∩∀g@rjμ∩∀ M@nc#!nen!: June 2012

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Booster Brolly: The solar-powered, signal-boosting umbrella

The Vodafone Booster Brolly uses solar panels to power your mobile phone and an antenna to boost its signal

To really get the most out of the summer you have to head out of the city and into the country. Whether it be for a camping trip or a festival outing, the great outdoors is the best venue for sunnier days. Unfortunately rain can ruin a great day, as can a lack of mobile reception and the inability the charge your mobile phone. Vodafone thinks it has the answer to all three of these problems with the Booster Brolly, a humble umbrella turned all-in-one tool.

The InaTrap insect killer lures insects using an intermittent light and photocatalyst reaction to produce CO2

We know there’s an ongoing quest to build a better mousetrap, but what about a better insect trap? That’s just what Acase, working with design house inadays, believes it has done with the creation of the InaTrap. With an appearance not dissimilar to a designer lamp, the InaTrap attracts, traps and kills insects so you can ditch the swatter and insect spray.

The lab prototype of the pizzicato knee-joint energy harvester

If you’ve ever worn a knee brace, then you may have noticed what a large change in angle your knee goes through with every step you take, and how quickly it does so. A team of scientists from the U.K.’s Cranfield University, University of Liverpool and University of Salford certainly noticed, and decided that all that movement should be put to use. The result is a wearable piezoelectric device that converts knee movement into electricity, which could in turn be used to power gadgets such as heart rate monitors, pedometers and accelerometers.
Known as the pizzicato knee-joint energy harvester, the device fits onto the outside of the knee. It is circular, and consists of a central hub equipped with four protruding arms, surrounded by an outer ring bearing 72 plectra (a plectrum is a plucking tool, such as a guitar pick). The ring rotates about a quarter of a turn with

Kinsight is an experimental system that uses networked Kinect cameras to locate missing objects within a household

Have you ever wished that your computer could answer questions like “What did he mean when he said that?” or “Should I go to that party?” Well, while that may never happen, it could conceivably provide you with an answer if you asked it, “Where did I leave my wallet?” – if it were running the Kinsight system.
Kinsight was developed by Shahriar Nirjon and John Stankovic, who are computer scientists at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

The Satechi WTR-A lets you control your Canon DSLR from a distance of up to 50 ft (15 m), and on a budget

With the introduction of smartphone apps like Triggertrap and ioShutter, which allow you to control your DSLR from your phone, you might wonder why anyone would still buy a dedicated remote unit ... until that is, you miss a once-in-a-lifetime shot because you needed the phone for something else at the crucial moment. Sometimes simple is better. The Satechi WTR-A is a budget wireless timer remote for Canon DSLRs.

The computer model uses “similarity ensemble approach” (SEA), to detect similarities between the chemical drugs of the compounds and the molecules that cause side effects

A team of scientists from the UCSF School of Pharmacy, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research (NIBR) and SeaChange Pharmaceuticals has developed a set of computer models that can predict negative side effects associated with existing drugs. By speeding up the process and increasing accuracy, the software could potentially save billions in research and decrease the number of animals used in toxicity tests.
The model, based on UCSF’s “similarity ensemble approach” (SEA), uses the similarities between the shape of each drug and thousands of other compounds to predict possible side effects. The theory behind SEA technology is that proteins can be related by their pharmacology, and these network relationships can be explored to discover new targets for established drugs.
The team ran a computer screen on 656 drugs that are already on the market, with known side effects and benefits, to predict

David Brothers has spent the last 18 months researching, designing and producing an ergonomic seating solution for professional musicians

Much of today's modern workforce has been touched by the helping hand of ergonomic science. In a former professional life, We remember colleagues regularly disappearing on day trips to specialist furniture suppliers arranged by the Health and Safety department to be measured and fitted for a new office chair. Professional musicians, on the other hand, are often required to make do with whatever seating is provided by the concert hall or theater, as if all instruments and players had exactly the same requirements. After spending 18 months studying the needs of various players, David Brothers has now designed an adjustable three-legged seating solution to help promote good playing posture and correct breathing techniques.

Seagate unleashes Backup Plus drives to save media from social networks locally

Seagate's Backup Plus drives come in a range of colors and size capacities

Backing up data is a simple and yet forgettable part of modern life. If files are important, they need to be stored in multiple places. A desktop or laptop hard drive is the first, and an external drive, disc or the cloud is generally the second. But even if you're diligent - and more than three quarters of us aren't according to data collected by Parks Associates - pictures, videos and other files uploaded to social networking sites might miss that crucial backup. Backup Plus, a new line of storage devices from Seagate, offers to save those photos and videos you posted on Facebook, Flickr and elsewhere with the click of an icon.

New software could be used to more accurately predict noise levels in a street

House hunters could soon have a useful tool to turn to when seeking out a potential new pad. Researchers from the University of Granada have developed software that they claim can accurately predict future noise levels in a street. The system not only predicts the frequency of noise, but the type of noise that potential residents would have to put up with.
While paying a visit to a property will provide potential purchasers with much of the information required to make a decision on whether to buy or not, reliably forecasting

Mice injected with human Epo were motivated to exercise more

If listening to Eye of The Tiger at full bore isn’t enough to get you off your backside to blast those glutes and pump those biceps anymore, then drugs might be the answer. A team of Swiss researchers has discovered that raising the levels of the hormone erythropoietin (Epo) in the brains of mice resulted in the rodents being more motivated to exercise. The discovery provides the possibility of developing a pill that can motivate people to want to exercise.

The EPFL UAV rights itself after a fall

Researchers from the Laboratory for Intelligent Systems at Switzerland’s EPFL federal research institute were inspired by the resilience of flying insects, and set out to replicate it in a miniature unmanned aerial vehicle. They succeeded, creating a UAV that can crash into things, fall down, then right itself and get back in the air.

Skype claims its visual ads will serve as entertaining talking points

Skype announced today that Windows users of its popular voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service who do not possess Skype Credit or subscriptions will be subjected to silent visual advertisements dubbed “Conversation Ads” when making one-to-one audio calls. The move follows last year’s buyout of Skype by Microsoft for a reported US$85 million.

TAICHI is powered by 3rd generation Intel Core i7 processors, features SSD storage and DDR3 system memory, and comes with built-in dual-band 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, two USB 3.0 ports, HDMI and DisplayPort connectivity

There's no denying that tablet computers have carved out quite a substantial niche over the past couple of years, but they're not exactly an ideal productivity solution for those of us who spend much of our lives tapping away on a keyboard. Lenovo generated a flutter of excitement at CES 2010 when the company revealed its intention to combine tablet convenience with the power of a notebook in the form of

Upon completion, the E-ELT is expected to be the largest optical telescope in the world

The European Southern Observatory (ESO) council met on Monday in Garching, Germany and approved the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) program, pending the confirmation of ad referendum votes from the authorities of four member states before the next council meeting. Assuming all goes according to plan, the E-ELT is expected to begin operation early in the next decade.

A prototype of the BYU artificial spine disc replacement

The soft, collagen-rich shock absorbers in our backs, known as intervertebral discs, both add to our height (a full quarter of the spinal column's total length) and cushion our vertebrae from contacting one another. Unfortunately, aging, accidents and overuse can damage them and lead to the costly phenomenon of chronic back pain – roughly US$100 billion is spent annually on treatment in the U.S. alone. Replacement of damaged discs, rather than spinal fusion, is an option that's growing in popularity, especially because it helps maintain mobility in the spine. Now, a team from Brigham Young University (BYU) has unveiled their new artificial disc, a compliant mechanism that they believe has the potential to restore

ClamCase announces ClamBook Android and iPhone laptop dock

The ClamBook promises to super-size your smartphone experience

As smartphones become increasingly powerful and the vast repository of available apps expands, many users are warming to the idea of utilizing the tiny computer in their pocket to perform more useful tasks than checking Facebook or battling irritated avians. One of the main obstacles to mobile productivity using these devices is the lack of a screen and keyboard big enough to allow comfortable use. With this in mind, ClamCase has revealed its upcoming ClamBook laptop dock, a stylish laptop shell which promises to super-size your smartphone experience.

The Reaction Housing System deployed in a stadium parking lot (Photo: Reaction Housing Systems)

In a world where millions of people are forced from their houses every year because of natural disasters, there is an ongoing need for huge numbers of decent mid- to long-term temporary housing units that can be swiftly delivered to the affected area. The Reaction Housing System has been developed to make the wait as short as possible.

Gary McMurray, chief of GTRI's Food Processing Technology Division, with the Intelligent Cutting and Deboning System

Chickens have another reason to lose sleep thanks to roboticists at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI). Using 3D imaging technology, the Intelligent Cutting and Deboning System developed at GTRI can debone an entire chicken with the skill of a human butcher and has the potential of saving the poultry industry millions of dollars by reducing costs and waste.

The Pirate Bay is already inaccessible via most UK internet service providers, though workarounds are relatively easy to find

Another milestone in the ongoing effort by UK lawmakers to restrict access to The Pirate Bay was reached on Friday, as British internet service providers Be Broadband and parent company O2 joined counterparts Sky Broadband, Virgin Media and Everything Everywhere in blocking access to the controversial file sharing website.
Responding to customer’s concerns regarding the matter in a blog post published recently, Be Broadband commented:
"We wouldn't choose to do this voluntarily but we need to comply with UK laws just like any UK business. We're aware of the concerns voiced by members about the broader issue. Our policy of zero traffic management means that we treat all protocols equally (e.g. web, downloads, VPNs) and we will do as much as we can to give you the internet as you want it, whilst complying with UK laws."
The move follows a High Court order issued in April of this year which ordered ISP’s to remove access to the beleaguered website and effectively place it out of reach for the majority of UK internet users. The only UK broadband providers who still offer a safe port in the storm for those wishing to access The Pirate Bay (or TPB) are currently TalkTalk and BT, the former company having still not implemented the ordered change, while BT has been granted extra time by the High Court to make the necessary arrangements.

Launched in 2003, TPB is a Sweden-based torrent website which provides Magnet Links (a peer-to-peer download standard) to material which is often copyrighted, such as popular movies and TV shows, which can be downloaded by making use of a BitTorrent client like uTorrent for Windows, or Transmission for Mac and Linux.
TPB’s often belligerent anti-copyright stance and notoriety has led to the website being a prime target for authorities worldwide, yet despite multiple lawsuits it still thrives, with web traffic analysts Alexa currently citing TPB as the web's 77th most visited website, globally.
Source: Be Broadband

Disco ball-like side mirror for cars eliminates blind spots, without the fish-eye effect

Dr. Hicks' mirror (top) as compared to a regular flat driver's side mirror

While there are already various anti-blind-spot automobile mirrors on the market, these all tend to incorporate a very curved surface that drastically distorts the appearance of objects seen in them – given that drivers use their mirrors to avoid getting in accidents, it’s kind of important that those mirrors show the surrounding traffic as it really is. That’s why Dr. Andrew Hicks, a mathematics professor at Philadelphia’s Drexel University, has created a side mirror that eliminates the blind spot, while causing almost no distortion.
Although Hicks’ mirror is made up of one continuous piece of glass, it has a subtle non-uniform curve that is the result of tens of thousands of calculations. “Imagine that the mirror’s surface is made of many smaller mirrors turned to different angles, like a disco ball,” he said. “The algorithm is a set of calculations to manipulate the direction of each face of the metaphorical disco ball so that each ray of light bouncing off the mirror shows the driver a wide, but not-too-distorted, picture of the scene behind him.”
As a result, the mirror offers drivers a field of view of approximately 45 degrees, while any distortion of shapes or flat lines is “barely detectable.” A regular flat driver’s side mirror, by contrast, can only manage about 15 to 17 degrees.

Unfortunately, cars made in the U.S. are required to come from the factory with flat driver’s side mirrors only – curved mirrors are only permissible on the passenger side, and then only if they’re marked with the phrase “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.” Nonetheless, Andrew hopes that his mirror may become commercially available as an aftermarket safety accessory. He has reportedly already gotten some interest from investors and manufacturers.
Although Hicks first developed the mirror several years ago, it received a U.S. patent just last month.
Source: Drexel University

Neutrinos do not exceed speed of light

New results from CERN today would appear to confirm that last year’s findings by the OPERA experiment which appeared to suggest that neutrinos could travel faster than light were incorrect. A faulty element of the experiment’s fiber optic timing system has been cited by CERN as a likely cause for the error.
As we previously reported, the OPERA collaborative experiment which joins CERN scientists with their counterparts located 730 km (or 454 miles) away at Italy's Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS), found that neutrons sent from the former to the latter location appeared to reach their destination 60 nanoseconds sooner than photon light particles. If true, this would seem to contradict Einstein's restricted theory of relativity, which famously states that nothing can travel faster than light in a vacuum and is the basis for much of modern physics.
Despite repeating the process 15,000 times with consistent findings, the OPERA team cautioned skepticism until the results could be independently verified and invited scientists to investigate the study’s findings.
In order to arrive at these new results, the flight of neutrinos passing once again from CERN to the Gran Sasso Laboratory was measured, this time with four separate experiments, Borexino, ICARUS, LVD and OPERA. On this occasion, each of the experiments provided results which were consistent with the speed of light having not been exceeded. The episode apparently brings to a close one of the more exciting potential findings deriving from the CERN laboratory which hosts over two thousand full-time employees.
Appearing at the 25th International Conference on Neutrino Physics and Astrophysics in Kyoto, CERN Research Director Sergio Bertolucci spoke of his anticipation of receiving such findings:
“Although this result isn’t as exciting as some would have liked,” said Bertolucci, “it is what we all expected deep down.
Source: CERN

Sunday, June 10, 2012

iPhone 5

The next iPhone may follow in the iPad's footsteps and become known as simply 'the new iPhone'

As the fifth anniversary of the original iPhone's launch approaches later this month, the Apple rumor mill has been particularly active and everything from a larger screen, radical case design and all-new dock connector have been cited as forthcoming alterations to Apple’s flagship mobile device. While nobody outside Apple’s inner circle can be sure exactly what the famously tight-lipped company has planned for the iPhone, a skeptical reading of rumors makes it possible to build up a picture of what we know, or rather what we think we know, so far.

Hardware specifications

The reports coming out of Apple rumor website 9to5Mac appears to cement the notion of a modest CPU upgrade, with the website reporting that they have access to a prototype iPhone 5 running an early beta of iOS 6. It reports that the iPhone 5 will come with a Samsung 5L8950X ARM processor, representing, it asserts, an iterative improvement over the S5L8940X of the 4S and the S5L8945X of the new iPad.
The same report asserts that the next iPhone will ship with 1 GB RAM, in line with the the new iPad: feasible given Apple's propensity for sharing hardware between iOS devices.

Screen size

Ever since the original iPhone was released back in 2007, there have been whispers of a larger screen due sometime soon. It has long been thought that Apple has experimented with screen sizes and found the iPhone's 3.5-inch screen to be the optimal size for one-handed use.
As we reported last month, the rumors have increased significantly in authority and volume, with many sources confidently stating that the next iteration of iPhone will ship with a new screen size. Among them The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) which reports that iPhone 5 will have a screen at least 4 inches in size.
WSJ is not alone in its opinion that the iPhone shall soon receive a larger screen and sources as varied as Reuters and 9to5Mac also concur.

Body design

Several images of possible iPhone body designs have been reported on various websites including 9to5Mac which received a supposed prototype part from a Chinese iPhone parts supplier named iFixyouri. It suggests a taller iPhone (in both black and white models) with metal sides and back much like the iPhone 4 and 4S. Its images also indicate the smaller dock connector, redesigned speaker grills and a second aperture next to the rear camera lens which 9to5Mac guesses is a relocated secondary microphone for video capture.
Crucially this sketchy sounding intelligence is also backed up by fellow Apple rumor website MacRumors which received an iPhone design from another parts supplier named uBreakiFix. Both sources seem to have a matching body design. The fact that there are apparently independent sources coming up with the same iPhone 5 design is, at the very least, suggestive.

Release date

Historically, Apple used to announce the latest iPhone at the annual Worldwide Developers Conference with a release following within weeks. This year the event will kick off in San Francisco on June 11. However, the iPhone 4S broke with this tradition last year and wasn't released until October 14. The general consensus seems to be that Apple will stick to the new schedule, and the WSJ reports a release around October, give or take a month.
As always, such rumors should be taken with a healthy dose of salt. And as always, we're interested to hear your thoughts on what form the iPhone 5 might eventually take.
Sources: 9to5Mac: May 22, 29 and 31; Wall Street Journal; Reuters; and MacRumors

Nite Ize WrapLit LED bends and contorts to your lighting needs

The Nite Ize WrapLit bends, wraps and flexes for all kinds of uses

The Nite Ize WrapLit LED Utility Light combines LED lighting and a big, rubberized twist tie to give you a light with an infinite number of personalities. Tie it over your work area, sculpt it into a lamp, wrap it around your arm and otherwise bend it to your needs.
Sometimes you need a flashlight. Sometimes you need an overhead reading lamp. Other times, you need a single-function utility light. The WrapLit aims to give you all of that and more. The device plants Nite Ize's INOVA Microlight atop its 18-inch (45.7 cm) Gear Tie Reusable Rubber Twist Tie. The result is a light that bends and twists to your specifications. You can snake the light into tight spaces, hang it from the roof of a camping tent or off a piece of furniture, wrap it around your neck, or build it into a stationary lamp - it gives you versatility that few other lights can.

We've seen plenty of lamps and utility lights with bendable necks, but this one looks to be particularly compact thanks to the key-chain sized LED it uses. Also, the fact that the twist tie serves as its entire base makes it a little more versatile than those that have stands or handles.
The pictures in the gallery show a few different functions, but you can probably think of a bunch of others off the top of your head. The light isn't exactly powerful (six lumens on high), but it should get the job done when working in close quarters.
The WrapLit has four different lighting modes: high, low, strobe and signal. It casts light up to 50 feet (15 m) and is visible from up to a mile (1.6 km) away. Up to 22 hours of power come from two replaceable lithium CR2016 batteries.
Nite Ize introduced the WrapLit earlier this year, and it's available now for US$12.99.
Source: Nite Ize

MH-2 is the tiny wearable telepresence humanoid robot you've always wanted

The MH-2 telepresence robot mimics the movements of its remote operator (Photo: Yamagata University)

The MH-2 is a telepresence robot like no other we have seen, and believe us, we’ve seen our share of weird robots. This tiny humanoid figure is always there for you, perching on your shoulder, ready to be remotely inhabited by your friends. Conceived by the researchers at Yamagata University in Japan, MH-2 is designed to imitate human behavior accurately enough for you to feel like your friend is actually there with you.
The truth, however, is that this friend of yours is back at home, in the living room, making wild gestures in front of some sort of a motion capture set-up and watching the video captured in real time by the MH-2. Meanwhile, the robot is busy copying all these movements, flailing its limbs around and acting as a physical beacon of your friend’s engagement in the situation. The robot's expressive capabilities are impressive, with the arms having seven degrees of freedom (DoF), while the head has three DoF, and the body has two, plus one more dedicated to imitating breathing movements.

Although both the friend and the robot are guaranteed quite a workout, it’s you who needs to do most of the heavy lifting. To make sure your Miniature Humanoid’s movements are smooth, as many as 22 bulky actuators are required. You need to carry the servomotors in your backpack so that they can pull the strings attached to the robot's joints, causing it to move.

The researchers are already at work trying to make the whole package a little smaller and more convenient, but obviously the MH-2 has never been about convenience in the first place. It’s not a production prototype. It's a bold experiment in human-robot relations.
Source: Yamagata University

Eco-click and scroll with Bondidea's solar optical mouse

The N91 solar optical mouse from Bondidea features a built-in lithium battery charged by a PV panel on top of the peripheral, and an AAA-sized alkaline battery as backup

Although we featured the world's first exclusively solar-powered computer mouse as long ago as 2007, we think it's fair to say that such solutions haven't exactly taken off. One reason could be a fear of being left unable to click and scroll if there's not enough light to juice up the I/O peripheral. Bondidea's N91 wireless optical mouse gets round any potential power fail anxiety by running from either battery or the built-in PV panel.
On the face of it, putting a photovoltaic panel on top of a computer mouse might seem like a bit of a strange idea, given that your hand will probably block out all light when in use. For much of the time, though, a mouse will likely just be sitting idly next to a keyboard or laptop, waiting for someone to handle it. So, it might as well soak up some power-giving light while it's there.

The N91 from Bondidea sports just such a top-mounted panel, which juices up a built-in rechargeable battery. There's also a battery compartment for an AAA-sized alkaline battery underneath and, although the mouse can run on solar power only, it is recommended that users install the second battery to ensure continuous operation. The battery compartment can also house a gold-plated USB nano receiver while on the move, with the peripheral using 2.4GHz anti-interference wireless technology.
In addition to left and right click buttons and scroll wheel, the N91 also has a DPI button on top. This alternates the AVAGO high speed laser optics between 1000 DPI for standard use and 1600 DPI for precision positioning.

The N91 has recently been added to Brando's online catalog (link below). At US$36, it's not the cheapest mouse on the market but it's not going to break the bank either, and it will certainly complement your solar keyboard and, ahem, green computer system.
Source: Bondidea

SOS in a Box rolls out the solar power when you really need it

The SOS in a Box solar generator kit is designed with emergency and off-grid scenarios in mind

Sun Flare Systems is a Canadian company that has developed a solar-powered backup generator. Designed to provide power in cases of outage and disaster, the patent-pending SOS in a Box kit is basically a small, portable power plant that includes a backup generator, flexible high-efficiency solar panels, and a charge controller. Sun Flare says its solar generation package is the first FAA and Airline Approved generator of its kind.
The system can run low-wattage LED A/C or D/C powered lights, cell phone chargers, radios and emergency equipment that can be plugged into the 12 volt power outlet. It is waterproof, features an external 110/120 Volt 60Hz A/C power outlet and a 12-volt car adapter. Each PV panel can be expected to produce up to 75 watts of electricity. The company has designed four different models with varying specifications and accessories: Marine R/V Line, Economy Line, Commercial Grade and Military Grade. The product is already available from Amazon UK and GearOutHere.
In the age of climate change and increasing recurrence of natural disasters, a powerful plug-and-play backup generator may indeed come in handy in emergencies. Besides, as the number of energy-hungry gadgets in our lives increases, being able to produce a considerable amount of power on the go is a welcome advancement.
Matthew Siegler, Sun Flare’s CEO and President, mentions a variety of applications for his solution, from relief efforts in Africa to first responder communication. “We have been given an opportunity to work with companies that provide vital equipment like wireless systems, first responder equipment and remote satellite communications,” he said. The company recently announced a working partnership with Last Mile Networks, a provider of emergency communications solutions.
Besides SOS in a Box, Sun Flare has also developed a Solar Mini Billboard conceived for corporate entities to advertise their own green credentials, and to generate electricity that can be fed into the grid.
Source: Sun Flare Systems

Tactus Technology display brings physical buttons to the touchscreen

Startup Tactus Technology has developed a touchscreen display with buttons that can rise out of the flat surface of its screen (Photo: Tactus Technology)

California startup Tactus Technology recently caused plenty of "oohs" and "aahs" at SID Display Week 2012. The prototype touchscreen the company presented featured buttons that can rise out of the flat surface of the screen at the user's whim, disappearing completely once they are no longer needed.
Beneath the surface of the screen are a number of microscopic channels that can be prearranged by the manufacturer, and a small amount of a clear oily substance. When the physical buttons are "switched on" by the user, the clear substance is pumped through the channels and the solid buttons magically rise out of the display. When the keyboard is switched off, the buttons disappear completely, leaving the user with a full-sized touchscreen device.
The solution appears to be more effective than previous attempts at implementing such a device. Other companies have come up with their own concepts, but the one showcased here might well be the first to reach the consumer market - the company says it will be ready by mid-2013.
In this early concept, the microchannels need to be in a prearranged pattern, such as a standard QWERTY keyboard, and cannot change their configuration - they can only appear or disappear, but the shape and position of the buttons is fixed. However, the company says the display will eventually be able to morph into a variety of different patterns that could be optimized to specific software applications.
The system is also reported to have very low power consumption. Craig Ciesla, CEO of the startup, says his team expects "less than two percent battery drain for the whole day," although such figures will obviously vary based on battery capacity and the size of the display.
While smartphones and tablets are the obvious target market, the company said the technology could also find use in the control panels of production cars.
Source: Tactus Technology

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Research at Stanford may lead to computers that understand humans

A simple mathematical model developed by psychologists at Stanford could lead to computers that better understand how humans communicate with one another

After decades of trial and error, artificial intelligence applications that aim to understand human language are slowly starting to lose some of their brittleness. Now, a simple mathematical model developed by two psychologists at Stanford University could lead to further improvements, helping transform computers that display the mere veneer of intelligence into machines that truly understand what we are saying.

Wahoo launches Blue SC Speed and Cadence Sensor for iPhone 4S

3 Pictures

Wahoo Fitness has launched the world's first Bluetooth 4.0 wireless speed/cadence sensor, allowing cyclists to monitor their performance on the iPhone 4S

Using a combination of apps on a smartphone and hardware attached to a bike is undoubtedly a more convenient and often less expensive way to wirelessly provide riders with performance data than plumping for dedicated setups of the kind manufactured by Garmin and Sigma. After all, most of us carry our phones around wherever we go. The first such combination to make use of Bluetooth Smart technology is the new Blue SC Speed and Cadence Sensor for the iPhone 4S and 3rd gen iPad from Wahoo Fitness.

OpenROV is an underwater remote-operated vehicle that will be available in a kit or fully-assembled, for use by anyone with an interest in exploring the deep

Underwater remote-operated vehicles, or ROVs, are almost impossibly fascinating. They’re controlled by a surface-based operator, who watches their real-time video feed and pilots them via a long umbilical cable. Although the big-league multi-million-dollar ROVs are used for things such as exploring the wreck of the Titanic or studying

Neuroscientists could help people see with their "mind's eye"

2 Pictures

Researchers at the University of Texas are exploring the possibility of electrically stimulating the visual cortex of the brain to create simple images and shapes

A team of researchers at the University of Texas is exploring the possibility of electrically stimulating the visual cortex of the brain to create simple images and shapes. This development could lead to a visual prosthetic device that would effectively "trick" the brain of visually impaired or blind people into seeing ... and such a device, the authors say, is only about five years away.

NASA has been given two ex-spy satellites with optics superior to those of the Hubble Space Telescope seen here (Photo: NASA)

NASA’s collection of space telescopes just got a bit bigger thanks to an extraordinary gift from America's National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) intelligence agency. The space agency announced on Monday that the NRO has given it two surplus spy satellites that are more advanced than the Hubble Space Telescope. If the money can be found for a mission for the spy “birds” then NASA will not only have two possible

The Transformer All in One brings together Windows 8, and Android 4.0

ASUS has unveiled a prototype of its latest all-in-one PC at Computex 2012. The Transformer AiO is the first desktop targeted device designed to run both Android 4.0 and the upcoming Windows 8 OS, and while an all-in-one case design isn't new, the difference here is that the 18.4-inch multi-touch display can be completely detached to function as a (very large) tablet.

Rafael Nadal demonstrates Babolat Play & Connect interactive tennis racquet

The Babolat Play & Connect interactive tennis racquet is said to look and feel like any other from the French sporting manufacturer

Some people argue that technology makes us lazy couch-potatoes who spend all day sitting in front of various screens. But tech can also make us better athletes by providing us with information about our sporting performance - whether it's shoes which log a basketball player's jumps, or outfits which give dancers feedback about their moves. Tennis players could soon be getting in on the tech-helping-hand action with the introduction of an interactive racquet.

ioShutter turns an iDevice into a remote shutter control (Photo: Photojojo)

It looks like Triggertrap is getting some competition. Like that product, ioShutter is a remote-control app/device that allows you to control how your DSLR takes photos, via your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. The app allows a camera (which is hard-wired to the phone) to be triggered in a number of ways.

In its single shot mode, ioShutter can be used to take photos simply by touching a control on the iDevice’s screen. However, it also incorporates a motor drive function, timer, time lapse, sound trigger, movement

Astronomers are suggesting that the radiation and winds from supermassive black holes at the center of galaxies halts star generation within the galaxy

Just months ago, NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory discovered record 20 million mph (32 million km/h) winds nearby a supermassive black hole. Now astronomers working on ESA's Herschel Space Observatory are suggesting that such incredibly strong winds - whose speed depends on the size of the black hole - are preventing the gas and dust in galaxies from forming new stars, explaining the link between the size of a black hole and the rate at which new stars are formed.

Limb.al is a stiff USB charging cable for iOS or Android mobile devices that also acts as a handy mount to help free your main screen free of virtual clutter by using the smartphone to display feeds and widgets

Smartphones are so monstrously powerful these days that it's like carrying around a powerful computer in your pocket. When you start work on your desktop PC, Mac or laptop, however, all that portable power is put to sleep, resigned to being no more than a glorified answering service waiting for a call. Product designer Bill May believes that your smartphone should be made to do more for the often huge cost of the monthly charges. He's created a simple USB charging cable called the Limb.al that's stiff enough to support the weight of an iPhone or Android smartphone, but can also be bent to mount your mobile device right next to your laptop display or computer monitor. You can then keep your main screen free of virtual clutter and display your feeds and widgets on your smartphone instead.
Limb.al allows your smartphone to become a stand-alone video chat device, or somewhere to ...