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Lasers let deaf ears pick up what the sonic world is putting down
Not going to front: we've a soft spot in our heart for focused beams of light. We've seen 'em rid the world of its space junk and set the pace of human hearts, and now, they're taking a leading role in aural advancement. As improbable as it sounds, a research team from the University of Utah led by Richard Rabbitt has found that lasers may be able to give deaf people the ability to hear. Using a low-power infrared diode -- similar to those in laser-pointers tormenting cats the world over -- Professor Rabbitt found that exposing oyster toadfish hair cells (analogous to the cells found in humans' inner ears) to infrared light caused them to release neurotransmitters and activate adjacent neurons. This could lead to laser-based ear implants able to stimulate focused areas of cells with thousands of sound wavelengths, as opposed to today's electrode implants whose electrical current spreads through human tissue and limits the deliverable sonic range. Smaller, more efficient power supplies and light sources are needed before optical hearing aids become a reality, but if these newfangled lasers ever get their act together, we should be able to hear version two (and three) coming down the pike.
Peel works as universal remote and TV service on your iPhone
I sure thought we'd covered Peel here before, but I guess not (maybe I was thinking of that iPod touch add-on -- the "Apple" name certainly invites lots of fruit imagery). Either way, it's worth mentioning that the interesting Peel TV solution for the iPhone is now available for purchase. For US$99, you get the Peel "fruit" unit that sits wirelessly by your television and transmits to it with infrared. And then you can also download the free app that works as a universal remote and watches what you watch, providing recommendations based on what you pull up and allowing you to connect to friends sxsw tuawin order to share channels and information. The whole thing seems pretty intriguing -- RedEye has done pretty well with using the iPhone as an IR remote, and adding an extra social layer and recommendations to that seems like an excellent idea (assuming the interface is usable). RedEye's mini solution is a little cheaper, at $49, but that's really only the remote function, not any of the extras you'd get with Peel. We'll have to see how this works -- certainly it seems like lots of accessory makers are starting to tap into smartphones, both at home and in places like your car. Something like Peel, done intuitively and right, could provide just enough functionality over your standard TV remotes to finally clean the gadgets off that coffee table for good. Peel is sponsoring a TechCrunch/CrunchGear/TUAW meetup at SXSW next Monday, so we'll have a chance to try it hands-on. If you're in Austin you can learn more about the meetup here.
Square Connect SQ Blaster and SQ Remote review: Home automation, unified
Having already taken our first feverish steps down the path of an automated home, we figured it was time to try and integrate the home entertainment system with the household lighting. Our goal coming into this review was to sit down on the sofa and hit a single button on an old, unused iPhone 3G to automatically dim the lights, fire up the 5.1 sound, flip on the media streamer, and ignite the projector. To accomplish this seemingly monumental task we installed a WiFi-enabled SQ Blaster in the TV cabinet, a puck-shaped IR blaster from Square Connect that communicates with MiOS home control gateways like Mi Casa Verde's Vera. So, did we succeed? Did we achieve the ultimate in home-owner nerdvana? You'd better believe it. Read on to find out how.
Desk Pets TankBot hands-on (video)
Although we've only gotten a glimpse of a TankBot as a render, we were more than interested to see this robot toy doing its thing in the real world. We spotted these tiny desk pals at the International Toy Fair and got to take a look at some working prototypes. As we reported earlier, the TankBots have three functioning modes -- autonomous, maze solving and iOS controlled. The bots feature LED eyes and two infrared transmitters -- that's how it solves the mazes. Charging is done by plugging in the USB dongle found on the rear of the tank and you'll get 15 minutes of battery life after a 30 minute charge. And if you're wondering how your iOS device will play with the TankBots, a free app will be available to download and each toy will come bundled with an infrared dongle. You can grab TankBots from stores for 20 bucks come June. Head past the break to see some cute, yet impressive maze-solving in action. %Gallery-116612%
Exclusive: Sony 'S1' PlayStation tablet (updated)
Think for a second, what major consumer electronics company doesn't have a tablet to show? Right, Sony. In fact, the rumor womb has been conspicuously barren of salacious Sony tablet tattle ever since Apple's iPad was announced back in 2010. Oh sure, Sony's owned-up to the development of prototypes that fill a "very important position" somewhere in between its own Vaio PC lineup and the Xperia Play byproduct of its Ericsson commingling. But beyond that: zilch, nada... until today. We have a couple of tablets we'd like to tell you about, starting with a 9.4-inch honeypot of an Android 3.0 tablet. Details of which have been confirmed by two highly trusted and independent sources. Known by its "S1" codename internally, Sony is busy customizing Matias Duarte's Honeycomb interface to its own specification. Although, we're skeptical of Sony's software capabilities, we've been assured that Sony's work is cutting edge stuff created by a talented engineering team spanning Sony's VAIO, Reader, PlayStation, and Sony Ericsson product groups. The team is lead by the VAIO organization but will probably launch as a Sony product without VAIO branding, according to one source. Sony's custom-built transitions and UI elements have created a user experience that rivals and at times improves upon the iPad's renowned experience. The tablet itself, we're told, is 100 percent focused on Qriocity, Sony's music, games, ebooks, and videos on demand service that's just been launched in Europe. It comes preloaded with Sony PS One games, a Bravia Media Remote, and yes, PlayStation integration -- though it's unclear if that'll be limited to Remote Play or if the Android tablet will be PlayStation Suite certified. One source speculates that it could very well get the PlayStation gaming seal of approval by the time it ships -- but that's just an educated guess. Update: We now have confirmation that the S1 is indeed PlayStation Certified making this a full-blown media and gaming tablet. We've also revised the illustration above to make the top less pronounced. So what about that curvaceous mockup above? A design described to us as "beautiful, the best thing" one source has ever seen from Sony. Click through the break and we'll explain.
Sony announces CECH-ZRC1 Bluetooth / IR remote to bridge the home theater divide
Okay, we'll admit it. While mesmerized by the bling of Sony's purty silver satin PS3, the company's simultaneous announcement of its new BD Remote Control almost slipped past our gadget radar. Dubbed the CECH-ZRC1, thankfully in this new model Sony finally appears interested in settling the beef between the Bluetooth signal requirements of its gaming system and the IR needs of its other home theater products. Yes, this edition can support both control formats, and it's also grown a few new buttons that allow users to skip 30 seconds forward or 15 seconds back. Thanks to the use of AAA batteries, it's even had a bit of a tummy tuck. Currently the controller is scheduled to start selling in Japan at the end of March for roughly $44 -- only in black. While a US version may show up too at some point, if you're okay with introducing a non-Sony infidel into your HT family, Snakebyte's new PlayStation 3 remote will essentially do the same thing for the same price.
Sanyo PLC-WL2503 ultra-short-throw projector does built-in interactivity a tad cheaper
The Sanyo PLC-WL2503 isn't the first whiteboard-less whiteboard solution we've seen -- in fact multi-surface projector interaction dates back at least as far as 2007. As for a projector with built-in interactive capabilities, well, Epson's BrightLink 450Wi has been on the job since last year, albeit at a much higher price: the Epson projector costs $2,200 while this Sanyo comes in at about $500 less. Both tout short-range projection: the BrightLink provides 80-inch displays from two feet, while the PLC-WL2503 requires at least 34 inches to do the same. They pack identical WXGA 1280x800 resolution and 2500 lumens of brightness, and they both use IR pens to communicate with front-facing cameras built into the projector for multi-surface interactivity. Really, the only thing separating these two on paper is price. If the BrightLink is just too rich for your blood, and you can wait a little while longer, the Sanyo PLC-WL2503 can have you writing on walls by the end of January.
Thermo Mirror measures body temperature, gives us something else to stare at
As good looking as we are -- and you know we are -- we sometimes get tired of staring into the mirror. Honestly, aside from reminding us of our resemblance to a young Sean Connery, the standard mirror really doesn't do much, but the Thermo Mirror is another story. The device, designed by Japanese electronics firm NEC/Avio, uses an infrared sensor to measure an onlooker's temperature from up to 30 centimeters (about 1 foot) away, without physical contact. The subject's temperature appears on the mirror's surface, and, if they have a fever, an alarm sounds. Thermo Mirror is available in two versions and costs between 98,000 and 120,000 yen (or $1,180 and $1,440). When not in use, its face displays date, time, humidity, and temperature. Now if it could just make us a martini -- shaken, not stirred, of course.
Philips uWand hands-on
Philips has been touting its uWand "direct pointer" remote for a good while now, but we've never had the chance to actually use one ourselves. Today that omission has been rectified as we got our mitts around this motion / gesture-based controller and gave it a quick test drive. It works by having an infrared camera embedded in the front, which detects an IR beacon in your TV and thereby judges its own distance, tilt and relation to the TV. That then allows for things like motion-based zooming, pointing the remote at the particular thing on the television that you want to "click" on, and navigational shortcuts attached to gestures performed with this handheld. There's also a nice spacious keyboard on the back, assisting in the use of all these Smart TVs CES has been littered with. Philips' intention is to license the technology out to other manufacturers, which could result in consumer products by 2012 -- so yeah, it's not terribly close to your living room yet, but our gallery of images is. %Gallery-113562%
Snakebyte PlayStation 3 remote touts IR and Bluetooth, $50 price tag
So, here's the dilemma -- do you buy a lovely Bluetooth remote to control your PS3, or spring for a Bluetooth-to-IR adapter in order to better integrate your console into your overall home theater? How's about neither? Snakebyte's Premium Bluetooth Remote has just been unleashed here at CES, offering both Bluetooth and Infrared support, enabling it to dictate your PS3 as well as five other IR components. You'll also get a backlit display, ingrained motion sensor, a built-in Li-ion battery and support for updatable firmware. We dropped by the company's booth here in Vegas, but the only model on-hand was a non-functional mockup -- too bad, but the real-deal is expected to ship this April for $49.99.
Griffin Beacon universal remote control system hands-on
We visited Griffin's CES booth to check out the Beacon universal remote control expecting yet another Redeye clone, but instead wound up walking away impressed. Two notable features of the prototype Bluetooth to IR converter device are that it's battery powered and includes a 360 degree IR blaster. These are key since they give users the freedom to place the transmitter almost anywhere around an entertainment center. The free iPhone remote app built by Dijit was the real highlight though. The UI and functionality was incredibly intuitive, and we especially liked that the setup process doesn't require inputting device model numbers. Instead, users just pick the brand and then test a series of code cycles to see if their components respond. The TV guide and Netflix integration are also points of distinction over competitors -- since you can select shows or movies to watch directly from the app. Last but not least, your remote settings can be saved and downloaded to as many devices as you like. To give you a feel for the system, we've included plenty of shots of the app's UI in the gallery below along with more photos the device. %Gallery-113456% %Gallery-113458%
MultiTouch Ltd's 46-inch panel accepts unlimited touch inputs, we put it to the test (video hands-on)
MultiTouch Ltd has been at this IR-based multitouch thing since 2007 and it's hit CES in force this week. Sure, the current 46-inch model requires 12 inches of depth -- in order to provide sufficient space for the infrared cameras embedded in its back to capture the whole, ahem, surface -- but having unlimited touch inputs is always a wildly impressive sight. We put one of the displays to the test by exploiting a nearby crowd and slapping down a good 40+ fingers on it, all of which were recognized. To be perfectly fair, the IR cameras don't seem to have a very flat recognition area and many of our inputs were picked up from over an inch from the screen. The 46-incher under hand is already available for a totally affordable $17,000, provides full HD resolution, and hooks up to a PC for processing of input. See our thoroughly intensive test on video after the break. %Gallery-113460%
UnityRemote brings a universal, customizable remote to iOS devices
Ever since Apple killed the Griffin IR remote on the original iPod I've been wanting to consolidate my iPod with a home theater remote. The iPhone seems perfect for this; with an infinitely variable canvas available, you could theoretically do anything with your remote. The trouble is getting an IR signal to your components. The UnityRemote from Gear4 solves this problem by connecting your iPhone to a small cylindrical IR beamer via Bluetooth. We didn't get much of a chance to try it ourselves, but the demo was mighty impressive. I should note that Gear4 is not new to this game -- they created an RF-based remote for iPods several years ago but it never took off. iOS devices, however, are much better suited to remotes. While you have the usual raft of buttons and shortcuts (you can add buttons to your favorite stations with station icons) plus the ability to teach the device your oddball remote codes, the really compelling piece in my mind was the ability to use gestures. You can flick your finger up in the gestures screen to increase volume, much like FlickTunes does on your iPhone or iPod touch. The UnityRemote works on iPad as well, which means you can have a really big remote in your living room. The app is free, but the UnityRemote hardware will set you back $99. Considering Harmony remotes can cost $200 or more, that's still a pretty good deal if you have a lot of components or you're a control freak.
ZigBee finalizes low-power, RF standard for input devices, could finally kill off IR for good
Over the years of idle channel surfing and menu browsing you've surely developed some finely-honed IR shootin' skills, knowing which surfaces will and will not reflect the signals from your under-powered universal remote control as you try to bounce that beam around a pile of magazines and soda cans on the coffee table. Those skills are on a fast-track to obsolescence thanks to the new ZigBee Input Device standard, which finally could bring all TV remote controls to the world of RF wholesale. Well, it could, if it finds more success than the already existing ZigBee Remote Control spec has managed. The new Input Device standard builds on that, said to require less juice than IR so those tired and mismatched AAs could last even longer. It'll also work with mice and keyboards and the like, but naturally we're most optimistic for remotes, even though this comes a little too late to let us turn off our PS3s with our Harmonys.
IR-embedded Surc case converts iPhone into a universal learning remote
Whoa, Nelly! ThinkFlood won't like this... not one bit. If you'll recall, the RedEye universal remote dongle was well received, as a simple 3.5mm adapter added IR beaming to Apple's slate of iDevices. But now, Mashed Pixel has taken the integration one step further, seamlessly embedding an Infrared emitter into a case. Simply pop the Surc around your iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS or iPhone 4, download the (free) accompanying app and start programming. Before long, you'll be dictating your home entertainment setup sans any external accessories, and heck, you may even improve your phone's reception all the while. The only downside to this approach compared to ThinkFlood's is that the iPad is obviously not supported, and once you upgrade to the iPhone 5, your trusty IR case becomes a glorified paperweight. If you're kosher with that, though, you can get your pre-order in now for $69.95, with initial shipments expected to make their way out in Q1 2011. %Gallery-110542%
MS applies for patent on 'light-induced shape-memory,' a touchscreen that could touch back
Touchscreens are selfish lovers, taking your gentle caresses and impatient taps without offering a hint of feedback to you. We've seen attempts to change that, like prototypes from Toshiba and Senseg that add a bit of texture to a touchable surface, but now Microsoft might be looking to bring such dynamic tactility to the one of the biggest touchable surfaces: Surface. A recent patent application entitled "Light-induced Shape-memory Polymer Display Screen" describes a technique for a display that uses infra-red light to detect touch, but also to "selectively change a topography of the topography-changing layer." In other words: to make it bumpy or smooth. Certain wavelengths of light projected on the screen can cause areas of that topography layer expand or contract, which could finally mean all our cries for attention might finally be responded to in kind.
Visualized: Kinect + night vision = lots and lots and lots of dots (video)
You know what you see when you flip on your Xbox 360, turn out the lights, and don a pair of night vision goggles? Dots. Lots and lots of little dots, courtesy of Kinect's infrared depth sensor. Judging by the videos that have been uploaded to YouTube, this is the kind of thing that will entertain the whole "hackey sack and Rasta hats" crowd for years to come, and to be honest, we're kind of digging it ourselves. Hell, we might even have to dig out that old Bob Marley black light poster. See for yourself after the break.
Thinkflood survives recall, now shipping redesigned RedEye Mini
We're guessing the past few months haven't been the greatest at Thinkflood, who has been dealing with a nasty recall of RedEye Mini IR dongles. Based on information passed down from the company to us today, each one of the recalled units has been replaced, and now the redesigned / better-than-ever models are on sale for the same price as before. $49 nets you an IR adapter that plugs into your iDevice headphone jack, enabling your iPod touch, iPhone or iPad to control essentially any home entertainment component that understands Infrared. Crisis averted, as they say.
Infrared Nerf autocannon hunts predators, little sisters too (video)
When it comes to keeping unwanted personnel out of your property, whether that be an estate or an alcove, you can't be expected to hang around holding the big guns all day long. That's when you need an automatic-targeting turret, and Rick Prescott's Infrared Seeking Sentinel is a good, non-lethal choice. Built on a Nerf Vulcan EBF-25, he added an infrared tracker, motor, and battery pack to make the thing autonomous, capable of firing in semi- or full-auto modes. He's posted full instructions on how to make your own, and his effort won him the Make Gadget Freak Design Contest. It also won him something else: our admiration. Full explanation and demonstration after the break.
Infrared and X-ray spectroscopy sheds light on Greek statues' original color schemes
Life in Classical Greece was a lot more colorful than we've been lead to believe by the weather beaten statues seen in school textbooks and on field trips to museums, and conservators have developed a wide array of techniques to determine precisely how these artifacts were once decorated. In addition to using raking light (lighting at extreme angles to reveal subtle changes in the surface of a work, which can reveal where paint was once applied) and UV light (to reveal organic compounds characteristic of older paints), infrared and X-ray spectroscopy can be used to see which wavelengths of light will be absorbed by a material, and which will be reflected. The reflected wavelength tells the researcher (approximately) which color was once applied. And let us tell you, some of these color combos are... eye catching, to say the least. Hit the source link to see for yourself. Update: Thanks to "sir popo" (if that's his real name) for the More Coverage link!