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[Northeastern University students develop eye controlled robotic arm that's happy to feed you]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/24/northeastern-university-students-develop-eye-controlled-robotic-arm-to-feed-patients/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/24/northeastern-university-students-develop-eye-controlled-robotic-arm-to-feed-patients/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/24/northeastern-university-students-develop-eye-controlled-robotic-arm-to-feed-patients/#comments Northeastern University students develop eye controlled robotic arm that's happy to feed you

As an alternative to receiving brain implants for robotic arm dominance assistance, check out this surprisingly cheap eye-tracking solution developed by six electrical engineering students at Northeastern University. Labeled iCRAFT, for eye Con­trolled Robotic Arm Feeding Tech­nology, the award-winning senior project drew its inspiration from one team member's difficulty syncing spoonfuls with the eating pace of elderly and disabled patients. Simply gaze at the on-screen box that corresponds to your food or beverage choice and the robotic arm will swing your way with grub in its grip. Ambitious DIY-ers can chase down the open-sourced software behind iCRAFT, and construct a contraption of their own for about $900 -- considerably less than self-​​feeding rigs living in the neighborhood of $3,500. You can catch a video of the robot arm serving up some fine Wendy's cuisine after the break.

Continue reading Northeastern University students develop eye controlled robotic arm that's happy to feed you

Northeastern University students develop eye controlled robotic arm that's happy to feed you originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 May 2012 14:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assisted livingAssistedLivingbionicsDIYelectrical engineeringElectricalEngineeringeye trackingeye-trackingEyeTrackingiCRAFTNortheasternNortheastern UniversityNortheasternUniversityrobot armRobotArmrobotic armRoboticArmroboticssenior capstonesenior projectSeniorCapstoneSeniorProjectUniversityThu, 24 May 2012 14:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Harvard tired of overpaying for research, tells faculty to open up]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/harvard-overpaying-for-research-wants-open-access/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/harvard-overpaying-for-research-wants-open-access/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/harvard-overpaying-for-research-wants-open-access/#comments Image

The grand dame of Ivy League schools is taking action against one of higher learning's pet peeves: the exorbitant price of research journals. Even though the e-reader revolution may have already touched other schoolbooks, so far academic subscription prices -- with some journals as high as $40,000 -- are becoming unsustainable, according to Harvard. To that end, it's taking the lead and pushing its own faculty toward open access publishing, and encouraging them to quit boards of journals that aren't. That could in turn prod other schools to take the same steps, and allow Harvard to focus on more, ahem, interesting pursuits.

Harvard tired of overpaying for research, tells faculty to open up originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academic journalsAcademicJournalse-booksEbookSalesharvardharvard universityHarvardUniversityopen accessOpenAccessresearchresearch journalsResearchJournalsstudentstextbooksuniversityWed, 25 Apr 2012 12:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Barobo's Mobot goes up for pre-order, slinks toward your impressionable children (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/19/barobo-mobot-modular-robot-pre-order-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/19/barobo-mobot-modular-robot-pre-order-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/19/barobo-mobot-modular-robot-pre-order-video/#comments ImageIn what may be the first notable instance of a product actually losing the "i" in favor of building out its own persona, Barobo's iMobot is not only not going by Mobot, but it's also up for pre-order. The modular robotics platform can be claimed for $269.95 (with extension plates and the like available as optional extras), and we're told by the company that these will be on the move by August at the latest. Moreover, a grant has been secured to provide "at least $500,000 over the next two years to Barobo, with potential for up to another $500,000 in matching funds if the company can make sales and attract venture capital." Folks involved with the project are hoping to see Mobot used as a tool for teaching robotics as early as third grade, and given the choice of tinkering with one of these or fiddling with a TI-83 Plus... well, you know. For those unaware of Mobot's potential, head on past the break for a freshly cut video.

Continue reading Barobo's Mobot goes up for pre-order, slinks toward your impressionable children (video)

Barobo's Mobot goes up for pre-order, slinks toward your impressionable children (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baroboeducationeducationalimobotmobotpre-orderrobotroboticsUC davisUcDavisuniversityuniversity of californiauniversity of california davisUniversityOfCaliforniaUniversityOfCaliforniaDavisvideoThu, 19 Apr 2012 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ghost Pedal: the virtual wah pedal that Rock Band wishes it had (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/ghost-pedal-virtual-wah-pedal-guitar-music-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/ghost-pedal-virtual-wah-pedal-guitar-music-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/ghost-pedal-virtual-wah-pedal-guitar-music-video/#comments Jimi would be proud. Eight Purdue University students have concocted what's being dubbed a Ghost Pedal; for all intents and purposes, it's a sensor-based processor that's worn around the ankle of the player, and it enables wah-like effects to be commanded from anywhere on stage. Specifically: "The variable resistor sensor records what the user is doing with their ankle, and a sustain sensor either accepts the transmission feed or ignores / sustains it." We're also told that once it's turned on, the user enters a 10-second mode during which the variable resistor calibrates the ability to flex the foot from the floor in a normal pedal motion; after calibration mode, the guitarist enters freeplay mode. As of now, it's available for licensing, and there's a video just past the break to help you make up your mind.

Continue reading Ghost Pedal: the virtual wah pedal that Rock Band wishes it had (video)

Ghost Pedal: the virtual wah pedal that Rock Band wishes it had (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ghost PedalGhostPedalguitarmusicpurduepurdue universityPurdueUniversityuniversityvideowah pedalWahPedalFri, 16 Mar 2012 08:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Terahertz bandwidth: the key to 1,000x faster smartphones, laptops and pipe dreams]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/12/terahertz-bandwidth-faster-smartphones-communications/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/12/terahertz-bandwidth-faster-smartphones-communications/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/12/terahertz-bandwidth-faster-smartphones-communications/#commentsMuch like carbon nanotubes and quantum computing, terahertz technologies have been promising miracles for nearly as long as humans have been able to distinguish water from fire. We exaggerate, but barely. A crafty team assembled at the University of Pittsburgh seems to have no qualms with moving forward, however, recently announcing a new physical basis for terahertz bandwidth. Those involved managed to have success in generating a frequency comb -- "dividing a single color of light into a series of evenly spaced spectral lines for a variety of uses -- that spans a more than 100 terahertz bandwidth by exciting a coherent collective of atomic motions in a semiconductor silicon crystal." For those who managed to make it through the technobabble, we're told that the ability to modulate light with such a bandwidth could "increase the amount of information carried by more than 1,000 times when compared to the volume carried with today's technologies." Smartphones, computers and even airline check-in kiosks that operate 1,000 faster than they do today? Sure, we'll take that. But, how about give us a ring when Wally World deems it ripe for commercialization? We'll be waiting -- pinky promise.

Terahertz bandwidth: the key to 1,000x faster smartphones, laptops and pipe dreams originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonechemistrycommunicationfrequencyfrequency combFrequencyCombmobilepostcrossPittsburghrangeResearchsciencesignalsignal boosterSignalBoosterspectrumterahertztransmissionUniversityUniversity of PittsburghUniversityOfPittsburghMon, 12 Mar 2012 21:57:00 EST<![CDATA[MIT software optimizes paths for automated undersea vehicles (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/12/mit-software-optimizes-paths-for-automated-undersea-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/12/mit-software-optimizes-paths-for-automated-undersea-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/12/mit-software-optimizes-paths-for-automated-undersea-vehicles/#commentsSo, there's good news and bad news. The former is that MIT researchers have developed new software and methods that can predict optimal paths for automated underwater vehicles. The latter is that it's meant to be used for "swarms" of them, "moving all at once toward separate destinations." We hate to be the folks that keep harping on the inevitable, 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 above below.

Continue reading MIT software optimizes paths for automated undersea vehicles (video)

MIT software optimizes paths for automated undersea vehicles (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Mar 2012 04:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AUVglidermilitarymitMSEASoceanPierre LermusiauxPierreLermusiauxresearchscienceuavunderwater vehicleUnderwaterVehicleuniversityvideowargadgetMon, 12 Mar 2012 04:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Acrobatic quadrocopters hunt in packs, seduce you into submission (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/01/acrobatic-quadrocopters-fly-in-hypnotic-formation/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/01/acrobatic-quadrocopters-fly-in-hypnotic-formation/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/01/acrobatic-quadrocopters-fly-in-hypnotic-formation/#comments
We've kept a pretty stern eye on the development of GRASP Lab's quadrocopters, and with good reason it seems, now that the four-bladed aerial ninjas have even more alarming abilities at their disposal. In the video after the break, watch them hold a variety of complex formations like it's no thing -- even while on the move. The 'copters can also take flight, or resume position, after being thrown into the air, navigating real world obstacles with deft fluidity. It's part of University of Pennsylvania's Scalable sWarms of Autonomous Robots and Mobile Sensors project (conveniently SWARMS for short), which is responsible for developing the air-born acrobats' new grouping skills. They say it's an attempt to replicate swarming habits in nature, though we're not convinced.

Continue reading Acrobatic quadrocopters hunt in packs, seduce you into submission (video)

Acrobatic quadrocopters hunt in packs, seduce you into submission (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>botbotsconstructioncopterdronedronesgrasp labGraspLabgroupnano quadrotorsNanoQuadrotorsquadrocopterquadrotorresearchrobocopterrobotrobot apocalypseRobotApocalypserobotsSWARMteamworkuniversityuniversity of pennsylvaniaUniversityOfPennsylvaniavideoWed, 01 Feb 2012 12:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Marvell's Classroom 3.0 includes Armada-powered SMILE Plug Computer]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/08/marvells-classroom-3-0-initative-armada-smile-plug-computer-ces-2012/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/08/marvells-classroom-3-0-initative-armada-smile-plug-computer-ces-2012/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/08/marvells-classroom-3-0-initative-armada-smile-plug-computer-ces-2012/#comments All together now -- "Aww!" Marvell has just outed its Classroom 3.0 initiative here at CES 2012, with the star attraction being the cutie above. That's an Armada-powered plug computer known as SMILE, hailed as the "first plug development kit designed to turn a traditional classroom into a highly interactive learning environment." The device is capable of creating a "micro cloud" within a classroom, with the entire environment able to be controlled by the instructor. The hardware's being launched in tandem with an expanded One Laptop Per Child partnership, with the OLPX XO 3.0 trumpeted as the perfect companion product. It's capable of serving up to 60 clients at once, and it's based on Arch Linux for ARM; there's even a 5V Li-ion battery for back-up -- you know, in case that rambunctious kid of yours pulls the power. It'll be hitting kiddies and teachers alike this Spring, but there's nary a mention of price.

Gallery: Marvell SMILE Plug Computer

Continue reading Marvell's Classroom 3.0 includes Armada-powered SMILE Plug Computer

Marvell's Classroom 3.0 includes Armada-powered SMILE Plug Computer originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 18:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armadacesces 2012Ces2012classroom 3.0Classroom3.0clouddesktopeducationMarvellolpcOne Laptop per ChildOneLaptopPerChildplug computerPlugComputersmileSMILE PlugSmilePlugStanfordStanford universityStanfordUniversityuniversitySun, 08 Jan 2012 18:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Notre Dame heralds paint-on solar cells, wants to smear your home with its goop (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/25/notre-dame-heralds-paint-on-solar-cells-wants-to-smear-your-hom/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/25/notre-dame-heralds-paint-on-solar-cells-wants-to-smear-your-hom/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/25/notre-dame-heralds-paint-on-solar-cells-wants-to-smear-your-hom/#commentsLeave it to the Fighting Irish to take a stab at solving the world's energy woes. Notre Dame researchers have successfully developed solar cells that can be easily painted on to any conductive surface. Imagine, for a moment, applying this solution to your home rather than attaching solar panels to the roof. The paint mixture incorporates quantum dots of titanium dioxide, which is then coated with either cadmium sulfide or cadmium selenide, and is then suspended in mixture of water and alcohol to create a spreadable compound that's capable of generating electricity. While its efficiency isn't currently much to crow home about -- which hovers around one-percent -- scientists are now actively pursuing ways to improve this aspect while making a more stable compound. Most importantly, the paint can be made cheaply and in large quantities, which suggests that even if efficiency remains in the doldrums, it may be a very worthwhile pursuit. Touchdown Jesus is already watching the video after the break.

Continue reading Notre Dame heralds paint-on solar cells, wants to smear your home with its goop (video)

Notre Dame heralds paint-on solar cells, wants to smear your home with its goop (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Dec 2011 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>nanoparticlesNotre DameNotreDamepaintquantumquantum dotsQuantumDotssolarsolar cellssolar energysolar paintsolar panelsolar panelsSolarCellsSolarEnergySolarPaintSolarPanelSolarPanelssprayspray paintspray-onSprayPaintuniversityuniversity of notre dameUniversityOfNotreDamevideoSun, 25 Dec 2011 14:22:00 EST<![CDATA[VT nears completion of HokieSpeed, world's 96th most powerful supercomputer]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/23/vt-nears-completion-of-hokiespeed-worlds-96th-most-powerful-su/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/23/vt-nears-completion-of-hokiespeed-worlds-96th-most-powerful-su/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/23/vt-nears-completion-of-hokiespeed-worlds-96th-most-powerful-su/#comments If basking in the presence of a powerful supercomputer is on your list of "must-haves" when selecting a proper university, then you may wish to fire off an admissions application to the Hokies at Virginia Tech. The school's HokieSpeed system is now in its final stages of testing, which combines 209 separate computers, each powered by dual six-core Xeon E5645 CPUs and two NVIDIA M2050 / C2050 448-core GPUs, with a single-precision peak processing capability of 455 teraflops. To put things in perspective, HokieSpeed is now the 96th most powerful computer in the world, and yet it was built for merely $1.4 million in loose change -- the majority of which came from a National Science Foundation grant. As a further claim to fame, HokieSpeed is the 11th most energy-efficient supercomputer in the world. Coming soon, the system will drive a 14-foot wide by four-foot tall visualization wall, which is to consist of eight 46-inch Samsung 3D televisions humming in unison. After all, with virtually limitless potential, these scientists will need a fitting backdrop for all those Skyrim sessions. The full PR follows the break, complete with commentary from the system's mastermind, Professor Wu Feng.

Continue reading VT nears completion of HokieSpeed, world's 96th most powerful supercomputer

VT nears completion of HokieSpeed, world's 96th most powerful supercomputer originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3daccC2050cpuE5645gpuHokieSpeedintelM2050National Science FoundationNationalScienceFoundationnvidiaresearchsamsungsupercomputersupercomputinguniversityVirginia TechVirginiaTechvtWu FengWuFengxeonFri, 23 Dec 2011 18:43:00 EST<![CDATA[MIT slinks into a cafe, orders a side of photonic chips on silicon]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/25/mit-slinks-into-a-cafe-orders-a-side-of-photonic-chips-on-silic/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/25/mit-slinks-into-a-cafe-orders-a-side-of-photonic-chips-on-silic/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/25/mit-slinks-into-a-cafe-orders-a-side-of-photonic-chips-on-silic/#comments
Whiz-kids the world over have been making significant progress on the development of photonic chips -- devices that "use light beams instead of electrons to carry out their computational tasks." But now, MIT has taken the next major leap, filling in "a crucial piece of the puzzle" that just might allow for the creation of photonic chips on the standard silicon material that underlies most of today's electronics. Today, data can travel via light beams shot over through optical fibers, and once it arrives, it's "converted into electronic form, processed through electronic circuits and then converted back to light using a laser." What a waste. If MIT's research bears fruit, the resulting product could nix those extra steps, allowing the light signal to be processed directly. Caroline Ross, the Toyota Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT, calls it a diode for light; to construct it, researchers had to locate a material that was both transparent and magnetic. In other words, a material that only exists in the Chamber of Secrets. Hit the source link for the rest of the tale.

MIT slinks into a cafe, orders a side of photonic chips on silicon originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Nov 2011 11:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Caroline RossCarolineRosscircuitcircuitsdiodeelectricitylaserlightMITopticaloptical transmissionOpticalTransmissionphotonicprocessorsciencesilicontransmissionuniversityFri, 25 Nov 2011 11:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Print your own blood vessels, no need for red toner]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/19/print-your-own-blood-vessels-no-need-for-red-toner/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/19/print-your-own-blood-vessels-no-need-for-red-toner/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/19/print-your-own-blood-vessels-no-need-for-red-toner/#comments Barely 24 hours after we told you about printing your own bones, the franken-science continues with the announcement that blood vessels are next on the body-parts-you-can-print list. Unsurprisingly, you'll need more than just regular toner if you want to start printing your own at home, but pioneering work by application-oriented research organization Fraunhofer has claimed to have cracked it by adding some good old 'two-photon polymerization' into the mix -- yeah, obvious once you know. The added photon special sauce is what makes the printed synthetic tubes biofunctionalized, which in turn enables living body cells to dock onto them -- we're guessing that's important. Sounds cute, but how long until we can start printing whole people -- Weird Science, anyone?

Continue reading Print your own blood vessels, no need for red toner

Print your own blood vessels, no need for red toner originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d print blood3d printing3dPrintBlood3dPrintingbloodblood vesselsBloodVesselshealthmedicalmedicineprint bloodprint body partsprint vesselsPrintBloodPrintBodyPartsprintingprinting bloodPrintingBloodPrintVesselsresearchscienceuniversityweirdMon, 19 Sep 2011 13:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Scientists attempt to give spark of life to all-synthetic metal cells]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/19/scientists-attempt-to-give-spark-of-life-to-all-synthetic-metal/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/19/scientists-attempt-to-give-spark-of-life-to-all-synthetic-metal/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/19/scientists-attempt-to-give-spark-of-life-to-all-synthetic-metal/#comments Just because it hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it can't; at least that's what a Scottish research group is hoping as it attempts to create reproductive synthetic cells made completely from metal. At this stage, the idea of sentient metallic life remains a distant sci-fi dream, but researchers at the University of Glasgow have already birthed iChells -- inorganic chemical cells. These bubbles, formed from the likes of tungsten, oxygen and phosphorus, can already self-assemble, possess an internal structure, and are capable of the molecular in-and-outs expected of its biological counterparts. Researchers are still tackling how to give these little wonders the ability to self-replicate, and possibly evolve -- further cementing our doom post-Robot Apocalypse. Check out our future synthetic overlord's first steps in a video after the break.

Continue reading Scientists attempt to give spark of life to all-synthetic metal cells

Scientists attempt to give spark of life to all-synthetic metal cells originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biologycellsGlasgowmetal cellsmetal overlordsMetalCellsmetallic cellsMetallicCellsMetalOverlordsrobot apocalypseRobotApocalypsesciencesynthetic cellsSyntheticCellsUniversityUniversity of GlasgowvideoMon, 19 Sep 2011 07:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Dublin City University adopts Chromebooks -- time to go streaking through the quad!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/15/dublin-city-university-adopts-chromebooks-time-to-go-streaki/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/15/dublin-city-university-adopts-chromebooks-time-to-go-streaki/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/15/dublin-city-university-adopts-chromebooks-time-to-go-streaki/#comments Instead of handing out cheap mugs (or iPads... or iPods) and sending students on their merry way, administrators at Dublin City University will be showering incoming freshmen with free Chromebooks -- in doing so, it'll become the first European higher-education institution to adopt the device. As you probably recall, Google's always-connected laptops have gone through various incarnations throughout the years, but they've always included a dash of WiFi or 3G and a pinch of hasty boot -- intentionally ditching local storage for the cloud. The Google Chromebooks for Education partnership is said to support DCU's commitment to make 80 percent of its classes partially or fully online by 2013, allowing coeds to stay in their Scooby Doo pajamas or attend class from Pi Kappa Delta HQ. Now, if only the dining hall supported online ordering...

Dublin City University adopts Chromebooks -- time to go streaking through the quad! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 20:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3Gchromechrome osChrome OS netbookchromebookChromeOsChromeOsNetbookDCUdublindublin city universityDublinCityUniversityeducateeducationgooglegoogle chromebookgoogle chromebooksgoogle chromebooks for educationGoogleChromebookGoogleChromebooksGoogleChromebooksForEducationirelandlearningonlineschooluniversityWiFiThu, 15 Sep 2011 20:39:00 EST<![CDATA[SUFFER '11 farming robot plays a multitude of roles, takes commands via Wiimote (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/30/suffer-11-farming-robot-plays-a-multitude-of-roles-takes-comma/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/30/suffer-11-farming-robot-plays-a-multitude-of-roles-takes-comma/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/30/suffer-11-farming-robot-plays-a-multitude-of-roles-takes-comma/#comments So much for stereotypes, eh? The future of farming is being painted in a far different light here at NEXT Aarhus, where a team from the University of Southern Denmark brought in the largest Wiimote-controlled robot that we've ever seen. The heretofore unnamed beast (going by SUFFER '11 for the time being) is a farming-centric machine that's designed to take the load off of the landowners (while providing a bit of enjoyment all the while). Put simply, this modular bot can have various apparatuses swapped into its midsection -- one pop-in attachment could pick potatoes, while another could disperse pesticide, for example. There's even a module that'll enable it to detect rows and plow down the obvious routes, making it that much easier for farmers of the next millennium to take time off. Of course, the standout feature from our perspective was the inbuilt Bluetooth and WiFi, which allowed the demonstrator to operate the 'bot with a standard Wii remote. Per usual, the vid's after the break.

Gallery: SUFFER '11 farming robot hands-on at NEXT Aarhus

Continue reading SUFFER '11 farming robot plays a multitude of roles, takes commands via Wiimote (video)

SUFFER '11 farming robot plays a multitude of roles, takes commands via Wiimote (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bluetoothcontrollerdiyfarmfarmingfarming robotFarmingRobothackhands-onmodnextnext aarhusnext aarhus 2011NextAarhusNextAarhus2011nintendorobotuniversityuniversity of southern denmarkUniversityOfSouthernDenmarkvideowifiwiiwii controllerwii remoteWiiControllerwiimoteWiiRemoteTue, 30 Aug 2011 14:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Cyclone Display exemplifies 'multi-colored expression,' totally heading to a nightclub near you (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/12/cyclone-display-exemplifies-multi-colored-expression-totally/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/12/cyclone-display-exemplifies-multi-colored-expression-totally/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/12/cyclone-display-exemplifies-multi-colored-expression-totally/#comments Ever heard of Yoichi Ochiai? You have now. Hailing from Japan's University of Tsukuba, this whizkid was on hand here at SIGGRAPH to showcase one of his latest creations -- and it just so happened to be one of the trippiest yet. The Cyclone Display was a demonstration focused on visual stimulation; a projector shown above interacted with a plate of spinning disks. Underneath, a cadre of motors were controlled by a connected computer, and as the rotation and velocity changed, so did the perceived pixels and colors. The next step, according to Ochiai, would be to blow this up and shrink it down, mixing textures in with different lighting situations. With a little help, a drab nightclub could douse its walls in leopard print one night, or zebra fur another. Interactive clubbing never sounded so fun, eh? You know the drill -- gallery's below, video's a click beneath.

Gallery: The Cyclone Display at SIGGRAPH 2011

Continue reading Cyclone Display exemplifies 'multi-colored expression,' totally heading to a nightclub near you (video)

Cyclone Display exemplifies 'multi-colored expression,' totally heading to a nightclub near you (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 22:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artcolorconceptcyclone displayCycloneDisplaydesigndisplayhands-onjapanprototypesiggraphsiggraph 2011Siggraph2011texturethe cyclone displayTheCycloneDisplayuniversityUniversity of TsukubaUniversityOfTsukubavideoYoichi OchiaiYoichiOchiaiFri, 12 Aug 2011 22:37:00 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[PocoPoco musical interface box makes solenoids fun, gives Tenori-On pause (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/10/pocopoco-musical-interface-box-makes-solenoids-fun-gives-tenori/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/10/pocopoco-musical-interface-box-makes-solenoids-fun-gives-tenori/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/10/pocopoco-musical-interface-box-makes-solenoids-fun-gives-tenori/#comments Think SIGGRAPH's all about far-out design concepts? Think again. A crew from the Tokyo Metropolitan University IDEEA Lab was on hand here at the show's experimental wing showcasing a new "musical interface," one that's highly tactile and darn near impossible to walk away from. Upon first glance, it reminded us most of Yamaha's Tenori-On, but the "universal input / output box" is actually far deeper and somewhat more interactive in use. A grand total of 16 solenoids are loaded in, and every one of 'em are loaded up with sensors.

Users can tap any button to create a downbeat (behind the scenes, a sequencer flips to "on"), which will rise in unison with the music until you tap it once more to settle it (and in turn, eliminate said beat). You can grab hold of a peg in order to sustain a given note until you let it loose. There's a few pitch / tone buttons that serve an extra purpose -- one that we're sure you can guess by their names. Those are capable of spinning left and right, with pitch shifting and speeds increasing / decreasing with your movements. The learning curve here is practically nonexistent, and while folks at the booth had no hard information regarding an on-sale date, they confirmed to us that hawking it is most certainly on the roadmap... somewhere. Head on past the break for your daily (video) dose of cacophony.

Gallery: PocoPoco musical interface box at SIGGRAPH 2011

Continue reading PocoPoco musical interface box makes solenoids fun, gives Tenori-On pause (video)

PocoPoco musical interface box makes solenoids fun, gives Tenori-On pause (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 18:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audioconceptdesignhands-onideea labIdeeaLabinterfacejapanmusicmusical interfaceMusicalInterfacepocopocoprototyperesearchsiggraphsolenoidstudenttactiletokyotokyo metropolitain universityTokyoMetropolitainUniversityuniversityvideoWed, 10 Aug 2011 18:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft's KinectFusion research project offers real-time 3D reconstruction, wild AR possibilities]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/microsofts-kinectfusion-research-project-offers-real-time-3d-re/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/microsofts-kinectfusion-research-project-offers-real-time-3d-re/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/microsofts-kinectfusion-research-project-offers-real-time-3d-re/#comments It's a little shocking to think about the impact that Microsoft's Kinect camera has had on the gaming industry at large, let alone the 3D modeling industry. Here at SIGGRAPH 2011, we attended a KinectFusion research talk hosted by Microsoft, where a fascinating new look at real-time 3D reconstruction was detailed. To better appreciate what's happening here, we'd actually encourage you to hop back and have a gander at our hands-on with PrimeSense's raw motion sensing hardware from GDC 2010 -- for those who've forgotten, that very hardware was finally outed as the guts behind what consumers simply know as "Kinect." The breakthrough wasn't in how it allowed gamers to control common software titles sans a joystick -- the breakthrough was the price. The Kinect took 3D sensing to the mainstream, and moreover, allowed researchers to pick up a commodity product and go absolutely nuts. Turns out, that's precisely what a smattering of highly intelligent blokes in the UK have done, and they've built a new method for reconstructing 3D scenes (read: real-life) in real-time by using a simple Xbox 360 peripheral.

The actual technobabble ran deep -- not shocking given the academic nature of the conference -- but the demos shown were nothing short of jaw-dropping. There's no question that this methodology could be used to spark the next generation of gaming interaction and augmented reality, taking a user's surroundings and making it a live part of the experience. Moreover, game design could be significantly impacted, with live scenes able to be acted out and stored in real-time rather than having to build something frame by frame within an application. According to the presenter, the tech that's been created here can "extract surface geometry in real-time," right down to the millimeter level. Of course, the Kinect's camera and abilities are relatively limited when it comes to resolution; you won't be building 1080p scenes with a $150 camera, but as CPUs and GPUs become more powerful, there's nothing stopping this from scaling with the future. Have a peek at the links below if you're interested in diving deeper -- don't be shocked if you can't find the exit, though.

Gallery: Microsoft's KinectFusion research project at SIGGRAPH 2011

Microsoft's KinectFusion research project offers real-time 3D reconstruction, wild AR possibilities originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 14:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dARaugmented realityAugmentedRealityfusion kinectFusionKinecthackinteractionkinectkinect hackKinectHackmicrosoftmicrosoft researchMicrosoftResearchmotion sensingMotionSensingnewcastleresearchsensorsensorssiggraphsiggraph 2011Siggraph2011ukuniversityxboxxbox 360xbox kinectXbox360XboxKinectTue, 09 Aug 2011 14:48:00 EST<![CDATA[$1 chip tests for HIV in 15 minutes flat, fits in your wallet]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/04/1-chip-tests-for-hiv-in-15-minutes-flat-fits-in-your-wallet/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/04/1-chip-tests-for-hiv-in-15-minutes-flat-fits-in-your-wallet/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/04/1-chip-tests-for-hiv-in-15-minutes-flat-fits-in-your-wallet/#comments Getting tested for STDs used to mean a doctor's visit, vials of blood, and days, weeks, or even months of anxiously waiting for results. mChip aims to change all that, while simultaneously ridding your brain of viable excuses not to get tested. It works as such: one drop of blood goes on the microfluidics-based optical chip, 15 minutes pass, and boom, the AmEx-sized device will confirm whether or not you have syphilis and / or HIV. The bantam gizmo is practically foolproof, as reading the results doesn't require any human interpretation whatsoever. Plus, it's cheap -- cheaper than a coffee at Starbucks. One dollar cheap. Researchers at Columbia University claim the mChip has a 100 percent detection rate, although there's a four to six percent chance of getting a false positive -- a stat similar to traditional lab tests. As you'd likely expect, there's hope that the inexpensive mChip will help testing efforts in places like Africa to detect HIV before it turns into AIDS. Next stop: the self-service pharmacy at CVS?

$1 chip tests for HIV in 15 minutes flat, fits in your wallet originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 07:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>africaaidsbloodcolumbiacolumbia universityColumbiaUniversityhealthhealthcareHIVmchipmedicalmedicineresearchscienceSTDstdstesttestinguniversityThu, 04 Aug 2011 07:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Gig. U hopes to bring Gigabit networks and straight cash, homey, to university communities]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/27/gig-u-hopes-to-bring-gigabit-networks-and-straight-cash-homey/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/27/gig-u-hopes-to-bring-gigabit-networks-and-straight-cash-homey/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/27/gig-u-hopes-to-bring-gigabit-networks-and-straight-cash-homey/#comments Familiar with Johnny Appleseed? He who traipsed 'round the country with a sack 'o seeds on his shoulder, planting trees hither and yon leaving apple orchards blooming in his wake? Gig. U is similar, only it's a project that aims to plant Gigabit networks in 29 collegiate communities to facilitate research, attract start-ups, and stimulate local economies. The plan is just getting underway, and the schools in question -- including Virginia Tech, the University of Hawaii, and the University of Alaska -- are asking private telcos and companies to help make their high-speed dreams a reality. In addition to benefiting the immediate areas, Gig. U sees these swift new networks functioning as hubs in a faster nationwide broadband system. The colleges claim that construction of these new information superhighways won't start for several years, so it'll be some time before they can help elevate us from our current state of broadband mediocrity. Chop, chop, guys.

Gig. U hopes to bring Gigabit networks and straight cash, homey, to university communities originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 23:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>broadbandcollegecollegeseconomic stimulusEconomicStimulusgig ugig.uGigUhigh speedhigh speed networkHighSpeedHighSpeedNetworkinternetnetworknetworksstart upstart upsStartUpStartUpsuniversitiesuniversityWed, 27 Jul 2011 23:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Curtis Boirum's robotic car makes omnidirectional dreams come true (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/09/curtis-boirums-robotic-car-makes-omnidirectional-dreams-come-tr/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/09/curtis-boirums-robotic-car-makes-omnidirectional-dreams-come-tr/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/09/curtis-boirums-robotic-car-makes-omnidirectional-dreams-come-tr/#comments Let's face it: you've probably never met a hemispherical omnidirectional gimbaled wheel that you didn't like. Neither has Curtis Boirum, a grad student at Bradley University. The aforesaid whiz kid has put together one of the most visually stunning robots we've seen in some time, and while the frame itself is nothing to get hot and bothered about, the motion capabilities most definitely are. The secret lies in the black rubber hemisphere, which rotates like a top and is outfitted with servos that are able to tilt the entire mechanism left / right / forwards / backwards. What's wild is just how fast those changes happen -- something tells us that whole "on a dime" thing was born to be used right here. Head on past the break for video proof.

Continue reading Curtis Boirum's robotic car makes omnidirectional dreams come true (video)

Curtis Boirum's robotic car makes omnidirectional dreams come true (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Jul 2011 18:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bradleybradley universityBradleyUniversitycarCurtis BoirumCurtisBoirumhogomnidirectionalomnidirectional gimbaled wheelOmnidirectionalGimbaledWheelrobotrobot carRobotCaruniversityvideowheelSat, 09 Jul 2011 18:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Ultrawideband tech could connect your body to doctors, bring Tricorders to the mainstream]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/08/ultrawideband-tech-could-connect-your-body-to-doctors-bring-tri/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/08/ultrawideband-tech-could-connect-your-body-to-doctors-bring-tri/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/08/ultrawideband-tech-could-connect-your-body-to-doctors-bring-tri/#comments
The academic paper 'Experimental Characterization of a UWB Channel for Body Area Networks' won't reshape your mental state, but that's because academic papers are rarely titled 'OMG. Tricorders!'. A team of scientists at Oregon State University have examined ultrawideband tech to see if it's capable of transmitting the enormous load of data required to monitor a human body. Imagine it; your heart rate is monitored on your watch, smart bandages examine your blood insulin levels and feedback-pants measure your muscle responses, all viewed online by a doctor. Sadly you can't rush to your nearest hospital and demand to be wired with some X Prize - winning kit -- there's a couple of hurdles to overcome before you can more efficiently post your bodily functions to Twitter. Transmission had to be line-of-sight and the energy needs are too vast for a handheld device. Still, given how sophisticated the network technology will be when it's perfected, don't be surprised if civilization grinds to a halt when Quake is ported to your temporal lobe.

Ultrawideband tech could connect your body to doctors, bring Tricorders to the mainstream originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Academichealthmedicalmedical devicesmedical researchMedicalDevicesMedicalResearchoregon stateoregon state universityOregonStateOregonStateUniversityScienceTricordertricorder-like-deviceultrawidebanduniversityUWBFri, 08 Jul 2011 00:12:00 EST<![CDATA[OnLive CEO reveals 'entirely new approach' to wireless, credits Rearden for toppling Shannon's Law]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/onlive-ceo-reveals-entirely-new-approach-to-wireless-credits/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/onlive-ceo-reveals-entirely-new-approach-to-wireless-credits/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/onlive-ceo-reveals-entirely-new-approach-to-wireless-credits/#comments "In advance, yes -- you're right, it's impossible. But nonetheless, we have ten radios all working at the same frequency, all at the Shannon limit... and there's no interference." You may not fully grok the significance of that statement, but anyone heavily involved in solving the wireless bandwidth crisis is probably dropjawed. For a little background, there's a perceived limit in wireless known as Shannon's Law, which largely explains why no one can watch a YouTube clip on their EVO at Michigan Stadium. For whatever reason, it's been assumed that this law was fundamentally unbreakable, but it looks as if an unlikely member of society may have just overrode expectations. OnLive's CEO Steve Perlman recently revealed a breakthrough from Rearden Companies -- in short, they've figured out a workaround, and in testing, it's doing things like "removing dead zones" altogether. His slide, shown during a presentation at Columbia, notes that the implications here are "profound," and we couldn't agree more. Do yourself a solid and hit play in the video below the break -- we've fast-forwarded to where this section begins.

Continue reading OnLive CEO reveals 'entirely new approach' to wireless, credits Rearden for toppling Shannon's Law

OnLive CEO reveals 'entirely new approach' to wireless, credits Rearden for toppling Shannon's Law originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>700mhzcapacitycolumbiacongestioninfrastructureinterferenceonlivereardenRearden CompaniesReardenCompaniesshannons lawShannonsLawspectrumspectrum crunchSpectrumCrunchSteve PerlmanStevePerlmanuniversityvideowirelesswwanWed, 29 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NC State discovery finds optimal connections 10,000 times more quickly, ResNet admins do a double take]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/nc-state-discovery-finds-optimal-connections-10-000-times-more-q/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/nc-state-discovery-finds-optimal-connections-10-000-times-more-q/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/nc-state-discovery-finds-optimal-connections-10-000-times-more-q/#comments Ever wondered how just one message in an average Chatroulette session finds its way to whatever destination fate may deem suitable? Sure you have. As it stands, every single pulse from your Ethernet socket starts its initial journey by hunting for an optimal connection path; in some cases, that involves routing through massive ring networks crossing over untold miles of fiber optic cabling. Using traditional techniques, nailing down an optimal solution for a ring can take eons (or days, whichever you prefer), but there's a new methodology coming out of NC State's den that could enable the same type of scenario to reach its natural conclusion 10,000 times faster. Dr. George Rouskas, a computer science professor and proud Wolfpacker, has just published a new paper describing the scheme, with the focal point being a "mathematical model that identifies the exact optimal routes and wavelengths for ring network designers." More technobabble surrounding the discovery can be found in the source link below, but unfortunately, there's no telling how long it'll take your impending click to be addressed using conventional means. Here's to the future, eh?

NC State discovery finds optimal connections 10,000 times more quickly, ResNet admins do a double take originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 08:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accdiscoveryfiberFiber OpticFiberOpticGeorge RouskasGeorgeRouskasinternetnc statenc state universityNcStateNcStateUniversitynetworknetworkingnorth carolinanorth carolina stateNorthCarolinaNorthCarolinaStateresearchring networkRingNetworkuniversityWed, 29 Jun 2011 08:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Thin film coating makes everlasting energy a piezoelectric possibility]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/thin-film-coating-makes-everlasting-energy-a-piezoelectric-possi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/thin-film-coating-makes-everlasting-energy-a-piezoelectric-possi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/thin-film-coating-makes-everlasting-energy-a-piezoelectric-possi/#comments Let's be honest, it's no big secret that we're running out of dead dinosaurs to fuel our lives. And with recent natural catastrophes proving atomic energy isn't what you'd call 'safe,' it's a good thing the researchers down at the RMIT University in Melbourne have been hard at work figuring out how to turn you into a self-sustained energy source. Marrying piezoelectrics with a thin film microchip coating, those scientists Down Under have for the first time identified just how much energy your pressure can generate. This is certainly not the first time the tech has been put to use -- Orange UK's been doing something similar, albeit bulkier, for the Glastonbury fest each year. What are some practical uses, you ask? Imagine a gym powered by a sea of workout-hamsters, each producing significant energy from the soles of their feet. Curious for more? Try a pacemaker that runs solely on blood pressure, or a laptop charged by banging out Facebook updates. Who knows, maybe even RIM can put this to use in its next Storm. Just sayin'.

[Image courtesy Alberto Villarreal]

Thin film coating makes everlasting energy a piezoelectric possibility originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 02:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternative energyalternative fuelAlternativeEnergyAlternativeFuelelectricityenergynanotechnanotechnologypiezoelectricpiezoelectricspowerresearchthin filmthin film coatthin film coatingthinfilmThinFilmCoatThinFilmCoatinguniversityWed, 22 Jun 2011 02:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Touch pad prototype works without movement, makes fingertips feel like they're sliding (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/touch-pad-prototype-works-without-movement-makes-fingertips-fee/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/touch-pad-prototype-works-without-movement-makes-fingertips-fee/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/touch-pad-prototype-works-without-movement-makes-fingertips-fee/#comments This comes from the same touchy-feely Kajimoto lab in Japan that brought us the tactile kiss transmission device and we totally see where they're going with it: maximum sensation, minimum effort. You only have to exert the gentlest of pressures on this prototype touch pad and it zaps your fingertip with little electrical signals, mimicking the feeling of sliding your finger over a surface. We imagine it's a bit like the little red pointing stick in the middle of a Lenovo ThinkPad keyboard, for example, but with the addition of "position-dependent data input" to create the illusion that your finger is actually touching different areas of the screen. For now though, if you don't mind stretching a finger to your old-stylee mouse or trackpad, then check out the video after the break.

Continue reading Touch pad prototype works without movement, makes fingertips feel like they're sliding (video)

Touch pad prototype works without movement, makes fingertips feel like they're sliding (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 09:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>feelfeelingfingerfingertipillusionjapanjapanesekajimotokajimoto laboratoryKajimotoLaboratorymechanicalmimicmimickingoddphysicalpointing devicePointingDeviceposition-dependentresearchsensationsensitivesensorytactiletactile feedbackTactileFeedbacktouch padtouchpaduniversityvideoWed, 11 May 2011 09:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Amar Bose donates majority of Bose Corporation shares to MIT, says thanks for the education]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/02/amar-bose-donates-majority-of-bose-corporation-shares-to-mit-sa/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/02/amar-bose-donates-majority-of-bose-corporation-shares-to-mit-sa/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/02/amar-bose-donates-majority-of-bose-corporation-shares-to-mit-sa/#comments If you haven't heard of Dr. Amar Bose directly, you've surely heard of his eponymous audio equipment company. Late last week, the 81-year old founder and chairman of Bose Corporation announced that he's donating the majority of shares in the privately held company to his alma mater, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A member of that college's graduating class of 1951 and its electrical engineering faculty all the way until 2001, Bose felt compelled to give something back and he's opted for the most grandiose of gestures. MIT won't be able to sell its shares in Bose Corp. nor have any say in the way it is run, but it'll receive dividends as and when they're paid out, which will then be reinvested in its research and education programs. In making this perpetual endowment public, Amar Bose took the time to credit Professors Y. W. Lee, Norbert Wiener and Jerome Wiesner as his mentors -- in the image above, you can see him pictured with Lee (left) and Wiener (right) back in 1955. Chalkboards, that's where it all began.

Amar Bose donates majority of Bose Corporation shares to MIT, says thanks for the education originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 May 2011 05:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amar boseAmarBoseaudiobosebose corporationBoseCorporationcollegecompanydonationeducationelectrical engineeringElectricalEngineeringengineeringgratitudeindustrymassachusetts institute of technologyMassachusettsInstituteOfTechnologymitsharessoundspeakersstockstocksstudytechnologyuniversityMon, 02 May 2011 05:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Tactile kiss transmission device finally makes it okay to smooch your computer (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/02/tactile-kiss-transmission-device-finally-makes-it-okay-to-smooch/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/02/tactile-kiss-transmission-device-finally-makes-it-okay-to-smooch/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/02/tactile-kiss-transmission-device-finally-makes-it-okay-to-smooch/#comments They say the vast majority of communication is done physically rather than verbally, but in the realm of technological advances we seem to have rather neglected the transmission of physical contact. Thankfully, there's always Japan to provide us with off-the-wall innovations, this latest one being a kiss transmission device that will record, relay, and -- if you wish it -- replay your finest tongue gymnastics. It's the height of simplicity at the moment, with a plastic implement taking input from one person's mouth and conveying it to a second box, intended to be gobbled up by the recipient of this techno-affection, who may respond in kind or just sit back and enjoy the thrill of it. The researchers sagely point out that there's more to be done, as the sense of taste, manner of breathing, and moistness of the tongue are all important aspects of a kiss that have yet to be recreated. Once they do get their kiss transmitter to v2.0, however, they envision a pretty neat market for it in reselling kiss replays performed by celebrities. For now, you can see a celeb-free video demo after the break.

Continue reading Tactile kiss transmission device finally makes it okay to smooch your computer (video)

Tactile kiss transmission device finally makes it okay to smooch your computer (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 May 2011 03:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>affectioncommunicationcommunicationsjapanjapanesekajimotokajimoto laboratoryKajimotoLaboratorykisskiss transmission devicekissingKissTransmissionDevicemechanicalmouthoddphysicalquirkyresearchtactiletransmissionuniversityvideoweirdMon, 02 May 2011 03:47:00 EST<![CDATA[UPenn's PhillieBot throws out first pitch, Skynet calls for a reliever (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/20/upenns-philliebot-throws-out-first-pitch-skynet-calls-for-a-re/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/20/upenns-philliebot-throws-out-first-pitch-skynet-calls-for-a-re/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/20/upenns-philliebot-throws-out-first-pitch-skynet-calls-for-a-re/#comments
We'll hand it to the University of Pennsylvania -- mixing robotics and sport definitely isn't easy. But in the heart of Citizens Bank Park today, the so-called PhillieBot came close to generating a universal chorus of boos after it failed to successfully toss a first pitch to the Phanatic. We're guessing it'll be wound up a bit more before trying again; after all, it's not like Philly needs another reason to pelt an otherwise lovable character with vitriol (or snowballs).

UPenn's PhillieBot throws out first pitch, Skynet calls for a reliever (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 20:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baseballcomedyfailfunnyMLBPhillieBotphilliesphillyrobotsportsportsuniversityuniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversityOfPennsylvaniavideoWed, 20 Apr 2011 20:44:00 EST<![CDATA[World Bank report finds selling virtual goods in games more profitable than 'real' economy]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/09/world-bank-report-finds-selling-virtual-goods-in-games-more-prof/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/09/world-bank-report-finds-selling-virtual-goods-in-games-more-prof/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/09/world-bank-report-finds-selling-virtual-goods-in-games-more-prof/#comments A report commissioned by the World Bank's infoDev unit has cast fresh light on one of the more fascinating aspects of our brave new interconnected world: the virtual economy. The "third-party gaming services industry" -- where wealthy but impatient players have someone else grind away at online games for them in exchange for monetary reward -- is one of the focal points of the study, chiefly owing to it having generated revenues in the region of $3 billion in 2009 and now serving as the primary source of income for an estimated 100,000 young folks, primarily in countries like China and Vietnam. What's encouraging about these findings is that most of the revenue from such transactions ends up in the country where the virtual value is produced, which contrasts starkly with some of the more traditional international markets, such as that for coffee beans, where the study estimates only $5.5 billion of the $70 billion annual market value ever makes it back to the producing country. The research also takes an intriguing look at the emerging phenomenon of microwork, which consists of having unskilled workers doing the web's version of menial work -- checking images, transcribing bits of text, bumping up Facebook Likes (naughty!), etc. -- and could also lead to more employment opportunities for people in poorer nations. To get better acquainted with the details, check the links below or click past the break.

Continue reading World Bank report finds selling virtual goods in games more profitable than 'real' economy

World Bank report finds selling virtual goods in games more profitable than 'real' economy originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Apr 2011 04:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cashchinadeveloping countriesdeveloping worldDevelopingCountriesDevelopingWorlddevelopmentdigitaleconomicfinancialgoodsharvestinginfodevmarketmicroworkmoneyreportresearchsalesscarcitysociologystudysupply and demandSupplyAndDemanduniversityuniversity of gothenburguniversity of tokyoUniversityOfGothenburgUniversityOfTokyovideo gamesVideoGamesvietnamvirtualvirtual cashvirtual economyvirtual goldvirtual goodsVirtualCashVirtualEconomyVirtualGoldVirtualGoodsworld bankWorldBankSat, 09 Apr 2011 04:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Our annual data consumption estimated at 9.57 zettabytes or 9,570,000,000,000,000,000,000 bytes]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/07/our-annual-data-consumption-estimated-at-9-57-zettabytes-or-9-57/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/07/our-annual-data-consumption-estimated-at-9-57-zettabytes-or-9-57/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/07/our-annual-data-consumption-estimated-at-9-57-zettabytes-or-9-57/#comments The internet is a mighty big place that's only growing larger each day. That makes it a perfectly unwieldy thing to measure, but the traffic it generates has nonetheless been subjected to a rigorous estimation project by a group of UC San Diego academics. Their findings, published online this month, reveal that in 2008 some 9.57 zettabytes made their way in and out of servers across the globe. Some data bits, such as an email passing through multiple servers, might be counted more than once in their accounting, but the overall result is still considered an under-estimation because it doesn't address privately built servers, such as those Google, Microsoft and others run in their backyards. On a per-worker basis (using a 3.18 billion human workforce number), all this data consumption amounts to 12GB daily or around 3TB per year. So it seems that while we might not have yet reached the bliss of the paperless office, we're guzzling down data as if we were. Check out the report below for fuller details on the study and its methodology.

Our annual data consumption estimated at 9.57 zettabytes or 9,570,000,000,000,000,000,000 bytes originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 04:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bandwidthconsumptiondataenterprisefiguresglobalhow much informationHowMuchInformationinformationinfrastructureinternetnumbersonlineprocessingreportresearchserverserversstatisticsstatsthroughputuc san diegoUcSanDiegouniversityusagewebworldwideThu, 07 Apr 2011 04:48:00 EST<![CDATA[da Vinci Robot pwns Operation, deems our childhoods forlorn (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/06/da-vinci-robot-pwns-operation-deems-our-childhoods-forlorn-vid/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/06/da-vinci-robot-pwns-operation-deems-our-childhoods-forlorn-vid/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/06/da-vinci-robot-pwns-operation-deems-our-childhoods-forlorn-vid/#comments What happens when a robot with immaculate dexterity comes to grips with a notorious board game from our childhood? Just ask Johns Hopkins University students, who successfully removed the wish bone from an Operation board using the da Vinci Robot. If you're familiar with the game, you'll know how incredibly difficult it was to prevent that ear-piercing noise from occurring-- even with our tiny fingers. Of course, we should have expected that a robot -- especially one capable of folding a tiny paper airplane -- would be able to accomplish this feat with such ease. Be sure to peep the pseudo-surgery in video form below the break.

Continue reading da Vinci Robot pwns Operation, deems our childhoods forlorn (video)

da Vinci Robot pwns Operation, deems our childhoods forlorn (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>board gameBoardGameda vincida vinci robotDaVinciDaVinciRobotdexterityjohns hopkinsjohns hopkins universityJohnsHopkinsJohnsHopkinsUniversityoperationoperation gameOperationGamerobotroboticsrobotssurgerysurgical robotSurgicalRobotuniversityvideoWed, 06 Apr 2011 09:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Bionic eye closer to human trials with invention of implantable microchip]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/04/bionic-eye-closer-to-human-trials-with-invention-of-implantable/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/04/bionic-eye-closer-to-human-trials-with-invention-of-implantable/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/04/bionic-eye-closer-to-human-trials-with-invention-of-implantable/#commentsWe've had our eye -- so to speak -- on Bionic Vision Australia (BVA) for sometime, and with the invention of a new implantable microchip it's coming ever closer to getting the bionic eye working on real-deal humans. The tiny chip measures five square millimeters and packs 98 electrodes that stimulate retinal cells to restore vision. Preliminary tests are already underway, and clinicians are in the process of screening human guinea pigs for sampling the implants -- the first full system is still on track for a 2013 debut. In the interest of future success: here's mud in your eye, BVA! Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Bionic eye closer to human trials with invention of implantable microchip

Bionic eye closer to human trials with invention of implantable microchip originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiabionicbionic eyebionic vision australiaBionicEyeBionicVisionAustraliaBVAeyeeyeseyesightimplantimplantableimplantable microchipImplantableMicrochipimplantsmicrochipmicrochipsopticaloptical nerveOpticalNerveresearchtesttestingtrialtrialsuniversityuniversity of new south walesUniversityOfNewSouthWalesUNSWvisionvision lossVisionLossMon, 04 Apr 2011 11:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect used to make teleconferencing actually kind of cool (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/04/kinect-used-to-make-teleconferencing-actually-kind-of-cool-vide/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/04/kinect-used-to-make-teleconferencing-actually-kind-of-cool-vide/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/04/kinect-used-to-make-teleconferencing-actually-kind-of-cool-vide/#comments No matter how hard Skype and others try to convince us otherwise, we still do most of our web communications via text or, if entirely unavoidable, by voice. Maybe we're luddites or maybe video calling has yet to prove its value. Hoping to reverse such archaic views, researchers at the MIT Media Lab have harnessed a Kinect's powers of depth and human perception to provide some newfangled videoconferencing functionality. First up, you can blur out everything on screen but the speaker to keep focus where it needs to be. Then, if you want to get fancier, you can freeze a frame of yourself in the still-moving video feed for when you need to do something off-camera, and to finish things off, you can even drop some 3D-aware augmented reality on your viewers. It's all a little unrefined at the moment, but the ideas are there and well worth seeing. Jump past the break to do just that.

Continue reading Kinect used to make teleconferencing actually kind of cool (video)

Kinect used to make teleconferencing actually kind of cool (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 03:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>araugmented realityAugmentedRealitycommunicationcommunicationsconferencedepth perceptionDepthPerceptionenhancedenhancementfocuskinectkinectedmicrosoftmicrosoft kinectMicrosoftKinectmitmit media labMitMediaLabMotion sensingMotionSensingresearchteleconferencinguniversityvideovideoconferencevideoconferencingMon, 04 Apr 2011 03:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Gmail Motion April Fools' gag inevitably turned into reality using Kinect (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/02/gmail-motion-april-fools-gag-inevitably-turned-into-reality-usi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/02/gmail-motion-april-fools-gag-inevitably-turned-into-reality-usi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/02/gmail-motion-april-fools-gag-inevitably-turned-into-reality-usi/#comments It had to happen. When Google showed off a new and revolutionary Gmail Motion control scheme yesterday, it failed to fool most people, but it didn't fail to catch the attention of some motion control geeks with Kinect cameras on hand. Yep, the FAAST crew that's already brought us a Kinect keyboard emulator for World of Warcraft has taken Google to task and actually cooked up the software to make Gmail Motion work. All your favorite gestures are here: opening an email as if it were an envelope, replying by throwing a thumb back and, of course, "licking the stamp" to send your response on its way. Marvelous stuff! Jump past the break to see it working, for real this time.

Continue reading Gmail Motion April Fools' gag inevitably turned into reality using Kinect (video)

Gmail Motion April Fools' gag inevitably turned into reality using Kinect (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 02 Apr 2011 13:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>april foolsAprilFoolsfaastgesture controlGestureControlgesturesgmailgmail motionGmailMotiongooglehackhackingkinectmotionmotion controlMotionControlrecreatedsloowsoftwareuniversityUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversityOfSouthernCaliforniauscvideoSat, 02 Apr 2011 13:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Zdenek Kalal's object tracking algorithm learns on the fly, likely to make next 007 flick (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/zdenek-kalals-object-tracking-algorithm-learns-on-the-fly-like/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/zdenek-kalals-object-tracking-algorithm-learns-on-the-fly-like/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/zdenek-kalals-object-tracking-algorithm-learns-on-the-fly-like/#comments Microsoft's own OneVision Video Recognizer may be novel, but if the folks in Redmond are seriously looking to take things next-level, they should probably cast their gaze across the pond. Zdenek Kalal, a researcher at the University of Surrey, has just created what may be the most sophisticated vision system known to the civilian world. In essence, it takes the mundane task of tracking objects to an entirely new platform, enabling users to select an object on the fly and have the algorithm immediately start tracking something new. Within seconds, it's able to maintain a lock even if your object twists, turns, or leaves / returns. Furthermore, these "objects" could be used as air mice if you force it to track your digits, and if you teach it what your staff looks like, you'll have a fully automated security scanner that can recognize faces and grant / deny access based on its database of white-listed individuals. Frankly, we'd rather you see it for yourself than listen to us extolling its virtues -- vid's after the break, per usual.

Continue reading Zdenek Kalal's object tracking algorithm learns on the fly, likely to make next 007 flick (video)

Zdenek Kalal's object tracking algorithm learns on the fly, likely to make next 007 flick (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 23:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AIcameraintelligenceintelligentlearningobject trackingObjectTrackingpredatorreal-timeresearchsmartsmart cameraSmartCamerasoftwaretrackertrackinguniversityvideovisionvision systemsVisionSystemsZdenek KalalZdenekKalalThu, 31 Mar 2011 23:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Carbon nanotubes used to more easily detect cancer cells, HIV]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/carbon-nanotubes-used-more-easily-detect-cancer-cells-hiv/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/carbon-nanotubes-used-more-easily-detect-cancer-cells-hiv/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/carbon-nanotubes-used-more-easily-detect-cancer-cells-hiv/#comments Cancer's not slowing its march to ruining as many lives as it possibly can, so it's always pleasing to hear of any new developments that act as hurdles. The latest in the world of disease-prevention comes from Harvard University, where researches have created a dime-sized carbon nanotube forest (read: lots of nanotubes, like those shown above) that can be used to trap cancer cells when blood passes through. A few years back, Mehmet Toner, a biomedical engineering professor at Harvard, created a device similar to the nano-forest that was less effective because silicon was used instead of carbon tubes. Today, Toner has teamed up with Brian Wardle, associate professor of aeronautics and astronautics at MIT, who together have redesigned the original microfluid device to work eight times more efficiently than its predecessor. The carbon nanotubes make diagnosis a fair bit simpler, largely because of the antibodies attached to them that help trap cancer cells as they pass through -- something that's being tailored to work with HIV as well. Things are starting to look moderately promising for cancer-stricken individuals, as hospitals have already began using the original device to detect malignant cells and ultimately prevent them from spreading -- here's hoping it's qualified for mass adoption sooner rather than later.

Carbon nanotubes used to more easily detect cancer cells, HIV originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 01:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antibodiesBrianBrian WardleBrianWardlecancercarboncellsdetectiondevicediseaseengineerharvardharvard universityHarvardUniversityHIVmalignantMehmetMehmet TonerMehmetTonernanonano tubenanotechnologynanotubepreventionprofessorresearchresearcherssciencespreadTonertrapuniversityWardleThu, 31 Mar 2011 01:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Harvard physicist puts fires out with electrified wand, hopes to share on HarvardConnection]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/30/harvard-physicist-puts-fires-out-with-electrified-wand-hopes-to/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/30/harvard-physicist-puts-fires-out-with-electrified-wand-hopes-to/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/30/harvard-physicist-puts-fires-out-with-electrified-wand-hopes-to/#commentsOkay, so maybe Ludovico Cademartiri will be forced to share the good news on Facebook (or ConnectU, if he's into playing the role of rebel), but at least he's bound to see over a couple of hundred hits. According to The Harvard Crimson, the aforesaid physicist and a smattering of other researchers have stumbled upon a novel way to extinguish flames: electricity. The idea is eventually enable firefighters to squash fires without having to douse a home or object with water and foam -- if hit with a beam of juice, there's at least a sliver of a chance that something can be salvaged. While the specifics of the project are obviously far above our heads, the gist of it is fairly simple -- flames contain soot particles, which become "electrically charged during combustion." Given that those very particles react to electrical fields, a strong enough beam can twist things until it's extinguished completely. Quite honestly, it's a hands-on experience we're desperately trying to arrange, but till then, it looks like another round of Harry Potter will have to do.

Harvard physicist puts fires out with electrified wand, hopes to share on HarvardConnection originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electricityfirefirefighterfirefightersharry potterHarryPotterharvardphysicistresearchscienceuniversityWed, 30 Mar 2011 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Students build self-balancing TIPI robot, plan new world order (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/28/students-build-self-balancing-tipi-robot-plan-new-world-order/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/28/students-build-self-balancing-tipi-robot-plan-new-world-order/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/28/students-build-self-balancing-tipi-robot-plan-new-world-order/#comments Remember this guy, the QB robot that was priced at a whopping 15 grand? Seemingly, the webcam wheeler inspired a team of young minds at the University of Waterloo, who've unleashed the DIY in themselves to build one of their own. TIPI, or Telepresence Interface by Pendulum Inversion, was designed to give humans the feeling that they're not actually talking to a six-foot tall cyclops cyborg with an LCD face and webcam eye, but rather, evoke the emotions drawn when speaking the old, conventional, face-to-face way. Thanks to this team of mechatronics engineers, the low-cost TIPI uses an accelerometer, gyro and pendulum to balance by itself and can be remotely controlled while communicating via its Beagle Board and Polulu Orangutan SVP brain. Head past the break to see the robot struttin' its stuff -- oh, and get ready to rave. You'll see what we mean.

Continue reading Students build self-balancing TIPI robot, plan new world order (video)

Students build self-balancing TIPI robot, plan new world order (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accelerometerbalancebeaglebeagle boardBeagleBoardboardDIYdo it yourselfdo-it-yourselfDoItYourselfgyroscopeinterfaceinversionlcdorangutanpendulumpendulum-balancePoluluPolulu Orangutan SVPPoluluOrangutanSvprobotrobotsself-balancingspeakersvpTelepresenceTelepresence Interface by Pendulum InversionTelepresenceInterfaceByPendulumInversiontipiuniversityuniversity of waterlooUniversityOfWaterloovideowaterlooMon, 28 Mar 2011 17:32:00 EST