Archive for the ‘Health’ Category

Birmingham has received the official title of a ‘Smart21′ community by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF). 

Smart21 Award

The ICF is a New York based global thinktank, which awards the annual ‘Intelligent Community of the Year’ label. The ICF analyses how communities make best use of broadband technologies to support economic and social development.  The evaluation takes into consideration criteria like broadband connectivity, innovation and development of the knowledge workforce and digital inclusion.  The award scheme is a three step process where the applying communities are first whittled down to the ‘Smart21′. These will receive further scrutiny and have to provide more detail to compete for the ‘Top7′ and eventually the ‘Intelligent Community of the Year’.

The Smart21 in 2011 are:

• 1. Birmingham, UK
• 2. Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
• 3. Chongquing, China
• 4. Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
• 5. Dakota County, Minnesota, USA
• 6. Danville, Virginia, USA
• 7. Dublin, Ohio, USA
• 8. Eindhoven, Netherlands
• 9. Ipswich, Queensland, Australia
• 10. Issy-les-Moulineaux,  France
• 11. Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
• 12. Northeast Ohio, USA
• 13. Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
• 14. Riverside, California, USA
• 15. Shanghai, China
• 16. Sopron, Hungary
• 17. Stratford, Ontario, Canada
• 18. Taoyuan County, Taiwan
• 19. Trikala, Greece
• 20. Windsor-Essex, Ontario, Canada
• 21. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Each year has a special theme and 2011 is all about ‘Health and the Intelligent Community’. Birmingham’s application features the new University Hospital, Medilink WM and the NHS Local online service.

To read Birmingham’s full expression of interest: icf-s21nomination-2011_birminghamuk_final

Recently read an article which reported that Alzheimer’s could be staved off by becoming web-savvy.  Dr Gary Small, an expert on ageing at the University of California, Los Angeles, said “Our findings point to an association between routine internet searching and neural circuitry activation in older adults.

Google, more than ordinary reading, stimulated the brain regions controlling language, reading, memory and vision.”

The study of UCLA’s Memory & Ageing Research Centre, used 24 adults aged 55 – 76, half of whom were used to performing web searches.  Dr Small added:  “it seems people who are more adept with internet technology are likely to remain mentally agile.”

If the above is true, I think the DB team must be the exception to the rule as we all seem to be suffering from one mental dysfunction  or another, but just not Alzheimer’s!

In my post Christmas, rather over indulged state, I’ve just had a quick look around for some help with how to get back into shape.

It didn’t take me long to find a favourite….   Came across this site from handbag.co.uk that shows you little video clips of different exercises, relevant to different body parts.  Exercises relevant to a pretty comprehensive list such as; banish back fat, get a booty-licious bum, minimise your miffin tops, eliminate jelly belly to list just a few – I guess there’s something there for any ailment.

I’ve been working on the banish bingo wings for the past 10 mins – whilst eating the last of the mince pies in the office.  I’m hoping to pull off a break even calorie count.

A site I will be logging onto quite often over the next month.  Why not check it out here then let me know your favourite and if you’ve seen any improvement.

Deputy Leader, Cllr Tilsley and Annette King, Digital Birmingham Innovations Manager put the Wii to the test

Kids who spend ages on computer games can develop a nasty palm rash, doctors have found.  The condition has been dubbed PlayStation palmar hidradenitis by medics, who blame hours spent gripping consoles allied to sweaty palms.  Other medics report a tendon condition called Wii-itis among Wii players. More – Gamers at risk from ‘Playstation rash’