Robot on healthcare

Nowadays, healthcare and elder care is a big concern in Japan, whose population is aging more rapidly than their current human-centric infrastructure is prepared to cope with. Companies like Toyota are hoping that robots will be able to pick up a little bit of the slack, and this week they've introduced four new robotic systems designed to help keep people healthy and independent as long as possible.

The first couple system are designed to provide single-leg walking assistance to people who have balance issues, or even people suffering from complete paralysis in one leg. The robotic structure is capable of supporting the entirely of your weight on one leg, and it will swing your leg forward for you as you walk. If you can hold yourself up, the second system will provide you with visual feedback to help you get balance back and start walking on your own.

                                               Leslie Lin

Find out more!

Source: http://mashable.com/2011/11/01/toyota-healthcare-robots/

Brain-Computer Interface

A few days ago, I read some interesting information about brain computer interface simulations and it really fascinated me. It is a direct connection with the brain connected to a simulation computer. The computer transmits data to the participant, reads and understands it and then responds to their desires and actions. Along with the simulated world, this interaction is amazing. It even gives a feedback on the results. The participant may temporarily forget that they are induced into a virtual world but their consciousness is represented by an avatar, which may be slightly different in appearance to the actual participant.

 Brain simulations are used in so many ways now due to the latest technology. So I'm sure that we will no longer have to think for ourselves with the assistance of brain simulation. How cool would it be to simulate what your brain will think of in the near future or perhaps simulate a friend's brain just to trick them.

After viewing this short video, you will understand how simple instructions commanded by a person's brain trasnmits into a working hand to open and close. Now the process may be complicated but once everything falls into place, the working hand understands exactly what the person wants it to do.

To find out more
Source: http://www.howstuffworks.com/brain-computer-interface.htm

Kazrin Zaidi

Robot Face

Few days before, I watched a old movie about robot - <I,robot>, which is an excellent movie for you enjoying in the world surrounding with A.I. robots. Though, there may be a situation that A.I. robot will take revenge on human and rule over us, as shown in the movie, it is undoubtedly to say that most teenagers, especially boys, had a dream of having a robot who can speak, talk and interact with them.

However, can you believe that you can now get an expressive robot face, yet not a whole robot, in an affordable, actually cheap, price? XYZbot would like to give the public a chance of having a robot by crowdfunding Fritz, an Arduino-powered robot head. Fritz is an “emotional” face on which you can control everything, like the eyes and jaw to the eyelids, eyebrows, lips and neck. Also, by adding putting some pre-programmed action, they can respond you like a human.

Besides, you don`t need to worry about the complex stuffs of programming and computing – because you simply don`t need. The control over Fritz is as simple as if you are playing with a 5-year-old child`s toy. What you need is creative and innovative, so as to make your unique robot!

Check out more in Fritz: Robotic Puppet main page

You will see more funny stuffs below.

Youtube: 

 Joseph Yeung

Reference: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/02/xyzbot-fritz-offers-cheaper-robotic-face-simulation/

A.I. on traffic light

Have you ever feel annoying when you are stuck at those stupid traffic lights? Have you ever think it would be better if you control them by yourself? Yes, I did! I think human can undoubtedly have a better control on regulating the traffic flow than a machine can do. Recently I saw news about AI technology is being tested to control traffic lights, and I think intelligent traffic light is no longer impossible any more!

Have you played traffic-flow controlling, with four traffic lights, games on your mobile devices? I did, and I got a really high score actually! However, surprisingly, people are born to be better at controlling traffic flow; even compared with computers! The research carried out by the University of Southampton team has used computer games and simulations to investigate what makes good traffic control. This work has shown that – given the right conditions – humans are excellent at controlling the traffic and can perform significantly better than the existing urban traffic control computers in use today.

Researchers at the University of Southampton are investigating the application of artificial intelligence (AI) technology for controlling traffic lights. Based on the human brain`s extraordinary capability of controlling traffic effectively, they are planning to develop a new kind of software which can improve the efficiency of traffic flow, and in turns improving road space utilization, reducing traveling times and may be improving fuel efficiency. For more details, check it out in source.

 Joseph Yeung

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/26/scientists-investigating-ai-based-traffic-control/

Robot fighting

Have you seen the movie Real Steel? I just saw it yesterday. It`s great, isn`t? Robot fighting is always a fancy topic about technology.  It is always used in so many movies and animations, like famous one, Gundam.  However, robot fighting is no longer a dream to us.

Recently, Syfy channel's newest show, Robot Combat League (RCL), has provided us with a real-life robot fighting --and the best part is, we get to watch them destroy each other in gladiatorial fashion. Though RCL is not the first show to have robot fighting on TV, it is the first time that the robot actually copying, and learning the movement of the people operating them! It sounds exactly like the scenes in “Real Steel”! It`s exciting, isn`t it??? I would be definitely recording the whole TV series once it starts to play!

Mark Setrakian, who shown in the above picture, is actually the man who designed and built the dozen robots on the show. It took him 4 months to construct only the prototype to sell the Syfy channel, and then spent a long period of time and also roughly $200 a pop for twelve robots. With all of the work that went into building these bots, you might think that Mark will be upset seeing them destroy each other. On the contrary, he's behind the scenes cheering and yelling as he is the one who enjoys the most in this contest! As he says, Fighting robots, obviously, are awesome. I couldn`t say how much I agree with him! How about you? Leave your comments below and tell us something about your view for robot fighting!!!

Find out more!! 

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/06/the-engadget-interview-mark-setrakian-of-syfys-robot-combat-le/

Joseph Yeung

Google’s Augmented-Reality Project Glass

Google once again making our life much easier than ever with augmented-reality glass. This glass offer what a person could do with a smartphone, such as taking a picture and sending a message. It says that these have indirectly showed us the glimpse of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system working behind the scenes.

AI system basically describes a computer system that accommodate human behaviour, through features such as speech and gesture recognition as well as mimic human thinking. It could make wearable computers like Google’s Project Glass to function beyond what we thought and take care of complex tasks, but how does it feel when we wear it?, To know more about how the glass function and how it help us in daily life, Google has released a video showing from the wearer’s perspective. Let’s check it out!

It’s cool isn’t it. However, just like a proverbial that said, “There is a bad part of every good thing”. This seems to happen on Google’s Project Glass. How come??. Well, there is a growing concern about “thing” that has been a problem all this time, it is Privacy.

Recently, there are banning on the use of the glass in a few place of US. Why?? Let’s think this way, if you are on a place or doing an activity that you don’t want others to know, but sadly someone who wear the Project Glass record your activity and shared it, how would you feel?. Other example, when in a museum or concert where taking picture is prohibited but the visitors can do it without being noticed by the guard. These are things that made people worried. But for us who would like to get hold of The Google’s Project Glass let’s just hope the majority of the politician disagree with the banning.

Links for: Picture Video Source

Ricky Mardian