mannequins
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EyeSee mannequins used to spy on shoppers, confirm paranoid fears
If you feel like you're being watched when you're shopping, you might be right. Some stores have apparently set up EyeSee mannequins that have a camera embedded into one eye. It then feeds data into facial-recognition software, and would log age, gender and race of the people it sees. The original rationale of such technology was to identify criminals in places like the airport, but retailers are apparently now using it to personalize store offerings. For example, one store found that a lot of shoppers after 4 pm were Asian, so it placed Chinese-speaking staff by the entrance at that time. Made by Italian mannequin maker Almax SpA, the EyeSee went on sale last December and is currently in use in three European countries as well as the US, though major chains like Benetton Group, Nordstrom and Burberry have stated they have not implemented them. Future mannequins might even have the ability to "eavesdrop" on passers-by, allowing store owners to hear what they have to say about the mannequin's outfit. It's not quite as unnerving as see-through security cams and that Japanese android mannequin, but it'll still make us avoid a mannequin's stare the next time we head to the shops. Update: Benetton Group SpA has emailed us to let us know none of its stores has employed the use of the EyeSee mannequins mentioned in the story. We've updated the post to reflect that. [Image Credit: Elvert Barnes, Flickr]
Qumarion 3D modeling mannequin coming soon for $750, still won't play with your kid (video)
Trying to get convincing, natural poses out of 3D models can be tricky, so it's a relief that two Japanese universities' joint ventures, the University of Electro-Communications' ViVienne and the University of Tsukuba's SoftEther, are close to wrapping up work on their posable mannequin. Now called Qumarion, the model formerly known as QUMA uses 32 sensors across 16 body joints to translate the humanoid statue's pose to the computer screen simply by bending limbs, much like you would the legion of action figures you had when you were eight. Neither you nor your kids will be using Qumarion to storm Fort Barbie anytime soon, but the 120 frames per second sample rate over USB does mean that poses are mirrored in your modeling tools almost instantly. You also won't have much longer to wait to buy one for your fledgling anime production: the mannequin and custom modeling software from Celsys should be bundled together sometime within the summer for a comparatively frugal $750.
Fits.me imitates ladies of all shapes and sizes, tries clothes on for you (video)
Unless you're in the rather strange habit of going to stores, trying on clothes, and returning home to purchase them online, you never know how they look on you until the package arrives on your doorstep. Last year Fits.me tackled this little niggling e-commerce issue with a shape-shifting male mannequin and finally, after a year of tireless work, the fairer sex has its own FitBot -- turns out the female form is much more difficult to replicate. Again, the adjustable, human stand-in is making its debut at the British retailer Hawes & Curtis and our more womanly readers can head to the source to get a better idea of how the White Hipster Shirt would drape across their particular body type simply by moving a set of sliders. But, before you go, check out the pair of videos after the break.
Caption Contest: Sony Vaio P is escorted to Grand Central Station
Sony looks to drum up a little more buzz for its new ultraportable, the Vaio P, at Grand Central Station.Paul: "There's a Vaio P configuration for every wig-adorned model in your life."Josh T.: "She's so fine, there's no telling where the money went. Wait, no. It went to the VAIO P."Nilay: "Alias has really gone downhill."Joseph: "It's nice when replicants find honest work."Laura: "You have no idea how expensive it is to make something look this cheap."Donald: "Ok, now bring out the mimes."Chris: "Don't just stand there, let's get to it, strike a pose, there's nothing to it... vogue."Tim: "Seven blondes walk into a Sony Style ..."Thomas: "Hey look, those mannequins are just as slow with the VAIO P as Vista!"Ross: "And like that, Andrew McCarthy and Meshach Taylor knew just what to do to kick-start their careers."
Robotic patient aurally, visually informs you of its ailments
As if treating a mannequin that can bleed and even flat line on you wasn't stressful enough, researchers at Gifu University's Graduate School of Medicine are hoping to make your residency even harder to manage. A newfangled robotic dummy packs a potent artificial brain, as it can reportedly "respond verbally to questions about how it feels and move its body in ways that exhibit the symptoms of its ailment." The current prototype is modeled after a female who honestly looks to have had one incredibly rough day week, and while it wasn't clear if instructors could program the android to act out only a certain number of understood illnesses, we're sure the library of problems will grow with time. Currently, the bot is being trailed to see if it will indeed prove to be a valuable learning tool to eager med students, and if all goes well, it should "become part of the curriculum next year."[Via PinkTentacle]
Medical students treat dummies that bleed, speak, and die
While there's always the off chance that your next surgery will be completed by a robotic doctor, we'd wager that most of us would opt for a well-trained, well-rested, and naturally conceived expert to handle the tools. The University of Portsmouth is upping the ante on its training facilities for those making the rounds in med school, and doctors-to-be now have access to £135,000 ($266,706) dummies that "bleed, speak, and potentially die" depending on the level of care received. Providing a more realistic practice environment, these lifelike mannequins can also "breathe oxygen, drool, secrete fluids, blink, and even react to drugs injected into their bodies." Aside from being used by students of medicine, social work, and dentistry, police and firefighters will also be able to get their hands dirty, but they'll be forced to treat the creature as a real human, taking notice of their names, biographies, and medical history before picking up that needle. Additionally, users will be able to access the built-in cameras and microphones to "critically appraise performances in real time." So if you're looking for a second opinion, tracking down a recent Portsmouth graduate that trained on these blokes might not be such a bad idea.[Via Smart Mobs]
