DuoSkin | Temporary Tattoo to Control Connected Interfaces

Microsoft Research and MIT Media Lab recently introduced a new product called DuoSkin. DuoSkin is basically a temporary tattoo that will allow you to control connected interfaces. For example, you can use it to control a game or even your smartphone. Additionally, you can use DuoSkin as an NFC tag, which you can easily use with your smartphone.

For more information: DuoSkin

2015 Top 10 Tech Tips for Resolution

We computed your Top 10:

1. Check your backup procedure: Backup solutions are not a “set it and forget it” process. Definitely need to verify the process is still working and that the destinations drive(s) are functioning.

2. Check your anti-virus software program: Make sure it is up to date, that it is scanning regularly. (Microsoft Security Essentials is available to small businesses on up to 10 PCs for free)

3. Tidy the desktop: Clear off old icons, files, and folders.

4. Organize: Keep your computer software all in one place and easily accessible.

5. Insurance: Inventory all your computing hardware.

6. Establish one location: Use one notebook, one folder, whatever it may be, for all your User ID’s, login passwords, email passwords, router settings and anything to do with computing.

7. Change passwords: Time for a better password then yesterday. Help keep the bad guys out of your account by using both your password and your phone. Always sign up for 2-Step verification.

8. Replace power strips: Use a power surge protector. Power strips are great for plugging in lamps, speakers, pencil sharpeners, but not your monitors, routers, backup drives, computers, etc.

9. Replace worn devices: All computing devices fail.

10. Maintenance your computers: Every 3-6 months - clean out temp files, patch it, updated it, stop unwanted startup programs, check the antivirus and backup process.

These 2015 Top 10 tech tips for resolution have been brought to you by tech3Support. Happy shiny new tech year. Best of luck with your other resolutions too.

Meet MiP: The Cool New Balancing Robot

MiP is a balancing robot with Gesturesense technology. You can control him with a wave of your hand or with an App available for iOS and Android

Read on: MiP

Wearable Authentication Device | Utilizes Your Electrocardiogram (ECG)

Bionym has developed the first wearable authentication device that utilizes a user's Electrocardiogram (ECG) to validate a person’s identity. The Nymi has two electrodes, one on the wrist and one on the top. To authenticate, a user must attach the Nymi, and then place their finger on the top electrode to complete the electric current. A user only needs to validate their identity once, until the Nymi is removed. The closed loop keeps the Nymi in an authenticated state, removing all need for repeated prompts (such as in fingerprint scanning or PIN requests).

Once authenticated, the Nymi communicates the user’s identity to a device (such as a smartphone, vehicle, elctronic lock, or even a smart environtment) using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). The Nymi not only uses the BLE to reliably communicate with the world, but it also uses it to sense how far away it is from devices (proximity detection). The Nymi allows users to interact with the world as a person, not as a number.

via Bionym

Holovision: Life Size Hologram

via KICKSTARTER

Robot Touch Screen

Microsoft Research's prototype of a haptic feedback touch screen called TouchMover.

Researchers uploaded a full set of MRI brain scans and demoed how doctors might scroll through them and annotate specific slides. And with some additional programming, the researchers could also make the TouchMover provide haptic feedback based on the material properties and texture of the skull bone and pulpy brain tissue, making the screen feel like palpating an actual brain.

MYO - Armband Gesture Control

The MYO armband lets you use the electrical activity in your muscles to wirelessly control your computer, phone, and other favorite digital technologies.

Using groundbreaking technology, MYO is able to measure electrical activity in your muscles instantly. The result is a seamless way to interact with computers, and a truly magical sense of control. Pre-order for $149.

DisplAir - (Interactive Hologram)

New technology with limitless applications that will eliminate the need for screens and monitors.

A Day Made of Glass 2

Corning’s expanded vision for the future of glass technologies. This video continues the story of how highly engineered glass, with companion technologies, will help shape our world.

IBM's "Next Five in Five"

2012 forecast of inventions that will change your world in the next five years; how computers will mimic the senses:

Touch:        You will be able to reach out and touch through your phone

Sight:          A pixel will be worth a thousand words

Hearing:      Computers will hear what matters

Taste:         Digital taste buds will help you to eat healthier

Smell:         Computers will have a sense of smell

Building a Smarter World

Digits: A Wrist-Worn Gloveless Sensor

From Oct. 7 to 10 in Cambridge, Mass., Microsoft researchers attending UIST 2012; the 25th Association for Computing Machinery Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology; will be sharing projects and ideas with an international gathering of scientists and practitioners focused on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI).

Microsoft Research’s work in "HCI" helps the company achieve its long-term vision of creating intuitive interfaces that not only revolutionize interactions between humans and computers, but that also empower people from of all walks of life. Digits is one of several research projects presented during UIST 2012 that help further this vision.

Mobility always has been one of the research team’s goals. To enable ubiquitous 3-D spatial interaction anywhere, Digits had to be lightweight, consume little power, and have the potential to be as small and comfortable as a watch. At the same time, Digits had to deliver superior gesture sensing and “understand” the human hand, from wrist orientation to the angle of each finger joint, so that interaction would not be limited to 3-D points in space. Digits had to understand what the hand is trying to express, even while inside a pocket.

Digits is meant to be a general-purpose interaction platform, and to prove the utility of the technology, both the Digits technical paper being presented during UIST 2012 and an accompanying video present interactive scenarios using Digits in a variety of applications, with particular emphasis on mobile scenarios, where it can interact with mobile phones and tablets.

via Microsoft Research

"First Retail 3-D printing store" in the U.S.

MakerBot, the unofficial leader of the hobbyist 3-D printing movement, has opened a consumer store located in the posh Manhattan neighborhood of NoHo.

The first full MakerBot retail experience in the world, will give customers the unprecedented opportunity to experience the MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer, live and in-person. Stop in to watch MakerBots at work, learn about 3D design and 3D printing, and leave with an authentic MakerBot-made gift for you or someone you think is cool enough to have it.

via POPSCI

Swarm of 49 Hummingbird Quadrocopters

Ars Electronica Futurelab and Ascending Technologies, featured a world record forty-nine AscTec Hummingbird quadrocopters in a synchronized and choreographed, LED-lit dance. The 500 gram robots were carrying lights and had special radio receivers and slightly modified firmware, but otherwise, they apparently just relied on GPS for positional control.

via ieee spectrum

T(ether)

T(ether) is a novel spatially aware display that supports intuitive interaction with volumetric data. The display acts as a window affording users a perspective view of three- dimensional data through tracking of head position and orientation. T(ether) creates a 1:1 mapping between real and virtual coordinate space allowing immersive exploration of the joint domain.

The system creates a shared workspace in which co-located or remote users can collaborate in both the real and virtual worlds. This allows input through capacitive touch on the display and a motion-tracked glove. When placed behind the display, the user’s hand extends into the virtual world, enabling the user to interact with objects directly.

NERD BOTS

Adopt-a-Bot, get updates as to where we are now.

via NERD BOTS

Soundmachines

Rather clever device or as they have called it, an instrument for performing electronic music.

Three units, which resemble standard record players, translate concentric visual patterns into control signals for further processing in any music software. The rotation of the discs, each holding three tracks, can be synced to a sequencer.

This is what you get: