A medical team from Sunderland and Durham Universities in the UK believe this could help combat the disease, having already tested the idea on mice. In that test, the mice gained better learning ability afterwards. A human test will go ahead in the summer.

Current therapy for Alzheimer's sufferers doesn't correct for cell-loss, which is why this technology may be promising. Infrared treatment, thought to stimulate cell re-growth, was developed first for cold sores (better known by snickering bloggers as "mouth herpes") and according to doctors at the research company Virulite, shining IR lasers at Alzheimer's sufferers led to improvements in eight out of nine cases.

The helmet design uses the same principle, and its trials on real people will use levels of IR equivalent to sunshine in the hope of reversing some of the crippling damage caused by this disease. No word yet when we'll be able to use TV remotes to try and stave off Alzheimer's at home. [BBC News and Daily Mail]

The lesson? From here on out, Blakeley takes a cab. And he stays the fuck away from our train set. [theregister via boingboing] [image]

We are waiting for a full hands on with the device before we pass judgment. I offer myself up to test the IR light peripheral; waking up with Benny leaning over me in the middle of night has become a little disconcerting. Expect to be updated when we have some new information. (About Sima's product, not Benny's sexual predation.)

The mod requires you to wear the sensor bar (or any IR-emitting headband, Lee makes some sweet goggles) and place the Wiimote by the screen (it's hooked up to a laptop with a TV-out for this demonstration). Essentially, your head becomes the mouse peeking through a 3D room, and the gameplay implications would be incredible.

Anyone else thinking that Nintendo should pay this guy whatever he wants to make some awesome games? Or, you know, Sony and Microsoft could always grab him up, too. These ideas just use the Wiimote's IR—technology that isn't exactly cutting edge stuff.

Product Page [Via EverythingUSB]

With this installed, you can turn your Xbox on directly from your couch using the remote—or probably any universal remote—without having to run up and hit the power key. We wish our PS2 had this, since those three seconds of exercise are too much for our atrophied little hearts to bear. – Jason Chen

Remote [XIR]

Instructions [Awooga via eHomeUpgrade]

That's the high speed infrared standard that isn't part of our American "but we have bluetooth and even fire!" phones yet (transferring data at a hefty 4Mbps over 20ft). But while the HN-IR1 will be Japan-only when released in April for about $115...that's a good thing. I have no interest in watching a boring vacation slideshow, let alone if it was taken by the steady hand of your ever-enchanting phone photography. – Mark Wilson

Sharp HN-IR1 [via newlaunches]

After getting your wine at just the right warmness or coldness, you're free to chug it down and realize you spent fifty bones on this thing. Seek help, wino. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Nuvovino via Uncrate via Crave]

One clever father hacked the iZ toy. Generally, these toys have twisting arms that generate noises when manipulated, and other desirable traits for a father who just wants his Sunday nap. So he opened the toy up, drilled out the belly and stuck an IR receiver inside. Then, he found the LED already in the toy can be easily hooked up to light up upon signal reception. But the best part was that by destroying all of his children's toys, he made whole house IR repeater to control his Tivo from any room in his Mcmansion.

Hit the jump for some sweet McHack footage of the "TiZo" receiver in action.

iZIRRepeater [via MAKE]

First, stick a USB connector on there. Then, take out the infrared filter so you can record infrared in the dark. The last step? Buy some Radioshack infrared LEDs as a light source, glue them on the front, and you're in business.

The finished setup looks RIDICULOUS, but gets the job done. Christmas is coming early this year for this young man. Result after the jump.

– Jason Chen

CVS Camcorder based night vision [Brandfe - Thanks Elliot!]

The Vista Media Center remote from Philips comes in a basic version, an IR learning backlit version, and an advanced IR learning backlit version. Luckily for them, they also have a more traditional remote (right), a PC Express card version for laptops, and even an RF version with receiver for rigs that are hidden from line-of-sight IR. No word on when they're going to be released, but we're guessing shortly after January. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Philips via Chris Lanier via uber gizmo]

Setting the remote up is easy, using their walkthrough which lets you name rooms, devise "scenarios", and come up with stuff you want to control. There's web connectivity as well, allowing you to update the software and the remote.

Not only is the AVL300 a breeze to set up, the IlluminEssence Lighting Modules worked from corner to corner of a 2,500 sqft house using RF to control all lighting throughout. Controlling the entertainment system using IR worked flawlessly as well, with 19 out of 20 tries being successful (the last was blamed on user error).

It's a bit pricey—$549 on Amazon—but if you're into home automation then the AVL300 is a good way to go. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Amazon via RemoteShoppe]

The plan is tricky, though:

register your M8 on Leica's website and they will send you instructions on how to send in your camera to the service center in Solms. All new cameras made from this date forward will have the problem already fixed. And to solve the IR sensitivity problem, Leica is going to give users two free filters to attach onto the lens. A better solution would have been to fix the IR issue in the camera, but what do we know? – Jason Chen

Leica announce fixes for M8 [dpreview]

HTC's CEO also says they could also expand to using Symbian OS in addition to using Microsoft's Windows Mobile 5. On the one hand, HTC probably doesn't want to put all their eggs in one Microsoft basket, but on the other hand, who really uses Symbian anymore? – Jason Chen

HTC to add digital music to mobiles, will drop infrared [Mobility Today]

Even though Internet radio may not be as popular with the masses as terrestrial radio, the amount of programming that you can find makes jumping through hoops just to listen it worth it. That said, sitting in front of your computer all day just to listen to the latest episode of "Gregg and Tony" is kind of a drag. That's where the Scitec IR-001W comes in. It's an Internet radio that sits on your wireless LAN and plays MP3, WMA, AAC and RealMedia files, which should cover just about every type of Internet radio broadcast, including most of those lovable podcasts. Based on Reciva technology, the IR-001W can group radio stations based on geography, genre, name as well as your favorites. So if you just need to hear your European crochet radio, Scitec's got you covered.

The radio is compatible with the WEP and WPA security protocols, so you don't have to remove your wireless LAN's security in order to listen.

As for sound quality, the IR-001W only features a monaural amplifier, but does include a stereo output jack. So if you want, you can hook it up to your existing sound system and listen to higher quality sound, depending on the radio program, of course. It's coming out in Japan on July 12 and will retail for about $261. – Nicholas Deleon

Product Page (in Japanese) [Scitec via Fareastgizmos.com]

We tested this instrument in a variety of circumstances, and although it's not a body temperature thermometer, we found it to be quite handy at measuring the temperature of various things like the inside of a freezer (4 degrees), a car engine (147 degrees), and the temperature of the water at the old fishing hole (52 degrees). We came to appreciate its ability to touchlessly measure things like boiling water, a substance that we don't want to get too close to, especially for the half a minute it would take to get an accurate reading using a conventional thermometer. It's a lot of fun to play with this device—along the lines of a laser pointer—but it's a pretty expensive impulse item at $59.95.

Product page [Q3 Innovations]
Review: ThermoHawk 200 Touchless Infrared Thermometer [Consumer Electronics Net]

Infrared Blood Alcohol Test [Gadget-Review]

The owl that takes control over innocent devices [We-make-money]