Google Phone

Wow, imagine my shock to see the latest Google Phone unveiled, gonna be the icon in the industry as it heats up against Apple iPhone. It is an HTC device name T1. Build with touchscreen and slide out keypad. Are you ready Malaysians?!!

RFID in Hospital

The article taken from The Star, discussed the application of RFID in hospital. Some of the facts discussed:

1. RFID tag stores information
2. Doctors and nurses carrying RFID tag readers, perhaps attached to Portable PCs or personal digital assistants (PDAs), could retrieve up-to-date information from the patient’s wristband if the hospital information system is down.
3. Convenient for doctors who could refer to or update patient records from the bedside, as they make clinical observations, prescribe medication or order medical procedures.
4. Implementing RFID in a hospital information system could help cut down on errors as well as reduce the clerical workload for nurses, freeing them to get on with actual nursing.
5. RFID tags are more physically robust than barcode tags, are reusable.

However, the limitations faced are:
1. Not all Malaysian private hospital has converted from its barcode-based information system to an RFID-based one.
2. Cost is an issue, with RFID tagging systems costing over twice as much as barcode-based ones. RFID tags cost from 15 cents (54 sen) to over US$30 (RM100) each – depending on data capacity and whether the tag is “active” (carries a radio transmitter), among other things – as compare to barcode tag only costs as much as the paper it is printed on.
3. Issuing doctors and nurses with additional IT equipment ranging from Tablet PCs to PDAs.
adding to the implementation costs to the hospital,
4. Raise potential security and privacy risks for confidential patient data if the devices are lost or stolen.

Sooner or later, RFID will be a common application in hospitals, and may be in schools, Theme Parks, Car parks, you name it.

CISC Tag emulator

This Tag emulator will be able to set various tag parameters as per the intended application and the emulated tags could be fully controlled and adjusted as per parameters decided upon. The performance and timing parameters can be adjusted to match different situations. Not only common test scenarios but even reader evaluation at the edge of specifications can be achieved. If it had been the normal RFID tags evaluation would have been difficult since borderline parameters could not be adjusted in this case. What else the Emulator can even imitate complex standards such as EPCglobalTM Class 1 Gen 2 UHF RFID Protocol and even upcoming protocols. Looks pretty good to me!!

New Blackberry Bold

Great News for Blackberry users in Malaysia! Maxis and Celcom is going to launch the latest Blackberry Bold PDA by September 2008. With a 624MHz processor and using HSDPA network for fast email anytime. So hurry up and log onto www.blackberry.com for more information.

Curious about Mobile Number Portability

What is MNP?
It is the ability for users to switch to a new mobile service provider while retaining their existing mobile number. Remember, porting your number cost RM25 and plus other expenses...
I mean, how many times do you want to port over?

Below are the list of Malaysians Service Providers:-

Celcom (Malaysia) Berhad Website : www.celcom.com.myHotline: 1300 111 000
DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd Website : www.digi.com.myHotline: 016 221 1800
Maxis Communications Berhad Website : www.maxis.com.myHotline : 1800 821 123
U Mobile Sdn Bhd Website : www.u.com.myHotline : 018 388 1318

P1 WiMax Roll out!

Packet One Networks is the first to roll out WiMax in Malaysia! Minister of Energy, Water and Communications Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor officiate the opening, flanked by Puan (left) and Lai of P1.

The service offers fixed WiMAX connectivity at speeds of 400Kbps (kilobits per second), 700Kbps, 1.2Mbps (megabits per sesond) and 2.4Mbps. Prices range between RM69 and RM209 per month. But now you can get as low as RM89 plus free modem worth RM999!!! Valid till 30th Sept 08

Patient tracking by UKM

This was taken from Imagine Cup finals 2006 sponsored by Microsoft. There were few team presenting their ideas, particularly from the UKM team. The RFID used was passive, not active so actual tracking was not real-time. I felt using Ekahau system would accomplish the purpose as WiFi to track patients is cheaper as compare to using RFID readers on every room. And also you can also upload the actual floor plan to the system. Plus, you can also track doctors, nurses, medical equipments, PCs, PDAs etc. you name it.