Brain synapses shrink during sleep.

Sleep plays an important role in our wellbeing. Researchers have discovered that during this important activity, brain synapses, which are the connection between neurons, are able to shrink by 20 percent of normal in order to reset and prepare for the full day ahead.

The researchers discovered that after sleep, the brain synapses begin to grow stronger again as they constantly receive new input throughout the day. This type of reset consisting in the shrinking of brain synapses is called synaptic homeostasis. It allows us to rest and forget non-essential information, which otherwise could lead the connections to become overloaded and eventually burn out. Thus, the process in important for self-preservation.

Dr. Chiara Cirelli, the co-author of the study and a researcher at the Wisconsin-Madison center for Sleep and Consciousness, stated that sleep is the optimal time where the brain synapses can reset because during the day humans tend to be active, always receiving some form of input, being stimulated and learning something new. However, during sleep our brains are not focused on the outside world as much, allowing the synapses to reset.

Cirelli initially proposed the hypothesis of synaptic homeostasis in collaboration with her colleague, Dr. Giulio Tononi, back in the year 2003. However, only now were they able to have direct visual evidence of the phenomenon, which manifests itself through the shrinking of the synapses.

For their study, they analyzed the activity of brain synapses in mice when they were asleep. The study, published in the journal Science, consisted in an intricate experiment over a period of four years. Their findings confirm the fact that sleep helps humans consolidate their memories and allows us to continue to learn.

The analysis of the mice’s brain synapses was conducted using a new type of electron microscopy. This technology is able to identify small changes in the brain’s synapses as they shrink and expand, even at the nanometer level. They found that the synapses were 18 percent smaller only after a few hours of sleep. This phenomenon occurred in around 80 percent of synapses, with the largest ones did not experience any changes.

What do you think about the changes in the brain synapses? How often and how much do you sleep during a normal day?

Image source: Wikimedia

Google designed the Android One Platform as a way to provide low-cost Android smartphones to developing markets. The main benefit of using the platform is that users can avoid the usual issues that come with cheap smartphones such as competing services, bloatware, as well as a lack of security and software updates.

A new report issued by The Information has revealed that Google wants to bring the Android One platform to the United States in order to solve those types of issues which are still common for cheap smartphones even in the US as they are not restricted only developing regions.

For its Android One platform, Google has historically partnered with low key manufacturers of smartphones such as QMobile, Micromax, and Cherry.  This allowed Google to dictate the specific parts and components that would go into the phone that those companies were making. However, after some time since the program initially launched in India, Google became more flexible and even decided to expand its platform in several parts of Africa, in Portugal and Spain.

Unfortunately, despite the many benefits of the Android One platform for low-end consumers, the program did not the reach the success Google was hoping it would. Nonetheless, it remains an important initiative for the company, one which is keen on expanding even in the US it seems.

Google has an important stake in making sure that as many Android smartphones as possible receive security updates besides other new features on a regular basis. However, the company has yet to put some real effort into the platform, with the launch of the platform in the US might be an indication of this. Therefore, some of the company’s plans for the future of Android could become clearer, especially since the launch of Pixel.

At the moment, Google seems to want to develop their own high-end hardware while still allowing their core services into low-end devices. One thing is clear, Google will not be making the Android One platform devices for the US, but it hasn’t revealed which companies will make them instead. The report reveals that the low-end devices are expected to launch before the middle of 2017.

Image source: Android

Microsoft StaffHub facilitates the scheduling options for managers and shift workers.

Microsoft’s Office suite is probably the popular series of tools for any Windows-enabled office worker. As such, the company is always adding new features and functions which attempt to facilitate the work of users. The latest addition is the Microsoft StaffHub which is aimed at the management of deskless workers who work in shifts and have varying schedules.

The Microsoft StaffHub was initially unveiled as a preview during the fall of last year with the purpose of collecting various user feedback in order to tweak the software before its official launch today. Microsoft’s trial initiative was a success as more than 1,000 business signed up for StaffHub, from a hospitality company to a large winery from California.

According to Bryan Goode, the General Manager for Office 365, there is a large number of shift workers in the US as well as over the entire world who require a better management tool for their schedules and shifts. While most companies still operate with physical or dated apps, business is starting to see the benefit of having these operations in the digital space by making changes online.

However, the new Microsoft StaffHub is more than any just calendar app with a few scheduling options. Managers who are in charge of establishing the schedule and shifts of employees can do so in the desktop app while employees only ever need to access the app on their mobile phones. As such, this provides a lot of relief to deskless workers who can’t keep track of their overall schedule.

Furthermore, the new Microsoft StaffHub allows managers to make use of various features as a way to differentiate between different types of shifts by using custom labels like night, day, or opening or even implement a color coding system. Additionally, the managers can write a few notes regarding a specific work that the employee must do during his shift.

StaffHub doesn’t require that you constantly create new schedules and shifts despite being the same as a previous period. You can use any previously created schedule and copy them to a new period. Managers can, of course, make any changes to the copied schedule as they see fit. The app even supports the sharing of files even to employees who only use the mobile app.

Image credit: Microsoft StaffHub

Sennheiser revealed several new headphone models at CES 2017.

If you’re on the lookout for the next best thing regarding headphones, the Consumer Electronics Show is the place to be, as many companies reveal what they managed to develop over the last few months or even years. Sennheiser has announced a number of different headphones and earbuds.

Although the company is best known for their over-the-ear headphones, they are not shy about experimenting with other designs and new features as a way to move the audio technology further. During this year’s CES, they manage to impress once again, revealing a number of standard headphones and earbuds as well as releasing its first neckband-style in-ears headphone titled the HD 1.

According to Christian Ern, the head of Sennheiser’s Portfolio Management Audiophile, the HD1 headphones were inspired by people who refuse to compromise in their ambition and push their boundaries. The HD1 in-ear Wireless represents this exact ethos only in the form of a neckband headphone.

The HD1 uses various methods for connecting to your main device, from Bluetooth 4.1 to aptX, AAC, and even NFC pairing. Although the battery last only 10 hours, it can be fully charged in just 1.5 hours. The headphones with a three-button remote, a microphone, and can even pair up with two devices at once. The neckband headphone will be available later this month for the price of $200.

If the new HD 1 sleek and stylish HD1 neckband wasn’t enough for some people, the company has also announced at CES two new in-ear headphone models. These are the HD 4.50 BTNC and the 4.40 BT. Both headphones are wireless and come with Sennheiser’s NoiseGard active noise canceling feature.  The device can easily be paired with your favorite mobile device using either Bluetooth 4.0 or NFC.

Sennheiser revealed that both models have a battery life of around 25 hours, depending on whether the active noise cancellation is turned off. Nonetheless, even if the feature is enabled they can offer up to 19 hours of excellent sound quality. Both models come with battery-free passive mode when their cable is being used.

Unfortunately, Sennheiser has not revealed any specific details regarding the price of either device, but they will be available starting with February.

Image credit : Digital Trends

Twitter has launched 360-degrees live video feature.

Although Twitter is one of the more unconventional social media platforms due to the fact that users share news and chat through a limited number of characters, the company is gradually diversifying its services and features. It has recently added the capacity for users to watch 360-degree live video on Twitter.

The new feature is available to all users when it comes to watching videos. However, only a limited number of content providers and big name broadcasters can publish the video on Twitter using Periscope, the company’s live streaming app.

The new feature comes just as Twitter started to focus more on live video and events. The company’s new strategy is not surprising considering that video is Twitter’s number one ad format when it comes to revenue.

Furthermore, the launch of 360-degree live videos is that much more essential for the Twitter to remain relevant, as many of its competitors like Facebook and its Instagram app already launched such a feature earlier this year and they continue to invest heavily in video features, believing that it is the future of communication and overall media.

Twitter’s new live video feature will have a lot of beneficial implications for the company. It will be able to attract large media companies to release their content on the social media platform. The new feature also suggests that Twitter is keen on integrating Periscope as a core service of their social media platform. It is very likely that it will lead to the creation of a unified platform with one single large user base and audience.

Furthermore, the new live video feature will likely lead to an improved viewing experience for Twitter’s various streams of TV content such as NFL matches. Additionally, it could even become a platform on which to provide live video content compatible with VR headsets.

Despite the potential that the new feature holds for Twitter, the company still has a lot of competition from a lot of companies, including Facebook, Google’s YouTube or Amazon’s Twitch. Twitter’s future will likely depend on the success of these type of feature since the social media platform is not yet profitable but plans to become during next year.

Are you a Twitter user? If so, how often do you watch videos on the platform?

Image source: Pixabay