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Hilton hotels switch to smartphones
Hilton Hotels
Hilton hotels announced their brand-new tech upgrades that will turn their smartphones into their check-in desk, key and bill at the end of their stay. - photo by istockphoto.com/LordRunar
Madeleine Richards
Deseret News National
Updated: Aug 7, 2014, 12:00 AM
Published: Aug 4, 2014, 5:20 PM

The days of losing your hotel room key and waiting in a long line to check-out and pay your bill might be over. Hilton Worldwide announced yesterday that they'll be revolutionizing the way its hotel system works in the near future, making your stay much more compatable with your smartphone.

The Hilton tech upgrades will turn your iOS and Android phone into your check-in desk that allows you to pick your own room, your room key during your stay and any easy way to get your bill and check out when you're ready to go home.

By the end of 2014, the Hilton HHonors app will begin to include a check-in and room selection process the day before you arrive, requests for specific amenities and upgrades, and a quick check-out and emailed bill. These changes will take affect in over 4,000 Hilton properties by the end of the year.

Hilton reports that the room key smartphone technology will begin to be installed in 2015, allowing guests to check-in beforehand and go straight to their room when they arrive at the hotel.

Hilton says that for security reasons, the actual technology making this possible isn't being released. "We have spent the past few years testing a number of different options to make this vision a reality, and we are developing proprietary technology that is safe and reliable for our guests to use, and cost-effective for our hotels to install," says Christopher J. Nassetta, president and chief executive officer of Hilton Worldwide.

They say the new technology will hopefully be in all U.S. Hiltons by the end of 2015, and go global by the end of 2016.

You can contact Madeleine Richards at mrose.richards@gmail.com or on Twitter @MRoseRichards.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
Deseret News
Published: Aug 13, 2018, 1:39 PM
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.