7 ways we’ll interact with computers in the future
The means by which we interact with computers are changing. So put down your mouse and keyboard, because here are seven of the ways we’ll interact with machines in the decades to come. From voice control to brain interfaces, get ready to meet the future of computer interfaces.
‘Mars, here I come!’ NASA’s InSight launches on a six-month journey
NASA's InSight mission, developed to probe deep beneath the surface of Mars, began its 300-million mile journey to the red planet aboard an Atlas V rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The pre-dawn launch was a rare spectacle for West Coast residents and a first for NASA.
Idaho State University loses gram of weapons-grade plutonium, faces fine
Idaho State has reportedly lost or misplaced one gram of weapons-grade plutonium. The United States agency responsible for regulating nuclear materials has levied an $8,500 fine against the school.
Elon Musk hung up on NTSB chairman during a call regarding deadly Model X crash
Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk reportedly grew frustrated with the chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NSB) and hung up on him. This decision reportedly resulted in Tesla's representatives being kicked off the investigation.
Watch the SureFly two-person hybrid-electric copter make its maiden hover
Ohio-based company Workhorse’s SureFly hybrid-electric helicopter has finally lifted off. Well, at least by a few feet off the ground. “A five-foot hover might not seem like a big deal, but what it does is to answer the question: Will it fly, yes or no?” says CEO Steve Burns.
Inside the ambitious plan to decode and digitize the Vatican Secret Archives
Cutting-edge technology that unlocks long-forgotten Vatican secrets? No, it’s not the latest Dan Brown thriller, but a large-scale project in Italy involving smart artificial intelligence, an almost mind-boggling amount of handwritten documents, multiple universities, and 120 high school students.
These contact lenses use a stunningly simple technique to correct color blindness
Color-blindness affects approximately 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women around the world, and researchers from the U.K.’s University of Birmingham are here to help. They’ve developed contact lenses that use special dyes to filter out confusing wavelengths of light. Here's how.
FBI hostage rescue team bamboozled after criminals unleash drone swarm
Drones are apparently being used by criminals to conduct nefarious activity. Recently, an FBI stakeout was raided by a swarm of drones, and in other cases, these quadcopters have been used by criminals to surveil potential targets. Unfortunately, it appears that a fix may take quite a while to implement.
The best Star Wars toys for the tech-focused fan
In celebration of May 4, we rounded up our favorite tech-focused toys from the iconic sci-fi franchise. From drones and lightsabers to augmented reality devices that allow you to channel your inner Jedi right in your living room, these toys are sure to please fans and newcomers alike.
Intel drones offer high-tech help to restore the Great Wall of China
Drones are being tried and tested in a growing range of industries, from movies and logistics to agriculture and health. Heritage conservation is another sector exploring this tech, with Intel using its own advanced drone platform to assist with work to restore decrepit parts of the Great Wall of China.
Funding Nemo: Kickstarter underwater drone streams 4K footage from the deep
Looking for a way to make your summer trips to the beach a bit more memorable? Newly launched on Kickstarter, Nemo is an underwater drone that offers 4K streaming from up to 100 meters beneath the waves. From VR to high-res stills snaps, here's why this one sounds great.
A new A.I. can guess your personality type based on your eye movements
Researchers from Australia and Germany have developed a machine learning artificial intelligence system that is able to predict a person’s personality type by looking into their eyes. Or, more accurately, looking at the way their eyes move. Here's how the A.I. system works.
QooCam twists to swap between 4K 360 and 3D 180 with Lytro-like refocusing
Can't decide between 360 shots or the pricier but more immersive 3D? The Kandao QooCam is a $399 camera that twists to swap between 4K 360 and 3D 180. Using depth mapping, that 180 view can also shoot first and focus later while both modes can capture stabilized video stitched in real time.
China nabs world record for biggest drone display, but it’s a bit of a mess
Chinese drone company Ehang has just nabbed the world record from Intel for the most drones flying in a single display. On Tuesday, May 1, Ehang sent 1,374 quadcopters skyward, their LED lights sparkling in the night sky. But video footage of the display showed many of the drones were out of sync at times.
JetBlue hopes its new A320 cabin will ‘bring humanity back to air travel’
JetBlue put its new restyled A320 cabin into service on May 2. The design offers flyers comfier seats — the widest available for the A320 — and the most leg room in coach of any U.S. airline. It has also enhanced its in-flight entertainment systems with large seat-back displays and more on-demand content.
Google’s first-ever VR Doodle pays homage to cinema special effects pioneer
Google Doodles, the one-off alterations of the logo on Google’s homepage, have been delighting users since 1998. But there’s never been a Google Doodle like its latest: The first-ever virtual reality Doodle. Appropriately enough, it pays homage to one of cinema's greatest illusionists.
Want to learn to play bass guitar? Fret Zealot teaches rhythm section wannabes
Remember how the Guitar Hero game made us all feel like we were one wrecked hotel room and a pair of uncomfortably tight leather pants away from being rock gods? Fret Zealot uses a similar idea (the Guitar Hero bit, not the hotel room-trashing and tight pants) to help you master the guitar for real.
Experimental contact lenses could let you shoot lasers from your eyes. Seriously
Researchers at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland are developing ultrathin contact lenses capable of firing laser beams. And, while that may totally sound like a futuristic weapon, it's actually an intriguing new method for authenticating a person's identity. Move over Touch ID!
Urban dwellers will like the sound of these noise-canceling windows
For many urban dwellers, the noise can be so aggravating that it means keeping the windows firmly shut for much of the day. Wouldn't it be great if you could enjoy a bit of peace and quiet in your urban home even when the windows are open? Thanks to researchers at a university in Singapore, it could soon be the case.
How A.I. and a prehistoric creature could help predict animal behavior
In a recent study, researchers used a machine learning algorithm to identify the subtleties of Hydra behavior. With one of the simplest nervous system on Earth, Hydra give scientists a basic sample to study how neural activity relates to physical activity.
International relations are tense in orbit. Is creating a ‘Space Force’ a good idea?
The next generation of military space-bots are already in orbit as Russia, the US, and China each struggle for dominance in space.
Harvard is getting ready to resurrect the woolly mammoth
Harvard University’s ambitions to bring back the woolly mammoth appear to be gaining some momentum -- and the researchers on the project are gearing up to publicly share some of the details of this real life Jurassic Park-style dream. Here's what their upcoming paper will describe.
This self-balancing one-wheeled motorcycle looks extra terrifying
Built by madcap Brit John Dingley, this self-balancing electric one-wheeled motorcycle is referred to as the Mega Hub Motor Electric Unicycle. We can't work out whether we desperately want one or would be absolutely terrified to drive it? We're thinking a little bit of both.
What is Sweatcoin and how does it work?
A lot of fitness buffs are curious about Sweatcoin but many people don't fully understand how to use the app. In fact, a lot of folks don't even know what it is at all. So what is Sweatcoin? Here, we've explained all about the exercise-based cryptocurrency and how to use it.
Robotic exosuits will make us better, stronger, faster, right? Not necessarily!
Like Iron Man's amazing armor, the dream of robot exosuits is that they can give human wearers vastly increased strength, speed and endurance with no negative repercussions. A new study from Ohio State University suggests that some of our optimism may be a bit misplaced.
RocketBody tracks your metabolism to tell you when to eat and work out
Let’s face it: Sometimes you get to the gym and your body tells you it would really rather be doing anything else instead! A newly launched Kickstarter project for the RocketBody wearable promises to help, courtesy of a device which tells you when your body is primed and ready to train.
8 Amazing accessories that could make virtual reality even more immersive
Virtual reality headsets can be pretty darn amazing, but its controllers could certainly do more to make the virtual experience even more immersive. From brain zapping technologies to full body haptic suits, here are eight examples of technology which promise to take VR to the next level.
Mastercard moving to mass biometrics with new remote fingerprint scanning
Mastercard has a new sleeve for its biometric credit cards which make it possible for users to register their fingerprint at home, without the need to go to a local banking branch. It's hoped that this will increase the adoption rate of the new security standard, reducing instances of fraud and bank card theft.
Airline smart luggage ban will be a real headache for travelers
Last year, several major U.S. carriers announced a ban on smart luggage whose batteries can't be removed. The ban began in January 2018, and now, a few months later, prominent smart luggage company Bluesmart has been forced to shutter its operations. The company will no longer support its smart luggage.
NASA abruptly shuts down its planned 2022 moon rover mission
NASA canceled a moon rover lunar exploration mission with no warning. Scientists working on the mission and outside advisors were thrown by the sudden shift on a project well on the way to a moon launch in 2022. A budget line change from applied to pure science could be the reason for the confusing cancellation.
From vaping to drones, 8 tech trends we may look back on and cringe
Believe it or not, folks used to insulate their homes with asbestos and smoke on airplanes without worry. What is the technology we use today which may prompt similar 'what were they thinking?' reactions in just a few decades' time? Here are our picks for eight such trends.
A fleet of delivery robots could soon be coming to a campus near you
Starship Technologies' autonomous delivery robot has so far been tested in more than 20 countries, covering some 100,000 miles in the last four years. A recent trial involved taking a fleet of the wheel-based robots to a Silicon Valley campus, allowing workers to order meals from the comfort of their desk.
Blue Origin sends New Shepard space capsule to its highest altitude yet
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin space company launched its sub-orbital New Shepard rocket from its spaceport in the west Texas desert on Sunday, April 29, with the ascent taking the capsule to 351,000 feet (66 miles, or 107 kilometers) above the surface of Earth — several miles higher than previous launches.
Nerve-stimulating algorithm gives prosthetic limbs a lasting sense of touch
Researchers at the University of Illinois have found a way to use electric current to provide sensory feedback to the wearers of prosthetic limbs. The results promise to help make prostheses feel less like tools and more like extensions of the body. Here's how it works.