Next digital interface: your finger

Researchers at the University of Buffalo have developed a device that enables a computer to interpret the meaning of human hand gestures, says iTWire.

Worn on a finger, the Fingertip Digitiser can transfer to the virtual world the meaning and intent of common hand gestures, such as pointing, wagging the finger, and tapping in the air, the report says.

"The gesture-recognition function of this device, in particular, has great potential for a wide range of applications, from personal computing to medical diagnostics to computer games," says Young-Seok Kim, the co-researcher who created the Fingertip Digitiser.

SanDisk has introduced a 2GB microSD card, which is said to have the largest capacity of the world`s smallest removable flash memory card, reports eWeek.

The 2GB microSD card will be used in a new-generation of MP3 music phones, including the forthcoming Verizon Wireless Chocolate mobile phone.

Using the new SanDisk microSD flash memory card, the mobile phone can store up to 1 000 digital songs, assuming the songs average four minutes.

Toshiba has reached a financial settlement with Fujio Masuoka, a former employee who is credited with inventing flash memory in 1984, reports Reg Hardware.

Toshiba has agreed to pay Masuoka $758 000, with the proviso that there would be no outstanding issues and liabilities between them.

Masuoka initially demanded $9.1 million as compensation for his work.

Authentium has introduced software that promises to give banks and other online service providers the ability to create virtual ATMs, eWeek reports.

VirtualATM establishes a virtual private network between the end-user and the bank, which, combined with the PC lockdown functionality by disallowing other programs to operate on the desktop during the financial transaction, ensures third parties cannot view the transactional data.

The software will be offered directly to customers by financial services firms and Internet service providers. A software developer`s kit that can be used by businesses looking to boost security of their online operations is also available, the report says.