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Latest Gear Live Videos
AUR Lamp Interacts With Humans
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Science, Videos,
We can hardly contain our inner excitement over this prototype AUR Lamp that was designed by Guy Hoffman, a member of MIT’s Robotic Life Group. The device knows when to turn on and off, follows you around the room, and can be set to mood lighting. According to Hoffman, AUR “is aimed to evoke a personal relationship with the human partner without resorting to human-like features.”
We would like to ask the team politely what happens when a second person enters the room.
Read More 
| Guy Hoffman via Mr. Future
Gallery: AUR Lamp Interacts With Humans
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MAVs Drafted for Iraqi War
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Misc. Tech, Science,
The Honeywell MAV (Micro Air Vehicle) system has been issued for release in Iraq. It is comprised of a ground station with two air vehicles. Featuring forward and downward cameras, it has a 50 knot airspeed, can go up to 10,500 ft., and can travel up to one hundred waypoints on a flight plan. At a weight of about 15 lbs., it can be carried in a backpack and takes about 5 minutes to deploy.
Check out the video (we especially like the Mission Impossible-type background music) to watch the MAV in action which cost the Navy $7.5 million for more than a dozen of the systems. We are thinking that if the military keeps issuing search and rescue vehicles at its present rate, we should finally be able to replace some of our troops that have been long overdue to come home.
Read More | I4U News
Gallery: MAVs Drafted for Iraqi War
While we don’t understand all the scientific technology involved, it has recently come to Gear Live’s attention that it is now possible to create stem cells without the use of a female egg. Rudolf Jaenisch, a stem-cell biologist at Boston’s Whitehead Institute, Japan’s Shinya Yamanaka, and other scientists have said that if they take a mouse skin cell and switch on four certain genes, they can come up with a new cell.
“When we analyzed them, they were indistinguishable from normal embryonic stem cells,” Jaenisch said. Perhaps in time this ongoing research can put an end to stem cell research’s moral controversy.
Read More | NPR
Gallery: Stem Cells Possible Without Human Embryo
Pet Populations on the Increase Because of Global Warming
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Science,
The National adoption organization Pets Across America has reported a 30% rise in the amount of cats and kittens in shelters from 2005 to 2006. Other shelters have also noted an increase of strays, feral, and owned cats. Kathy Warnick, PAA’s president, seems to think this is due to global warming.
“States that typically experience primarily longer and colder winters are now seeing shorter, warmer winters, leading to year-round breeding,” she says.
Other species, such as penguins and migratory birds, have been affected by longer breeding seasons. Although Gear Live loves all creatures, we hope that you spay or neuter your pets, since global warming doesn’t appear to be going away in the near future.
Read More | Live Science
Gallery: Pet Populations on the Increase Because of Global Warming
Kansei Reacts With Emotion
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Science, Videos,
Not just another pretty face, Kansei is capable of 36 different expressions in response to emotional interpretation. His data base is created of 500,000keywords and he can show happiness, sadness, fear, and loathing with the aid of 19 actuators. Professor Junichi Takeno of Meiji University believes that creating the bot will result in a method of improving communication between humans and robots. While we find President Bush a little scary lately too, we must remember who programmed Kansei in the first place to react the way he does when he hears the word “president.”
Read More | Pink Tentacle
Gallery: Kansei Reacts With Emotion
You now have a chance to bid on one of only two existing FT (Female Type) robots created by Tomotaka Takahashi, father of Chroino, Magdan, and Neon. Designed after studying professional models, the bot has 23 motors and 2 gyroscopes that need bi-annual checkups. FT stands 35cm high, weighs 800g, is controlled by an onboard computer and lithium polymer battery, and is made of carbon and plastic. The robotics expert believes that in the future over 50% of all bots will be female. Before you get too excited at the thought of owning your own Takahashi original, note that the bidding starts at $300,000.00.
Read More | Robo-Garage
Gallery: “Female” Bot Up For Auction
IBM Donates Health Conscious Software
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Science, Software,
IBM has decided to freely distribute software that they say can predict the spread of infectious diseases worldwide. They are hoping that the program STEM (Spatiotemporal Epidemiological Modeler) can assist scientists and health officials in their responses to such diseases as bird flu. The organization was founded by IBM and more than 20 other health institutions worldwide, and they are counting on developers to customize the software to fit the need of a particular area with an incredible array of tools that feature multiple populations, disease interaction, and epidemiology.
Read More | Reuters
Gallery: IBM Donates Health Conscious Software
Go Star Watching Without a Sky
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Home Entertainment, Misc. Tech, Science, Videos,
Sega has dreamed up a way for us to starwatch in our own homes with Homestar Planetarium Pro. Similar to larger scale star-watching programs, the device makes one turn every 12 minutes, features a professional lens system, a 270 cm diameter picture, 3x LED lighting, a timer, two discs of the northern hemisphere (regular and constellations,) and access to over 10,000 stars and planets. Available in metallic silver or black, the mini-planetarium runs on a simple AC adapter and comes with a handbook for discovering those constellations you know are out there, but couldn’t find before. Find yours at C Scout for $259.99.
Read More | C Scout Japan
Gallery: Go Star Watching Without a Sky
MIT, ever on the quest for new technology, has now developed wireless power transmission without the use of wires. WiTricits uses what they refer to as “simple physics” based on two resonant objects on the same frequency which can be used to power light bulbs, laptops, etc. It even allows 40% efficiency when compared to current technology.
Although the researchers have been been working on the project for several years, they have finally gotten an actual workable model. In this case it involves two 2 ft. diameter copper coils, a transmitter attached to a power source, a receiver, and a 60 watt bulb. The light continued to shine even when obstructions, such as the research team themselves, were placed between the coils. There is no date on when this will become commonplace, but the news certainly brightened up our day.
Read More | MIT
Gallery: MIT Develops Wireless Power
We have found yet another bot being developed by the U.S. military, this time one to carry the wounded away from battle. The BEAR (Battlefield Extraction Assist Robot) is considered to have a “friendly appearance” to keep the injured calm. The robot is six feet tall and can carry up to 500 lbs. Remotely controlled with a camera and mic, his DBB (Dynamic Balance Behavior) allows him to carry his charge on his ankles, knees, or hips for up to an hour over difficult terrain. The BEAR is expected to be ready for testing in five years and we figure that it will probably receive plenty of practice in the field.
Read More | BBC
