The article describes research done on electrical stimulation of the balance organs. The focus here is on a counter-intuitive feature, but true nevertheless, that in certain circumstances the ability to communicate with a weak, degraded signal can be improved by adding random noise.

This is just one of many electro-therapies and tools which are being developed. They should be cheap and readily available in the next year or so. They reflect a move away from the medical to the engineering approach, with a much more rapid development cycle.

I'm looking at a DIY system to detect changes in my posture, informing me when I stoop or lean, so that I can correct the problem. Size: a pack of cards, Component cost: under £10.

John