Trends & Innovations - Wednesday

• Investor's Business Daily
• On 6:31 pm EST, Wednesday November 4, 2009

Silk smooths electronic implants

Electronics embedded into a thin film of silk silicon may open the door for implantable medical devices, say Univ. of Pa. researchers who developed the material. Currently, most implanted electronics must be encased so they don't trigger irritation inside the body. But the experimental silk silicon harmlessly melts away over time in the body, allowing electronics on the film to conform to body tissues. That means the embedded electronics can be laid onto biological tissue such as muscle or the brain.

Wearable cam captures the action

Sales of wearable video cameras are growing fast, according to a company that makes them. Seattle-based Twenty20 makes a small, $279 high-definition camera called the ContourHD that can capture first-person footage when mounted on a bike helmet or ski goggles. The company told USA Today that it expects to sell 50,000 cameras this year, with a potential outdoor-enthusiast market of 50 mil in the U.S. and 100 mil worldwide.

Afraid of flying? There's an app for that. A new "Flying Without Fear" application for Apple's (NasdaqGS:AAPL - News) iPhone offers a video-based explanation of flight, frequently asked questions, relaxation exercises and a panic button with breathing exercises. The app has been launched by U.K.-based Virgin Atlantic. It's thought to be the first such program for a cell phone, though many airlines have offered a range of aviophobia programs over the years.

Phishing attacks, e-mail scams aimed at getting private info, surged 200% from May to Sept., says a USA Today report citing IBM (NYSE:IBM - News) research. Experts say hackers are going after log-ons to Web mail, social networking and online gaming accounts. Long-term pacifier use, thumb-sucking and even early baby bottle use may hamper a child's speech development, says a study published in the journal BMC Pediatrics. Kids who sucked their fingers or used a pacifier for more than 3 years were 3 times likelier to develop speech impediments. The study also found that delaying bottle use until a kid was at least 9 months old cut the risk of such disorders.

Buzz up!