Communication

Increasingly inexpensive telepresence aims at the home

Submitted by Daryl Weade on

Beam+ telepresence device with two childrenSuitable Technologies has announced a telepresence robot, the Beam+, for just under $2000 (pre-order for $995). The device offers a 10-inch screen using two cameras and 4 microphones for video teleconferencing, which is build onto a stalk and moved about by a three wheeled based controlled by the "visitor" through an application on the their end.

 

Using beacons to more effectively remind or market to shoppers

Submitted by Daryl Weade on

InMarket Beacon

Back at Apple's 2013 event, they mentioned iBeacon as part of their new upgrades. This technology uses Bluetooth Low Energy to alert your phone when it comes within range of a beacon - a small, low-powered device used to identify a place. Sneaky Apple not only announced a major competitor to NFC (Near Field Communiction), they also announced that some of their products (and others) have built in beacon functionality and have had them for some time. With the rollout of iOS 7 and OS X 10.9, there are suddenly tens of millions of iBeacon ready devices which can both seek or offer location awareness.

Why is this important? Bluetooth low energy technology currently offers a range of 50 meters/160 feet using a trickle of energy (less than 15 milliamps according to this page). Your phone is suddenly able to identify interesting or even necessary locations within that range with very little impact on the device itself. This is a major step towards the Internet of Things and, as with most leaps forward, will have both positive and negative impacts on our lives and privacy.

Childlike learning at any age

Submitted by Daryl Weade on

Takai Hensch, a Harvard professor of molecular and cellular biology, is researching valproic acid* to enhance learning. VPA is used to treat several conditions (see below*), but Hensch is researching the chemical's ability to provide adult brains with the plasticity children experience when it comes to learning new skills and to absorb new information.

In his research (via PubMed.gov), Hensch is focused on teaching adults perfect pitch. But the applications could enable learning in nearly any field. The expectation is an increase in how well adults can take in information in order to speed their learning of new material. When you consider how long it takes to master some specialties, this could help learners increase the speed through which they can cover material and provide extra years of work at higher levels. It would be a major breakthrough for increasing the efficiency of preparing humans for nearly all types of work.

IFTF: Feral Zones

Submitted by Daryl Weade on

MendikostanIFTF blog posted this Artifact from the Future (click the thumbnail to see the full image on their site). I'm of the opinion that self-driving vehicles will eventually be forced upon us due to the expense of insuring our vehicles with a higher fee when we take over the driving.

A Robotic Petting Zoo

Submitted by Daryl Weade on

Image of robotic petting zooMinimaforms presented Petting Zoo, an interactive display designed to respond to human touch and movement. Using a Kinect camera and software designed to respond with emotions, the exhibition provided three "pets" with three different patterns of responses and a basic machine learning allows each to develop behaviors based on input from the situation.

The Joining

Submitted by Daryl Weade on

She found herself robed and ready on time, which was expected - a lack of synchronicity is a sin.  Her mother and father stood to either side of the door, ready to enter at her side.  They would offer her to the Colony, supporting her as she adjusted to the input.  She shivered at the thought of it, but had been advised it was controllable.  Practice would provide some autonomy and mastering the filters would limit unwanted intrusion.

The Joining

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She found herself robed and ready on time, which was expected - a lack of synchronicity is a sin.  Her mother and father stood to either side of the door, ready to enter at her side.  They would offer her to the Colony, supporting her as she adjusted to the input.  She shivered at the thought of it, but had been advised it was controllable.  Practice would provide some autonomy and mastering the filters would limit unwanted intrusion.

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Home sick, but learning

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“Guess what, class?”  Mrs. Higglemeister waved everyone to silence.  “I’d like us to welcome Katie back today. She’s able to join us from home until she can return to school and you can see she’s in her desk as if she was here.”

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Whirlpool reinvents the kitchen of the future, all over again

Submitted by admin on

Shot of futuristic table top

Whirlpool shows off a futuristic kitchen design including a reworked cook top, responsive countertops with heating and cooling, and a new approach to refrigeration.  Honestly, it seem they've been reinventing the kitchen for so long, I'm amazed da Vinci didn't present a "Kitchen of the 17th century" when the calendar ticked to 1500.  They're always so colorful and fluid and look like they got blown into space from the Enterprise, but somehow my 2012 kitchen is still using gas fed flame and filled with stone that was ancient when da Vinci's mother was hoping for someone to invent disposable diapers.  That said, I can dream as well...

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