RoboHon: Cute little Robot cum Smartphone

Japan has produced some of the craziest and most innovative robots so far, but this time they have taken robotics and mobile technology to whole new level .A Japanese company Sharp has recently launched a new kind of phone which is a hybrid of a robot and a smartphone. Shocking, right? But your shock will turn into an awe when you will find out how this adorable little robot cum phone can make your life tranquil.  

So far Sharp has only shed light on few of the features of RoboHon .But whatever they are claiming is no less than a miracle of technology. Its weight is 390 grams and is 19.5 cm in length (not exactly light weight and adjustable).It is equipped with a tiny two inch screen at its back to give you an experience of a smartphone. In addition to that it has Wi-Fi and LTE. Just like other smartphones it offers facial and voice recognition. Only this time the device that is trying to recognize you is not just a flat screen phone but a cute little robot.

Along with the capabilities of a smartphone it has all the features of a highly skilled and intelligent robot. It can sit, stand, walk, dance and raise its arms to notify you that something important has just come up. It will wake you up in the morning just like any of your family members would and at the same time read to you the list of activities you are going to perform that day. If you are busy in household chores and your hands are dirty, you can ask this adorable little creature to read your texts to you and send a reply. You can also instruct it to place a call to a person. If you have a habit of forgetting stuff you wanted to buy, right when you enter the grocery store, there is no need to worry anymore because this cute tiny friend of yours will remember all the items for you.

RoboHon is a helping hand in you daily routine. It can call a taxi for you to get you to your work place. You can use it as a projector to present your work or watch pictures and videos anywhere you want. It can also act like your companion when you are feeling alone or bored. This feature of RoboHon was demonstrated at its launch ceremony, when the owner said “It is a beautiful weather” it replied in affirmative just like any other artificial intelligence, but definitely in a more charming way.

No smartphone is complete without a sophisticated camera through for taking pictures, making videos and creating memories on the go. RoboHon is also equipped with all these features but instead of a small camera lens it takes pictures by flashing its delightful round eyes. In order to take perfect pictures its developers has added some extra cool features in its software.

Some people might propose that it is not a very practical approach for a smartphone. Surely you will look goofy while holding a robot to your ear for attending a call. But then again modern technology is moving towards a more unconventional approach which can provide you both comfort and entertainment.       

For more details watch this video.

RoboHon: Cute little Robot cum Smartphone

08:43 artificial intelligence, Robots, Smartphones, Technology

Baidu's Duer:Another addition to the family of Digital Assistants

Baidu's Duer:Another addition to the family of Digital Assistants.

By now, you all must be familiar with the names of Siri, Google now and Cortana. Duer is another addition to the family of Digital assistants, only difference being, like Facebook M it is also AI powered.

Duer's Logo

A Beijing-based company Baidu that develops Chinese version of Google has recently launched its own personal assistant named “Duer”. This Tuesday it was incorporated into its latest mobile search app which is installed in millions of mobiles in China .Baidu is the only company, outside the premises of US which has challenged companies like Apple and Google.

While spreading some light on this newly created artificial AI powered digital assistant, Robin Li, President and chief executive officer of Baidu announced that:

” Duer is based on the company's existing ecosystem that already covers many sectors, such as dining, film, tourism, education, and healthcare”  

Just like Cortana and Siri, Duer has its own perks. It processes voice requests to connect users with services like food delivery, pet grooming and ticket sales. It is your constant source of information and a friendly companion .It orders your food for you, and while you are searching for a good restaurant to take your family out on a dinner it displays all the relevant information about that restaurant, its location, cuisines, bookings, prices etc. Instead of waiting in long lines to buy movie tickets you can ask Duer to do your job .It will soon be integrated into Baidu’s other apps including Maps and Nuomi, a group buying service.

   Duer is expected to soon be integrated into Baidu maps and Nuomi
Photo:SCMP pictures

In near future Duer will be able to control all your devices at home and connect them to healthcare and other customer care services. In addition to that it will expand to include ride-hailing, housekeeping, beauty, education and travel services.The service can be activated in your smartphones by simply saying “Hello Duer”.

Baidu boasts off the fact that their artificial intelligence is capable of image recognition more accurately than humans, and better than both Microsoft and Google’s technology.

At the company’s 10th annual Baidu world conference in Beijing Robin li Yanhong said:

“In the past, only the privileged few – those in very senior positions in companies or other organizations – had personal assistants. With Duer, every ordinary person can now have a powerful personal assistant who can provide valuable life services – for free.”

One of the driving forces behind this artificial intelligence is world renowned ex-Google Brain Andrew Ng, who joined the company back in 2014.

Baidu's Duer:Another addition to the family of Digital Assistants

08:23 artificial intelligence, Baidu, Digital assistant, Duer, Techology

Facebook and Studying? Social Media Giant Provides Free Education Software

With over a billion Facebook users, this is a household name you would literally have to be living under a rock to not know. And now, Facebook has decided to venture into the education business for which they will be teaming up with the non profit Summit Public Schools.

The basic idea is that course content and evaluations like tests, quizzes and exams should be online. Meanwhile, this will give the teachers more time to interact with the students in the classroom and teach them about the more practical applications of what they are studying.

Some people have raised concerns about privacy. Many are not happy with the privacy of Facebook and are worried about students' personal data.

There is also the worry that children are already spending too much time glued to the computer. Do we really want to increase that?

Facebook has said this will not be linked to its social media network.

Facebook and Studying? Social Media Giant Provides Free Education Software

11:19 education, Facebook, General, online learning, online teaching, Technology

Could Your Daily Smartphone Time Give You Cancer?

Working away on your laptop.

Catching up with your friends on your phone.

Watching that hilarious video your co worker sent.

Well, this just sounds like a typical day for most of us. Technology is advancing day by day, and why shouldn't we use the many benefits it has to offer, making our lives much easier.

But, could these innocent enough tasks be bringing deadly consequences for you? A new study shows that smartphones, tablets and laptops could give you skin cancer.

The crux of the study is that these devices could reflect light, thereby, exposing you more to harmful wavelengths that cause cancer. The study was done by Mary E. Logue from the University of New Mexico in Alberquerque and Dr Barret J. Zlotoff.

Most of us have heard of the harms of tanning, and the researchers think that these devices may reflect light like tanning reflectors.

The study was conducted by using a mannequin, wearing a UVA/B light meter and different objects were placed in front of it including an iPhone 5, different iPad models, Macbooks, magazines and a kindle. These devices were placed one by one on an empty music stand.

At a distance of 16.5 inches from the light meter, the magazine increased UV exposure by 46%, the Macbook by 75% and an iPad 2 by a whopping 85%.

UV rays have been linked to skin cancer and many know prevention is better than the cure.

Limit device usage to the indoors and when outside, make sure you are wearing sunscreen on all exposed areas.

Could Your Daily Smartphone Time Give You Cancer?

12:12 cancer, Cancer Risk, Causes of Cancer, Devices, Disease, General, Health, iPad, iPhone, Skin Cancer, Smart phones, Tablets, Technology

Bionic Suit helps Paralyzed man take voluntary steps

Technology has yet again achieved the impossible. Scientists at California university reported how a completely paralyzed man had been able to move his legs with the aid of a "robotic exoskeleton".

Previously in July of this year,  these researchers achieved something that wouldn't have been possible just a few years ago. They were able to stimulate the nerves of patients who were completely paralyzed so that they could move their legs in a rhythmic pattern. Now, the same team of scientists have gone one step farther: With the help of a bionic suit, they enabled a paralyzed man to take thousands of steps during a five-day training session, and for the two weeks that followed.

                       

Thirty-nine-year-old Mark Pollock had been completely paralyzed ever since he fell out of a window 4 years ago.The researchers report how - after completing 5 weeks of physical training, followed by five 1-hour sessions using spinal stimulation training - Pollock has become the first person to achieve voluntary control with a robotic device that aims to enhance mobility.

Having spent his whole life as an athlete, completing extreme adventures such as racing to the South Pole before breaking his back, Pollack was thrilled to get back to doing an aerobic workout.  "Stepping with the stimulation and having my heart rate increase, along with the awareness of my legs under me, was addictive. I wanted more," he says.

Around 5,596,000 people in the US report some kind of paralysis. The leading cause of the condition is stroke followed by spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis (MS). Other causes of paralysis include neurofibromatosis cerebral palsy and post-polio syndrome.

Prof. Edgerton and colleagues hope that the type of intervention described in their research may improve mobility for patients with partial paralysis. he says:

"It will be difficult to get people with complete paralysis to walk completely independently, but even if they don't accomplish that, the fact they can assist themselves in walking will greatly improve their overall health and quality of life."

 this technology can prove to be amazing in the field of medical. lets hope that these scientists continue to achieve what they're hoping for.

Bionic Suit helps Paralyzed man take voluntary steps

05:59 Bionic suit, Paralyzed Man walks

Direct Messenger for Twitter

Twitter has added many new features to Direct messages in its recent updates. It has removed the 140-character limit from its direct messages, added option for group conversations, allows you to chat with strangers and send photos and videos in DMs. The only thing missing now is an official messaging app for Twitter users, just like Facebook messenger for Facebook users. And that’s where Direct messenger steps in.

 Direct messenger is an unofficial app for Twitter DM. This app has one feature- sending and receiving direct messages. You can download the app for free from iTunes store, it’s not available on Google play store yet, and link it to your twitter account.

 After opening the app, it shows you a list of your previous DM messages and you can send messages to existing conversations or click the compose message button to start a new conversation with one of your twitter followers. You can send photos, stickers, voice messages and heart animations through this app. Direct messengers interface is inspired from that of facebook messengers and has similar above keyboard shortcuts to add media and stickers.


 APP LIMITATIONS?

Twitter does not support the messaging formats used in Direct Messenger. So when you send a sticker or an image using direct messenger, the app converts the image into Amazon S3 url and sends the link to your receipient. If the receipent has this app installed only then will he be able to see the image , else he will get “Sent an image via Direct Messenger” message. Same goes for locations and animated heart feature. Another shortcoming is that if a person reads message in twitter app, Direct messenger will not mark it as read. All these limitations are caused by Twitter’s strict API.

Direct messenger is a great way to access your messages quickly and Twitter should work on its official DM app now, or maybe it could buy Direct messenger and fix above mentioned limitations. Twitter has been focusing on its DMs lately and most likely a messaging app is underway.

Direct Messenger for Twitter

08:26 Apple, Direct Messages, iTunes, Messenger, mobile apps, Twitter

Instagram introduces Landscape And Portrait modes to your feed

For the first time the widely popular photo sharing site will let you publish long and wide photos and videos. This means you will start seeing more and more rectangular pictures in your feed.

Previously Instagram has defaulted to and only allowed "square" (3:2) photographs in its app. Much like its filters, the default aspect ratio was meant to mimic Polaroids . Now, the picture sharing service is finally letting its users upload images that don't necessarily follow the odd format.

However, Taking photos within the app will continue to default to square-shaped pictures, but photos imported from other apps will preserve their look. Instead of the letterbox view, the Instagram photo feed will adjust in size accordingly. There will be a format icon available to crop and adjust the image to your needs.

The firm said in a blog post:

"It turns out that nearly one in five photos or videos people post aren't in the square format, and we know that it hasn't been easy to share this type of content on Instagram,—Friends get cut out of group shots, the subject of your video feels cramped and you can't capture the Golden Gate Bridge from end to end."

 Since Instagram announced in June that it would be opening up its platform to all potential advertisers in the coming months, via its parent company Facebook. This move will also appeal to the advertisers wanting to use the app. 

Instagram introduces Landscape And Portrait modes to your feed

00:34 Instagram, instagram landscape mode, instagram portrait mode, Technology