GeekSugar

Surgeons Are Being Prescribed Serious Face Time With the Wii

GeekSugar — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:30:54 -0800

Let's just hope that if you ever need surgery, your MD is an avid gamer! USA Today is reporting on a study performed by the Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix, which found that surgical residents who got their game on for an hour before diving into virtual surgery scored 48 percent higher on tool control and performance. This isn't the first time we've heard of hospitals incorporating the Wii into their practices: Rehab and physical therapy physicians have already been successfully using the Wii to remedy movement and balance issues.

However, not all games offer the same benefits. Titles like Marble Mania, where the player uses calculated and small movements with the Wii Remote, are better than, say, Super Mario Galaxy or Wii Sports. Unfortunately, saving the galaxy and perfecting your golf swing do not directly affect your ability to perform open heart surgery. Who knew? If you want to get in on some surgical action of your own, check out Trauma Center. It may just tide you over until you finish med school.

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Nurse Puts Surgery Pics on Facebook, Risks Her Job

GeekSugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:03:25 -0700

If it wasn't bad enough that a Scottish nurse violated privacy codes of the hospital she worked at to take photos during a surgery and display them on her Facebook page then consider that the photos in question were from a brain surgery procedure.

She was also kind enough to show her Facebook audience pictures of her "holding indeterminate parts of the patient's body." All together now: EEWWW!

Remember kids, if you post pictures of yourself on Facebook doing something you shouldn't be doing, just go with Murphy's law and assume the worst person to find it, will.

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Do You Listen to Your iPod in Uncomfortable Situations?

GeekSugar — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:45:00 -0800

A teenager who had surgery to remove a brain tumor made news when he also listened to his iPod during the procedure (well, while he was conscious). It reminded me of how I always listen to my iPod when I'm at the dentist; not having to hear the drill as loud saves me from having minor freak-outs.

It's not just the sound of my preferred music that I like, either; having something I'm so familiar with is comforting, and a great distraction if I'm enduring something painful or uncomfortable.

Most people use their gadgets to pass the time, but this use of an iPod is something I find truly valuable. What about you? Do you listen to your iPod at the doctor or dentist, or somewhere else uncomfortable?

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Would You Want a Robot to Operate on You?

GeekSugar — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 06:00:35 -0800

CNET News reports that robotic surgery is gaining in use and popularity, which frightens and excites me. Intuitive Surgical makes the Da Vinci machines that provide robot-assisted surgical technology and number over 650 in hospitals around the country. Human surgeons direct the machines, which have been cleared for chest, cardiac, urological, and gynecological procedures.

It had to happen sooner or later, but the thought of having a robot work on me like in this picture gives me goosebumps. Then again, a real-live surgeon performing surgery on me gives me goosebumps too. Malpractice and mistakes made by hospitals are so common these days that maybe trusting a robot is the way to go. What do you think?

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Oh No, Puppy! Dog Swallows Cell Phone Whole

GeekSugar — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:04:20 -0700

I'm trying to use this story to make myself feel better about not having a dog, but I can't get past being freaked out for this poor doggie: You see, a Doberman-Great Dane in South Africa, Nero, was far far hungrier than his owner calculated.

While she was feeding Nero his meal, he ate her Nokia cell phone right out of her hand and swallowed the whole thing!

After a trip to the vet and a next-day surgery (where a bunch of rocks were also found in Nero's tummy), puppy was fine.

The phone, on the other hand. . . it did not survive.

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Beauty and the Geek: Even Makeup Has Taken Blu-ray's Side

GeekSugar — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:12:30 -0800

First Netflix chooses Blu-ray, now makeup manufacturers are! Recently Bella alerted us to Cargo makeup's subtle entrance into the tech world with their new line of products, including a mattifier, powder, mascara, gloss, and highlighter, that have been specifically formulated for use by makeup artists on the set of high-definition shoots. The line is called "blu_ray" - it's interesting that they used an underscore instead of the official hyphen of the real Blu-ray, plus, this naming is just the latest visitor to HD-DVD's funeral.

The high definition of HDTV and Blu-ray is otherwise exciting: It looks amazing! But, uh, my sensitivity as a woman skews my view a little, ever since I heard that actresses have been freaking out since the advent of this technology - you can see everything on an actor's face - wrinkles, makeup, acne - and many people have responded by seeking our more Botox and other plastic surgery to make up for it. Yikes! Here's hoping the makeup works, ladies.

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How To Replace Your iPod's Battery

GeekSugar — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 10:00:58 -0700

PartySugar's slightly robust first generation iPod has been sitting at geeksugar central for longer than we want to admit. (We joke with the "robust" comment - Party gets major vintage geek points for owning and still using the first gen iPod!) Despite our fear of blood, we finally decided to perform the surgery. You'll be pleased to know it went well.

We followed a combination of the Wired's How To Replace Your iPod Battery, the directions on the FastMac Premium iPod Battery kit and inherent geek skills. The kit, which costs $18-$25 depending on your iPod generation, includes two plastic screwdrivers, the battery and instructions. It will save you the $66 you'd have to send Apple if your iPod is out of warranty. The entire process shouldn't take more than 10 minutes.

For additional images and step by step instructions for changing your battery, read more

Begin by laying your iPod on its back on a soft work surface.
Using a nylon screwdriver tool, gently insert the pointed end between the battery and the end of the metal back casing and the acrylic front of the iPod, at the top of the unit.
Using a gentle prying motion, work the nylon tool down the length of the iPod toward the bottom. The concealed clips will release as you slide the tool down the iPod's back shell.
Work the nylon tool in from the nylon tool in from the bottom of the unit once you have the left side released. There are two clips on the bottom to unlock. Be careful to not put pressure on the back of the case and accidentally close the top left side where you began the process.
Once the bottom shell is free, it will easily come off of the iPod. Set it aside.
Gently work the battery from the iPod, there are two black adhesive strips on the top and bottom of the battery to release. If they stick to the battery, simply peel them off and reapply them to the top of the hard drive. It may take some force - use gentle force.
Disconnect the battery from under the top adhesive strip, from its mounting point on the logic board.
Insert the replacement high-capacity battery onto the logic board socket. it will only plug in one direction. Then, place the battery back onto the adhesive strips, centering its position on the iPod as shown. Tuck the wires in neatly to the top of the batter, making sure they do not protrude from the inside of the case.
Slide the iPod back cover onto the front shell and gently press toward the front to snap it back on.
Your iPod is now ready to be charged and used!

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iPhone Deconstructed: First Operation

GeekSugar — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 08:00:38 -0700

It was only a matter of time before someone decided it would be a good idea to take their shiny new iPhone and open it in an effort to explore its innards. Apparently despite the fact that most people still haven't gotten theirs (Apple Stores release more every morning at 9 am but the San Francisco stores were sold out by 10 am yesterday morning), the people over at Anand Tech have already given theirs a little Dr. 90210 work over.

"We have only had the phone for a few hours but we needed to get inside its casing, " says Anand Tech. "Please note that we're doing this so you are not tempted to on your recent $500/$600 expenditure, while it is quite possible to take apart using easy to find tools we'd recommend against it as it will undoubtedly void your warranty and will most likely mar up the beautiful gadget's exterior. " For a complete look at the surgery, check out Anand Tech.