Good morning Qcity! It’s Monday and time for most of us to get back to business. How was your weekend? Today, the weatherman is calling for partly cloudy skies with a high of 72°. Tonight, expect lows around 47°. 

Here’s what’s brewing in the news:

Cell phones may pose higher risk for children than reported

As the popularity of cell phones continues to grow, so do concerns about their safety. According to a recent report released by a group of doctors and researchers at the Environmental Health Trust, the government test used to measure the radiation people absorb from the cell phones might underestimate the levels to which most adults and children are exposed. 

The group believes that cell phones may be linked to cancer, that children are at a higher risk for radiation exposure, and that there are flaws in the radiation exposure tests used by the Federal Communications Commission radiation exposure test.

The authors report that the federal test uses a mannequin model that approximates a 6-foot-2, 220 pound person and represents only about 3 percent of the population, inaccurately predicting the radiation exposure of the other 97 percent of the population, which includes children. The group is pushing for a new testing system to measure radiation exposure in a wider range of consumers.

The findings come at a time when it is not highly uncommon for younger children, some 10 years old or younger, to use or have their own cell phones. A survey by online security company, AVG, found that more children ages 2-5 knew how to work a smart phone application than tie their shoes.

Now, experts say the phones may be putting our children’s health in danger. Earlier this year, an international panel of experts classified cell phones as being possibly carcinogenic to humans. After reviewing published studies of possible links between cancer and the type of electromagnetic radiation found in cell phones, they placed it in the same category with the pesticide DDT and gasoline engine exhaust.

In the following clip a doctor discusses the safest way to use a cell phone and the risks it poses to children. Question: Are you at all concerned about your child’s safety when it comes to cell phone usage?

Watch & Discuss
 

***

Steve Jobs biography released today

Today marks the release of one of the year’s most highly-anticipated biographies, “Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson. According reports, one of Jobs’ college buddies dishes in the book on how Jobs’ profit-driven nature made him uncomfortable. When they were in college, the friend said he would feel guilty selling devices to other students that may have cost less than $1 to make for $60. Jobs’ profit-driven nature raised a few eyebrows in 1997, when he returned to Apple. Jobs said he wanted to restore the company’s profitability, so he slashed all of its philanthropic programs. Last year, the company made $14 billion and profits and has an estimated $76 billion cash pile today, but the programs have never been reinstated. The book also details Jobs’ relationship President Barack Obama, revealing that the Apple CEO offered to design political ads for the president’s 2012 campaign despite being highly critical of the administration's policies and told Obama he was “headed for a one term presidency.” (Read more)
***

Where credit is due

Steve Jobs will go done in history as a man whose inventions contributed greatly to society, forever changing the way we live through technology. But many may fail to realize that “the father of digital cellular technology” is actually a black man. The key components that transform cell phones into miniature computers - compact speakers, microphones, keyboard, display screen and powerful circuit board with microprocessors - are the genius creations of an African-American inventor, Jesse Eugene Russell. Russell, 63, is recognized globally as a though-leader, technology expert and innovator of wireless communications. Russell holds more than 75 patents in digital cellular technologies, dual-mode digital cellular phones and digital software radio. (Read more)

Got news to share with Qcity readers? Email us at editor@qcitymetro.com.
Sign up for our weekly email newsletter below

Sign up for our Weekly Email Newsletter Email: For Email Marketing you can trust

Other Ways to Share Twitter Del.icio.us MySpace

Discussions and Submission Agreement