Category: Science & Technology News

Impact Lab > Science & Technology News
Great Videos, Science & Technology News

Microsoft turns spoken English into spoken Mandarin – in the same voice

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nu-nlQqFCKg[/youtube]

Microsoft has posted a video with a complementary explanation of language translation that goes far past what we thought was currently possible.  The speaker explains and demonstrates improvements made to the machine understanding of his English words, which are automatically transcribed as he speaks. He then demonstrates having those words translated directly into Mandarin.

 

 

Continue reading… “Microsoft turns spoken English into spoken Mandarin – in the same voice”

Analysis, Business, Internet, Latest Trend, Science & Technology News

Online viewers abandon video if it doesn’t play in 2 seconds: Study

Faster internet connections have made viewers more impatient.

Revenues are declining for the traditional forms of online advertising.  Emerging as a bright spot for many media companies is the video.  It offers an opportunity for long engagement and hefty ad rates — but also a challenge to make it work.

 

 

 

Continue reading… “Online viewers abandon video if it doesn’t play in 2 seconds: Study”

Business, Globalism, government, Science & Technology News

Aakash 2 – The $20 tablet that could transform computing as we know it

Suneet Tuli with the Aakash 2 tablet.

The 44-year-old CEO of UK/Canadian/Indian startup Datawind, Suneet Tuli, is having a taxing day.  He says he is “underwater”  as he struggles to find a cell signal outside a restaurant in Mumbai. On Sunday Nov. 11, the president of India, Pranab Mukherjee, will unveil the seven-inch Aakash 2 tablet computer Tuli’s company is selling to the government for distribution to 100,000 university students and professors. (If things go well, the government plans to order as many as 5.86 million.) In the meantime, Tuli is deluged with calls from reporters, and every day his company receives thousands of new orders for the commercial version of the Aakash 2. Already, he’s facing a backlog of four million unfulfilled pre-orders.

 

 

Continue reading… “Aakash 2 – The $20 tablet that could transform computing as we know it”

Analysis, Business, Health & Fitness, Latest Trend, Science & Technology News

51 percent of smartphone users in U.S. consult their devices for medical information

Mobile health becoming more popular among smartphone owners.

Mobile health is starting to become popular in the U.S..  In 2010, the Pew Internet and American Life Project reported that just 17 percent of cell phone owners used their devices to look up health information. But the organization said that figure has climbed to 31 percent in a new study released last week.

 

 

Continue reading… “51 percent of smartphone users in U.S. consult their devices for medical information”

Alternative Transportation, Breakthrough Thinking, Great Videos, Science & Technology News

Volkswagen’s futuristic flying car concept

Volkswagen’s flying car

Seeing a flying cars in a sci-fi movie is a common site. The flying car has won hearts of many science fiction fanatics. Be it the glass bubble from “The Jetsons” or the cab from “The Fifth Element,” all these vehicles have mesmerized audiences for a long now. (Video)

 

 

Continue reading… “Volkswagen’s futuristic flying car concept”

Business, Food, Latest Trend, Science & Technology News

Singapore opens world’s first commercial vertical farm

Transplanting some leafy green seedlings at the grand opening of Singapore’s first commercial vertical farm.

Singapore is taking local farming to the next level by opening of its first commercial vertical farm.

Vertical farming is like skyscrapers with vegetables climbing along the windows or like a library-sized greenhouse with racks of cascading vegetables instead of books.

 

 

Continue reading… “Singapore opens world’s first commercial vertical farm”

Analysis, Science & Technology News

How human enhancement will impact the future of work

The term ‘human enhancement’ encompasses a range of approaches that may be used to improve aspects of human function.

The Royal Society looks at Human enhancement and the future of work. The project explored potential enhancements arising from advances in science and engineering that are likely to impact on the future of work.

 

 

Continue reading… “How human enhancement will impact the future of work”

Analysis, Business, Science & Technology News

Four possible roles of the IT department in the future

Tomorrow’s IT department will likely look very different to today’s.

Meeting business demands to save money while supporting delivery of better products and ways of working will be key to the future of IT.  The IT department is under pressure to change if it is to meet conflicting demands to support innovation while also saving cost.

 

Continue reading… “Four possible roles of the IT department in the future”

Architecture, Science & Technology News

Re-healable concrete to undergo key outdoor testing

Bacterial spores are added to the concrete mix and they are activated by water.

A concrete that patches up cracks by itself is to undergo outdoor testing. The experimental concrete contains limestone-producing bacteria, which are activated by corrosive rainwater working its way into the structure.  This new material could potentially increase the service life of the concrete – with considerable cost savings as a result.

 

 

Continue reading… “Re-healable concrete to undergo key outdoor testing”

government, Science & Technology News

The data crunchers who helped Obama win the election

Obama’s data crunchers.

The backroom data crunchers who powered Barack Obama’s campaign to victory noticed last spring that George Clooney had an almost gravitational tug on West Coast females ages 40 to 49. The women were far and away the single demographic group most likely to hand over cash, for a chance to dine in Hollywood with Clooney — and Obama.

 

 

Continue reading… “The data crunchers who helped Obama win the election”

Discover the Hidden Patterns of Tomorrow with Futurist Thomas Frey
Unlock Your Potential, Ignite Your Success.

By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.

Learn More about this exciting program.