Xbox 360 Modified for Heart Modeling

September 23, 2009

While some of its games and RROD’s can certainly get a gamer’s heart pumping, a former game developer for Rare has created a way to use Microsoft’s Xbox 360 to examine human hearts for defects.

Simon Scarle leveraged his extremely unique background of game development and electrocardio-dynamics research to modify a chip in the 360 so that it delivers electrical heart data instead of graphics.  The process results in the rendering of a model heart that allows doctors to see any defects or conditions, all this done five times faster and ten times cheaper than similar processes that require super computers reports Time.

Scarle, currently a computer scientist at the University of Warwick in England, told the magazine:

I can see this ... being most useful for students and early-career scientists to just quickly and cheaply grab that extra bit of computing power they otherwise wouldn't be able to get.
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Comments

Re: Xbox 360 Modified for Heart Modeling

Submitted by MonkeyPeaches on Wed, 09/23/2009 - 16:04.

so how long till the device he made with it goes RROD?

Re: Xbox 360 Modified for Heart Modeling

Submitted by lordlundar on Wed, 09/23/2009 - 15:48.

Microsoft's going to send their legal team after him, as he is backward engineering the console.

Re: Xbox 360 Modified for Heart Modeling

Submitted by Father Time on Wed, 09/23/2009 - 18:39.

Considering all the negative PR they're likely to obtain from doing so, I doubt they'll go after him.

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Debates are like merry go rounds. Two people take their positions then they go through the same points over and over and over again. Then when it's over they have the same positions they started in.

---------------------------------------------------- Debates are like merry go rounds. Two people take their positions then they go through the same points over and over and over again. Then when it's over they have the same positions they started in.

Re: Xbox 360 Modified for Heart Modeling

Submitted by Lou on Wed, 09/23/2009 - 17:07.

Uh, he is using the console for scientific purposes. If this was the case you wouldn't hear universities creating super computers with PS3s for the same purpose. I like this, cause it shows that console game can be used for other things besides gaming.

Re: Xbox 360 Modified for Heart Modeling

Submitted by SeanB on Wed, 09/23/2009 - 15:56.

Yup, they have to, unless he's got permission ahead of time, or is using a Dev kit within the rights of it.

If he didn't, or if he's not, then they have to prosecute him. If they dont, they're setting precident. You cant make all owners agree to the TOS, then selectively follow up on it.

Re: Xbox 360 Modified for Heart Modeling

Submitted by Cecil475 on Wed, 09/23/2009 - 16:01.

Plus he's modding the console! Heven forbid! Someone send Homeland Security to his door!

 - Warren

Re: Xbox 360 Modified for Heart Modeling

Submitted by 1AgainstTheWorld on Wed, 09/23/2009 - 15:33.

I guess the guy got tired of making substandard games for 360, so he quit Rare and found a way to apply his knowledge toward helping people.  Good for him.

I just hope Microsoft doesn't charge 10000 Marketplace Points per exam.

Re: Xbox 360 Modified for Heart Modeling

Submitted by SticKboy on Thu, 09/24/2009 - 08:34.

Um... have youn actually played any of Rare's more recent games this gen? Both Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts and Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise were highly creative - far moreso than most games out there - hugely fun and rather addictive too.

I don't really think you could call either substandard, not when they're scoring 80 and 82 on Metacritic.

-- teh moominz --

Re: Xbox 360 Modified for Heart Modeling

Submitted by DarkSaber on Thu, 09/24/2009 - 10:24.

Just because Metacritic has a high score doesn't mean they are above standard. Everyone knows critics scores count for shit these days. Halo 3 got 10/10 from most critics for gods sake!

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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

-------------------------------------------------- I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

Re: Xbox 360 Modified for Heart Modeling

Submitted by sortableturnip on Thu, 09/24/2009 - 08:22.

*flatline*  Oh no, he's dead???  Oh, wait, it's just the RROD  :D


Sortableturnip's Law: As an online discussion of video game violence grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Jack Thompson approaches 1

Re: Xbox 360 Modified for Heart Modeling

Submitted by SeanB on Wed, 09/23/2009 - 15:07.

The cost effectiveness will be detrimented when they have to buy a new one after every few months.

Re: Xbox 360 Modified for Heart Modeling

Submitted by Vake Xeacons on Wed, 09/23/2009 - 14:58.

First the motion capture and now this?! Is MS really that concerned about keeping up with Nintendo? I never thought the Wii heart monitor would inspire competition (let alone anyone taking it seriously).

Next week: New from Sony- The Playstation Defibulator!

Re: Xbox 360 Modified for Heart Modeling

Submitted by DarkSaber on Wed, 09/23/2009 - 15:10.

I'm holding out for the PS3 Waffle-maker myself.

--------------------------------------------------

I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

-------------------------------------------------- I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

Re: Xbox 360 Modified for Heart Modeling

Submitted by LegendaryGamer00 on Wed, 09/23/2009 - 21:38.

I'm personally enjoying the PS3 George Foreman Grill attachment.

Ooohh, I think my patties are done.

 

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Making the world a better place... one Headshot at a time...

-------------------- Making sure I retain my INSANITY

Re: Xbox 360 Modified for Heart Modeling

Submitted by DarkSaber on Wed, 09/23/2009 - 14:53.

Lets just hope it never needs repairing, MS try and wriggle out of it at the best of times!

--------------------------------------------------

I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

-------------------------------------------------- I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
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