ShoutingInDigital
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5th
MAR
Virtual cocoon to replicate reality for all sense
Posted by James | Filed under tech
The first virtual reality device to incorporate all five senses is being developed, with a prototype on exhibition at the London Olympia Conference Centre.
Previous versions of the virtual reality device have concentrated purely on site and sound, but the Virtual Cocoon pays attention to all five senses. A tube at the nose generates smells, while a mouthpiece and tactile devices provide taste and touch sensations.
Designers promise that the end product will be able to create a virtual world that will be indistinguishable from real life. The team of scientists from various UK universities hopes that the device will be available in around three to five years.
The device will allow people to visit other parts of the world – such as going on safari in Africa – without living their own home. Other things, such as visiting ancient Egypt, will also be possible meaning it has both recreational and educational uses.
Professor Alan Chalmers from Warwick University is working on how smells will be generated electronically in the device. He said: “The idea is to produce a portable virtual reality device that you can use in the comfort of your own home.
“This will be a huge step forward in comparison to today’s virtual reality devices.
“Combining the use of all five senses will make the experience feel totally real – it will be unlike anything previously available.”
Although the devices are nearing completion, when they hit the market they are expected to cost around £1500.
Tags: quirky
9th
JAN
The Milky Way is Bigger than First Believed
Posted by James | Filed under news
Astronomers once believed that the Milky Way was but a weaker and lesser sibling to its bigger brother, the Andromeda galaxy. Thought to be smaller in both size and mass, scientists have revealed that this is not the case and that the Milky Way actually measures up comparatively with its neighbouring galaxy.
The study by Mark J. Reid of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts, unwrapped the findings at the American Astronomical Society’s convention in Long Beach, California, and gave scientists something to chew on by consigning a decades-long belief to the dustbin.
Using the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), Reid’s team multi-dimensionally mapped the Milky Way and found that not only was the galaxy actually 15 percent larger than was first thought, it was also spinning faster than previously believed; as velocity and mass are intrinsically linked, the boosted speed of the Milky Way was estimated to be around 15 percent more than before. This increase in speed helps explain the discovery of a 50 percent increase in mass over previous calculations.
Not wishing to fudge the issue, Reid claimed that the original estimates of the solar system’s speed were based on one-dimensional velocities, which were obtained solely from Doppler shifts. Due to the research team’s 3D mapping, however, it was possible to gain a more exact measurement. The VLBA is a collection of 10 telescopes situated across North America which when used together provide a higher level of accuracy than was possible before and by using the Milky Way’s stars, the research team were able to use the VLBA to note the location and dimension of time in their cosmic map.
“Previously we thought Andromeda was dominant, and that we were the little sister of Andromeda,†Reid said, “But now it’s more like we are fraternal twins.â€
A larger Milky Way also means that the gravity between it and the Andromeda galaxy is much stronger than previously thought; heightening the probability they could crash into one another – probably around 3 billion years from now.
Tags: quirky
9th
Calling all Jedi Padawan
Posted by James | Filed under social media
Forget the iPhone, ignore the Wii – NeuroSky has just announced what must be the coolest gadget for all would-be Jedis everywhere.
The new Force Trainer uses a headset which acts like a simplified hospital EEG machine to read brain activity. The brain waves are then translated into a signal which is transmitted wirelessly to the main device which then makes a ping pong ball like training sphere rise inside the tower.
Simply though the power of your mind, you can show off your Jedi powers – accompanied by actual sound effects and audio clips from the Star Wars films.
The Force Trainer is due to be released in the US in Autumn, priced around $90-$100.
Greg Hyver of NeuroSky, the company that developed the brainwave technology for both games, commented: “Until today, EEG technology has been designed for rigorous medical and clinical applications with little regard to price (and) ease of use.
“We are putting this exciting technology into everyone’s living room.”
Mattel is also planning to release their own game at around the same time. The Mattel game will be called Mindflex, and was created using the NeuroSky technology. The Mattel game allows players to guide their hovering ball around a circular obstacle course by controlling the speed with a dial on the machine, and the height of the ball using the headset.
Over at Cnet Rafe Needleman asked Mattel Senior Marketing Manager John Ludwig if future versions will offer more axes of control – not just height, and was told: “It’s all possible, it’s just a matter of money.” He also said that future games might respond not just to concentration, but to fear, anxiety, happiness, or frustration. He said: “We’re always looking for the newest way to control things.”
Mindscape is also expected to be priced at around the $80 mark when it ships this autumn.
Now if they can just perfect the light sabre and a ship that can make “the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs” maybe my dreams of becoming Galactic Emperor might be possible after all.
Tags: quirky
7th
JAN
Flexible OLED screen unveiled
Posted by James | Filed under tech
Universal Display Corporation today showed off a flexible OLED display screen that has the ability to show high quality images.30th
OCT
Konichiwa! I, Robot Maid
Posted by James | Filed under tech
Tired of mindless household chores like laundry, tidying up and mopping the floor? Well, say hello to AR, or assistant robot as he is formally called in Japan, the new celebrity robot maid that was recently unveiled to scientists and news stations across the world.
The brainchild of the University of Tokyo and carmaker Toyota, the intelligent robot is specifically designed to conduct the most common of household tasks such as sweeping, mopping, tidying up and doing the laundry. In fact, AR demonstrates such an incredible artificial intelligence that can spot a shirt needing washing and put it through a cycle on the washing machine.
AR also demonstrated above normal abilities for sweeping and mopping a demonstration kitchen floor. Using bifocal sensors as ‘eyes’, the robot can find any spot of dirt on the floor, even if it’s under a chair or table.
As an additional bonus, the robot is capable of learning from past mistakes. For example, if it accidently bumps into something whilst cleaning it will learn never to do that in the future. Even better, AR will actually bring you a fresh cup of coffee in the morning!
So, is AR just another excuse for 21st century laziness? According to his creators, the answer is no. The robot is designed in response to a declining birth rate in Japan and a growing aging population. Recent statistics for the country suggest that with people living longer and having fewer children, there will be a burdening impact on the services sector in years to come.
By that time, however, I’m sure demand for modern maids will have risen in the UK too, even if it is just for idle dreams. However, whether for indulgence or for health care, everyone will have to wait around two decades to get one. By that time, we’ll apparently be capable of loving them as well, but I think the fact it brings you coffee in the morning is enough for most people.
Tags: quirky
18th
SEP
U-Boat Worx to unveil personal submarine
Posted by James | Filed under tech
It’s a dream many people share and it now looks as if the chance to own a personal submarine is getting tantalisingly close.
Dutch company U-Boat Worx will unveil its C-Quester 3, which is aimed at the tourism industry, next week. Capable of carrying up to four people (although three of them have to be ‘small’), the CQ3 is designed for carrying three people (clever name) although it is possible to have it scaled back so it has just two luxurious seats. The CQ3 will be seen in all its glory at the Monaco Yacht Show 2008.
The company has also revamped the C-Quester 2 so that it complements superyachts and this will also be shown off in Monaco. Naturally there’s a CQ1 in the series, and that is a sole occupancy vehicle.
The CQ3, like the CQs before it, has the capacity to stay underwater for around two and a half hours (although life support will last for around 36 hours, just in case) and has a dive down to a depth of 100 metres. Of course, anyone who wants to pilot a sub (available for sale around Spring 2009) will need to successfully train as a submersible pilot.
Weighting 4,100kg, the CQ3 boasts a number of features including underwater communication, sonar, and optional video cameras and tracking systems.
Whilst some people are clearly excited by the thought of their own submarine, others in the past have found a huge dislike for the company because of their name.
The CQ3 is likely to retail for around £315,000 which is a huge step towards my budget from the Triton 1000’s $1.69m price tag, although, sadly, it’s still remains quite a bit out of my reach.
Tags: quirky
19th
AUG
Roborat brings hope to memory research
Posted by James | Filed under tech
Is it a robot? Or is it a rat? Perhaps it’s both, kind of… but one thing this scientific endeavour is is a little disturbing. Cool, yes. Worthwhile, absolutely. But… a bit weird, too.
Scientists at the University of Reading have successfully created a living robot by linking a mechanical device to living brain tissue taken from cultured cells in rats. Not only can the robot tell when there are physical blockades in its path, but it is actually being taught tricks.
Using Bluetooth technology, the autonomous blob of rat brain sends commands that undergo thorough processing to the robot, which carries said commands out. HDRKID pointed out in his blog, along with a video, that the ‘disembodied brain in a jar’ sci-fi staple is real and, considering how the controlling brain is not even physically a part of the mechanical body, his observations aren’t all that far off.
So what’s the actual point? Apart from creating a weird roborat army with psychic (okay, it uses sonar) powers to (for some outlandish reason) take over the world, that is. 
Well, it’s possible these robots could aid in scientific research into life-altering neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. After teaching the rat-brained robot various tasks and tracking the ways in which it learns, researchers will purposefully damage the brain tissue in an attempt to recreate brain trauma or the effects of diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
The brain’s reactions to the damage will then be compared on a neurological level together with how the memory and movement functions operate in the robotic body. The research will delve into whether the brain can learn to operate the way it used to after damage and if not, new ways that it could. The research into how memory works could shed light on how to redevelop memory deficiencies like those seen in sufferers of neurological diseases.
Of course, some folks just seem to be freaking out a bit (watch out for naughty language). Admittedly, it has been pointed out that the whole process isn’t quite as sci-fi as it sounds but… robot rats, man.
What’s next? Robocop, that’s what.
Tags: quirky
8th
JUL
Redefining the Robot Dance
Posted by James | Filed under tech
A group of musicians and scientists have teamed up to create one of the most important breakthroughs of recent times – a robot that recognises good punk music.
Recent gigs in London have seen three of the two-metre robots pogo-ing along to bands they appreciate and recognise as punk. If they hear music from another genre, they simply ignore it and sit still.
A team of scientists, computer programmers and artists worked together to teach the robots what punk is. They were played music over a period of time – punk, reggae, soul, disco and classical – to learn to differentiate between the various styles.
This means that when the robot hears a new song, within 30 seconds it can decide whether or not it is punk and react accordingly. Whilst tall sticks dancing robotically may bring up mental images of Peter Crouch’s goal celebrations, these robots merelypogo on the spot, responding in real time to music they may never have heard before. The punkier the music, the wilder the robots go. Teaching the robots to ignore bands who have sold out is presumably the next step.
Professor Peter McOwan from Queen Mary, University of London, is a computational biologist and one of the main figures behind the project.
He said: “My interest is in trying to build mathematical and computational models for the way the brain processes sensory information, such as visual or auditory information.”
“The idea is to look at the information processing strategies that have taken billions of years to develop through evolution, steal them and put them into computers.”
Giving robots taste is a fine way to personalise and tailor a machine. Giving them emotions (or at least the ability to convincingly fake them) is perhaps something that could be used in the development of robot wives. It’s quite close to the core of many science fiction tales and something that has gone wrong in so many films. Will Smith is currently said to be in hiding.
Tags: quirky
18th
JUN
Angry? Take it out on a ‘venting’ machine
Posted by James | Filed under tech
A vending machine with a twist has been created by innovative kinetic artists Yarisal and Kublitz. The contraption, which is an interactive sculpture by the pair, looks just like a typical vending machine until you examine what’s actually inside it: china plates, ornaments, dishes and glassware. The purpose is to aid frustrated passers-by in dispersing their bad mood by allowing them the satisfaction of destroying some fine china without getting them into trouble.
Users feed the machine a coin, peruse the various options and select which item they want to see smashed into pieces the most. The machine then acts like a normal vending machine, pushing the item forward and off the end of the shelf. However, with the Anger Release Machine, there’s no Mars Bar that you can grab from the drawer. Oh no. Your carefully-selected, delicate ornament will meet a violent end against the hard surface of the machine floor.
The artists believe that the machine allows for all of the satisfaction of destroying something with none of the responsibility for both the resulting mess and breaking something that probably doesn’t belong to you.
The invention has been met with bemused responses, with some bloggers suggesting that people who deal with their issues by fixing things could benefit too and that the machine should provide glue so that the broken item could be made into something even better!
Engadget notes that it costs $0.25 more to smash the kitty which we reckon is either because it’s absolutely heartless to destroy such a thing or it’s the most fun item to watch crash into tiny, tiny kitty pieces! While squee.gee on Core77 Design Blog comments, maybe “this is for emo kids without Grand Theft Auto IV.”
Tags: quirky
20th
FEB
Answer Nature’s Call With an SMS
Posted by James | Filed under tech
The Finland Road Administration has implemented a novel way of reducing public restroom vandalism along Highway 1 near the region of
Finland Road Administration claim to not have any deals with mobile phone carriers, and the solution will no doubt prove problematic for those without credit or a dead battery. Hey, at least it will silence those who claim mobile phones are pointless!
Also, actually catching vandals might prove difficult if patrons are using an unregistered pay-as-you-go
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James and the team who run Shouting in Digital work for a digital marketing agency.
Sometimes we'll end up blogging about clients. When that happens it's because the client has done something worthy of a e-tail blog's attention. All the posts here are our opinion, insight and stuff we'd like to share for you please don't consider this meaningful advice.