Honda reveals robotic leg

Honda has developed a new robotic movement assistance device, that it says adds to the users' strength and reduces stress on joints, reports Daily Tech.

It is the culmination of years of research from Honda on the device and walking research for the robot Asimo.

The suit will be deployed for a real world field test at a Honda car assembly plant in Saitama. It is expected to ease stress on the workers' bodies, reducing injury.

The UK government has doubled the anticipated cost to individuals of obtaining an ID card by adding a charge for collecting biometrics through the private sector, says Computing.co.uk.

Plans outlined by home secretary Jacqui Smith provide for high street chains such as WHSmiths or the Post Office to collect facial scans, fingerprints and eventually retinal scans for an anticipated fee of about £29, in addition to the £30 charge for issuing the card.

The proposals have been buried in documents made available by the Home Office, but this is the first time that a senior minister has pointed them out in a major speech and guidance has been available on cost.

A former prison inmate has been arrested and charged with hacking the facility's computer network, stealing personal details of more than 1 100 prison employees and making them available to fellow inmates, reports The Register.

Francis Janosko, 42, gained access to the names, addresses, dates of birth, social security numbers and telephone numbers of employees working for the Plymouth County Correctional Facility, in Massachusetts, according to an indictment unsealed on Wednesday in the US District Court, in Boston.

Using a thin client that was connected to a prison server, the prisoner was able to access an employee database by exploiting a bug in legal research software made available to inmates.

Barack Obama is turning to the Web as he prepares to become US president, says The BBC.

Via a Web site called Change.gov, the Obama campaign plans to provide a guide to the transition process.

The site also solicits suggestions from US citizens about their vision for America, and lets them apply for a post with the new administration.