Entry 08 - Surgical Robots

<Surgical Robots>

Over the history, human has invented robots to help our lives to be more convenient. As science and technology develops, there are so many different kinds of robots that exists in our life in 21st century. Humanoids, which looks like human and are programmed to think like human, Robot vacuums, which brooms and mops our floor by sensing the obstacles and structure of the room, industrial robots, which are used to increase productivity and to cut down human labor force, are all robots that were invented over periods and are currently being used. For medical field, engineers have invented something that is called a surgical robot. Started with needle placement, brain biopsy and trans urethral resection, surgical robots can even assist with a cardiac surgeries. (1)

Using surgical robots is to improve diagnostic abilities, to do more precise and closer interventions with the patience, as well as it can also cut down on surgical time. However, there is a concern where surgeries with surgical robots can be very costly and we cannot completely rely on them. The surgical robots do not operate the surgery by themselves, but there has to be a physician who conducts and watches over the robot the whole time. These physicians are required to get a extensive training time in order to operate the surgical robots.

<Relations to Computer Science>

Since surgical robots are very new idea, it is very hard for human to trust on a robot especially when the surgery is something that can be directly related to patients' life and health. An article suggests that there issues with latency which means that there is a lagging moment in between when robot moves and physician operates it. (1) Additionally, there is a possibility with incorrectly programming the surgical robots. It is impossible that we manipulate the coded program in the middle of the surgery even if it is needed. Likewise, there are more aspects that are need to be complemented in order for surgical robots to be used widely; however, I believe that surgical robots can decline the chance of human errors especially during the course of tedious and tiring surgeries once the robots are checked and approved to say that they are good to go. I'm looking forward to an affordable medical services with a future medical development in a near future with the help of surgical robots.

<References>
1. http://allaboutroboticsurgery.com/surgicalrobots.html
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robot-assisted_surgery

Entry 07 - GPS; Global Positioning System

<GPS; Global Positioning System>

GPS, a Global Positioning System is a network of orbiting satellites that send precise details of their position in space back to earth. The signals are obtained by GPS receivers, such as navigation devices and are used to calculate the exact position, speed and time at the vehicles location. The first GPS system was developed in 1960s for US Navy to navigate ships more fast and accurately. Nowadays, global positioning system is built in most of the phones and navigators to give drivers their location to navigate roadways. The technology is now developed enough to tell drivers to avoid the traffic or tolls. The initial purpose of the invention of GPS was for the military to has accurate data, but it is interesting that today the system is widely used for people to catch their Pokemon with their phone.

<Relations to Computer Science>

GPS is used in guiding and mapping applications and used in location services. These days, GPS not only provides the position but is also used in various applications in computer science such as wireless video processing, monitoring using mobile and localization of automobiles. GPS receivers take information that is transmitted from the satellites and uses triangulation to calculate a user's location. In order for GPS to calculate data and communicate between devices, it needs an algorithm to manage the signal in between them. In order to execute this, certain rules need to be followed to analyze statistical data that were collected. Matlab and Python are widely used to program this system. 

<References>

1.http://www.gps.gov/

2.http://blog.naver.com/skyedu1st/220352029929

3.http://www.academia.edu/7304657/A_Review_on_GPS_and_its_Applications_in_Computer_Science

Entry 06 - Fingerprint Technology

<Fingerprint Technology>

"There is no way of knowing for sure - you would have to check the fingerprints of every living being to be absolutely certain. But at some point in our world history we decided fingerprints were unique and a perfect means for identifying individuals. A way to tell us apart."

Fingerprint verification technology is applied to many circumstances in our life: iPhone, airport, crime scene, door lock and more on. Finger scan is one of the bio-metric technology that can tell each individuals apart. Unless it is damaged, fingerprints stays the same for a life time and therefore it is a scientific and accurate way to recognize people. The fingerprint verification technology is not only cheaper than the other bio-metrics technologies, but it is also faster and more accurate. 

<Relations to Computer Science>

In order to use the fingerprint verification, the user needs to register their fingerprints on the system. The registered fingerprints are stored with their own personal information on data system. Afterwards, when user inputs their fingerprints into the system, the system compares the input data to the previously stored data to verify the user.
Since fingerprint matching is the process used to determine whether two set of fingerprint ridge detail come from the same finger, the algorithms that is called "minutiae matching" is widely used. Minutiae matching is a type of algorithm which multiple points in one image have similar distances between them then multiple points in another image then the points are said to match up. There are more types of algorithms that are used in fingerprint verification technology and the technology is going to be more accurate and intelligent as computer programmers do further researches.

<References>
1. http://www.dw.com/en/fingerprint-forensics-has-a-future-despite-new-technology-and-the-folly-of-humans/a-19515791
2. http://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=932299&cid=43667&categoryId=43667