Here’s How Apple’s New HomePod Speaker and iMac Pro Look in Person

Following the WWDC 2017 keynote today in San Jose, Apple invited members of the media for some hands on time with HomePod, its new Siri-enabled smart speaker and hub for controlling HomeKit accessories.

CNET has shared a gallery of HomePod pictures that provides a close-up look at the speaker, which looks somewhat like a smaller Mac Pro covered in a seamless mesh fabric. It’ll be available in White and Space Gray.

The top of the HomePod has a glossy finish with Siri colors glowing in the center. Since it’s designed for home use, the HomePod doesn’t have a battery, so it must be plugged into a wall outlet or other power source at all times.

Meanwhile, Engadget has shared a gallery of iMac Pro pictures that show the all-in-one desktop computer in its stealthy new Space Gray finish, accompanied by a color-matched Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad.

Apple said both the HomePod and iMac Pro will be available in December for $349 and $4,999 respectively.

Related Roundups: iMac, Siri Smart Speaker
Buyer’s Guide: iMac (Don’t Buy)
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iOS 11 Tidbits: Customizable Control Center, One-Handed Keyboard, Type to Siri and More

iOS 11 introduces a huge number of major changes to the operating system, ranging from a redesigned Control Center experience to a host of new features specific to the iPad, but along with all of these major changes, outlined in our iOS 11 announcement post, there are also dozens of smaller changes that have been added to the beta.

Below, we’ve outlined some of the smaller but still significant tweaks that went unmentioned during Apple’s whirlwind keynote announcement.

– Lock Screen – The Lock screen has a new look with a bolder font for the passcode numbers and lighter circles that don’t feature a white outline.

– One-handed keyboard – On the iPhone, there’s a new option for a one-sided keyboard that can be enabled by pressing down on the globe keyboard button. It moves the keyboard to either the left or right side of the device.

– Type to Siri – There’s an Accessibility feature that enables Type to Siri. With this option toggled on, when Siri is accessed via a Home button press, it brings up a keyboard where you can type something to Siri.

– iPad keyboard changes – On the iPad, symbols and numbers accessible via the shift key are visible on the keys themselves. The alternate symbols and numbers are accessed by pulling down on the key and releasing.

– Customizable Control Center – Apple showed off the new single-page revamped Control Center on stage during the keynote, but what wasn’t mentioned is that the Control Center is customizable. Users can select what’s displayed in Control Center using the Settings app, and there are a huge range of options including Low Power Mode, Notes, Text Size, Wallet, Screen Recording, and more. There’s even a new option to add Apple TV Remote controls to Control Center. Layout can’t be changed, though.

– Offload Unused Apps – In the Settings app, there’s a new option that will automatically uninstall apps that haven’t been used in a while. Documents and data for uninstalled apps will remain available in case the app is re-installed.

– Bolder text – Throughout the operating system, there are bolder text labels and starker, bolder looks for many apps like Phone, Contacts, and FaceTime. Many apps have received design changes ranging from subtle to more significant, such as the revamped Calculator app.

– Unified Siri and search settings – In the Settings app, there’s now a single tab for Siri and Search, which is a more logical layout. There are also options for toggling on Siri suggestions for each individual app that’s downloaded on a device.

– Revamped storage management – The “Storage and iCloud Usage” tab is now just “iPhone Storage” and it features at at-a-glance view of the storage space available on a device along with recommendations for improving storage space like auto deleting old conversations, clearing large Messages attachments, and storing Messages in iCloud, a new feature that syncs Messages across all of your devices.

– Accounts and passwords – There’s a new “Accounts & Passwords” section in Settings that provides access to all iCloud and Mail accounts along with app and website passwords stored in Keychain, accessible only after authenticating with Touch ID. Passwords are also available in the Safari section of the Settings app.

– Safari Settings – Additional privacy options are available for Safari in the Settings app. There’s an option to “Try to Prevent Cross-Site Tracking,” a new iOS 11 feature, and there are options for Camera and Microphone Access.

– Emergency SOS – There’s an Emergency SOS option in the Settings app that allows users to turn on an “Auto Call” feature that will immediately dial 911 when the Sleep/Wake button is pressed five times.

– Drag and drop – Drag and Drop was announced as an iPad feature, but in apps like Files, drag and drop is available for moving files around on the iPhone. Drag and Drop is a feature that’s limited to use within apps on the iPhone and it isn’t system-wide like on the iPad.

– Camera QR code scanning – The Camera app automatically detects QR codes and will respond appropriately, doing things like opening up Safari to a specific website.

– Password Autofill – Password autofilling options are now available for third-party apps.

– AirPods settings – AirPods can now be customized with separate double tap gestures for the left and right AirPod. One can be set to access Siri, for example, while another can be set to play the next track. In iOS 10, double tap settings are applied to both AirPods.

– Auto-pausing for uploads – Photo syncing and other such updates are automatically paused in iOS 11 when battery life is low.

– Automatic setup – When setting up a new iOS device, there’s now an option to hold it near an existing device to automatically copy over settings, preferences, and iCloud Keychain.

– Screen recording – There’s a Control Center option that will automatically capture a screen recording of what you’re doing on an iPhone or iPad.

– Smart Invert – In the Accessibility section of the Settings app, under Accessibility > Display Accommodations > Invert Colors, there’s a new option for “Smart Invert.” Smart Invert reverses the colors of the display except for images, media, and some apps. It’s quite similar to the Dark Mode that users have been hoping for, but it doesn’t extend to all UI elements.

There are many, many more undocumented tweaks and changes in iOS 11, and additional features will be added and updated throughout the beta testing process. For now, iOS 11 is limited to developers, but Apple plans to make a version available for public beta testers in late June.

Devices compatible with iOS 11 include the iPhone 5s, SE, 6 Plus, 6, 6s Plus, 6s, 7 Plus, and 7, along with the new fifth-generation iPad, the iPad Air, the iPad Air 2, all iPad Pro models, and the iPad mini 2 and later. iOS 11 essentially works with all devices that include an A7 or newer chip.

Related Roundup: iOS 11
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Apple Nixes Facebook and Twitter Integration in iOS 11

In iOS 11, Apple has eliminated built-in integration with Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, and Vimeo, a feature that allowed users to store their account information and access it within third-party apps that needed to use those services.

The Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and Vimeo options have been removed in the Settings app, and according to Axios, the four apps will now be treated like other apps, using the iOS sharing extensions that were introduced back in 2014 with iOS 8.

iOS 10 left, iOS 11 right

Rather than continue to add support for different social services, Apple went with a different approach, adding sharing extensions with iOS 8 in 2014. Until now, it has maintained the single sign-on for Twitter and Facebook in addition to supporting the sharing extensions for a wider range of apps.

Direct sign-in options were first introduced in iOS in 2011. Twitter integration was made available in 2011, while Facebook integration came in 2012. Support for Flickr and Vimeo was added in 2013 with iOS 7.
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Belkin’s $349 Thunderbolt 3 Express Dock HD Now Available for Purchase

Belkin today announced that its Thunderbolt 3 Express Dock HD is available for purchase on the Belkin website, in Apple retail stores, and on Apple.com.

Priced at $349, Belkin’s Thunderbolt 3 dock is one of the more expensive dock options available on the market, but for that price, it features an aluminum body, a stylish tapered design, 85 watts of power delivery for charging Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Pro, and a range of ports.

The dock includes Two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports, three USB-A ports, one DisplayPort, a Gigabit Ethernet port, an Audio In/Out port, and a second Audio Out port. Up to five Thunderbolt devices can be daisy-chained from the dock and it offers a 170W power adapter to supply power to attached peripherals while also charging a MacBook Pro.

Belkin’s dock is able to support a single 5K monitor or two 4K monitors, and it supports data transfer speeds of up to 40Gb/s.

We went hands-on with the Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Express Dock HD last week, so make sure to check out our review for more details and to see how it measures up to other Thunderbolt 3 docks.

Tag: Belkin
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10.5-Inch and 12.9-Inch iPad Pro Models Gain All-New Leather Sleeve and Apple Pencil Case Accessories

With the debut of new iPad Pro models today at WWDC, Apple has introduced a few new accessories for its tablets. Two of the new additions to the iPad Pro accessory line are called the Leather Sleeve for 10.5-inch iPad Pro and the Leather Sleeve for 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and they include a sleeve for the iPad Pro as well as a slot for users to store their Apple Pencil. The cases cost $129.00 for the 10.5-inch iPad Pro and $149.00 for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

To match, Apple has also debuted a new $29.00 Apple Pencil Case, which acts as standalone storage for Apple’s stylus accessory. Both the Leather Sleeve and Pencil Case come in Saddle Brown, Taupe, Midnight Blue, and Black.

Users interested in the more traditional Smart Cover can buy a version of Apple’s popular case for their new 10.5-inch iPad Pro at a price of $49.00, in seven colorways: Mist Blue, Pollen, Flamingo, White, Pink Sand, Midnight Blue, and Charcoal Gray. A Smart Keyboard for 10.5-inch iPad Pro is up for sale on Apple’s website at $159.00.

Both iPad Pro sizes have received new Leather Smart Cases as well, with the 10.5-inch iPad Pro version costing $69.00 and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro version costing $79.00.

To stay up-to-date on all the latest WWDC news, or to catch up with anything you might have missed, be sure to check out the MacRumors WWDC 2017 event recap post here.

Related Roundup: WWDC 2017
Buyer’s Guide: 9.7″ iPad Pro (Don’t Buy), 12.9″ iPad Pro (Don’t Buy)
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Verizon Wear24 review

The Wear24 is a Verizon-exclusive smartwatch which happens to be among the first to ship with the Android 2.0 Wear platform. Moreover, it offers LTE-based connectivity so that it can operate independently of a phone. Priced at $300 with a two-year plan or $350, it comes in considerably higher than an activity tracker or standard wearable; however, it’s right in line with other more recognizable watch and electronics brands. We spent roughly two weeks with the Wear24, putting it through the paces, getting a feel for it as well as Android Wear 2.0.

After having been introduced in May 2016, the latest build of Android Wear finally started rolling out in February of this year. The revised and updated version offers up a cleaner and more intuitive interface, Google Assistant, improved text input, and more.

Whereas the Android Wear release is important, equally so is the LTE connectivity. With messaging, calling, and other standalone data capabilities, it lets users keep the phone at home for workouts and runs.

Design

As we’ve seen with most smartwatches so far, there’s two main routes makers take with them: classic and sporty. The former tend to look more like what you’d expect in a standard watch with leather and other premium materials. The latter is generally comprised of silicone, plastic and waterproof materials. Classic looks classy and matches most formal and semi formal attire while sport models look a tad more modern and flashy.

The Wear24 takes an interesting approach in that it walks the line between both styles. It looks right at home in just about any setting. Its band is silicone and sporty and feels very flexible and durable. Wear the watch for any length of time, though, and you’ll find that it’s not always comfortable.

The bands are held in place with a unique triangular screw. You won’t find it easy to replace them, if you can at all. Reportedly, Verizon says it’s designed this way because of the LTE antennas. Take the watch off and lay it on the table and you’ll see that it cannot lie flat on its back. You’ll have to place it on its side, potentially scuffing the finish over the long term. On the plus side, there a plenty of holes in the strap to find the perfect fit for pretty much any wrist.

The face itself is shiny, polished nicely and stands out from the black band. But, it’s certainly not anything spectacular. You won’t find any details that signal a great deal of attention or inspirational. In short, it feels boring and looks like a regular ol’ watch.

The face is just a hair over ½-inch thick and looks somewhat clunky as compared to other watches. There are definitely other watches on the market (smart and standard) which look and feel much larger, but this one comes across as big. The underside is smooth and fits nicely against the skin.

The watch has an IP67 rating, which means it can withstand water such as rain showers, and a few splashes in the pool. We recommend taking it, and any other wearable off whenever swimming, but that’s just us being extra cautious. Still, the last thing you want to do is scuff the silver face or the glass.

There is one button, on the right side of the face, which is used to perform various actions. We found it to have excellent feedback and a fair amount of travel. You certainly know when you’re pressing it.

Setup

Setting up the watch wasn’t all that difficult in the big scheme of things, but it did require us to use a Verizon smartphone. We didn’t know that going in but we were able to procure one for pairing and testing purposes.

Outside of that issue, we were able to pair the watch to our phone rather easily. The process was the same as other Android Wear devices but seemed to take less time than in the past. Moreover, the initial setup screens and tutorials were not as invasive or prone to slow you down. We’ve been through this setup more than a few times and we’ve become tired of it over the years. Here’s to the quicker setup that is Android Wear 2.0

Android Wear 2.0

Android Wear 2.0 acts and moves in a manner which calls to mind the standard Android experience found on today’s phones. By that we mean swiping down pulls up controls, settings, indicators, etc. You’ll swipe up from the bottom, though, to check notifications. Swiping left or right from the main watch face pulls up the option to use or install other watch faces.

For those of you who have used Android Wear prior to 2.0, one of the main differences you’ll notice in the new version is how you’ll pull up apps. To do so here, you press the hardware button the right side of the watch. From there you’ll swipe up and down, navigating the list until you’re ready to press on the one you want. It’s possible to “star” or favorite up to five apps which are shown at the top of your list.

The hardware button is used more now than in the past, which we like. It acts as a back button when getting into multiple layers of navigation. Scrolling through options and tapping is down on the face but the backing up is the hardware button. That takes very little time to learn and feels more intuitive than swiping in all different directions.

Another key change in Android Wear 2.0, and available in the Wear24, is the Google Play Store. Indeed, you can install apps directly onto the watch so that they can operate independently of a smartphone.

The experience was a mixed bag for us with this watch as some apps seemed to take considerably longer than we might have anticipated. Perhaps it’s the hardware in the watch being lesser powered than what we have with phones. Either way, we’re not fully sold on this yet and want to test it on other watches before fully committing to it. To us, it makes more sense to install the apps on your phone and use the watch for navigation and controls. With that said, we would love to leave the phone at home or in the office more often than we do today.

There are a number of applications already loaded on the Wear24 when you initially power on. Each seems to do the trick for which they were designed; weather provides a good at-a-glance view of conditions and forecast and the agenda does something similar with your calendar and upcoming events.

In typical Verizon fashion, the Wear24 comes with two of the carrier’s apps/services installed. Indeed, you’ll find Message+ and MyVerizon loaded on the watch. And, no, they can’t be removed. Considering the limited amount of space available on a watch, we didn’t appreciate being stuck with the apps.

Strangely, the Wear24 that we reviewed only came with one watch face. Installing additional faces is simple and straightforward, however this give the watch a cheap or “not thought of” feeling. We’d rather be on the other end of the spectrum with too many faces and options.

Performance

Generally speaking, performance was on par with expectations. The Wear24 employs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 2100 processor with 768MB RAM and 4GB of storage. Things were relatively smooth all around but there were the occasional moments of choppiness and stuttering. It’s hard to say whether it was the hardware or the software, but we’d look for it to be fixed if it’s the latter.

The watch display comes in at 1.39-inches with a 400×400 pixel resolution. This means an improved pixel density or higher resolution as compared to previous generations of Android Wear. Although the size isn’t all that big, you’ll want those extra dots for reading messages or glancing at notifications; it’s more obvious if you’ve spent ample time with other models.

The 450mAh battery is pegged at upwards of 60 hours of standby which we found pretty accurate. With basic daily usage we found it would get around two days per charge. But, throw in regular usage of calls or standalone LTE connectivity and you may actually cut that in half. As is the case with pretty much every other Android Wear watch, we suggest charging it at night.

Speaking of charging, the Wear24 comes with a dock which holds the watch in place. In our testing it takes a little over an hour for the watch to go from empty to full. This isn’t bad at all, and, were we to like the watch more, we’d recommend getting a secondary charger for the office.

Strangely enough, the Wear24 does not have a heart rate monitor. To us this is a pretty glaring oversight, especially at this price. Whereas the Google Fit and basic watch apps can track runs, walks, bike rides, and other exercises, we’d really like to have seen the heart rate added in for extra detail. In the middle of 2017 we expect all wearables to track our hear rate, if only for the most basic of reasons. On the other hand, this watch is big and clunky enough that you won’t want to go to bed with it on very often.

As much as we might like the idea of using a watch independent of a phone, the real world practicality is a mix bag. Messaging is great and being able to use certain apps is pleasant, but it’s not perfect. Take listening to music, for instance. Sound is outright horrible if you use the watch by itself. Calls were also so-so in that performing them and taking worked fairly well but the sound quality was pretty bad.

Speaking of which, you can set the Wear24 up to have its own phone number for calls and messages. Do so and you’ll want to advise all of your contacts of the additional number. We suggest keeping it paired and tied to the phone so you can still take calls on it; plus, it’s one less number to worry about as a contact.

Listening to music or taking calls using a Bluetooth headset was completely different and much more enjoyable. If that’s something you own, we can more easily recommend loading music on the watch and heading out for a run with some wireless earbuds.

Bluetooth connection is the usual 30-foot radius but we noticed it did have trouble staying connected at all times. And, whenever we did lose a connection, we found we had to occasionally reconnect manually.

Typing messages and replies is much easier with Android Wear 2.0, but it still requires determination and patience. To us, it has become a case of vetting whether something is worth replying to while out without a phone. We’ve become fond of the quick replies and short burst messages, but we’re also pushing things back until we get to our phone.

Conclusion

Cutting right to the chase, we have a hard time recommending this watch for $300-$350. There’s far too much competition in the space at this price range and we’d rather put our money toward a second or third generation of a particular mode.

We’re all about trying out brands and giving companies a chance to shine in a particular area, but the Verizon Wear24 comes up short. The lack of interchangeable watch straps and heart rate alone give us pause.

The LTE connectivity and standalone capabilities sound great on paper, but the real world execution was lacking. Perhaps a software fix or two could address a few things, but that’s just us being optimistic. This is the first device of its kind from Verizon so we don’t have any track record when it comes to software updates and support.

Keeping with Verizon, we hate that we’re tied to their network here. We get that it’s an exclusive device, but we miss the days of when Google kept carriers and OEMs from installing extra apps.

Sound quality could be better all around; the mic and speakers seem like they were not developed or built to completion. In general it feels like it was a proof of concept or beta device that might later get a more formal release. Our advice is to spend your money elsewhere if you have to buy something right now. This goes double if you are not a Verizon subscriber.

Apple launches WatchOS 4.0 with smart Siri watch face, improved fitness tracking

Why it matters to you

If you’re an Apple Watch owner — or thinking of becoming one — the device is about to get a lot smarter and easier to use.

Apple has finally taken the wraps off of the latest and greatest iteration of WatchOS, its smartwatch operating system. WatchOS 4, as the new version is called, was unveiled at Apple’s WWDC, and boasts a number of great new features.

Perhaps the biggest change to WatchOS comes in the form of a slew of new watch faces, and the smartest and most interesting of those has to be the new Siri watch face. As the name suggests, this face intelligently selects information that you might need at any given moment — and that information will change throughout the day. The face will pull from apps like the Calendar app, as well as the Home app, to offer controls for smart home devices that you often use at a certain time of the day.

Perhaps the biggest change to WatchOS comes in the form of a slew of new watch faces.

The Siri face isn’t the only new watch face — Apple also continued its partnership with Disney, and will offer watch faces for Toy Story’s Woody, Jessie, and Buzz, as well as an update to the Kaleidoscope watch faces, which offer a slightly less intelligent but slightly more visual take on the Apple Watch watch face.

Of course, one of the most important features of the Apple Watch is its fitness tracking, and Apple has improved the watch’s Fitness and Workout apps. The Workout app now supports custom workout algorithms for high-intensity training, which will be helpful for those who prefer to work out at the gym rather than going on runs or swimming.

You can also now much more quickly and easily start a new workout while you’re already in a workout — simple swipe left and hit the “+” button, then scroll through the workouts available. Apple is also now working with gym equipment manufacturers to deploy NFC chips — meaning you’ll get the information from gym equipment on your watch, which should make for more accurate tracking.

The last major update in WatchOS 4.0 comes in the form of the Music app, which will now automatically update selected playlists and favorites that you can play using your AirPods.

The WatchO 4S update perhaps isn’t as big as previous updates to the operating system, but the changes that are coming should help refine the Apple Watch experience a little more.

MacOS High Sierra brings HVEC support, VR SDKs and more to the Mac

Earlier today, Apple’s Craig Federighi took to the stage at its WWDC 2017 annual developer conference to talk about some new additions to MacOS. He noted that this year, Apple will be focusing on perfecting Sierra, in a revision that will be dubbed MacOS ‘High Sierra.’

Safari improvements

Refinements are being made to Safari, which Federighi billed as the world’s fastest desktop browser. He went on to claim that Safari will offer speed improvements of up to 80 percent over Google Chrome when it comes to presenting modern JavaScript content.

It’s also set to offer users a more serene browsing experience, with new autoplay-blocking functionality. Safari detects sites that play video automatically, and gives the user control over whether they see it or not. It’s also set to receive Intelligent Tracking Protection, which is supposed to prevent sites and services from invasive practices — like stalking users around the web with adverts for products they’ve recently shown an interest in — by utilizing machine learning techniques.

Compressed Mail and photo refinements

Apple has worked on some updates to its Mail app, using compression to reduce the disk space it uses up by 35 percent. In addition, Split View is set to be supported by the Compose window, and Spotlight will be able to determine which messages are most important, and give them priority over other correspondence.

Photos is also set to receive some refinements, like improved facial recognition, and categories that are synchronized across all Apple devices. Expanded physical printing options are also being introduced, like third-party photo printing options.

There are also some major improvements to the editing capabilities of the Photos app, including the ability to fine-tune a color curve, selective color editing, and functionality that will sync edits across various devices.

Under the hood updates to speed things up

Federighi moved on to some more big changes, starting with the news that the 64-bit Apple File System (APFS) would at long last be making its way to MacOS. APFS offers some noteworthy speed improvements, which was demonstrated by a video of a lightning-fast copy process duplicating several HD video files. APFS will be the default file system for MacOS, and offers built-in encryption support.

Support for the HVEC video compression standard is coming to all Macs, and hardware acceleration will be offered on the newest models: the 27-inch Mac from late 2015, the MacBook from early 2016, and the MacBook Pro from 2016. It’s set to be built into apps like Final Cut, Motion, and Compressor, to help video editing pros get the best possible results.

The focus then turned to graphics, as Federighi talked up Apple’s high performance graphics API, Metal. He then announced Metal 2, a “tremendously fast,” highly optimized new iteration of the tool. As well as graphics, machine learning will be powered by Metal.

Apple also detailed how users who are eager to add some extra muscle to their Mac will be able to use Metal alongside external graphics hardware. Starting today, a developer kit is being made available that offers a Thunderbolt 3 enclosure with an AMD Radeon RX 580 graphics card and a USB-C hub. Support for external graphics will subsequently be rolled out to all users.

Federighi went on to announce plans to introduce a version of the Metal API that’s tailored for virtual reality alongside High Sierra. It’s set to help content creators push the limits of hardware being used to run VR experiences, while improvements to software like Final Cut will make it easier to edit spherical video to be viewed on headsets.

Some VR upgrades and High Sierra’s release date

High Sierra is set to receive several software packages that should help foster VR development on MacOS. Valve is bringing the SteamVR SDK to the platform, and both Unity and Unreal’s VR engines are coming to the Mac, too.

A developer preview of High Sierra is set to be made available to developers today, with a public beta starting up later in June. The free update will ship this fall, and is compatible with all systems that support Sierra.

Medical emergencies pose a whole host of new challenges in outer space

Why it matters to you

Space exploration is key to humankind’s continued progress, and keeping crews healthy is of vital importance. To that end, physicians are trying to prepare astronauts to handle a whole host of unique medical challenges they will face on missions.

As humanity prepares for manned missions to Mars within the next decade, physicians here on Earth are raising some of the challenges these pioneering astronauts will face. One unfortunately inevitable event will be a medical emergency. How will crew members react? How should they be trained? And what happens if the doctor dies?

Experts are tackling the topic at this year’s Euroanaesthesia Congress in Geneva, which is hosted by the European Society of Anaesthesiology.

“Space exploration missions to the moon and Mars are planned in the coming years,” Matthieu Komorowski, a physician from Charing Cross Hospital in London, said in a statement. “During these long-duration flights, the estimated risk of severe medical and surgical events, as well as the risk of loss of crew life, are significant.”

Space is a hostile and unforgiving environment. Simply by being there, astronauts increase their risk of conditions such as bone fractures and cardiovascular issues. Radiation is rampant and, without sufficient exercise, microgravity turns muscles to jelly.

“The exposure to the space environment itself disturbs most physiological systems and can precipitate the onset of space-specific illnesses,” Komorowski said.

If an emergency does occur, communications with Earth will be slow and limited, so Komorowski suggests that crews be diversely trained, with skills duplicated between personnel to increase the likelihood that a qualified person is able to treat an injured patient. “Extending basic medical training to most crew members will be extremely important,” he said.

Many of the measures taken for emergency medical care in outer space will be adapted from those used in remote regions, like at Arctic base camps. For example, crew members will be selected, in part, based on matching blood types. Medical equipment will also be 3D printed to save cargo space.

Space also poses a number of challenges to medical procedures that aren’t usually found on Earth. CPR — which is a pretty straightforward procedure on Earth — becomes a challenge in microgravity, where a person can’t use their own body weight.

A team led by Jochen Hinkelbein, a physician at the University Hospital of Cologne, is on the case. They discovered that a “handstand” technique proved to be effective in microgravity. Hinkelbein presented his findings at the conference.

Scientists need you to play classic Atari games, teach their AI new tricks

Why it matters to you

Watching skilled humans solve problems helps AI learn faster. And yes, sometimes that involves Ms. Pac-Man.

Learning valuable skills by playing video games sounds suspiciously like the kind of feeble excuse we used as teenagers to explain why we were playing GoldenEye 007 instead of doing our homework. But in the case of a new AI project carried out by computer scientists at RWTH Aachen University in Germany and Microsoft Research, it turns out to be absolutely true.

“What we’ve developed is a way to collect data of humans playing five Atari games, a large dataset of humans playing them, and the insight that — with current algorithms — less data of better players seems to be more useful for learning than more data of worse players,” Lucas Beyer, a researcher on the project, told Digital Trends. “This might sound obvious, but really it’s not: The common theme being ‘the more data the better.’”

There has been interesting work done before involving AI and classic Atari 2600 games. For example, a couple of years ago, an artificial agent created by the Google-owned DeepMind was able to learn to play games like Breakout without a human showing it how to. As Beyer notes, in the case of his and his colleagues’ work, humans are involved — since the bots are watching human players play through the games Q*Bert, Ms. Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Video Pinball, and Montezuma’s Revenge.

This playthrough data was gathered from Redditors, who turned out to be more than happy to revisit some vintage arcade games — all in the interests of improving AI. What is impressive about the work, however, is that the AI was able to learn new skills, such as problem solving, by extracting patterns from the human-led playthroughs it analyzed.

“This dataset is an open testbed for developing reinforcement learning algorithms that can get a head start by looking at human demonstration, as opposed to learning everything from scratch,” Beyer continued.

The algorithm was even able to learn to sort good players from bad, without ever being told what a “good” or “bad” player might look like.

Next up, the team wants to build on their system — by adding data from more expert Atari players. And did we mention the best part? They want you (yes, you!) to help them.

“It would be cool if you can ask people to play games on our website and add more data as a result,” Yobi Byte, another researcher on the project, told us.

Now how’s that for the homework you always dreamed of?