QuadStick controller opens up PS3, PC and Android titles to quadriplegic gamers (video)
Playing PS3 games could soon get a little more inclusive. QuadStick, a suitably complex mouth-based controller that offers quadriplegics the ability to play console games, has launched its fundraising campaign on Kickstarter. The controller is composed of a single joystick, four sip-and-puff sensors, a lip position sensor and a push switch, all hooked into a 32-bit ARM processor that outputs to both USB and Bluetooth, and then to gaming hardware. And it’s not just for PCs: it’ll work with Android devices and PS3s too. (If you have the right adapter, it’ll also hook-up to both Xbox Ones and 360s.) Which input is assigned to which in-game button is configurable, although there’s several prearranged setups built into the Kickstarter controller, too. The user can use the straws to shift between different control methods, deciding whether to control the left analog stick, the d-pad or navigate using a mouse cursor.
Gamers would also be able to use third-party voice recognition suites (like Dragon Naturally Speaking), to add in voice commands too. These could calibrated to pick up word commands and convert them into game-specific actions — just because triangle is ‘jump’ in one game, it typically isn’t in another. The roots of the project came from Ken Yankelevitz’s Quad Control Joystick, with Davison then tweaking and adding to the base design while getting consistent feedback from quadriplegic gamers. Ensuring the mouthpiece fitted correctly was apparently one of the biggest challenges, but it’s already working with the likes of Call of Duty — there’s a video of exactly that after the break. At the moment, there’s five working prototypes, and if the product reaches its funding goal of $10,000, it aims to make at least 25 units, with plans to scale up depending on how much is raised: the project’s already reached over $3,000.
Filed under: Gaming
Via: Eurogamer
Source: QuadStick (Kickstarter)
FDA approves swallowable ‘PillCam’ after almost a decade (video)
It’s been about nine years since we last heard from from Given Imaging, but the FDA has finally granted a version of the firm’s minuscule snapshooter its blessing. Not everyone has an easy time undergoing traditional colonoscopy procedures (due to drug allergies, for example), which is where the outfit’s PillCam Colon comes in. The camera takes a series of high-speed photos along its eight-hour tour through your digestive system, and transmits the snapshots to a device you mount on your belt. There is a caveat though, as the images aren’t up to par with those taken with standard techniques. The PillCam has been available in 80 other countries for some time, but its US-approval could give the some 750,000 people who can’t undergo normal cancer-and-polyp-scanning procedures a chance at early detection.
Filed under: Cameras, Science, Alt
Via: Motherboard
Source: The Boston Globe
Daily Roundup: Satya Nadella named Microsoft CEO, 10 years of Facebook and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Meet Satya Nadella
The speculation has ended. Earlier today, Microsoft named its enterprise chief Satya Nadella as the company’s third CEO. Like Ballmer, Nadella has history with Redmond, but their personalities couldn’t be more different. Click on through for more about the man tasked with reinventing Microsoft.
ASUS unveils the Chromebox
As promised, ASUS unveiled its new Chromebox, which will be available this March. At $179, this Chrome-powered machine packs Intel-integrated HD graphics and 16GB of onboard storage. Plus, owners get 100GB of free space, courtesy of Google Drive. Follow the link for details.
Iridium’s Satellite Hotspot
World travelers take note: Iridium’s latest satellite hotspot, the Iridium Go, brings worldwide internet action for around $800. Owners can pair up to five WiFi-equipped devices and access features through its official Android and iOS apps. Follow the link for more.
Facebook celebrates its 10-year birthday
Take a trip down memory lane with Facebook as it celebrates 10 years of happy times and cringe-worthy moments. Click through and enjoy a custom tailored video featuring highlights from you digital autobiography.
Filed under: Misc
[LEAK] He’s at it again: Eldar Murtazin leaks Samsung Galaxy S5 Specs
Now that we have a set date for what is likely to be the Samsung Galaxy S5‘s announcement, the focus of the media has now turned to what the S5 actually looks like and what hardware are we expecting. Well, if there was anyone who was going to leak us the details regarding this, it was going to be Eldar Murtazin, who has just today tweeted out what the Samsung Galaxy S5 specs are going to be.
If Murtazin’s tweet is to be believed, the S5 will be rocking either a Samsung-made Exynos 6 or a Snapdragon 805 processor with 3GB RAM and a choice of either a 32GB or 64GB storage variant. He also says that the display will be a 5.24-inch, 2560×1440 resolution AMOLED (that’s 2K resolution for everyone interested) and the front and rear cameras will be 3.2MP and 16MP respectively. Rounding out the specs, the battery in the S5 is said to be a monstrous 3,200mAh package, a massive jump in capacity over the 2,600mAh in the S4.
For me, there’s nothing groundbreaking about the specs here except the battery capacity. We had heard that the S5′s battery would be utilizing new technology that would allow it to store more battery capacity with only a minor increase in physical size, but 3,200mAh is a lot bigger than expected and exactly the same size as the Galaxy Note 3′s battery. Given the S5′s smaller screen, this will result in a huge boost in battery power over its predecessor. That is, if this is all true…
What do you think about the Samsung Galaxy S5 specs leaked today? Do you think they are real, and are you tempted? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Source: Twitter via Phone Arena
Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 revisits the FCC with AT&T-capable LTE
You might not have to sign up with Verizon to buy a cellular edition of Samsung’s Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 in the US. The gargantuan tablet has returned to the FCC, only this time in a variant with AT&T-native LTE and HSPA+ frequency support; it can also handle the big three Canadian carriers. The slate is otherwise much like its Verizon counterpart, although the absence of T-Mobile 3G means that the UnCarrier likely won’t be selling this model, if it sells the Note Pro at all. There’s also no certainty of an AT&T launch, but we can’t imagine that Samsung repeated the FCC approval process just for laughs.
Filed under: Tablets, Samsung, AT&T
Source: FCC
Rdio support for Google Chromecast is in the works
Now that Google has finally opened up the Chromecast SDK to developers, we can expect a whole lot of different applications to start being friendly with the $35 dongle. With this in mind, Rdio, via the RdioHelp Twitter account, let it be known that its dev team is already working to offer native support for Google’s Chromecast. As it stands, Rdio subscribers do have the ability to stream music by casting a Chrome tab on the web, though this would indicate that a solution compatible with the service’s mobile apps is on the way. The tweet doesn’t mention any details about when Rdio for Chromecast could be available — but, hey, at least we know it’s coming.
@journeydan Our team is already working on developing support for Chromecast. Stay tuned!
– Rdio Support (@RdioHelp) February 4, 2014
Filed under: Internet, Software, HD
Source: Twitter (RdioHelp)
Join the Engadget HD Podcast live on Ustream at 8:45PM ET
It’s Tuesday which means it’s time for the Engadget HD Podcast. We hope you’ll join us live when the Engadget HD podcast starts recording at 8:45PM. Tonight we got our thoughts on the Super Bowl on tap as well as the latest from Google regarding the Chromecast. And of course other top HD news. If you’ll be joining us, take a peek at the topics after the break — then do everything else you’ll need to do in order to be ready to participate in the live chat.
Super Bowl 2014 ad roundup: ’80s stars raid a RadioShack, bears dance with Ellen and more
NFL Now online network promises a unique experience for football fans
Super Bowl sets new record for live streaming, barely
The NFL’s new digital network is a step forward, but still not what cord-cutters want
Google finally opens Chromecast SDK, invites developers to get hackin’
AllCast Android media streamer and Chromecast are friends again now that the SDK is here
Chromecast, Google Play, Nexus 5 and Google Wallet had a very good 2013
Aereo stops taking new customers in New York
Two years later, DirecTV customers can finally use Roku players to watch HBO Go
Amazon may raise Prime subscription pricing in the US
Japanese companies testing 360-degree VR broadcasts for live events
Netflix passes bill for the third season of House of Cards
Must See HDTV for the week of February 3rd: Walking Dead and Winter Olympics
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Royal Caribbean uses 80-inch HDTVs to create ‘virtual balcony staterooms’
Every cruise-goer wants the ability to recreate the Jack and Rose experience of “flying” on the bow of the ship from their room, but unless you book a window suite early, getting that experience can pose a Titanic-sized challenge. For latecomers who want the waterside experience, Royal Caribbean is offering “virtual balcony staterooms” with 80-inch floor-to-ceiling HD displays framed to look like an actual balcony. The TVs display close to real-time video from the bow and stern of the ship shot on RED Epic HD cinema cameras, complete with audio. Guests can set the mood by switching between cams using an in-room remote, or close the curtains on the display if it gets too romantic.
Sound nauseating? Control Group, the company behind creating the rooms, worked with experts from M.I.T and Harvard on a special fibre-channel delivery system to make sure the experience of moving differently than what you see on the screen doesn’t make you want to toss your cookies. Eighty of the new rooms set sail for the first time February 5th on Royal Caribbean’s ship Navigator of the Seas. You can book a romantic televisionside stay for future voyages now on Royal Carbbiean’s website.
Filed under: Transportation, Alt
Apple to Restart iPhone 4 Production for India, Indonesia and Brazil [iOS Blog]
Apple has plans to reinstitute iPhone 4 production in order to sell the device in India, Indonesia, and Brazil, reports The Economic Times. A January report indicated Apple would relaunch the discontinued iPhone 4 in India, but it was unclear at that time if the company was continuing production on the phone or selling old inventory.
Citing three senior executives with knowledge of the company’s plans, the site suggests offering a lower cost iPhone will help Apple recoup market share in those countries. Apple partner Foxconn is said to have already begun production on the devices.
The maker of iPads and MacBooks is betting the lower price point will help it wrest volumes from Samsung’s Grand and S4 Mini, and recoup market share that has slumped, largely because it didn’t have phones that were cheap enough.
Reproducing the iPhone 4 will mark the first time that Apple has resumed production of a discontinued product. Apple ceased selling the iPhone 4 in stores following the September 2013 launch of the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c, and its current lineup consists of the aforementioned models along with 2011′s iPhone 4s.
The entry level iPhone 5s sells for Rs. 53,500 ($856) in India, while the entry level iPhone 5c is Rs. 41,900 ($670). The reintroduced 8GB iPhone 4 retails for Rs. 22,900 ($360).
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DARPA gives the public a one-stop shop for its open-source code
Ever wish you could help DARPA build our future robot overlords? Wish no more, friends, because DARPA’s new open-source program will let you in on the action.
DARPA’s making the DARPA Open Catalog, a collection of the publically releasable elements from its findings over the years, available to public. Why is Uncle Sam’s far-out research wing willing to share its secrets? Free labor, folks. The goal of the program is to get the science and R&D communities to test and evaluate the catalog, and ultimately, build communities around government-funded software and research.
All the goodies are available right now to would-be tinkerers and mad scientists. And, keep in mind that the more folks that take advantage of DARPA’s generosity, the more info it’ll add to the catalog. Gotta give a little to get a little, right?
Filed under: Internet, Software
Source: DARPA Open Catalog
AIVAnet 