Face-reading technology raises many questions about privacy and surveillance.
Private emotions are often revealed in tiny, fleeting facial expressions, visible only to a best friend — or to a skilled poker player. Now, computer software is using frame-by-frame video analysis to read subtle muscular changes that flash across our faces in milliseconds, signaling emotions like happiness, sadness and disgust.
Continue reading… “When algorithms grow accustomed to your face”
3D printed prosthetic eyes.
U.K.-based Fripp Design has found a surprising application with 3D printing: prosthetic eyes. Fripp Design says it can churn out as many as 150 prosthetic eyes an hour, and sell them for as low as $160 each. That’s a major improvement over glass prosthetic eyes, which not only take weeks to make, but also sell for thousands of dollars.
Continue reading… “3D printed prosthetic eyes could be made faster, cheaper, and better”
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bf-fes4PqY[/youtube]
Both Evacuated Tube Transport Technologies (ET3) and Hyperloop want to compete against California High Speed Rail (HSR). So, ET3 has begun an Indiegogo campaign to fund the legal research and drafting of a California proposition that will remove the obstacles holding back ET3 and Hyperloop from competing to deliver a next generation ground transportation system that the traffic and smog ridden residents of California deserve.
Continue reading… “ET3 Indiegogo campaign to make tube transport technology a reality in California”
Sebastian Thrun
Sebastian Thrun, founder of Udacity, captivated the world with visions of self-driving cars and Google Glass and has signed up 16 million students for online classes. So why is he pivoting away from MOOC’s? Thrun says, “We don’t educate people as others wished, or as I wished.”
Continue reading… “Udacity’s Sebastian Thrun: MOOC’s not effective for undergraduate education”
Xiaomi, a Chinese smartphone manufacturer, has just sold 150,000 units of its latest flagship device, the Mi-3, in under 10 minutes – using only a chat app: Tencent-owned WeChat.
Continue reading… “Xiaomi sells 150,000 smartphones on WeChat in less than 10 minutes”
Devices with “smart” technology these aren’t only our phones. It seems as if everything from watches to toothbrushes are integrating intelligent tech into its design.
Continue reading… “Top 8 futuristic gifts for your smart home”
St. Peter’s Square in 2005 and 2013.
Sometimes it’s hard to gauge just how much things have changed with the surge in mobile devices. Sure, we know they’re popular, are loaded with awesome cameras and apps, and ensure we’re connected to the digital world throughout the day, but how have these devices changed society as a whole?
Continue reading… “Shocking difference between technology in 2005 and 2013”
PowerUp 3.0
Scientists have spent so much time making amazing airplanes, such as this solar-powered one that flew cross-country using the power of the sun. But, for all that great work, there’s been surprisingly little work in the creation of better paper airplanes. Luckily, PowerUp 3.0 fixes this oversight.
Continue reading… “PowerUp 3.0 – A paper airplane controlled by your smartphone”
SpiderFab 3-D robotic printer
Since the 1970’s, space-based solar power has been a futuristic fantasy but the advent of 21st century 3-D printing may bring it a step closer to reality. (Video)
Continue reading… “Will 3D printing bring space-based solar power to reality?”
Google’s self-driving car.
Human beings make terrible drivers. They talk on the phone and run red lights, signal to the left and turn to the right. They drink too much beer and plow into trees or veer into traffic as they swat at their kids. They have blind spots, leg cramps, seizures, and heart attacks. They rubberneck, hotdog, and take pity on turtles, cause fender benders, pileups, and head-on collisions. They nod off at the wheel, wrestle with maps, fiddle with knobs, have marital spats, take the curve too late, take the curve too hard, spill coffee in their laps, and flip over their cars. Of the ten million accidents that Americans are in every year, nine and a half million are their own damn fault.
Continue reading… “Burkhard Bilger on Google’s self-driving car”
This has been the worst year ever for the TV business. According to Citi Research, audience ratings have collapsed: Aside from a brief respite during the Olympics, there has been only negative ratings growth on broadcast and cable TV since September 2011.
Continue reading… “Here are the stats to prove that TV is dying”
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDxz8bpqOMU[/youtube]
littleBits is a company that mixes hardware and software in a delightful way that is part of the human computer interaction theme. It’s roots can be traced to the MIT Media Lab. They have done a promotional video for their product (the Synth Kit) with Reggie Watts.
Continue reading… “Everyone will have some litteBits in the future”
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
Learn More about this exciting program.