I got to play around with an ELISPOT reader today. Also read about the differences between humoral and cellular immunity. Laypeople naturally think of antibodies when the subject of developing immunity comes up, but there's a lot more to it than just that (think: lymphocytes, cytokines).

There's a book on immunology that I borrowed from the library last month. I think I'll check it out again.

I also want to point anyone reading this to a list of clean jokes here.

Last night, I was reading about the hardware and software involved in ELISPOT analyzers. The applications for machine intelligence in these vision routines are interesting. Doing this properly also requires a pretty good understanding of camera design and machine vision techniques.

I'd say more, but I've got a whole bunch of other writing to do.

Okay, so I've just done some intensive reading on immunology -- cytokines, assays, interferon, lymphocytes, B cells and T cells, humoral immunology and the like. Very interesting, and very nice. I almost wish I could reinvent myself as a biologist.

Not really, though. I like the work that I do.

Earlier, I mentioned that I had an opportunity to learn about some ELISPOT analyzers. I've also been reading about immunology. Speaking as a techie, I'd say that the adaptive mechanisms behind immune systems are far more complex than any man-made system I've ever encountered -- indeed, against any ever built. Some info on immunology and ELISPOT can be found here and here.

The humble beginnings of immune therapy are something to behold.

Valentine's Day sucks.

I was recently re-united with someone that I love very dearly.

Yes, my laptop just came back from the shop. Its power circuitry had failed, and it took seven weeks to repair the thing. It didn't help that the power circuitry also blew out my battery, which had to be replaced.

Actually, I'm a little sore at the CompUSA technician that I spoke to, when I brought my laptop in for repair. He said that if I paid $30 extra, it would only take about four days to repair my computer. I think he must have been a new (and still under-trained) employee, since other CompUSA employees later told that this wasn't the case. But enough of that.

I've had opportunities to see the ELISPOT analyzers and software from a company called CTL. I was immediately struck by how well-designed the user interfaces were. If only more programmers would develop a proper understanding of user interface design principles!

Their programmers seemed to be sharp blokes as well. A lot of programmers don't understand software design disciplines and the elements of object-oriented programming, but these people seem like they're on the ball.

Hello. This is my place for miscellaneous ruminations and the like. I expect that this will cover matters of technology, ethics, logic, science, creativity and more. Let's see what evolves, shall we?