Researchers simulate walls in VR by shocking your muscles

Virtual reality is still a pretty crappy facsimile of The Matrix, but scientists are trying their best to fix that. At the CHI’17 conference in Denver, a team of researchers from the Hasso-Plattner-Institut in Potsdam showed off a haptic system that can simulate walls or heavy objects via electrical muscle stimulation. “We were really interested in trying to explore one of the hardest things to recreate in terms of physical sensation, which is a wall,” says co-author Pedro Lopes.

The researchers hooked subjects up with a medical-grade eight-channel muscle simulator (EMS) installed in a backpack. That’s controlled over USB by a VR simulator that works with Samsung GearVR, hand-mounted trackers and a motion capture system. “The major potential here is that this is something you can have with very little hardware,” Lopes explains.

They attached electrodes to users’ forearms and biceps, which automatically apply a mild electrical shock when they touch or lift a virtual object. That tenses the activated muscle, repulsing the users hand and making them feel they’re pushing against a wall or picking up a heavy cube (see the video, below).

It took the team a while to create a realistic simulation. At first, they applied a current to the users’ muscle proportional to their force, “just strongly enough to prevent it passing through [a wall],” the team wrote. However, one participant said that it “felt like a magnet pulling the hand backwards,” in a not-very-realistic way.

Eventually, they arrived at two different simulators. In the first, they cut off the EMS intensity at a certain limit. That allowed users to penetrate simulated objects by about 10cm, a good simulation for foam or other soft things. In the second case, they used a short EMS pulse that actually propelled the user’s hand backwards, never allowing them to push through the wall or other object. (The shocks aren’t intense enough to hurt users, by the way.)

The technology isn’t exactly new, as it has been used for physical therapy and exercise stimulation for years (think of those janky ab stimulators). There are even some companies trying to develop it for entertainment purposes, like the team behind the Teslasuit, which also uses electric muscle simulation. However, Lopes thinks it should be very low profile tech that can even be integrated into regular textiles. “There’s a need for physicality in VR,” he told Fast Co. “The next step is bigger force, more physical sensations.”

Via: Fast Company

Source: Hasso Plattner Institut

Rogue drones targeted by new ‘specialist squad’ in the U.K.

Why it matters to you

With drones becoming more affordable as well as flyable, rogue drone incidents are an inevitable consequence that the authorities are battling to deal with.

You might be having fun flying your quadcopter over dramatic mountains and gorgeous coastlines, capturing jaw-dropping imagery as you go, but some nefarious folks have long been using the machines to deliver contraband into prisons.

The issue is a growing headache not only for the U.S. authorities, but for officials everywhere who’re trying to keep drugs and other contraband outside of secure facilities.

Indeed, the problem is now so serious in the U.K. that the government there has just announced the launch of a “specialist squad” comprising prison officers and cops to deal with the threat posed by drones to jail security.

Unveiled on Monday by the Ministry of Justice, an appointed team of investigators will work solely to “identify and track down those involved in attempts to smuggle in contraband.”

“We will find you and put you behind bars”

While it’s thought that most contraband enters prisons via corrupt staff, targeting drones is part of a wider effort to disrupt the flow of drugs, mobile phones, and other banned materials into British prisons to ensure such facilities remain as places of “safety and reform,” the government said.

Prisons minister Sam Gyimah said in a release, “My message to those who involve themselves in this type of criminal activity is clear — we will find you and put you behind bars.”

The government said the launch of the new squad comes in the wake of a number of cases that have seen drone owners jailed for attempted prison deliveries using off-the-shelf quadcopters such as DJI’s popular Phantom machines.

At the end of last month, for example, two men were jailed for up to six-and-a-half years for trying to fly contraband worth a total of 48,000 pounds (about $60,000) into several prisons across the south-east of the U.K.

Solutions

American jails are having to deal with the same problem, prompting prison administrators to explore different ways to halt the illegal drops.

A myriad of solutions are available, some more tech-based than others. Dedrone, for example, has developed the DroneTracker, which can detect remotely controlled flying machines within 1,640 feet in any direction. When it spots a rogue machine, the operator can then follow it to its landing point and apprehend the pilot, or take control of the flight and land it beside them. Other solutions include a shoulder-mounted, net-firing bazooka, and even highly trained eagles.

SpaceX’s next Hyperloop contest will focus on one element: speed

Why it matters to you

Hyperloop is all about speed so August’s contest has the potential to take the passenger pod technology to the next level.

Hyperloop technology promises an extremely fast commute for those living and working between cities, and while some may still raise eyebrows at its viability, there’s no doubting the determination of those involved in propelling the highly ambitious project all the way to completion.

The idea for the ultra-fast transportation system is the brainchild of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, and while his company has no direct involvement in the actual development of the proposed technology — leaving that to the likes of Hyperloop One — SpaceX is still helping to organize various events and contests to encourage the design of the passenger pods that could one day be hurtling through a near-vacuum tube at speeds of up to 760 mph.

Following on from January’s contest in California that saw the best three teams from a line-up of 27 given the chance to run their pod along a test track, a new competition has been announced for this August, and it sounds like the most exciting yet.

That’s because this one focuses on a single element: speed. That’s right, this time around, teams will have to push their pod to the extreme, demonstrating just how fast it can move along SpaceX’s specially built mile-long test track.

“The competition will include new and returning student teams, some of which have already built and tested their pods during the first competition,” SpaceX said on its website.

It promises to be a intriguing showdown, and with speed at  the very heart of the Hyperloop project, could turn up some fascinating results.

At January’s contest, speed took a back seat to design and performance. A team from Delft University in the Netherlands emerged victorious after gaining the highest overall score with its super-sleek, carbon-fiber pod featuring a specially designed brake and stabilization system.

The upcoming speed contest will be held from August 25 through 27, so be sure to check back to see if the winning team achieves a breakthrough for the Hyperloop project.

Check out the launch design of that crazy 16-lens camera

Why it matters to you

If you’ve pre-ordered Light’s L16 camera, you’ll be pleased to know that the first units will finally start to ship in July.

Images showing the final design of the crazy 16-lens camera from Silicon Valley-based Light have emerged ahead of the device’s July shipping date.

The L16 camera, which promises DSLR-quality images but in a much smaller package, first came to our attention back in 2015, and since then has received a $30 million cash injection from GV (formerly Google Ventures) to help drive its development forward.

What is expected to be the launch design shows a few subtle changes in the L16’s appearance, as noted by Light Rumors. The flash, for example, has moved from above the Light logo to among the 16 lenses, which, as a consequence, sees the laser focus assist module pushed slightly to the right. It also seems that an attachment slot for a wrist strap has been added to the side where you’d hold the camera in your right hand. Additionally, the right-hand grip now sits flush with the main body of the camera while the original design appeared to have it jutting out slightly.

The L16

Light’s intriguing $1700 camera can shoot as wide as 28mm, and up to 150mm for tighter shots, using five 28mm modules at f/2.0, five 70mm modules at f/2.0, and six 150mm modules at f/2.4. Built-in memory of 256GB stores each 52-megapixel shot snapped with the device.

“The L16 uses multiple small lenses to shoot photos at the same time, then fuses them into a DSLR quality image,” Light explains on its website. “The design allows the L16 to gather 10 times more light than a traditional smartphone, delivering incredible low-light performance.”

Interestingly, the L16 also lets the photographer alter the focal plane and depth of field after taking the image.

Delivery

While the company has been grappling with a number of technical issues connected with the L16’s ambitious design, the company has said in recent days that it’s aiming to begin shipping pre-orders to U.S.-based customers on July 14.

However, it added that “given the length of our pre-order list,” it expects fulfillment of the pre-orders to take until late summer. “We hope to be accepting new L16 orders in the U.S. in late 2017,” Light said.

As a camera notable for both its looks and promise, we hope to get our hands on the L16 soon after launch to discover if it really does live up to the hype.

HTC U rumored to ditch headphone jack, pick up IP57 water resistance

HTC’s first global flagship with water resistance.

HTC’s next flagship phone will follow in the footsteps of last year’s Bolt in a couple of significant areas. According to seasoned HTC tipster @LlabTooFeR on Twitter, the phone will carry an IP57 rating for water and dust resistance, while also doing away with the 3.5mm headphone jack.

IP57 means dust particles can’t enter the phone in a way that affects normal operation, and it’s water resistant in up to one meter of water at normal pressure for 30 minutes. It’s not quite as hardy as the Galaxy S8, which is good for up to 1.5 meters according to Samsung’s spec. However either should be fine out in the rain, or after a quick dunk in the bath.

More: Rugged phone ratings: Everything you need to know

The #donglelife will continue with HTC’s 2017 flagship.

The lack of a headphone jack isn’t too surprising, given that both the Bolt and the U Ultra have passed on this feature. Expect HTC to talk up its own USonic USB-C earbuds once again around announcement time. (Hopefully, unlike the U Ultra, there’ll actually be a USB-C to 3.5mm dongle in the box this time.)

Today’s mini-leak also says there’ll be both single and dual-SIM versions of the phone, which is to be expected for a device that’ll be widely ranged around the world.

We got our first look at the HTC U in the flesh over the weekend, courtesy of well-known leaker Evan Blass, whose leaked photos show a device resembling the front of an HTC 10 and the back of a U Play. The phone is rumored to pack a 5.5-inch display, the latest Snapdragon 835 processor from Qualcomm and 4GB of RAM when it’s announced in the coming weeks.

Toddlers who use touchscreens sleep less, study says

Toddlers really need their sleep. It’s crucial when our brains our first developing, so early problems can ripple across your lifetime. That makes a report by Birbeck University of London researchers somewhat disturbing — they found that toddlers between six and 11 months who play with smartphones or tablets get slightly less sleep than those who don’t. According to the study of 715 parents, every hour of touchscreen use results in 15.6 minutes less of sleep, or 26.4 minutes less total per night and 10.8 minutes more during the day, on average.

“It isn’t a massive amount when you’re sleeping 10-12 hours a day in total, but every minute matters in young development because of the benefits of sleep,” study co-author Dr. Tim Smith told the BBC. That’s because the brain’s “neuroplasticity,” or ability to form new connections in response to new situations or environmental changes, at its highest during infancy.

While the study does associate smartphones and tablets with potential sleep problems, researchers don’t yet think it’s necessary to ban them outright. For one thing, the science behind infant sleep and how it relates to touchscreens is brand new, so “it’s too early to make clear proclamations,” says Smith.

The overall usage observed in the study wouldn’t have a great impact on your baby’s sleep, either. “The children in this study used a touchscreen for about 25 minutes a day, a child who used a touchscreen for this average length of time would sleep for about 6 minutes less,” Smith adds.

Furthermore, touchscreen devices have some positive benefits to balance the sleep problem. In a previous study, the same researchers found they help accelerate a toddler’s motor development compared to infants who don’t use them. “Thus, total restriction of touchscreen use may limit young children in terms of the potential benefits of these devices,” the study concludes.

Pending further studies, the best course of action for parents is common sense. A good course of action is to limit screen time in favor of physical toys and activities. The American Pediatricians Association, for one, recently recommended that parents limit screen time for kids between 2 and 5 to an hour per today. In addition, “it may be worth parents limited touchscreens [with blue light] in the hours before bedtime,” cognitive development researcher Dr. Anna Joyce told the BBC. That’s good advice for parents, too.

Via: BBC

Source: Nature Scientific Reports

UK driving tests to include sat nav skills from December

In biggest shake-up of the standardised driving exam since the introduction of the theory test, UK drivers will be required to demonstrate that they can navigate using a sat nav. The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency has confirmed that from December 4th, learners will be required to drive independently for 20 minutes — double the current length — with four out of every five candidates being asked to follow directions displayed on a navigational device.

The agency says that drivers won’t be required to bring their own sat nav, nor will they be tasked with setting it up. They’ll also be able to ask for clarification of the route if they’re not sure, and it won’t matter if the wrong route is taken, as long as it doesn’t put other road users at risk.

The DVSA noted back in June 2016 that the introduction of technology element would likely improve safety, boost driver confidence and widen potential areas for practical tests. “Using a satnav goes some way to addressing concerns that inexperienced drivers are easily distracted, which is one of the main causes of crashes. We’re moving with technology and the technology that new drivers will be using,” an agency spokesperson said in a statement.

Other changes to the test include the removal of the “reverse around a corner” and “turn-in-the-road” manoeuvres, which will be replaced with parallel parking, parking in a bay and a stop and go test on the side of the road. Examiners will also ask drivers two vehicle safety “show me, tell me” questions. One will be asked before setting off, while the other will be need to be answered while on the road.

Source: Gov.uk

Smart bandages will use 5G data to track your health

Bandages are usually very mysterious — it’s hard to know how well you’re healing until you unwrap them, and that usually means a trip to the doctor. If Welsh researchers succeed, however, you’ll never have to wonder what’s going on underneath all that cloth. Swansea University is planning trials (due within 12 months) of smart, 3D-printed bandages that will use 5G wireless data and nano-sized sensors to constantly relay details about your health. It would help physicians customize treatment based on the progress of your wound, your location and your activity. If you’re healing well and are staying active, for example, you may get a different solution than someone who’s recovering slowly and needs to stay home.

The use of 5G sounds like overkill, but the school’s Marc Clement says this is a chance to offer “resilient, robust bandwidth” that sends a constant flow of data to doctors.

There are a few pieces that have to fall into place for this to work: the city of Swansea needs to complete its 5G test hub, while nanotech experts have to finish the sensors. Don’t be surprised if there are delays. All the same, this is promising. If your physician always has a detailed view of what’s happening, you could both remove bandages sooner and visit the hospital only when it’s truly necessary.

Source: BBC

New Renderings Show an ‘iPhone 8’ Design With Full-Front Display and Minimal Bezels All Around

Days after a claimed 3D design drawing of the upcoming “iPhone 8” appeared, frequent Weibo leaker KK has shared a different dimensional drawing and renderings showing a device that is somewhat smaller in size than the previous leak. The veracity of the new drawing can not be confirmed, but KK has on several occasions shared accurate details about previous devices.

This new iPhone 8 leak shows a device that measures 137.54 mm tall by 67.54 mm wide, nearly identical to the iPhone 7’s 138.3 mm x 67.1 mm body. The thickness of the iPhone 8 is not shown on the drawing.

According to the diagram, the iPhone 8’s display measures 5.768 inches on the diagonal and will indeed cover nearly the entire front of the device. There appears to be only a 4 mm bezel around all four sides of the display, with over half of that being the 2.5D curved glass at the edges and the remainder appearing to be the device’s frame around the sides.

The drawing shows a narrow earpiece at the top of the device’s front, with various cameras, sensors, and other components on either side of the earpiece. Those components would likely include a front-facing camera, small microphone hole, ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, and the rumored 3D sensor.

All of these components appear to be embedded within the display area itself, and while the accompanying rendered mockups based on the drawing show the earpiece appearing as a physical slit within the display area, the camera and other sensors are not depicted and it is unclear how they would appear in reality.

With the display filling the entire front of the device, there is no dedicated Home button and thus no visible Touch ID sensor. Apple has been rumored to be trying to build Touch ID into the iPhone’s display, but the company has reportedly been struggling with perfecting the technology and thus could resort to putting the sensor on the rear of the device. One of the renderings shows the rear of the device with no obvious dedicated Touch ID sensor, although there is no corresponding dimensional drawing of the rear.

Notably, the rendering of the rear of the alleged iPhone 8 again shows a vertical dual camera, this time with the LED flash placed between the two cameras. As Ben Bajarin points out, the increased separation of the two lenses would help with augmented reality and 3D features, allowing for a greater difference in perspective.

iDrop News and Benjamin Geskin posted their own mockups showing a very similar design a few days ago, but it is unclear whether the two batches of renderings are based on the same original source information or if one set’s creator was working from the other.

It is still early in the rumor cycle for detailed design leaks, so readers should continue to take information like this with a grain of salt until the information begin to solidify around a single specific design, but given KK’s history of leaks this one is worth considering as a possibility.

Related Roundup: iPhone 8 (2017)
Tag: KK
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Lynk & Co unveils its second take on a shareable car

Lynk & Co might have only shown off its first tech-laden vehicle half a year ago, but it’s already set for a follow-up… and then some. The Geely-owned brand has unveiled the 03 Concept, a sedan sibling to the 01 Concept crossover (which has also reached its production-ready form). While the design won’t shock you — it’s really a lower-profile 01 — this brings Lynk & Co’s combination of technology and unique business models to a wider audience. The centerpiece remains a Microsoft/Alibaba-designed infotainment system with built-in car sharing support, which lets you lend your car to others through a smartphone app. However, there are also some new wrinkles in paying for Lynk & Co’s cars that could be as important as the cars themselves.

As before, Lynk & Co is making a big deal of direct online sales, where you’d pay a fixed price and wait for a delivery truck at home. However, it’s now teasing a subscription model where you pay for cars based on usage. If you only need a car for a few months at a time, you might not have to waste money by taking out a lease. The automaker also plans to offer free data, making sure you can use car sharing and apps without fear of running up a bill. It’s not clear if there are any catches to that data, but a true lifetime of data would stand in contrast to Tesla’s offer of free data for just the first few years of ownership.

It’s not clear what will power the 03, but the tailpipes on the concept suggest you’ll have the 01’s hybrid option at a minimum. The 01 is also expected to show up in all-electric form, so it would only be logical for the 03 to follow in its bigger sibling’s footsteps.

There are many unknowns surrounding both cars. Lynk & Co previously said that it wants to bring its cars to the US and Europe in 2018, but it has been quiet on how much they’ll cost — and that’s assuming the 03 makes it to market. If the fledgling badge accomplishes its goals, though, it’ll make a bigger splash than some other tech-driven car startups.

Via: CNET

Source: Lynk & Co