Researchers make signing mobiles

Researchers are customising mobile phones to make them suitable for deaf people to chat using sign language. This is the goal of MobileASL, a video compression project at the University of Washington. By the use of video compression techniques, it has proved possible to send live pictures of users signing across relatively low-bandwidth mobile networks, reports the BBC. ...more

BT not meeting with major shareholders

Don't expect the resignation of the BT chairman today. The crunch meeting with major City shareholders, which was supposedly scheduled for today, is not going to happen. With debts mounting to more than ?30bn and a collapsing share price, BT has certainly seen happier days and the BBC Today radio programme suggested this morning that the meeting would lead to calls for the head of the Chairman, Sir Iain Vallance. ...more

Panasonic unveils eight new cameras

Panasonic has announced the launch of eight new digital cameras to appeal to the needs of photographers across all levels. Panasonic's Lumix DMC-FX10 and DMC-FX12 offer a range of features for digital enthusiasts who just want to take pictures without any hassle. Housed in slim and compact bodies is a 7. ...more

Open Source Initiative ratifies Sun's CDDL Licence

The Open Source Initiative (OSI) has formally ratified Sun's Common Development and Distribution License (CDDL) as an open source-compliant licence. It is widely expected that Sun will use the licence to distribute an open-source version of its Solaris 10 operating system, although the company has not yet confirmed it will use the CDDL for this. Sun first submitted its draft for the CDDL in December, following the launch of Solaris 10. ...more

Psion celebrates 20th birthday

Last night, Psion, Britain's leading manufacturer of electronic organisers celebrated its 20th birthday. The party was held at a swanky wine bar in Covent Garden, but it made one wonder how much Psion had to celebrate. The days of it dominating the handheld computer industry are long gone with the likes of Palm and PocketPC machines swamping the market, but in the light of these changes the company seemed quite buoyant. ...more