Below are three items posted by Slashdot.net that caught my attention this morning. The first is technology/medical, the second and third have to do with US Constitutionally guaranteed rights.
Man Has 75% of Skull Replaced By 3D-Printed Materials72
Posted by Soulskillon Friday March 08, @05:22PM
from the i-wonder-if-they'll-do-customized-designs dept.
from the i-wonder-if-they'll-do-customized-designs dept.
redletterdave writes "An un-named male patient in the U.S. has had 75 percent of his skull replaced with 3D printed materials. The undisclosed patient had his head imaged by a 3D scanner before South Windsor, Conn.-based Oxford Performance Materials (OPM) gained approval from US regulators to print the bone replacement. OPM's final skull replacement was built within two weeks, and inserted in the patient's skull in an operation performed earlier this week; this cutting-edge procedure was only just revealed on Friday. OPM's 3D-printed process was granted approval by the FDA back on Feb. 18, which means the company can now provide 3D printed replacements for bones damaged by trauma or even disease. The company says this technique could benefit more than 500 U.S. citizens each month, from injured factory or construction workers to wounded soldiers."
Court: 4th Amendment Applies At Border, Password Protected Files Not Suspicious170
Posted by Soulskillon Friday March 08, @06:45PM
from the you're-doing-it-right dept.
from the you're-doing-it-right dept.
An anonymous reader sends this Techdirt report on a welcome ruling from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals: ""Here's a surprise ruling. For many years we've written about how troubling it is that Homeland Security agents are able to search the contents of electronic devices, such as computers and phones at the border, without any reason. The 4th Amendment only allows reasonable searches, usually with a warrant. But the general argument has long been that, when you're at the border, you're not in the country and the 4th Amendment doesn't apply. This rule has been stretched at times, including the ability to take your computer and devices into the country and search it there, while still considering it a "border search," for which the lower standards apply. Just about a month ago, we noted that Homeland Security saw no reason to change this policy. Well, now they might have to. In a somewhat surprising 9th Circuit ruling (en banc, or in front of the entire set of judges), the court ruled that the 4th Amendment does apply at the border, that agents do need to recognize there's an expectation of privacy, and cannot do a search without reason. Furthermore, they noted that merely encrypting a file with a password is not enough to trigger suspicion."
Obama Administration Supports Journalist Arrested For Recording Cops211
Posted by Soulskillon Friday March 08, @06:05PM
from the to-protect-and-serve dept.
from the to-protect-and-serve dept.
New submitter SplatMan_DK writes "Ars Technica reports that the Obama Administration has filed a brief in support of a Maryland photojournalist who says he was arrested and beaten after he took photographs of the police arresting two other men. The brief by the Justice Department argues that the U.S. Constitution protects the right to photograph the actions of police officers in public places and prohibits police officers from arresting journalists for exercising those rights. Context: 'Garcia says that when Officer Christopher Malouf approached him, Garcia identified himself as a member of the press and held up his hands to show he was only holding a camera. But Malouf "placed Mr. Garcia in a choke hold and dragged him across the street to his police cruiser," where he "subjected him to verbal and physical abuse." According to Garcia's complaint, Malouf "forcibly dragged Mr. Garcia across the street, throwing him to the ground along the way, inflicting significant injuries." Garcia says Malouf "kicked his right foot out from under him, causing Mr. Garcia to hit his head on the police cruiser while falling to the ground." Garcia claims that Malouf took the video card from Garcia's camera and put it in his pocket. The card was never returned. Garcia was charged with disorderly conduct. In December 2011, a judge found Garcia not guilty.'"
Had forgotten hearing about this skull replacement news. The whole idea of being able to actually print such materials in that manner is mind-boggling.
Protecting individual rights an ongoing matter with all new technology but have been most aware of this since advent of digital.
Wonder why that officer apparently resisted having his photo taken making an arrest -- especially once the photographer was identified as press?
Posted by: Joared | March 16, 2013 at 01:29 AM
Joared--We can only speculate about the officer in this particular instance.
Posted by: Cop Car | March 16, 2013 at 08:09 AM