Here is one of those pieces of research I regularly shift through, that when I come to it, I think the future has arrived. A press release from Tufts University describes how its researchers are developing techniques that could allow computers to respond to users' thoughts of frustration, or lack of, about work.

Using portable imaging technology, the researchers set up a computer so it can presumably tell when a user is frustrated by too much work, boredom, or too little work. The researchers, led by computer scientist Robert Jacob, believe they can use the research to develop new evaluation techniques to help make workers more efficient.

"One moment a user may be bored, and the next moment, the same user may be overwhelmed," he said. "Measuring mental workload, frustration and distraction is typically limited to qualitatively observing computer users or to administering surveys after completion of a task, potentially missing valuable insight into the users' changing experiences."

The main feature is the use of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technology that uses light to monitor brain blood flow as a proxy for workload stress a user may experience when performing an increasingly difficult task.

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A research tool brought to my attention by a fellow journalist is a great way to dig out the dirt on someone. The journalist was searching for information a company had judiciously taken off its internet site.

Working on a tip she was able to find information that the company had hired an agency known for helping industry to hold back unionisation of their workforces.

The online archive, Wayback, allows searchers to find old web pages as they used to be at a certain time in history.

Wayback says the archive contains about 85 billion web pages archived from 1996 to a few months ago. While Google has this feature, the site, Wayback, claims to find sites more efficiently.

Wayback's strength is it allows you to get particular pages or sites at specific times. Thus, for one site I was searching for, I was able to retrieve about 30 different specific dates over five years when it was archived by Wayback. To dig out old pages on Wayback, which is free, users type in the web address of a site or page where you would like to start, and press enter. They can then select from the archived dates available. The resulting pages point to other archived pages at as close a date as possible.

Just think of the fun you could have. Think of all those horrible things you wrote on your blog that you thought you had subsequently gotten rid of! Unfortunately the site does not yet allow users to search using keywords. For that you have to go to Google. The service is available at http://www.archive.org/web/web.php

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The Hitachi's new 77-inch version of its StarBoard FX 77 Duo multi-touch whiteboard is the kind of business tool I've been waiting for a long time. However at $1,600 list it's not something every business can afford, and I will have a hard time convincing the finance director at my current job to part with the cash.

However, for anyone who can, the interactive whiteboard combines the ease of a Powerpoint presentation with the liveliness of being able to add directly to the presentation.

The StarBoard FX Duo allows user to control presentation using multi-touch hand gestures, as well as a finger, an electronic pen or any other object. For example a presenter can bring a static diagram of a plant cell to life by zooming into detailed areas by spreading his or her two fingers apart. One can also add details or remarks to a diagram with up to 72 vibrant digital inks, or link it to a flash simulation on the internet.

The FX Duo can be operated by two users at the same time, allowing students or co-presenters to add to the work while a session is underway. The FX 77 Duo relies on a camera image sensor system.

This means the board remains fully operational even when it receives the inevitable scratch or dent on the surface. The whiteboard comes with 24 customisable function buttons, allowing it to be adapted to the specific needs of each user. Incredibly, the whiteboard's software allows users to link up to 50 StarBoards together, allowing remote teaching or presentations.

Teachers can also access an online site created by Hitachi and download lesson plans, graphics and templates.

Contact Ahmed at elamin.ahmed@gmail.com if you have any comments.