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Archive for the ‘Sensors’ Category

Future kitchen top – new HCI design

19 Jan

We have all been there – you open a fridge and there is only a packet of cheese and some eggs in there, so what can you make for dinner?

Intel have come up with a new kind of human computer interface for use in kitchens or any other flat surface. You place the items on the kitchen top and the system will work out what they are and suggest some recipes for you.

It works with three devices – a 3D digital camera, combined with a small projector and a computer. The computer will recognise more and more items as you teach it over time. The projector will display information about each item. For example you could place a banana on the top and it shows you the calories. It could then be added to that diet you are following.

At the moment the devices are fairly chunky but if it catches on, then the system could be made as slim as a mobile phone and located underneath the cupboards, for example.

An excellent example of development in HCI design to discuss in class

video below

 

 
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Posted in Human Computer Interface (HCI), New technology, Sensors, Smart Homes

 

Little green men in space test Google’s new phone

25 Dec

Some of us firmly believe in extra terrestrial life whilst others remain skeptical, but it is now official, little green men have been confirmed in the Earth’s outer atmosphere. Well, little green men of the plastic variety that is.

Google launched the tiny green aliens each with their own Google Nexus S phone and they were carried aloft into the Earth’s atmosphere by weather balloons.

Google said the purpose of the experiment was to enable them to collect data about the sensors in the Nexus S phone and to test how the GPS, gyroscope, accelerometer and magnetometer worked under such conditions.

The weather balloons went over 100,000 feet up into the air and the phone’s GPS kept track of it all the way up to 60,000 ft above the Earth.

So, for anyone thinking of applying to be one of the first space tourists, rest assured that this phone has been tested and will work for most of your flight into space.

This story could be linked into a lesson about communication, GPS, sensors or mobile phones

Read the full story here

 
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Posted in Communication, GPS, Mobile phones, Sensors

 

Smart specs unite world and data

08 Oct

It seems like yet another technology previously only seen in science fiction films is about to become a reality. 

A lightweight pair of glasses has been developed which allow you to see and use them as you would a normal pair of glasses.  But these are no ordinary glasses, they are a pair of augmented reality glasses which overlay what you are seeing with digital content. 

Although there have been attempts to make AR glasses in the past they have usually been too heavy to wear comfortably or the digital data being projected interferes with everyday normal life.  These glasses are the first to add a minature projecting retinal display which doesn’t cause problems to the wearer.  The retinal display projects text and images directly into the user’s peripheral vision so they can carry on walking about whilst seeing data about their surroundings.

Even more clever is the use of an acceleration sensor and a direction sensor which is able to detect what you are looking at and then provide the relevant information related to what you are doing at that moment.

No release date has been given so you will have plenty of time to save up those pennies.

Read more here

 
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Posted in New technology, Sensors, Virtual & augmented reality