicial agents said they conducted 14 raids and detained 16 persons in a case related to chop shops in Tibás and Alajuela where stolen cars were dismantled for parts. The Judicial Investigating Organization said that there were at least 40 cases and that agents recovered 14 vehicles. Among those who were detained are some who surrendered their vehicle for parts and then filed stolen car reports with the Institute Nacional de Seguros. They face fraud charges, agents said. Raids took place in San José, Heredia, Alajuela and Guanacaste The case includes 23 person, but some are in jail on other allegations and one was shot to death several months ago, agents said. The stolen vehicles were picked up on the street using tools and other methods. Blatter shocks world by resigning By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services
Sepp Blatter, president of the international football federation, abruptly resigned Tuesday in the midst of an unfolding corruption scandal. "I have been reflecting deeply about my presidency and about the 40 years in which my life has been inextricably bound to FIFA and the great sport of football I cherish FIFA more than anything and I want to do only what is best for FIFA and for football," Blatter said in a statement using the initials for the Fédération Internationale de Football Association. "While I have a mandate from the membership of FIFA, I do not feel that I have a mandate from the entire world of football – the fans, the players, the clubs, the people who live, breathe and love football as much as we all do at FIFA. Therefore, I have decided to lay down my mandate at an extraordinary elective Congress," the statement said, adding "I will continue to exercise my functions as FIFA president until that election." Election of a new federation president apparently will take months. Experts expect a vote could take place between December of this year and March of 2016. The 79-year-old federation chief took the world by surprise when he announced his decision at a news conference in Zurich, since he had repeatedly professed his innocence throughout days of adverse publicity about federation executives' corrupt activities and multimillion-dollar bribe-taking. In the immediate aftermath of last week's police raids and arrests, Blatter vowed to cleanse the football federation of everyone involved in illegal activities. Tuesday he admitted that "FIFA needs a profound restructuring," and pledged his commitment to that goal. Blatter's appearance in Zurich Tuesday evening was televised worldwide, but there had been no advance word of his decision to step down. Sports commentators said they were expecting another staunch defense by Blatter of his leadership of world football. The sudden turn of events left many of them "flabbergasted." The federation corruption scandal, long a subject of rumor and whispers, became reality last week when U.S. FBI agents and Swiss police raided a meeting of the federation's top leaders in Switzerland. Amid swirling allegations of millions of dollars in bribes paid to influence the staging of international soccer tournaments, including the World Cup, charges of receiving bribes and racketeering were brought against an array of suspects from South America, the United States and elsewhere. Blatter was re-elected as president two days later, praised by his supporters for the dramatic expansion of world football and of FIFA's influence and prosperity during his decades of leadership. Several prominent members of the association including the European football federation's Michel Platini spoke out in dissent, saying the corruption investigation should prompt Blatter to step aside, but Blatter and his allies brushed off such suggestions. Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, who announced his candidacy for FIFA's top job well in advance of the police raids, was the leading candidate opposing Blatter. The prince finished second in the balloting, although with enough votes to force a second ballot, but then withdrew when it became apparent that support for Blatter guaranteed his re-election. The New York Times had reported Tuesday that Blatter was under investigation by U.S. officials and that prosecutors esaid they expected those already arrested to provide information on him to lessen their own sentences. World soccer now appears to be in disarray By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services
With the resignation of Sepp Blatter amid a snowballing corruption scandal that has ensnared more than a half dozen officials, world soccer lurched into uncharted territory Tuesday. Blatter’s announcement, which came just days after he was re-elected head of the soccer's international governing organization, stunned the sporting world. It already had been reeling from the indictments unveiled last week by U.S. prosecutors. Reaction ranged from restrained joy to smug satisfaction Tuesday as Blatter’s name and hashtags such as #BlatterOut rocketed to the top of Twitter and Facebook. A number of commentators also questioned whether the federation's eyebrow-raising decision to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments to Russia and Qatar might be open for discussion. Swiss authorities last week announced they were conducting a separate criminal investigation into how those sites were chosen. "Change at the very top of FIFA is the necessary first step in delivering real reform of the organization," said Greg Dyke, head of Britain’s Football Association, which oversees the world’s wealthiest soccer league, the Premier League. In comments later to The Guardian, Dyke went even further. "He’s gone. At long last we can sort out FIFA. We can go back to looking at those two World Cups," he was quoted as saying. "If I were Qatar, right now I wouldn’t be feeling very comfortable." At a hastily convened news conference at the federation's Zurich headquarters, Blatter, who will continue serving as president until a new one is elected, said in brief remarks that the organization needed profound restructuring. "I appreciate and love FIFA more than anything else," he said. "And I only want to do the best for FIFA." He refused to answer further questions. Last Wednesday, Swiss authorities arrested several top soccer officials at a hotel in Zurich at the request of the United States, which indicted 14 people including several top FIFA executives. Indictments announced that same day in New York listed 47 counts, including bribery, fraud and money laundering, accusing soccer officials of using FIFA business decisions to trade for personal wealth. Blatter was not named in the indictments, though ABC News on Tuesday cited unnamed law enforcement sources as saying that indeed he was being investigated by the FBI. Blatter’s announcement came on the same day that The New York Times published a story tying federation secretary general Jerome Valcke to 2008 payments that appear connected to South Africa’s bid to host the World Cup. U.S. investigators have said they believe the payments amounted to $10 million in bribes. The federation said the payments were approved in 2007 by Julio Grondona, chairman of the organization's finance committee at the time. Grondona died last year. Clive Toye, who was the last commissioner of the North American Soccer League, said the fact that so many federation member countries voted to re-elect Blatter last Friday was an indication of the deeper institutional problems with corruption. The North American Soccer League was the first professional soccer league to have wide success on the continent before it stopped operating in 1985. "I just think that indeed this may be the just beginning of the whole thing, because as I’ve said … why did those countries vote for . . . ?" Toye asked. "Loyalty comes from a number of activities: love of country, love of game, love of person or love of dollars coming in so I can spend more money than my country makes in a year," he said. "If I was going to bet, I would bet there are more" indictments to come, he said. Jacob Frenkel, a former U.S. federal corruption prosecutor, said Blatter probably felt vindicated by being re-elected, even after news of the indictments emerged. "Everyone knew, including Mr. Blatter, that this investigation was moving forward, was moving forward aggressively and had him personally in its sights. That does not mean by any means that he is about to be or will be indicted. We simply don’t know," Frenkel said. "But his personal vindication came from his re-election with the revelations about the $10 million payment . . . ." Chris Eaton, an analyst with the Sport Integrity at the International Institute for Sport Security, a Qatar-based research organization, called the federation one of the most opaque organizations on the planet and said it needs to rethink how it runs itself. "Really, a private monopoly, a private club that needs to grow up," he said. "It needs to grow up into the real world of business affairs and translational/multinational business," Eaton said. "It needs to understand the need for accountability, transparency, best practices, know your customer, fit and proper practices." For many soccer fans around the world, there’s been head-scratching over why a country like the United States, where the sport’s popularity is substantial but nowhere near that of American football or basketball, has taken the lead in investigating long-standing corruption allegations at the federation.
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| What we published this week: | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Earlier |
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A.M. Costa Rica Third News Page |
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| San José, Costa Rica, Wednesday, June 3, Vol. 15, No. 108 | |
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| Bill seeks to legalize medical and industrial use of cannabis and hemp | |
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By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The legislature is considering a law that would permit the medical and industrial use of cannabis and hemp. A turf battle seems to be emerging. The Ministerio de Salud said Tuesday that it should house a new institute to investigate the use of and control of cannabis. There are at least four other agencies that are involved with drugs in the country. The bill is No. 19.256, and a summary points out the many |
legal
pitfalls that await an effort to legalize medical marijuana. Costa Rica, of course, has vast planting of marijuana, and some of it just springs up naturally. The legislation would seek to control the content of active ingredients of marijuana and the type of herbicides used on marijuana plantations. It also prohibits the smoking of marijuana in places where cigarettes are forbidden now. The measure, which was introduced late last year, still is early in the legislative process. |
| Beer and prices sometimes can be very controversial topics |
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By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Like politics, beer is a topic that is sure to raise some hackles. A news story about a beer tasting this weekend drew some negative comments from readers. Among them was Reinhard Sievert of Santa Ana who was irked by the 12,000-colon admission: "Instead of promoting the breweries/beer in Costa Rica and attract visitors to the exhibition, lots of potential customers will not go due to the high prices. Colones 12,000 entry fee, parking fee for the car, and colones 1,000 per beer. I personally do not support the local breweries anymore due to their high prices," he said. Sievert also was unhappy at the prices for beer at the local bars and suggested drinkers should shop the specials at the supermarkets where a can of DAB German beer this week sells for 450 colons, less than $1. "I would expect to pay more for a good quality beer if the prices are in line," he said. "But to pay, for example, nearly colones 3,000 for a small bottle of Segua in the grocery store, no way." Segua is the beer made near Cartago by expats and named after a Costa Rican fantasy figure. Some bar owners would share Sievert sentiments about prices. But they say they are not making a profit. The Costa Rican laws require payments for the business license, employee health insurance and workmen's compensation. Each sale generates taxes that have to be remitted to the government. Then there are the informal payment to whatever local official or police officer who comes around. |
 Then several times a year, the municipality or the Ministerio de Salud launches a campaign that can end up with inspectors closing the establishment. Consider also employee theft, drunken customers and those who walk out without paying. In the end, all this generates a cost that is shared by honest customers. Of course, customers go to bars for reasons other than just drinking beer. They associate with other drinkers. They watch sports. They tell lies and stories. And the more progressive ones buy a round for struggling newspaper reporters and editors. |
| You need to see Costa Rican tourism information HERE! |
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| What we published this week: | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Earlier |
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be
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| San José, Costa Rica, Wednesday, June 3, Vol. 15, No. 108 | |||||
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| Opinion study shows that individuals are set in their
personal beliefs |
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By the University of Florida news
staff
First impressions are important. So much so that even armed with new information, many people won’t change their minds about genetically modified foods and global warming, a new University of Florida study shows. In fact, some grow even more stubborn in their beliefs that genetically modified organisms are unsafe, said Brandon McFadden, an assistant professor in food and resource economics in the university's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. After they read scientific information stating that genetically modified foods are safe, 12 percent of the study’s participants said they felt such foods were less safe, not more, much to McFadden’s astonishment. That’s partly because people form beliefs and often never let go of them, he said. “This is critical and hopefully demonstrates that as a society we should be more flexible in our beliefs before collecting information from multiple sources,” McFadden said. “Also, this indicates that scientific findings about a societal risk likely have diminishing value over time.” For the study, published in the current issue of the journal Food Policy, McFadden led a research project that surveyed 961 people across the U.S. via the Internet in April 2013. To assess their beliefs about genetically modified foods, participants were asked to respond to statements such as: “Genetically modified crops are safe to eat.” To gauge their beliefs about humans and global warming, they responded to statements such as: “The Earth is getting warmer because of human actions.” Then they were given scientific information about genetically modified foods and global warming. For example, researchers showed them this quote from the |
National
Research Council regarding genetically modified food: “To
date, no adverse health effects attributed to genetic engineering have
been documented in the human population.” . Respondents read several quotes about global warming, including this one from the American Association for the Advancement of Science: “The scientific evidence is clear: Global climate change caused by human activities is occurring now, and it is a growing threat to society.” After reading statements from scientific groups, participants were asked about their beliefs regarding the safety of genetically modified foods. The choices ranged from much less safe to much more safe. The results showed that before they received the information, 32 percent believed genetically modified foods were safe to eat; 32 percent were not sure and 36 percent did not believe genetically modified foods were safe to eat. After they received scientific information, about 45 percent believed genetically modified foods were safer to eat and 43 percent were not swayed by the information. Then they were asked to assess the extent to which they believe human involvement caused global warming. They were given choices ranging from much less involved to much more involved. The study showed that before they received the information, 64 percent believed human actions are causing global warming; 18 percent were not sure and 18 percent did not believe human actions are to blame. After receiving scientific information about global warming, about 50 percent of participants believed even more strongly that human actions lead to global warming, while 44 percent were not swayed by the information, the study showed. “Possibly, the best indicator for whether a person will adopt scientific information is simply what a person believes before receiving the information,” McFadden said |
Here's reasonable medical care
Costa Rica's world class medical specialists are at your command. Get the top care for much less than U.S. prices. It is really a great way to spend a vacation. See our list of recommended professionals HERE!amcr-prom
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| Obama signs revised bill for phone call collecting By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services
President Barack Obama on Tuesday signed a bill to reform and restart the bulk collection of Americans’ telephone records, a program that expired earlier this week. The president said the USA Freedom Act "protects civil liberties and our national security." The legislation mandates that private telecommunications companies, rather than the National Security Agency, will collect and retain phone records nationwide. Federal authorities will need a court order to review those records and look for points of contact with known or suspected terrorists abroad. Earlier Tuesday, the Senate voted 67-32 to approve the measure and send it to Obama, after days of intense and heartfelt debate about protecting national security and safeguarding civil liberties The bill enjoyed strong Democratic support but divided majority Republicans, some of whom wanted to resurrect the once-secret government program exposed by fugitive former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky warned of a less secure America, calling the vote “a resounding victory for those who currently plot against our homeland.” “It surely undermines Americans’ security by taking one more tool from our war-fighters, in my view, at exactly the wrong time,” McConnell added. Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, also opposed the bill. “I am truly perplexed that anyone would argue that telephone data are better protected in the hands of 1,400 telecom companies and 160 wireless carriers than in a secure NSA database that only 34 carefully vetted and trained federal employees are allowed to query under the supervision of a federal judge,” she said. "The system is going to be less effective, because there is absolutely no guarantee that this data will be retained by the telecom companies and the wireless carriers." But Sen, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, a Democrat who helped write the bill, called the measure "a step forward, because ultimately we protect the privacy of individuals.” “This bill recognizes that our privacy is not — and ought not ever be — deemed to be in conflict with our security. Our privacy is, in fact, part of our security,” said Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, a co-author of the legislation and a Republican. The nation’s telecommunications industry has been publicly silent on the bill. America’s third-largest phone company, Sprint, declined to comment on the legislation. Former U.S. intelligence officials say data collection constitutes an important arrow in America’s national security quiver — one that will be affected by the USA Freedom Act. “The fact that it would take place in a telephone company, rather than at NSA, means that the government effectively has no control,” former CIA Director James Woolsey said in an interview. “That, in turn, means that if the telephone company decides it is too much trouble and only decides to keep track of the metadata for one month, two months, but after that they’re going to throw it away, then the government loses the ability to use that metadata as a way of finding patterns and being able to get a warrant and then be able to look into the inside of the communication.” To get to a final vote, the Senate had to overcome a procedural blocking maneuver by Republican Rand Paul of Kentucky, who objected to bulk collection of phone records by any entity, corporate or governmental, as an unconstitutional violation of Americans’ privacy. The Senate also voted down several amendments put forward by the chamber’s Republican leadership to give the new system additional startup time and provide assurances that, once in place, it works as intended. Any changes could have torpedoed the bill. The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the USA Freedom Act last month, and key members warned that an amended bill would not have passed the chamber. The Senate initially tried and failed to address the government’s expiring snooping capabilities the week before last. Some bemoaned that the chamber had waited so long to act. “We have known about this particular deadline for four years," Lee said. "For four years, we knew that these provisions were going to expire. We should have taken these provisions up far before now. The American people deserve better than this.” While much legislation taken up by Congress invites lockstep partisanship, senators made clear on this matter that they were voting based on their individual judgment and conscience. For some, like Republican James Inhofe of Oklahoma, national security was the pre-eminent concern. “Let’s think about this, take a deep breath, go ahead and pass something so at least we have some capability to stop these attacks and gather information,” Inhofe said. For others, civil liberty concerns were paramount. “We need to strike a balance that protects very precious constitutional rights and liberties,” said Democrat Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. “After all, what does our surveillance and intelligence system protect if not these fundamental values and rights of privacy, and liberties that have lasted and served us well?” Export-Import Bank called corporate welfare in hearing By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services
A controversial government agency intended to boost U.S. exports and jobs could go out of business at the end of June unless Congress takes action. The Export-Import Bank is supposed to help foreign companies buy U.S. exports by providing financing, insurance or technical assistance. The political dispute pits some Republicans in Congress against many of their usual allies in the business community. Reauthorizing the bank is the subject of hearings this week before committees in both houses of Congress. Conservative Republican critics like Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas say the Export-Import Bank is corporate welfare that uses taxpayer money to help huge corporations that don't need assistance. But Export-Import President Fred Hochberg says most of its customers are small companies that pay for the services they use. One example is Bassetts Ice Cream, which has been selling its sweet product since 1861, making it the oldest ice cream company in America. The company employs up to 30 people, taking orders and scooping many flavors in a popular market in Philadelphia. Bassetts President Michael Strange is the fifth generation of the Bassett family to run the company and he is exporting one-fifth of its product to China with help from the Export-Import Bank. He says Export-Import sells him a kind of insurance that protects Bassetts in case a foreign customer can’t pay. Bassetts sends about 3,200 9.5 liter tubs of ice cream to China each month. If Bassetts did not get paid for a large order, it could seriously damage the firm. Strange says losing Export-Import would hurt his business and might force him to consider layoffs. “I’m terrified that they are not going to renew the Ex-Im Bank’s charter. For us, it gives us the ability to extend normal trade credit terms to our customers internationally and still not put our business at risk,” he said. The complex process of mixing and chilling ice cream ingredients is done at a dairy plant in rural Pennsylvania where workers craft strawberry, vanilla, chocolate chip and many other popular flavors. While the export tubs are carefully labeled with Chinese characters, some of the ice cream is exactly the same as the product sold in the U.S. market. Strange says Bassetts also has developed flavors, like green tea, that are specifically blended for Asian palates. Aircraft manufacturer Boeing is a very different kind of company that is many times the size of Bassetts, but it also gets help from the Export-Import Bank, which makes it easier to sell U.S.-made planes to foreign airlines. That angers officials of U.S.-based Delta Airlines, who says Export-Import destroys U.S. jobs by helping its foreign competitors save $20 million on each Boeing plane they buy. Delta officials say lower financing costs mean lower ticket prices for foreign airlines. Lower fares translate into fewer passengers for U.S.-based Delta, and fewer passengers mean fewer jobs for Delta's staff, the airline said. Delta CEO Richard Anderson brought uniformed pilots and flight attendants to a congressional hearing to illustrate American jobs that he says are at risk. Anderson told members of Congress the bank needs major changes despite previous reform efforts. Hensarling, the House Financial Services Committee chairman, is one of Export-Import 's strongest critics. He says the market, not the government, should be picking companies that are economic winners and losers. Hensarling says slashing taxes and regulations, and boosting U.S. energy production, would do more to increase exports and create jobs than any bureaucratic agency. Export-Import supporters say scores of other nations have agencies dedicated to boosting exports, and ending such aid for American firms would be a form of unilateral disarmament that could hurt the U.S. economy.  Voice of America photo
A World War II RosieModern blue
collar women
compared to WWII Rosies By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services
They served on the home front during World War II, building tanks, ships and airplanes or assembling munitions. Their work was celebrated in photographs and posters, and songs like this one from the group The Four Vagabonds in 1943: All the day long, whether rain or shine, she is a part of the assembly line. She is making history, working for victory, Rosie the Riveter ... That was the name by which female factory workers collectively were known, based on a popular magazine illustration by artist Norman Rockwell. Now, a new photo exhibition here celebrates the contributions of Rosies past and present. Some of today's modern Rosies, who are building trains and light-rail cars at places around the country, came to Los Angeles Union Station, the city’s main transit terminal, to see “Women Can Work!” The exhibit, subtitled "Re-envisioning Rosie," shows World War II workers and 15 of their contemporary counterparts on the job. Connie McCoy, one of the photo subjects, installs train car gears and motors at a Siemens Industry plant in Norwood, Ohio. Heavy manufacturing pays well, she said. "That is always nice, too, but I enjoy working with my hands." So does mechanic Ami Rasmussen, who installs interiors in light-rail cars at the California plant of the Japanese company Kinkisharyo. Most of her co-workers are men, and she was promoted to become their supervisor. "I have never had a major issue or anything like that," she said. "There was just a little hesitation at first, and when they saw that I can produce, they were like, all right, cool. This chick is for real." Pulitzer Prize-winner Deanne Fitzmaurice, who photographed the modern-day Rosies, empathized with her subjects. "As a photojournalist, I work in a very male-dominated field, and so I feel like I was able to relate to them," she said. "The symbol of Rosie is about resilience and being hardworking and empowering." A University of Southern California study shows that modern Rosies make up just 13 percent of the workforce in rail transit manufacturing and 30 percent in U.S. manufacturing overall. But Madeline Janis, director of the Jobs to Move America coalition, said they are making a mark: "The welders, the electricians, the assemblers – these women … have braved all odds and conquered all odds to actually get hired into these positions." Women are still underrepresented in top jobs, said Hilda Solis, former U.S. secretary of labor and current Los Angeles County supervisor. "They should also be running for high-level political offices and serving in Fortune 500 corporations and helping us to build that capacity," Ms. Solis said. Michelle Boehm, a regional director of the California High Speed Rail Authority, cited job growth in the transit manufacturing industry. "An amazing, multibillion-dollar construction program is under way in California," she said, "and this is really the rising tide that will lift all boats, and hopefully many, many women’s boats." The exhibit, meant to inspire more women to work in heavy manufacturing, runs through June 19.  University of Pittsburgh
photo
Biodegradable parts
are made from iron andmagnesium based alloys and customized with a 3-D printer. 3D
biodegradable parts
tested to heal bad fractures By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services
Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh's Swanson School of Engineering are developing biodegradable materials that will help fix broken bones. While some breaks can be repaired with a simple plaster cast, complicated fractures may require metal screws, pins, rods or plates to hold the bone in place. According to a University of Pittsburgh bioengineering professor, Prashant Kumta, “With today’s technology, if someone comes in with a really bad fracture — whether it’s a battlefield wound like in Iraq or Afghanistan or a traffic accident — the surgeon has no choice but to get synthetic, inert materials like titanium or stainless steel or nondegradable polymer material.” This means the patient is stuck with the hardware for life. It can be removed, but that operation might cause other medical problems. Kumta and his team of graduate students are sidestepping that issue by designing 3-D-printed materials that are a match for the patient's body, and are absorbed or excreted as new tissue grows and the wound heals. In the laboratory, Kumta’s team has developed both magnesium and iron alloys to use as the materials' base. He calls magnesium — a mineral needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body — "a perfect fit" for the technique. “It has the mechanical characteristics that meet natural bone, both from the strength, the toughness as well as the density. It has the perfect density that will match with natural bone,” he said. Instead of ink, the team's 3-D printer has a special binder in its cartridge. The computer sends directions to mix the glue droplets with the mineral powder. A customized part is built one layer at a time. “You can actually create an architecture that mimics the original bone that the patient has lost,” Kumta said. Kumta’s team is also working with a novel formulation of calcium phosphate putty that can be injected to fill spaces between fractured bones. A 3-D-printed biodegradable plate or screw would hold that filler in place. “The fixation plate will provide the mechanical strength needed to carry the load, and the bone-wide filler would help provide the healing and the bone formation,” he said. Pre-clinical trials are now underway in animals. Kumta said the work is revolutionary, offering the prospect of a better outcome for the patient. “Rather than implanting a screw or plate or joint,” he said, “doctors could give the body’s own regenerative ability a more effective method to heal itself.” |
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| A.M. Costa Rica's sixth news page |
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| San José, Costa Rica, Wednesday, June 3, Vol. 15, No. 108 | |||||||||
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Wearable devices
dominate tech show
By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services
Smart watches, bands and glasses still struggle to compete with smartphones as must-have mobile gadgets. But Asia's largest IT show this week shows an evolutionary maturing of wearable device technology following the release of Apple’s watch and the suspension of the Google Glass. Nearly 50 exhibitors at the annual Computex Taipei this week are showing wearable devices, and their technology reveals advances after two years of industry-wide effort. One of the bands being shown counters the Apple Watch by offering a blank display for each user to design according to personal needs. A Taiwanese firm, ChipSIP Technology, modeled a $500 pair of smart glasses at the event, and a local textile association displayed cycling vests that automatically light up in the dark. Their peers touted devices to track hunting dogs and missing children. John Wang, the founder of Noodoe, the Taiwanese company behind the blank smart watch set for release later this year, spoke at a pre-show event. He urged consumers to break new ground. “We ask the question, does every wearable, every smart watch, need to have so many features? What if we have a blank watch that has no features, not just a few features, but zero features? Then you get to infuse your ideas into it and it becomes something that only you have,” said Wang. The launch of Apple’s first smart watches in April and suspension of the Google Glass, a forerunner to the global wearable device trend, motivated much of the technology shown at Computex Taipei this week. A show organizer said developers in Taiwan, a world high-tech hardware hub, are making new efforts at smart glasses to take Google’s place. Some are wary of making everyday watches as Apple is expected to take at least half the world market share. Market research firm IDC said just 45.7 million wearables will ship this year across brands, but by 2019 the market is expected to grow to 126 million units. Wearable devices released to date have earned only niche followings because they lack applications, power-saving batteries and fashionable looks. Most are only for athletes or the medical profession and require phones or tablets as base stations. Many devices cost more than low-end smartphones with the same functions and more. One analyst said the best wearable tools are skipping the Taipei show in favor of future events with a stronger mobile focus. Developers indicated this week they had solutions. ChipSIP said its glasses require no smartphone, tablet or even hand motions. Smart wearable devices shown this year also come with stronger smartphone connectivity, ideal for joining automated networks of smart devices called the Internet of things. That term refers to objects such as doors and light bulbs that communicate with one another through chips and sensors. About 700 Computex vendors showed Internet of things set-ups such as automated homes and offices. Ian Drew, chief marketing officer of British microchip designer ARM, said in an interview at the show that wearables as well as the Internet of things will need low-powered, standardized processors. “Most of this wearable market will be radio driven with a battery, so you need an architecture that can go down to very low power. You need an architecture that has some standardization to it because you are going to want to write different applications using different environments. You may put the same piece of hardware into a refrigerator, into a toy, into a medical device into a wearable,” said Drew. One of ARM’s processor designs works inside a wearable armband that detects muscle movement to figure out what users want to do. The device, called Myo, is aimed at bringing lifelike interaction to computer games. |
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| From Page 7: Labor problems cited by investigators By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
An anonymous group of judicial agents has begun a campaign protesting the leadership decisions of the agency's director, Francisco Segura. The complains center on promotions, hiring and the use of the agency's budget. The complaints would just be another labor controversy except this is the Judicial Investigating Organization that along with prosecutors is in charge of most criminal cases. The complaints demonstrate a wide knowledge of the operations of the agency and cite various news stories to support the claims. The group, which delivered its complaints by email, said it seeks an outside investigation. |
