- The Bush administration deleted information on women’s issues from government websites. Women’s groups suspect the documents, which include a report linking abortion to breast cancer, have disappeared to support political agendas.
- The highly anticipated PC game Doom 3 will finally be released this summer, according to its developer id Software. An Xbox version is expected later this year.
- Mad cow disease has stoked enough fear to propel an identity program that uses technology to monitor cow health. A “cattle telemedicine tracking system” reads data such as a cow’s heart rate, temperature and movement, and it will raise the alarm if cattle show the first signs of illness.
- Adidas announced that its first intelligent shoe, plainly dubbed “1” will feature a battery-powered sensor, a microprocessor, LEDs and push-button controls. After sensing the ideal cushioning level via a sensor and magnet, the shoe adapts with a motor-driven cable system to provide the appropriate fit. The $250 sneakers will hit shelves in December 2004.
- William Shakespeare’s will is now available online, nearly 400 years after he put quill to paper. The historic document features notable elements such as three of the last six of his signatures and a telling line where he bequeathed his “second-best bed” to his wife. The will can be read at “>www.google.com/googleblog, that will post entries on technology issues, complete with — what else — a search field.
- More than two-thirds of all global email is spam, according to analysts. In January last year, spam accounted for half of all email, although security experts say today 67 per cent of email is spam because virus writers are teaming up with spammers.
- France is hoping to add a fourth dimension to Internet use with a device that allows users to smell vintage wines. A hand-held diffuser emits scents when people click on the site, called “A walk around the Burgundy vineyard.”
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