Wednesday 1 April 2015

Google Glass could teach you to dance

 File photo.        

Google has filed a patent to create a system by which Google Glass can recommend dance moves to those who wear the high tech device and suggesting moves in real time. Google Glass could teach you to dance by identifying songs and suggesting moves in real time.

 The content identification module may provide information associated with a content of the media sample, such as identification of the song and the dance, to the wearable computing system,” the patent reads.

 “The wearable computing system may determine dance steps corresponding to the content of the media sample and may generate a display of the dance steps on the HMD (head mounted display),” it reads.

That means Google Glass will have an ability to determine what particular song is playing in the background before suggesting dance moves from a possible library of moves stored in its database

 The device may also show the user a video of other people dancing to the same song in order to help the user understand what moves they should be doing.

 The initial research programme for Google Glass, called Explorer, was scrapped, but a new unit specifically devoted to the device is currently active.

 

                         

Monday 23 March 2015

innovative 3d printing


Demonstrating the functioning of  new 3D printer.

 Sumanth Behara demonstrating the functioning of his new 3D printer. Photo: K.R. Deepak

Bringing in the concept of 3D printing through his new venture ‘Whoop’, Sumanth showcases the new tech marvel.

 

 Need a copy of your guitar, a new name tag for your company brand, or simply your own miniature human form? Just print it – that’s the idea  wants to pass on in the city. Bringing in the concept of 3D printing through his new venture ‘Whoop’, he showcases the new tech marvel that can turn homes, schools and offices into design labs and mini factories.

3D printing is a fascinating technology that creates solid, three dimensional objects using digital files. Consider this: Connecting a printer to a computer and then using that printer to create not mere sketches or printouts but solid, tangible objects!
Sumanth idea behind starting the venture was to introduce this latest technology to the young generation and entrepreneurs and unleash a wave of creativity. “The possibilities are endless. The 3D objects can be used for rapid prototyping and a marketing tool for better brand recall of start ups, corporate gifting, miniature projects for engineering students, architectural design display purpose or jewellery and interior design objects,” says Sumanth, who started the enterprise with Brahma 3 Anvil 3D printer starting with a small investment of Rs 2 lakh. 

The process is simple – the material used for 3D printing comes in two types of plastic, PLA and ABS. Once the 3D image is fed in the computer of the printer, the process of creating the object begins layer by layer using computerized instructions. The solid products thus produced can be in almost any predefined shape.

Sumanth decided to take up the venture after doing a detailed market research for six months. “This technology is widely used in the US and European countries. 3D printers are commonly found in homes and many use it as a hobby. The market is still nascent in India but it has wide potential,” he says. In fact, researchers say that 3D printing is predicted to transform our lives in the coming decades as dramatically as the Internet did before it.

NASA recently emailed a ratchet wrench into space. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) had to previously wait for several weeks or even months if they needed some replacements. But when a ratcheting socket wrench was required this time, a 3D printer aboard the ISS made it available to the space team within a few hours!
While in the US 3D printing technology is far more evolved, Indian companies are creating 3D printers for as low as Rs 20,000 for basic models. The affordability of the product makes it an exciting proposition, says Sumanth. “The major effort lies in the detailing of the designs which in turn bring out the finished products,” he adds. The maximum dimensions that his 3D printer can produce are 240 mm (width) by 240 mm (length) by 200 mm (height). To begin with, Sumanth plans to launch his own range of 3D products like customized phone cases and funky accessories to draw the attention of the youth and also tap into the city’s growing hub of start ups.

Saturday 21 March 2015

consumer shop

 



             CES 2015: Quell Promises Pain Relief with in

                                15 minutes.

 

      Quell 

Quell is a new gadget that promises pain relief. It attaches to a user’s calf and emits electronic signals that boost the body's opiate production.

When most people think of pain relief, they think of some sort of pill ingested internally, such as aspirin, ibuprofen,  or similar over the counter product. For more serious pain, there are prescription medicines available, but they can be highly addictive, have many serious side effects, and have a large potential for abuse.

Quell promises an external source of pain relief. The unit attaches to the user's calf, which the makers of the Quell consider a "virtual USE port," and electrodes stimulate the wearer's body to release pain-relieving opiates. The sensory nerves it stimulates send neural pulses to the brain that trigger the release of endogenous opioid s, the pain-relief response that blocks pain signals in the spine. The process is called Trans-cutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation technology, also known as TENS. There are already over-the-counter TENS systems such as the one made by Icy Hot, but these are very low-powered and low-tech compared with Quell.

Quell is also much more expensive, but manufacturer NeuroMetrix, a health-care company that develops wearable medical technology and point-of-care tests, is hoping insurance companies will pick up the cost, which is why it went through the extensive process of getting FDA approval. Quell is designed for 24-hour wear and lasts over 40 hours on a single charge. It reduces its power to 80 percent during sleeping hours. It is thin and can be worn under clothes, and attaches to the calf with a breathable sports band.

The device comes with a dedicated app, and costs around $250, with an additional $30 per month cost for replacement electrode strips. Although the TENS system is proven for pain relief, it doesn't work for everyone and because of that, Quell has a 60-day money-back guarantee.  As far as the opiates the system produces, they are different from the ones produced when taking pain medication and therefore cannot get the user high, making addiction a non issue.