Netflix Switch – you can make this button to ease your binging needs

Nothing like winding down after a long day and going through a couple (or many hours) of entertainment binging. Getting the right mood always takes some extra effort we would rather facilitate, though. You have to take care of the lighting, order your favorite meal, set up your home entertainment system and more. What if there was a button that could do all of this at once?

Netflix showcased this dream device is definitely possible, and you can have your own. The streaming giant showcased ‘The Switch’ at the 2015 World Maker Fair, this weekend. On the outside it just looks like a regular ol’ (and antiquated) arcade button, but it’s definitely a much smarter one than we are used to seeing. Pressing it can dim the lights, silence your smartphone’s incoming calls, order takeout and turn Netflix on… all at once.

Pretty neat, right? So when can you buy it? The bad news is you really can’t just purchase one of these. You have to make it yourself, and that will take a bit of tech savviness. It’s definitely not impossible with a bit of research, though. You just have to make your way through web servers, electronics, APIs, Arduino boards and a few other things. The good news is Netflix has given us the whole process, list of materials and requirements in an easy-to-follow instructions manual.

The system works with Phillips Hue lights, too, which will require some extra investing if you don’t have these set up at home, which most people don’t. You must also set up the IR system to control most televisions. Most other things can be done through WiFi, though, which is the main for of communication between the Switch and all involved components.

It will definitely take some time and effort to set up this smart accessory, but you will be compensated with a thoughtless process for your Netflix experience. Not to mention, it’s a great way to impress your buds and may lead to a much funner “Netflix and pizza” time.

Click here to learn how to make your Netflix Switch!

Brain implants help the paralyzed type faster

It’s possible for paralysis victims to type and otherwise communicate with the world, but they usually have to do so at a glacial pace. They might not be nearly so limited in the future, though. In experiments combining BrainGate2 (a high-speed neural implant system) with text entry software, researchers had a Lou Gehrig’s sufferer type words at six words per minute. While that may not sound quick on the surface, it’s incredibly fast for someone relying solely on mental activity to write a message.

The technique could help just about any paralyzed person communicate, but it’d be most useful for “locked-in” patients that have also lost speech. And the performance may get better — scientists hope to put implants in a part of the brain that could lead to speedier typing. You’re a long way from writing a book with your mind, but the necessary technology is now advanced enough that this is no longer a far-fetched idea.

[Image credit: Stanford University/Nature]

Via: IEEE Spectrum

Source: Nature

4-gram ‘Tribot’ shows off heat-activated high jumping

At the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), a laboratory that specializes in origami robots has created one that was inspired by the inchworm. The tiny 4-gram machine called “Tribot” can crawl, jump seven times its height and then resume crawling without any resting period in between. Since Jamie Paik’s team at the Reconfigurable Robotics Laboratory couldn’t use typical bulky motors to create a light and foldable machine, they had to use titanium and nickel “shape memory alloy” to build actuators and springs for it. Tribot crawls by heating those memory alloy parts with an electric current — the heat makes its limbs “remember” or pop back to their original shape after expanding. In the video below, you can watch the researchers discuss both Tribot and the other origami robot they’re developing, a four-limbed “Crawler.”

At this point in time, the team still doesn’t have a specific application in mind for Tribot. It’s not your typical robot, after all — plus, it’s tiny. One thing’s for sure, though: it can be sent anywhere on Earth it’s needed, shipped in flat layers en masse “just like Ikea furniture,” according to Paik. If you add other features to it, such as cameras or sensors, then theoretically it can be used for anything from surveillance to search-and-rescue operations.

Via: Gizmodo

Source: EPFL

Kerv is the world’s first contactless payment ring that never needs to be charged or connected to a smartphone

Kerv is the world’s first contactless payment ring. Similar to using your smartphone to pay for items at a store, only as a ring. Where it differs is you do not need to be connected to a smartphone, never have to enter a PIN when paying, and never need to charge it.

This makes it perfect for situations where you may not want to bring your phone or wallet with you, such as, riding a bike, running, or going to the beach. It’s also very durable. Kerv is waterproof and the outer shell is made from zirconia ceramic, which makes it very difficult to scratch.

Kerv founder, Philip Campbell, said,

“Currently, wearable payment devices are either eye-wateringly expensive or thoroughly unattractive. But the biggest issue I have is that they’re all worn on the wrist, which has to be placed flat against the contactless reader in a way that feels extremely unnatural and awkward. With a creative background – plus eight years’ experience in payments – I felt we could do better. So we did, designing Kerv to be the most ergonomic, natural and convenient contactless payment method possible.”

If you are interested in Kerv, head to their Kickstarter page to learn more about them or back the project. The video below also gives you a much better idea on how it works in actual use.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Press Release:

LONDON, September 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ —

Embargoed until: 12.01am 25th September 2015

Kerv (http://kerv.com ), the London fintech startup, today launches the world‘s first contactless payment ring on kickstarter.com in a bid to raise £77k mass-production capital via crowdfunding. 

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150923/269922 )

Kerv wearers can make instant contactless payments of £30 or lower with a single gesture – no card, PIN, or paired smartphone required. Accepted anywhere in the world that takes contactless payments, Kerv is always on ‘your’ hand, removing the need to carry a wallet, purse, cash or cards – perfect for those with active lifestyles. The Kerv ring never needs charging and doesn’t need to be paired with a smartphone to work.

Kerv seamlessly blends form with function, creating a beautiful and understated piece of wearable tech which, uniquely, looks and feels nothing like a piece of wearable tech. Available in black or white, Kerv’s sleek outer shell is engineered from zirconia ceramic, a material most often found in nuclear reactors and spacecraft and dental surgeries. Zirconia is lightweight, hypoallergenic and one of the most scratch-resistant materials on the planet, necessary for an item of functional jewellery designed to be worn all day, every day. Kerv is also waterproof.

Beyond retail payments, Kerv can be used on the Transport for London network (and other global cities’ mass transit systems). Kerv also offers instant sharing of emergency, medical or contact details at the tap of an NFC-enabled phone, plus one-touch access via compatible NFC locks and security systems – which means even more pocket junk can be left at home.

Kerv founder, Philip Campbell, said, “Currently, wearable payment devices are either eye-wateringly expensive or thoroughly unattractive. But the biggest issue I have is that they’re all worn on the wrist, which has to be placed flat against the contactless reader in a way that feels extremely unnatural and awkward. With a creative background – plus eight years’ experience in payments – I felt we could do better. So we did, designing Kerv to be the most ergonomic, natural and convenient contactless payment method possible.”

Phil continued: “We feel Kerv is a perfect fit for Kickstarter, but we don’t just see the campaign as a way of raising the funds to take Kerv to mass production; we want to elicit the input and support of a community of forward-thinking individuals that have a real desire to help bring great products to market.”

Kerv Chairman David Hunter added: “A lot of technology in payments strikes me as being a solution looking for a problem. I’m confident that Kerv will be well received on Kickstarter because it solves genuine problems, focuses on the user-experience and makes the underlying technology invisible.”

Kerv, the world’s first contactless payment ring, launches on Kickstarter today, Friday the 25th September at 7am GMT.

Editor‘s notes 

About Kerv, the world‘s first contactless payment ring: 

See more about Kerv, at: https://youtu.be/8b0EO1WGZks

• Make contactless NFC payments up to £30 (contactless payments limits vary by territory)
• Accepted at over 38 million locations worldwide
• Switch rings on and off, manage funds and receive transaction alerts  via app, SMS or website
• Link an optional contactless prepaid card to a Kerv account for higher-value transactions
• The Kerv account is governed by FCA regulations for the issuance of e-money
• Tap-in on tubes, trains and buses in the Transport for London network (and approx. 10 other transport networks around the world)
• Share personal data – such as contact, emergency or medical details – at the touch of an NFC-enabled smartphone
• Access home, office or lockers via compatible NFC-enabled locks
• Never needs charging and does not need to be paired with a smartphone to operate
• Waterproof and scratchproof
• Designed for men and women, Kerv is available in two styles and a wide range of sizes
• Estimated retail price is £49.99

Further information

Website: kerv.com
Kickstarter: http://ks.kerv.com (prior to 7am Friday 25th this is a preview only. Post 7am this will redirect to the live Kickstarter campaign)

Hi-res product image and Kerv logo available at http://kerv.com/PR

SOURCE Kerv

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