Software I just installed: Qnext

Qnext is a cool application that connects you to people in just about every way imaginable! It's got text, audio, and video chat (it supports AIM, MSN, Yahoo!, and ICQ too), but also music streaming, picture sharing, file transfer, multiplayer games like chess and go, and even remote computer access! I've just started playing with it, so I'll try to follow up with a real review soon. So far, it's great! It's a big download (about 30 mb I think) and people have reported it using a large amount of resources, but I haven't had any trouble so far, and I'm on a Fujitsu T3010D tablet with 512mb of ram and a 1.4GHz Pentium M which occasionally freezes up under Firefox, so it's working beautifully as far as I'm concerned ;-). The only trouble I've had so far is with being unable to remotely connect to my computer from my computer, but I'm sure I'll figure that out soon enough. Let me know what you think of it if you try it out!

Computer-controlled muscle movement: The first bionic man?

Take a look at this video to see how researchers managed to let this victim of a spinal cord injury walk again! It's really remarkable!

[Via Wetware Hacker] 

Do you feel uncomfortable at the disco?

Do you feel like you have two left feet? Haven't even broken in your bell-bottoms? Well, let the wonderful Ake and Leena Blomqvist of Finland (Disco capital of the universe!*) show you the intricate ins and outs of being the star of the flashing disco dance floor! Check out his easy lesson here!

[Via The Red Ferret Journal] 

*The Flying Spaghetti Monster told me.

Brainhacking (possibly more binaural beats)

Here's a blog post that talks about influencing brainwaves using sounds by listening to a different tone in each ear. I suspect it may be related to binaural beats, but I'm not sure. I'm definitely going to be trying this out, but I'll have to be careful, as some of it may easily be a placebo effect. I'll try it and see what happens.

[Via Gizmodo, Lifehacker]

UPDATE: Yes, this is also a binaural beat generator, but it's not free. There is supposedly a 30 day trial period after which you have to purchase a $40 license, but, strangely, mine expired after 10 minutes. 

Stuck on Magnetism!

I have to thank Keith for getting me hooked on Magnetism! This is a fun game where you have to think about how to drop a ball into a bowl without letting it be affected by gravity and various types of magnets. It’s quite nicely made.

2 blogs I’m adding to my feed reader

First, the Optical Illusions blog. I can't remember how I got to this one, but I think it was through a reference from one of the blogs I read.

Second, The Neurophilosopher's blog. I came accross this one because WordPress.com has a social tagging feature that allows you to see who else has used a certain tag. Needless to say, The Neurophilosopher has a pretty strong domination of the Neuroscience tag :).

I'll try to remember to put up my full blog reading list at some point, maybe as an OPML file.

Binaural Beats and Brainwaves

Here's a cool thing about binaural beats and their effects on brainwaves. Someone I know is doing a research project on their effect on blood pressure, so this may interest her (Yes you, Emily!).

The Make article also includes a reference to a more general site: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Binaural Beats. 

Cheaper laptop-buying tip

Like designer furniture, clothing, and such, laptops from big-name brands are often more expensive than those sold under lesser-known names. In some cases, the lesser-known manufacturer may even be the manufacturer of the big-name branded lappies! Take a look at this Cnet article.

[Via Lifehacker] 

Free online guitar lessons!

Now I may actually be able to use my guitar for something other than attracting dust, thanks to Guitar Noise!

[Via Lifehacker, where they also refer to another post about free video podcast guitar lessons as well.] 

A game more difficult than it seems…

Finally, a challenge worthy of my time! I suggest that only the most hardcore of gamers try out Don’t Shoot the Puppy, a game that puts your reflexes, logic, and not-shooting-the-puppy skills to the test.

[Via boingboing]