EMFacts Blog

Reflections on a Russian Neverland

Excerpt: In September 2004 I was fortunate enough to receive funding to attend a Russian International Conference, titled: Mobile Communications and Health: Medical, Biological and Social Problems. It was held in Moscow and was attended by a wide range of international scientists including researchers from the USA, Great Britain, Europe, Ukraine, Poland and Australia. Russia was represented by The Russian National Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (RNCNIRP), The Russian Academy of Science, and The Russian Academy of Medical Science.

What was interesting about the research papers presented at the 3 day conference was the high quality of the biological research that had been carried out by Russian and former Eastern Bloc scientists – and that was a high point of the conference. However, much of this research seemed to be largely a product of the past, before the break up of the former Soviet Union.

As part of the conference we were taken to a Moscow based research institute which was to showcase Russia’s research activities. The building itself was built in the 1960s and was designed to be an impressive structure, but after some 50 years use it was in poor condition from an obvious a lack of maintenance. Upon arrival we had to use a side entrance as the large main doors had fallen off their hinges due to rust and were being hastily repaired by a construction crew. Not a good first impression….SNIP

Microsoft goggles left soldiers with headaches and nausea during tests

EXCERPT:

Bloomberg News

U.S. soldiers using Microsoft Corp.’s new goggles in their latest field test suffered “mission-affecting physical impairments” including headaches, eyestrain and nausea, according to a summary of the exercise compiled by the Pentagon’s testing office. More than 80% of those who experienced discomfort had symptoms after less than three hours using the customized version of Microsoft’s HoloLens goggles, Nickolas Guertin, director of Operation Test and Evaluation, said in a summary for Army and Defense Department officials. He said the system also is still experiencing too many failures of essential functions. The problems found in the testing in May and June were outlined in a 79-page report this month. The Army marked it “Controlled Unclassified Information” to prevent public distribution, but Bloomberg News obtained a summary.

Despite the device’s flaws, Guertin doesn’t deem it a lost cause. He recommended that the Army “prioritize improvements” before widespread deployment to reduce the “physical discomfort of users.” He said improvements are also needed to the goggle’s low-light sensors, display clarity, field of vision and poor reliability of some essential functions. On the positive side: The latest model’s reliability has improved for a key metric – the mean time between failures that render the whole system inoperable, according to the report. Leaders and soldiers also reported that the latest version “enhanced navigation and coordination of unit movements,” Guertin wrote. Microsoft’s Integrated Visual Augmentation System, or IVAS, is expected to provide a “heads-up display” for U.S. ground forces, similar to those for fighter pilots. It would let commanders project information onto a visor in front of a soldier’s face and would include features such as night vision. The Army projects spending as much as $21.9 billion over a decade on the goggles, spare parts and support services if all options are exercised. The test results will be closely assessed by lawmakers as they decide whether to approve $424.2 million the Army proposed to spend on the program this fiscal year. The House and Senate appropriations panels separately proposed deep cuts to the Army’s request pending the outcome of the testing….SNIP