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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title><![CDATA[Insert Coin: Modkit Micro asks us if we're ready for six-year-olds coding Arduino boards]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/29/insert-coin-modkit-micro-asks-us-if-were-ready-for-six-year-ol/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/29/insert-coin-modkit-micro-asks-us-if-were-ready-for-six-year-ol/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/29/insert-coin-modkit-micro-asks-us-if-were-ready-for-six-year-ol/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p> <em>In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please <a href="#" onclick="$('.nav_tipus a').click()">send us a tip</a> with "Insert Coin" as the subject line.</em></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/29/insert-coin-modkit-micro-graphical-programming/"><img alt="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/29/insert-coin-modkit-micro-graphical-programming/" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/05/jpeg.jpg" style="margin: 4px; width: 559px; height: 312px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid;" /></a></p><p> What does microcontroller programming have in common with <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/23/tetris-hack-takes-over-mit-building/">Tetris</a>? Quite a bit if you're doing it with Modkit Micro from a Kickstarter project out of Cambridge, MA., which allows almost anyone to visually set up their hardware using graphical blocks to write the code. The partially-hooded trio behind it promises that the software is ideal for use with prototyping boards from <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/arduino/">Arduino</a>, <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/30/evil-mad-scientist-laboratories-builds-a-555-chip-you-can-rest/">Evil Mad Science</a>, <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/sparkfun-launches-protosnap-pre-wired-arduino-kits-for-beginner/">Lilypad</a>, <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/24/seeeduino-adk-lets-you-build-android-accessories-on-the-cheap/">Seeed Studio</a>, <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/13/RobotC-Public-Beta-on-Arduino/">Wiring</a> and <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/19/sphero-goes-modular-spins-out-for-a-drive-video/">SparkFun</a>, and they even claim that elementary school students have used it to "take their projects from concept to reality in just a few hours." Purists should have no fear either: you can still get into a code view to see what's going on behind the scenes. A web-based Modkit Micro is being offered online starting June 1st for $25, and there'll be a desktop variant for Windows, OSX, and Linux as early as July if they reach their funding target. Check out the video after the break and then try to get your kids to wait for college before inventing version 2.0 of <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/30/kegdroid-beer-xoom-tablet-nfc/">this</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/29/insert-coin-modkit-micro-asks-us-if-were-ready-for-six-year-ol/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Insert Coin: Modkit Micro asks us if we're ready for six-year-olds coding Arduino boards</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/29/insert-coin-modkit-micro-asks-us-if-were-ready-for-six-year-ol/">Insert Coin: Modkit Micro asks us if we're ready for six-year-olds coding Arduino boards</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Tue, 29 May 2012 10:01:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/29/insert-coin-modkit-micro-asks-us-if-were-ready-for-six-year-ol/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20246577/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/29/insert-coin-modkit-micro-asks-us-if-were-ready-for-six-year-ol/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>arduino</category><category>arduino board</category><category>ArduinoBoard</category><category>c++</category><category>insert coin</category><category>InsertCoin</category><category>kickstarter</category><category>microcontroller</category><category>microcontrollers</category><category>MIT</category><category>modkit</category><category>modkit micro</category><category>ModkitMicro</category><category>programing</category><category>programming</category><category>programming language</category><category>ProgrammingLanguage</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Anthony Verrecchio]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 29 May 2012 10:01:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Smart Pebble robots replicate objects the way a good hive mind should (video)]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/28/smart-pebble-robots-replicate-objects-the-way-a-good-hive-mind-s/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/28/smart-pebble-robots-replicate-objects-the-way-a-good-hive-mind-s/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/28/smart-pebble-robots-replicate-objects-the-way-a-good-hive-mind-s/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/28/smart-pebble-robots-replicate-objects-the-way-a-good-hive-mind-s/"><img alt="Image" height="443" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/05/smart-pebbles-2d-duplication-600-1337955561336.jpg" style="margin:4px" width="600" /></a></p><p> Art imitating life (T-1000, anybody?) or yet another evolutionary step towards the <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/RobotApocalypse/">subjugation of mankind</a>? For now, let's just shift focus to the immediate and soak in this novel feat of robo-replication engineered by a team from <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/MIT/">M.I.T.</a> Headed up by Professor Daniela Rus, the Smart Sand project looks nothing like it sounds and that's because the tech in question is currently more cube than grain. Measuring 12mm per side, these intelligent pebbles work in unison to recreate an object by first surrounding it and then building a shared 3D map that's used as a blueprint for duplication. Eventually, the researchers hope to shrink the units down to just 1mm in size, effectively creating a "sand" that could completely engulf and actually <em>clone</em> objects (think: tools) as needed, in multiples or even enlarged versions. That promise of an ultra-portable bag of <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/3D+Printer/">3D-printing fairy dust</a> is still safely a ways off, so in the meantime, content yourself with video footage of the mini-modules first cyborg steps after the break.</p><p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/28/smart-pebble-robots-replicate-objects-the-way-a-good-hive-mind-s/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Smart Pebble robots replicate objects the way a good hive mind should (video)</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/28/smart-pebble-robots-replicate-objects-the-way-a-good-hive-mind-s/">Smart Pebble robots replicate objects the way a good hive mind should (video)</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Mon, 28 May 2012 18:16:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/28/smart-pebble-robots-replicate-objects-the-way-a-good-hive-mind-s/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20246376/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/28/smart-pebble-robots-replicate-objects-the-way-a-good-hive-mind-s/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>M.I.T.</category><category>MIT</category><category>replication</category><category>research</category><category>robots</category><category>Smart Pebbles</category><category>Smart Sand</category><category>SmartPebbles</category><category>SmartSand</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Joseph Volpe]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 28 May 2012 18:16:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[MIT researchers teach computers to recognize your smile, frustration]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/28/mit-researchers-teach-computers-to-recognize-your-smile-frustra/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/28/mit-researchers-teach-computers-to-recognize-your-smile-frustra/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/28/mit-researchers-teach-computers-to-recognize-your-smile-frustra/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/28/mit-researchers-teach-computers-to-recognize-your-smile-frustra/"><img alt="MIT researchers teach computers to recognize your smile, frustration" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/05/delighted3234frustrated-exp.jpg" style="margin: 4px; width: 542px; height: 268px;" /></a></p><p> Wipe that insincere, two-faced grin off your face -- your computer knows you're full of it. Or at least <em>it will</em> once it gets a load of MIT's research on classifying frustration, delight and facial expressions. By teaching a computer how to differentiate between involuntary smiles of frustration and genuine grins of joy, researchers hope to be able to deconstruct the expression into low-level features. What's the use of a disassembled smile? In addition to helping computers <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/08/empathic-paintings-paint-your-mood/">suss out your mood</a>, the team hopes the data can be used to help people with autism learn to more accurately decipher expressions. Find out how MIT is making your computer a better people person than <em>you</em> after the break.</p><p> [Thanks, Kaustubh]</p><p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/28/mit-researchers-teach-computers-to-recognize-your-smile-frustra/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>MIT researchers teach computers to recognize your smile, frustration</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/28/mit-researchers-teach-computers-to-recognize-your-smile-frustra/">MIT researchers teach computers to recognize your smile, frustration</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Mon, 28 May 2012 11:06:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/28/mit-researchers-teach-computers-to-recognize-your-smile-frustra/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20246141/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/28/mit-researchers-teach-computers-to-recognize-your-smile-frustra/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>facial recognition</category><category>facial recognition software</category><category>FacialRecognition</category><category>FacialRecognitionSoftware</category><category>MIT</category><category>MIT Media Lab</category><category>MIT research</category><category>MitMediaLab</category><category>MitResearch</category><category>research</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sean Buckley]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 28 May 2012 11:06:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[MIT's needleless injections help you get drugs faster, doesn't even hurt (video)]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/25/mit-jet-injector-needleless-injection/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/25/mit-jet-injector-needleless-injection/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/25/mit-jet-injector-needleless-injection/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/25/mit-jet-injector-needleless-injection/"><img alt="Image" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/05/jet-injector.jpg" style="margin: 4px; width: 560px; height: 264px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid;" /></a></p><p> Afraid of needles? You may not have to be if a team of MIT scientists get their way. Researchers in the Department of Mechanical Engineering are developing a jet-injection device (similar to <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/18/microjet-alleviates-the-pain-of-the-needle/">this one</a>) that allows professionals to pump you full of meds <em>without</em> poking you with a needle. The key to puncture free pharmaceuticals is <em>pressure</em> -- the device uses a Lorenz Force actuator to push medicine out of an opening about the diameter of a <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/27/japanese-age-prediction-machine-is-really-just-a-mosquito-tone/">mosquito's</a> proboscis. The nozzle pulls liquids out just as fast and efficiently as it administers them, researchers say, and can even deliver powder-based drugs as if they were a liquid, thanks to a bit of supersonic trickery. This tech could be a boon to <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/08/tiny-rfid-amulet-stores-medical-records-makes-paramedics-lives/">healthcare workers</a> who get pricked on the job or patients who get <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/implantable-blood-sugar-sensor-could-eliminate-daily-finger-pric/">daily</a> insulin shots. Promises of painless inoculations piquing your interest? Hit the video after the break to see how its done.</p><p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/25/mit-jet-injector-needleless-injection/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>MIT's needleless injections help you get drugs faster, doesn't even hurt (video)</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/25/mit-jet-injector-needleless-injection/">MIT's needleless injections help you get drugs faster, doesn't even hurt (video)</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Fri, 25 May 2012 04:34:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/25/mit-jet-injector-needleless-injection/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20244749/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/25/mit-jet-injector-needleless-injection/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>healthcare</category><category>healthcare workers</category><category>HealthcareWorkers</category><category>hypodermic</category><category>hypodermic needle</category><category>HypodermicNeedle</category><category>injection</category><category>jet injected</category><category>jet needle</category><category>JetInjected</category><category>JetNeedle</category><category>MIT</category><category>needle</category><category>needleless</category><category>needleless delivery</category><category>needleless injection</category><category>NeedlelessDelivery</category><category>NeedlelessInjection</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Anthony Verrecchio]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 25 May 2012 04:34:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[MIT's LiquiGlide could spell the end of slow-moving ketchup nightmares (video)]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/23/mit-liquiglide/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/23/mit-liquiglide/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/23/mit-liquiglide/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/23/mit-liquiglide/"><img alt="Image" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/05/joeyketchup.jpg" style="margin: 25px 20px; width: 273px; height: 202px; float: left;" /></a>A team from <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/mits-brainput-reads-your-mind-to-make-multi-tasking-easier/">MIT</a> has decided to end slow-pouring ketchup problems once and for all with its LiquiGlide project. Instead of karate-chopping the 57 logo on the bottle's neck, a super-non-stick coating is sprayed on the inside of its glass container. It's so good that even highly viscous liquids like ketchup and mayonnaise roll out of the bottle and onto your dinner as if it was water. All the chemicals used are already <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/FDA/">FDA</a> approved, meaning that it's already safe to be used in food production. If adopted, it'd save around one million tons of trapped sauce from being wasted every year. Since we already have finely-honed <em>ketchup-fu</em> skills, we're hoping the LiquiGlide technique also finds its way into peanut butter jars.</p><p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/23/mit-liquiglide/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>MIT's LiquiGlide could spell the end of slow-moving ketchup nightmares (video)</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/23/mit-liquiglide/">MIT's LiquiGlide could spell the end of slow-moving ketchup nightmares (video)</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Wed, 23 May 2012 09:29:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/23/mit-liquiglide/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20243359/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/23/mit-liquiglide/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>Adam Paxson</category><category>AdamPaxson</category><category>Brian Solomon</category><category>BrianSolomon</category><category>Christopher J. Love</category><category>ChristopherJ.Love</category><category>Dave Smith</category><category>DaveSmith</category><category>FDA</category><category>J. David Smith</category><category>J.DavidSmith</category><category>Ketchup</category><category>Kripa Varanasi</category><category>KripaVaranasi</category><category>LiquiGlide</category><category>Massachusetts Institute of Technology</category><category>MassachusettsInstituteOfTechnology</category><category>MIT</category><category>MIT 100k</category><category>Mit100k</category><category>Rajeev Dhiman</category><category>RajeevDhiman</category><category>video</category><category>Viscous Liquids</category><category>ViscousLiquids</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Daniel Cooper]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 23 May 2012 09:29:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Laser-toting MAV can find its way in tight spaces, might eventually hunt you down (video)]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/17/laser-toting-mav-can-find-its-way-in-tight-spaces/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/17/laser-toting-mav-can-find-its-way-in-tight-spaces/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/17/laser-toting-mav-can-find-its-way-in-tight-spaces/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/17/laser-toting-mav-can-find-its-way-in-tight-spaces/"><img alt="Image" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/05/mit-laser-mav-flight.jpg" style="margin: 4px; width: 600px; height: 343px;" /></a></p><p> A perpetual weakness of <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/mav">MAVs</a> (micro air vehicles) is their frequent need for hand-holding in anything other than a wide-open or very controlled space. If they're not using GPS or motion sensors to find their locations, they can't turn on a dime the way a human pilot would. Adam Bry, Abraham Bachrash and Nicholas Roy from <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/mit">MIT's</a> CSAIL group haven't overcome every problem just yet, but they may have taken combat <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/drone/">drones</a> and other pilotless aircraft a big step forward by giving them the tools needed to fly quickly when positioning isn't an option. Uniting a laser rangefinder with an existing 3D map of the environment -- still 'cheating,' but less dependent -- lets the prototype flyer find the distance to nearby obstacles and steer clear even at speeds that would scare any mere mortal MAV. Ideally, future designs that can create their own maps will be completely independent of humans, making us think that MIT's references to "aggressive" autonomous flight are really cues to start hiding under the bed.</p><p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/17/laser-toting-mav-can-find-its-way-in-tight-spaces/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Laser-toting MAV can find its way in tight spaces, might eventually hunt you down (video)</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/17/laser-toting-mav-can-find-its-way-in-tight-spaces/">Laser-toting MAV can find its way in tight spaces, might eventually hunt you down (video)</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Thu, 17 May 2012 06:54:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/17/laser-toting-mav-can-find-its-way-in-tight-spaces/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20239698/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/17/laser-toting-mav-can-find-its-way-in-tight-spaces/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>aircraft</category><category>airplane</category><category>airplanes</category><category>autonomous</category><category>autonomous flying robots</category><category>autonomous vehicles</category><category>AutonomousFlyingRobots</category><category>AutonomousVehicles</category><category>CSAIL</category><category>drone</category><category>drones</category><category>laser</category><category>lasers</category><category>mav</category><category>micro air vehicle</category><category>Micro Air Vehicles</category><category>MicroAirVehicle</category><category>MicroAirVehicles</category><category>mit</category><category>RangeFinder</category><category>robust robotics group</category><category>RobustRoboticsGroup</category><category>video</category><category>wargadget</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jon Fingas]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 17 May 2012 06:54:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[MIT's Brainput reads your mind to make multi-tasking easier]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/mits-brainput-reads-your-mind-to-make-multi-tasking-easier/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/mits-brainput-reads-your-mind-to-make-multi-tasking-easier/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/mits-brainput-reads-your-mind-to-make-multi-tasking-easier/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/mits-brainput-reads-your-mind-to-make-multi-tasking-easier/"><img alt="Image" height="398" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/05/brainput-brain-computer-interface-640x424-1337014979.jpg" style="margin:4px" width="600" /></a></p><p> With so much information readily available at our fingertips, a multitude of devices to access it from and an increasing outside demand for our divided attention, it's easy to short-circuit on the productivity front. But there's a bright spot on the horizon as emerging research out of <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/MIT/">MIT</a> is poised to help offload the burden shouldered by our overtaxed grey matter with a much needed and intuitive assist from <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/human+robot+interaction/">human-robot systems</a>. The <em>Brainput</em> project -- as the collaborative effort is known -- combines <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/12/futuristic-headband-knows-when-youve-had-too-much-pc/">near-infrared spectroscopy</a> (fNIRS) with an input system designed to read changes in a user's brain state and translate those signals into an adaptive multi-tasking interface. Sounds like heady stuff, but if successfully implemented into high-stress environments like air traffic control, the low-cost, experimental tech could go a long way to boosting individual performance and reducing overall stress levels. For now, the team still has a ways to go before the system, presently capable of interpreting three distinct mental states, could make its way into end user applications. Curious for a more in-depth, jargony journey through the project's ins and outs? Then click on the source below for your daily dose of scientific head candy.</p><p></p><p></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/mits-brainput-reads-your-mind-to-make-multi-tasking-easier/">MIT's Brainput reads your mind to make multi-tasking easier</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Tue, 15 May 2012 07:23:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/mits-brainput-reads-your-mind-to-make-multi-tasking-easier/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20237703/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/mits-brainput-reads-your-mind-to-make-multi-tasking-easier/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>brain imaging</category><category>BrainImaging</category><category>Brainput</category><category>human robot interaction</category><category>human robot systems</category><category>HumanRobotInteraction</category><category>HumanRobotSystems</category><category>MIT</category><category>multi-tasking</category><category>near infrared spectroscopy</category><category>NearInfraredSpectroscopy</category><category>research</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Joseph Volpe]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 07:23:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ZeroN slips surly bonds, re-runs your 3D gestures in mid-air]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/zeron-levitation-mit-media-labs/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/zeron-levitation-mit-media-labs/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/zeron-levitation-mit-media-labs/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/zeron-levitation-mit-media-labs/"><img alt="zeron-levitation-mit-media-labs" height="338" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/05/zeron-05-14-12-01.jpg" style="margin:4px" width="600" /></a></p><p> Playback of 3D <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/Motion+Capture">motion capture</a> with a computer is nothing new, but how about with a solid <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/28/artist-creates-back-to-the-future-hoverboard-that-actually-ho/">levitating object</a>? <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/mitmedialab">MIT's Media Lab</a> has developed ZeroN, a large magnet and 3D actuator, which can fly an "interaction element" (aka ball bearing) and control its position in space. You can also bump it to and fro yourself, with everything scanned and recorded, and then have real-life, gravity-defying playback showing planetary motion or virtual cameras, for example. It might be impractical right now as a <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/kinectnui-enables-minority-report-style-interaction-in-windows-s/">Minority Report</a>-type object-based input device, but check the video after the break to see its awesome potential for 3D visualization.</p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/zeron-levitation-mit-media-labs/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>ZeroN slips surly bonds, re-runs your 3D gestures in mid-air</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/zeron-levitation-mit-media-labs/">ZeroN slips surly bonds, re-runs your 3D gestures in mid-air</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Mon, 14 May 2012 16:07:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/zeron-levitation-mit-media-labs/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20237392/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/zeron-levitation-mit-media-labs/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>3D</category><category>electromagnetic</category><category>electromagnetic field</category><category>ElectromagneticField</category><category>input device</category><category>input devices</category><category>InputDevice</category><category>InputDevices</category><category>levitation</category><category>magnet</category><category>magnetic levitation</category><category>MagneticLevitation</category><category>massachusetts institute of technology</category><category>MassachusettsInstituteOfTechnology</category><category>MIT</category><category>MIT Media Lab</category><category>MitMediaLab</category><category>Optical tracking</category><category>OpticalTracking</category><category>physics</category><category>Research</category><category>Science</category><category>tracking</category><category>ZeroN</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Dent]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 14 May 2012 16:07:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[MIT and Harvard announce edX web education platform, make online learning cheap and easy]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/mit-and-harvard-announce-edx-web-education-platform-make-online/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/mit-and-harvard-announce-edx-web-education-platform-make-online/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/mit-and-harvard-announce-edx-web-education-platform-make-online/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/mit-and-harvard-announce-edx-web-education-platform-make-online/"><img alt="Image" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/05/mit-and-harvard-announce-edx---mit-media-relations.jpg" style="margin: 4px; width: 515px; height: 103px;" /></a></p><p> We'll forgive you if you failed to take MIT up on its offer take its courses for free when it rolled out its <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/mit-to-launch-mitx-learning-platform-offer-free-teaching-materi/">MITx online learning platform</a> last year. However, Harvard took notice of its efforts, and has joined MIT online to form the edX platform and offer courses and content for free on the web. There's no word on the available subjects just yet, but video lessons, quizzes and online labs will all be a part of the curriculum, and those who comprehend the coursework can get a certificate of mastery upon completion. edX won't just benefit those who log on, either, as it'll be used to research how students learn and how technology can be used to improve teaching in both virtual and brick and mortar classrooms. The cost for this altruistic educational venture? 60 million dollars, with each party ponying up half. The first courses will be announced this summer, and classes are slated to start this fall. Want to know more? Check out the future of higher education more fully in the PR and video after the break.</p><p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/mit-and-harvard-announce-edx-web-education-platform-make-online/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>MIT and Harvard announce edX web education platform, make online learning cheap and easy</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/mit-and-harvard-announce-edx-web-education-platform-make-online/">MIT and Harvard announce edX web education platform, make online learning cheap and easy</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Wed, 02 May 2012 18:39:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/mit-and-harvard-announce-edx-web-education-platform-make-online/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20229522/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/mit-and-harvard-announce-edx-web-education-platform-make-online/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>education</category><category>harvard</category><category>internet</category><category>learn</category><category>learning</category><category>massachusetts institute of technology</category><category>MassachusettsInstituteOfTechnology</category><category>mit</category><category>online</category><category>online class</category><category>online classes</category><category>online course</category><category>online courses</category><category>online education</category><category>OnlineClass</category><category>OnlineClasses</category><category>OnlineCourse</category><category>OnlineCourses</category><category>OnlineEducation</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Gorman]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 02 May 2012 18:39:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Nanotubes sniff out rotting fruit, your dorm room might be next]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/MIT-research-nanotubes-detect-rotting-produce/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/MIT-research-nanotubes-detect-rotting-produce/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/MIT-research-nanotubes-detect-rotting-produce/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/MIT-research-nanotubes-detect-rotting-produce/"><img alt="MIT-research-nanotubes-detect-rotting-produce" height="231" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/nano-fruit-04-30-12-02.jpg" style="margin:4px" width="600" /></a></p><p> Our favorite ultra-skinny molecules have performed a lot of <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/Carbon+Nanotubes/">useful functions</a> over the years, but keeping fruit flies away was never one of them. Now MIT scientists, with US Army funding, have discovered a way to give these nanotubes the canine-like sense of smell needed to stop produce spoilage and waste. Doping sheets of them with copper and polystyrene introduces a speed-trap for electrons, slowing them and allowing the detection of ethylene gas vented during ripening. A sensor produced from such a substance could be combined with an <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/RFID">RFID</a> chip, giving grocers a <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/system-that-can-check-the-freshness-of-fruit-developed-no-help/">cheaper</a> way to monitor freshness and discount produce before it's too late. If that works, the team may target mold and bacteria detection next, giving you scientific proof that your roommate needs to wash his socks.</p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/MIT-research-nanotubes-detect-rotting-produce/">Nanotubes sniff out rotting fruit, your dorm room might be next</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Tue, 01 May 2012 02:25:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/MIT-research-nanotubes-detect-rotting-produce/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20227413/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/MIT-research-nanotubes-detect-rotting-produce/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>carbon nanotubes</category><category>CarbonNanotubes</category><category>fruit</category><category>fruits and vegetables</category><category>FruitsAndVegetables</category><category>groceries</category><category>grocery stores</category><category>GroceryStores</category><category>massachusetts institute of technology</category><category>MassachusettsInstituteOfTechnology</category><category>MIT</category><category>MIT scientists</category><category>MitScientists</category><category>nanotubes</category><category>polystyrene</category><category>research</category><category>RFID</category><category>rfid tag</category><category>RfidTag</category><category>science</category><category>US Army</category><category>UsArmy</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Dent]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 01 May 2012 02:25:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[MIT develops fog resistant, glare-free glass, it's clearly amazing (video)]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/29/mit-develops-fog-resistant-glass/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/29/mit-develops-fog-resistant-glass/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/29/mit-develops-fog-resistant-glass/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/29/mit-develops-fog-resistant-glass/"><img alt="MIT develops fog resistant, glare-free glass, it's clearly amazing (video)" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/mitnanoglassclearlyclearhuh.jpg" style="margin: 4px; width: 600px; height: 306px;" /></a></p><p> It sounds like it's not just us that spend half our sweet time with lint-free cloth in hand. Researchers at <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/mit">MIT</a> have developed a new type of glass that "virtually eliminates" reflections, and is also water-repellent. By using techniques from the semiconductor industry, conical nano-textures etched into the layered surface that give the wonder-glass its fog, glare and self-cleaning properties. The hope is that the technology will find its way into our many daily screens and even windows. It's not all about gadget vanity though; <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/solar+panel">solar panels</a> lose efficiency over time through residual surface build up, and using the new glass could go some way to eliminate that issue. If they can just remember where they put the ultra-clear test sample that is.</p><p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/29/mit-develops-fog-resistant-glass/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>MIT develops fog resistant, glare-free glass, it's clearly amazing (video)</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/29/mit-develops-fog-resistant-glass/">MIT develops fog resistant, glare-free glass, it's clearly amazing (video)</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Sun, 29 Apr 2012 07:14:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/29/mit-develops-fog-resistant-glass/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20226429/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/29/mit-develops-fog-resistant-glass/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>fog-free</category><category>glare-free glass</category><category>Glare-freeGlass</category><category>glass</category><category>mit</category><category>nanotextures</category><category>research</category><category>science</category><category>screen</category><category>screens</category><category>video</category><category>water-repellent</category><category>water-resistant</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[James Trew]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 29 Apr 2012 07:14:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[EyeRing finger-mounted connected cam captures signs and dollar bills, identifies them with OCR (hands-on)]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/mit-media-lab-eyering-camera-hands-on/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/mit-media-lab-eyering-camera-hands-on/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/mit-media-lab-eyering-camera-hands-on/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center; "> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/mit-media-lab-eyering-camera-hands-on/"><img alt="Image" height="400" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/eyeringdsc01102.jpg" style="margin:4px" width="600" /></a></p><p> Ready to swap that diamond for a finger-mounted camera with a built-in trigger and Bluetooth connectivity? If it could help identify otherwise indistinguishable objects, you might just consider it. The <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/MITMediaLab">MIT Media Lab's</a> EyeRing project was designed with an assistive focus in mind, helping visually disabled persons read signs or identify currency, for example, while also serving to assist children during the tedious process of learning to read. Instead of hunting for a grownup to translate text into speech, a young student could direct EyeRing at words on a page, hit the shutter release, and receive a verbal response from a Bluetooth-connected device, such as a smartphone or tablet. EyeRing could be useful for other individuals as well, serving as an ever-ready imaging device that enables you to capture pictures or documents with ease, transmitting them automatically to a smartphone, then on to a media sharing site or a server.</p><p> We peeked at EyeRing during our visit to the MIT Media Lab this week, and while the device is buggy at best in its current state, we can definitely see how it could fit into the lives of people unable to read posted signs, text on a page or the monetary value of a currency note. We had an opportunity to see several iterations of the device, which has come quite a long way in recent months, as you'll notice in the gallery below. The demo, which like many at the Lab includes a <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/16/epic-4g-review/">Samsung Epic 4G</a>, transmits images from the ring to the smartphone, where text is highlighted and read aloud using a custom app. Snapping the text "ring," it took a dozen or so attempts before the rig correctly read the word aloud, but considering that we've seen much more accurate OCR implementations, it's reasonable to expect a more advanced version of the software to make its way out once the hardware is a bit more polished -- at this stage, EyeRing is more about the device itself, which had some issues of its own maintaining a link to the phone. You can get a feel for how the whole package works in the video after the break, which required quite a few takes before we were able to capture an accurate reading.<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-eyering/">MIT Media Lab: EyeRing</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-eyering/#4984530"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zsheye001_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-eyering/#4984531"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zsheye002_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-eyering/#4984532"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zsheye003_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-eyering/#4984533"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zsheye004_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-eyering/#4984534"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zsheye005_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div></p><p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/mit-media-lab-eyering-camera-hands-on/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>EyeRing finger-mounted connected cam captures signs and dollar bills, identifies them with OCR (hands-on)</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/mit-media-lab-eyering-camera-hands-on/">EyeRing finger-mounted connected cam captures signs and dollar bills, identifies them with OCR (hands-on)</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:53:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/mit-media-lab-eyering-camera-hands-on/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20223762/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/mit-media-lab-eyering-camera-hands-on/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>assistive</category><category>assistive tech</category><category>assistive technology</category><category>AssistiveTech</category><category>AssistiveTechnology</category><category>camera</category><category>cameras</category><category>disability</category><category>disabled</category><category>eyering</category><category>hands-on</category><category>lab</category><category>media lab</category><category>MediaLab</category><category>mit</category><category>mit media lab</category><category>MitMediaLab</category><category>mobilepostcross</category><category>ocr</category><category>project</category><category>prototype</category><category>prototypes</category><category>read</category><category>reading</category><category>recognition</category><category>speech</category><category>text to speech</category><category>TextToSpeech</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Zach Honig]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:53:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Perifoveal Display tracks head positioning, highlights changing data on secondary LCDs (hands-on)]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/mit-media-lab-perifoveal-display-hands-on/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/mit-media-lab-perifoveal-display-hands-on/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/mit-media-lab-perifoveal-display-hands-on/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center; "> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/mit-media-lab-perifoveal-display-hands-on/"><img alt="Image" height="400" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/perodsc01141.jpg" style="margin:4px" width="600" /></a></p><p> If there's a large display as part of your workstation, you know how difficult it can be to keep track of all of your windows simultaneously, without missing a single update. Now imagine surrounding yourself with three, or four, or five jumbo LCDs, each littered with dozens of windows tracking realtime data -- be it RSS feeds, an inbox or chat. Financial analysts, security guards and transit dispatchers are but a few of the professionals tasked with monitoring such arrays, constantly scanning each monitor to keep abreast of updates. One project from the <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/MITMediaLab/">MIT Media Lab</a> offers a solution, pairing <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/Kinect/">Microsoft Kinect</a> cameras with detection software, then highlighting changes with a new graphical user interface.</p><p> Perifoveal Display presents data at normal brightness on the monitor that you're facing directly. Then, as you move your head to a different LCD, <em>that</em> panel becomes brighter, while changes on any of the displays that you're not facing directly (but still remain within your peripheral vision) -- a rising stock price, or motion on a security camera -- are highlighted with a white square, which slowly fades once you turn to face the new information. During our hands-on demo, everything worked as described, albeit without the instant response times you may expect from such a platform. As with most Media Lab projects, there's no release date in sight, but you can gawk at the prototype in our video just after the break.<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-perifoveal-display/">MIT Media Lab: Perifoveal Display</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-perifoveal-display/#4984541"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshdisp001_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-perifoveal-display/#4984542"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshdisp002_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-perifoveal-display/#4984543"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshdisp003_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-perifoveal-display/#4984544"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshdisp004_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-perifoveal-display/#4984545"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshdisp005_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div></p><p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/mit-media-lab-perifoveal-display-hands-on/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Perifoveal Display tracks head positioning, highlights changing data on secondary LCDs (hands-on)</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/mit-media-lab-perifoveal-display-hands-on/">Perifoveal Display tracks head positioning, highlights changing data on secondary LCDs (hands-on)</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:28:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/mit-media-lab-perifoveal-display-hands-on/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20223985/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/mit-media-lab-perifoveal-display-hands-on/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>display</category><category>displays</category><category>face tracking</category><category>FaceTracking</category><category>graphical user interface</category><category>GraphicalUserInterface</category><category>GUI</category><category>hands-on</category><category>interface</category><category>interfaces</category><category>kinect</category><category>lab</category><category>labs</category><category>LCD</category><category>LCDs</category><category>media</category><category>media lab</category><category>MediaLab</category><category>microsoft</category><category>microsoft kinect</category><category>MicrosoftKinect</category><category>mit</category><category>mit media lab</category><category>MitMediaLab</category><category>monitor</category><category>monitors</category><category>Perifoveal</category><category>Perifoveal Display</category><category>PerifovealDisplay</category><category>prototype</category><category>prototypes</category><category>tracking</category><category>UI</category><category>user interface</category><category>UserInterface</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Zach Honig]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:28:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[DIY Cellphone has the footprint of an ice cream sandwich, definitely doesn't run ICS (hands-on)]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/mit-media-lab-diy-cellphone-hands-on/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/mit-media-lab-diy-cellphone-hands-on/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/mit-media-lab-diy-cellphone-hands-on/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p></p><p style="text-align: center; "> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/mit-media-lab-diy-cellphone-hands-on/"><img alt="Image" height="400" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/phonedsc01163.jpg" style="margin:4px" width="600" /></a></p><p> Building your own wireless communications device isn't for the faint of heart, or the law-abiding -- the <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/FCC/">FCC</a> tends to prefer placing its own stamp of approval on devices that utilize US airwaves, making a homegrown mobile phone an unlikely proposition. That didn't stop a team at the <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/MITMediaLab/">MIT Media Lab</a> from creating such a DIY kit, however. Meet the Do-It-Yourself Cellphone. This wood-based mobile rig, while it's currently in the prototype phase (where it may indefinitely remain), would eventually ship with a circuit board, control pad, a fairly beefy antenna and a monochrome LCD. Sounds like it'd be right at home at some kid's garage workshop in the early '80s, not showcased at an MIT open house. The argument here is that people spend more time with their phone than with any other device, so naturally they'd want to build one to their liking. Nowadays, folks expect their pocketable handset to enable them to not only place and receive phone calls, but also store phone numbers, offer a rechargeable battery, and, well, in some cases even send and receive email, and surf the web -- none of which are available with such a kit.</p><p> The prototype we saw was fully functional. It could place calls. It could receive calls. There was even Caller ID! The phone does indeed feel homemade, with its laser-cut plywood case and a design that lacks some of the most basic gadget essentials, like a rechargeable battery (or at very least some provisions for replacing the 9-volt inside without unscrewing the case). Audio quality sounded fine, and calls went out and came in without a hitch -- there's a SIM card slot inside, letting you bring the nondescript phone to the carrier of your choice. Does it work? Yes. Is it worth dropping $100-150 in parts to build a jumbo-sized phone with a microscopic feature set? No, there's definitely nothing <em>smart</em> about the DIY Cellphone. If you want to throw together your own handset, however, and not risk anyone questioning the legitimacy of your homemade claim, you might want to keep an eye out for this to come to market. The rest of you will find everything you need in the video just past the break. We're just happy to have walked away without any splinters.<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-diy-cellphone/">MIT Media Lab: DIY Cellphone</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-diy-cellphone/#4984517"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshdiy001_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-diy-cellphone/#4984518"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshdiy002_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-diy-cellphone/#4984519"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshdiy003_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-diy-cellphone/#4984520"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshdiy004_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-diy-cellphone/#4984521"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshdiy005_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div></p><p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/mit-media-lab-diy-cellphone-hands-on/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>DIY Cellphone has the footprint of an ice cream sandwich, definitely doesn't run ICS (hands-on)</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/mit-media-lab-diy-cellphone-hands-on/">DIY Cellphone has the footprint of an ice cream sandwich, definitely doesn't run ICS (hands-on)</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:22:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/mit-media-lab-diy-cellphone-hands-on/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20223897/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/mit-media-lab-diy-cellphone-hands-on/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>call</category><category>calling</category><category>cell phone</category><category>cell phones</category><category>cellphone</category><category>cellphones</category><category>DIY</category><category>do it yourself</category><category>do-it-yourself</category><category>DoItYourself</category><category>hands-on</category><category>kit</category><category>kits</category><category>lab</category><category>media lab</category><category>MediaLab</category><category>MIT</category><category>mit media lab</category><category>MitMediaLab</category><category>mobilepostcross</category><category>phone</category><category>phones</category><category>project</category><category>projects</category><category>prototype</category><category>smartphone</category><category>smartphones</category><category>telephone</category><category>telephones</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Zach Honig]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:22:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[OLED Display Blocks pack six 128 x 128 panels, we go hands-on at MIT (video)]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-oled-display-blocks-hands-on/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-oled-display-blocks-hands-on/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-oled-display-blocks-hands-on/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center; "> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-oled-display-blocks-hands-on/"><img alt="Image" height="400" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/cubedsc01085.jpg" style="margin:4px" width="600" /></a></p><p> How do you develop an <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/OLED/">OLED</a> display that gives a 360-degree perspective? Toss six 1.25-inch panels into a plastic cube, then turn it as you see fit. That's an overly simplistic explanation for the six-sided display on hand at the <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/MITMediaLab/">MIT Media Lab</a> today, which is quite limited in its current form, but could eventually serve an enormous variety of applications. Fluid Interfaces Group Research Assistant Pol Pla i Conesa presented several such scenarios for his Display Blocks, which consist of 128 x 128-pixel OLED panels. Take, for example, the 2004 film <em>Crash</em>, which tells interweaving stories that could be presented simultaneously with such a display -- simply rotate the cube until you land on a narrative you'd like to follow, and the soundtrack will adjust to match. It could also go a long way when it comes to visualizing data, especially when in groups -- instead of virtually constructing profiles of individuals who applied for a slot at MIT, for example, or segments of a business that need to be organized based on different parameters, you could have each assigned to a cube, which can be tossed into an accepted or rejected pile, and repositioned as necessary.</p><p> Imagine having a group of display cubes when it comes time to plan the seating chart for a reception -- each cube could represent one individual, with a color-coded background and a name or photo up top, with different descriptive elements on each side. The same could apply to products at monstrous companies like <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/Samsung/">Samsung</a> or <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/Sony/">Sony</a>, where executives need to make planning decisions based on product performance, and could benefit greatly from having all of the necessary information for a single gadget listed around each cube. On a larger scale, the cubes could be used to replace walls and floors in a building -- want to change the color of your wallpaper? Just push a new image to the display, and dedicate a portion of the wall for watching television, or displaying artwork. You <em>could</em> accomplish this with networked single-sided panels as well, but that wouldn't be nearly as much fun. The Media Lab had a working prototype on display today, which demonstrated the size and basic functionality, but didn't have an adjustable picture. Still, it's easy to imagine the potential of such a device, if, of course, it ever becomes a reality. As always, you'll find our hands-on demo just past the break.<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-oled-display-blocks-hands-on/">MIT Media Lab: OLED Display Blocks hands-on</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-oled-display-blocks-hands-on/#4984171"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshmitcube001_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-oled-display-blocks-hands-on/#4984172"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshmitcube002_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-oled-display-blocks-hands-on/#4984173"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshmitcube003_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-oled-display-blocks-hands-on/#4984174"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshmitcube004_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-oled-display-blocks-hands-on/#4984175"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshmitcube005_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div></p><p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-oled-display-blocks-hands-on/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>OLED Display Blocks pack six 128 x 128 panels, we go hands-on at MIT (video)</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-oled-display-blocks-hands-on/">OLED Display Blocks pack six 128 x 128 panels, we go hands-on at MIT (video)</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:44:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-oled-display-blocks-hands-on/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20223113/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-oled-display-blocks-hands-on/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>cube</category><category>cubes</category><category>cubic</category><category>display</category><category>display blocks</category><category>display cube</category><category>DisplayBlocks</category><category>DisplayCube</category><category>displays</category><category>hands-on</category><category>lab</category><category>media</category><category>media lab</category><category>MediaLab</category><category>mit</category><category>mit media lab</category><category>MitMediaLab</category><category>oled</category><category>oled display</category><category>OledDisplay</category><category>panel</category><category>panels</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Zach Honig]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:44:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Droplet and StackAR bring physical interface to virtual experiences, communicate through light (hands-on)]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-droplet-stackar-hands-on/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-droplet-stackar-hands-on/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-droplet-stackar-hands-on/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center; "> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-droplet-stackar-hands-on/"><img alt="Image" height="400" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/dropletdsc01026.jpg" style="margin:4px" width="600" /></a></p><p> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-newsflash-hands-on/">Light-based communication</a> seems to wind throughout the <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/MITMediaLab/">MIT Media Lab</a> -- it is a universal language, after all, since many devices output light, be it with a dedicated LED or a standard LCD, and have the capacity to view and interpret it. One such device, coined Droplet, essentially redirects light from one source to another, while also serving as a physical interface for tablet-based tasks. Rob Hemsley, a research assistant at the Media Lab, was on hand to demonstrate two of his projects. Droplet is a compact self-contained module with an integrated RGB LED, a photodiode and a CR1216 lithium coin battery -- which provides roughly one day of power in the gadget's current early prototype status. Today's demo used a computer-connected HDTV and a capacitive-touch-enabled tablet. Using the TV to pull up a custom Google Calendar module, Hemsley held the Droplet up to a defined area on the display, which then output a series of colors, transmitting data to the module. Then, that data was pushed to a tablet after placing the Droplet on the display, pulling up the same calendar appointment and providing a physical interface for adjusting the date and time, which is retained in the cloud and the module itself, which also outputs pulsing light as it counts down to the appointment time.</p><p> StackAR, the second project, functions in much the same way, but instead of outputting a countdown indicator, it displays schematics for a <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/sparkfun-launches-protosnap-pre-wired-arduino-kits-for-beginner/">LilyPad Arduino</a> when placed on the tablet, identifying connectors based on a pre-selected program. The capacitive display can recognize orientation, letting you drop the controller in any position throughout the surface, then outputting a map to match. Like the Droplet, StackAR can also recognize light input, even letting you program the Arduino directly from the tablet by outputting light, effectively simplifying the interface creation process even further. You can also add software control to the board, which will work in conjunction with the hardware, bringing universal control interfaces to the otherwise space-limited Arduino. Both projects appear to have incredible potential, but they're clearly not ready for production just yet. For now, you can get a better feel for Droplet and StackAR in our hands-on video just past the break.<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-droplet-and-stackar-hands-on/">MIT Media Lab: Droplet and StackAR hands-on</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-droplet-and-stackar-hands-on/#4984028"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshmitdrop001_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-droplet-and-stackar-hands-on/#4984029"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshmitdrop002_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-droplet-and-stackar-hands-on/#4984030"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshmitdrop003_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-droplet-and-stackar-hands-on/#4984031"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshmitdrop004_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-droplet-and-stackar-hands-on/#4984032"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshmitdrop005_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div></p><p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-droplet-stackar-hands-on/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Droplet and StackAR bring physical interface to virtual experiences, communicate through light (hands-on)</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-droplet-stackar-hands-on/">Droplet and StackAR bring physical interface to virtual experiences, communicate through light (hands-on)</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:03:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-droplet-stackar-hands-on/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20223057/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-droplet-stackar-hands-on/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>Arduino</category><category>calendar</category><category>capacitive</category><category>capacitive touch</category><category>capacitive touchscreen</category><category>CapacitiveTouch</category><category>CapacitiveTouchscreen</category><category>control</category><category>controller</category><category>display</category><category>displays</category><category>droplet</category><category>google</category><category>Google Calendar</category><category>GoogleCalendar</category><category>hands-on</category><category>LED</category><category>LEDs</category><category>Lilypad</category><category>Lilypad Arduino</category><category>LilypadArduino</category><category>media</category><category>media lab</category><category>MediaLab</category><category>mit</category><category>mit media lab</category><category>MitMediaLab</category><category>peripherals</category><category>program</category><category>programming</category><category>Rob Hemsley</category><category>RobHemsley</category><category>StackAR</category><category>touch</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Zach Honig]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:03:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[MIT gets musical with Arduino-powered DrumTop, uses household objects as a source of sound]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-drumtop-hands-on/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-drumtop-hands-on/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-drumtop-hands-on/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center; "> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-drumtop-hands-on/"><img alt="Image" height="400" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/drumptopdsc00950.jpg" style="margin:4px" width="600" /></a></p><p> Everyone's <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/arduino">favorite microcontroller</a> has been a boon among hobbyists and advanced amateurs, but it's also found a home among the brilliant projects at <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/mitmedialab/">MIT's Media Lab</a>, including a groovy instrument called DrumTop. This modern take on the drum pad delivers Arduino-powered interactivity in its simplest form -- hands-on time with ordinary household objects. Simply place a cup, or a plastic ball, even a business card on the DrumTop to make your own original music.</p><p> The prototype on display today includes eight pads, which are effectively repurposed speakers that tap objects placed on top, with an FSR sensor recognizing physical pressure and turning it into a synchronized beat. There's also a dial in the center that allows you to speed up or slow down the taps, presenting an adjustable tempo. DrumTop is more education tool than DJ beat machine, serving to teach youngsters about the physical properties of household objects, be it a coffee mug, a CD jewel case or a camera battery. But frankly, it's a lot of fun for folks of every age. There's no word on when you might be able to take one home, so for now you'll need to join us on our MIT visit for a closer look. We make music with all of these objects and more in the video after the break.<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-drumpad-hands-on/">MIT Media Lab: DrumTop hands-on</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-drumpad-hands-on/#4983384"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshmitdrum001_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-drumpad-hands-on/#4983385"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshmitdrum002_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-drumpad-hands-on/#4983386"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshmitdrum003_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-drumpad-hands-on/#4983387"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshmitdrum004_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-drumpad-hands-on/#4983388"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshmitdrum005_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div></p><p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-drumtop-hands-on/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>MIT gets musical with Arduino-powered DrumTop, uses household objects as a source of sound</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-drumtop-hands-on/">MIT gets musical with Arduino-powered DrumTop, uses household objects as a source of sound</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:35:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-drumtop-hands-on/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20222874/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-drumtop-hands-on/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>arduino</category><category>audio</category><category>drum</category><category>drum top</category><category>drums</category><category>drumtop</category><category>education</category><category>hands-on</category><category>household</category><category>learning</category><category>media lab</category><category>MediaLab</category><category>mit</category><category>mit media lab</category><category>MitMediaLab</category><category>music</category><category>musical</category><category>speaker</category><category>speakers</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Zach Honig]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:35:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[NewsFlash uses high-frequency light to transmit data from iPad to smartphone, we go hands-on (video)]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-newsflash-hands-on/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-newsflash-hands-on/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-newsflash-hands-on/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center; "> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-newsflash-hands-on/"><img alt="Image" height="400" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/2012newsflashmit.jpg" style="margin:4px" width="600" /></a></p><p> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/mit+media+lab/">MIT's Media Lab</a> is chock-full of <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/dnp-mit-builds-camera-that-can-capture-at-the-speed-of-light-vi/">cutting-edge tech projects</a> that researchers create, then often license to manufacturers and developers. One such project is called NewsFlash, and uses high-frequency red and green light to transmit data to the built-in camera on a receiving device -- in this case <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/16/epic-4g-review/">Samsung's Epic 4G</a>. The concept is certainly familiar, and functions in much the same way as a QR code, generating flashing light that's invisible to the human eye instead of a cumbersome 2D square. In the Media Lab's implementation, an iPad is used to display a static news page with flashing colored bands at the top, representing just a few vertical pixels on the LCD.</p><p> As the device presents the standard touch experience you're already familiar with, it also broadcasts data that can be read by any camera, but flashes too quickly to be distracting or even noticeable to the naked eye. A NewsFlash app then interprets those flashes and displays a webpage as instructed -- either a mobile version with the same content, or a translation of foreign websites. As with most MediaLab projects, NewsFlash is simply a concept at this point, but it could one day make its way to your devices. Jump past the break to see it in action.<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-newsflash-hands-on/">MIT Media Lab: NewsFlash hands-on</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-newsflash-hands-on/#4983304"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshmitnf001_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-newsflash-hands-on/#4983305"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshmitnf002_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-newsflash-hands-on/#4983306"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshmitnf003_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-newsflash-hands-on/#4983307"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshmitnf004_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/mit-media-lab-newsflash-hands-on/#4983308"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/zshmitnf005_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div></p><p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-newsflash-hands-on/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>NewsFlash uses high-frequency light to transmit data from iPad to smartphone, we go hands-on (video)</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-newsflash-hands-on/">NewsFlash uses high-frequency light to transmit data from iPad to smartphone, we go hands-on (video)</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:41:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-newsflash-hands-on/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20222821/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/24/mit-media-lab-newsflash-hands-on/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>apple</category><category>apple ipad</category><category>AppleIpad</category><category>data</category><category>data transmission</category><category>DataTransmission</category><category>epic</category><category>epic 4g</category><category>Epic4g</category><category>hands-on</category><category>ipad</category><category>media lab</category><category>MediaLab</category><category>mit</category><category>mit media lab</category><category>MitMediaLab</category><category>mobilepostcross</category><category>newsflash</category><category>qr</category><category>qr code</category><category>QrCode</category><category>samsung</category><category>samsung epic</category><category>samsung epic 4g</category><category>SamsungEpic</category><category>SamsungEpic4g</category><category>smartphone</category><category>smartphones</category><category>tablet</category><category>tablets</category><category>video</category><category>wireless data</category><category>WirelessData</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Zach Honig]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:41:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tetris takes over MIT building in case of hack as high art (video)]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/23/tetris-hack-takes-over-mit-building/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/23/tetris-hack-takes-over-mit-building/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/23/tetris-hack-takes-over-mit-building/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/23/tetris-hack-takes-over-mit-building/"><img alt="Image" height="465" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/tetris1img6080.medium-1335201361.jpg" style="margin:4px" width="310" /></a></p><p> College pranks usually involve livestock, panties, the use of permanent marker on an unconscious, not-so-innocent partygoer or a combination thereof. But when you gather the cream of the geek crop at a hallowed higher learning institution like <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/MIT/">MIT</a>, those playful tricks turn into wide-scale <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/hack/">works of technical wonderment</a>. Unbeknownst to members of the Earth and Planetary Science departments that inhabit the site of this larger-than-life hack, their building -- long a target for the university's mischievous overachievers -- had its grid-like layout of windows converted into a fully workable version of <em><a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/tetris/">Tetris</a></em>, complete with colored "pieces" and increasing levels of difficulty. So, is this merely a case of public performance art or just high-minded shenaningans from some very capable, idle hands? Check out the video below to view this Cambridge, MA-based tomfoolery and decide for yourself.</p><p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/23/tetris-hack-takes-over-mit-building/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Tetris takes over MIT building in case of hack as high art (video)</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/23/tetris-hack-takes-over-mit-building/">Tetris takes over MIT building in case of hack as high art (video)</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:01:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/23/tetris-hack-takes-over-mit-building/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20222025/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/23/tetris-hack-takes-over-mit-building/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>hack</category><category>MIT</category><category>mod</category><category>prank</category><category>Tetris</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Joseph Volpe]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:01:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Self-sculpting 'smart sand' can assume any shape, create instant prototypes (video)]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/04/self-sculpting-smart-sand/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/04/self-sculpting-smart-sand/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/04/self-sculpting-smart-sand/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/04/self-sculpting-smart-sand/"><img alt="Image" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/supersmartsand3434.jpg" style="margin: 4px; width: 600px; height: 408px;" /></a></div>A new algorithm developed by the Distributed Robotics Laboratory at <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/mit">MIT's</a> Computer Science could lead to an exciting fast prototyping tool, being dubbed "smart sand." Immerse an object in the sand, tiny cubes that send simple proximity messages to each other, which relay through the swarm and determine which blocks are adjacent to the object to be modeled, and those that aren't. Using this data, it's possible to create a map of the subject to be replicated. Initial tests were performed using 2D models, but has also been shown to work reliably with 3D shapes also. While true smart sand would need "grains" much smaller than currently possible, it's said that this isn't an "insurmountable obstacle." The paper will be presented at the IEEE conference in May, or keep going past the break for the explanatory video.<p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/04/self-sculpting-smart-sand/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Self-sculpting 'smart sand' can assume any shape, create instant prototypes (video)</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/04/self-sculpting-smart-sand/">Self-sculpting 'smart sand' can assume any shape, create instant prototypes (video)</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:28:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/04/self-sculpting-smart-sand/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20208224/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/04/self-sculpting-smart-sand/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>algorithm</category><category>mit</category><category>modelling</category><category>models</category><category>prototype</category><category>prototyping</category><category>science</category><category>smart sand</category><category>SmartSand</category><category>study</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[James Trew]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:28:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[MIT's 3D solar cells take cubism to new energy efficient heights]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/28/mits-3d-solar-cells-take-cubism-to-new-energy-efficient-heights/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/28/mits-3d-solar-cells-take-cubism-to-new-energy-efficient-heights/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/28/mits-3d-solar-cells-take-cubism-to-new-energy-efficient-heights/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/28/mits-3d-solar-cells-take-cubism-to-new-energy-efficient-heights/"><img alt="Image" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/03/cube-solar-cells.jpg" style="margin:4px" /></a></div>The promise of <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/FreeEnergy/">free energy</a> is an enticing one -- that's free as in <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/renewable+energy/">renewable source</a>, not cost. (This is capitalism, after all, someone's got to foot the bill.) Economic gripes aside, research outfits like <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/MIT/">M.I.T.</a> are getting us one step closer to this cleaner fuel future with the creation of three dimensional <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/Photovoltaics/">photovoltaic cells</a>. The team's findings, recently published in the journal <em>Energy and Environmental Science</em>, demonstrate how these computer-modeled structures, rising upward in an unfolded accordion shape, have been proven to increase their energy yield over contemporary flat panels by up to 20 times in field and theoretical testing. This capacity gain, made possible by an efficient <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/solar%20power/">harvesting of sunlight</a> during less optimal hours of the day, could be especially helpful in powering regions prone to overcast or wintry climates. The tech is still far from consumer friendly, though, with the actual price of the associated juice exceeding that of traditional solar tech. With continued improvements to the manufacturing process, however, residential and business customers could very well look forward to a future outfitted with solar towers only a Cubist could love.<p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/28/mits-3d-solar-cells-take-cubism-to-new-energy-efficient-heights/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>MIT's 3D solar cells take cubism to new energy efficient heights</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/28/mits-3d-solar-cells-take-cubism-to-new-energy-efficient-heights/">MIT's 3D solar cells take cubism to new energy efficient heights</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 03:56:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/28/mits-3d-solar-cells-take-cubism-to-new-energy-efficient-heights/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20202258/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/28/mits-3d-solar-cells-take-cubism-to-new-energy-efficient-heights/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>3d solar cell</category><category>3dSolarCell</category><category>3dTv</category><category>M.I.T.</category><category>MIT</category><category>photovoltaic</category><category>photovoltaic cell</category><category>PhotovoltaicCell</category><category>solar cells</category><category>SolarCells</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Joseph Volpe]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 28 Mar 2012 03:56:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Inhabitat's Week in Green: supersonic biplane, urban algae farm and magnetic tattoos]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/25/supersonic-biplane-robot-jellyfish-high-line-fisker-nissan/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/25/supersonic-biplane-robot-jellyfish-high-line-fisker-nissan/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/25/supersonic-biplane-robot-jellyfish-high-line-fisker-nissan/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<div> <i>Each week our friends at <a href="http://inhabitat.com/">Inhabitat</a> recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <br /> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/25/supersonic-biplane-robot-jellyfish-high-line-fisker-nissan/"><img alt="Image" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/03/supersonicbiplaneuutjb.jpg" style="margin:4px" /></a></div><br />Energy-efficient transportation soared to new heights this week as MIT unveiled designs for a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/fuel-efficient-supersonic-biplane-promises-to-be-the-successor-to-the-concorde/">supersonic biplane</a> that promises to be the successor to the Concorde. Meanwhile Boeing, Airbus and Embraer partnered to develop a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/boeing-airbus-and-embraer-partner-to-develop-affordable-biofuels/">new breed of affordable biofuels</a>, and Volkswagen used <a href="http://inhabitat.com/volkswagen-uses-space-foil-to-make-cars-safer/">space foil</a> to make cars safer. In hot car news, Porsche announced plans to release a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/porsche-announces-it-will-release-plug-in-hybrid-panamera-in-2014/">plug-in hybrid Panamera</a> in 2014, and we brought you sneak peeks of several sexy electric vehicles that will be unveiled at the New York Auto Show in just over a week: <a href="http://inhabitat.com/fisker-releases-a-sketch-of-its-nina-plug-in-hybrid-ahead-of-new-york-auto-show-debut/">Fisker's Nina plug-in hybrid</a> and <a href="http://inhabitat.com/infiniti-to-unveil-new-nissan-leaf-based-ev-at-new-york-auto-show/">Infiniti's new Nissan leaf-based EV</a>.<br /><br />On the subject of energy efficiency, it was a big week for clean tech as <a href="http://inhabitat.com/">Inhabitat</a> reported that the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/worlds-most-powerful-wind-turbine-to-be-installed-off-belgian-coast/">world's most powerful wind turbine</a> was just installed off the Belgian coast, and the National Ignition Facility flipped the switch on the world's first <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nif-team-fires-worlds-first-2-megajoule-ultraviolet-laser-in-attempt-to-unlock-nuclear-fusion/">two-megajoule ultraviolet laser</a> in an attempt to unlock nuclear fusion. Meanwhile, scientists discovered a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/scientists-believes-trees-could-provide-electricity-to-power-entire-infrastructures/">link between trees and electricity</a> by studying the way they affecty the concentration of positive and negative ions in the air, and OriginOil announced plans for an <a href="http://inhabitat.com/urban-algae-farms-could-heat-buildings-while-treating-wastewater/">urban algae farm</a> near Paris that will heat buildings while treating wastewater. The solar industry heard good news this week as a report showed that solar installations in the US <a href="http://inhabitat.com/solar-installations-in-the-us-more-than-doubled-in-2011/">more than doubled</a> in 2011, and President Obama toured the states touting his "<a href="http://inhabitat.com/obama-travels-the-us-touting-all-of-the-above-approach-to-energy-on-the-stump/">all of the above</a>" approach to energy.<br /><br />This week <a href="http://inhabitat.com/">Inhabitat</a> also showcased several amazing public infrastructure projects - including a series of gigantic <a href="http://inhabitat.com/giant-fruit-shaped-bus-stops-line-streets-in-japan/">fruit-shaped bus shelters</a> in Japan, gmp Architekten's gorgeous new <a href="http://inhabitat.com/gmp-architekten-to-design-gorgeous-new-hangzhou-south-railway-station/">Hangzhou South Railway Station</a>, the fresh new designs for <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/designs-unveiled-for-the-final-section-of-the-high-line/">section 3 of NYC's High Line elevated park</a>, and a soaring <a href="http://inhabitat.com/michael-green-unveils-wooden-tallwood-skyscraper-for-vancouver/">30-storey-tall wood skyscraper in Vancouver</a>.<br /><a href="http://inhabitat.com/virginia-tech-team-creates-a-self-charging-robo-jellyfish/"><img alt="Image" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/03/jelly.jpg" style="margin:4px; float: right; padding: 10px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a><br />In robot news, a Virginia Tech team created a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/virginia-tech-team-creates-a-self-charging-robo-jellyfish/">self-charging robo-Jellyfish</a> that harvests hydrogen fuel from water, and we shared <a href="http://mylifescoop.com/featured-stories/2012/03/6-amazing-inventions-made-possible-by-nanotechnology.html?page=1">6 incredible inventions</a> made possible by nanotechnology. F.A.T. Labs released a <a href="http://www.inhabitots.com/free-universal-construction-kit-by-f-a-t-labs-connects-legos-to-tinkertoys-and-8-other-building-blocks/">Free Universal Construction Kit</a> that can connect LEGOs to 8 other types of building blocks, and Amazon <a href="http://inhabitat.com/amazon-acquires-a-robot-company-to-improve-working-conditions-in-its-warehouses/">purchased a robot company</a> to improve working conditions in its warehouses. As most of you probably know, This American Life issued a retraction of its <a href="http://inhabitat.com/npr-retracts-apple-factory-expose-but-many-horrific-truths-still-remain/">Apple factory expos&eacute;</a> - and while <a href="http://inhabitat.com/npr-retracts-apple-factory-expose-but-many-horrific-truths-still-remain/">Mike Daisey may lost his credibility</a>, we believe strongly that distrust in the integrity of his "reporting", should not be a reason for consumers to <a href="http://inhabitat.com/npr-retracts-apple-factory-expose-but-many-horrific-truths-still-remain/">turn a blind eye</a> to working conditions at Foxconn and other electronics ODMs. This week Nokia filed a patent for <a href="http://www.ecouterre.com/is-nokia-planning-magnetic-tattoos-that-vibrate-when-someone-calls/">magnetic tattoos</a> that could vibrate when someone calls, and we learned that free smartphone applications could consume <a href="http://inhabitat.com/free-smartphone-applications-can-consume-75-of-your-battery-life/">75% more energy</a> than paid versions. Speaking of mobile phones, new research linked <a href="http://www.inhabitots.com/cell-phone-radiation-during-pregnancy-linked-to-behavioral-disorders-of-offspring/">cellphone radiation during pregnancy</a> to behavioral disorders in offspring so we looked at ways pregnant mothers can <a href="http://www.inhabitots.com/how-to-protectyour-baby-from-cell-phone-radiation-risks-during-pregnancy/">protect their babies from potential cellphone radiation exposure</a>. Last but not least, we brought you an interesting high-tech clothing concept from Stella McCartney - a <a href="http://www.ecouterre.com/adidas-by-stella-mccartneys-tennis-bra-includes-built-in-heart-sensor/">sports bra with a built-in heart sensor</a>.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/25/supersonic-biplane-robot-jellyfish-high-line-fisker-nissan/">Inhabitat's Week in Green: supersonic biplane, urban algae farm and magnetic tattoos</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Sun, 25 Mar 2012 20:26:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/25/supersonic-biplane-robot-jellyfish-high-line-fisker-nissan/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20200281/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/25/supersonic-biplane-robot-jellyfish-high-line-fisker-nissan/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>alloftheabove</category><category>Apple</category><category>cellphone</category><category>cellphone radiation</category><category>CellphoneRadiation</category><category>energy</category><category>energy efficient</category><category>EnergyEfficient</category><category>Foxconn</category><category>inhabitat</category><category>inhabitatsweekingreen</category><category>LEGO</category><category>LEGOs</category><category>MIT</category><category>NYC</category><category>robot</category><category>robots</category><category>sefl-charging</category><category>thisweekingreen</category><category>turbines</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Inhabitat]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 25 Mar 2012 20:26:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[MIT's laser-powered camera can detect objects hidden around corners (video)]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/21/mit-laser-camera-corner-light/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/21/mit-laser-camera-corner-light/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/21/mit-laser-camera-corner-light/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<div style="text-align: center; "> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/21/mit-laser-camera-corner-light/"><img alt="Image" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/03/cam.jpg" style="margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; " /></a></div>One of the most thrilling things about human existence is that you never know what's lurking around the corner. It could be a newborn baby, a sweet job, a delicious churro -- doesn't really matter, because it's a surprise, and surprises are fun and surprising. Just don't tell that to the doldrum dwellers over at MIT, because apparently, they don't agree. The same team that created a camera with <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/dnp-mit-builds-camera-that-can-capture-at-the-speed-of-light-vi/">light-speed shutter rates</a> has now expanded upon their project, with a camera capable of seeing around corners. Literally. To do this, the system uses a so-called femtosecond laser to send out extremely short light pulses -- so short, in fact, that their entire lifespan is measured in quadrillionths of a second. To capture an object lurking around a corner, the device aims its laser at a nearby wall, thereby allowing the light to bounce around the room before eventually landing on the concealed object. Once it hits the jackpot, the light will reflect back onto the wall, and eventually return to a detector, which can gauge the exact location of the object based on the distance the laser traveled. This happens over and over again at different angles, meaning that the system will ultimately be able to get a general idea of the hidden room's layout. Researchers hope that their system will eventually be used in emergency rescue situations, or to help drivers see what's around the bend, though there's no telling when any of that could actually happen. For a diagrammatic rundown, check out the video after the break.<p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/21/mit-laser-camera-corner-light/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>MIT's laser-powered camera can detect objects hidden around corners (video)</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/21/mit-laser-camera-corner-light/">MIT's laser-powered camera can detect objects hidden around corners (video)</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 07:01:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/21/mit-laser-camera-corner-light/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20197612/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/21/mit-laser-camera-corner-light/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>corner</category><category>detection</category><category>emergency</category><category>experiment</category><category>femtolaser</category><category>imaging</category><category>laser</category><category>light</category><category>MIT</category><category>navigation</category><category>paper</category><category>rescue</category><category>research</category><category>study</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Amar Toor]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 21 Mar 2012 07:01:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[PatchWerk lets you control a monstrous modular synth with your browser (video)]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/patchwerk-lets-you-control-a-monsterous-modular-synth/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/patchwerk-lets-you-control-a-monsterous-modular-synth/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/patchwerk-lets-you-control-a-monsterous-modular-synth/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/patchwerk-lets-you-control-a-monsterous-modular-synth/"><img alt="PatchWerk" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/03/3-16-2012patchwerk.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px;" /></a></div>The Paradiso <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/synthesizer">Synthesizer</a> at the <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/mit">MIT</a> Museum might be the largest homemade instrument of its type. That fact alone does make it interesting but, what makes this room-sized collection of wooden cabinets connected by a web of cables really stand out is the fact that you can control it from the comfort of you home with nothing more than a browser. The web app, PatchWerk, lets individuals from around the world come together and commandeer Joe Paradiso's creation... at least in a limited form. As you turn dials and flip switches you can hear the soundscape change, and their real life counterparts react in kind on the museum floor. Hit up the source link to try it out for yourself and check out the video after the break to see the monstrosity you'll be hijacking.<p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/patchwerk-lets-you-control-a-monsterous-modular-synth/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>PatchWerk lets you control a monstrous modular synth with your browser (video)</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/patchwerk-lets-you-control-a-monsterous-modular-synth/">PatchWerk lets you control a monstrous modular synth with your browser (video)</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 23:08:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/patchwerk-lets-you-control-a-monsterous-modular-synth/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20194826/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/patchwerk-lets-you-control-a-monsterous-modular-synth/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>instrument</category><category>Joe Paradiso</category><category>JoeParadiso</category><category>MIT</category><category>MIT Museum</category><category>MitMuseum</category><category>Modular Synth</category><category>Modular Synthesizer</category><category>ModularSynth</category><category>ModularSynthesizer</category><category>musical instrument</category><category>MusicalInstrument</category><category>Paradiso</category><category>paradiso synthesizer</category><category>ParadisoSynthesizer</category><category>patchwerk</category><category>synth</category><category>synthesizer</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Terrence O'Brien]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 16 Mar 2012 23:08:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[MIT software optimizes paths for automated undersea vehicles (video)]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/12/mit-software-optimizes-paths-for-automated-undersea-vehicles/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/12/mit-software-optimizes-paths-for-automated-undersea-vehicles/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/12/mit-software-optimizes-paths-for-automated-undersea-vehicles/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/12/mit-software-optimizes-paths-for-automated-undersea-vehicles/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/03/mit-map-undersea.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 12px; float: left;" /></a>So, there's good news and bad news. The former is that <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/MIT/">MIT</a> researchers have developed new software and methods that can predict optimal paths for automated <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/underwater+vehicle/">underwater vehicles</a>. The latter is that it's meant to be used for "<em>swarms</em>" of them, "moving all at once toward separate destinations." We hate to be the folks that keep harping on the <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/RobotApocalypse/">inevitable</a>, but teaching "swarms" of undersea robots how to effectively draw paths to the very creators that made them makes us... well, less that cozy. Paranoia aside, the Pierre Lermusiaux-led team has concocted a system that can provide paths optimized either for the shortest travel time or for the minimum use of energy, or to maximize the collection of data that is considered most important. The goal? To make the lives of gliders more efficient when engaged in "mapping and oceanographic research, military reconnaissance and harbor protection, or for deep-sea oil-well maintenance and emergency response." Oh, and did we mention that it can incorporate obstacle-avoidance functions for the sake of protection. Yeah. Death from <strike>above</strike> below.<p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/12/mit-software-optimizes-paths-for-automated-undersea-vehicles/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>MIT software optimizes paths for automated undersea vehicles (video)</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/12/mit-software-optimizes-paths-for-automated-undersea-vehicles/">MIT software optimizes paths for automated undersea vehicles (video)</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Mon, 12 Mar 2012 04:39:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/12/mit-software-optimizes-paths-for-automated-undersea-vehicles/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20190813/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/12/mit-software-optimizes-paths-for-automated-undersea-vehicles/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>AUV</category><category>glider</category><category>military</category><category>mit</category><category>MSEAS</category><category>ocean</category><category>Pierre Lermusiaux</category><category>PierreLermusiaux</category><category>research</category><category>science</category><category>uav</category><category>underwater vehicle</category><category>UnderwaterVehicle</category><category>university</category><category>video</category><category>wargadget</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Darren Murph]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 12 Mar 2012 04:39:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[MIT opens App Inventor to all, launches public Beta]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/mit-opens-app-inventor-to-all-launches-public-beta/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/mit-opens-app-inventor-to-all-launches-public-beta/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/mit-opens-app-inventor-to-all-launches-public-beta/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/mit-opens-app-inventor-to-all-launches-public-beta/"><img alt="App Inventor" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/01/googleappinventor-1327344662.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 365px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px;" /></a></div>You'd be forgiven for thinking you've already read this article. Truthfully, you pretty much <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/16/google-app-inventor-opens-up-access-to-everyone-clings-on-to-be/">already have</a>. The software is the same (<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/12/android-app-inventor-lets-you-be-the-developer-video/">App Inventor</a>), the milestone is the same (public availability), even the development status is the same (beta). So, what praytell is new then? Well, the Android apps creation tool is no longer being managed by Google -- MIT has snatched up the source and worked up its own version. Now you, or anyone else for that matter, can go and log into the <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/23/google-mit-bestow-app-inventor-to-the-unwashed-masses/">MIT App Inventor</a>, so long as you have a valid Google ID. Interested in giving it a try? Did you miss out when it was the Google App Inventor? Hit up the source link for more.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/mit-opens-app-inventor-to-all-launches-public-beta/">MIT opens App Inventor to all, launches public Beta</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:22:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/mit-opens-app-inventor-to-all-launches-public-beta/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20186280/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/mit-opens-app-inventor-to-all-launches-public-beta/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>Android</category><category>android app inventor</category><category>AndroidAppInventor</category><category>app</category><category>app inventor</category><category>AppInventor</category><category>apps</category><category>google app inventor</category><category>GoogleAppInventor</category><category>MIT</category><category>mit app inventor</category><category>MitAppInventor</category><category>open source</category><category>open sourced</category><category>OpenSource</category><category>OpenSourced</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Terrence O'Brien]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:22:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[MIT duo successfully tests wireless drug-delivery microchips, more consistent than injections]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/18/mit-wireless-drug-delivery-microchips/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/18/mit-wireless-drug-delivery-microchips/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/18/mit-wireless-drug-delivery-microchips/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/18/mit-wireless-drug-delivery-microchips/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/02/langer-cima.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px;" /></a></div><div> Despise those daily injections of essential medication? Well folks, relief could be on the way. Over a decade ago, two <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/mit/">MIT</a> professors, Robert Langer and Michael Cima, first considered developing a drug-delivery microchip that could be wirelessly controlled. This past week, researchers in Cambridge -- alongside scientists from MicroCHIPS, Inc. -- announced that they have successfully used the aforementioned chip to give osteoporosis patients their daily allotment of teriparatide. "You can do remote control delivery, you can do pulsatile drug delivery, and you can deliver multiple drugs," Langer noted. Chips used in this particular study housed 20 doses each and results indicated that the delivery showed less variation than administered injections. In theory, microchips like these could be used alongside sensors that <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/blood+sugar/">monitor</a> glucose levels -- creating tech that could adapt to changes in a patient's condition. More info on the trial awaits in the source link below.</div><br />[Thanks, Lydia]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/18/mit-wireless-drug-delivery-microchips/">MIT duo successfully tests wireless drug-delivery microchips, more consistent than injections</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Sat, 18 Feb 2012 14:06:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/18/mit-wireless-drug-delivery-microchips/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20174332/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/18/mit-wireless-drug-delivery-microchips/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>clinical trials</category><category>ClinicalTrials</category><category>dose</category><category>drug delivery</category><category>drug delivery microchips</category><category>DrugDelivery</category><category>DrugDeliveryMicrochips</category><category>microchip</category><category>microchips</category><category>mit</category><category>osteoporosis</category><category>science</category><category>wireless</category><category>wireless drug delivery</category><category>WirelessDrugDelivery</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Billy Steele]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 18 Feb 2012 14:06:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Inhabitat's Week in Green: electric taxis, paper robots and a cathedral of 55,000 LEDs]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/05/inhabitats-week-in-green-electric-taxis-paper-robots-and-a-ca/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/05/inhabitats-week-in-green-electric-taxis-paper-robots-and-a-ca/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/05/inhabitats-week-in-green-electric-taxis-paper-robots-and-a-ca/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<div> <i>Each week our friends at <a href="http://inhabitat.com/">Inhabitat</a> recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.</i></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/05/inhabitats-week-in-green-electric-taxis-paper-robots-and-a-ca/"><img border="1" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/02/luminarie-cagna-belgium-festival-of-lights.jpeg" vspace="4" /></a></div>This week Inhabitat saw the light as we reported on several spellbinding new projects around the world -- including an <a href="http://inhabitat.com/belgiums-festival-of-lights-boasts-a-cathedral-made-from-55000-led-bulbs/">incredible cathedral made from 55,000 LEDs</a> and a glowing <a href="http://inhabitat.com/cocoon_fs-pohl-architects-unveils-prefab-plankton-inspired-pod-building-in-germany/">prefab pod building</a> modeled after the genetic structure of plankton. We also showcased a luminous forest of thousands of "<a href="http://inhabitat.com/frozen-trees-made-of-1000s-of-ikea-plastic-bag-dispensers-light-up-lisbon/">Frozen Trees</a>" and a high-flying <a href="http://inhabitat.com/high-flying-f-light-lamps-made-from-recycled-airbus-a300-planes/">F-Light</a> made from a recycled airplane, and also reported on Toshiba <a href="http://inhabitat.com/toshibas-new-led-lineup-offers-up-a-huge-selection-of-lighting-solutions/">expanding its line of LEDs</a>. Meanwhile, as the lights fire up Lucas Oil Stadium we shared <a href="http://inhabitat.com/7-ways-the-superbowl-xlvi-is-going-green/">seven ways Super Bowl 46 is going green</a>, took a look at the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/homegrown-concessions-to-serve-up-organic-food-at-super-bowl-xlvi/">first organic concessions</a> ever to offered at a Super Bowl, and got things cooking with six delicious recipes for <a href="http://inhabitat.com/six-yummy-organic-recipes-for-your-super-bowl-party/">game time snacks</a><br /><br />Eco transportation also blasted off from the starting line as London's first <a href="http://inhabitat.com/londons-first-zero-emission-electric-taxis-hit-streets/">zero-emission electric taxis</a> hit the streets, and Stanford unveiled plans for <a href="http://inhabitat.com/stanford-develops-wireless-electric-car-charging-system-for-highways/">electrified roads</a> that automatically charge EVs. We also saw Scotland launch the world's first <a href="http://inhabitat.com/scotland-building-the-world%E2%80%99s-first-sea-going-hybrid-ferries/">hybrid sea-going ferries</a>, while Agence 360 did cyclists a favor by designing a nifty ultra-compact <a href="http://inhabitat.com/compact-bike-helmet-by-agence-360-folds-up-to-fit-in-your-bag/">foldable bike helmet</a>. Meanwhile, Chevrolet announced plans to put <a href="http://inhabitat.com/chevrolet-to-put-environmental-impact-stickers-on-all-of-their-cars-by-2013/">environmental impact stickers</a> on all of their cars by 2013, the sun-powered <a href="http://inhabitat.com/solarworld-gt-lands-in-the-u-s-for-the-next-leg-of-its-world-tour/">solarGT car</a> set off on a race across the United States, and we brought you a gorgeous set of long-exposure photos that make <a href="http://inhabitat.com/aaron-durands-amazing-long-exposure-photography-makes-speeding-trains-look-like-friggin-lasers/">speeding trains look like laser beams</a>.<br /><br />In other news, renewable energy was a hot topic this week as researchers at MIT found a way to <a href="http://inhabitat.com/mit-researchers-find-a-way-to-make-solar-panels-from-grass-clippings/">make solar panels from grass clippings</a>, another team of scientists developed a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/hip-hop-powered-medical-sensor-monitors-blood-pressure-without-dropping-a-beat/">hip-hop powered biomedical sensor</a> and Britain mulled plans to install a new breed of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/new-generation-of-radioactive-waste-consuming-nuclear-reactors-could-power-uk-for-500-years/">radioactive waste-recycling nuclear reactors</a> that could power the UK for 500 years. We also brought you several fun designs for aspiring little builders - a set of awesome <a href="http://www.inhabitots.com/studio-ditte-paper-robots-are-fun-to-build-and-play-with/">paper robots</a> and an <a href="http://www.inhabitots.com/plantoys-workbench-is-fun-for-industrial-kids/">industrial workbench</a> for tots. Finally, since Valentine's day is around the corner we shared <a href="http://inhabitat.com/10-sure-to-please-green-valentine%E2%80%99s-day-gifts-to-give-your-main-squeeze/">10 red-hot gifts</a>, along with <a href="http://inhabitat.com/14-eco-friendly-lingerie-gifts-for-a-red-hot-valentine%E2%80%99s-day/">14 sexy sustainable skivvies</a>.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/05/inhabitats-week-in-green-electric-taxis-paper-robots-and-a-ca/">Inhabitat's Week in Green: electric taxis, paper robots and a cathedral of 55,000 LEDs</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/05/inhabitats-week-in-green-electric-taxis-paper-robots-and-a-ca/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20164782/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/05/inhabitats-week-in-green-electric-taxis-paper-robots-and-a-ca/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>Agence 360</category><category>Agence360</category><category>chevrolet</category><category>eco</category><category>electric</category><category>environmental</category><category>EVs</category><category>F-light</category><category>green</category><category>inhabitant</category><category>laser beam</category><category>LaserBeam</category><category>LED</category><category>MIT</category><category>paper</category><category>robots</category><category>solarGT</category><category>Stanford</category><category>taxis</category><category>thisweekingreen</category><category>weekingreen</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Inhabitat]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hiriko: The MIT-backed, Spanish 'folding' EV that wants to make cities bigger]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/hiriko-the-mit-backed-spanish-folding-ev-that-wants-to-make/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/hiriko-the-mit-backed-spanish-folding-ev-that-wants-to-make/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/hiriko-the-mit-backed-spanish-folding-ev-that-wants-to-make/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/hiriko-the-mit-backed-spanish-folding-ev-that-wants-to-make/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/01/hirikojtjt25252-1327511074.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px;" /></a></div>Meet Hiriko, an EV that's the fruit of a collaboration between MIT, Basque businesses and the Spanish government. It might look like the rest of those <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/volkswagen-e-bugster-concept/">sci-fi</a> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/06/tata-emo-the-20-000-ev-youll-never-set-eyes-on/">Jetson-style</a> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/28/sim-lei-ev-gets-a-video-walk-through-shaped-like-a-fish-has-a/">concepts</a>, but it has a few tricks up its wheel-arches. Rather than a regular configuration, the bubble-esque ride has four independent in-wheel motors. Also, when you're ready to park this thing, the back section slides forward, "folding" the cabin up vertically -- a feat the makers claim will see it occupy only two-thirds of the space taken by a <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/26/smart-fortwo-ev-gets-delayed-until-september-unspecified-probl/">Smart ForTwo</a>. Other neat features include a single front-opening door and joystick controls (rather than a plain old steering wheel). There's no details on range, mph and charge speed, but 20 test vehicles are being built at a reported cost of $16,253 each. There's no hint at what this will translate to in sticker price when it goes into production next year, but with the initial trials taking place imminently, it looks like Hiriko (meaning "of the city") could be a feature in <em>your</em> city quite soon.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/hiriko-the-mit-backed-spanish-folding-ev-that-wants-to-make/">Hiriko: The MIT-backed, Spanish 'folding' EV that wants to make cities bigger</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:26:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/hiriko-the-mit-backed-spanish-folding-ev-that-wants-to-make/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20156505/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/hiriko-the-mit-backed-spanish-folding-ev-that-wants-to-make/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>all electric</category><category>AllElectric</category><category>basque</category><category>car</category><category>cars</category><category>compact</category><category>electric car</category><category>electric vehicle</category><category>ElectricCar</category><category>ElectricVehicle</category><category>EV</category><category>hiriko</category><category>MIT</category><category>of the city</category><category>OfTheCity</category><category>small</category><category>spanish</category><category>transportation</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[James Trew]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:26:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Google, MIT bestow App Inventor to the unwashed masses]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/23/google-mit-bestow-app-inventor-to-the-unwashed-masses/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/23/google-mit-bestow-app-inventor-to-the-unwashed-masses/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/23/google-mit-bestow-app-inventor-to-the-unwashed-masses/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/23/google-mit-bestow-app-inventor-to-the-unwashed-masses/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/01/googleappinventor-1327344662.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px;" /></a></div>Google must be feeling generous: it donated <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/21/google-sky-map-donated-to-open-source-community/">Sky Map</a> to undeserving armchair astronomers and it's letting the great unwashed get at its <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/12/android-app-inventor-lets-you-be-the-developer-video/">App Inventor</a> development platform. The software toolset was cooked up in partnership with <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/mit/">MIT</a>: a web-based interface that lets anyone build Android apps without getting elbows-deep in code. Those Massachusetts king-geeks won't be accepting submissions just yet, however: it's still got to work out how it's going to deploy the public server and foster a "robust and active open-source project" under its new name: the moderately unimaginative MIT App Inventor.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/23/google-mit-bestow-app-inventor-to-the-unwashed-masses/">Google, MIT bestow App Inventor to the unwashed masses</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:52:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/23/google-mit-bestow-app-inventor-to-the-unwashed-masses/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20154768/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/23/google-mit-bestow-app-inventor-to-the-unwashed-masses/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>Android</category><category>Android App Inventor</category><category>AndroidAppInventor</category><category>App</category><category>App Inventor</category><category>AppInventor</category><category>Apps</category><category>Dev</category><category>Development</category><category>Development Platform</category><category>DevelopmentPlatform</category><category>Devs</category><category>Google</category><category>Goole App Inventor</category><category>GooleAppInventor</category><category>MIT</category><category>MIT App Inventor</category><category>MitAppInventor</category><category>Open</category><category>Open Source</category><category>Open-Source</category><category>OpenSource</category><category>Source</category><category>Web-Based Interface</category><category>Web-basedInterface</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Daniel Cooper]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:52:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Inhabitat's Week in Green: Detroit Auto Show, solar plants and hydrophobic nanocoating]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/15/detroit-auto-show-solar-plants-and-hydrophobic-nanocoating/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/15/detroit-auto-show-solar-plants-and-hydrophobic-nanocoating/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/15/detroit-auto-show-solar-plants-and-hydrophobic-nanocoating/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<i>Each week our friends at <a href="http://inhabitat.com/">Inhabitat</a> recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.</i><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/15/detroit-auto-show-solar-plants-and-hydrophobic-nanocoating/"><img  src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/01/liquipels-hydrophobic-nanocoating-makes-gadgets-completely-waterproof.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px;" /></a></div>This week Inhabitat hit the streets of Detroit to bring you the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/7-hottest-new-hybrids-electric-cars-at-the-2012-north-american-international-auto-show-in-detroit/">hottest hybrid vehicles and electric cars</a> from the 2012 <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/detroit-auto-show">North American International Auto Show</a>! We saw automakers unveil scores of sexy supercars like the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/lexus-unveils-hot-new-lf-lc-luxury-hybrid-coupe-at-detroit-auto-show/">Lexus LF-LC coupe</a>, the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/photos-the-chevy-miray-concept-is-a-hot-new-take-on-the-chevy-volt/">Chevy MiRay</a>, and the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/exclusive-pics-honda-unveils-its-hot-new-nsx-super-sports-concept-car-at-the-detroit-auto-show/">NSX concept hybrid</a>, and we also showcased more realistic <a href="http://inhabitat.com/top-6-new-electric-vehicles-and-hybrid-cars-hitting-the-streets-in-2012/">street-ready</a> vehicles like <a href="http://inhabitat.com/ford-unveils-2013-fusion-energi-plug-in-hybrid-at-the-detroit-auto-show/">Ford's Fusion Energi</a> plug-in hybrid, VW's brand new <a href="http://inhabitat.com/pics-volkswagen-debuts-its-2013-hybrid-jetta-at-the-2012-detroit-auto-show/">hybrid Jetta</a>, and Via Motors' <a href="http://inhabitat.com/live-from-naias-bob-lutz-introduces-via-motors-with-the-erev-vtrux-extended-range-ev-pickup/">VTRUX</a> extended-range EV pickup. We also peered into the future of sustainable transportation as we brought you the finalists in <a href="http://inhabitat.com/naias-photos-michelin-challenge-design-shows-off-the-best-in-futuristic-city-cars/">Michelin's city car design challenge</a>, we learned that the world's largest <a href="http://inhabitat.com/worlds-largest-driverless-personal-transportion-system-to-break-ground-in-india/">driverless personal transit system</a> is set to break ground in India, and we saw the UK green light the first phase of its new <a href="http://inhabitat.com/uk-green-lights-first-phase-of-high-speed-rail-line-hs2/">HS2 high-speed rail line</a>.<br /><br />It was also a bright week for alternative energy as MIT scientists discovered a way to make more efficient solar plants <a href="http://inhabitat.com/mit-scientists-find-way-to-maximize-concentrated-solar-plant-efficacy-by-emulating-a-sunflowers-pattern/">modeled after sunflowers</a> and Sweden announced plans for a massive <a href="http://inhabitat.com/sweden-announces-plans-for-massive-700-megawatt-wind-farm-in-the-baltic-sea/">700 megawatt wind farm</a> in the Baltic Sea. Meanwhile, we learned that Rwanda's poo-powered prisons are able to produce <a href="http://inhabitat.com/rwandas-poo-powered-prisons-are-75-fueled-by-burning-inmates-waste/">75% of their power</a> from human waste, we showcased plans for an <a href="http://inhabitat.com/jung-inyoung%e2%80%99s-sleek-rolling-suitcase-charges-your-devices-kinetically/">energy-generating rolling suitcase</a> that charges your gadgets, and we saw the launch of several shining solar-powered devices - <a href="http://inhabitat.com/one-laptop-per-child-will-unveil-its-8-inch-xo-3-0-tablet-at-ces/">OLPC's XO3</a> tablet computer and the sun-powered <a href="http://inhabitat.com/solarkindle-solarfocus-debuts-its-sun-powered-cover-for-amazons-e-reader-at-ces/">Solarkindle</a> e-reader cover.<br /><br />In other news, this week we rounded up our favorite <a href="http://inhabitat.com/top-7-green-gadgets-to-debut-at-this-weeks-2012-ces/">eco gadgets from CES 2012</a> - including a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/liquipels-hydrophobic-nanocoating-makes-gadgets-completely-waterproof/">hydrophobic nanocoating</a> that makes any gadget completely waterproof. We also saw 200 Chinese works construct a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/200-chinese-workers-erect-a-30-storey-prefabricated-hotel-in-just-15-days-video/">30 story prefab building</a> in just 15 days, and we watched superman fly across a <a href="http://www.inhabitots.com/amazing-lego-superman-flies-across-animated-lego-tv/">cute animated LEGO TV</a>. Finally, we brought you the latest and greatest developments in wearable technology - including a set of <a href="http://www.ecouterre.com/vuzixs-smart-sunglasses-merge-virtual-information-with-real-world/">smart sunglasses</a> that merge virtual information with the real world, a set of <a href="http://www.ecouterre.com/aftershokz-bone-conducting-earphones-pumps-music-through-your-skull/">bone-conducting earphones</a>, and a set of <a href="http://www.ecouterre.com/spnkix-turns-boring-ol-shoes-into-remote-controlled-motorized-skates/">motorized skates</a> that can be attached to any boring old pair of shoes.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/15/detroit-auto-show-solar-plants-and-hydrophobic-nanocoating/">Inhabitat's Week in Green: Detroit Auto Show, solar plants and hydrophobic nanocoating</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/15/detroit-auto-show-solar-plants-and-hydrophobic-nanocoating/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20148898/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/15/detroit-auto-show-solar-plants-and-hydrophobic-nanocoating/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>auto show</category><category>automobile</category><category>automotive</category><category>AutoShow</category><category>ces</category><category>ces 2012</category><category>Ces2012</category><category>concept</category><category>detroit auto show</category><category>DetroitAutoShow</category><category>hybrid</category><category>Inhabitat</category><category>MIT</category><category>nanocoating</category><category>nanotechnology</category><category>nsx</category><category>solar</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Inhabitat]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[MIT scholar builds a self-balancing unicycle to roll fast and furious around campus (video)]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/28/mit-scholar-builds-a-self-balancing-unicycle-to-roll-fast-and-fu/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/28/mit-scholar-builds-a-self-balancing-unicycle-to-roll-fast-and-fu/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/28/mit-scholar-builds-a-self-balancing-unicycle-to-roll-fast-and-fu/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<center>
	<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/28/mit-scholar-builds-a-self-balancing-unicycle-to-roll-fast-and-fu/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/12/unicycle12-28.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px;" /></a></center>
Sure, we've shown you the goofy<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/14/focus-designs-sbu-self-balancing-unicycle-hits-2-0-faster-str/"> SBU v2.0 unicycle</a>, but what's better than a glorious DIY project? MIT student Stephan Boyer has built his own electrical uni-ride, which he's dubbing the "Bullet." The single-wheel transporter packs a custom MIG-welded steel body, two 7Ah 12-volt batteries, an ATmega328 chip and a 450-watt electric motor. While the Bullet isn't the speediest of solowheel demons (15mph max), it's on par with its <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/02/ryno-motors-self-balancing-single-wheeled-scooter-test-ride/">$25,000 Ryno Motors</a> counterpart. As far as power efficiency, the Bullet can go up to five miles on a single charge -- more than enough juice to hit a few classroom round-trips. There's some "Learning to Ride" tips from the creator himself at the source link, but in the meantime you can watch this unified purple rider in action after the break.<p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/28/mit-scholar-builds-a-self-balancing-unicycle-to-roll-fast-and-fu/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>MIT scholar builds a self-balancing unicycle to roll fast and furious around campus (video)</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/28/mit-scholar-builds-a-self-balancing-unicycle-to-roll-fast-and-fu/">MIT scholar builds a self-balancing unicycle to roll fast and furious around campus (video)</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 22:14:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/28/mit-scholar-builds-a-self-balancing-unicycle-to-roll-fast-and-fu/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20136580/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/28/mit-scholar-builds-a-self-balancing-unicycle-to-roll-fast-and-fu/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>diy</category><category>do it yourself</category><category>DoItYourself</category><category>electric</category><category>electric unicycle</category><category>electrical</category><category>electrical unicycle</category><category>ElectricalUnicycle</category><category>ElectricUnicycle</category><category>hack</category><category>hacks</category><category>mit</category><category>self-balanced</category><category>self-balanced unicycle</category><category>Self-balancedUnicycle</category><category>self-balancing</category><category>self-balancing unicycle</category><category>Self-balancingUnicycle</category><category>stephan boyer</category><category>StephanBoyer</category><category>unicycle</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Edgar Alvarez]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 28 Dec 2011 22:14:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[MIT researchers locate genes that help underlie memory formation, zap some mice]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/24/mit-researchers-locate-genes-that-help-underlie-memory-formation/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/24/mit-researchers-locate-genes-that-help-underlie-memory-formation/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/24/mit-researchers-locate-genes-that-help-underlie-memory-formation/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/24/mit-researchers-locate-genes-that-help-underlie-memory-formation/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/12/linresearcher.jpg" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; margin-left: 11px; margin-right: 11px; margin-top: 11px; margin-bottom: 11px; float: right; " /></a>Over time, the neurons in your brain are going to change. And that's only natural. When you experience a new event, your brain encodes the memory by altering the connections between neurons, which is caused by turning on several genes within these neurons. Recenty, a team of neuroscientists at <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/15/mit-unveils-computer-chip-that-thinks-like-the-human-brain-skyn/">MIT</a> published their findings in the Dec. 23rd issue of <em>Science</em> in which the group was able to pinpoint some of the exact locations of memory formation within the brain. The team, led by Yingxi Lin, found that the Npas4 gene is especially active in the <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/18/groqit-barcode-scanner-has-your-hippocampus-back/">hippocampus</a>, a brain structure known to be critical in forming long-term memories. Once engaged, the Npas4 gene turns on a series of other genes that modify the brain's internal wiring by adjusting the strength of synapses, or connections between neurons. The findings were obtained by studying the neural activity of <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/rotobot+mice/">mice</a> which underwent mild electric shocks when they entered a specific chamber. Upon receiving the shock, researchers noted that Npas4 is turned on very early during this conditioning. The research is still in its early stages and while the researchers have identified only a few of the genes regulated by Npas4, they suspect there could be hundreds more that help with the memory formation process. The lesson learned: stick to it and if you have any questions, mildly shock some mice.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/24/mit-researchers-locate-genes-that-help-underlie-memory-formation/">MIT researchers locate genes that help underlie memory formation, zap some mice</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Sat, 24 Dec 2011 18:17:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/24/mit-researchers-locate-genes-that-help-underlie-memory-formation/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20134590/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/24/mit-researchers-locate-genes-that-help-underlie-memory-formation/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>brain</category><category>electric shock</category><category>electric shocks</category><category>ElectricShock</category><category>ElectricShocks</category><category>formation</category><category>gene</category><category>hippocampus</category><category>memory</category><category>memory formation</category><category>MemoryFormation</category><category>mice</category><category>MIT</category><category>neuron</category><category>neuroscience</category><category>neuroscientists</category><category>NPas4</category><category>Yingxi Lin</category><category>YingxiLin</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Barylick]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 24 Dec 2011 18:17:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[MIT's got a way of using encrypted data without decrypting it, next stop, traveling without moving]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/23/mits-got-a-way-of-using-encrypted-data-without-decrypting-it-n/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/23/mits-got-a-way-of-using-encrypted-data-without-decrypting-it-n/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/23/mits-got-a-way-of-using-encrypted-data-without-decrypting-it-n/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/23/mits-got-a-way-of-using-encrypted-data-without-decrypting-it-n/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/12/cryptdb.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px;" /></a></div>
<div>
	Excepting <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/jersey%20shore">Jersey Shore</a> participants, people generally value privacy and it's a bigger issue when so much data is stored online. Ethical data controllers will keep it encrypted, but much like leaving food in a fridge, you have to take it out if you wanna use it, which is when it's most at risk. A team from <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/inefficient-mits-new-chip-software-doesnt-know-the-meaning-of/">MIT</a>, thinks it's found a solution: a database that allows you to ask it questions without taking it out of the fridge... wait, what? CryptDB works by turning data into "homomorphic" information: strings of numbers, which you can then calculate against one another to get the answers you require. The <em>frankensoftware </em>is comprised of other encryption services, layered like an onion -- but capable of switching between processes instantly. The project was funded by <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/Google/">Google</a> and <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/citigroup/">Citigroup</a> and has been so successful that <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/darpa/">DARPA</a> might be rolling some tanks up Massachusetts Avenue to offer the team a $20 million bounty. Head on down to our source link to read the paper that's so complex it made our eyes go cross-eyed.</div><p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/23/mits-got-a-way-of-using-encrypted-data-without-decrypting-it-n/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>MIT's got a way of using encrypted data without decrypting it, next stop, traveling without moving</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/23/mits-got-a-way-of-using-encrypted-data-without-decrypting-it-n/">MIT's got a way of using encrypted data without decrypting it, next stop, traveling without moving</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:51:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/23/mits-got-a-way-of-using-encrypted-data-without-decrypting-it-n/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20134481/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/23/mits-got-a-way-of-using-encrypted-data-without-decrypting-it-n/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>Citigroup</category><category>CryptDB</category><category>Cryptography</category><category>DARPA</category><category>Databases</category><category>Google</category><category>Homomorphic</category><category>Homomorphic Encryption</category><category>HomomorphicEncryption</category><category>MIT</category><category>Secure Databases</category><category>SecureDatabases</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Daniel Cooper]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:51:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[MIT to launch MITx learning platform, offer free teaching materials in 2012]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/mit-to-launch-mitx-learning-platform-offer-free-teaching-materi/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/mit-to-launch-mitx-learning-platform-offer-free-teaching-materi/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/mit-to-launch-mitx-learning-platform-offer-free-teaching-materi/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/mit-to-launch-mitx-learning-platform-offer-free-teaching-materi/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/12/2011-12-20-mit.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px;" /></a></div>
Want a degree from <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/MIT/">MIT</a> without the expense or notoriously selective application process? Well, you're still out of luck, we're afraid, but the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's new MITx online learning system will at least give you a chance to access a variety of course materials for free. The institution will also make the MITx platform available to other schools for publishing their own content, and will even offer assessments with the option of earning a certificate of completion -- issued by a not-for-profit entity with a "distinct name to avoid confusion," of course. Naturally, "online-only non-MIT learners" will not have the same level of access as MIT students, who will also use the platform to access their own course material, but won't have the option of replacing an on-campus experience with exclusively online classes. MITx is scheduled to go live next spring, but you can get a head start on that fictional MIT degree by checking out OpenCourseWare, which has been serving up similar content for the better part of a decade.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/mit-to-launch-mitx-learning-platform-offer-free-teaching-materi/">MIT to launch MITx learning platform, offer free teaching materials in 2012</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:24:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/mit-to-launch-mitx-learning-platform-offer-free-teaching-materi/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20132114/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/mit-to-launch-mitx-learning-platform-offer-free-teaching-materi/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>education</category><category>higher education</category><category>HigherEducation</category><category>learning</category><category>Massachusetts Institute of Technology</category><category>MassachusettsInstituteOfTechnology</category><category>MIT</category><category>mit OpenCourseWare</category><category>MitOpencourseware</category><category>mitx</category><category>online course</category><category>online courses</category><category>online education</category><category>online learning</category><category>OnlineCourse</category><category>OnlineCourses</category><category>OnlineEducation</category><category>OnlineLearning</category><category>OpenCourseWare</category><category>school</category><category>schools</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Zach Honig]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:24:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Air Force planning holographic quantum computers to help Sam Beckett leap home]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/air-force-planning-holographic-quantum-computers-to-help-sam-bec/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/air-force-planning-holographic-quantum-computers-to-help-sam-bec/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/air-force-planning-holographic-quantum-computers-to-help-sam-bec/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/air-force-planning-holographic-quantum-computers-to-help-sam-bec/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/12/quantum-pc.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px;" /></a></div>
<div>
	Did you know that light is a better transmitter of quantum computer information than any sort of cabling? Because it isn't altered by electric and magnetic fields, it would be perfect for carrying data if photons would stop being so snobby and interact with one another. Only highly-sensitive interferometers can overcome that problem, and they're so fussy that a mild sneeze near to one would wreck its calibration. <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/AirForce/">Air Force</a> researcher Jonathan McDonald thinks he's got a solution: project holographic interferometers onto glass where it'll "freeze" and become much more stable. There are only two downsides: you can't edit the programming, nor would it scale very well, because you'd need physical space to set up the individual glass plates. On the other hand, the materials required to build one are all commercially available, and we're sure the Air Force has a hangar or two going spare, so perhaps we could see holographic <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/groundbreaking-photonic-chip-could-spark-quantum-computing-revol/">quantum computers</a> in the near future -- or at least a very decent laser light-show.</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/air-force-planning-holographic-quantum-computers-to-help-sam-bec/">Air Force planning holographic quantum computers to help Sam Beckett leap home</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:18:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/air-force-planning-holographic-quantum-computers-to-help-sam-bec/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20131688/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/air-force-planning-holographic-quantum-computers-to-help-sam-bec/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>Johnathan McDonald</category><category>JohnathanMcdonald</category><category>MIT</category><category>Quantum Computing</category><category>QuantumComputing</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Daniel Cooper]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:18:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[MIT builds camera that can capture at the speed of light (video)]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/dnp-mit-builds-camera-that-can-capture-at-the-speed-of-light-vi/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/dnp-mit-builds-camera-that-can-capture-at-the-speed-of-light-vi/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/dnp-mit-builds-camera-that-can-capture-at-the-speed-of-light-vi/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/dnp-mit-builds-camera-that-can-capture-at-the-speed-of-light-vi/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/12/trillion-fps.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px;" /></a></div>
<div>
	A team from the <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/inefficient-mits-new-chip-software-doesnt-know-the-meaning-of/">MIT</a> media lab has created a camera with a "shutter speed" of one trillion exposures per second -- enabling it to record light <em>itself</em> traveling from one point to another. Using a heavily modified Streak Tube (which is normally used to intensify photons into electron streams), the team could snap a single image of a laser as it passed through a soda bottle. In order to create the slow-motion film in the video we've got after the break, the team had to replicate the experiment hundreds of times. The stop-motion footage shows how light bounces through the bottle, collecting inside the opaque cap before dispersing. The revolutionary snapper may have a fast shutter but the long time it takes to process the images have earned it the nickname of the "the world's slowest fastest camera."<br />
	<br />
	[Image courtesy of MIT / M. Scott Brauer]</div><p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/dnp-mit-builds-camera-that-can-capture-at-the-speed-of-light-vi/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>MIT builds camera that can capture at the speed of light (video)</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/dnp-mit-builds-camera-that-can-capture-at-the-speed-of-light-vi/">MIT builds camera that can capture at the speed of light (video)</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:33:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/dnp-mit-builds-camera-that-can-capture-at-the-speed-of-light-vi/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20126755/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/dnp-mit-builds-camera-that-can-capture-at-the-speed-of-light-vi/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>Andreas Velten</category><category>AndreasVelten</category><category>Laser</category><category>Lasers</category><category>Massachusetts</category><category>massachusetts institute of technology</category><category>MassachusettsInstituteOfTechnology</category><category>MIT</category><category>MIT Media Lab</category><category>MitMediaLab</category><category>Ramesh Raskar</category><category>RameshRaskar</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Daniel Cooper]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:33:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Inefficient? MIT's new chip software doesn't know the meaning of the word]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/inefficient-mits-new-chip-software-doesnt-know-the-meaning-of/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/inefficient-mits-new-chip-software-doesnt-know-the-meaning-of/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/inefficient-mits-new-chip-software-doesnt-know-the-meaning-of/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/inefficient-mits-new-chip-software-doesnt-know-the-meaning-of/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/12/mit-chip.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px;" /></a></div>
<div>
	Would you rather have a power-hungry cellphone that could software-decode hundreds of video codecs, or a hyper-efficient system-on-chip that only processes <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/02/minicaster-the-pocket-sized-hardware-based-h-264-live-streaming/">H.264</a>? These are the tough decisions mobile designers have to make, but perhaps not for much longer. <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/MIT/">MIT's</a> Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory has developed a solution that could spell the end for inefficient devices. Myron King and Nirav Dave have expanded Arvind's BlueSpec software so engineers can tell it what outcomes they need and it'll decide on the most efficient design -- printing out hardware schematics in Verilog and software in C++. If this outcome-oriented system becomes widely adopted, we may never need worry about daily recharging again: good because we'll need that extra power to juice our <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/08/daimler-testing-wireless-charging-on-a-mercedes-benz-in-a-house/">sporty EV</a>.<br />
	<br />
	[Image courtesy of MIT / Melanie Gonick]</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/inefficient-mits-new-chip-software-doesnt-know-the-meaning-of/">Inefficient? MIT's new chip software doesn't know the meaning of the word</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:37:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/inefficient-mits-new-chip-software-doesnt-know-the-meaning-of/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20126042/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/inefficient-mits-new-chip-software-doesnt-know-the-meaning-of/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>Arvind</category><category>BlueSpec</category><category>C++</category><category>Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory</category><category>ComputerScienceAndArtificialIntelligenceLaboratory</category><category>CSAIL</category><category>Massachusetts</category><category>massachusetts institute of technology</category><category>MassachusettsInstituteOfTechnology</category><category>MIT</category><category>MIT CSAIL</category><category>MitCsail</category><category>Myron King</category><category>MyronKing</category><category>Nirav Dave</category><category>NiravDave</category><category>Verilog</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Daniel Cooper]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:37:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[MIT-created algorithm predicts likelihood of running red lights, places blame where appropriate]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/mit-created-algorithm-predicts-likelihood-of-running-red-lights/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/mit-created-algorithm-predicts-likelihood-of-running-red-lights/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/mit-created-algorithm-predicts-likelihood-of-running-red-lights/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<div style="text-align: center; ">
	<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/mit-created-algorithm-predicts-likelihood-of-running-red-lights/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/12/elcrasho.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px;" /></a></div>
<div>
	The bad news: <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/05/oxford-neuroscientists-shock-the-parietal-lobe-improve-math-sco/">Math</a> will always judge you. The good news: It'll still be there to judge everyone else. In a recent article published in the <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/homeplug-and-ieee-want-our-home-networks-to-play-nice-talk-to-e/">IEEE</a> Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/15/mit-unveils-computer-chip-that-thinks-like-the-human-brain-skyn/">MIT</a>'s Professor Jonathan How and three colleagues announced they've created an algorithm that can predict whether an oncoming car is about to run a red light one or two seconds before a possible collision. The algorithm can compute the likelihood of a vehicle running a red light based on its rate of deceleration as it is approaching the intersection with a level of precision down to mere milliseconds. The team, which applied the algorithm to more than 15,000 vehicles during the study, used instruments that monitored vehicle speeds and locations as well as when the lights turned red. When the results were tallied, they found that they were able to correctly predict who would run a red light 85 percent of the time. In other news, MIT is working on a much simpler algorithm capable of predicting when your significant other will break up with you, the formula factoring in at least four behavioral elements from the last season of "<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/22/dell-pulls-ads-from-jersey-shore-calls-show-derogatony-video/">Jersey Shore</a>."</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/mit-created-algorithm-predicts-likelihood-of-running-red-lights/">MIT-created algorithm predicts likelihood of running red lights, places blame where appropriate</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:01:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/mit-created-algorithm-predicts-likelihood-of-running-red-lights/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20118814/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/mit-created-algorithm-predicts-likelihood-of-running-red-lights/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>algorithm</category><category>collision</category><category>Intelligent Transportation Systems</category><category>IntelligentTransportationSystems</category><category>Jersey Shore</category><category>JerseyShore</category><category>Jonathan How</category><category>JonathanHow</category><category>light</category><category>Math</category><category>MIT</category><category>predict</category><category>prediction</category><category>red</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Barylick]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:01:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Braille-It Labeler brings low-cost printing, 'sightless construction' to the blind]]></title><link>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/braille-it-labeler-brings-low-cost-printing-sightless-construc/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/braille-it-labeler-brings-low-cost-printing-sightless-construc/</guid><comments>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/braille-it-labeler-brings-low-cost-printing-sightless-construc/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<div style="text-align: center; ">
	<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/braille-it-labeler-brings-low-cost-printing-sightless-construc/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/12/braille-labeler.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px;" /></a></div>
It's certainly <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/13/insert-coin-6dot-braille-labeler-video/">not the first</a> Braille label printer we've seen, but Ted Moallem's Braille-It Labeler does bring notably unique element to the table -- namely, "sightless construction." Presented at this year's A Better World by Design conference, this compact device allows blind or visually impaired users to print out adhesive labels in Braille, thanks to a simple six-button design that's compatible with any Braille alphabet. Made out of relatively common materials like aluminum and steel wire, the Braille-It can also be constructed by the blind themselves -- a potentially groundbreaking development for a demographic that's too often ignored by the retail sector. Moallem, a former MIT grad student, explains:
<blockquote>
	<p>
		Blind people cannot depend on mainstream commercial forces to advance the cause of Braille literacy. Nearly two centuries after the invention of Braille by a blind adolescent boy, the most widely used Braille-writing tools, the slate and stylus, are quite similar to the tools used by Louis Braille himself. In the hands of the sighted, the low-cost Braille industry has stagnated.</p>
</blockquote>
The inventor tested his label maker at a workshop last year in Katpadi, India, where blind trainees successfully taught other visually impaired users how to create their very own Braille-It. Moallem is now looking to set up similar workshops across other locations, including Senegal, Liberia and Lebanon. The ultimate goal is to empower blind consumers to create their own low-cost and potentially life-saving tools -- particularly in developing countries, which account for an estimated 90 percent of the world's blind population. If successful, Moallem's invention and ensuing campaign could provide a remarkably simple solution for a large, yet often neglected population. We certainly wish him the best of luck. Find out more at the source link below, or check out <em>Inhabitat</em>'s extensive coverage for more images and insight.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/braille-it-labeler-brings-low-cost-printing-sightless-construc/">Braille-It Labeler brings low-cost printing, 'sightless construction' to the blind</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:31:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/braille-it-labeler-brings-low-cost-printing-sightless-construc/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/20118295/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/braille-it-labeler-brings-low-cost-printing-sightless-construc/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>A Better World by Design</category><category>ABetterWorldByDesign</category><category>africa</category><category>blind</category><category>braille</category><category>braille labeler</category><category>braille-it</category><category>braille-it labeler</category><category>Braille-itLabeler</category><category>BrailleLabeler</category><category>construction</category><category>developing country</category><category>developing world</category><category>DevelopingCountry</category><category>DevelopingWorld</category><category>india</category><category>invention</category><category>label</category><category>lebanon</category><category>liberia</category><category>low cost</category><category>LowCost</category><category>MIT</category><category>money</category><category>price</category><category>senegal</category><category>sight</category><category>sighted</category><category>sightless construction</category><category>SightlessConstruction</category><category>Ted Moallem</category><category>TedMoallem</category><category>visually impaired</category><category>VisuallyImpaired</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Amar Toor]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:31:00 EST</pubDate></item></channel></rss>
