PROTOTYPE

Bling Booster
How do you make a diamond even more valuable? Tony Holden and Matee Serearuno, of the University of Cambridge's Institute of Manufacturing, believe they know. Their automated system for stonecutters, called iGem, works out the best way to cut a rough stone to maximize its value and reduce wastage. Descriptions of stones, which could eventually be derived from x-rays or surface scans, are fed to iGem, which classifies the stones according to size, shape, and clarity, based on variables identified by expert stonecutters. It then uses an optimization process to see, for example, whether the value of a borderline stone could be increased by a different cut that removes imperfections; in some cases, a smaller, clearer stone winds up being more valuable than a larger one. "Even small improvements can yield significant increases in profits," says Holden. In tests, the system boosted gems' value by up to 23 percent. The researchers' next goal is to integrate the system with a desktop x-ray scanner; they are discussing commercialization with a South African firm.

Keyboard Clues
Trying to use keyboard shortcuts in an unfamiliar software program is like trying to use a physical shortcut in an unfamiliar neighborhood: you're likely to get lost. San Jose, CA-based United Keys will soon release tech­nology designed to make shortcuts -- and therefore software -- more usable. The startup is developing small liquid-crystal displays that are built into the keys of a PC keyboard. Each screen displays an icon that indicates the function of its key for whatever pro­gram is running. The system can also sense what users are doing within a program, anticipate which functions they might need next, and assign those functions to handy keys. Similar keyboard displays exist but are now limited to industrial applications, like cash registers, because of their high cost. United Keys says that by making its technology more compatible with PC keyboard industry standards, it can cut costs by more than half and broaden the tech­­-nology's reach. The firm says enhanced key­boards could be available this year.