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AMD launches R-Series chip for next-gen casinos, surveillance systems, distractions
While others push for ever-smaller processors to power the so-called Internet of Things, AMD's new R-Series chips are designed to go the other way: upgrading devices that are already hooked up but that could benefit from more graphical whizz. These embedded processors have the same Piledriver and Radeon HD 7000 internals as their Trinity cousins, but they're intended for digital billboards, casino gaming, payment systems and other applications that need to present a pretty picture to the end-user. In addition to visuals, they can also use their built-in GPUs to speed up encryption / decryption and support parallel-processing tasks like medical imaging, multi-camera surveillance and, you know, serious stuff. A number of manufacturers have already adopted the new chips, but perhaps the only place you're likely to be aware that you're using one is if you happen to buy an R-Series equipped mini-ITX motherboard.
NFL mulling microchips in footballs for those life-or-death goal line rulings
The NFL is serious business. So serious, in fact, that the idea of refs getting decisions wrong sends chills up and down Roger Goodell's spine. Yeah, we all know they do it habitually, but the League seems to be considering improving accuracy just a little bit with the help of some tech. Cairos Technologies, a German outfit that's been trying to sell its goal line technology to football (as in soccer) bigwigs for a while, has told Reuters that it's in discussions with the NFL about bringing its magnetic field hocus pocus to the gridiron. The idea would be for the ref to be alerted, via a message to his watch, any time the ball does something notable like crossing the goal line or first down marker. It should be a great aid for making difficult calls like whether a touchdown has happened at the bottom of a scrum, and might even help cut down on the number of frightfully dull replay challenges. Win-win, no? [Original image courtesy of NFL.com]
