The Most Accurate Timepiece In The World

Watch
Source: alexkerhead, cc-by-3.0, flickr

How accurate does your means of telling the time really need to be? Most of us need to know the time but a minute’s discrepancy here or there rarely makes a difference and the odd second probably never will. I guess that if you are worried about fractions of a second then you really should get a life but it is quite interesting to contemplate how accurate our time keepers truly are.

Our Watches and Gadgets

Most people will expect a mechanical watch to gain or lose a few seconds here or there. It is tempting to think that our electronic gadgets and quartz watches are very accurate but the truth is that even these lose or gain time every day. The margins are so small that it is only over a lengthy period that the discrepancy will matter and then you just make the appropriate adjustment to your device.

Aesthetics

The truth is that accuracy is now fairly low on the list of priorities for consumers looking to purchase their next timepiece. Back in the 1970’s when quartz watches first appeared their futuristic qualities and increased accuracy over mechanical watches saw the new models account for over 80% of watch sales. The story is very different toady as although even the cheapest plastic number from the local market will keep time perfectly well, watches are now valued for their aesthetics. Let’s face it you don’t need a watch to tell the time anymore with the prevalence of mobile phones so the reasons for buying one have changed from the practical to the aspirational.

Watch Accuracy

Mechanical watch sales are strong because they are now fashion statements, status symbols and collectors’ items. For the record they are impressively accurate too. A modern mechanical watch will average 99.9942% accuracy and a quartz watch 99.9998%. It is unlikely than anyone would feel the need to improve on that in their daily lives but for anyone who does the news that a new timepiece has become the most accurate in the world could be of interest.

Record Breaker

The new record breaking clock is the strontium lattice clock, an atomic clock which is accurate to less than 1 second in 5 billion years. It is 50% more accurate than the previous record holder, the National Institute of Standards and Technology quantum logic clock. The impressive timepiece was developed by the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics who have plans to improve the performance still further.

Unfortunately this level of technology is not available for the wrist or even the home and if it was there may be a shortage of interested parties who could afford the investment. It is nice to know that almost perfect accuracy is achievable but we don’t really need it in our daily lives. The odd second or two is unlikely to cause us to miss a train, an appointment or anything else for that matter. It does pay to check your watch from time to time and to make adjustments. Whether you are wearing a £5 model from the petrol station, a nice Citizen or a valuable Patek Phillipe, it will gain or lose a few seconds here and there and over a number weeks it could be out enough to make catching that train an issue.

Sally Stacey is a keen writer and business owner who divides her time between writing and running her shop,

Read More...

Top Five Weird Educational Inventions - Roamer Turtle | Infant Simulators

Robot
Source: luisvilla, cc-by-3.0, Flickr

Do you remember Roamer Turtle? Sometimes the educational system comes up with something truly weird. All inventions are designed to improve our lives in some way. Whilst mobile phones and the internet have become indispensable, Roamer Turtle is something we probably could have managed without. Here are some of the strangest educational aids ever dreamed up.

Roamer Turtle

If, like me, you do remember Roamer Turtle your predominant recollection is probably, ‘what the heck is this all about’. Roamers were educational robots aimed at helping children to learn about directions. Basically you programmed them with precise instructions, and off they went. The original version is no longer produced, leaving it forever a mystery why this blob on wheels was called a ‘turtle’.

Infant Simulators

An infant simulator does exactly what it says on the tin. It simulates a real baby in the hope that it will annoy teenagers into avoiding pregnancy. Originally designed to be used as a sex education aid, the idea never really took off in mainstream schooling. This odd invention is now even more realistic, with an inbuilt computer assessing how well the ‘infant’ is cared for.

Bronkie The Bronchiasaurus

Bronkie was a bizarre gem designed to teach children about asthma. The game takes place in a prehistoric city where you play an asthmatic dinosaur called Bronkie. You have to find the clean air health machine by blowing away dust with your lungs, and hitting enemies with your dusters. Tragically the game is no longer available.

Geordie Racer

Based around the BBC educational TV series of the same name, this computer game was designed to supplement the shows and teach children about; well…that part is debatable. Looking at the game run-throughs on youtube, I would say, learning the points of a compass could be construed as being vaguely educational. But then there is the worrying anagrams level, which gets you to make words out of your pigeon character’s name. The game featured three pigeons, Star, Homer and Bonny- so you can imagine the fun you could have making words out of Bonny’s name.

In many classrooms in the late 80s to early 90s, the ginormous Acorn computer represented a ‘treat’ for pupils to play with only if they had finished all of their work. But as I remember rightly, those floppy disked games took forever to load, which meant usually most kids only had a short time to mess around on the anagrams round before it was back to their desks for some more worthwhile work. And a good thing it was too- Honestly, Bonny? What were the game developers thinking?

Teacher Robots

Some inventors are now going so far as to replace teachers with robots. In South Korea bizarre egg-shaped robots, with avatar faces have started teaching.  They are controlled by distant teachers, and are pre-programmed to play games with the children. Whilst research and studies looking into pupil engagementhave found that technology aids learning, robots controlling classrooms seems a step too far.

In the continual search for ways to make teaching more engaging, inventors have come up with some brilliantly weird inventions. But sadly many of these are now confined to history. Watch this space, because who knows what they will come up with next.

Louise Blake is a new mum who owns a Boxer puppy called Harley. She’s passionate about education and loves a good gadget too.

Read More...

Forget the NSA: your technology gadgets are spying on you

The government has full rights to monitor your activities but did you know that it is not the only authority that’s keeping a spy on you? Advertisers and scammers are one good example. They use your information to earn money. From a smartphone to a game console, every gadget you are using is vulnerable to your personal information, may be the ones you are currently using too. Here are 6 of those daily-life gadgets that are rated the “most-vulnerable”:

#1: Smartphones

Smartphones are smart. And they are smart enough to track your information. GPS, NFC, Accelerometers, Internet Browsing and Wi-Fi antennas can give easy access to your information, while a spyware for iPhonecan do the trick too as it is especially meant for that purpose. According to a research, smartphones are now more vulnerable to “Remote Access Trojans” which were only found on computers. This malware can be used to steal your passwords and other sensitive data.

Moreover, smartphones are now vulnerable to other types of hacks and roots as well. As per recent studies, roots can now be used to activate a smartphone’s microphone to record your conversations behind the scene. And since you are on-the-move with your smartphone, GPStracking could also cause danger.

#2: Tablets

Just like smartphones, your tablet could also keep secretly spy you as they are configured in the same way your smartphones are. And just like any keylogger app, the TouchLogger app can detect each of your touch impressions which may then be used by scammers against you.

#3: Smart TVs

Smart TVs are also smart. They can be used by hackers to track sensitive data too. Hackers and scammers can easily get access to your history files and remote files, while they can also transfer malware through USBs connected to your Smart TV.

#4:Cable Boxes

If your TV is not connected to the web, it might still be prone to hackers’ attack. Although it might be a far-lesser possibility, but it is still vulnerable. For example, a TV set top box with motion and audio sensors can track users every movement impression to customize their experience. The same functionality could be used for other purposes too.

#5: Gaming Consoles

Microsoft’s KinectXbox One -the upcoming iteration of the original Xbox introduced in 2010- is supposed to have cyborg-like functionalities which may cause harm to user privacy. So you see gaming consoles are also capable of spying you.

#6: Smart Meters

Apart from the gadgets mentioned above, smart meters which often come integrated with touchscreenrefrigerators, and while wireless electric meters are one good example of spying devices. A person who is capable of hacking a smart-meter can get through your secret information to use it for the intended purpose which may cause harm to you.

You are surrounded by these gadgets so as you are surrounded by spies in your life. You can’t really quit using these daily-life gadgets but precaution is always better than cure.

Read More...

Clearing level 33 hurdle of Candy Crush

You might have played all the levels up to 33 in an effortless way. If you have come to a halt at level 33, you might want to explore various options to overcome the barrier. In this context, you are not required to spend money. You can certainly make the most of the existing pool of resources. If you go through the cheats and tips, you will get great insight. You will minimize your mistakes and maximize your thinking capabilities. Instead of focusing on getting 3 stars at level 33, you can focus to move forward to the next level. Your keen focus on the capabilities of various pieces at this stage can help you become a winner.

Level 33 challenge

Candy crush level 33 poses the greatest challenge for new as well as experienced players. There are players who have successfully cleared in the first few attempts as well. On the other hand, there are players who explore options to pay money to clear this level. As there is plenty of information at your disposal, you can go through the game without any difficulty.

By trying to overcome the barrier on a consistent basis, you will certainly overcome the level 33 challenge. There are players who have cleared the level after 60 or 70 attempts. Most of the levels in Candy Crush can be cleared in less than 10 attempts. Some players are able to clear 1 to 30 levels in a few hours. Hence, the exposure to gaming scenario and logical thinking will certainly help you in this context.

Cheats and tips

For those who are struggling to get a breakthrough at level 33, cheats and tips are readily available. These tips can be accessed from various blogs. The game developers have tightened the spot at level 33 so that most of the players will pay $1.99 to skip this level. It is a great way to make money. There are certain players who cannot wait forever. Such kinds of players are prone to go for payment. However, with due diligence and considerable patience, you can cross the stumbling block and you will be able to enjoy the rest of the game. Hence, you should focus on clearing the level instead of focusing on 3 star rating at level 33.

How to overcome the barrier?

In order to clear Candy crush level 33 very easily, you can utilize the information and clues shared by earlier players. By maintaining cool composure and sharpening your brain, the likely impact on various pieces and available options should be checked after each move.

If you take enough time before making a new move, you will take the most appropriate step. There are various strategies that can be implemented with each move. The available options after each move should be chalked out. If you can predict the impact of one move in making all candies fall, you can certainly make the most from your game. Even though luck plays major role in Candy Crush, by implementing the right kind of strategy at every move, you can go ahead and emerge victorious.

Enough attention should be paid to the position of striped candies. The direction a striped candy is likely to clear and your ability to guess the same will impact your performance in the game. The rows that will be cleared through the stripes’ direction will give you useful information. A vertical striped candy should be swiped in vertical direction and horizontal striped candy should be swiped in horizontal direction. There are some tips which are applicable at all levels of the game. 

Read More...

Candy Crush – An overview to handling Level 65

Candy crush is a fun, colorful and interesting game which is taking the game world by storm.  It is available for downloading and playing across different platforms like Google Play, the Apple Store and even Amazon (play possible on the latest Kindle Fire).  Basically, the game consists of mixing and matching different kinds of candy in combinations of 3 or more, earn points and also get bonuses for completing a level.  Candy Crush Saga is a fun game which is so addictive that many people choose to play it on Facebook or their phones and switch between platforms to get to the next level and also improve their scores.

Candy Crush Saga Level 65

As with most games, each progressive level gets tougher to play and level 65 is the toughest one to get through.  It is quite infamous for being difficult and frustrating to get past – in the entire candy crush game.  Many people get stuck here for months and seriously consider quitting just because they don’t think they can make it.  Well, there are ways to get past this and there are websites where one can find tips and tricks to clearing this level.  Here are a few tips on getting over that hump.

Dealing with Level 65

Like any other game, players have to meet a few requirements and overcome hurdles to get to the next level.  On the face of it, clearing this level seems easy enough but it is not quite the case. One cannot assume that they can clear all the jellies and a few other candies and get 120000 points in the fewest number of moves.  It is not as easy as it appears – some players have had to work hard and get over 300,000 points to clear the level as compared to 120,000 for some others.  The number of points to be earned may depend on the device being used by the player.

·         The first tip to clear candy crush level 65 is to get rid of the chocolate candy as soon as possible.  This is a vital step in the process of succeeding at this level.

·         The next thing to keep in mind is ignore the center on the board. If the possibility of making a color bomb exists, then fine.  Otherwise, stick with getting rid of the chocolate.

·         Watch out for wrapped and striped combinations of candy to clear up the board.

·         If one is not working on chocolate, then time should be spent playing big combinations.  Keep in mind that 3 pairs and matches will not get a player much needed points.

·         The last and final word of caution is to try and work from the bottom up.  The reasoning is that a player can benefit from the cascade effect of clearing rows and the chance to keep playing as long as possible.

·         Other than chocolate, working on eliminating locked candy is important.  If this can be done efficiently, then one stands the chance of clearing candy crush level 65.

Read More...

The Evolution Of Bicycle Technology: Five Of The Most Innovative Designs

Bycycle Technology
Source: Lennart Tange, cc-by-3.0, flickr

A bicycle may be a mechanism of chains and wheels but this low-fi method of transport is becoming increasingly high-tech. Many designers are now pushing the boundaries of what is possible with just two legs and two wheels.

Here are some of the most innovative designs around at the moment:

1. Graeme Obree’s Beastie

Described as an ‘aerodynamic human missile’, Graeme Obree’s Beastie is a bike that bears no resemblance to the kind you’d find in a cycle lane. The space age design looks like the work of NASA, when it fact, Obree himself built the bike – mainly in the comfort of his own kitchen!

Obree has designed a bike that flips the position of the cyclist so that he is facing down and stretched out horizontally. When travelling, his chin is a mere 2cm from the front wheel, with just a small peep-hole for his eyes. The skeletal structure of the bike is then coated in a smooth shell of Kevlar and fibreglass.

The bike was designed for this year’s world record attempt at Battle Mountain, Nevada and Obree aimed to hit speeds of 100mp/h. Obree is no stranger to records – he broke the world record for cycling the longest distance in an hour in 1994. Back then, he was riding another unusual creation: a bike which he made from spare washing machine parts (among other things!).

2. 3D Printed Nylon Airbike

3D printing is the latest technology taking the design world by storm. The principle is simple – just like you can print any image onto a piece of paper, a 3D printer prints any object in three dimensions. The technology could completely change what it is possible to create in our own home – plus revolutionise how people go about making prototypes.

A few years ago, the first 3D printed bike has been made/ printed, called the Airbike. The nylon bicycle is as strong as steel, as well as being 65% lighter than a normal bike. It proves that it is possible to print objects that are both complex and very strong.

At the moment, this prototype is sadly not for sale. But the design does suggest a future where you may be able to print our own bike, or even spare parts for your bike.

3. Michelin Self-Healing tyres

The ‘wheel’ was an invention that changed mankind, but thousands of years later, Michelin have reinvented the wheel with an amazing ‘self-healing tyre’.

This may sound a bit space-age or like some crazy James Bond gadget, but the technology is real and deals with a very real problem for many bicycle commuters. Punctures are a huge annoyance –particularly in cities, where nasty shards of glass clutter up the road, pavements and cycle paths.

To solve this problem, the self-healing tyre has compression dimples on the surface which change the distribution of pressure across the tube’s surface. This has the effect of causing the inner air pressure to squeeze the hole shut.

4. Luminescent Bikes

Cycling at night can be a dangerous task if you don’t have the proper lights. Seattle-based design firm, Teague has designed a concept bike which is both practical at night and extremely stylish (in a glowing sci-fi way!)

The frame of the bike is partly coated with photo-luminescent powder to enable it glow at night. It’s not just the frame that is lit up, Teague have designed a clever indicator and brake light to add to this fluid, glowing design. You can see how the bike works in this video.

This truly is space-age cycling and I can imagine the streets of the future to be lit by a blur of illuminated bikes.

5. Japan’s High Tech Underground Bike Park

This last innovation may not involve an actual bike, but instead it is an ingenious way to store bikes in a jam-packed, space-starved city. The solution is simple: you have to go underground. In Japan, these bike parks have become a common sight, helping cities cope with increasing traffic.

But in order to safely and easily store bikes underneath the busy streets, you need a lot of high-tech wizardry. In this video, you can see how the underground bike park works through a series of robotic arms. Once you bike is safely stored underground, you then get a card which you can use to collect your bike. Not only does this idea save space, but it massively cuts down on bicycle theft.

 A lot of this technology may be a long way from becoming commonplace but it offers a glimpse at a future where the humble bicycle is a very high-tech gadget. The kind of bikes we use every day have developed too, with carbon frames and hybrid bikes becoming the most popular choice for many commuters and weekend riders. Plus, lots of high tech apps helping cyclists train and navigate. With all this technological development in cycling, the future is definitely bright for cyclists!

Do you know of any innovative bike designs? When do you think this technology will become commonplace? Share your thoughts below. 

Gavin Harvey is a fitness instructor with a passion for cycling. When he’s not planning an adventurous cycle ride for the weekend, he’s commuting through the city by bicycle. 

Read More...

What does 2014 has in store for Android? | More value for money!!!!!

The year 2013 was a gigantic one for tech lovers – especially smart phone enthusiasts. The year was particularly good for Android users as it saw the market boom with cost effective mobile phones, free apps, extraordinary features and more. 2013 saw the big screens and high resolution cameras in Android phones. We also witnessed the first ever 3GB RAM smartphone.

One cannot help but wonder that what 2014 would be like for Android users. A lot is speculated. Throughout 2014 it looks like Android are going to keep tweaking KitKat and making further improvements to keep it ahead of the pack, they already pushed an update to improve the camera on Nexus 5 and the team behind it seem intent on pushing out updates quickly and efficiently.

I have talked to several experts, collected some data, did some research. 2014 is likely to see the following for Android users.

The tech glasses and other “wearable” gadgets

We see it in sci-fi movies and we all want them. Google have shown interest in introducing a wearable what they call “Glass”. Android will expand exponentially if they introduce such gadgets. Apart from smart glasses, smart watches and other tech bracelets are expected in 2014. Can’t wait? Me neither.

Bigger screens and better resolutions

What differentiates a smart phone from a regular phone? Many say it is the touch but according to a survey; it is the bigger screen size that users find most attractive. We might see a 660ppi device. As for the resolutions, things are about to get crazy! It is expected that 2K resolution would be a standard with 500 pixels per inch. With 4GB RAM, it won’t be much of a problem.

The one obvious drawback is the battery timings of course. Smartphone users of all flagships might have to deal with this a little bit. Other than the battery issue, everything looks great!

Fingerprint scanners and other censors

In 2013 we saw iPhone 5S and HTC One introducing finger scanners. It is expected that 2014 will see a lot more of finger scanners and maybe face recognition software in Android devices. Such “tweaks” will definitely add more value for money in Android.

High MP cameras

Smartphones have pretty much taken over the digital cameras. The situation will get worse for camera manufacturers as 2014 will see a marked improvement in cameras. Sensors, focal lengths, advance autofocus, editing, photography modes – everything is expected to take a hike in Android cameras in the year 2014.

64-bit Processor

Apple have already introduced the 64-bit processor with the new iPhone that was released in late 2013. Soon after the release, Samsung made it official that they would be launching 64-bit processor in early 2014. Additionally, it will be norm for the smartphones to have 4GB RAM to go with the 64-bit processing power. This is going to be huge!

More value for money

With new flagships gradually rising and high specs becoming the norm, it would ultimately benefit the users. Due to strict competition smartphone companies, even the giants will offer more value for money than they have been in 2013.

Author Bio: NuurHasan is a software engineer at Gloria9 Technologies. He has a passion for hardware and expertise in software. Contact him at nuur.hasan@gloria9.com, if you are interested in Mobile Applications, Website and Software Development.

Read More...

JARVIS Up Your Car In 5 Easy Steps | Tracking Watch | Bluetooth Connectivity

Genius-billionaire-playboy-philanthropist Tony Stark has a knack for showing off technologies we (as viewers) would love to have. And I’m not just talking about any of his many Iron Man suits. Stark built an AI long before he ever became a superhero, and JARVIS’ help in Tony’s life would be fantastic to replicate in our own lives. Here are 5 ways you can make your car more like your own personal JARVIS.

Tracking Watch

With technology improving, watches aren’t just timepieces. You can link certain kinds of watches up to your car, and they’ll keep tabs on any number of things, like your heart rate and temperature, and your car’s speed and fuel consumption. It can take this data and help you while driving, so you can keep a safe speed based on your body’s reactions. The watch can also alert you to the road conditions ahead of you and when your car needs maintenance (in case you’re one of the many that tends to forget).

Sound System

Your car isn’t ahead of the technological curve unless it has a sound system to match. Unfortunately, sound systems can be expensive, so make sure you stay within your budget. The point isn’t to break the bank in upgrading your car. Subwoofers and amps are important, but having money to buy food is a little more crucial.

One thing you want to watch for when upgrading a sound system is the wiring. Pay attention to how much power your system draws from your battery. If it draws too much, it can affect other systems in your car, like the headlights. If you notice things like your headlights dimming when you radio is playing on high, a wiring upgrade is in order for “the big 3” car audio system (the three wires that go between the alternator, chassis, and engine). Upgrade those, and your wiring and audio will be perfect.

Bluetooth Connectivity

A lot of the newer cars have Bluetooth connectivity built in to their systems, but if you have an older model, you probably don’t have that kind of wireless connectivity. However, that doesn’t mean you have to upgrade your car to insert a little JARVIS into your car. All you really have to do is purchase a Bluetooth car kit, and then you’ll be able to make all the hands-free calls you want. You’ll even be able to stream music from places like Last.fm and Pandora if you want.

GPS System

Having a GPS is practically non-negotiable these days. Sure, you can use map apps on your smartphone, but pulling out your smartphone and following along the path it leads you can be much more dangerous than following the path a dashboard-mounted GPS device gives you. If you have a good device, you’ll be able to do a lot more than just getting directions too.

Some of the best GPS devices on the market right now have features like voice recognition and voice guidance (if you’re really lucky, you might even be able to find a device that guides you with Paul Bettany’s voice, giving you an even stronger link to JARVIS). Many models have MP3 players and can display pictures. You can input multiple destinations and the device will provide you a course to hit all of them in the most convenient route. And some of them even have Bluetooth built in, so you can still make hands-free calls, in case you don’t want to get a Bluetooth kit as mentioned above.

OnStar

The last thing you need is a system helping with your protection and security, and that’s where OnStar comes in. OnStar keeps track of your vehicle, and it can tell when you’ve been in a collision. The company has 24-hour centers open to contact you and see if you need an emergency vehicle sent to your location (which they can see). Even if you can’t respond because you’re unconscious, they’ll send someone out to help. And if your car gets stolen, they’ll be able to track the vehicle, and they even have ways to prevent the thief from starting the car, making it a lot easier to recover the vehicle.

Although it would be great to get JARVIS himself, cars with built-in AI’s are years down the road. But with these 5 technologies, you can feel like your car is a very intelligent system watching out for your safety.

Eloise Hamilton grew up working under a hood, helping her father restore classic cars. She still has a passion for it today and keeps herself versed in the automotive industry and the market by frequenting car sites and Honda dealers in Los Angeles like Diamond Honda.

Read More...

Will Google Glass break the Mass Gadget Market in 2014?

2014 promises to be the year of wearable technology for gadget lovers, with the iWatch rumoured for release, Google Glasses due to be launched and the Consumer Electronic Show 2014 being dominated by similar devices from many different brands.

Although there are already a number of available wearable tech items on the market, none have so far managed to really break through to the mass market, but Google Glass are poised to change that.

Or are they?

The website, LoveMyVouchers.co.uk, wanted to find out how real consumers felt about this futuristic piece of technology, and conducted a survey to try and gauge their views. The survey asked various questions about Google Glass and the results showed that people are not quite ready for this item of technology.

When asked about privacy issues, 70% of people were concerned that their privacy would be breached by people wearing Google Glass. A majority were also uncomfortable with the safety aspect of the glasses, for example the concerns about cyclists wearing the piece of equipment.

Above all, a majority did not think they would feel comfortable wearing the glasses in public and thought that they may be a little embarrassed or ashamed, illustrating that perhaps this fashion accessory is not quite on the mark when it comes to current fashion trends.

This study sample left us with a rather bleak view of the potential success of Google Glass, but as many did feel that wearable tech may play a part in their lives in the future, this does leave the market open for a possible mass market contender.

This infographic is from www.lovemyvouchers.co.uk, based on the results of a questionnaire carried out on 1132 of their newsletter readers.

Read More...

It’s A Robot. No, It’s A Car. No, It’s a Robot Car!

This is the ultimate example of where art and technology collide, and one muralist got to have the pleasure of being the first to experience it. The days of using only hand-held spray paint cans to make a mural are over.

Bot and Dolly teamed up with Chevy and made a car that doubles as artistic assistant for painting wall murals using some incredible technology and really cool tools. Sounds crazy, right? Yeah, it is crazy.

Crazy awesome.

A Car That Paints?

Yes. A car that paints. While the truly artistic mind of a real person is needed to design and spear-head the whole mural, the car helps in some pretty amazing ways. Basically there are three parts to the whole system: a paint sprayer, a paint blaster, and a robotic arm sprayer.

Paint Sprayer

This component of the robotic art car is a large cylindrical arm that extends out the passenger side window. The nozzle on the end is connect to a tube of paint, and as the nozzle shoots out air, the paint shoots out as well, providing a nice base coat. The arm is controlled by the artist as he slowly drives the car beside the wall. He can maneuver it up and down and side to side until he’s got the base coat he wants.

Paint Blaster

The paint blaster is perhaps the funnest component of the entire car. I mean, who doesn’t like blasting things out of a cannon and into a wall? It has the same basic concept as a potato gun, except instead of shooting potatoes, it’s shooting paint projectiles. And when they crash into the wall, they make some pretty cool marks.

The blaster has a camera on top of it that acts as the aiming mechanism. All the artist has to do is choose a color, take a look at camera feed from a panel screen on the dashboard, find the spot he wants to hit, and…fire!

Now really, who wouldn’t have a blast with that? (pun completely intended)

Robotic Arm

Now, this is where the really cool technology comes in. The robotic arm component pops out of the trunk of the car while it’s parked in the right spot in front of the mural. It, too, has a nozzle on the end to spray paint, except it’s smaller and more precise.

All the artist has to do is press a button, and the robotic arm will paint a pre-programmed picture onto the wall with incredible precision and accuracy that no human arm could match. And while it’s not at lightning speed, it still does it pretty darn quick, considering how good the result looks. All the while, the artist is able to paint all of the “artsier” and more random elements onto other parts of the wall.

A Beautiful Collaboration

The result of all of this is a fantastic and impressive-looking piece of art stretching across the wall of a building. It’s artist and robot working together. Technology and human collaborating to create something beautiful. And on top of all that, it’s super fun.

Now that’s modern art at its finest.

About The Author:

Brianna Martin is a freelance writer from Lancaster, Pennsylvania who has been published across the web. The topics she has covered span from technological advancements to industrial operations and solutions to business practices and more, providing information and insight into the world of robotics for companies like Kuka. 

Read More...

Medical Breakthroughs Using Sensory Technology

With the ever increasing advancement of technology nowadays, it’s not surprising that new machines and robots are being created to do amazing things in the medical field.

Mind Connection

One robot that falls into this category is a robotic arm that has been created to read people’s thoughts. Two people have used this robot, a man and woman who are both quadriplegic and are unable to use their limbs due to strokes.

Each of them had a tiny sensor injected just below their skulls in an area that is active when people move their arms or hands. After imagining that they were moving the robotic arm (when researchers were actually maneuvering it), their neurons’ firing patterns were recorded and then translated into an electronic command.

Then with a little time and practice, the participants were able to control the arm on their own, just with their thoughts. One of them, who has been paralyzed for 15 years, was able to get the arm to grasp a cup of coffee and bring it to her mouth to take a sip.

While this technology still has a long way to go before it can be used in everyday settings, it’s still a huge step in the right direction and will no doubt be the spark that gets further inventions going.

Balancing Assists

These robots, made by Toyota, were built to help paralyzed patients walk or balance themselves. Basically, it’s a game. The two-wheeled robot has a monitor that displays different sports games. The patient then makes moves in the game by shifting their weight on the robot.

There are other similar robots out there for assisting patients with movement in paralyzed body parts such as their legs. One of these machines is attached to a paralyzed leg and detects movement in the patient’s hips through sensors. Then it helps the knee swing and the patient begin walking training.

Mobile Robot

One last example of robots in the medical field is the autonomous mobile robot. This machine delivers things such as medications and supplies throughout the hospital, saving hospital staff from having to spend the time to do so.

How it works is pretty easy. The person that gives it the supplies it is to delivers also tells it where it is to deliver them to. Then, through an electronic map, the robot is able to navigate through the hospital to the given destination without any needs for lines, magnets or tape.

It can sense where other people or objects are in its path. And if there is heavy traffic ahead, it will stop until it’s clear. It will even alert those in the hallway of its presence so that they don’t run into it, and it can signal doors to open so that it can go through without any problems.

As you can see, today’s technology is producing some pretty incredible machines. There’s no telling what kinds of things will be invented next, but one thing is for sure—robots are going to be a huge factor in revolutionizing the medical world.

About The Author:

Brianna Martin is a freelance writer from Lancaster, Pennsylvania who has been published across the web. The topics she has covered span from technological advancements to industrial operations and solutions to business practices and more, providing information and insight into Motion Control.

Read More...

Headphones That Translate A Dog's Sounds Into English?

Some dog owners understand their pet’s sign language and are able to figure out his woofs – but the majority

cannot. There’s good news for them: A new headset, aptly titled No More Woof, has received funding from a crowd-funding website and it will soon hit the market. This headset must be strapped on to the dog. It employs EEG and other proprietary technologies to translate dog sounds into plain English. The translation is bellowed out through a loudspeaker, which is connected to the headset.  No documents are required to be translated, no paper work – all you need to do is strap on the headphones on your pet. Before we get down to the headphone, let’s talk about the general signals that dogs send to their masters.

Understanding Dog Signals

1. Licking lips with a quick movement of its tongue implies that the dog is stressed and needs some solo time. Do not mess around or pet or hug it if you see this sign.


2. Yawning indicates that the dog is jittery and wants to move. It can also imply that the dog wants to diffuse a situation that it does not approve of. It does not necessarily mean that the dog is sleepy.


3. When a dog scratches, it does not necessarily imply that it is itching or trying to get rid of fleas. It can also imply frustration or excitement.


4. Dogs do not like to be embraced. They especially hate tight embraces. If you hug your dog, he will likely indicate that he is uncomfortable while being embraced.


5. If your dog makes soft eyes, it doesn’t mean that it has gone soft on you. Making soft eyes represents dog-to-dog communication. Perhaps it is impressed with another dog in the vicinity.


6. A closed mouth, tense body, wrinkled forehead, tense tail, ears in forward position or a focused stare implies that the dog is focused on something and is making up its mind whether he should like, ignore, or hate it. Do not pet your dog when this happens.


7. Shaking the body, whether after a bath or otherwise, implies that the dog has been through a very intense experience and wants to calm down a bit.

These tell-tale dog body language signs have been picked up from Dogtime.com. Now, let’s get down to the product.

No More Woof

The product’s developers received a miniscule startup capital of $15,000, the bulk of which came from Indiegogo.com, a crowd-funding network. The headset comes equipped with electroencephalography (EEG)-like technology, which measures and translates dog neural patterns and sounds into plain English.

Though No More Woof has miles to go, early tests have established that the headset has correctly translated woofs into “I’m tired,” “I’m curious,” and “I’m excited.” This is enough motivation for the developers who are working day and night to finish the product. They do admit that the first version would be under cooked.

So, what’s up next in pet world? A headset that translates plain English into dog sounds? Who knows; anything is possible these days.

Story source: http://mashable.com/2013/12/24/no-more-woof/

About the Author:

Robert J. Moon, lives in Chapel Hill, NC. As a consultant for a law firm that deals with immigration cases, Robert makes use of ASTA USA Translation Services to effectively translate documents into English and other languages. 

Read More...

Dashlane For IPhone Review

The Dashlane, for iPhone, hits the paradise-like territory that lies between the lands of security and laziness. It has not been long since this app was introduced in the marketplace. It has been brought in the tech bazaar again as the Dashlane 2.0 for the iPhone. It is a password managing app that allows the phone to sync, directly, with your desktop where you can access all the confidential data that you have stored in your device.

Let’s look at what Dashlane 2.0 for iPhone is capable of doing:

Dashlane’s helping hand

One thing that Dashlane developers have mastered, with both the versions of the app, is the web browsing. This iPhone app comes packed with an in-built browser. When you are filling out an online form using this browser Dashlane auto-fills the form making use of the data that has been stored. You can trust Dashlane with top-secret data like credit card details or social security numbers. Instead of straining your mind to recall different passwords and numbers, you just have to memorize a master password. The only thing you need for accessing this information is the master password.

How Dashlane app is different?

Dashlane, with its advanced functions and usability, grabs a much higher position than the LastPass Premium app for the iPhone. Although, both these apps offer the in-built web browser and the feature of auto-filling, Dashlane is far better. The Dashlane auto-fill feature is more responsive, intuitive and functions proactively when filling out online forms.

In the latest version, the Dashlane account can be operated from within the app. With its top-end features,  Dashlane has the potential to get a person hooked to it in no time. Dashlane can be operated using various accounts. The most user-friendly and functional one is the premium account. Only when using the premium account, you can sync the phone with multiple devices and use the inbuilt browser for auto-filling online forms.

Features of Dashlane 2.0 for iPhone

Dashlane, for iPhone, eliminates complications and, very conveniently, manages the data you wish to store. With Dashlane, you can operate the whole thing, without even exiting the app. It gives you the option of performing different functions like saving new data and making changes to the old one. The pieces of information that you store in the app can be grouped together or divided into separate folders. You can name each folder. This is all you have to do. When filling out an online form that requires your credit card information, for instance, this app is going to extract the required information from the server and help you fill the form.

The browser that the Dashlane app offers resembles a lot with the browser of Safari. As compared to a similar feature presented by the LastPass app for the iPhone, the Dashlane app proves to be much better in terms of usability and functionality. Although the mobile version of this app lacks a lot when compared to its desktop counterpart, it is still a one point solution for those looking for secure storage and auto-filling.

About The Author:

Jane is a technology writer and can be reached @janeandrew01

Read More...

Shelf-Life: The Differences Between CDs, DVDs, SSDs, And USBs.

Understanding the different media storage options on the market can be confusing with the proliferation of devices available today, from CDs and DVDs to SSD and USB devices. What are the differences between these different forms of technology, what are they best used for, and what are their shelf lives?

CDs

Compact Discs (CDs) are the oldest type of media storage that are still popular on the market today, primarily used for music reproduction. CDs are great because they can be played on old CD players and most new DVD and Blu-ray players. They store a significant amount of data, usually up to 700MB, and are probably the most rugged of the media storage formats you can buy. It is estimated that a CD will last over one hundred years if protected from scratches and harsh environments, maintaining a crisp music playback that will have you jamming to your favorite bands for years to come. CDs are cheap to reproduce, because the now simple technology used in their reproduction, and are a great option for those looking to mass-produce audio material for any number of people.

DVDs

As the name may suggest, Digital Video Discs (DVDs) are optimized for video playback. They can hold up to 4.7GB normally, even more if double-formatted, and play back video at almost double the rate of a CD. Because DVDs take advantage of a more delicate technology to place more information on a disc that is the same size as a CD, a DVD player is required for play back. This also causes the shelf life of DVDs to be less than that of CDs, trading higher quality storage for a more delicate type of device. However, for video playback this is probably the easiest format to use, as it is compatible with a higher number of players and programs than the newest form of video playback offered on Blu-ray discs.

Blu-ray Discs

Blu-ray discs can hold more than 25GB of data and reproduce video and audio at even better qualities than either the CD or DVD, but unfortunately are not as widely spread yet as their predecessors. Blu-ray discs are great if your media is very large and would have to be broken up or downgraded in quality to fit on CDs or DVDs, or if it is of paramount importance that your audience view a video in High Definition (HD). The fact that Blu-ray discs are recorded in and play back HD is the crowning feature of this storage device. The longevity of these devices is still too hard to accurately tell, but is believed to be roughly equivalent to that of the DVD. If you are looking for the highest quality storage disc available and less concerned with longevity and reproducibility, the blu-ray disc is right for you.

SSD cards

Solid-state Drives (SSDs) are primarily used for drives with automatic write capabilities, like in the hard drive of your computer. They are great because they can easily fit over 2TB of data on a card that is roughly half the size of a playing card. SSD cards are believed to last as long as other forms of storage devices like DVDs, but a definitive lifespan has been difficult to identify and is dependent on the number of power outages that the disc must recover from (as it is constantly backing up your information). Like CDs and DVDs, SSDs require a system to function in and do not contain their own moving parts of motors, making them less susceptible to usage failures. As most computers and similar devices use this form of storage, it will probably remain a popular storage method of images and homemade videos in the foreseeable future.

USB Drives

USB drives are very helpful ways to keep all of your most important data, including images, video, and data files, with you at all times. USB drives are continuously able to hold more and more files, with 32GB drives being the most recent industry standard. These drives are expected to be fully functional for at least 3,000 rewrites, though some should work for up to 100,000. Most USB producers guarantee functionality for up to 1,500 cycles. These storage devices are great for those who need to have their media and files in an easily transferable device for short periods of time. For more long-term storage, entrusting your files to a more long-term device is recommended.

Finding the right storage device for your needs is a simple process of understanding what your storage and playback priorities are and finding a storage manager like MaxDuplication to get your project started! Don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations of the best device for your specific needs.

About The Author:

This is a guest post by Lindsey Mcmahon. Her interests are technology, seo and business, but she is constantly extending her field of view to incorporate interesting news suggested to her by her readers. 

Read More...

A Few Data Recovery Methods You Should Never Try At Home

For those of you unfamiliar with data recovery, it involves retrieving valuable data from a disk drive on a computer, flash drive, server, etc. that have not been properly backed up. It may be necessary for a variety of reasons, which may include hard drives that are damaged from floods, electric surges, being dropped, or from just wearing out over time. Regardless of the reason, many people try unconventional methods for retrieving their valuable data from their non-working hard drives with roughly a 0% success rate. Learn about some of the most common DIY methods for data recovery, and why we would recommend that you don’t attempt them if you want to get your data back.

Freezing

If you do searches for do it yourself data recovery methods, one of the most talked about method involves putting your hard drive in a plastic bag, sticking it in the freezer for a few hours, and then seeing if it will work again. While this may seem a bit bizarre, many claim that freezing a hard drive will shift parts of the hard drive that have moved around, and the hard drive will then be functional again. The biggest reason why you should not attempt this is that you could do damage to your hard drive. Hard drives are sensitive to changes in temperature, as well as changes in humidity. A large drop in temperature could result in a drastic change in humidity in the hard drive, which could damage the hard drive, even if it is in a plastic bag. While freezing your hard drive could work in theory, it would only work on older hard drives. Today’s hard drives are designed to be spaced fractions of millimeters away from one another, and freezing a hard drive would overcorrect any problem in place.

Dropping It, Again

For those of us who have dealt with an old appliance that stop working, such as an old TV or radio, our first instinct is to often give it a good whack – which sometimes would actually do the trick! That stands to reason that whacking a hard drive to knock all the internal back into place components (or something like that) will fix the issue, and the hard drive will become operational again. If this sounds like an act of desperation to get your hard drive to work again, it’s because it is. Dropping your hard drive should not be tried in hopes of recovering your data.

Open the Cover to See if Something’s Out of Place

In no situation should you open the cover of a hard drive if you want to have a chance at recovering your data from it. The platters of a hard drive are extremely sensitive to dust particles in the air, and the hard drive will stop functioning if you try to run it again. Data recovery professionals have to operate in a super filtered room wearing full body suits if they ever need to open a hard drive.

What These Methods Don’t Address

What people fail to understand is that none of these DIY data recovery methods don’t address logical hard drive issues, which are the most common reason why hard drive fails. Like a car engine, parts of a hard drive will eventually wear out and will need to be fixed or replaced in order to work again. These methods are geared towards the idea that they fix some physical damage that has happened to the hard drive at some point.

The best thing that you can do is to get in touch with a data recovery professional and ask them what they think might be wrong with your hard drive. Typically with a little bit of background information they can quickly diagnose the issue, and you will be well on your way to getting your data back.

About The Author:

Mike Hall enjoys providing data recovery tips and advice for people who have lost their data, and other tips for properly backing up and storing their important digital information. Mike works with Data Recovery Group, a provider of data recovery services for individuals and businesses.

Read More...