papers

Origami paper sensor could detect malaria, HIV for 10 cents

Affordable paper sensors aren't exactly new. Think home pregnancy tests. But researchers out of the University of Texas at Austin are pushing (or is it folding?) the envelope with their origami-inspired 3D paper sensor that, thanks to strategic folding, can identify more substances in more complex tests.

Able to be printed at less than a dime a sensor using an ordinary office printer and less than a minute of folding, the origami Paper Analytical Device (which they've dubbed oPAD) "is about medicine for everybody," said Richard Crooks, a chemistry professor who built the sensor with doctoral student Hong Liu, in a school news release.

Liu was first inspired to use origami when he read a paper by Harvard chemist George Whitesides, who is the first to build a 3D microfluidic paper sensor to target biological agents.… Read more

Next-level platformers on iOS

If you haven't guessed already, I'm a big fan of platform games. Maybe it's my background of playing games from both the Mario and Sonic franchises or the sheer number of solid platformers in the iTunes App Store, but I simply can't get enough of them. There's just something charming to me about exploring a level, making all the right jumps, and trying to collect all the items to go on to next level.

There have been several popular platform games to come through the iTunes App Store, but as time goes on, I've noticed the genre evolving in interesting ways. Particularly with a few of the newer games, I'm seeing unique types of challenges being added that take the genre to places it hasn't been before.

This week's collected iOS apps are all platformers with something extra. The first uses an interesting foreground/background playing dynamic that adds to the action. The second is a continuous climber with added bonuses that keep trying to get higher and higher. The third offers tons of side challenges and secret areas for those who like to explore.… Read more

Paper platformer

Paper Monsters is a polished traditional platformer with some added extras and winningly cute art and sound design.

Paper Monsters will instantly evoke other classic platformers, but in a good way: the play and interface are intuitive (a roaming virtual joystick on the left, a jump button on the right, which you tap twice to double-jump), and levels with collectible coins ("buttons"), warp pipes, enemies to jump upon, checkpoints, and lots of hidden pick-ups and paths to encourage repeat play. As the game progresses through its four chapters, with four levels each, the enemies and environments get more … Read more

Use less toilet paper to be green? Nope, say Americans

What will Americans do in order to preserve their own green fields and oil refineries? What will Americans give up in order to keep their trees growing and their consciences clear of moral soot?

Not toilet paper, it seems.

For a stunning research study has landed upon my laptop with a conservative thump. This deep dive into American paper use was commissioned by Nitro, a company that, as far as one can tell, "develops intuitive solutions that enable people to work smarter with digital documents."

It seems that a mere 6 percent of Americans are prepared to reduce … Read more

Great results if you work at it

Paper Camera offers up a unique photography experience using a cute interface to produce simulated hand-drawn results, but you'll need to select your shots carefully. The interface looks like a camera made from paper (appropriately), with hand-drawn arrow buttons for switching effects; controls for contrast, brightness, and line weight on the right side; and a save button in the lower right. You have the choice of taking shots directly with your iPhone camera (showing the effect in real time) or selecting an image from your photo library.

Paper Camera is a neat concept, but in addition to requiring you … Read more

Newsflash: AP needs a better app

AP News is a free, mediocre news-reading app for the iPad with a scrapbook-style interface and a surprisingly inefficient use of the iPad's screen space.

Articles appear as headlines with small photo thumbnails on scraps of paper, scattered spaciously across a linen background. You swipe to flip through stories in a given category (such as politics, sports, or health), or you can swipe across a column in the middle of the screen to switch between categories.

The screen is topped by local weather (in oversize Comic Sans, inexplicably), a large AP logo, and two large panels for viewing photos … Read more

Automatic paper towel dispenser for all

Paper towels, being the handy little kitchen helpers that they are, can be found at a moment's notice in kitchens everywhere. Whether mounted in a rack or left right out in the open on top of the counter, paper towels are almost always available for quick access. Not all however, would agree.

Apparently--and this is just a rumor--some people prefer to store their paper towels out of sight; perhaps mounted underneath the sink or tucked away in a cupboard. The questionable unsightliness of paper towels aside, there is a certain organizational appeal to having them put away. Yet, when … Read more

DIY photographic wrapping paper gets personal

Forget expensive wrapping paper anyone can buy in stores. Photojojo has provided a tutorial that will teach you how to create your own photographic paper. Give your loved ones something original while giving your images a new lease on life.

First, you'll need a printer that can make A3 prints or larger, a pair of scissors, adhesive tape, and ribbons or bows. While photographic paper is better quality, regular copy paper is preferred as it's thinner and easier to work with when wrapping your gift. … Read more

Apple's founding contract sells for $1.35 million

The papers that legally launched the tech giant were sold today at auction for $1.35 million, significantly higher than presale estimates.

The three-page document marking the founding of Apple was expected to fetch between $100,000 and $150,000 at Sotheby's Fine Books and Manuscripts auction. Bidding began at $70,000 and ended a few minutes later with a telephone bid of $1.35 million (see video below). Buyer's premium brought the total cost to $1,594,500.

The winning bidder was Eduardo Cisneros, chief executive officer of Cisneros, according to Sotheby's (PDF).

The Apple document, … Read more

World Toilet Day: Let's have a sanitation celebration!

We've already celebrated Pi Day, Tau Day, and Nigel Tufnel Day this year. Now it's time to commend the commode, show some love to the latrine, and praise the privy. Saturday, November 19 is World Toilet Day. Yippee!

The year in toilet tech It's been a busy year for toilet tech news. We met a toilet seat that can handle 1,000 pounds of humanity. Japanese toilet manufacturer Toto created a motorcycle that runs on the power of people poo.

We also found proof that connectedness is just as important in the loo as it is outside of it. Tablet owners (35 percent of them) fessed up to taking their devices to the toilet.

Tempted by toilet inventions? Urine luck! A creative maker fashioned a toilet paper dispenser that prints off Twitter feeds. Kohler unveiled a $6,400 toilet that already has a tablet to control its functions. You can still bring your iPad along for more entertainment options, though.… Read more