today on our program, latest efforts to make technology more accessible to the disabled here in the bay area. plus.... >> if a for profit hospital she has a greater chance of having a c-section. >> an important decision for expecting mothers may depend more on the hospital they choose and saving for college, first of a kind program for kindergartens. the city puts in the first $50. >> we begin with a breahrough. researchers in san jose are studying the behavior of atoms and it could change computers as we know it. ibm scientist and sebastian will tell you it takes a big machine to study small matter. this highly refined microscope allows them today the of of

atoms. >> it's the smallest you are going to do engiering with. our mission how can we do data storage starting from single atoms. >> they are part a team that has developed a breakthrough technique, they just puished their research in the journal of science. they have the ability to record the behavior inside atoms spinning at incredible speeds. that has unlocked the mist of how long information stays in a single atom. >> one atom, one nano second, you can't do ones because that is a billionth of a second. >> but this scanning microscope can move atoms. they use a model to illustrate what happens when they manipulate the red iron atom. >> another atom goes to it. it increases the time by a

factor of 200. >> they are envisioning data storage, that sounds like science fiction. it canrnl hold 100,000 times the informati than this hard drive. >> it ranges from an increase in the number of songs and movies on your i-pod to a quantum leap in solar technology. >> in the and we can create institutional and prototypes that may eventually end up in products. they have been working on the project for 12 years. this breakthrough gives people a glimpse in what is possible for atom storage. the journey will not be measured in years but in decades. there are new efforts in the bay area to make high-tech products more accsible for the disabled. david louie reports. >> there was ah-ah moment when

they unvled the iphone 4. instead of back and face cameras it opened a new door for people. there was an immediate reaction. >> they had tears in their eyes when they realize this had a completely different aning, actual lay large population of disabled. >> building accessibility into the latest technology is helping the blind or people with limited vision. >> despite these examps of progress, users and engineers say problems stil remain. >> it doesn't matter with it's iphone or blackberry, the accessibility is not there yet. >> victor is the accessibility project manager at yahoo. he tries to come up with solutions but it's not that

simple. >> i've been a computer user for years and it works for other people, but i don't want to people to judge this based on what i think. >> he has succeeded in doing is getting colleagues making accessibility part of any project and service at yahoo. >> it will make me understand, it's unfortunate that people won't use it so you shouldn't be happy putting it out unless everybody can use it. >> and there is something that goes beyond public benefit. they are focused on the issue for 30 years says the 60 million disabled in the u.s. have a disposable ince of $220 billion. >> most companies come in and see as customs, we have a hard time standing here if it was

differt. >> we visited the school of the deaf. they rely on mobile phones for texting. one deficiency they would like address secd-degree slow speeds that make visibility poor. >> it looks like a ghost trail when people are signing. you can see th the sign language an i wish they would improve on that. >> meeting the needs of every disabled person may be a challenge but there is optimism and doubt on how soon it will happen. >> i'm hoping it will be ten years but sooner than that and they will make progress, but will the i don't know. >> silicon valley companies and other companies will grow more sensitive to the needsf the deaf community, a community knows that the techcal prowess exists. >> researchers at stanford have developed a cheap way to purify

wate in poorer parts of the world and on camping trips. >> she is purifying water thousands times faste than any times before it. it uses nanotechnology. >> peopl would drop a silver doll dollar to clean it. >> if you run a minute amount of elect it amply ties the bacterial powers thousands times. they are making the first batteries, cotton infused with the hottest thing today. so they have nano wires. >> using eltricity and nano wires to try to treat water. >> nano silver with nano carbon

did the trick. they could get 98% of the e. coli in the water in one pass. >> just tiny amounts, there is no reason we can't do thousands of gallons quickly. >> in fact all the water used by one household in one year could be treated with one filter in one hour the size o a kitchen sink >> the biggest applications will be remote areas, third world countrie >> with a couple of batteries you could take sometng like this on the camping trip. richard hart, "abc 7 news." and environmental dilemma faces cal trains. how do protect their one of a kind plant. plus.... >> when you are bigger you're all going to college?

>> the program is n san francisco giving kindergarteners a downpayment for college. ♪ [ female announcer ] plait's real fruit and the goodness of dairy... gives you a little slice ohappy. and happiness comes in 25 delicious avors. explore them all. yoplait. it is so good. w the yoplait you love in a new four pack. try it today.

welcome back. bay area envirmentalist are trying to get a plant listed on the endangered species list. >> scientists thought the franciscan manzanita was gone forever but last fall they we on a doyle drive off-ramp and something caught his eye. >> i phone a professor kind of excited, i said i'm sorry lou, what if it were. >> nestled between the retaing wall it was a large franciscan manzanita. work on clearing the vegetation reveal it to his sharp eye. >> there is some specution it

could ha been there since spanish times and survived the construction of e bridge. it's more likely it came up from seeds buried in the soil. >> the location was kept secret and it was moved to another secret spot. a process requiring cooperation among groups that don't normally see eye to eye. >> it could have been a train wreck, a billion dollar bridge projec, instead everyone held hands for the price of a couple thousandups of coffee. >> it requires the federal governme to add to it endangered species list. >> it pects endangered plants but not extinct plants. >> an executive director is petitioning. >> it's not a question of signatures, its formal document, they call it a petitio to list it as an endangered species and

that kick started a process to protect plant plant. >> he expected it to be lifted within a year. and when it happens a recovery plan will go into place but that should not snd in the way of doyle construction. heather ishimaru, "abc 7 news." it's only inan francisco program. this one helps youngsters help pay for their college educatio it's called kindergarten to college. >> these kindergarteners at sanchez elentary school in the mission district learn they'll soon have a colle savings account. >> when you are bigger you're going onollege, right? >> they are the first to invest taxpayer money to help them afford higher education. >> the only way school districts are successful is when entire communities behind them and start believg in the can children. >> the amount not large, just $50 or $100 for low income

students. the idea is that private corporations and nonofits will step u with matching grants and parents are being encouraged to chip in. >> she is talking about her daught. she and 1200 of the city's kindergarteners will be included in the pilot program this year with expectations that by the third year 100 am ll be covered. >> san frcisco's program is unique but there are others emphasing the importance of a college education. includg this charter school appropriately called st. college now. for the past few years they have gichbth grade $1,000 college scholarsps. >> that is something tangible and powerful an make sure they will stay motivated. >> the budget authorizes $257,000o get the program started. a supervisor thinkthat is a

response given the current financial climate. >> i don't believ now is the right time to extend ourselves into a new entitlement program. it could cost us millionsf dollars in the future. >> we make investments, we just don't make cuts. >> citibank sets up the aounts for free. c-section or natural birth, a new report suggests important decision for expectant mothers may depend on the hospital they choose. and a local couple ss the lamp keeps burning out on projection [ fale announcer ] this is a strawberry pop tt... and this is a warm, fresh baked strawberry toaster strudel. we askedids what they want... and we got a clear awer. the one kids want to t. [ kids ] oooooooooooooh. toaster strudel. layers of browniand caramel, dipped in chocolate

ready to eat swe moments new from plsbury. in the refrigerated section [ unger brother ] oh, do you want it? yeah. ok, 'll split it. female announcer ] made fresh, so light... ...buttery and flaky... this is half. thats not half. guys i have more. [ female announcer ] do? with cinnabon cinnan have such a sweet andelicious aroma that my family can't wait to get their hands on them. enjoy cinnab cinnamon... now in all pillsburyinnamon rolls.

welcome back. women are more likely to have a cesarean section at a private hospital than a public one.

carolyn johnson looks at the findings. >> for expectant mothers, whether they are going to have a c-section is on their minds. >> i'm going to have a c-section if they induce me and i was nervoubecause the recovery time was a lot longer. being a first time mom i di't know what to expect. >> she ended not having the c-section but more babies are being delivered that way. from 1996 to 2007 the rate of c-sections rose 56% and turn out the odds of having one, it has something to do with where you deliver your baby. >> we looked at hospitals for profit or nonprofit, there we saw you a significant difference. >> california watch reporter nathaniel johnson poured over the records and found significant differences. in general, c-section rates have

been climbing for years partly because of older mothers and increasing obesity johnson took out the highest risk for analysis. >> we found a healthy woman walking into at hospital, if its for profit hospital, she has a greater chance of having a c-section. >> in fact 15% more likely. they were found in hospitals catering to all ethnic groups and. >> there were lots of examples of hospitals in the same area serving the same populatio with radically different rates. >> some of it may be patient characteristics but it could be hospital, physician

characristics. >> he chair of obstetrics and gynecology in san francisco. its private hospital. >> its difficult business. we can be damned for doing too few c-sections and damned if we too many. >> the rate was lower than the statewide average for similar hospitals. >> many of the publi hospitals are teaching hospitals andave more standardized approach to care. in a private hospital there is a lot more independence of the physician. >> but it is major abdominal surge with a higher risk of complication >> so it leads to a second and third and that is where most of the complications arise. much more with secondly or third cesarean birth. >> a dramatic increase in the maternal deathate.

they are exploring the possible conntion to the rise in c-sections. comparing to hospital with similar demographics they revealed that rising c-section rates cannot be attributed to changes in patient's health but johnson says one significant concsion can be drawn. >> it looks like people are doing a lot of unnessary c-sections out there. >> most popular tvs in recent years has been the projection lcd. michael finney explains. >> jack and arlene were enjoying their big screen tv when they heard a groan and a po >> we turned it on again and it went like that. >> second time it was a bang, actually. >> the screen went black. it had happene before. the projection lamp of their rear projection lcd had burned out. no problem, the tv was still

covered under and extended warranty with a company. so they made a claim. >> what do you mean it's not covered. you covered it two years ago. >> we don't cover that lamp. i said, well, according to my contract, it doesn'tay it doesn't cover it. >> the warranty company had been sold to new owners who called the prior coverage a gift. so they faced $314 for a new lamp called 7 on your side. we contacted the company and sure enough it pointed to the clause saying the warrant doesn't cover consumer replaceable items. to double check we looked at toshiba's owner's manual, right there, the lamp is replaceable and shows how to do it.

>> this is tv repair expert richard wong of art's tv service in san francisco. many projection tv owners are surpriseto learn that the lamps blow out every few years. >> jack and arlene are certainly surprised to hear this, too. >> so apparently this type of projecon tv has a history of the lamp going out every two years. we weren't told that when we bought. >> it is it the warranty company's fault? still after 7 on your side pointed out the company, they didn't change. we decided the right thing to do was reimburse the cost of the replacement bulb due to historic issues the cusmer had. we look at each issue on a case by case basis and work to do

what is right. >> theyid a reversal and i got a check in the mail. i don't know what you did. it worked a miracle. up next, a bay area man with a unique baseball collection, the celebrity signatures he's gathered over the years. [ older brother ] hey, that's the lastrescent. [ younger brother ] oh, do you wt it? yeah. ok, we'll split it. [ female announcer ] made freshso light... ...buttery and flaky... is is half. that is not half. guys i have more. female announcer ] do you have enough crescents

ith cinnabon cinnamon have such a swt and delicious aroma that my mily can't wait to get their hands on them enjoy cinnabon cinnamon... now in all pillsbury cinnamon rolls. ♪ ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] now everyone can explore the world fr home. at&t is making high speed intnet more affordable than ever at only $14. a month. one-year price guarantee.

with celebrity and fame come obligaons, among them is autographs. some celebrities sign all kinds of things, from paper to bare skin. as wayne freedman found out a castro valy man had a better idea. >> we are about to show you the difference between filing and pili. >> there is a pool table under this. >> bob of castro valley, what

somebody collects stuff lik this it's multiple lays even in the kitchen again. >> couple years ago i had a party. >> looks like you never cleaned up. >> that is a thought. >> if you go through the piles you will find one recurring theme that baseball never ends. 6400 autographed baseballs. >> roger maris. ted lliams, babe ruth. >> but the rest like gene kelly, dear abby fills personal requests. >> post office loved me. >> he would throw in a photo and add themselves to his collecti. >> they are famous people. >> so you settle on baseballs because? >> theare different. >> but now the twist because after three decades and 6400

signatures, bob has decided to put the entire collection up for sale. >> how will it go? >> i would is like to see in it vegas and other people can see. >> it bob estimatesmight be worth millions because the collection is so complete so quirky. >> he zbhot john wayne and john wayne gacy clearlthis is a well thought out collection. >> and filed, we might add, not piled. >> if you want more information on the stories on our program today, just go to our website at www.abc7.com. that is all for this edition of

assignment 7. i'm kristen sze. thank you so much for joinings we'll see you back here next time. it's really delicious, mom. it's not too well done? nope. but it . what are you reading, sweetie? when you're done, i'd love se feedback. sure. your mom and i read that thing cover-to-cover. loved it. thanks would you mind if i cut the ln this weekend? only if you let me talk to your mother on thphone for hours on end. done. [ male announcer ] u-verse brings pea to the family. at&t u-verse lets u record four shows at once from any room and play them ck on any tv. now get up to $300 back in promotion cards. at&t. rethink ssible.