Category 21st Century Techniques

What is AI fiction?

Al fiction is a constantly evolving genre that gives us a peek into the potential umides and downsides of intelligent machines whether it is books written by humans with robots and Al as central characters or stories composed entirely by machine learning algorithms. Al fiction never fails to captivate readers and stimulate discussions about what is in store for technology in the future. Artificial intelligence hum long barn a popular topic in soner fiction from haar

Asimov’s humuncul mots in Robot to the sostient machines of the Matrix Al has beos & costant so of Jascination and spratation As Al trdonology p mie in fiction has been increasingly muted with author examining the potential upsides and dowmides of intelligent madunes.

One recent devettipment in Al fiction is the merger of novels written retimly by artial de The first Al generated novel 1 the Road caine at in 2018 hased on data gathered by namically exhand ca on a road trip from New York to New Orleans it was moted by an operimental 2016 sort story co-written by Al and sapanese researchers troulated as The Day a Computer Visite a Novel which nearly won a literary prize. In the same year, Sunspring, an Al-authored screenplay, was placed in the top 10 at a London sci-fi film festival. In the first year of the pandemic, we got Pharmako-Al, a genre-bender philosophical book co-written by an Al and K. Allado-McDowell, founder of Google’s Artists and a machine intelligence programme, GPT-3. These experimental works of fiction represent an intriguing new avenue for Al fiction. With machine learning algorithms capable of generating coherent narratives and dialogue, it is possible that we may soon see a flood of novels, stories, and even movies written entirely by Al.

Science fiction (sci-fi) & Al

For generations, sci-fi has foreseen the pervasive influence of Al in our daily life. Its representation in mainstream media has played a pivotal role in shaping public opinions towards this technological advancement Films such as The Terminator and Ex Machina have helped to shape the cultural narrative around Al, with many people viewing intelligent machines as potential threats to human safety and autonomy. At the same time, this type of speculative fiction has also explored the more positive aspects of Al, from the helpful robots of Wall-E to the benevolent supercomputers of 2001: A Space Odyssey. As Al technology continues to evolve, it’s likely that all the good, bad, and ugly visions of intelligent machines will continue to be explored in fiction.

Picture Credit : Google

A robot chef that learns from videos

You might not often think about it that way, but cooking is a difficult skill with a number of factors in play. Just ask a robot! While human beings can learn to cook through observation, the same cannot be done easily by a robot. Programming a robot that can make a variety of dishes is not only costly, but also time-consuming.

A group of researchers from the University of Cambridge have programmed their robotic chef with a cookbook – eight simple salad recipes. The robot was not only able to identify which recipe was being prepared after watching a video of a human demonstrating it, but was also then able to make it. The results were reported in the journal ‘IEEE Access.’

Simple salads

For this study, the researchers started off by devising eight simple salad recipes and then made videos of themselves making these. A publicly available neural network programmed to identify a range of different objects was then used to train the robot chef.

The robot watched 16 videos and was able to recognise the correct recipe 93% of the time (15 times out of 16), even though it detected only 83% of the actions of the human chef in the video. The robot was able to recognise that slight variations (portions or human error) were just that, and not a new recipe. It even recognised the demonstration of a new, ninth salad, added it to its cookbook and made it.

Hold it up for them

The researchers were amazed at the amount of nuance that the robot could grasp. For the robot to identify, the demonstrators had to hold up the fruit or vegetable so that the robot could see the whole fruit or vegetable, before it was chopped.

These videos, however, were nowhere like the food videos with fast cuts and visual effects that trend on social media. While these are too hard for a robot to follow at the moment, researchers believe that robot chefs will get better and faster at identifying ingredients in videos like those with time, thereby becoming capable of learning a range of recipes quickly.

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What is meaning of term ‘loT’?

IoT stands for Internet of Things. It describes the network of physical objects or things that are embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies to serve the purpose of connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems over the internet. There are nearly 10 billion loT devices today, ranging from simple household devices to sophisticated industrial tools. This number is only expected to rise further, reaching over 20 billion by 2025.

The loT has become one of the most important technologies of the 21st century as it blurs the boundaries between the physical and digital worlds, allowing them to cooperate better than ever before.

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How do barcodes work?

Barcodes- those simple labels with black stripes-have revolutionised the retail industry. The stripes printed on product packaging contain important information regarding the product. Each barcode is made of varying widths of bars and spaces between them. The barcodes can be decoded only through special devices such as a laser or optical scanner, the kind used at supermarkets. Barcodes enable easy and fast transaction as well as analysis of sales data stored in the computer.

The information contained in barcodes is called Symbology. As soon as a barcode is passed through a scanner, all information pertaining to the product is shown on a computer screen. Shopkeepers love this system because it enables easy and fast transaction as well as analysis of sales data (stored in the computer). This system has a very low margin of error during sale. Barcodes are also useful for manufacturers since a unique identity can be inserted for each box of products to help in packaging and transportation

These days other geometric patterns are used in place of the original parallel bars but they are all generally referred to as barcodes.

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What is a Companion distraction-free smartphone?

Companion is a distraction-free smartphone that has the basic functions of a smartphone, but is stripped of everything that could distract you. It can be worn as a necklace, clipped to belt loops, or wherever preferred. Its small, minimalist design features an E-ink display that won’t tempt users with notifications throughout the day. It has an earpiece and microphone for taking calls, a wide + ultra-wide camera lens with flash, and an air quality sensor. It has no ports, thus freeing up internal space and making the device more water resistant, and it is charged wirelessly. Companion is constructed from a bioplastic that is easily manufactured and disassembled for repair or dismantled at end-of-life. This helps create a closed loop system where plastic is recycled many times over without ending up in a landfill. The texture of the bioplastic mimics the slightly rough feel of pebbles, while the device curves at all angles mimicking the natural design of pebbles. The device’s colours feature a speckle pattern on top of soft hues that resemble the colours and patterns of naturally-found pebbles.

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HOW DO WE PERCEIVE HUMAN- LIKE ROBOTS?

Have you ever wondered how we may perceive human-like robots? According to new research, when robots engage with people and display human-like emotions, then people may perceive them as capable of thinking and acting on their own beliefs, rather than being driven by programs.

At a time when the tendency to attribute independent thought and intentional behaviour to robots hasn’t been fully understood, a group of researchers from the American Psychological Association came up with these experiments. Their results were published in the journal Technology, Mind and Behavior.

Intentional or mechanical?

Researchers examined how people perceived a human-like robot across three experiments that involved 119 participants. Participants completed a questionnaire before and after interacting with the iCub robot. Questions were typically images of the robot in different situations, asking the participants to identify if the robot’s motivation in each of these situations was intentional or mechanical.

The researchers remotely controlled iCub’s actions in the first two experiments. This meant that it greeted the participants, introduced itself. asked the participants for their names, and even maintained eye contact. Participants then watched three short video documentaries with the robot. which was programmed to respond with sounds and facial expressions.

The researchers programmed iCub to be more like a machine in the third experiment. This meant that it did not maintain eye contact, spoke only recorded sentences to the questionnaire before and after interacting with the iCub robot. Questions were typically images of the robot in different situations, asking the participants to identify if the robot’s motivation in each of these situations was intentional or mechanical.

The researchers remotely controlled iCub’s actions in the first two experiments. This meant that it greeted the participants, introduced itself. asked the participants for their names, and even maintained eye contact. Participants then watched three short video documentaries with the robot. which was programmed to respond with sounds and facial expressions.

The researchers programmed iCub to be more like a machine in the third experiment. This meant that it did not maintain eye contact, spoke only recorded sentences to the participants, and even its emotional reactions were replaced with beeps and repetitive movements of its parts.

Behaviour matters

The researchers were able to find that participants who watched videos with the human-like robot were more likely to rate the robot’s actions as intentional and not programmed, while those who interacted with the machine-like robot were not. This shows that human-like behaviour is important for robots to be perceived as an intentional agent by humans.

Researchers believe that this could play a part in the design of social robots of the future. According to them, the next step of research in this area is to determine contexts where social bonding and attribution of intentionality to robots proves beneficial for the well-being of humans.

Picture Credit : Google 

WHAT IS PLANTONE SMART MINI INDOOR GARDEN DEVICE?

The Plantone Smart Mini Indoor Garden provides planting, lighting and watering in a single system that allows you to grow five different species of plants at a single time. You never have to worry about forgetting to water, overwatering, or moving your plants to get more light. Every plant requires a different amount of water, so Plantone waters each plant according to its requirements. The water tank below the pots can be filled to the top for upto 60 days of water. Using pressurized technology, the pots siphon water from the tank automatically. The retractable tower’s LEDs produce a balance of cool and warm light and turn off when natural light is detected. Control the intensity of the light and switch between different light cycles with the press of a button. The tower’s sensor package monitors temperature, humidity, light level and air quality. It has WiFi and Bluetooth as well as an internal real time clock to keep time for your custom light schedules. Plantone’s app lets you control watering and lighting remotely using your smartphone. The device is recyclable and uses repurposed materials.

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HOW TO PREVIEW WHATSAPP VOICE MESSAGES BEFORE YOU HIT ‘SEND’?

WhatsApp voice messages are great when you’re in a hurry, or want to make sure the intonation of your message is delivered correctly and isn’t open to interpretation as it sometimes can be in a text message. But until just recently, you couldn’t listen to your message before sending it. The feature was updated so you could stop recording and add more to your message, but it’s only now that you can preview it. When you’re ready to record, tap and hold the mic button, then drag up to enter ‘hands-free mode’ (you’ll see a lock as you drag up). WhatsApp will start recording. You can then delete the clip immediately by tapping the trash can icon, or tap the stop button. Once stopped, you’ll see a play button that lets you preview your message. You can also delete the message after recording it.

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WHAT IS A MAZES AND MORE APP?

Mazes & More puts a spin on a classic puzzle game with some tricky twists. Find a way out in six modes: Classic, Enemies, Ice Floor, Darkness, Traps and Time Trial. In Darkness mode, you see the maze at the start, but then everything goes dark except for a small spotlight on you, and you have to make your way to the exit. Ice floor will see you sliding ahead of where you want to go. Customize your player avatar and tap or swipe your way through the mazes. Puzzles range from easy mazes to harder and advanced labyrinths; escape each and share your score with friends. Complete all 450 levels and become king/queen of the maze. Mazes & More is available in over 57 languages, including Hindi. Free for iOS and Android, the game does not require an internet connection.

Maze apps can boost your child’s motor, cognitive, and social-emotional skills. Playing Maze is a great way to improve the fine motor skills needed to perform specific movements such as writing, tying shoelaces, etc.  Maze requires a child to control their hand movements through the Maze without hitting the borders, improving their fine motor and hand-eye coordination, but also enhancing perseverance, patience, and focus.

The game often requires a child to come up with various strategies and consider different solutions. Therefore, maze apps for kids can foster problem-solving skills and spatial orientation. They also encourage children to practice their working memory and scan various solutions.

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WHAT IS VAN DER WAALS SPEAKERS?

The Van der Waals speaker aims to create an audio-visual experience by combining sound with an engaging visual display. The Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C speaker, named after Dutch physicist and Nobel laureate Johannes Diderik van der Waals, displays a 9-inch ferromagnetic visualizer. Ferromagnetic fluid or ferrofluid was a magnetic fluid developed by NASA for rocket ships to control fuel in zero gravity. As the song plays, the vibrations agitate the inky ferrofluid, causing it to change shape accordingly and create a mesmerizing audio display. Paired with 2x15W mid bass speakers and 2x15W tweeters, the speaker can also be paired with another in a stereo configuration. Housed in a tempered glass globe with anodized aluminium, the speaker’s LED lights create a contrasting backdrop for the ferrofluid to dance to your favourite songs.

The speaker produces crisp, clear sound thanks to a quality build that incorporates the latest in audio technology. Four speakers that comprise two tweeters and two mid-bass speakers ensure great sound quality. Furthermore, the team used components from two wireless and audio tech leaders: Qualcomm and Texas Instruments. Van der Waals connects via Bluetooth 5.1 and supports SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive. It comes with a USB-C cable and works well on either its own or in a system of multiple speakers. Launched through Kickstarter, the Van der Waals speaker had surpassed the initial goal about 13 times over at the time of writing.

Credit : Gessato

Picture Credit : Google 

A single google query uses 1000 machines in 0.2 seconds

What do you do when you want to check something online? Most of us will likely enter a search string in the Google search bar and wait for it to come up with its results. There’s hardly any “wait” these days as the tumaround for most searches are nearly next to nothing for practical terms.

Did you know that a single Google query actually uses 1000 machines in just 0.2 seconds? Even though Google is usually secretive about their search infrastructure, they revealed certain details in 2009. During a keynote talk at WSDM 2009, a Google Fellow revealed Google’s exponential growth during the decade from 1999 to 2009. As compared to 12 machines that were used earlier, 1000 machines were employed by 2009 in order to hold the complete search index in memory. Crawler updates, which used to take months in 1999, were down to just minutes by 2009. Search queries and processing power went up by a factor of 1000, while latency went down from around 1000 ms to 200 ms or 0.2 seconds.

Also, according to Jeff Dean, Google puts the search index all in memory several years ago and displays search results almost instantaneously to the person who is trying to search, so for each query, 2 , It is said that thousands of machines are working in tandem instead of three dozen machines. Google has developed various index compression technologies over the past several years and finally put it in a format that combines the four deltas of the position in order to minimize the number of replacement work required for decompression I told you it was solved. Google is paying attention to where their data is located on the disk, and data that needs to be read immediately is placed on the outer circumference of the disk which can read data at a higher speed even in the hard disk , It seems that cold data (data that does not need to be read out quickly, data with low reading frequency) and short data are placed on the inner circumference of the disk.
Also, in usual server applications, we use ECC memory at a higher price than usual which can correct errors themselves, but Google uses non-parity memory, so we created our own program to recover from errors, My own disk scheduler. The Linux kernel has also made a number of corrections to meet the needs.
Regarding the physical server as well, in the first phase it was a self-made server without a case, then it became a server to fit in a normal rack, but now it is back to a custom server without case again.

Credit : Giga zine

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What is Zoho Notebook app?

Taking inspiration from physical notebooks, Zoho Notebook has scrapped ‘Folders’ used by other apps, instead using ‘Notebooks’. The app lets you set a custom cover image for Notebooks and group related notes into stacks. Individual notes can be locked using a PIN. Capture your thoughts in six ways: text notes, checklists, audio notes, photo notes, sketches and document notes. Students can record lectures using Audio Card, or draw diagrams and take handwritten notes using Sketch Card, or scan reference books, or use Notebook Web Clipper to clip research content and web links. You can even capture special moments using Photo Note. The app syncs across devices and you can share notes via supporting apps or export as PDF. The app integrates with assistants: Ask Google Assistant to “Take Note’ to instantly create a note or ask Siri to search through notes. Free for iOS and Android.  The covers make it easy to segregate and identify different notebooks. You can also choose fonts, font size and colours as per your preference. On iOS, the app integrates with Siri. You can ask Siri to search through notes, for instance. If you want to have your notes synced across your devices, you need to sign-up for a free account. Its not mandatory to sign up if you don’t want to back up online and only want to keep notes on your current device.

Credit : Economic Times

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Why closing background apps to save battery is bad?

When your apps are open in the background, they are in a state where it is easy to re launch them. This does not mean that they are using much of your resources. Resources are accessed by apps open in the background only when a background process is involved such as uploading a file, location tracking, playing audio. In fact, closing background apps uses more battery. When you force quit an app, you are using a portion of your resources and battery for closing it and clearing it from RAM. Resources will be used when you open it again leading to increased usage of battery. To improve battery life, turn off notifications for frequently used apps, turn off vibration for calls/notifications and dim the display.

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What is Sony Aibo Companion Robot ?

The new Sony Aibo’s outward appearance resembles a real dog and it includes 4,000 parts, 22 actuators to allow for fluid movement, OLED-screen eyes, and the same kind of artificial intelligence (Al) used for self-driving cars. Its sophisticated cameras and sensors map a house, so it can easily move around and go to its charging station on its own. It recognizes upto 100 faces and remembers interactions with people, allowing its AI engine to develop a unique personality that changes over time. Aibo can learn new tricks, bark, detect words of praise and smiles, and respond to touch when someone pets it. It is controlled by voice command or through the Aibo app. Its software is naturally curious and trained to please, letting it learn a user’s preferences and eventually become a one-of-a-kind companion.

The new robot dog is also equipped with a fisheye camera in the nose and a second camera near the rear that both work with sensors to detect and analyze sounds and images, and help aibo recognize its owners faces. Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) technology allows aibo to adapt to its environment.

Controlling all of this is a 64-bit quad-core CPU. The robot’s power consumption is rated at 14 watts and the battery has a life of about 2 hours.

According to Izumi Kawanishi, Sony’s senior general manager of its AI Robotics Business Group, this combination of sensors and deep learning also helps aibo analyze praise, interpret smiles, and respond to petting, which creates “a bond with its owners that can grow over time.”

A SIM card connection provides aibo with mobile Internet access, which Sony plans to extend to connect to home appliances and devices. And Kawanishi said the company was also considering educational and personal assistant applications for aibo, but he gave no examples of how those would work. He added that other entertainment robots were a possibility in the future.

Credit : IEEE Spectrum

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LED stool shows you how to sit

We all know that it’s important to sit up straight, and to not stay seated for too long. With that in mind, researchers at Germany’s  Fraunhofer  Institute have developed an LED stool that coaches people in ‘sitting’. Along with LEDs, the stool is outfitted with multiple flexible pressure sensors. By measuring the user’s weight distribution, the sensors are able to determine if the person is sitting ergonomically they detect if the user is seated at an improper angle or is maintaining one posture for too long. The data is wirelessly transmitted to a computer or mobile device via an app, then transmitted back to the stool which responds by illuminating its LEDs in certain colours, letting the user know that they need to make a change. That app can also guide users through exercises intended to alleviate problems caused by their improper posture, with the sensors detecting if they’re doing the exercises correctly.

The user can consult the app to see a video illustrating what the problem is, along with suggestions on how to correct it. The app also guides users through exercises intended to alleviate problems caused by improper posture, with the sensors detecting if they’re doing the exercises correctly. Fraunhofer is currently demonstrating the system on Germany’s MS Wissenschaft exhibition ship, in a setup where two players control their movements in a game of electronic table tennis by swinging their pelvis on a couple of the stools. Down the road, the sensing technology could also be integrated into more practical applications, such as mats or office chairs.

Credit : New Atlas

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What is Aloe Bud app?

Life can be busy and stressful. Here’s where Aloe Bud comes in, making it enjoyable to check in with yourself every day for a bit of self-care. There’s no sign up process, no “friend-finding” function, no pressure of joining yet another social network. Users set reminders to do little things like Hydrate, Breathe, Rest, Motivate or Be kind. All tasks fall under three umbrellas: emotional, mental and physical. For each activity, users can check in or write a reflection. You can use the app for journaling, too. The creators have concentrated on using only positive and encouraging language whether it is for the name of the activity (“fuel” instead of “food”) or for push notifications (“You’ve got to nourish to flourish!”). Free for iOS. The app is the latest to enter the booming “self-care” market, which caters to a largely younger demographic who are better handling the pressures of modern-day life by carving out time for themselves to mediate, relax, and practice other mindfulness techniques. Some older folks have scoffed at the movement, claiming millennials are too self-involved – or they just scratch their head in confusion. (“Mindfulness?”)

But there’s real demand for these self-care applications and services – in the first quarter of the year, the top ten self-care apps pulled in $15 million in revenue. Now who’s scoffing? However, most of the self-care apps today are focused on meditation and calming techniques, not on the day-to-day aspects of self-care. That’s where Aloe Bud comes in. Even cynics will have to admit the app is kind of adorable with its soft color scheme and its original, retro-ish pixel art icons.

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What are Google Tasks?

Create lists of to-do items and check them off once completed with Google’s new to-do app. Tasks syncs across devices and integrates into the desktop version of Gmail and Google Calendar. You can add additional information like a description, date and sub tasks to your tasks, and create separate lists that you can switch between. In the new re-designed desktop Gmail, tasks are located to the right of your screen, so you don’t have to open the app on your smartphone if you’re at your computer. Drag emails from your inbox into the Tasks panel to automatically create new tasks around them. Free for iOS and Android. Aside from its simplicity, Google Tasks’ best feature is its deep integration with Gmail. Your inbox isn’t the best to-do list—so Google Tasks gives you somewhere to list those important messages that need a reply or action on your part. Drag an email from anywhere in Gmail to the Google Tasks sidebar to instantly turn it into a task. It’ll keep the email’s subject as the task name, with a link to the email underneath. You can then archive or move the message and still open it easily from the Google Tasks link.

Much like a paper to-do list, the most direct way to use Google Tasks is to jot down basic things you need to do and check them off as they’re completed. But if you’d rather plan, rearranging your tasks into the order you should complete them, you can do that too. Just click on a task and drag it to the order you want. Move a task with subtasks? Just drag to move the whole set together. Or, if you decide a subtask should be its own task, drag it out, and it’ll turn into a standalone task.

Credit : Zapier

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What are the ways to stay safe online?

Do you spend a lot of time online? How can you stay safe in cyber space? Here are some simple tips to shield yourself from dangers.

When you download a game. you look for something that keeps you engaged. You possibly use it as a stress buster or to lift up your spirits. But imagine a game that draws you in such a way that you end up in a darker place, quite possibly a point of no return. That’s not all. Many children and teens are easy prey for online predators because they are wired to take on more risks, without considering the consequences. Here are some simple tips to guide you in cyber space.

Be alert to strangers

Do not let your guard down and allow the wrong people into your online circle. A false sense of security sets in on social networks and services where safety is an assumption. But remember do not interact with any unknown people. Anyone can create an online profile, so it’s best to be alert. You can turn down friend requests from strangers.

Set strong passwords and do not share them

Your password must consist of at least eight characters, which are a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Do not share your social media passwords with friends or acquaintances, no matter what situation arises. You may share it with your parents.

Mails, messages from unknown senders are best unread

One of the terrifying things about the Blue Whale is that it finds you, even if you do not. The best way to be safe is to not open any mails or messages from unknown people.

Do not respond to invitations sent by them.

Keep your account private on photo sharing sites

We tend to let our guard down on photo or video sharing sites such as Instagram, Snapchat and others. But the media uploaded on such sites inadvertently gives out a lot of personal information. Ensure that your account is private on this site, so that people would need to request your permission before following your stream.

Avoid open chat rooms

These places are filled with landmines and should be avoided like the plague. In a chat room, unknown people can strike up a conversation with you through private messages. What’s worse you never know if they are telling the truth about their identity. If you must, then log in using privacy settings.

Anonymous?

There are applications that allow users to send  anonymous messages to people. Recipient cannot respond to the messages. Although people usually use it to show their appreciation to writers or colleagues, it can be equally  harmful if fallen in the wrong hands.

Here’s how you can be cyber smart:

If someone on the internet asks you to meet in person-even if they are the same age- say no and inform a teacher or an adult whom you trust.

Passwords should be hard to crack. Avoid using obvious dictionary words. You can use online password generators, which jumble up characters and numbers. Change it often.

Your online posts should not reveal any personal information. This includes your moods, habits, locations, or information on your friends.

Do not participate in online surveys or contests requiring your personal information. It is illegal for companies to ask for any information from children under 13 years of age, without the consent of your parents.

Picture Credit : Google 

What is DBEST’s Transformative Bluetooth?

DBEST’s Transformative Bluetooth Hi-Fi System can go from a circle to an elongated snake form factor with a twist and turn of its speakers. The central section features an OLED display, control buttons and connectivity ports, either side of which are attached two 3W speaker units that rotate up to 180 degrees to allow users to customize the look of the unit and better direct the sound at them.

In addition to Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR connectivity, connect your computer, MP3 player or other audio device via a 3.5 mm input cable. The unit also acts as a standalone player thanks to its microSD card reader which allows you to play MP3 and WMA files stored on a memory card. And it has a built in microphone, so you can use the system along with your phone. Designed to be ultra-portable it measures just 1.9″ high x 6.8″ deep and weighs just 0.55 kgs. The unit’s 1,700 mAH lithium polymer battery can be charged in 3-4 hours via mini USB to provide up to 25 hours of streamed audio playback or up to 50 hours of wired audio.

In addition to Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR connectivity, you can also connect your computer, MP3 player, phone, Playstation, or other audio device via a 3.5mm input cable.  The Transformative system is 9.8 x 3.4 x 9.9 inches and weighs 1.2 pounds.  With it’s 1700mAh lithium-polymer internal battery, it makes a great portable system with up to 50 hours playback time between charges.  It has two 3W amps to drive the speakers, and it reproduces 180-20,000Hz.  It works as a standalone MP3 player, too; it has a microSD card reader so you can play MP3 and WMA files.  And it has a built-in microphone, so you can use the system as a speakerphone with your phone.  You can twist the speaker sections into a multitude of shapes to best fill your space with sound.

The Transformative Bluetooth HiFi System is available in the US at Amazon for $214.07and it’s eligible for Prime shipping.

Credit : The-Gadgeteer

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What is unique about BurnNote.com?

Do you need to share sensitive/confidential information with a friend or colleague yet you’re nervous about leaving a trace of the conversation on the net? If that’s the case, you should give Burn Note a try. Burn Note lets you send messages over email without leaving a long-term record of the contents. After you write a note, a private link is generated, which you can send to your recipient. Once the recipient reads the note, Burn Note automatically ‘burns’ the note from its server and removes any trace of it from phones and computers. You can allow/disallow a recipient from copying a text, set how the message will be displayed, set a timer after which the note will be burned/deleted from the Internet or even add a password if you’re feeling particularly paranoid.

Not a million options here, that’s the beauty of the system. If you want to customize things a bit however, feel free. Just note, even if you leave everything at their defaults, all notes will be deleted after 72hours opened or not. To check the copies of notes you sent, click on your username and select Notes. To check the copies of notes you sent, click on your username and select Notes. It will you show the email address and the time at which the Note was sent to a specific person.

Credit : Groovy post

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What is CTX’s Brookstone Virtual Keyboard?

CTX’s Brookstone Virtual Keyboard turns any flat surface into a touchscreen QWERTY keypad, all the while fitting nicely inside a small keychain. The smallest (1.5″) and most affordable (US$100) virtual keyboard to date, it projects a laser outline of a full-sized QWERTY keyboard in front of it, while an optical sensor tracks a user’s finger movements as they type. A Bluetooth connection lets it sync wirelessly to most smart devices, and a lithium ion battery holds enough power for two hours of typing and can be recharged through USB. Aside from portability, the keyboard is also much more sanitary than a physical one that accumulates dust and grime the more it’s used.

You can connect this keyboard to your smart-phones, iPhones, iPad, tablets, desktop, Pcs, etc. It usually works on those mobile devices which have at least Android version 3.1. You can use this keyboard both in the office and at home. Brookstone is a red laser projection virtual keyboard.

This projection keyboard is specially designed for the people who face difficulty in typing on mobile touchPad. These keyboards are also connected to your desktops via Bluetooth. You can use the keyboards during traveling or when you have no space to spare on your laptop. These virtual keyboards usually work right on smooth and flat surfaces.

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What is Color Road 3D ball running game?

Color Road is a simple 3D ball running game in which you control a rolling ball as it moves down a single road. There are different color roads and color balls in each level of this ball roll. There would be different hurdles to avoid and keep continue rolling ball. When you tap ball road to jump and cross obstacle the ball race will remain continue with roll the ball.

Try to keep roller ball running. When you need the ball jump, tap run your rolly ball to continue the run ball. Peoples love to find balls race, color rush and ball rolling games and that’s why ball roller and ball rush games are very popular now a days.

So, keep your color ball roll on the color road. Avoid obstacles by jumping and keep your ball road safe and try to go ball ahead to complete the each level of ball games. Obstructing your rolling ball are other balls arranged in rows of three with different colours. You must roll the ball to the ones with the same colour. There are also ramps on the road that changes your rolling ball’s colour. Hit a ball with a different colour than yours and you’ll be met with a game over. The farther the ball goes, the higher the score, the higher the coin. Use the coins to unlock new balls and new roads. Free for iOS and Android.

 

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How do you use the original audio reel on Instagram?

Found song or audio clip you like on another user’s Reel and want to make one using the same audio/music? Just tap the music and select ‘Use Audio’.

On Instagram Reels you can upload your own audio clip or use music tracks from Instagram’s audio library. With the new update, you can now save audio clips used on Reels. The process is the same as saving posts on Instagram. Tap on the audio, and then select the save icon on the top right corner of the screen. You can then go to your saved posts on Instagram, and find all the audio files clubbed under an ‘audio’ folder.

Now when you make a new Reels video you can use audio from your saved collection. Instagram lets you use audio from other Reels but you have to do it at that time, and not save the clip in your library. The new audio page created on your saved collection can also be shared over DM. You’ll see the DM icon appear on the audio page of Reels made using that particular audio clip.

 

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Who created the pixel?

American computer scientist Russell Kirsch revolutionised digital images with his invention of the pixel and then the world’s first digital photograph. He is also recognized as the developer of the first digital image scanner. Pixels are digital dots used to display photos, videos and more on phone and computer screens. In 1957 Kirsch created 2×2-inch, 172 x 172 pixel image of his baby son. Using a device he created at the U.S. National Bureau of Standards, this was the first image ever scanned into a computer and was made up of just 31,000 pixels (the latest iPhone captures images containing 12 million pixels). Kirsch made his pixels square which meant that image elements were not as smooth as real life, giving rise to them “pixelated”. Kirsch’s discovery laid the groundwork for digital photography, satellite imagery, CT scans, barcodes, virtual reality, and more. 91-year-old Kirsch passed away in August 2020 in Oregon (USA).

Kirsch later developed a method to smooth out images by using pixels with variable shapes instead of the squares. Initially, the images were binary, capturing only black or white, but Kirsch and his team discovered that by scanning the image multiple times at different thresholds they could create a grayscale image by stacking multiple scans, as per DPreview.

This technology allowed Kirsch and his team to develop algorithms that laid the foundations for image processing and image pattern recognition. Kirsch’s invention also helped NASA with its earliest space explorations, including the Apollo Moon landings.

 

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Audio trumps camera in smartphone buying decision

Audio quality is the most important feature consumers consider while buying a smartphone, according to a report by CyberMedia Research. The group surveyed respondents aged 18-40 across six cities in India. Consumers ranked battery life and camera quality as the next important features while physical appearance of the smartphone ranked lowest. Smartphone users consume audio mostly through listening to music on popular audio OTT platforms (94%), watching video, movies, OTT content, or videos on social networks (96%).

Consumers ranked battery life and camera quality as the next important features while physical appearance of the smartphone ranked lowest in the survey.

These consumers use smartphones for more than 20 hours a week, and are heavy users of streaming services and gaming, the report said.

More than 90% consumers use the smartphone’s audio for listening to music on popular audio OTT platforms and for viewing videos on social media.

The survey highlighted that these users expect audio to be an immersive experience while less heavy users consider voice and dialogue quality as top priority.

 

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Tiny android 10 smartphone packs a punch

Billed as “the world’s smallest Android 10 4G smartphone”, the Unihertz Jelly 2 is roughly the size of a credit card, with a 3-inch, 326-ppi screen, an 8 MP front camera abd 16 MP rear camera, and weighs just 110 gms. It supports dual SIM cards, microSD expansion of its 6GB internal storage, USB-C charging for its 2,000 mAh battery, NFC support for contactless payment, GPS, and nearly every possible band of LTE, plus fingerprint unlocking and 128 GB storage. This mini smartphone is designed to act as a companion device to your regular cell, for times when a large smartphone would be inconvenient or when taking a break from your full-sized smartphone.

Starting at the front, we have the three-inch LCD screen, which is 51% larger than the first Jelly display. Colors look great on the display and text is crisp and clear. I was very surprised to see how readable this tiny display is and I never had a problem reading content on the display.

The headset speaker and front facing camera are above the display. Below the viewable screen we see a circle in the senter with two dots on either side, indicating where the haptic buttons are for back, home, and the task switcher. Obviously, the phone is very easy to manipulate with a single hand thanks to its size and the responsive display.

It is a great phone to take running and with many watches not supporting GPS, such as the Fitbit Versa 2 or new Polar Unite, GPS and music served up from the Jelly 2.0 is something to consider. It’s a solid emergency phone, as long as you keep a battery pack around to top off the small capacity battery for extended use.

 

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RoboHon: This little bot acts as your smartphone

Sharp’s RoboHon is a prototype robot that doubles as a smartphone.

The RoboHon (a mix of the words robot and phone) stands just 8 inches high and packs a camera and a 2-inch LCD screen on its back. There’s also a mic, speaker and a facial and voice recognition system.

It runs Android 5.0 and supports 3G, 4G LTE and wi-fi connectivity options. It can follow voice commands to place a call, take a picture and display it through its projector. It lets you know when there’s a call for you (“Hey! There’s a call for you.”); reads out text messages and lets you reply verbally to them. It also acts as an alarm and can tell you what you have planned on your calendar.

It is basically the personification of the idea that your phone is your best friend.

 

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One size fits all with Phazon earbuds

Phazon has created the world’s first one-size fits all earbuds.

The company says there’s an inner-ear pattern that everyone shares and that by giving the earbuds a little twist once they’re in the ear, wearers can ensure they won’t fall out while jogging, working out or even swimming. The earbuds are wireless and use Bluetooth to link to your mobile device for music streaming and receiving phone calls. Its internal rechargeable battery can be charged to 80% in only 20 minutes using a USB charger; the charge lasts upto 6 hours.

One of its most interesting features is the one that only works when they’re not being worn — if a user has misplaced their earbuds, the Phazon app can tell them how far away they are and point the user in the right direction.

 

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What is solar wind?

ANSWER 1
Solar wind is a combination of electrically charged stream of atomic particles – electrons, protons, with small proportions of heavier nuclei and the entrained solar magnetic field emitted from the sun’s atmosphere.

E. N. Parker in 1958 showed that due to the very high temperatures of the corona the pressure exerted results in an outflow of material into the interplanetary space in all directions in a phenomenon he called “solar wind”. Solar wind is an extremely radially outward at a speed of 500 kilometres per second which is variable in response to the varying solar activity.

The particles normally takes about 4 to 5 days to reach earth. The radial flow of the solar wind and the rotation of the sun, wind the solar magnetic field into a spiral which makes an angle of 45 degrees at the earth’s orbit. The study of the solar wind becomes important as it contributes to the phenomenon such as aurorae and magnetic storms.
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