Train Your Brain

1. Join clubs or organizations that need volunteers. If you start volunteering now, you won't feel lost.
2. Develop a hobby or two. Hobbies help you develop a robust brain because you're trying something new and complex.
3. Practice writing with your nondominant hand several minutes every day. This will exercise the opposite side of your brain and fire up those neurons.
4. Take dance lessons. In a study of nearly 500 people, dancing was the only regular physical activity associated with a significant decrease in the incidence of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. The people who danced three or four times a week showed 76 percent less incidence of dementia than those who danced only once a week or not at all.
5. Need a hobby? Start gardening. Researchers in New Zealand found that, of 1,000 people, those who gardened regularly were less likely to suffer from dementia. Not only does gardening reduce stress, but gardeners use their brains to plan gardens; they use visual and spatial reasoning to lay out a garden.
6. Buy a pedometer and walk 10,000 steps a day. Walking daily can reduce the risk of dementia because cardiovascular health is important to maintain blood flow to the brain.
7. Read and write daily. Reading stimulates a wide variety of brain areas that process and store information. Likewise, writing (not copying) stimulates many areas of the brain as well.
8. Start knitting. Using both hands works both sides of your brain. And it's a stress reducer.
9. Learn a new language. Whether it's a foreign language or sign language, you are working your brain by making it go back and forth between one language and the other. A researcher in England found that being bilingual seemed to delay symptoms of Alzheimer's disease for four years. (And some research suggests that the earlier a child learns sign language, the higher his IQ - and people with high IQs are less likely to have dementia. So start them early.)
10. Play board games such as Scrabble and Monopoly. Not only are you taxing your brain, you're socializing too. (Playing solo games, such as solitaire or online computer brain games can be helpful, but Nussbaum prefers games that encourage you to socialize too.)
11. Take classes throughout your lifetime. Learning produces structural and chemical changes in the brain, and education appears to help people live longer. Brain researchers have found that people with advanced degrees live longer - and if they do have Alzheimer's, it often becomes apparent only in the very later stages of the disease.
12. Listen to classical music. A growing volume of research suggests that music may hard wire the brain, building links between the two hemispheres. Any kind of music may work, but there's some research that shows positive effects for classical music, though researchers don't understand why.
13. Learn a musical instrument. It may be harder than it was when you were a kid, but you'll be developing a dormant part of your brain.
14. Travel. When you travel (whether it's to a distant vacation spot or on a different route across town), you're forcing your brain to navigate a new and complex environment. A study of London taxi drivers found experienced drivers had larger brains because they have to store lots of information about locations and how to navigate there.
15. Pray. Daily prayer appears to help your immune system. And people who attend a formal worship service regularly live longer and report happier, healthier lives.
16. Learn to meditate. It's important for your brain that you learn to shut out the stresses of everyday life.
17. Get enough sleep. Studies have shown a link between interrupted sleep and dementia.
18. Eat more foods containing omega-3 fatty acids: Salmon, sardines, tuna, ocean trout, mackerel or herring, plus walnuts (which are higher in omega 3s than salmon) and flaxseed. Flaxseed oil, cod liver oil and walnut oil are good sources too.
19. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants in fruits and vegetables mop up some of the damage caused by free radicals, one of the leading killers of brain cells.
20. Eat at least one meal a day with family and friends. You'll slow down, socialize, and research shows you'll eat healthier food than if you ate alone or on the go.

Source : Taiwan News

Click to hear music file

Power Walking

Tokyo’s harried train commuters may not only have to buy their tickets but also generate the energy needed to punch them. East Japan Railway is testing a floor system that harvests energy from the footsteps of people walking through ticket gates.

The flooring is fitted with piezoelectric elements that convert the mechanical stress from pedestrians’ weight into little blips of electricity. Twenty-five square meters of piezoelectric flooring are expected to generate 1400 kilowatt-seconds of power per day, enough to light a 40-watt LED bulb for 17 hours. “It’s not much,” admits railway spokesperson Makoto Yasuhara. But the company hopes more-efficient future equipment will power automated ticket gates and information boards. A 2-month pilot system is being tested at Tokyo Station, where 70,000 train riders surge through ticket gates daily.

Source : Science Mag.

Origin of the name "Google"

In 1996, Larry Page and Sergey Brin called their initial search engine "BackRub," named for its analysis of the web's "back links." Larry's office was in room 360 of the Gates CS Building at Stanford University, which he shared with several other graduate students, including Sean Anderson, Tamara Munzner, and Lucas Pereira. In 1997, Larry and his officemates discussed a number of possible new names for the rapidly improving search technology. Sean recalls the final brainstorming session as occurring one day during September of that year.

Sean and Larry were in their office, using the whiteboard, trying to think up a good name - something that related to the indexing of an immense amount of data. Sean verbally suggested the word "googolplex," and Larry responded verbally with the shortened form, "googol" (both words refer to specific large numbers). Sean was seated at his computer terminal, so he executed a search of the Internet domain name registry database to see if the newly suggested name was still available for registration and use. Sean is not an infallible speller, and he made the mistake of searching for the name spelled as "google.com," which he found to be available. Larry liked the name, and within hours he took the step of registering the name "google.com" for himself and Sergey (the domain name registration record dates from September 15, 1997).

Solar-powered cycle rickshaws launched in India

Solar-powered cycle rickshaws, Soleckshaw, built by a leading science laboratory, was on Friday (3th October 2008) rolled out in the New Delhi, India. Also known as the green rikshaw for being environment-friendly, a soleckshaw weighs 210 kg, runs at a speed of 15 to 20 km per hour and can carry load upto 200 kg. A solar battery of 36 volt, that requires 5 hours of charge, helps it run for 60 kms.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit launched the Soleckshaw in the presence of Science and Technology Minister and Union Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal at a function in Chandni Chowk in New Delhi. "I congratulate Samir Bramhachari (Director General of CSIR) and his team of engineers on their work. Both the driver and rider will gain from it. And it will also not pollute the environment," Dikshit said. Asked on the soleckshaw's debut on the roads, Sibal said, "We will sit for talks with the Delhi government and then invite private entrepreneurs for its mass production. Two parties from Delhi and one from Patna have shown interest in it." Stressing on cheap housing alternative to the slum dwellers, Sibal announced that under the CSIR-800 programme affordable homes will be made for the poor.

"The houses will be made of composite materials which are environmental friendly. A house measuring 10 feet by 10 feet will cost Rs 21,000 only (around 437 USD). It will be water-proof and fire resistant," he added.The union minister also announced a 100 crore project to clean and beautify the busy Chandni Chowk area at the heart of the city.

Digital Tour Buddy for International Backpackers Exploring Taiwan

1.To Promote Tourism in Taiwan Among International Youth, approved by official Executive Yuan document 0940037554, of 26th August, 2005.

2. Organization of the main services and facilitating measures of the Promotion Plan for Youth Travel in Taiwan 2006-2008.

3. Tour Taiwan Year 2008-2009: National Youth Commission might broaden the range of service age about “ Digital Tour Buddy program” for a more convenient environment to international backpackers.”

Two. Purpose

1. To provide international youth backpackers traveling in Taiwan with                      convenience and security.

2.      To take advantage of Taiwan’s strengths in science and technology to enable international travelers to experience the applications of that science and technology.

Three. Organizers:

1.      Sponsor: National Youth Commission (Executive Yuan)

2.      Co-sponsors: Tourism Bureau Ministry of Transportation and Communication, Rep. of China (Taiwan), China Telecom Corporation Limited, Inventec Appliances Corporation

Four. Effective dates:

From 1^st May, 2008 date to 31^st December, 2009

Five: Target applicants:

1. 500 Digital Tour Buddies will be in circulation. They will first be given to the service category comprising international travelers entering and visiting Taiwan to travel as backpackers (special short-term entry visa, limited to those who are sightseeing or studying). People outside of this category will not be eligible.

2. Each applicant will be limited to one application per entry to Taiwan. There are two types of application. Rules of use.

a. Before-entry application: the maximum period of each loan will be 30 days.

b. After-entry application: the maximum period of each loan will be 15 days.

Six. Digital Tour Buddy functions and equipment.

1.      Digital Tour Buddy functions:

(1)   Phone calls and text message

(2)   Brief messages to assist with daily life (providing general travel news and related news, at concessionary rates.)

(3) Speed dialing (including 24-hour Bureau of Tourism tourist information hotline, the special line for foreigners in Taiwan, the National Youth Commission’s Youth Hub, Chinese Taipei Youth Hostel Association, the Greater Taipei taxi service line, and so on.)

(4) Dictionary

2.      Digital Tour Buddy equipment.

Includes cell phone account and basic equipment (OKWAP A272-Cell phone, SIM card, lithium cell, battery charger, operations manual and user instructions), phone bag. 

Seven. Concessionary measures:

In order to encourage backpackers to make use of this service, the first 2,008 borrowers will be given NT$200 worth of free calls (limited to calls made in the Taiwan Area) by the National Youth Commission, and China Telecom Corporation.

Eight. Application procedure:

1. Type of application:

(1) Before-entry application: online application

          International backpackers should visit the National Youth Commission youth travel website, http://youthtravel.twand complete the online booking application form seven days to thirty days before entering Taiwan.

(2) After-entry application:

   A. online application

              International backpackers should visit the National Youth Commission youth travel website,http://youthtravel.tw and complete the online booking form three days before picking up the Digital Tour Buddy.

          B. on-the-spot application

              International backpackers can visit the Youth Hub and fill in the on-the spot application form at the service counter at 10:00~21:00 Tuesday to Sunday.

(3) For online application, on receipt of the National Youth Commission’s approval, they should print the approved booking form.

2. Obtaining the equipment.

(1) Before-entry application:

 International backpackers entering the country must bring relevant documents with them, including approved booking form、passport、passport copy、one extra valid ID (Pleas see additional remarks 1). Issuing of equipment will take place at tourist service center in Terminal One and Terminal Two of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport or Service Counter at Youth Hub of National Youth Commission (1F, No.31, ZhongXiao E. Rd. Sec. 1, Taipei 100). Applicants whose applications have been approved, having left the copy of their passport and the other ID document as security, will be issued with the Digital Tour Buddy.

(2) After-entry application:

   A. Online application:

      After-entry application is limited to pick up the equipment at Youth

Hub of National Youth Commission only (1F, No.31, ZhongXiao E. Rd. Sec. 1, Taipei 100). International backpackersmust bring relevant documents with them, including approved booking form、passport、passport copy、one extra valid ID (Pleas see additional remarks 1). Applicants whose applications have been approved, having left the copy of their passport and the other I.D document as security, will be issued with the Digital Tour Buddy.

 B. On-the-spot application:

              International backpackers must bring relevant documents with them, including passport、passport copy、one extra valid ID (Pleas see additional remarks 1) and fill in the on-the-spot application form at Youth Hub at 10:00~21:00 Tuesday to Sunday. Applicants, having left the copy of their passport and the other I.D document as security, will be issued with the Digital Tour Buddy.

(3) This service is not an inalienable right of international backpackers entering Taiwan; in the case of persons whose applications have been approved prior to their entry to Taiwan, if their visas or other application credentials are not those stipulated, has the right to cancel the loan, and the applicant will have no form of redress.

3. Returning the equipment.

Before the expiry of the loan period, borrowers are to take their passport, Digital Tour Buddy and accessories, and the customer’s copy of the booking form, to tourist service center in Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, or the National Youth Commission’s Youth Hub service counter (1F, No.31, ZhongXiao E. Rd. Sec. 1, Taipei 100), to return the equipment. When the equipment has been checked, confirmed to be undamaged, and accepted, the copy of the passport and other ID document will be returned to the borrowers.

Nine. Matters to note when applying. 

1.      The National Youth Commission will provide a total of 500 Digital Tour Buddies. Once all these have been issued to applicants, no further applications will be accepted, until equipment has been returned and sterilized, when Digital Tour Buddies will again become open to applications online.

2.      This service has its roots in faith in international backpackers. Its only security is the copy of the passport and the second ID document; no financial deposit is charged. We ask the international backpackers who will be availing themselves of this service to cherish the equipment and to return it within the stipulated period, so that it can circulate and enable more backpackers to enjoy convenient information services and travel safety (Pleas see additional remarks 2 & 3).

3.      Papers: International backpackers collecting the equipment must take their passport (original and copy), approved booking form (for online application) and valid ID document (Pleas see additional remarks 1) to prove their identity, and leave the copy of their passport and the ID document as security for the loan.

4.      The equipment: Includes a Taiwan OKWAP A272-Cell phone, SIM card (The first 2,006 borrowers have NT$200 worth of free calls), lithium cell, battery charger, operations manual and user instructions, phone bag, and the applicant’s portion of the application form. 

5.      Service Hours and Locations:

(1) Tourist Service Centers at Terminal One and Terminal Two of Taiwan

Taoyuan International Airport: 7:00~23:30, All Year Round.

(2) Youth Hub Service Counter of the National Youth Commission, (1F, No.31, ZhongXiao E. Rd. Sec. 1, Taipei 100): 10:00~21:00, Tuesday to Sunday.

(3) International backpackers may obtain and return the equipment at the

location appointed on the application form during the service hours. If you wish to change the appointed location, please notify NYC three days in advance by phoning 02-33225550 or e-mailing digitaltourbuddy@nyc.gov.tw, Thank you.

6.      Contract: All international backpackers applying for a Digital Tour Buddy must sign a short-term loan contract with the National youth commission.

Ten. Other points:

1. If the international youngster has run out free credit (NTD200), he or she can top up mobile by purchasing ideal card (recharge voucher) launched by Chungwha Telecom from convenience stores, such as 7-11, Family Mart, Hi-Life, OK & Nikomart. In conjunction with their Digital Tour Buddy, International backpackersmay also utilize their own original cell phone’s roaming functions or choose to purchase a Taiwan IF card, available at retailers throughout the island, and providing unrestricted communication throughout the Taiwan Area. Users of Digital Tour Buddies who choose to purchase an IF card will only receive travel briefings, high-speed dialing and pre-paid calls when the Digital Tour Buddy’s original SIM card is installed.

2. This project will end on 31^st December 2009. The National Youth Commission will review the demands of the project before deciding whether to continue with it.

Austria's Delegates visit to NTUST, Taipei

To Promote bilateral cooperation with Austria in technological and vocational education, the Ministry of Education on September 8, 2008 signed a memorandum on cooperation in general and vocational training with the Ministry of Education, Art and Culture of the Federal Republic of Austria. 

Witnessed by Political Deputy Minister Lu Mu-lin and Mrs. Sieglinde Spanlang, head of Austria's Tourism Department, Chen Ming-yin, Director General of the Department of Technological and Vocation Education (TVE) and Dr. Theodor Siegl, Director General of the Department of Technological and Vocational Education, the Ministry of Education, Art and Culture of the Federal Republic of Austria sign the memorandum.

After sign a memorndum with Taiwanese officals, Austria deligates visitied my university (National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, NTUST). Our school presented a nice introduction about university, Taiwan Building Technology Centre (TBTC), University- Industry Cooperative Centre (UICC), Taiwan NCP programme. 

NTUST opens lotto, gaming research center

The National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST) established on 29th November 2007,  the first Institute for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gaming in Taiwan to conduct the research on the thriving gaming business and help train industry professionals.

Officially named the Taiwan Lottery and Gaming Research Center, it will start offering relevant courses to postgraduates in the university’s MBA programs.

Future steps will include providing undergraduate courses and setting up a department of gaming.

Professor Chen Shih-shun, NTUST president, conceded that personally he has never purchased a lotto ticket. But he said he recognizes the role of the gaming industry in a modern and democratic society like Taiwan.

He said the new center is part of the university’s aspiration to internationalize its study program by cooperating with other higher learning and research institutions in other nations.

Prof. Liu Dai-yang, director of the center, has been engaged in gaming research after he started teaching business management at NTUST in 1988.

Liu was consigned by the Ministry Finance (MOF) and other government agencies to carry out research before the government revived the public-interest lottery several years ago.

In addition to the current Taiwan Lottery, the government is ready to launch the sports lottery soon.

Liu said the sports lottery game alone will create annual revenues for over NT$100 billion to support sports activities and social welfare programs.

With proper management Liu believes the gaming business will help reenergize business activities, create more job opportunities, and attract more tourists to the island when the number of jobs in the manufacturing sector continues to decrease.

Both neighboring Macau and Singapore have been recruiting staff from Taiwan for their gaming business. The wages they offer range from more than NT$50,000 a month to NT$1 million each year.

The figure are highly attractive for college graduates whose starting pay has declined to a little over NT$20,000 as the local economy has been trapped in prolonged doldrums for almost eight years.

A couple of universes and colleges in Taiwan have already been offering gaming courses to meet the demand from both domestic and overseas markets.

William Eadington, professor of economics and director of the Institute for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gaming at the University of Nevada, Reno, was among the guests invited to participate the ceremony marking the establishment of the NTUST’s lotto and gaming study center.

He said the gaming industry has become more mature with the extensive development in both upstream and downstream business.

The Internet has also vastly globalized modern business operations and created tremendous business opportunities, he said.

He suggested that the government here follow the examples of Melbourne, Australia and Singapore to integrate developments in the gaming business and tourism industry.

As an internationally recognized authority on the legalization and regulation of commercial gambling, Prof. Eadington has written extensively on issues relating to the economic and social impacts of commercial gaming,

He organized the First through Eleventh International Conferences on Gambling and Risk Taking between 1974 and 1997.

Dr. Eadington has also served as a consultant and advisor for governments and private sector organizations throughout the world on issues related to gaming laws, casino operations, regulation, legalization and public policy. He is a founding member of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism, and a former Associate Editor of the Annals of Tourism Research and the Journal of Gambling Studies.

NCP-Taiwan Bridging the technology R&D between EU and Taiwan

On September 1st (2008), the "national contact point of EU-FP, Taiwan office (NCP-Taiwan)” will officially open at the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST) funded by the National Science Council (NSC). The establishment of NCP-Taiwan will initiate the cooperation in technology research and development between Taiwan and the European Union (EU); this will be a new milestone in Taiwan. Cross-border cooperation will be beneficial and helpful for excellent R&D teams of both Taiwan and EU. By actively participating in the EU FP7 program, Taiwan can benefit from this world-class research program.

“The Seventh Research Framework Programme (EU-FP7)" is launched in 2007. EU-FP7 provides some advantages exclusively for EU’s Member States, such as a platform of integrating international technology development and the financial support. Except for members, if other countries intend to cooperate with the EU members countries, setting up a "National Contact Point (NCP) of EU framework program" will facilitate the participating at EU-FP7 for making use of this platform.

The technology research and development of every country and EU countries have been studied by NTUST which has already hired several experts who profoundly understand the EU technology development, academic system and cultural environment of the European Union. NTUST will work with National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) and National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) on the coordination of NCP-Taiwan office under the National Science Council. The major scopes of NCP-Taiwan are to closely coordinate with the "European Economic and Trade Office", to promote the "national program" and to provide assistance and support to local outstanding R&D teams and experienced research scholars for joining EU-FP7.

The first exclusive website of NCP-Taiwan will be placed on http://www.ncp-Taiwan.ntust.edu.tw. The information provided on this website will serve as the contact window which provides latest information of EU-FP7 and represents an international community actively assisting academic research units in Taiwan for participating at the EU-FP. In addition, Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) is appointed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) to promote the "Bridging Taiwan’s Industry and European Innovation via Joint Research under EU-FP7" project. The domestic industries and academia will be supported by these two projects for entering international markets. Through this collaboration between Taiwan and EU, a new model of cooperation of science and technology can be created.

The government of Taiwan has heavily invested in projects on industrial R&D. As the result, the technological capability of Taiwan has been demonstrated to the world. Due to globalization, the cooperation model has become an important issue far beyond national and regional borders. EU also demonstrates noticeable strengths of technology research capability and faster economic growth by integrating research resources and technology experts. The scholars of Taiwan and EU have been cooperating together on few projects so far. Through participating at the EU-FP program, Taiwan and EU can share experiences with each other by collaborating on cross-border science and technological R&D, and thus expand cooperation range and establish a solid partnership in the future.

Having founded the "EU framework program", EU has set up 1262 "NCP of EU-FP " throughout the world since 1984, including mainland China, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and other countries outside EU. Amongst all NCP’s, 233 are established according to different R&D areas. All NCP will function as a service center to connect the researchers between regions and the EU, and also explore benefits of complementary integration. The budget of Euro 53.2 billion will be maintained until 2013.

NCP –Taiwan project integrate R&D resources internationally

Academic research has become more and more important over the years in Taiwan. The cooperation between Europe and Taiwan on scientific and technological development has been greatly promoted by the government of Taiwan. Because of that, Taiwan’s science and technology research activities have been effectively connected with those European countries. The partnership between Taiwan and European countries has been reinforced. Since 2003, the R&D team of Taiwan has officially been participating at EU FP5, FP6 and FP7. The results are the 16 projects within the EU-FP, showing remarkable research output. However, the range of FP7 program is wide and huge, including its complex application system and the long review process. The necessity for setting up a service unit is essential, a service unit which can communicate with EU, match up projects and apply for EU-FP7 for industries and universities. With the opening of NCP-Taiwan today, it represents an important millstone in bridging EU’s and Taiwan’s scientific and technological R&D.

Taiwan's first humanoid robot from NTUST

Taiwan's first humanoid robot performer "Janet," which can speak, sing and walk, made its debut at a news conference on Monday.

"Janet" was unveiled ahead of the 11th National University and Technical College Creative Robot Design and Manufacturing Contest organized by the Ministry of Education. The contest will be held Oct. 19 to Oct. 21 at Cheng Shiu University in Kaohsiung County.

Lin Chi-yu (林其禹), a professor at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST), whose researchers developed Janet over two years, said the school plans to create a similar robot -- to be named "Thomas."

Lin said the two robots would be used on a trial basis in performances for disadvantaged groups beginning next summer before making their international debut.

Automaker Honda created ASIMO, the world's most advanced humanoid robot, but ASIMO has no facial features or performance-related functions, Lin said.

The HUBO robot developed by Oh Jun-ho, a professor at the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, can display facial expressions, but lacks the capability to stage a show, he said.

"Janet" was developed to have interactive and performing functions, Lin said, adding that the state-of-the-art performing technology was created through the concerted efforts of NTUSC and several Japanese robotics labs.

Seven professors and scores of doctoral and masters degree students at NTUSC took part in Janet's development, Lin said.

He said the hardware needed to build the robot cost NT$10 million (US$307,000).

Lin said the team plans to set up a "Taiwanese robotic theater" in major amusement parks around the world in five year