Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Vatican and Oxford libraries scan ancient works, let scholars stay in their armchairs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/16/vatican-and-oxford-libraries-scan-ancient-works/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/16/vatican-and-oxford-libraries-scan-ancient-works/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/16/vatican-and-oxford-libraries-scan-ancient-works/#comments Vatican and Oxford libraries scan ancient works, let scholars stay in their armchairs

Two of the world's most hallowed libraries are about to get even quieter, having been given $3 million to go with the flow and put some of their oldest collections online. The Vatican Library and Oxford University's Bodleian Library will together offer up 1.5 million pages of hoary text, including Gutenberg's Latin Bible from the 15th Century, a 1,200-year-old Hebrew codex called the "Sifra," and enough Greek philosophy to make even Homer seem succinct. At the end of a five-year flatbed scanner marathon, these digital copies will be accessible to speakers of dead languages everywhere, and hopefully for less than sacrilegious prices.

Vatican and Oxford libraries scan ancient works, let scholars stay in their armchairs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 07:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ancientancient textsancient worksAncientTextsAncientWorksbiblebodleiancloudeducationgreekhebrewinternetlearninglibrarieslibraryonlineoxfordoxford universityOxfordUniversityscanscholarscholarshipvaticanMon, 16 Apr 2012 07:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Canon unveils PIXMA MX892 wireless all-in-one, prints from the cloud for $200]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/canon-pixma-mx892/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/canon-pixma-mx892/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/canon-pixma-mx892/#comments
If you're in the market for a new wireless printer for that fancy new home office, Canon has a new model that may suit your needs. The PIXMA MX892 wireless all-in-one boasts copy, scan and fax features for those official docs that still have to be sent over the wire. Prints employ the ChromaLife, 5-ink system for high quality images at a resolution of 9,600 x 2,400 dpi. The printer also features a 3-inch LCD screen for last-minute adjustments and will have your 4 x 6 inch borderless Yellowstone photos printed in around 20 seconds each. Built-in effects, such as toy camera and fish-eye, offer quick photo customization in the event of an extreme time crunch. Through software like Google Cloud Print and PIXMA Cloud Link, you can send those documents or photos to the MX892 directly from online albums and your mobile device -- should you be on the move. No word on a shipping date as of yet, but the unit will set you back $199.99 when it hits shelves. Check out all the details in the PR below, should you be in need of a few more.

Continue reading Canon unveils PIXMA MX892 wireless all-in-one, prints from the cloud for $200

Canon unveils PIXMA MX892 wireless all-in-one, prints from the cloud for $200 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-in-onecanoncanon PIXMA mx892canon printerCanonPixmaMx892CanonPrintercopyfaxgoogle cloud printGoogleCloudPrintmx892peripheralsPIXMAPIXMA cloud linkPixmaCloudLinkprinterscanscannerwirelesswireless printerWirelessPrinterTue, 06 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Scientists scan damaged audio discs, resurrect fresh beats]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/29/scientists-scan-damaged-audio-discs-resurrect-fresh-beats/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/29/scientists-scan-damaged-audio-discs-resurrect-fresh-beats/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/29/scientists-scan-damaged-audio-discs-resurrect-fresh-beats/#comments Digitizing your analog archives? Vinyl to CD / MP3 / iPod turntables might do well enough for your old 45s, but the folks at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory prefer to listen to their old beats by taking pictures of them. More specifically, restoration specialists are using a system called IRENE/3D to snap high resolution images of damaged media. The cracked discs -- often made of wax on brass or composition board -- are then repaired digitally, letting researchers play the digitized discs with an emulated stylus. So far, the team has recovered a handful of 125 year old recordings from a team in Alexander Graham Bell's Volta laboratory. The all digital system gives researchers a hands-off way to recover audio from relic recordings without running the risk of damaging them in the process -- and no, they probably won't let you use it to listen to that beat up copy of the White Album you've had in your closet since eighth grade. Hit the source link to hear what they've recovered.

Continue reading Scientists scan damaged audio discs, resurrect fresh beats

Scientists scan damaged audio discs, resurrect fresh beats originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 02:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Alexander Graham Bellanalogaudiodata recoveryDataRecoverydigital imagingDigitalImagingemulationImage scanning sequencerImageScanningSequencerimagingLawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryLawrenceBerkeleyNationalLaboratoryrecordingrecordsscanscannerscanningSci/TechvinylVinylRecordswas recordingWasRecordingwax cylinderWaxCylinderThu, 29 Dec 2011 02:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Kraft vending machine teases children with adult-only pudding dispenser (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/27/kraft-vending-machine-teases-children-with-adult-only-pudding-di/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/27/kraft-vending-machine-teases-children-with-adult-only-pudding-di/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/27/kraft-vending-machine-teases-children-with-adult-only-pudding-di/#comments We've seen odd and law-swerving vending machines before, but none as meanspirited as Kraft's collaboration with Intel that only gives pudding samples to adults. The unimaginatively titled iSample denies the youthful its sweet nectar by taking a facial scan and determining dessert deservedness based on biometric data, like how far apart your facial features are. Part experiment, part publicity stunt, Intel is trying out technologies that could recommend products based on age. The company also claims it may retrofit the technology into existing machines to let companies study who's buying its products; Kraft is clearly in it just to deny children some pudding. To see if you have spent enough time at the fountain of youth, head down to Chicago's Shedd Aquarium or New York's South Street Seaport, and take your place in the line of parents ordering one for their progeny. Check the promo video after the break to see the machine wiping disappointment all over the kids' little faces.

Continue reading Kraft vending machine teases children with adult-only pudding dispenser (video)

Kraft vending machine teases children with adult-only pudding dispenser (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adult onlyAdultOnlyage recognitionAgeRecognitionface recognitionFaceRecognitionintelkraftmarketingpublicitypublicity stuntPublicityStuntpuddingscanvending machineVendingMachinevideoTue, 27 Dec 2011 21:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Stradivarius violin recreated from CAT scan, 'sounds amazingly similar']]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/30/stradivarius-violin-recreated-from-cat-scan-sounds-amazingly-s/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/30/stradivarius-violin-recreated-from-cat-scan-sounds-amazingly-s/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/30/stradivarius-violin-recreated-from-cat-scan-sounds-amazingly-s/#comments We've seen all kinds of crazy things being printed -- from bones to blood vessels -- and now you can add antique violins to that list. Music loving Radiologist Steven Sirr popped his into a CAT scanner to see what it was made of, then showed the results to a violin-making friend. Curiosity soon led them to scan everything from guitars to mandolins, so when the chance to take a peek inside a 307-year-old Stradivarius came up, how could they resist? 1000 scans later, the files were converted to 3D CAD format and another violin maker enlisted. Crucially, the images show the density of the wood all the way through, allowing a CNC machine to carve out copies of each section, with different woods used to match the differing densities. With all the parts in place and a lick of varnish, the replicas were complete. Sirr claims the copies sound "amazingly similar" to the original, but we are unsure if he plans to make it open-source.

Stradivarius violin recreated from CAT scan, 'sounds amazingly similar' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 06:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antiquesCATCNCmusical instrumentMusicalInstrumentprintingreplicatedscansciencestradivariusviolinWed, 30 Nov 2011 06:37:00 EST<![CDATA[DARPA to develop biometric sensor capable of seeing through walls, pulling your heartstrings]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/21/darpa-to-develop-biometric-sensor-capable-of-seeing-through-wall/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/21/darpa-to-develop-biometric-sensor-capable-of-seeing-through-wall/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/21/darpa-to-develop-biometric-sensor-capable-of-seeing-through-wall/#comments The feds may soon know the way to your heart. Literally. Earlier this month, the forward-thinkers over at DARPA announced plans to develop new technologies capable of identifying human life through walls. The program, known as "Biometrics-at-a-distance," would essentially combine two pre-existing Pentagon projects: the Radar Scope, a device that can see through walls, and 2009's LifeReader, a system that uses Doppler radar to detect heartbeats. Though the military already employs a handful of devices to help soldiers see humans from behind walls, DARPA apparently thinks there's room for improvement. Most contemporary technologies, for example, only work from a maximum distance of eight meters, and aren't as accurate within more densely populated areas. DARPA wants its next project to extend this range beyond ten meters, while sharpening its ability to penetrate thicker obstructions. The agency also wants its sensor to identify individual humans using electrocardiography, which traces the heart's electrical activity. According to DARPA, this could allow users to pinpoint up to ten people at the same time, which could pay dividends during disaster rescue efforts, military operations, or your next Eyes Wide Shut party.

DARPA to develop biometric sensor capable of seeing through walls, pulling your heartstrings originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armybiometricbiometric IDBiometricIdbiometrics at a distanceBiometricsAtADistanceconceptDARPAelectrocardiographyfederalfedsgovernmentheartheartbeathumanlifereadermilitarypentagonprojectradarradar scopeRadarScopescansensortechnologywallswarwargadgetMon, 21 Nov 2011 17:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Show off your smartphone photog skills with Sony Ericsson's vscreens]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/18/show-off-your-smartphone-photog-skills-with-sony-ericssons-vscr/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/18/show-off-your-smartphone-photog-skills-with-sony-ericssons-vscr/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/18/show-off-your-smartphone-photog-skills-with-sony-ericssons-vscr/#comments
Have you been jonesin' to show off those Epic 4G Touch camera skills on a bit bigger screen? Sony Ericsson has you covered with vscreens, a website / app combo that gets your trip to Everest on your flatscreen to secure bragging rights. Once you install the app from the Android Market, point your internet browsing screen -- PC, Google TV and PS3 included -- to the vscreens website. From there, you simply scan the QR code that appears on your display and presto, you're showing off that trip to the Adirondacks like it's your job, sans cables or Bluetooth. If you're looking to give it a spin, you'll find all you need via the links below. And pretty soon, you'll be able to showcase those Galaxy Nexus panoramas at your next dinner party. Pretty sweet, huh?

Show off your smartphone photog skills with Sony Ericsson's vscreens originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid appandroid marketAndroidAppAndroidMarketappcameraEpic 4G TouchEpic4gTouchgoogleGoogle TVGoogleTvimagesinternet tvInternetTvPCpicturesps3QR codeQR codesQrCodeQrCodesSamsung Epic 4G TouchSamsungEpic4gTouchscansmartphonesmartphone cameraSmartphoneCamerasony ericssonSony Ericsson XperiaSonyEricssonSonyEricssonXperiatelevisiontvFri, 18 Nov 2011 17:55:00 EST<![CDATA[AOptix e-Gate could improve global airport security, replace ID checks with iris scans]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/08/aoptix-e-gate-could-improve-global-airport-security-replace-id/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/08/aoptix-e-gate-could-improve-global-airport-security-replace-id/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/08/aoptix-e-gate-could-improve-global-airport-security-replace-id/#comments
You're certainly not alone if you think that the current airport security process is far from ideal. AOptix hopes to streamline and speed up security procedures by replacing manual boarding pass and ID checks with a biometric kiosk called e-Gate. The new system, which verifies passenger identities by matching an iris scan with a boarding pass, just received (IATA) approval, and is currently being tested in three airports around the world. It's not as slick as a similar concept we saw earlier this summer, but e-Gate could be implemented with a trusted traveler program, creating special lanes for pre-approved frequent fliers -- similar to the US Customs Global Entry system in place today. We don't see it replacing X-ray machines and check-in interviews, but it could remove human error from the equation -- at least when it comes to verifying your identity. Jump past the break for the full scoop from AOptix, or you can check out the system for yourself at the Future Travel Experience in Vancouver.

Update: e-Gate is in fact a potential component of Checkpoint of the Future, which we saw conceptualized in June.

Gallery: AOptix e-Gate

Continue reading AOptix e-Gate could improve global airport security, replace ID checks with iris scans

AOptix e-Gate could improve global airport security, replace ID checks with iris scans originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airportairport securityAirportSecurityaoptixbackground checkBackgroundCheckbiometriccheckpointcheckpoint of the futureCheckpointOfTheFuturedetectore-gateexclusiveeyesflightfull body scansFullBodyScansglobal entryGlobalEntryiataInternational Air Transport AssociationInternationalAirTransportAssociationiris scaniris scannerIrisScanIrisScannermetal detectorMetalDetectorriskrisk assessmentRiskAssessmentscansecuritysecurity checkpointSecurityCheckpointterrorismterroristtravelThu, 08 Sep 2011 17:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Comscore finds 6.2 percent of smartphone users scan QR codes]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/13/comscore-finds-6-2-percent-of-smartphone-users-scan-qr-codes/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/13/comscore-finds-6-2-percent-of-smartphone-users-scan-qr-codes/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/13/comscore-finds-6-2-percent-of-smartphone-users-scan-qr-codes/#commentsQR codes may be turning up in more places than ever these days, but are people actually using them? According to market research firm Comscore, at least some of them are -- 14 million in June in the US alone, to be specific, or about 6.2 percent of all smartphone users. As for who makes up that slice of the smartphone market, Comscore says that just over 60 percent are male, 53 percent are between the ages of 18 and 34, and 36 percent have a household income of $100k or more. Folks are also apparently more likely to scan QR codes at home than at a retail store, and magazines and newspapers edge out websites or product packaging when it comes to the top source of the QR code being scanned. So, not exactly an explosion in use, but still fairly impressive for a weird-looking barcode that was rarely seen outside of Japan until a few years ago.

Comscore finds 6.2 percent of smartphone users scan QR codes originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 07:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barcodecomscoreqrqr codeqr codesQrCodeQrCodesscanscannersmartphonesmartphonesSat, 13 Aug 2011 07:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers demo 3D face scanning breakthroughs at SIGGRAPH, Kinect crowd squarely targeted]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/10/researchers-demo-3d-face-scanning-breakthroughs-at-siggraph-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/10/researchers-demo-3d-face-scanning-breakthroughs-at-siggraph-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/10/researchers-demo-3d-face-scanning-breakthroughs-at-siggraph-kin/#comments Lookin' to get your Grown Nerd on? Look no further. We just sat through 1.5 hours of high-brow technobabble here at SIGGRAPH 2011, where a gaggle of gurus with IQs far, far higher than ours explained in detail what the future of 3D face scanning would hold. Scientists from ETH Zürich, Texas A&M, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon University as well as a variety of folks from Microsoft Research and Disney Research labs were on hand, with each subset revealing a slightly different technique to solving an all-too-similar problem: painfully accurate 3D face tracking. Haoda Huang et al. revealed a highly technical new method that involved the combination of marker-based motion capture with 3D scanning in an effort to overcome drift, while Thabo Beeler et al. took a drastically different approach.

Those folks relied on a markerless system that used a well-lit, multi-camera system to overcome occlusion, with anchor frames acting as staples in the success of its capture abilities. J. Rafael Tena et al. developed "a method that not only translates the motions of actors into a three-dimensional face model, but also subdivides it into facial regions that enable animators to intuitively create the poses they need." Naturally, this one's most useful for animators and designers, but the first system detailed is obviously gunning to work on lower-cost devices -- Microsoft's Kinect was specifically mentioned, and it doesn't take a seasoned imagination to see how in-home facial scanning could lead to far more interactive games and augmented reality sessions. The full shebang can be grokked by diving into the links below, but we'd advise you to set aside a few hours (and rest up beforehand).

Gallery: Researchers demo 3D face scanning breakthroughs at SIGGRAPH 2011

Continue reading Researchers demo 3D face scanning breakthroughs at SIGGRAPH, Kinect crowd squarely targeted

Researchers demo 3D face scanning breakthroughs at SIGGRAPH, Kinect crowd squarely targeted originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 21:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d scanning3dScanninganimationARaugmented realityAugmentedRealitycmudisneydisney researchDisneyResearchfacial scanningFacialScanningkinectmarkermicrosoftMicrosoft ResearchMicrosoftResearchmo capmo-capMoCapmotion captureMotionCaptureresearchscanscanningsiggraphsiggraph 2011Siggraph2011universityvideoWed, 10 Aug 2011 21:46:00 EST<![CDATA[SignMyPad Android / iPhone app enables digital signatures, form completion (app review)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/05/signmypad-android-iphone-app-enables-digital-signatures-form/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/05/signmypad-android-iphone-app-enables-digital-signatures-form/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/05/signmypad-android-iphone-app-enables-digital-signatures-form/#comments If you've found yourself caught up in the rat race, you know all too well the process: receive PDF, print PDF, collect PDF, reprint PDF from a printer with ink in it, recollect PDF, fill out PDF, scan PDF, resize PDF, take a restroom break, and finally -- struggle with your company's lackluster internet connection in a bid to send the dreaded thing back. It's hard enough to do in ideal circumstances, but try filling out an emailed document and returning it whilst on the road or during vacation. We're told that some businesspeople rank the whole ordeal up there with root canals and meeting the in-laws, but thanks to the wonders of mobile telephony (and more specifically, mobile computing), the tried-and-failed process can be one of the past. Or, so says Autriv Software Development. The NYC-based app startup has just introduced the most notable rival yet to EasySign, and while SignMyPad is hardly the only one of its kind, it's one of the few that's compatible with both iOS and Android, and offers more than just a signature stamp. Care to hear more? Head on past the break.

Gallery: SignMyPad Android app in use

Continue reading SignMyPad Android / iPhone app enables digital signatures, form completion (app review)

SignMyPad Android / iPhone app enables digital signatures, form completion (app review) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 13:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidappapp reviewappleAppReviewcopygoogleiosiphonemobilereviewscansignaturesignmypadFri, 05 Aug 2011 13:37:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM rig doesn't look like much, scans 10 billion files in 43 minutes]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/22/ibm-rig-doesnt-look-like-much-scans-10-billion-files-in-43-min/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/22/ibm-rig-doesnt-look-like-much-scans-10-billion-files-in-43-min/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/22/ibm-rig-doesnt-look-like-much-scans-10-billion-files-in-43-min/#comments Someone ought to gift these IBM researchers a better camera, because their latest General Parallel File System is a back-slapping 37 times faster than their last effort back in 2007. The rig combines ten IBM System xSeries servers with Violin Memory SSDs that hold 6.5 terabytes of metadata relating to 10 billion separate files. Every single one of those files can be analyzed and managed using policy-guided rules in under three quarters of an hour. That kind of performance might seem like overkill, but it's only just barely in step with what IBM's Doug Balog describes as a "rapidly growing, multi-zettabyte world." No prizes for guessing who their top customer is likely to be. Full details in the PR after the break.

Continue reading IBM rig doesn't look like much, scans 10 billion files in 43 minutes

IBM rig doesn't look like much, scans 10 billion files in 43 minutes originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 03:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>file systemFileSystemgeneral parallel file systemGeneralParallelFileSystemIBMIBM researchIBM research storage systemsIbmResearchIbmResearchStorageSystemsmemoryparallel computingparallel processingParallelComputingParallelProcessingresearchresearcherscanscanningspeed performanceSpeedPerformancestoragestorage systemsStorageSystemsFri, 22 Jul 2011 03:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Dutch coins feature QR codes, promise 'surprises']]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/18/dutch-coins-feature-qr-codes-promise-surprises/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/18/dutch-coins-feature-qr-codes-promise-surprises/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/18/dutch-coins-feature-qr-codes-promise-surprises/#comments Governments cram all manner of bizarre imagery onto the back of currency, so really, what's a few little QR codes between treasury departments? And heck, who are we to suggest that these new coins from the Royal Dutch Mint aren't the beginning of a larger barcoded money trend? The mint is celebrating its centennial with two new QR-packing collectable coins. The codes bring their owners to the mint's website, which promises a "surprise," once the coins are officially available later this month. Some sort of cloud-based vending machine, perhaps?

Dutch coins feature QR codes, promise 'surprises' originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 18 Jun 2011 01:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barcodebarcodescodescoincoinsdutchqrqr codeQrCoderoyal dutch mintRoyalDutchMintscanSat, 18 Jun 2011 01:29:00 EST<![CDATA[IATA's Checkpoint of the Future uses biometric IDs to separate do-gooders from terrorists (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/08/iatas-checkpoint-of-the-future-uses-biometric-ids-to-separate-d/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/08/iatas-checkpoint-of-the-future-uses-biometric-ids-to-separate-d/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/08/iatas-checkpoint-of-the-future-uses-biometric-ids-to-separate-d/#comments
This, ladies and gentlemen, could be your Checkpoint of the Future -- a new airport security prototype that promises to move away "from a system that looks for bad objects, to one that can find bad people." Unveiled at the IATA's annual conference in Singapore yesterday, the setup is comprised of three, 20-foot long detectors -- one for "known travelers," one for high-risk flyers, and one for everyone else. Instead of funneling passengers through the same checkpoint, then, the prototype would use eye scanners and biometric chips to verify their identities and analyze their personal history, before dividing them into groups. People who complete and pass government background checks would waltz through the fast pass lane with their carry-on luggage in tow, whereas those deemed particularly risky would have to undergo a more intensive, full-body scan within the "Enhanced" security lane. The rest of us, meanwhile, would be directed to the "Normal" detector, which would automatically scan us for liquids, metals and everything that is evil. The IATA says this risk-based approach would reduce security lines and lower airport costs, but it would still require governments to share data on their own citizens, which could pose a major hurdle to widespread adoption. For now, the IATA and governmental agencies are still hammering away at the details and have yet to announce a pilot program, but you can check out an audio-less demo video of the prototype, after the break.

Continue reading IATA's Checkpoint of the Future uses biometric IDs to separate do-gooders from terrorists (video)

IATA's Checkpoint of the Future uses biometric IDs to separate do-gooders from terrorists (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airportairport securityAirportSecuritybackground checkBackgroundCheckbiometriccheckpointcheckpoint of the futureCheckpointOfTheFuturedetectoreyesflightfull body scansFullBodyScansiatairis scaniris scannerIrisScanIrisScannermetal detectorMetalDetectorpassportprototyperiskrisk assessmentRiskAssessmentscansecuritysecurity checkpointSecurityCheckpointsingaporeterrorismterroristtravelvideoWed, 08 Jun 2011 09:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Ultra-thin handheld microscope could sniff out skin cancer, forged documents]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/05/ultra-thin-handheld-microscope-could-sniff-out-skin-cancer-forg/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/05/ultra-thin-handheld-microscope-could-sniff-out-skin-cancer-forg/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/05/ultra-thin-handheld-microscope-could-sniff-out-skin-cancer-forg/#comments It may not look like it, but that sleek black thing pictured above is actually a microscope. Designed by engineers at Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF, this little guy boasts a 5.3mm optical length, rendering it slim enough to fit in the palm of your hand, yet powerful enough to deliver images at a scanner-like resolution of five micrometers, over a wide surface area. Fraunhofer's researchers achieved this balance by essentially tossing out the manual on traditional microscope design. Whereas most devices slowly scan areas and construct images on a piecemeal basis, this handheld uses several small imaging channels and a collection of tiny lenses to record equal sized fragments of a given surface. Unlike conventional scanner microscopes, all of these 300 x 300 square micrometer imaging channels are captured at the same time. With a single swipe, then, users can record 36 x 24 square mm shots of matchbox-sized objects, without even worrying about blurring the images with their shaky hands. The prototype is still two years away from going into production, but once it does, engineers say it could help doctors scan patients for skin cancer more easily, while also allowing bureaucrats to quickly confirm the authenticity of official documents. We can only imagine what it could do for Pac-Man. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Ultra-thin handheld microscope could sniff out skin cancer, forged documents

Ultra-thin handheld microscope could sniff out skin cancer, forged documents originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 May 2011 09:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancerdocumentsengineeringfraunhoferfraunhofer instituteFraunhofer-GesellschaftFraunhoferInstitutegermanyhandheldhealthimageslaser world of phototonicsLaserWorldOfPhototonicsmelanomamicroscopeopticalopticsphototonicsprototyperesearchscanslimultrathinThu, 05 May 2011 09:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Pandigital PhotoLink portable scanner review]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/19/pandigital-photolink-portable-scanner-review/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/19/pandigital-photolink-portable-scanner-review/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/19/pandigital-photolink-portable-scanner-review/#comments If you're anything like us, you may find yourself in need of scanning in a few last-minute receipts for reimbursement. Or maybe your oldest youngster left his essay sitting on the kitchen table, and you need to shoot him / her over a PDF on the double. Or maybe you've just got way too many tax-related documents cluttering up your basement. Point is, just about anyone could find a reason or two to invest in a scanner, and Pandigital's making things a lot easier with the PhotoLink personal photo scanner / converter. The $149.99 device was launched last week, and we've been toying with it a few days here at Engadget HQ. If you've been on the fence about buying a portable scanner, join us after the break for a few impressions along with a riveting video of this thing... well, scanning.

Gallery: Pandigital PhotoLink portable scanner

Continue reading Pandigital PhotoLink portable scanner review

Pandigital PhotoLink portable scanner review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>memory cardMemoryCardPandigitalPersonal Photo ScannerConverterPersonalPhotoScannerconverterphoto scannerphotolinkPhotoScannerportable scannerPortableScannerreviewscanscannerscanningsdsdhcsecure digitalSecureDigitalusbvideoMon, 19 Jul 2010 17:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Camera-equipped digital billboards scan humans in Tokyo, serve up tailored ads]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/15/camera-equipped-digital-billboards-scan-humans-in-tokyo-serve-u/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/15/camera-equipped-digital-billboards-scan-humans-in-tokyo-serve-u/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/15/camera-equipped-digital-billboards-scan-humans-in-tokyo-serve-u/#comments Marketing managers, you best take a seat. This right here is your future, like it or not. According to a new report from one Earth's most mesmerizing cities, digital advertising billboards are being trialled in Japan that are not only equipped with cameras, but with an ability to scan passers-by for gender and age group. Once that data is collected, the billboard then flashes an advertisement that best fits the type of human walking by. So, anyone care to guess which ad gets shown when the 6PM central station train lets out?

Camera-equipped digital billboards scan humans in Tokyo, serve up tailored ads originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadsadvertisingawesomebillboardcameracrazydgital signageDgitalSignagedigital billboardsDigitalBillboardsjapanmarketingMinority ReportMinorityReportscanscannersubwayTokyowildThu, 15 Jul 2010 10:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Russell Kirsch helped create square pixels, now he wants to kill them off]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/russell-kirsch-helped-create-them-now-he-wants-to-kill-square-p/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/russell-kirsch-helped-create-them-now-he-wants-to-kill-square-p/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/russell-kirsch-helped-create-them-now-he-wants-to-kill-square-p/#comments Did you know that we're only 53 years removed from the very first digital image? I know, with everyone on your street having a good 2GB of Facebook-uploaded, privacy-be-damned photos, it all seems so pedestrian, so typical. But back in the monochromatic 1950s, when Marlon Brando and Elvis were still young whippersnappers and the UK was busy crowning a new Queen, Russell Kirsch became the first man to create a digital picture, by scanning in a photo of his baby son. Now, half a century wiser, Russell is back to apologize for introducing that cursed square pixel into our lives, and to try to remedy all the jagged little edges we've been seeing on our screens ever since.

According to old Rus, squares were just the logical solution at the time, but now that we can splash bits and bytes around with reckless abandon, he's come up with a new algorithm to smooth images beyond what's possible with simple squares. His new idea inserts 6 x 6 masks where there once was just one pixel, with adaptive calculations making for a more realistic representation of the underlying optical data. The sample above shows what improvements this new technique can deliver, with Russell's son doing the posing once more -- you'll find his decidedly younger visage in the 176 x 176 proto-pic after the break.

Continue reading Russell Kirsch helped create square pixels, now he wants to kill them off

Russell Kirsch helped create square pixels, now he wants to kill them off originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 05:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aliasingdigitaldigital imagedigital imagerydigital imagingdigital photographydigital scanningDigitalImageDigitalImageryDigitalImagingDigitalPhotographyDigitalScanninghistoryimageimagesimagingphotographypixelpixelationpixelsrussell kirschRussellKirschscanscanningsquaresquaresWed, 30 Jun 2010 05:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Mice run through Quake, Princeton neuroscientists scan their brains for traces of evil (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/15/mice-run-through-quake-princeton-neuroscientists-scan-their-bra/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/15/mice-run-through-quake-princeton-neuroscientists-scan-their-bra/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/15/mice-run-through-quake-princeton-neuroscientists-scan-their-bra/#comments Want to know just how prevalent technology has become in our lives? Now even lab mice get Quake-derived virtual reality playgrounds to navigate instead of their old school wooden mazes. In all honesty, this appears a significant and praiseworthy advancement, as the Princeton team have succeeded in mapping brain activity right down to the cellular level, with real-time tracking of single neurons now possible. The Orwellian-looking setup above is necessary in order to keep the mouse's head immobile, and thus capable of being studied, while the animal moves around and its brain performs motion-related tasks. Go past the break to see a schematic of the scanner and a quite unmissable video of it in action.

[Via Switched]

Continue reading Mice run through Quake, Princeton neuroscientists scan their brains for traces of evil (video)

Filed under:

Mice run through Quake, Princeton neuroscientists scan their brains for traces of evil (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brainbrain scanbrain scanningBrainScanBrainScanningDavid TankDavidTankmicemouseneuralneurological activityNeurologicalActivityneurologyneurosciencePrinceton UniversityPrincetonUniversityQuakeresearchscanscannersciencetesttestingvideovirtual realityVirtualRealityvrThu, 15 Oct 2009 08:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Book scanning gets a 1,000 fps turbo mode]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/13/book-scanning-gets-a-1-000-fps-turbo-mode/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/13/book-scanning-gets-a-1-000-fps-turbo-mode/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/13/book-scanning-gets-a-1-000-fps-turbo-mode/#commentsNo matter how fly or flashy modern scanners become, there's no getting away from their page-by-page assembly line style of operation. Or so we thought. The Ishikawa Komuro Lab at Tokyo University has demonstrated a prototype scanner capable of recording the contents of pages as they turn. Using a laser range projector to estimate page geometry, the camera adjusts for light and movement distortion as necessary and retains faithful copies of the original. At present it's more a proof of concept for the underlying vision processing unit than a commercial venture, but all it needs is one major manufacturer to pick it up and the paperless revolution can finally get started in earnest.

[Via Plastic Pals]

Filed under:

Book scanning gets a 1,000 fps turbo mode originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1000 fps1000Fpsbook scanningbooksBookScanningcameraIshikawa Komuro Labishikawa komuro laboratoryIshikawaKomuroLabIshikawaKomuroLaboratoryscanscannerscannersscanningTokyo UniversityTokyoUniversityvision chipvision processingVisionChipVisionProcessingThu, 13 Aug 2009 17:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Scan's 3XS Great White gaming rig is extreme, not quite £11,000 extreme]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/01/scans-3xs-great-white-gaming-rig-is-extreme-not-quite-11-000/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/01/scans-3xs-great-white-gaming-rig-is-extreme-not-quite-11-000/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/01/scans-3xs-great-white-gaming-rig-is-extreme-not-quite-11-000/#commentsBritish computer maker Scan is mighty, mighty proud of its 3X Great White. Aside from blasting a Silverstone TJ07B case with an astonishingly corny logo, the outfit is also charging a staggering £11,171.18 ($20,225) for the soon-to-be-outdated rig. Granted, it does pack an impressive amount of cutting-edge hardware -- three 1TB Samsung Spinpoint F1 HDDs (alongside two 64GB OCZ SSDs), a 4.4GHz overclocked Core 2 Quad Q9650 CPU, 2GB of Corsair DDR3 RAM, three 1GB NVIDIA GTX 280 GPUs and enough LEDs to light up a small basement (among other things) -- but we still can't justify trading out a good portion of your kid's college education for a machine very capable of dominating Crysis. But if you can, the buy link is just a few clicks away. Just don't tell the wife, nor anyone that we told you not to tell the wife.

[Via WebCrunchDeals]

Filed under:

Scan's 3XS Great White gaming rig is extreme, not quite £11,000 extreme originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3xsexpensivegaming pcgaming rigGamingPcGamingRigscanscan 3xsScan3xssliMon, 01 Sep 2008 18:34:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone details uncovered in Sales Training Workbook]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/09/iphone-details-uncovered-in-sales-training-workbook/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/09/iphone-details-uncovered-in-sales-training-workbook/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/09/iphone-details-uncovered-in-sales-training-workbook/#comments
Here's some dirt that's sure to heat up the iPhone debates over the next 20 days. According to alleged scans from the "iPhone Sales Training Workbook," we're seeing a vast array of features that we were already fully aware of, but here's the skinny on what you may have not known until now:
  • No one-touch dialing (two touches at a minimum)
  • Vibrate mode is included
  • Voice dialing is not mentioned as a feature, though it's not specifically excluded either
  • Users can have a voice conversation whilst browsing the web "when WiFi access is available"
  • iPhone users will not be able to conduct IM conversations with instant messaging users
  • Emailing videos and pictures are a go, MMS is not supported
  • MEdia Mail won't be used for ringtone and answertone downloads
  • MEdia Net, MobiTV, and Cellular Video are (unsurprisingly) not available for the iPhone
  • iTunes will sync iPhone with the Address Book on Macs or Outlook/Outlook Expess on PCs
  • No GPS or TeleNav support, sorry Google hopefuls
Of note, it seems that AT&T and / or Apple has conjured up a few canned, customer responses that point out the obvious shortcomings of Apple's handset, so do click on to see what you're up against.

Update: It's worth pointing out that only 15 of at least 33 pages have been published so far.

Continue reading iPhone details uncovered in Sales Training Workbook

Filed under:

iPhone details uncovered in Sales Training Workbook originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Jun 2007 06:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleattbreaking newsBreakingNewsfeaturesiphonescanvibrateSat, 09 Jun 2007 06:36:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone details uncovered in Sales Training Workbook]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/09/iphone-details-uncovered-in-sales-training-workbook/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/09/iphone-details-uncovered-in-sales-training-workbook/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/09/iphone-details-uncovered-in-sales-training-workbook/#comments
Here's some dirt that's sure to heat up the iPhone debates over the next 20 days. According to alleged scans from the "iPhone Sales Training Workbook," we're seeing a vast array of features that we were already fully aware of, but here's the skinny on what you may have not known until now:
  • No one-touch dialing (two touches at a minimum)
  • Vibrate mode is included
  • Voice dialing is not mentioned as a feature, though it's not specifically excluded either
  • Users can have a voice conversation whilst browsing the web "when WiFi access is available"
  • iPhone users will not be able to conduct IM conversations with instant messaging users
  • Emailing videos and pictures are a go, MMS is not supported
  • MEdia Mail won't be used for ringtone and answertone downloads
  • MEdia Net, MobiTV, and Cellular Video are (unsurprisingly) not available for the iPhone
  • iTunes will sync iPhone with the Address Book on Macs or Outlook/Outlook Expess on PCs
  • No GPS or TeleNav support, sorry Google hopefuls
Of note, it seems that AT&T and / or Apple has conjured up a few canned, customer responses that point out the obvious shortcomings of Apple's handset, so do click on to see what you're up against.

Update: It's worth pointing out that only 15 of at least 33 pages have been published so far.

Continue reading iPhone details uncovered in Sales Training Workbook

Filed under: , , , , ,

iPhone details uncovered in Sales Training Workbook originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Jun 2007 06:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleatandtattbreaking newsBreakingNewsedgefeaturesgsmiphoneiphone osiphoneosmobilescanvibrateSat, 09 Jun 2007 06:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Alaska Department of Revenue vaporizes $38 billion account]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/22/alaska-department-of-revenue-vaporizes-38-billion-account/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/22/alaska-department-of-revenue-vaporizes-38-billion-account/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/22/alaska-department-of-revenue-vaporizes-38-billion-account/#commentsThe Last Frontier is no stranger to computer failure on a noteworthy scale, but the latest mishap far exceeds the severity of yet another e-voting failure. A quick-fingered technician at the Alaska Department of Revenue reformatted a hard drive while handling "routine maintenance work" that contained an account worth $38 billion -- yeah, with a B. To make matters exponentially worse, he / she also deleted the backup drive for reasons unbeknownst to mere men, and we can probably assume that at least a few individuals in the department suffered a near-heart attack when they found the backup tapes completely unreadable. The only remaining proof of the oil-funded account was in 300 boxes of paperwork, which had to be digitized yet again by staff members working incredibly long hours completing work that had just been done a few months earlier. Incredibly, no one was reportedly punished for the incident, and while the recovery efforts were actually finished in just six painstaking weeks, the damage inflicted by a few careless keystrokes totaled $220,700 in excess labor costs. Ouch.

[Via Fark]

Filed under: ,

Alaska Department of Revenue vaporizes $38 billion account originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Mar 2007 05:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alaskadatadata lossDataLossdepartment of revenueDepartmentOfRevenueerrorgovernmentJUNEAUmistakerevenuescanscannerscanningThe Last FrontierTheLastFrontierThu, 22 Mar 2007 05:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Amsterdam Arena to bar troublemakers via fingerprint scans]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/26/amsterdam-arena-to-bar-troublemakers-via-fingerprint-scans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/26/amsterdam-arena-to-bar-troublemakers-via-fingerprint-scans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/26/amsterdam-arena-to-bar-troublemakers-via-fingerprint-scans/#commentsIt looks like those crazed individuals who somehow managed to escape from the nation's video game addict rehab center won't be sneaking into major football events to stir up trouble anymore, as Amsterdam Arena has launched a trial program to scan the fingerprints of football fans before letting them enter as they try to better "exclude known troublemakers" from making it to the stands. While European soccer football matches are known to elicit tremendous passion from both parties, oftentimes resulting in violent behavior, the biometric scanners will hopefully curb the conflicts as it better enforces bans to precious offenders. Reportedly, the system will initially be at home games of Ajax, Feyenoord and Vitesse, and if it seems to go over well (read: enraged fans chill out), it could be rolled out in a few more locales later this year.

[Via BBC, thanks Stewart D.]

Filed under:

Amsterdam Arena to bar troublemakers via fingerprint scans originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Jan 2007 02:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ajaxamsterdambiometricsdutcheuropeFeyenoordfingerprintsfootballnetherlandsscanscannersoccersportsteamstroublemakersukVitesseFri, 26 Jan 2007 02:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung announces US release of CLX-3160FN and SCX-4725FN laser printers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/07/samsung-announces-us-release-of-clx-3160fn-and-scx-4725fn-laser/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/07/samsung-announces-us-release-of-clx-3160fn-and-scx-4725fn-laser/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/07/samsung-announces-us-release-of-clx-3160fn-and-scx-4725fn-laser/#commentsContinuing to maintain their reputation for launching a truckload of new products at CES, Samsung has announced the US launch of two previously Asia-only laser printers. First up is the CLX-3160FN, a Multifunction Color Laser Printer and Fax that is apparently the smallest and lightest "in the world": at 45.19-pounds, that says a lot about the state of miniaturisation in the multifunction fax / printer business. Other features include print speeds at up to 17 ppm in black and white, and 4 ppm in color, standard USB connectivity, PictBridge support for instant photo printing, and compatibility with Windows, Mac, and Linux machines. One of the less welcome "features" includes yet another newly designed toner cartridge design, which means all your older carts won't work. The second printer that Samsung is unveiling today is the monochrome SCX-4725FN Four-in-one laser printer which combines print, copy, scan, and fax capabilities into one. The SCX-4725FN can print at up to 24 ppm, and outputs at up to 1200 dpi resolution. It also features optical character recognition for scanned text, a mysterious "ID Card Copy" function, and a toner-saving function that apparently reduced consumption by up to 30 percent. Currently Samsung hasn't revealed when either of these printers will ship, and has only given us the price for the CLX-3160FN at $599.

Filed under:

Samsung announces US release of CLX-3160FN and SCX-4725FN laser printers originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 07 Jan 2007 17:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CESCLX-3160FNcopyfaxlaser printerLaserPrinterMultifunctionprintprinterSamsungscanSCX-4725FNSun, 07 Jan 2007 17:08:00 EST