Category: Tech

Researchers from University of Freiburgs Humanoids Robots Laboratory Have demonstrated a NAO humanoid capable of climbing spiral staircases, which are more challenging to scale than their non-curving counterparts. A laser range scanner on the top of the robots head provides a global estimation of the bots position, the humanoid uses a 3D model of staircase to match up with the images it captures on each step. This system lets it get a grip on its geography to successfully detect stair edges and make it to the top with nary a trip. The humanoid robot can accurately locate itself towards the stairs and climb them reliably. Dont forget to look at the video.

Google engineers got hold of a booth at this year’s CSUN accessibility conference and they’re keen to talk up their latest efforts. For starters they decided to help the visually impaired with a Chrome screen reader called ChromeVox (now a beta version) plus improved shortcuts and screen reader support in Google Docs, Sites and Calendar. Also, YouTube boasts expanded caption support for the hard of hearing, with automatic captions enabled for 135 million video clips, a number three times more than their last year’s total.

Here is a good news for Dropbox uses. Dropbox is offering 5GB of free storage space to anyone who tries the beta version of its new Experimental software. All you need is to just download the test program and upload a photo or video and magically 500MB of storage space will be added to your account. You will continue to receive 500MB of free space for every upload until you reach 5GB. The idea is to test out the beta software’s new photo and video uploader, which automatically pulls media from any camera, smartphone or SD card and drops it in the cloud.

An international team of scientists led by Carnegie’s Guillem Anglada-Escud and Paul Butler has discovered a potentially habitable super-Earth orbiting a relatively nearby star. Described as the “best candidate” for supporting liquid water, and therefore life. The planet (GJ 667Cc) is believed to be about 4.5 times the size of Earth.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation EFF is looking to help the Megaupload users data files. Since the US FBI shut down the web site earlier the month visitors to it pages have been disappointed and unable to access legitimate data. The innocent users were ignored when the website was shutdown.

The YikieBike differs here and joins it is BOXX Corporations diminutive BOXX. Coming in at just under meter (36-inches) long, the 120 pound aluminium bike has a top speed of 35 miles per hour and can even haul up to 300 pounds of heft. The compact footprint, the company hasnt skimped on tech; it boasts traction control, anti-lock brakes, and even LED lights. Available in one of ten colors, $3,995 nets you a base 40-mile range model, can optionally double to 80 by ticking the $599 CORE2box. For those who willing to spruce further, there is a $149 heated seat and $349 one-hour charger offer.

Rollin Justin learned to catch balls by tracking moving objects, calculates their flight paths and then snapping shut his cold metal claws at the moment of impact. Now he is besting himself, got good improvement by the way of his fleshy masters at the German Aerospace Agency. Among the upgrades are improvements to the old Justins dynamic performance he is now 1.5 times faster in his arms, got good ratios, help to make his game of robo catch two-sided, with the ability to actual throw. Hes also adapted the more flattering moniker Agile Justin. Dont forget to see him in action at the video.