The Japanese (who else?) were first to show off a human-like android. I’m not referring to Asimo here… he’s cute, but I’m talking about androids that imitate the appearance of a human. Over the past few years, the ways of making artificial body parts and skin have rapidly evolved and today we are able to see some outstanding models that make you think for a moment as to whether they could be real persons or not. Just recently, AI Robotics, a group of two young guys, one French and one Japanese, has come up with a dubious android project dubbed Lisa.
<-180×150 Small Rectangle - left->Lisa seems to be a little too real if you ask me and allow me to express my doubt on the authenticity of her looks. Anyhow, on the official AI Robotics site, there are several pictures of Lisa in a more android-like state. Compare those pics with the way Lisa looks in the following clip (I personally think they used a real person for this commercial as well as for another one on the official page just to attract the interest of uninformed people):
Apart from Lisa’s striking appearance, the inner workings include an innovative RKS system that emulates the most important human senses: touch, sight and hearing. The tactile sense is implemented through thousands of micro-sensors found in the artificial skin. Each of these is designed to provide information on temperature, proximity and touch. The gathered information helps Lisa recognize her owner or any other person from a group of individuals.Lisa’s audio capabilities are based on an advanced voice recognition technology using sound sensors placed near the ears that send the arriving signals to the brain-like computer that controls all functions. The audio sensors record the tonality and amplitude of the sounds and split the signals into syllables. Lisa is able to differentiate the voice tones and detect questions, excitement and sorrow by associating tonality, amplitude and syllable recognition. I wonder if she can detect irony as well.
The sense of sight is enabled via 2 micro cameras directly connected to the “brain.” These allow Lisa to compute large amounts of visual data and at the same time follow the movements of objects or recognize faces and important things. The guys from AI Robotics explain that Lisa’s visual sense is empowered through the division of the perceived scene into levels like background and foreground, and then each level is segmented into zones of interest. The final step implies the form recognition, color recognition, gesture recognition, analysis and association with the database.
For the movement part, AI Robotics used a dozen of independent engines that split each movement into smaller movements in order to be made more natural. These engines interact with each other via a transmission device and can move on the X, Y, Z axes.
Lisa is not a true AI, as it needs to update wirelessly from the central database, plus it requires continuous training. However, Lisa is claimed to be acting much like a real person, and AI Robotics claim that the android could prove to be the perfect woman.
On the official AI Robotics page you can already pre-order your personalized Lisa android. Also, check the official page for an interview with the two founders.
When you look at all the appliances commercialized today, they all tend to have something in common: they all claim to be smart devices. Soon we’ll have computer-controlled washing machines, fridges, microwave or simple ovens, bathtubs and so on, everything will feature some sort of chip that will enable s to control from afar. What’s next? Smart beds that prepare themselves so that you can have a comfortable sleep? How about some smart chairs that can be moved wirelessly? Well now, I don’t about that wireless movement, but it looks like someone did come up with a design for a smart chair.
The concept is dubbed Smartchair Biofeedback Computer Chair. It still looks like a chair, but it also has something futuristic about it. It features dozens of embedded sensors, an adjustable seating pad, backpad and headrest that will adjust themselves accordingly based on your movements to provide you with the most comfortable seating experience possible. Moreover it comes with a touchscreen control unit that lets you operate the chair manually in case you want total control over this advanced chair design. I wonder if it will come complete with some sort of massage system that will further improve comfort. And how about some wheels so we can storm the offices or our house in adrenaline-filled races?
I remember seeing the Segway in Paris 3 years ago. I couldn’t understand why people would prefer to pilot these things instead of taking a healthy walk. OK, it may be good for tired people but the fact that it maintained equilibrium on two transversally placed wheels left me wonder a bit. I thought that was some interesting design, but take a look at this awkward motorcycle concept.
<-250×250 Square - left->I don’t know if you can see, but that motorcycle has two transversally placed wheels that are pretty close to each other. This design would probably be best described as a two-wheeled unicycle. The man behind it, Ben Gulak, has dubbed it UnoMoto, and he managed to take a Yamaha R1 frame, side-by-side wheels and Segway-like gyroscopic technology and wrap it in a custom made body to create a very different kind of electric vehicle.
The guys from Gizmag point out that the UnoMoto prototype reminds of the radical Bombardier EMBRIO Concept, demonstrating even simpler controls. With the UnoMoto all you have to do is turn on/off the main switch all control the vehicle through leaning in the desired direction: forward to accelerate, back to brake, and sideways to make turns. This is possible thanks to an integrated tilting suspension which allows the inside wheel to dip.
The current prototype is able to speed up to 25 mph, but remember that this is a completely electrical vehicle. Compact… checked! Ecological… checked! Awkward-looking… all checked!
Are you one of those persons that tried to quit smoking, but every time you tried it, you felt it was in vain? You even tried those weird anti-tobacco chewing gums to no avail. Now you can try the SuperSmoker, an electronic device that efficiently helps smokers quit their vicious habit.
To be more specific, SuperSmoker is an electronic alternative to cigarettes that is said to offer a healthier and cheaper way for smokers to continue their habit as well as beat increasingly strict public smoking bans and even avoid cancer.
Apparently, SuperSmoker is a simple cigarette, but once you try it, you understand that it contains no tobacco, does not burn or emit real smoke. Instead, the electronic gizmo consists of a vaporization chamber and a disposable cartridge containing a liquid made up of a concoction of food products which create a tobacco like flavor. This liquid is automatically turned into vapors when the user needs to inhales and appears as traditional cigarette smoke without the potentially dangerous substances (though it does emit an aroma that emulates tobacco). This way, not only the smoker, but those around him/her will benefit from the SuperSmoker.
Nicotine is introduced in very small doses and each replaceable cartridge is equivalent to approximately 15-20 conventional cigarettes. The cartridges are also available in different strengths (normal, medium, light and zero). The electronic device uses rechargeable batteries which last for around a day under normal use. A red LED at the tip of the cigar blinks when the battery is almost dead.
According to the manufacturers, the SuperSmoker can be legally used in restaurants, clubs, bars and other public areas covered by smoking bans. SuperSmoker is available in the UK for now. You can get one electronic device for £79 (around USD$155) and a pack of six refills (complete with 12 spare filters) retails for £7.95 (USD$16). More info on the official site.
Yo, DJ keep your hands off the fader… and forget about good ol’ turntables. Sure, the turntables represent the classic method, but it’s time they made way for the digital wave. I mean totally digital.
Yep, keep an open mind and embrace the latest technologies. But what can possibly replace a good turntable? A touchscreen, that’s what. The Touch Screen Table was designed by Scott Hubbs, a student from Dundee University. He dubbed the whole thing ATTIGO TT, although this name doesn’t ring any bells for me.
The revolutionary device lets you loop, sample and scratch in a similar to a turntable, but in order to master this revamped edition you have to forget how a smooth vinyl feels and get used to the flatness of the touchscreen. Take a look at this demo clip:
The touchscreen looks (and sounds) promising, although old school DJs with blazing fast fingers might find it a bit awkward at first. A bit of vinyl tactile grip could complement the touchscreen well. Scott hasn’t yet filed a patent for the prototype, as it’s not yet finished. If he manages to make old school DJs happy with this one, he will surely convince turntable manufacturers to adopt his vision.
