SMS for farmers

Zambian government has launched a project that will allow farmers to purchase seeds and fertilizers via cell phones. 

Farmers who register with the system will receive pre-paid cell phone vouchers, each worth US$ 53, to use at agro-dealers. These vouchers are transferred via cell phones to farmers. The pilot project launched in collaboration with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization is on in 28 of the country's 72 districts. 

Source: Down To Earth, December 16-31st.

-----

Wonder if the same technology is (can be) implemented in India? 

The power of Sniff

A new device lets the disabled move and communicate with their noses.

When I read this, I was like, Wow! What all Technology can do!

Researchers have invented a device that allows the paralyzed to write, surf the web and steer an electric wheel chair - all by sniffing. 

The sniff controller, which was developed by Anton Plotkin and his colleagues are at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, uses a small plastic tube that fits into nose. It measures pressure, translating variations in intensity and frequency of sniffing in and out into commands for a compute or wheel chair.

It has been tested for 15 challenged patients and 14 were successful in using the technology.

Hope they will be more successful in having this on a larger scale. And many such technologies are welcome in the current scenario of treating the less fortunate people. It is a moving experience to see what they can do using these mind blowing inventions. 

Source: Scientific American, Oct 2010 Issue. 

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-power-of-sniff