Mirror
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Qbo robot looks in a mirror, learns who he is (video)
A robot equipped with stereoscopic vision and some object and facial recognition programs opens up a whole number of different possibilities, but few quite as interesting as what happens when you place said robot in front of a mirror. It took a bit of guidance (and no doubt a bit of prep), but the open source Qbo robot was quickly able to both recognize and learn to identify himself when he was recently placed in just such a situation. See what happened after the break. Update: The Corpora, the company behind Qbo, has now added a more detailed explanation about exactly what is happening here on its blog.
New York Times' magic mirror helps you get dressed, puts the 'wall' in 'paywall' (video)
Forget crosswords and Krugman, because the New York Times has created a new bathroom companion that looks infinitely more entertaining than either of them. Like some of its Snow White-style predecessors, the Times' "magic mirror" prototype uses Microsoft Kinect to detect and follow your movements, while deploying voice recognition technology to execute your commands. With this omniscient slab affixed to your wall, you can surf the web, flip through your wardrobe and send reassuring e-mails to your teenage daughter, whom you should have driven to school a good 30 minutes ago. An RFID reader, meanwhile, can recognize tagged pharmaceuticals or other products, allowing you to instantly access information on your prescription meds by placing them in front of the reflective LCD. You could also use the mirror to browse through the Times' full slate of articles and video content, meaning you can read about extravagant weekend getaways and urban gentrification from the standing comfort of your sink. Unfortunately for all mankind, the magic mirror is still in the prototype phase and the NYT's Research & Development Group has yet to offer a timetable for its release -- but you can see it in action for yourself, after the break.
OnStar FMV available at Best Buy July 24th for $300
Perhaps you recall hearing, back at CES, about GM's aftermarket mirror that would make the OnStar service available to most cars, including those from its most hated rival in Dearborn. No? Don't worry, here's the skinny: the OnStar FMV will let you have the company's popular blue button technology in over 90 million automobiles. Meaning that almost anyone can now reap the benefits of features like automatic crash response, turn-by-turn navigation and hands-free calling. You know... unless you're cruising in the General Lee, or something. Selling for $299.99, plus a $75 installation charge and $18.95 per month ($199 yearly) subscription, the high tech rear-view mirror will be on shelves at Best Buy starting July 24th and is now available for pre-order. Before you throw down the Benjamins for this automotive security blanket, you might want to double check that your car is compatible -- check the full PR to find out how.
This year's hottest pocket mirror is also a USB 3.0 multi-format card reader
We always knew that the worlds of technology and popular culture were on a collision course of epic proportions, and if this isn't proof... well, you might say that proof simply doesn't exist. Brando's newest gizmo has an identity crisis that Charlie Sheen would simply salivate over, but if we had to guess, we'd surmise that a USB 3.0 SuperSpeed card reader -- complete with support for CompactFlash, SDXC and M2 cards -- does a lot more #winning with a mirror slapped onto the side. Pre-order yours today for the tidy sum of $25, or alternatively, a vial of #tigerblood.
Apple's Digital AV Adapter also works with iPhone 4, fourth-gen iPod touch, and first-gen iPad
In case you're wondering whether Apple's forthcoming Digital AV Adapter is worth your $39, you might be pleased to know that said HDMI dongle is also compatible with the latest crop of iOS devices before the iPad 2. This includes the iPhone 4, fourth-generation iPod touch, and even the first-generation iPad. Alas, both movies and slideshows will be capped at 720p output from these older devices, whereas the iPad 2 goes a little further with screen mirroring of up to 1080p -- we're guessing the beastly dual-core A5 chip is what makes the magic happen here, though movie output's also limited to 720p. And hey, we're only a few months away from finding out if the next iPhone will also get some 1080p love, so no pressure on buying this dongle just yet.
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.
OnStar announces a blue button for any car, Best Buy handling the installs
Want OnStar? Sure, why not, the company fields over three million calls a month from six million mostly from satisfied customers. But, until now, that blue button has only been able to be pressed by those who own General Motors cars. Now it's spreading out to just about anyone, 99 percent of cars will be able to be supported by the new OnStar mirror, which the company is simply calling its "retail product." For $299 (plus installation) you get a replacement mirror that will wirelessly connect you to the OnStar service. It also has Bluetooth, so it can connect to your smartphone, but we're guessing many cars won't be able to have their doors unlocked remotely, what is surely OnStar's killer app. Quite naturally you'll need to pay up to use it, service fees currently going at $18.95 a month, or $199 annually. Best Buy will be the exclusive partner here, which is perhaps bad news if you've read the horror stories about what sometimes happens in those blue and yellow stereo install bays. OnStar showed off its ability by having mirrors installed in a variety of vehicles, ranging from a Camry to a Grand Marquis -- hot cars they're not but a pretty effective demonstration of the range of applicability here. GM also took this opportunity to show off the latest revision of its two-wheeled EN-V, which we'll be taking for a spin a little later this week. All that fun is captured in the galleries below. %Gallery-112602% %Gallery-112604%
Sour's 'Mirror' browser-based music video is absolutely wild
Is Japanese band Sour's "Mirror" music video the single best thing we've ever seen in a browser? It probably is. Load it up in Safari or Chrome and make sure you connect your Facebook, Twitter, and webcam -- we tried it out and it's totally fine. In fact, it's more than fine. It's stunning. Why can't HTML5 and Flash always play this nicely together?
Cybertecture Mirror reflects our fantasies, looks set to become a reality (video)
We're still trying to rub the disbelief out of our eyes, but no, this isn't a dream. The Cybertecture Mirror may look like yet another vapor-rich concept -- what with its translucent overlaid interface and cloud-connected ways -- but it's actually just had its launch in Hong Kong, is set to start taking pre-orders in December, and will (hopefully) be shipped by the middle of next year. The brainchild of one James Law, this reflective renegade measures 800 x 500 x 50mm, comes with stereo speakers totalling 10W of power output, WiFi, IP41 waterproofing, and fog-resistant glass. Before you ask if it runs Android, both the display and operating system are said to be proprietary, with the latter offering access to messaging, weather, calendar, and apps, such as an included fitness-tracking utility. Wen Wei Po reports a 60,000 HKD ($7,733) launch price and a very ambitious expectation that two million Mirrors will be sold over the first three years. Best of luck to them. You'll find masses of video after the break. [Thanks, Brendan]
MIT Medical Lab Mirror tells your pulse with a webcam (video)
Mirror mirror on the wall, who has the highest arterial palpation of them all? If you went to MIT you might be able to answer that question thanks to the work of grad student Ming-Zher Poh, who has found a way to tell your pulse with just a simple webcam and some software. By looking at minute changes in the brightness of the face, the system can find the beating of your heart even at a low resolution, comparable to the results of a traditional FDA-approved pulse monitor. Right now the mirror above is just a proof of concept, but the idea is that the hospital beds or surgery rooms of tomorrow might be able to monitor a patient's pulse without requiring any wires or physical contact, encouraging news for anyone who has ever tried to sleep whilst wearing a heart monitor.
Swedish display concept makes the future look so nonchalant
If there's one thing Sweden knows how to do, it's looking cool doing just about anything -- especially using technology. Look at this lady. Just, you know, browsing her feeds, checking her calendar, and brushing her teeth at the same time. What's worse, she has a whole bunch of friends who use Minority Report-crushing display concepts to similarly whelming effect. Have a little Labor Day weekend fun with this laid-back and mind-expanding tech demo from display innovators TAT -- who actually make some of the amazing products they dream up -- after the break.
Luxurite's custom 82-inch Glass TV is just the thing for your episode of Teen Cribs
Sure it's the kind of distinction that only matters in some celeb's rented-for-the-day mansion, but Luxurite is proudly claiming to be the first company offering anything as big as its 82-inch Glass TV (42-inch pictured). So named because its glass panel front flicks from see through (for more convenient TV watching) to a mirror when it's turned off, listed specs show a 1080p resolution, 120,000:1 contrast ratio (yeah, right) and 3 HDMI inputs. Price? Don't even ask. Well-heeled UK customers looking to spice up their bathroom, wet bar or other areas can get details on how to place a custom order beyond the read link.
Screen Grabs: Pretty Little Liars is TV's newest home to egregious product placement (video)
Scene: Impossibly mature high school "girls" mingling in front of a locker. Action! Bitter Barbie: "What are you doing? Is that a new phone?" Bland Barbie: "Yeah, I'm checking my Kin. I'll just write on Hannah's wall from here." End scene. Yes, ABC's new Pretty Little Liars show is the future of American television, where entertainment morphs into infotainment and bakes the minds of an entire generation into a lovely pie of corporate servitude. We blame TiVo. Oh, and just because Palm quit making creepy commercials doesn't mean that they've given up on promoting its Pre to women. Looks like Roger McNamee was right about that backside mirror's appeal. See what we mean in the PLL episode 3 embeds posted after the break. [Thanks, Dave]
Art Lebedev's Reflectius clock tells time with a single laser beam
Art Lebedev managed to impress us with its Segmentus analog clock last month, but it looks like the prolific design firm has now already outdone itself with its new Reflectius clock concept, which uses a single laser beam and sixty rotating mirrors to display the time. That impressive mechanism is matched by the clock's angular exterior (pictured after the break), which Art Lebedev describes as "a complex triangulated surface that reminds of the complicated trajectory the beam of light travels in no time." Unfortunately, it is still just a concept, but you can at least get your usual glimpse of Art Lebedev's design process at the source link below.
Sony single lens 240 fps camera is great for 3D (& 2D) sports
We've said it before and we'll say it again, sports, not movies or video games is 3D's killer app, and this prototype camera from Sony is designed specifically to help bring the two closer together. Set to debut at CEATEC next week, the HFR Comfort-3D records at 240 fps through just one lens instead of two thanks to a new half-mirror system that takes left and right eye images at the same time, better for capturing fast motion and providing viewers lacking polarized glasses a 2D picture with minimal blurring. One of our few complaints during last year's BCS National Championship 3D experience was occasional benefits caused by fast left-right motion which this system could make a non-issue. Check after the break for a detailed (in Japanese) diagram that should help make things clearer -- for those that can read the language -- the rest of us are waiting for ESPN or someone else to tote a few of these down to the Super Bowl in 2010 and make magic happen. [Via AV Watch thanks Derek for English PR]
Patch 3.2.2 Download mirror
Our sister site Big Download has the patch 3.2.2 files up for download on their site now. The patch file will work for game clients patched to version 3.2.0a (the latest patch before 3.2.2). The file is only 40 megs, so it should go quickly for you.This patch mirror is only for the English-US PC version of WoW. We currently do not have the Mac version or other localizations, however we'll update this post when we get them in.Enjoy your patch download!Update: The Mac version of the patch is now available for download.Comments on this post have been disabled. 2n - 1 go left, 2n go right. I don't see enough DoTs! More DoTs now! Are you ready for the return of Onyxia? With the Brood Mother being revitalized as a 10 and 25 person raid, you'll need to be sure you know everything that's coming at you. WoW.com's Guide to Patch 3.2.2 will make sure your set for the patch!
Universal mirrors: more useful, less fun than carnival mirrors
You know those invisibility cloaks scientists have been struggling to master for decades? This here is said cloak's perfect opposite, and it's bending our minds in ways you can hardly fathom. Ulf Leonhardt, a professor at the University of St. Andrews, has worked with a brilliant team of scientists in order to construct what he calls a universal mirror, or if we're being proper, an omnidirectional retroreflector. Unlike conventional mirrors which simply reflect objects at 90 degrees, this concoction reflects objects back at any angle. In other words, a device such as this would make aircraft, boats and satellites entirely easier to track with radar, but it'll have to mature quite a bit before it's ready for that kind of action. The current build is just a single centimeter high and ten centimeters in diameter, and as with invisibility cloaks, the main ingredient here is metamaterials that we won't pretend to fully understand. Just one word of caution, boffins -- don't let Geek Squad get ahold of this stuff.[Image courtesy of Barbara Rich, thanks JR]
Violet starts shipping Nano:ztags in the US
Like the Rolly, it's hard to say exactly why having an RFID-enabled Nano:ztag in your life will make sleeping, eating and breathing each day any easier. In fact, the jury's still out on whether these things are simply novel or primed to take over where the Tamagotchi left off. Starting now, Violet is offering a rainbow's worth of its micro Rabbit devices here in the US, with prices ranging from $6.90 to $12.90 depending on color. Now, if only you could figure out how to integrate RFID into your life, you'd be set.
World of Warcraft Patch 3.1.2 mirror
Patch 3.1.2 was released today, and that means the Blizzard downloader will inevitably become clogged and congested tonight as millions of people around the world try to update their game to the latest version.Our sister site Big Download has posted a patch mirror for us all, and you can head over there and grab the file to download. They are currently hosting both the PC and Mac versions, and we'll have international versions up soon.Stay tuned to WoW Insider for the latest on the patch, and what will hopefully be a smooth and bug free transition from 3.1.1. Comments on this post have been disabled.
Laser-etched Motherboard mirror reflects art, life, and circuitry
Nonesiste's Motherboard mirror is the kind of design piece that any decoratively-inclined nerd might really want in his / her abode. Its designer, Romolo Stanco, has some really big ideas about the meaning behind the mirror, saying that "the etchings are circuits, an intersection of lines borrowed from the world of electronics, a metaphor for connections, global systems, [and] electronic systems for common use which few of us understand the real technical sense." We actually don't understand what he's talking about, but whatever: it looks pretty cool to us. Stanco's mirrors have recently been unveiled in Milan, and are limited to a run of six -- in oval (as above) and rectangle. One more shot of this handsome mirror (and man) after the break.[Via BoingBoing]
