Newsletter August/September 2002, Issue 57
Published by Sonaris Consulting, Felix Bopp, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Babies recognise mother's tunes
- Smart Homes: Internet Home Alliance, Living Tomorrow, Changing Places/House_n
- Music Training and The Brain
- Worth reading: < How to Make Morpheus an Endangered Species? >
- Conferences & Events
< Lulling a baby to sleep with a song is an age-old part of child-care. But a Canadian researcher says even tiny babies respond to the lullabies because they recognise melodies. Professor Susan Trehub, from the department of psychology at the University of Toronto, found babies recognise tunes, even if they are sung in a different key or at a different speed. But if they detect wrong notes or rhythm changes, they do not respond as well to the music. Professor Trehub told BBC News Online it was not known how babies' brains processed music - because it was difficult to persuade parents to let healthy babies have brain imaging tests. But she said there were clear signs babies responded differently. Once they have heard a tune in one pitch or tempo, babies recognise it when it is played at a different pitch and speed. She said: "They'll accept a tempo change, but not a rhythm change." "We know that they have these responses but we don't how they have them." Even very young babies can recognise tunes she said. And that is not explained by the theory that babies sense their mother relaxing to certain music in the womb. >
More at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2125207.stm
Sonaris supports IWA - the International Webcasting Association http://www.webcasters.org - http://www.webcasters.org.uk |
Smart Homes
Internet Home Alliance
The mission of Internet Home Alliance is to accelerate the development
of the market for home technologies that require a broadband or persistent
connection to the Internet. "Linked to the network is a smart front door,"
said Mr. Devlin. "So that if you're not there, it will tell you that there's
someone at your front door wherever you are in the world." You could then
unlock the front door remotely and let your visitor in. One of the potential
uses for the technology is for home security, so that if the house was
broken into, you would notified immediately and web cameras on the property
would take an instant snapshot. "Houses are already moving to online meter-reading;
appliances have microprocessors in them," said Mr. Devlin. "It is inevitable
that every home will be a smart home." The Internet Home Alliance brings
together a group of diverse companies, such as General Motors, Invensys,
Panasonic, Hewlett-Packard and ADT Security Services. "We've created an
environment that has brought diverse companies together to produce solutions
for the consumer that the individual companies would not have created
on their own," said Tony Barra, president of the Internet Home Alliance.
http://www.internethomealliance.com
Living Tomorrow
For the initiators of Living Tomorrow the interplay
between public and professional interest in life in the 21st century is
a key aspect. The project provides visitors with a tangible picture of
the future and of their desires. The intention is to inform each visitor
and introduce him to new technological systems, materials, methods of
construction and design, as well as management, energy and communication
techniques.
http://www.livingtomorrow.com
Changing Places/House_n
The MIT Home of the Future Consortium House_n research is focused on how
the home and its related technologies, products, and services should evolve
to better meet the opportunities and challenges of the future. Massachusetts
Institute of Technology researchers are investigating methods for merging
new technologies with person-centered design. They are generating new
ideas and methodologies for creating innovative products and services
to satisfy the emerging and future needs of people as they live in their
homes. This broad research approach is leading to innovative product ideas
that are unlikely to be uncovered in more narrowly-focused industries
or research endeavors. To facilitate these studies, a unique "Living Laboratory"
residential home research facility will be constructed near MIT.
http://architecture.mit.edu/house_n
< Advocates for music education have always
sworn that piano lessons pay off. Although no one would have denied that
music training makes you more well-rounded and may even help you liven
up some holiday parties, the extent of its benefit was unclear. Now, an
increasing amount of scientific research is indicating that the benefits
of music training reach to the brain. Some studies are suggesting that
it boosts brain circuitry and increases certain mental functions. Further
insights into how music training affects the brain may lead to new education
methods and new ways to treat brain damage. (…) If bigger brain parts
mean a bigger intellect, musicians may have a leg up on others. Brain
imaging research shows that several brain areas are larger in adult musicians
than in nonmusicians. For example, the primary motor cortex and the cerebellum,
which are involved in movement and coordination, are bigger in adult musicians
than in people who don't play musical instruments. The area that connects
the two sides of the brain, the corpus callosum, is also larger in adult
musicians. >
Full article at:
http://web.sfn.org/content/Publications/BrainBriefings/music_training_and_brain.htm