“A nimble robot that climbs stairs and traverses rough terrain with unprecedented ease, yet is small enough to use indoors. Built to be a rugged and customizable platform, Spot has an industry track record in remote operation and autonomous sensing. “A quote directly from the dogs mouth and more information here on the Boson Dynamics site
Two Ex Samsung engineers have created a device called Glamos that can turn any screen into an interactive, its basically a tiny LiDAR device (a detention system that works on the principle of radar and light from a lazer) , this tech is used by autonomous vehicles to detect obstacles.
This new device is said to be compatible with phones, laptops, tablets, computers and smart TV’s.
Once connected to a device, ordinary screens are able to identify and respond to gestures made in the air, without the user having to physically touch the screen.
Much like LEAP when it was demo’d in SXSW in 2012, but this has advanced and moved on since then, connecting to multitude of devices for a start.
With Covid hitting the world we are having to rethink how we interact with object and products that where common to touch in the past, touchless products will become an even bigger market in the future.
Reference links
Yes, you read correctly, over at CultofMacthey reported on finding Apple had a newly-published patent application which not only just makes the phone waterproof it actually repels water using electrode technology to actively expel water that has become trapped in the device, rather than just fighting to keep it out.
The device would detect liquid, Electrodes would then be used to move the drops of liquid toward an exit point, where it could be safely expelled from the iPhone.
The Patent is below via CultofMac
Yes you read correctly, Researchers at the University of Maryland have developed an algorithm called ProxEmo
This new discovery will enable robots to interact with humans based on their gathered data while the person is walking towards them, If angry the robot will take a wider route around the person, if sad they could approach them and ask if they would like assistance.
More information on this new innovation can be found on wired
As part of her Masters Thesis Dorothee Clasen has created an oral wearable that connects the movement from your tongue to machine code. When you place the device in your mouth you are able to move a small magnetic element back and forth with your tongue, this in turn connects to a wifi module behind your ear and transfers the data to connected devices such as IoT / Smart home or Gaming consoles.
With the increase in Haptic interfaces it was only a matter of time before someone looked into developing something for your mouth.
I one side I can see the beauty in this creation from an innovation point of view, but i am still not sure what or why you would use this in the real world.
AlexaGate is a smart addon which stops Alexa from listening to all of your private conversations, its a cool looking addon that sits nicely on top of your echo devices
to activate clap three times, or tap the alexagate three times, and it toggles on and off so that you can talk to your echo as you would normally. Turn on with three claps, and you’re once more assured of privacy. The device works by using pulsed ultrasound to jam the echo’s microphone.
OpenXR Launched last summer enabling VR development across platforms, several large companies, including Oculus, SteamVR, HTC, and Microsoft, have worked to support OpenXR. Last week, Microsoft added OpenXR support to Windows Mixed Reality devices. Which is a huge deal because developers don’t have to code in different languages to have their titles working across many platforms.
Now we have an additional feature with the addition of Eye and Hand tracking modules which enable game developers to integrate these new features into up and coming games. Hand tracking is still super new, so there are not a lot of games or headsets which currently have these two features enabled. Oculus Quest and Microsoft HoloLens 2. do and I am sure more will in the future.
These two added features might seem quite small but they wil enable significant performance increases and additional types of UI interaction on supported headsets.
The group behind the OpenXR platform is the Khronos Group
Here are some apps that use hand tracking.
Important takeaways from Android Central where the article information was sources
We are spending hours upon hours on Zoom or Teams and using other apps along side them when working.
This company called Marco.io have developed a wrapper over Zoom enabling over tools to be integrated into the meetings
The example below is based on inclusion and diversity and maps the conversation so all parties have a say. Other examples include smart notepad that categorises Action Items, Questions, and Takeaways as they’re being taken, another usecase is workflow integrating with google docs.
Google has created a web based social media platform that is geared purely around influencers sharing products reviews and affiliate links, giving them the ability to sell the products directly from the platform.
Currently the platform only has focus on Makeup, skincare, hair and nails, but I am sure if its successful it will roll out to other markets. Also to note the platform is mobile only.
An interest quote that I came across from TheNextWeb
While affiliate linking is already deeply embedded in the review industry, the focus is usually placed on good content — there might be a product promoted in those videos, but the content itself is the product. Shoploop seems to reverse that dynamic, putting the emphasis back on discovering and purchasing products, and leaving the entertainment part of it in the background.
I find this a bit strange, not the quote, the subject matter, I feel Entertainment is the key to better content and better content leads to engagement and … you see where i am going here right.. Purchase intent.
but, if you want to join this platform and be followed as a “telemarketer” I quote TheNextWeb there.. then pop over to here and sign up because its not free for everyone to jump on and be the next famous influencer.
ShopLoop.app from Google
Printing is moving fast with 3D printing becoming the norm.
This new solution from EveBot makes printing even more portable with a product that fits into the palm of your hand.
More information here
Spotify has created a new tool called soundtrack your workout.
“The feature will ask for the length of your workout, if explicit content is okay (since your kids are home until further notice), type of workout, workout partner(s), your “workout vibe” and preferred genres (can choose up to two). For an hour-long solo lifting session where I wanted to be “pumped up” with rock and metal, Spotify compiled a mix of more indie rock than metal. Artists like The Killers and Paramore are alongside Europe and Twisted Sister. When I submitted the same answers with just metal as the genre, I got some of the same, but with Tame Impala and Com Truise thrown in. Those are both artists I listen to often, but they’re definitely not metal.” via Engadget
Fortnite have added a digital modern art gallery into the world which is essentially a virtual art gallery built using Fortnite’s creative mode.
What on earth is the Amazon Dash Cart I hear you say..
Well it could be the future of retail, with a trolley that registers all your purchases with automated scanning and then charges your amazon account accordingly based on your physical basket.
The cart basically scans your items once they are placed in cart, if the cart flashes orange then the item hasn’t been read and you have to try again.
Another nice trick is Amazon have linked the cart to your Alexa app so you can check those items off your shopping list as you go.
Here is the video to explain the process in more detail:
The cart will first be made available at the Amazon grocery store opening in Woodland Hills, California later this year, the retailer says. it will only be for 2 bags of shopping max and isn’t really for the larger scale weekly shops.
Is this the future and can you upscale this to larger shopping experiences.
Or could this be automated and you just pick up your shopping in the parking lot?
So many questions.
