Oculus wants to help you set up the perfect virtual reality room
Why it matters to you
VR early adopters may struggle with roomscale set-up, especially as the tech evolves. Oculus aims to help.
Oculus today published the first in what the company’s official blog says will be a four-part series on setting up the perfect home VR room.
In the post, titled “Oculus Roomscale: Tips for Setting Up a Killer VR Room,” the virtual reality company laid out everything from the basic principles of sensor placement to using 3D-printed wall mounts to house the sensors high up near the ceiling.
More: The 12 best Oculus Rift games of 2017
For many VR users it’s challenging enough simply to clear enough space in any room to optimize their virtual reality experience. Even with multiple sensors, furniture can get in the way, and people in smaller homes might not be able to put enough distance between themselves and the sensors. The tips that Oculus outlined are for users who don’t have these problems — “enthusiasts” whose set-ups are pretty great to begin with and who want to “push the limits.”
The post went into great detail on the Oculus sensor’s field of vision, which should prove interesting to all Rift owners. It also described what each sensor sees with various configurations of one, two and three sensors, including two sensors side-by-side in front of the user (on their computer desk) and sensors on opposite sides of the room from one another. The more sensors you add, the larger an area in which you can effectively use the Oculus Touch controllers — though using more than three can apparently create “more technical and performance issues than it’s worth.”
The best option, Oculus said, is to mount the sensors high up on your walls, pointing downward into the center of the room.
“We recommend experimenting with your available space and sensor positions to find the best results,” the post said. Granted, all Rift users will still be limited by the length of the cables connecting their headset to their PC, unless they choose to use a cable extender, for which there’s currently no official option.
Further articles set to be published this week will cover USB sensor bandwidth, host controllers, and additional extra equipment, the post promised.
Mozilla’s Firefox 51 will soon alert you to unencrypted web pages
Why it matters to you
Mozilla wants to make entering sensitive information safer for you, so Firefox will start letting you know when a site is not secure.
Online security is a function of a wide range of technologies, from the security of your internet connection to the operating system you use to your chosen browser. And making sure that all of the resources under your control are safe isn’t enough — there’s also the safety of the web sites you’re visiting.
One of the key technologies aimed at ensuring a safe environment is visiting HTTPS-secured sites as often as possible. While that’s not always under your control, you can at least try to stay informed on whether or not a site uses encryption. The latest version of Mozilla’s Firefox browser, Firefox 51, makes it more clear than ever if you’re on a potentially unsafe web page.
More: If a site is not HTTPS, Google Chrome will tell users it’s not secure
In the past, Firefox simply added a green lock icon to designate sites that use HTTPS, with a neutral, or no lock icon, address bar used for sites without encryption. Keeping your eye out for that green icon was your only option when visiting sites that ask you to enter banking information, passwords, and other sensitive information.
Firefox 51, however, will use a gray lock icon with a red slash to indicate non-HTTPS sites whenever a page askes for a password, giving you a more active means to identify potentially unsafe sites. If you click on the “I” icon for that site, you’ll be notified that the site is not secure and that your login information could be handed over to nefarious parties.
Future versions of Firefox will be even more description, as Mozilla indicates on its security blog. At some point, users will start receiving notice of unsecure connections whenever they enter sensitive information such as usernames and passwords. Also, Firefox will eventually start displaying a crossed out gray lock icon on all sites that don’t use HTTPS, not just those that ask for passwords, and Mozilla plans to continue to encourage developers and web site owners to implement HTTPS.
While we users are ultimately responsible for ensuring that we’re only entering sensitive information in the right places, the companies that provide the tools we use can also lend us a hand. Mozilla is doing just that with its plans to both push the continued adoption of HTTPS and keep us informed when we’re on a site that isn’t encrypted.
Pocket-sized gluten sensor aims to make life easier for celiac disease sufferers
Why it matters to you
With its one-time use capsules and quick results, Nima makes life for the gluten-free that much easier.
The gluten-free sensation is a trendy diet phase for some people, but is a serious health matter for others. For anyone with gluten on the brain, it can be tough to tell when the threatening compound is present in trace amounts that are small, but still threatening. Say hello to Nima, a handheld gluten detection device created by 6SensorLabs to save individuals with celiac disease from dangerous meals and awkward dinner parties.
For those who take gluten allergies seriously, it’s risky to assume that food prepared by anyone else is truly safe to eat. Trace amounts of gluten can still pose a threat to people with celiac disease or severe gluten allergies, so Nima is designed to remove the guesswork by testing liquids, solids, or any other edible material for gluten.
After placing a small food sample into the pre-prepared capsule, screwing on the lid grinds the sample for a better testing surface. Nima then conducts an antibody-based test that mimics scientific lab testing. It works by exposing the ground food sample to a chemical mixture contained in each disposable capsule. As the mixture saturates a test strip within the Nima device, sensors detect whether or not any gluten is present.
Related: Scientists have developed a pill that could allow celiacs to eat gluten
A simple smiley face or a frown appears on the Nima display to indicate the test’s results. In under two minutes, the device can detect up to 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten. In more common food quantities, that works out to the same as 20 milligrams of gluten per 1 kilogram of food. Nima’s single use testing capsules are also disposable, so the Nima device itself is always ready for a new sample without having to clean or refill any components. In just three minutes, you’ll know if your food is safe to eat.
Nima’s mobile app also stores your test results and keeps track of foods you find frequently, in addition to its community platform that lets you communicate with other gluten-concerned users. Nima is also developing a database of gluten-free results that could integrate with restaurant discovery apps like Yelp.
After making waves at last year’s CES, Nima is now available for purchase. For $270, you can get the Nima Starter Kit, which comes with one Nima sensor, three one-time-use test capsules, one micro-USB battery re-charging cable, and a carrying pouch.
Article originally published in January 2016. Updated on 01-26-2017 by Lulu Chang: Added news of Nima’s availability.
Pocket-sized gluten sensor aims to make life easier for celiac disease sufferers
Why it matters to you
With its one-time use capsules and quick results, Nima makes life for the gluten-free that much easier.
The gluten-free sensation is a trendy diet phase for some people, but is a serious health matter for others. For anyone with gluten on the brain, it can be tough to tell when the threatening compound is present in trace amounts that are small, but still threatening. Say hello to Nima, a handheld gluten detection device created by 6SensorLabs to save individuals with celiac disease from dangerous meals and awkward dinner parties.
For those who take gluten allergies seriously, it’s risky to assume that food prepared by anyone else is truly safe to eat. Trace amounts of gluten can still pose a threat to people with celiac disease or severe gluten allergies, so Nima is designed to remove the guesswork by testing liquids, solids, or any other edible material for gluten.
After placing a small food sample into the pre-prepared capsule, screwing on the lid grinds the sample for a better testing surface. Nima then conducts an antibody-based test that mimics scientific lab testing. It works by exposing the ground food sample to a chemical mixture contained in each disposable capsule. As the mixture saturates a test strip within the Nima device, sensors detect whether or not any gluten is present.
Related: Scientists have developed a pill that could allow celiacs to eat gluten
A simple smiley face or a frown appears on the Nima display to indicate the test’s results. In under two minutes, the device can detect up to 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten. In more common food quantities, that works out to the same as 20 milligrams of gluten per 1 kilogram of food. Nima’s single use testing capsules are also disposable, so the Nima device itself is always ready for a new sample without having to clean or refill any components. In just three minutes, you’ll know if your food is safe to eat.
Nima’s mobile app also stores your test results and keeps track of foods you find frequently, in addition to its community platform that lets you communicate with other gluten-concerned users. Nima is also developing a database of gluten-free results that could integrate with restaurant discovery apps like Yelp.
After making waves at last year’s CES, Nima is now available for purchase. For $270, you can get the Nima Starter Kit, which comes with one Nima sensor, three one-time-use test capsules, one micro-USB battery re-charging cable, and a carrying pouch.
Article originally published in January 2016. Updated on 01-26-2017 by Lulu Chang: Added news of Nima’s availability.
For a limited time, enjoy 10 percent off when buying two Kindle Fire tablets
For a limited time, Amazon is offering a 10-percent discount when you purchase two of the firm’s popular and highly-rated Kindle Fire tablets. The deal is available for the standard version with a 7-inch display as well as the upgraded HD model with an 8-inch touchscreen, and the offer applies when you purchase two Fire tablets of the same model.
The Kindle Fire 7 features a bright IPS display and a 1.3GHz quad-core processor. This model comes standard with either 8GB or 16GB of internal memory, and storage space can be expanded by up to 200GB via an internal MicroSD card slot. The internal battery provides enough power for up to seven hours of continuous use before needing a recharge.
More: Expand your Wi-Fi reach with this TP-Link Range Extender ($47 off)
The Fire HD 8 offers an upgrade over the standard model with an 8-inch high-definition touchscreen and a larger battery which can hold a single charge for up to 12 hours. Under the hood, it utilizes the same 1.3GHz quad-core processor as the Fire 7 but adds 50 percent more RAM for a nice speed boost. The standard 16 or 32GB of internal storage can be expanded to 200GB as with the Fire 7.
Both Kindle Fire tablets are available in four body colors and feature Amazon’s cloud-based Alexa service. Easy voice commands allow Alexa to access your media libraries, perform internet searches, send messages, and more. Also included is Amazon Underground, which makes thousands of completely free apps and games available to you. Enjoy access to millions of shows, e-books, paid apps and games, movies, and music albums as well.
After the 10-percent discount, two 8GB Fire 7 tablets come in at just $90 while two 16GB Fire HD 8 tablets can be had for $162. We don’t know how long the offer is going to last, but this is a solid deal if you’re looking for a pair of Amazon’s feature-laden and well-reviewed Kindle Fire tablets.
Buy it now from Amazon:
$90 for Fire 7 $162 for Fire HD 8
‘Zelda: Breath of the Wild’ will not have Switch’s ‘HD rumble’ feature
Why it matters to you
The new Zelda won’t showcase all of the Nintendo Switch’s new capabilities, despite being a launch title.
The next game in the Legend of Zelda franchise, Breath of the Wild, will not utilize the Switch’s “HD rumble” feature, despite being a launch game for Nintendo’s next-generation console. Purportedly this is because Nintendo wants parity between that version and the one that will release on its current-gen system, the Wii U.
One of the unique features in Nintendo’s upcoming Switch console is the inclusion of what it calls ‘HD rumble.’ Acting more like an advanced form of haptic feedback, it allows for much finer motor responses within the Joy-Con controllers than does the traditional rumble pack found in other console gamepads.
It’s used extensively in Nintendo’s 1-2 Switch games, for everything from simulating the feeling of balls rolling around inside the controller, to finding the unique combination to a safe.
But it won’t be used in Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
This came to light during an interview with Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma, who said in a chat with French publication, GameBlog (via NintendoLife), that Nintendo wanted to have the same experience on both the Switch and Wii U.
“The problem is that the purpose of the Switch version was to provide exactly the same experience as on Wii U, and vice versa,” he said. “If we had started to adapt the game to the Switch’s features, it would not have been the same game.”
More: Nintendo’s Switch is one console you can take everywhere — here’s what you need to know
While this does make sense, it’s also possible that the feature wasn’t developed because Breath of the Wild was initially designed to be a Wii U title. While we don’t know exactly when Nintendo made the decision to port it over to Switch and make it a launch title, it may have been that having seen several delays before, Nintendo didn’t want to add more features which could have further pushed back the game’s release.
It’s also possible that Nintendo doesn’t want to produce only novelty uses for its HD rumble system. One of the long-running issues with the Wii U was that its second-screen feature was barely utilized, and when it was, it tended to add little to gameplay.
For more on the Nintendo Switch and why not all of us are sold on it, check out our expanded coverage.
Charge your phone or give your car a boost with Suaoki jump-starter, now $90
Having your phone die on you is annoying enough, but discovering that your car has a dead battery can be a major problem. You’re most likely to find out your car is dead when you need to go somewhere and jumping a dead battery usually requires another vehicle. The process can be a hassle even in the best circumstances and a car battery dying in the middle of nowhere is a quick way to find yourself stranded. With the Suaoki car jump-starter and portable charger, however, you’ll have all the power you need when you need it.
The Suaoki car jump-starter removes the need for another vehicle when you have to give your dead battery a boost. The device’s high-capacity 20,000mAh power supply can jump 12V batteries for any car with up to a 5.0-liter gas or 3.0-liter diesel engine. The included compact clamps work much like traditional jumping cables, but feature smart safety technology that protects against short-circuits and irregularities in voltage, current, and temperature that can potentially present a hazard when charging.
More: Enjoy power in the palm of your hand with the Tiergrade universal power bank, now 60 percent off
With two USB ports, the jump-starter can easily handle your smaller energy needs as well. Phones, tablets, and other devices that power up via USB can take advantage of the battery’s large capacity for multiple charges. An LCD readout on the side of the unit displays power levels, and a built-in LED light can serve as an emergency strobe or flashlight in a pinch.
The Suaoki car jump-starter is now available on Amazon for $90, giving you a 55 percent discount off of the usual price for a considerable savings of $110. At 9.4 inches long, 6.2 inches wide, and 4.5 inches thick, this handy and versatile jump-starter and charger can fit easily under a car seat or in a glove box for some extra peace of mind when you’re on the road.
$90 on Amazon
Tough as scales: Researchers create protective material inspired by fish skin
Why it matters to you
Accidentally stabbing your hand might not result in injury if you’re wearing gloves made from this protective material.
In a bid to build flexible and durable protective gear, researchers from McGill University turned to nature for inspiration and frequented a fish market to find test subjects.
Scientists often adopt structures found in nature for new functions. Artificial neural networks — an approach that has enabled great advances in AI — is modeled off of the human brain and nervous system. Harvard roboticists, for example, have built tiny drones that can perch like insects in order to conserve energy. Work smarter, not harder is a tenet of bio-inspired design.
“The fish scales we see on fish nowadays are the result of millions of years of trial and error through natural evolution,” Francois Barthelat, lead researcher at McGill’s Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Bioinspiration, told Digital Trends. “After all that time of fine tuning, we should expect that scales must be very good at what they are made for, in this case resisting bites from predators.”
But not all scales evolve equally. After carrying dozens of striped bass back to the lab, sliding their scales under a microscope, and fracturing them to study their physical properties, Barthelat and his team realized they were probing the wrong species. So, they released the bass and caught a hardy alligator gar.
More: Engineers create bio-inspired, silk-based materials with programmable traits
“The alligator gar is a particularly good model because its scales are very bony and extremely hard, much harder than the scales on your regular fish market fish,” Barthelat said. “Alligator gars are so well ‘armored’ that they are virtually impossible to cut, even with a hacksaw.”
The studies affirmed Barthelat’s assumption about the strength of scales — in fact, it showed scales to be the toughest collagen-based material known — but it also revealed the often counter-intuitive aspects of natural design, such as that smaller scales are less penetrable than larger ones.
Aided by a computer model, Barthelat and his team used their newfound knowledge about the optimal size, shape, and arrangement of scales to develop highly protective, ceramic-covered gloves. Future applications may help protect areas like the neck, knees, and elbows.
“Our bio-inspired scale design excels in applications where a balance between flexibility and protection is required,” Barthelat said. “We are now focusing on personal protection in hazardous industrial environments, and we have also started to explore applications in sports equipment.”
A paper detailing the research was published in the journal Bioinspiration & Biomimetics,
Creative unveils improved Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition gaming headset
Why it matters to you
The Sound BlasterX was already one of Creative’s best gaming headsets, but if you’re looking for even better performance, this one might be worth purchasing.
As the top of the Sound BlasterX line, the H7 is already a feature-packed gaming headset, especially for those who are looking to keep the price under $200. Now Creative has made that headset even better, unveiling the new Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition.
You will notice that this edition is new before you even put the headset on, as the look has been overhauled. The ear cup plates are now brushed metal, with the company logo emblazoned in a bold red color, and the rest of the headset using a gun-metal finish. Both the cable and the fabric inside of the ear cups are red, adding a sharp contrast.
More: The Sound BlasterX H5s are an affordable option for uncomfortable gamers
The H7 Tournament Edition features upgraded 50mm FullSpectrum drivers that Creative says are tuned for better clarity and sensitivity, making hearing your opponents movement easier than ever. The detachable microphone has also been redesigned for better voice pickup and noise cancellation, meaning your teammates will be able to hear you clearly, even in loud, busy surroundings.
The headset offers two sound modes: USB and analog. In USB mode, the headset uses X-Plus sound signature, which features specially tuned sound profiles for a variety of popular games, including Overwatch, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Dota 2. These settings can be saved right to the headset, meaning you will be able to carry the settings with you to any computer.
USB mode also allows you to use the BlasterX Acoustic Engine software on your PC to customize your audio settings, tweaking the 7.1-channel sound for optimal immersion. Analog mode, on the other hand, is meant more for listening to music. Creative says that when used in analog mode, the headset offers a more dynamic sound signature, playing your favorite songs with a more natural, balanced sound.
More: Creative iRoar review
The Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition will be available in February via the Creative website. The company has only listed the price for Europe so far, at 160 euros, though if the Sound BlasterX H5 Tournament Edition — already available — is anything to go by, the list price for the H7 Tournament Edition in the U.S. will likely be around $160.
Biometric research suggests monitoring your mental well-being for authentication
Why it matters to you
Researchers are racing to find new, secure ways of authenticating people. Now they’re analyzing our emotional and mental well-being.
Researchers have proposed a new method of biometric authentication that analyzes a person’s brainwaves to determine their emotional and mental well-being before granting access to equipment or an application.
Violeta Tulceanu at the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in Romania described in her paper, “Brainwave authentication using emotional patterns“ how she and her researchers are studying the neurological events around different emotions and if this indicator of a sound mind could be applied to authentication.
In their tests, the researchers stimulated a person’s brain using different sounds. The electrical patterns that emerge would, in theory, give some kind of indication of the person’s state of mind. The initial scans of the brain are referred to as an emotional “fingerprint.” This data is then stored and compared against the person’s electrical patterns in the future to find any possible changes before allowing access to a system or program. The researchers hope the data can be used to predict future behavior patterns as well.
More: Biometric authentication may soon be only a heartbeat away
Understanding the brain in this way, according to Tulceanu, would help determine a person’s motivation. Some of the practical uses include physical security systems to stop someone entering a building or analyzing a person’s state of mind before granting them access to financial or health data. In one extreme example, the method could be used to inhibit someone of ill mind that usually has access to weaponry or military equipment or to make sure that person was acting on their own accord.
The research is still at an early stage, so don’t expect to see anyone getting their brain scanned before using an ATM anytime soon.
It is another novel approach to biometric authentication, though. As the old methods of passwords and PINs becoming increasingly insecure and unreliable, we’ve seen more and more use cases of fingerprint or iris identifiers. But we’ve also seen researchers toy around with different ideas that are a little outside the box, including a method that identifies someone’s hair protein.
Analyzing emotions as an authentication process is a relatively newer idea. Another researcher, Abdul Serwadda, at Texas Tech University is also examining the efficacy of brainwaves for ongoing authentication. His method involves continually monitoring a user while they are using a system to ensure no one else has taken over after the login process.
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